US to send food and medical supplies to Syria; Thailand signs deal with militant Muslim group; China signals new foreign policy focus; Tony Blair defends Rwanda's role in Congo; Bulgaria announces election; and more
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The Hobbit: Time for answers John, Peter & Richard
The first Hobbit movie has been made and released. And now so have some critical emails. Isn't it time for some full and frank answers from the players in the dispute?
Read MoreThe Partial State Asset Sale poem
An ode inspired by National's mixed ownership programme, to the tune of 'Five Little Monkeys"... And a few thoughts about the sales and the Supreme Court
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday February 28
No breakthrough on Iran nuclear programme; prominent Chinese sign open letter urging government to ratify human rights treaty; Dennis Rodman and Harlem Globetrotters arrive in North Korea; six killed in suicide bomb in Mali; Chuck Hagel confirmed as US defense secretary; and more
Read MoreStandin' on the corner, waitin' for a bus
Two big legal issues in the one day! Lucky I'm on top of my game ...
Read MoreJuries have had their day
Jury trials are slow, expensive and don't necessarily produce the 'right' verdict -- so why do we still use them?
Read MoreAn open letter on Auckland trains. Grrrr
I'm having a commuting crisis due to rubbish Auckland trains, the very trains I once so loved. Here's why
Read MoreWilbur Cussler: A memoir
I used to have a wonderful life. Then Scott Yorke ruined it.
Read MoreNo rules for NZ Police surveillance drones
New Zealand Police have no authorization from the Civil Aviation Authority to operate their recently acquired surveillance drone - no procedures manual governing its operation – and the police won’t say what it is or what it can do … Why?
Read MorePokies & smokies: When the means and ends don't meet
John Key loves closing a deal. But when it comes to SkyCity and plain packaging he seems to have lost sight of the fact that how you do things is the mark of a man... and a government
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday February 22
Car bomb targets Baath Party in Damascus; Bo Xilai on hunger strike; South Korea and US to stage joint military drills; Indian workers stage two-day strike; Human Rights Watch faults Mexico over 150 disappearances; and more
Read MoreA press release we will never see
First they came for the partners of beneficiary fraudsters, and I was silent. Then they came for the professional advisors of corporate entities, and I thought "hang on - this is completely ridiculous!"
Read MoreGame of Thrones: choosing a new Pope
That a New Zealander won’t be part of the papal conclave was possibly the least interesting thing to say about the shock resignation of Pope Benedict XVI
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday February 21
Japan's trade deficit at record high; South Korea and US hold defense talks; Bulgaria's government resigns; senior Taliban officer arrested in Pakistan; French troops to begin pulling out of Mali; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday February 20
Chavez returns to duty after two months off for cancer treatment; China denies hacking claims; former Japanese prime minister paves way for Japan-Russia leadership meeting; Obama may consider arming Syrian opposition; ANC dismisses new South African party; and more
Read MoreRandom thoughts on risk and responsibility
If you can't insure something, are you still responsible for the risk of owning it? And how sorry for you should we feel if that risk turns bad?
Read MoreRichard Prosser finally makes a name for himself
Admit it -- you'd never heard of NZ First MP Richard Prosser till the Wogistan debacle. Now he is a household name. Plus Ralph Stewart's payout and Novopay.
Read MoreFirst they came for the trees ...
Look deeper into RMA reforms and you might find it's more exciting than you think: an Environment Minister taking her axe to urban trees, and the latest in a series of “democracy deficits” - this time affecting Auckland
Read MorePeople smugglers, asylum seekers, and Ozzie Rules
John Key opened Pandora’s Box when he revealed that Australia had considered using its navy to shepherd a boatload of asylum seekers to New Zealand, but nobody seems to want to look inside. It isn’t a pretty sight.
Read MoreA living wage: There are no reasons not to
The initial response to a call for councils and other big employers to commit to a living wage of at least $18.40 an hour has been dominated by excuses. But what could be more important?
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