The Taliban are planning to set up shop in Qatar – but in a good way. They'll have a physical address that could open the door to serious peace talks on Afghanistan and spark hopes of future stability
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New Zealand's new Pacific role, as the US moves in
Amongst the news of crashes and weather, one story of immense significance to New Zealand has been widely ignored... The US has reviewed its defence priorities and is moving back into our neighbourhood big-time. This offers huge risks and opportunities
Read MoreThe Euro deadline: 10 days and counting
Central banks are trying to get money moving again, but it could all be too little, too late for Europe as the final countdown begins (not as cool as Andrew's musical references, but see what I did there children of the '80s?)
Read MoreHow bad is it in Europe?
Italian bond yields have risen above the critical seven percent mark. So where does this leave Italy and what can the rest of Europe do?
Read MoreGoodbye Mr President: Is it time for more monetary muscles in Europe?
In an exclusive interview with European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet, a glimpse of how far Europe still has to go to purge its demons
Read MoreOccupying London's financial sector
What do the anti-capitalist protesters in London actually want? They compare themselves to the Arab Spring, but it all sounds a bit vague
Read MoreQaddafi bites the dust
The revolutionary who turned mad and bad, has, after eight months been stopped in his tracks – literally. Everyday Libyan citizens who fought for freedom from tyranny, now have their chance. Their challenges however, are massive
Read MoreKeep Calm... and your head in the sand
Don't panic, Mr Mannering! The message being delivered by everyone from Europe's finance ministers to the Bank of England seems to be one of wartime stoicism. But is that enough?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday September 27
New eurozone rescue plan would write down 50 percent of Greece's public debt; Euro itself now under threat, say experts; Islamist militants ambush Filipino soldiers on island of Jolo; suspected suicide bomber attacks church in central Java; World Bank triples aid to Horn of Africa; French Left wins majority in Senate for first time in 50 years, threatening Sarkozy's re-election bid; and more
Read MoreGreek default? Yawn. Recession? Sigh. But here's a coincidence...
The unsurprising surprise of Europe's economic woes and the IMF's latest predictions gets the once-over from new Pundit Fiona McMillan, a London-based New Zealand business journalist.
Read MoreWho is winning the 9/11 Wars?
Ten years after those terrible attacks, Al-Qaeda has changed the US way of life. At the same time, the US has fragmented the terror group and killed most of its leaders. So who's winning?
Read MoreDSK free to 'love' again
As Dominque Strauss-Kahn treated the cameras to a hint of a Gallic grin, it wouldn't be out of the question to ask both who was really on trial here and if the self-satisfied satyr could himself pass the lie test that set him free.
Read MoreAssad flips the bird to the international community
The Americans have finally ramped up sanctions and told Bashar al-Assad to resign as Syria's leader, but the thug's response is that he's there to stay and those who oppose him will be punished. He's can't work out the difference between blood and reform.
Read MoreThe battle for London is on...
The British government, caught off guard and on holdiay, has announced it will meet violent mobs head on with plastic bullets, water cannons and other policing methods required to bring the next Olympic city under control...but for how long?
Read MoreThe debt that binds us
Americans may think that they are not in as much economic trouble as Greece but perhaps they should take a closer look, particularly if they factor in the game of chicken their politicians are playing with their futures.
Read MoreGod, or a guinea pig?
Mark Lynas suggests we should, in our God-like way, try a little geo-engineering. It is, after all, an emergency. If there is a God, he could be some distance from Mr Lynas, because that’s not what ‘dominion’ means
Read MoreAmerica's ugly, ideological hostage-takers
As the US hurtles towards debt default, there's a growing sense that Tea Party acolytes may well be prepared to deliberately tank the economy if it ensures a one-term Obama and future power for them. It is ugly ideology.
Read MoreSyrian Slaughter in the Arab Spring
From Jordan, Jane writes: The Arab Spring turned far more murderous, leaving the West, as well as Arab neighbours, to do little but talk while Bashar the Butcher gets on with his slaughter
Read MoreLosing Sarah--meet the new Palin prototype, Michele Bachmann
Is it time to bid a fond farewell to Sarah Palin? We wish it wasn't so, but it seems there is a new wackadoo political force about to take centre stage in the US--Michele Bachmann.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday June 2
Heavy fighting continues in Yemen; two more activists killed in Yemen; Japan underestimated impact of tsunami, say nuclear experts; Chinese government attempts to contain soaring consumer prices; Syrian Opposition rejects amnesty; 9/11 suspects charged at Guantanamo; Mladic arrives at the Hague; and more
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