Dammit, Sarah Palin has as much charisma as Barack Obama
Read MoreScience funding fails to share building's vision
The cutting-edge Academy of Arts and Sciences that opens in San Francisco this weekend is at odds with America's slack approach to science these days. I visited the amazing building in March.
Read MoreNational News Brief, Thursday September 25
Maori Party complain of pressure in privileges committee vote; tuberculosis scare at Auckland City Hospital; Fonterra cuts payout, wary of joint ventures; retiring MPs; workers waste time online; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday September 24
UN's annual debate begins; Bush's last general assembly; Countries block Chinese dairy products; doubts grow over US bail-out; and more
Read MoreNational News Brief, Wednesday September 24
Tainted milk complaints as early as last December; Winston is censured; John Key admits TranzRail mistake; free trade deal with US could take years to benefit NZ; difficult students cost big; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday September 23
Investment banks accept new regulation; White House and Congress agree on bail-out; Japan elects new PM; Bush and Hu talk about financial turmoil; and Mbeki resigns
Read MoreIs John Key the new Winston Peters?
The striking similarities between the Peters and Key allegations, and the partisan politics surrounding them.
Read MoreNational News Brief, Tuesday September 23
US to negotiate free trade deal; Peters found guilty by privileges committee; Key changes tune on rail shares; science funding up 23%; and more
Read MoreNational News Brief, Monday September 22
Orewa development goes bust; teachers injured on the job; NZ may get crimeline; Winston Peters' judgment day; rogue pack of cyclists cross Harbour Bridge; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, September 19
US stocks rebound as government plans 'bad bank'; short-selling explained; Chinese milk recall; Thaksin the puppet-master; and North Korea to 'go its own way' on nukes.
Read MoreReligion's left turn
US evangelicals aren't the conseratives the used to be. And the implications for the election couldn't be bigger
Read MoreAmerica - Country or Continent?
Given the number of sub-cultures in America, it's a wonder the country holds together as 'one nation under God'.
Read MoreCongress and the generals
George Bush insists the generals, not congress should be running the Iraq war. So why didn't he listen to military chiefs in the first place?
Read MoreBehind the curve
For half a century science has played a crucial part in America's international dominance. Now the rest of the world is catching up - fast.
Read MoreAs the US gets left behind
The US is not at the forefront of any debate that matters, except war and terrorism. The rest of the world is moving on without it.
Read MoreKilling the messenger
By reading this article online, you may be complicit in the slow death of newspapers
Read MoreCondoleezza Rice's South Pacific vacation
After years of neglect, the US is realising it can't afford to ignore its allies in the Pacific
Read MoreSecond Generation Biofuels
Global food shortages have made biofuels unpopular, but are we throwing out the biofuels out with the bathwater?
Read MoreNational News Brief, Friday September 19
Global financial crisis hits NZ; don't worry, says Brash; Hanover owners put up $96 million; Winston Peters has a go at SFO; Indian drugs may be banned; and more
Read MoreNational News Brief, Thursday September 18
Fonterra's Chinese nightmare; new police powers 'draconian'; Peters back before committee while Labour goes after his supporters; Greens promote new Hillary holiday; and more
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