Little violence, low turnout in Iraqi council elections; 20m Chinese workers laid off; Israel launches air strike on Gaza; new Iceland PM promises "new social values"; and more
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National News Brief, Tuesday February 3
Boy racers "sick of being picked on", but face new laws; Bonnie and Clyde couple captured; Dr Key does "health check" on banks; "modest" minimum wage increase planned; RMA changes announced today
Read MoreNational's Neros fiddling on tax and infrastructure
Almost a full economic quarter has passed since the election, and still we're waiting for government action on the worst recession since World War II. Tax cuts are still two months away and National is cutting back on infrastructure
Read MoreDistinguishing the noise from the melody
Alex Ross has written a useful and user-friendly history of 20th century music—from an American point of view
Read MoreNational News Brief, Monday February 2
Crack down on poorly performing schools; $1 billion of Auckland projects at risk; boy racers face Collins' wrath; tax break tipped for small and medium-sized businesses; Waitangi Day to be "more welcoming"; Vegemite under threat from health police
Read MoreCanadian PM's near-death experience forces budget about-face
Canada's minority Conservative Government has survived its first budget test after prematurely proroging Parliament late last year. However PM Stephen Harper is on a tight leash
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday January 30
US House passes $800 billion stimulus package, Senate next; Chinese PM attacks "blind pursuit of profit"; Afghan presidential elections postponed; Somali MPs to elect a new leader tomorrow; and more
Read MoreNational News Brief, Friday January 30
Banks under pressure to cut mortgage "break fees"; OCR at record low, but can't stop job cuts; Otago health chair refuses to resign; Aucklanders earn 20% more; and more
Read MorePay freeze tango begins
Obama’s White House has a freeze on $100,000 plus salaries. Key’s Beehive wants no increase in MPs' salaries this year. But what kind of example are these pay-freezers setting?
World News Brief, Thursday January 29
Davos economic summit opens amidst warnings of protectionism; South Korea's manufacturers in "big trouble"; Indonesia announces $6 billion stimulus; Russia suspends missile deployments; and more
Read MoreNational News Brief, Thursday January 29
Farmers hope for lower interest rates after milk payout slashed; Fonterra refuses to release phone minutes; Maori want piece of infrastructure pie; fossils suggest New Zealand may not have been submerged 22m years ago; and more
Read MoreFonterra's excuses don't wash, it's time to front up
Fonterra won't hold any of its own accountable for the contaminated milk scandal, while the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre says no-one's to blame for last year's canyoning deaths. Both lack the guts to simply put their hands up and take responsibility
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday January 28
Border fighting tests Gaza ceasefire; Iceland government collapses; China's PM beings European tour; Obama gives first presidential interview to Arab channel; and more
Read MoreNational News Brief, Wednesday January 28
Sanlu kept selling tainted milk because of Fonterra document, says chairwoman; Milk payout to be cut today; Pacific Islands Forum rules on Fiji; SIS releases "salacious" files; and more
Read MoreThe scent of the show
Novelist Kelly Ana Morey searches for the classic battered hot dog at the Warkworth A & P Show and recalls her pony eventing past. Photographs by Kelly Ana Morey.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday January 27
Tamil Tigers "cornered", war close to end; China plans new space station; Zimbabwe divides southern African leaders as talk begin; Number of Japanese companies falls; and more
Read MoreThe dogs of war... and warring dogs
Making quality television can be a tough job when there are dog shows to attend, old soldiers to cajole, and Jim Hickey to contend with
Read MoreNational News Brief, Monday January 27
Fiji almost certain to be expelled from Commonwealth; man killed trying to help beaten woman; motorway shooting "justified"; developers shell out for leaky homes; airline price wars create cross-Tasman deals; confidential military files found on $18 MP3 player
Read MoreIf a crime tax is the answer, what was the question?
The government's proposed Victims' Compensation Scheme seems to a victory of politics over principle and purpose. What's it meant to achieve? And if we all think victim compensation is such a decent idea, why don't we pay for it?
Read MoreNational News Brief, Monday January 26
The police shooting of Halatau Naitoko; John Key's first Pacfic Island Forum; where are New Zealand's least affordable houses?; police strike deal with "stalker" mum; and more
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