Pakistan commits to Islamic law in Swat valley as Taliban grows in Punjab; Thai protests subside; North Korea threatens to quit Six-Party talks; US changes Iran policy; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday April 14
Thai military clash with red-shirts; China plans ASEAN investment fund; Sri Lankan truce allows civilians to flee; Moldovan election recount; and more
Read MoreGetting Tied Up in Knots Over a Plastic Bag Tax
John Key shot down Nick Smith's idea of a plastic bag tax, much to the delight of the citizens of Palmerston North. But should he have given it a bit more thought?
Read MoreDecisions, dissent and the myths of collective cabinet responsibility
Pita Sharples attack on the Government's decision to drop Maori seats from Auckland's supercity proposals probably breached collective cabinet responsibility. So what?
Read MoreThe little gardener
Once upon a time, wrote Oscar Wilde, there lived little Hans the miller’s friend. Hans lived in a tiny cottage all by himself and worked in his garden every day—like the heroine of this story
Read MoreKiwi jobs for Kiwi workers
Sadly, New Zealand unions are delivering the same rhetoric as nationalist political parties worldwide
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday April 9
US seeks Indian support for "Af-Pak" strategy; Thaksin protests in Bangkok intensify; Somali pirates are back; Moldova expels Romanian ambassador; and more
Read MoreSuper City - or Super Mess
Central Government is speeding into the stormy waters of local government in
Celebrating New Zealand science books
The Royal Society of New Zealand recently announced five finalists for their inaugural Science Book Prize
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday April 8
US to cut war spending, "direct challenge to military-industrial complex"; China urges restraint towards North Korea; Thai protestors trap PM in hotel; Raul Castro meets US lawmakers; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday April 7
Obama meets Turkish president; Russia and China wary of protesting N Korea rocket launch; what's behind protests in Thai capital; Baghdad bombings; and more
Read MoreTwo-and-a-bit cheers for National's review of electoral finance law
It's not exactly what I would have done, but National's process for reviewing electoral finance laws is largely to be commended
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday April 3
G20 summit addresses free trade and IMF; G2 emerges from US-China meeting; Anti-govt protests in Bangkok enter second week; European Central Bank to cut interest rates; and more
Read MoreHelen Clark: frighteningly inspiring
Austere, tough, and cockroach-like in her ability to survive political fallout, yet in her 28-year Parliamentary career Helen Clark inspired a legion of loyal staffers
Read MoreCanadians ask why their soldiers died to protect extremist laws
The 116 Canadian soldiers who have died in Afghanistan were not sacrificed for the sake of interfering with women's rights
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday April 2
Obama meets Brown while Sarkozy and Hu express hopes on eve of G20; Netanyahu sworn in as Israeli PM; Japanese business confidence hits record low; US-Russia talk arms reduction; and more
Read MoreAfghanistan – what is the new govt's strategy?
President Obama is in Europe this week to sell allies on a new strategy for
World News Brief, Wednesday April 1
Clinton offers Iran "reconciliation"; China to launch new stock exchange; Britain troops being withdrawal from Iraq; Arab leaders host Latin presidents; and more
Read MoreSo much rubbish: a story in search of some facts
Our politicians seem incapable of giving us straight facts on the serious matter of waste reduction. If only MPs would talk more rubbish...
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday March 31
Pakistani police target of bombings; Pakistani turmoil explained; South Korea opposes retaliation to rocket launch; China to re-open Tibet's borders; and more
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