WTO ruling urges China to ease restrictions on DVD and internet sales; Lockerbie bomber may be freed; Taiwan troops help mudslide rescue; Russia commits military support to breakaway republic; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday August 13
World opinion condemns San Suu Kyi conviction (+analysis); hundreds survive Taiwan mudslides; Kuwait terror plot foiled; charges laid against Musharraf; and more
Read MoreNew Zealand's role in Sri Lanka's civil war
Is New Zealand inadvertently supporting the cause of the Tamil Tigers?
Read MoreAfghanistan: Where is that exit?
The Prime Minister’s announcement that the SAS will return to combat duties in
World News Brief, Wednesday August 12
Obama backtracks on immigration promise and targets drug war; Aung San Suu Kyi convicted; Hundreds feared dead in Taiwan; Iraq death toll reaches 100 in four days; and more
Read MoreThe unlikely wisdom of returning to war
Although it goes against all my instincts, sending the SAS back to Afghanistan makes sense. What other path is there to peace?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday August 11
Drugs, trade and immigration on agenda at North American summit; ETA re-emerges with Mallorca explosions; Israel bombs Gaza smuggling tunnel; Beijing air quality improves; and more
Read MoreFast followers: the government’s lead free pencil
The government does have a philosophy – a “fast follower” philosophy. But as it goes to and fro on its climate change policies, it's allowing other parties to take the lead
Read MoreKim Jong-Il plays with the Americans. Again
By demanding that none other than Bill Clinton come to resuce the imprisoned US journalists, the reclusive Kim Jong-Il has added to Barack Obama's foreign policy headache
Read MoreDying for an invitation to Washington
With the government's announcement on sending the SAS to Afghanistan due any day, it's time to stop pretending. They will say yes. And John Key will be responsible for any deaths
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday August 7
Easing traffic woes in Baghdad could pave way for terrorists; US troop withdrawl from Iraq; pressure on North Korea to re-enter Six-Party Talks; Clinton to meet Somali president; and more
Read MoreParliament: No longer virgin, but not yet a whore
Taito Phillip Field's conviction on corruption charges marks a low point for our Parliament. But if that is as low as it goes, it's still not doing all that bad
Read MoreBill English: Let them eat cake
Airy dismissals, as Marie Antoinette found, can be lethal for politicians. National is learning that lesson
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday August 6
US journalists' release could open door to North Korea talks; Charges laid in Aussie terror plot; Russian subs off US coast; Clinton urges intra-Africa trade; and more
Read MoreA mirror full of memories
Haircuts are milestones on the journey of life
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday August 5
Bill Clinton's surprise visit to North Korea (+analysis); Australian suicide bomb plot; Tribal slaughter in Sudan; Venezuelan govt. takes over coffee mills
Read MoreThe DJ Bill English tax re-mix
While the media was focused on other stories, Bill English quietly killed off National's tax cut policy this weekend. But that doesn't mean we can take our eyes off our tax system
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday August 4
Ahmadinejad sworn in as protest leaders boycott ceremony; Bloody weekend as troops killed in Afghanistan; Plague hits China; Israeli foriegn minister faces indictment; and more
Read MoreCarbon footprint: what's your size?
Carbon footprint calculation is a murky science. What to do, when you’ve done everything that you can, and it still might not be enough? Answer: hug a tree
Read MoreAfghanistan: Stop fudging the facts
Mainstream media wakes up to some questionable aspects of