US opts out of European missile shield (+ analysis); Intelligence sources say Iran isn't developing nuclear weapons; Burmese political prisoner numbers double; China-Venezuela oil deal; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday September 17
Joint Chiefs add voice to calls for more troops in Afghanistan; Bernanke: recession is over; Japan's PM named; Bombs detonate in Baghdad as Biden arrives; and more
Read MoreEmissions trading: learn to count, and look before you leap
Emissions trading just got interesting, in ways the government probably didn’t intend. They’ve mastered the first lesson, but maybe not the second
Read MoreHealthcare reform needs some Obama mongrel
Presdident Obama has finally woken from his summer slumber to find the health care reform juggernaut almost out of his reach. It is time for him to show some political mongrel to regain control—for the sake of America, but also those around the world who would like him to be more than a one-termer
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday September 16
EU does deal to confirm Iran nuclear talks; Who will lead the Chinese Communist Party from 2012?; Musharraf says US money was spent to fight India; WTO reveals growing protectionism; and more
Read MoreMayoral endorsements and shemozzles: Back Benches in Auckland
At Back Benches' Auckland special, a royal commissioner took aim at the local board structure and Len Brown got a major and surprising endorsement
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday September 15
Trade tiff between US and China; victims of needle stabbings get all-clear; Iran to meet with international community; Russia to fund weapons for Venezuela; and more
Read MoreNational's border patrol lottery: biosecurity at risk
Biosecurity New Zealand is cutting the number of staff who protect us from pests and drug smugglers. It makes a lie out of National's 'money to the frontline' promises and is creating some unusual political bedfellows
Read MoreOur Afghanistan strategy – play it by ear
Official papers reveal our new strategy – or lack of it – for military involvement, civilian aid and international diplomacy in war-torn
Burying the lead
For all the government secrecy, it seems that the SAS is back in Afghanistan, ready to be sent to the frontline. It says so in the paper on, er, page 35, paragraph eight.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday September 11
Intelligence: Iran has enough nuclear fuel for a bomb; War crime investigations in Afghanistan; Australia launches investigation into Balibo Five; At least 26 dead in Iraqi bombings; and more
Read MoreSpring forward: my garden year starts here
My garden story begins in August, when the plum trees blossom
Read MoreAvoiding real life: the Back-up Plan and the Life List
When the day-to-day has lost its lustre, devise a plan to climb Kilimanjaro or learn book-binding. You'll immediately feel better and, hey, one day you might actually do it
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday September 10
European leaders call for Afghanistan summit after disputed election; China plans world's biggest solar plant; America freezes North Korean assets; 12 dead after drone attack in Pakistan; and more
Read MoreCanada, the ultimate NIMBY
Canada's taking its fight against having to repatriate one of its citizens from Guantanamo all the way to the Supreme Court. But rejecting the former child soldier leaves the country open to charges of not in my backyard, merci
Read MoreReferendum Madness
Is it praiseworthy or plain dumb for a government to honour a stupid election promise?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday September 9
Investigation into German airstrike that killed 125; Karzai says election fraud "inevitable"; Japan aims for 25% emissions cut by 2020; new Israeli settlement building; Iran and Venezuela oil deal; and more
Read MoreShock news: Some New Zealand media is quite good
The good news is that not all of Generation Y are narrow-minded, egotistical trivialists and TV3 has created a great new comedy show
Read MoreReturn of the overstayer
The overstayer issue is back on the political agenda with the Supreme Court decision that there are fundamental flaws in Immigration New Zealand’s removal processes
Letter to Laws: Kids are doin' it for themselves
The hypocrisy was bad enough, but Michael Laws' ignorance is worse. How dare he say that young New Zealanders can't come to their own conclusions about issues that matter to them
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