Television has not been kind to the government this week
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday October 15
Pakistan says US aid violates its sovereignty; China grows share of global trade; US sentate passes healthcare bill; Russia won't budge on Iran sanctions; and more
Read MoreThe Greens: leading from behind
“Where are the Greens?” chorus the political pundits. Well, they’re where they’ve always been, doing what they’ve always done—but there’s news about their alliance with the government
Read MoreAt What Price Peace?
Obama needed the Nobel Peace prize like another hole in the head, because it is effectively a set of virtual handcuffs on a President mired in war and global unrest—and don't his opponents know it
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday October 14
Clinton woos Russians to join Iran sanctions (+analysis); US has already sent more troops to Afghanistan; China and Russia agree gas and oil deals; North Korea may test more missiles; and more
Read MoreAfghanistan: time to lift the veil
John Key says his government will review the long-standing convention of secrecy over Special Air Service operations. He needs to lift the veil on much more than that
Perhaps Key can compare himself to Obama after all
John Key was roundly mocked last year when he claimed that he and Barack Obama had a lot in common. However the early months of their respective administrations suggest he was onto something
Read MoreNew Zealand's new best friend?
America's decision to re-start training with the New Zealand military eliminates the absurdity that our troops could die alongside US soldiers, but not train alongside them. But what will the rest of the world make of it?
Read MoreElectoral finance reform: back to the future?
Stage two of National's electoral finance reform proposals is out—and it looks oddly familiar
Read MoreHow not to sell your nation to tourists
And you thought John Key's bit on Letterman was a sad attempt at scaring up tourists. In Denmark the state tourism organisation filmed a fake YouTube appeal in which a hot Dane woman admitted her fling with a foreign visitor produced a child
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday October 9
Taliban take responsibility for Indian embassy bombing in Kabul; court says Dow Jones defamed Singapore's founder; Pakistan rejects US aid; Nigeria's MEND to resume attacks; and more
Read MoreTobacco companies cry hypocrisy—with cause
For a non-smoker it is a tough call to lean in the direction of tobacco companies, but the latest fad in Canada—sue the tobacco companies to pay for the health costs of their products—seems, well, a tad hypocritical and smells of more than just smoke.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday October 8
Obama rules out large troop reduction in Afghanistan (+analysis); Tensions rise in Jerusalem over Temple Mount; one million people flood-stricken in Philippines; Somali defence minister kidnapped
Read MoreBeing kind to the cruel: the animal welfare sentencing problem
Animal cruelty sentencing demonstrates a mercy not shown by the offenders to their furry victims. The offenders have something to say too, about all of us
Read MoreCoffee group dropout
Who wants to sit around and talk about nappies and gripe water anyway?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday October 7
Pentagon to teach US troops Afghan culture; Kim Jong-Il willing to rejoin Six-Party talks; Taliban: international aid not in "the interests of muslims"; Israeli leader cancels UK trip fearing arrest; and more
Read MoreEarth Insurance: a way to prepare for the worst
We pay insurance on our car, homes and contents, so why not on our planet? Why aren't we preparing for the worst, for our grandchildren's sake?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday October 6
Taliban attacks kill eight soldiers in Afghanistan (+America's strategic choices); Did Chinese Premier meet Kim Jong-Il?; Indonesia calls off search for quake survivors; Ireland ratifies Lisbon Treaty; and more
Read MoreKicking out the jams
Everyone is talking about economic recovery – but where is the transformation we were supposed to make?
The proverbial brewery piss up... in a coal mine
If you've struggled to gauge the direction of this government, on energy efficiency policy at least, its ad libbing days are numbered. But the lignite to urea fertiliser proposal is fool's gold
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