Debt could undermine American global influence (+ Davos analysis); China warns US off meeting Dalai Lama; Malaysian sodomy trial; New al Qaeda alliance in Africa; and more
Read MoreHow many years is an animal's life worth?
I have a pet. Being cruel to animals is wrong. But why put more people in jail for it?
Read MoreCubicle dairy farming: were the secret consents unlawful?
Don’t fire up the bulldozers in the McKenzie Basin just yet. Land use consents for cubicle dairy farms granted by the Waitaki District Council may need to be reheard
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday February 2
Obama announces Budget set to grow deficit before cutting it by 2013 (+ analysis); US to build missile shield in Middle-East; Nuclear powers stalling on non-proliferation; Taiwan to buy $6.4 billion in arms; and more
Read MoreKey lifts the SAS veil – a little bit
World News Brief, Friday January 29
Obama's first State of the Union address all about the economy; North Korea holding American man; Clinton calls for Yemen reforms; new Honduran President takes power; more economic gloom on the way; and more
Read MoreWho pays the price of tax cuts for the rich?
The Tax Working Group has concluded that it's just too hard to stop tax avoidance by the rich. Their solution is the tax equivalent of allowing doping in sport
Read MoreSummer’s ill wind and thunderclouds
Weather’s this summer’s talking point. But here’s the newsworthy bit: in the Wellington region, the weather’s been great
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday January 28
Yemen and Afghanistan peace conference opens in London as US lead secret ops in Yemen; North and South Korea exchange fire; signs of recovery in Japanese economy; State of the Union priorities: spending freeze and education; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday January 27
US deficit to be focus of tonight's State of the Union address; Iran opposition leaders back Ahmadinejad; France to ban veils when 'using publlic services'; Dalai Lama envoys in China for Tibet talks; and more
Read MoreWillie Apiata, the “Jesus gun” and other secrets
War hero Willie Apiata is back on the frontline. New Zealand troops are armed with so-called “Jesus guns”. Our troops are training Afghan soldiers and police in counter-insurgency operations. Now, why shouldn’t we know that?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday January 26
US debates Haitian immigration; China accuses Google of being a pawn in America's "ideology war"; White House tries to whip up support for Bernanke; Greece "won't quit eurozone; and more
Read MoreThree strikes against the three strikes bill
Targetting repeat offenders makes sense, but the three strikes bill has fundamental flaws that undermine our judiciary and make us less safe. That's right, less safe
Read MoreCan London deliver us from the Taliban?
This week the countries bogged down in Afghanistan meet in London to set new goals for their international mission and Hamad Karzai's government. But against a growing Taliban insurgency and runaway corruption, can talk deliver tangibles?
Read MoreAdvice from Fat Elvis
We're nearly one-twelfth of the way into 2010, but if you're averse to new year's resolutions it takes that long to make them
Read MoreWillie Apiata: the photo the army published
The New Zealand Defence Force is going to talk to the Herald about its use of Willie Apiata's photo. Perhaps it wants to take the photos of him off its own website first?
Read MoreOutflanked by a Cosmo centrefold
The brain in the White House appears to have been outsmarted by the brawn of a nude centrefold, as Obama's filibuster-proof Senate number has been whipped away by a man once voted America's Sexiest Man. You couldn't make this stuff up.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday January 22
Chinese growth tops 10% as Obama announces limits on US banks (+ analysis); Untreated wounds and disease now greatest risk in Haiti; Karzai offers land and pensions to retiring Taliban; China on Google complaints; and more
Read MoreCitizen involvement in the New Auckland
With postal voting for the new Auckland Council now less than eight months away, it seems that local boards will have some clout as they seek to represent the will of the people
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday January 21
Troops arrive in Haiti, work to open more airfields amidst aftershocks (+ analysis of what's next); Obama's healthcare plans at risk after Massachusetts loss; South Korea promises pre-emptive strike; Nigerian military enforce curfew, 4,000 displaced; and more
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