Something happens when politicians put on the steel helmet and flak jacket to join then troops on the battleground in Afghanistan – over there John Key couldn't stop talking. Back home, however, he's keen to keep secrets
World News Brief, Wednesday May 5
Times Square bomb suspect arrested as officials call for more CCTVs (+ analysis); Delegates walk out on Ahmadinejad; Red Shirts promise to continue fight; Wall St Journal does the maths and finds Greece bailout plan wanting; and more
Read MoreOfficial information exposes Carter on whaling
Chris Carter’s excoriation of the Key government on whaling is rubbished by official MFAT papers showing similar negotiations when Labour was the government and Carter whaling Minister
Read MoreCanada's secret government on trial
Endorsing Parliament's supremacy over government, Canada's Speaker has ordered secret documents concerning how Canadian troops handled Afghan detainees to be made available to the House
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday May 4
Global conference to review Nonproliferation Treaty begins as former UN rep calls for military strikes against Iran; Is Kim Jong-Il in China?; Nationwide strike stalls Nepal; European Bank the latest to offer lifeline to Greece; and more
Read MoreState of the environment: reports urge NZ to act
‘Clean, green’ New Zealand is the only OECD country without an Act requiring environment health checks. What will we do about it, asks the Parliamentary Commissioner?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday April 30
Merkel u-turns on Greece bailout urging speed (+analysis); Thai Yellow Shirts demand military action; Iran to attend nonproliferation conference to put heat on Israel; Afghanistan instability "levelling off" but public support falling, says Pentagon; and more
Read MoreJobs, jobs, jobs – the Key task
National and Labour need to look beyond their differences on government taxes and borrowing. The real challenge ahead is how New Zealand avoids a jobless recovery
Gordon Brown and the 'bigot'
The PM's two words that brought his campaign to a thudding halt... and what it means for the next few days on the trail
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday April 29
Greek debt downgraded to "junk status" as markets tumble and Germany delays (+analysis); Iraqiya bloc calls for caretaker government; Soldier dies amid further protests in Thailand; China takes stance on US chicken subsidies; and more
Read MoreThe business lobbies' dangerous hot air
The cowardice of the business lobbies are on display for all to see as they try the same old ETS stalling strategy. It's just dumb management
Read MoreTime to talk with the Taliban?
New Zealand's military chief wants to negotiate with the Taliban. It's a controversial approach that raises the classic question of whether we talk with terrorists... and dozens of other questions alongside
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday April 28
New Arizona law requiring immigrants to carry documentation "opens the door to hatred" (+ analysis); Australia shelves its emissions trading scheme until 2013; Iran looks for uranium in Zimbabwe; US and Israel relations thaw; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday April 27
US climate legislation delayed by Senate focus on immigration (+ analysis); Did a North Korean torpedo sink South Korean boat?; Afghan crowd turns on NATO fuel trucks; pressure comes on Greek bailout plan; and more
Read MoreMy week with Jake Tapper
This Week, ABC network’s political TV programme, missed the boat when they chose a new anchor – an anchor who isn’t Jake Tapper
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday April 23
Obama speech to spell out his demands for financial regulations (+ analysis); Israel snubs US and keeps building in East Jerusalem; Nigeria removed from terror list; tensions flare between government and military in South Korea; and more
Read MoreWho is indigenous? The coming question
New Zealand's support for the Declaration of Indigenous Rights ends one debate for Maori. But it begins another, one which strikes at heart of what it means to belong to this country
Read MoreThe Pope loves the Beatles, but who loves Il Papa?
As the latest Pope passes the five year milestone, rather than take the time to pardon the Beatles, he could do worse than reflect on advice from an American columnist
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday April 22
Planes flying across Europe again after 95,000 flight cancellations; Third al Qaeda leader killed in Iraq leaving terrorists "severely weakened"; G20 meeting to press China on currency; Somali pirates take fourth ship this week; and more
Read MoreThe price and profits of freedom farming
As consumers wake up to the false economy and cruelty of ‘factory’ meat and poultry, free range producers are bringing home the bacon while sales soar, according to industry sources
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