NATO warplanes bomb Qaddafi's hometown as rebel attack (+ analysis); Obama to address nation and Turkey offers to mediate; Yemeni president retracts resignation offer; Democrats and Republicans set to clash again on Budget cuts; Fukushima workers face new threat; and more
Read MoreWhy Phil Goff is safe... and from whom
The Labour leader has shown his sincerity over the Hughes case, but was he wise? How safe is his leadership? And where oh where was the plan?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday March 25
Qaddafi forces press forward as coalition airstrikes turn to ground forces (+ multimedia); Questions arise about lack of support for other uprisings in region; Japan food banned amidst fears of tainted food; At least ten dead in Syrian mosque attack; Portugal PM resigns complicating EU summit; and more
Read MoreSentence first - verdict afterwards!
Defending Darren Hughes may well be a fruitless task. But here's an attempt to do so ...
Read MoreThe perils of being Darren Hughes
The case of the latest MP in trouble shows once again how perilous it is to risk becoming an MP -- and how party selection processes militate for MPs who are 'safe', to the detriment of democracy
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday March 24
Obama says again he wants US to relinquish "leading role" in Libya; Qaddafi remains defiant; Tokyo water is unsafe for infants, but there is no immediate threat to adults, officials say; Australians protest proposed carbon tax; Six killed in Syrian mosque raid; Portuguese lawmakers to vote on austerity measures; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday March 23
Coalition bombing close to eliminating Libyan air defences; US tries to hand over leadership as F-15 crashes and allies divide (+ analysis and multimedia); Karzai announces Bamiyan hand-over from July; Japanese radiation spreads to marine life; Europe agrees on vast rainy-day fund; and more
Read MoreWhat is success in Libya?
As the allies drop bombs on pro-Qaddafi troops in Libya, little – or perhaps no thought has been given to an exit plan nor what happens if the Libyan despot survives?
Read MoreQuakes & Hades: What John Key and Ken Ring share
The Budget - zero or otherwise- has suddenly become even more important than ever, as the government tries to borrow without incurring debt and cut spending without taking money from the economy
Read MoreCuriouser and curiouser: Government u-turns on austerity measures and tax cuts
The government’s austerity measures are exactly what they ruled out in 2009. And so is their defence of cutting taxes in a fiscal hole. This tells us more about backroom dealings in the Beehive than about a good plan to get New Zealand back on track.
Read MoreOf chickens, and eggs
NAWAC’s proposed new minimum standard, for ‘enriched’ cages for battery hens, still denies the hens the daily things that bring most joy to their clucking hearts: freedom, and humanity
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday March 22
Allied air strikes protect anti-regime rebels, but Qaddafi forces repel advances (+ analysis & multimedia); Electricity back on at Fukushima plant, but cooling systems not working; Military leaders switch sides in Yemen; Obama holds up Brazil as model for protesting states; and more
Read MoreNuclear policy meltdown
Assuming nuclear-generated power for New Zealand is a non-issue, what should be our stance on it globally?
Read MoreDon't let our youth go to waste ...
I'm nearly 40. I'm working on my grumpy old man persona. Bloody young people and their goshdarnit ways ...
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday March 18
Helicopters and water cannon turned on Japanese nuclear plant, putting workers at risk (+ analysis); Millions without power as 9000 still missing and death toll tops 5000; US backs Libya no-fly zone, warning bombings would be necessary; Violence spreads in Cote d'Ivoire; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday March 17
Nuclear crisis grows with further damage to reactors (+ analysis); Japanese Emperor makes rare public appearance to urge "hope"; China postpones nuclear projects; Pakistan court frees CIA's Raymond Davis; Violent crackdown in Bahrain; and more
Read MoreThere's glory for you!
There'll be a lot of silliness before National's foreshore and seabed law gets passed. Here's my contribution.
Read MoreImagining a green manifesto
The Greens’ policy platform needs as much rebuilding as any other party’s, to make it strong and sustainable
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday March 16
Japanese PM warns of "very high" radiation leak risk; Nuclear industry faces renewed scrutiny amidst crisis; Nikkei loses sixth of value in two days; China to avoid exchange rate negotations at G20; Iran angry as foreign troops enter Bahrain, Intelligence reports question Afghan surge, one year on; and more
Read MoreEnough Already - The Rozzers' Powers Need Curbing
The Police have more than enough laws to fight crime, it's just that they're not using them effectively. The two old parties - National and Labour - can just stop giving them more legislation. When did you ever hear the Rozzers say, "Thank you very much, we have enough power now."?
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