Ivorian strongman clings to power in his bunker but second attack imminent (+ analysis and multimedia); African neighbours offer Gbagbo exile as ICC launches investigation; Gulf Council seeks to remove Yemen's Saleh; US Congress negotiations on knife-edge; Japan may increase nuclear evacuation zone; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday April 7
Ouattara soldiers raid presidential compound, Gbagbo negotiates with UN; Did the West fail Cote D'Ivoire?; White House warns no "clear path" to Af-Pak victory; Republicans "moving the goalposts" in US Budget standoff; International pressure demands change in Yemen; and more
Read MoreGitmo - the gift that keeps on, errr, taking...
Fear of terrorists - real or imagined - has against triumphed in the US as the Obama Administration has been forced to concede the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks will be tried by military court, in Guantanamo, thereby breaking two major Obama election promises.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday April 6
Cote D'Ivoire strongman on verge of surrender although violence continues (+ analysis); Japan faces rebuild on scale with 1945; Libyan diplomats offer elections, but stand by Qaddafi; Karzai orders investigation into protests he fanned; UN plane crashes killing 32; and more
Read MoreThe return of Hone Heke
So Hone Heke's bones are to be moved... What an excellent opportunity for us to re-connect with one of the great characters of New Zealand history and maybe build a new industry at the same time
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday April 5
Greek PM, Libya's deputy foreign minister and Qaddafi's sons emerge as possible peace negotiators (+ analysis); Rebels in push to recapture Brega; Japan relealses low level radioactive water; Soldiers kill protesters in Yemen; Obama announces 2012 reelection run; and more
Read MoreEugenie Sage, speaking truth to power
Sacked ECan regional councillor and life-long conservationist Eugenie Sage talks about ECan, doing conservation better, and her aspirations to and for Parliament, as the Green Party's Selwyn candidate
Read MoreJudith Tizard says no thanks... and does it in style
Whatever else you say about Judith Tizard, you gotta admit she won the final round and showed some real chutzpah in announcing her political career over
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday April 1
Qaddafi's foreign minister flees to Britain (+ analysis); CIA and MI6 'on the ground' in Libya assisting and assessing rebels; Assad panel to re-think Syrian emergency laws; Radiation levels in Japanese seawater grow; Negotiations on Capitol Hill hope to avert US governemtn shutdown; and more
Read MoreMoussa Koussa - Qaddafi's big defector
If Libya's Foreign Minister's defection is the start of the palace coup, will it mean the allies supporting the rebels can avoid having to arm them? Afterall who are these guys who go to war in the family car?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday March 31
US and Euro leaders debate whether to arm Libyan rebels; Rebels retreat from oil towns as Qaddafi advances again; Syrian President fails to lift emergency laws; Fukushima plant owners fail to control reactors; Cricket unites but India wins; and more
Read MoreCrystal Valley, and the conservation state
In 2004, the Nature Heritage Fund funded DOC’s Crystal Valley purchase, because of its outstanding conservation values. Last week DOC agreed to give part of the Valley, freehold, to Porter Heights Ski Field, to build an alpine lodge. What’s changed?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday March 30
Global leaders meet to affirm unity of purpose in Libya; US officials warn rebels lack organisation to hold gains; Radioactive water puts Japan on "maximum alert"; Over 120 dead in Yemen explosion; How sound are Chinese loans?; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday March 29
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
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