NATO helicopters required to end standoff in Kabul hotel, at least 21 killed; Afghanistan raid shows local forces taking a lead on security but also better organised Taliban; Greek austerity bill passes; Sudan ceasefire agreed; Former Thai seeks comeback despite corruption and terror charges; US wars cost well over US$3 trillion – was it worth it?; and more
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Extracting information on military operations in Afghanistan from the New Zealand Defence Force is difficult at the best of times. The Christmas Eve NZSAS raid on the business premises of the Afghan Tiger Group in Kabul last year was not one of NZDF’s best times...
Read MoreBy all means let's debate the pros and cons of MMP. But it ain't going anywhere in November.
Read MoreExtracting information on military operations in Afghanistan from the New Zealand Defence Force is difficult at the best of times. The Christmas Eve NZSAS raid on the business premises of the Afghan Tiger Group in Kabul last year was not one of NZDF’s best times...
Read MoreGreek workers strike ahead of parliament's decision on austerity (+ analysis: no easy solutions); International court issues warrant for Qaddafi and son; Afghan central banker flees after exposing embezzlement; Obama confident debt deal is close; Japanese PM promises to resign; and more
Read MoreA day out campaigning suggests two factors Labour has in its favour as we approach the serious end of the electoral cycle. And no, they're not what you expect
Read MoreGuess who is sitting centre stage of the new campaign to defeat proportional representation?
Read MoreFresh water ecologist Dr Mike Joy responds to the Prime Minister’s ‘hardtalk’, debunking his bland assertions, and calling his advice “rubbish science”, that would fail a first-year student
Read MoreFour protesters die in Syria as Foreign Minister insists "there is no crackdown"; Intellectuals and activists seek peace at Damascus meeting (+ analysis); Palestinians turn to UN for statehood support; Karzai accuses Pakistan after attacks on Af-Pak border; Khmer Rouge trials begin; and more
Read MoreNational is quietly dripfeeding dangerous new housing policies to an unsuspecting public and hopes no-one will notice
Read MoreHone Harawira is back in parliament, but his rebirth looks to spell the end for the Maori Party's dream of a united Maori voice. For all the talk of conciliation, the more likely outcome is a battle to the death
Read MoreNew Zealand is heading for a digital divide that will see a substantial portion of the population disadvantaged by the change. The rot starts with our free-to-air television broadcasting system and expands with the introduction of the ultrafast broadband internet.
Read MoreYeah, he's a dinosaur and all that. Yes, it's given good fodder for comics, talkback and office wags. But Alasdair Thompson has a few points in his favour. And I've got a few questions about the media coverage
Read MoreResidents of Christchurch's Red Zone now have two offers they can choose from. But they really do have to choose one or the other.
Read MoreObama opts for large Afghanistan troop withdrawl with a promise to "start nation-building at home" (+ analysis); Fears of Taliban takeover as US troops leave; Chinese artist Ai Weiwei released on bail; China warns US to stay out of South China Sea tensions; Relations between Syria and Turkey sour while India and Pakistan hold peace talks; and more
Read MoreIt only took a moment, an instinct to get the last word. But Winston Peter's closing remarks on Q+A raise questions about his conviction and comebackability
Read MoreOpposition activists killed at pro-Assad rallies; EU extends Syria sanctions as analysts say US failing to act; UN Sec-Gen wins second term; Bahrani Shia rebels get life imprisonment; Greek PM narrowly wins no-confidence vote; Sudan threatens to cut off pipeline; and more
Read MoreJohn Key's brought some messy baggage back from Australia, and finds himself in a hole of his own making at a very sensitive time politically. Yet every new word just seems to make it worse
Read MorePhilip Field is trying to clear his name by arguing that while he acted corruptly, being a corrupt MP isn't against the law.
Read MoreGreek PM faces no confidence vote putting austerity measures in doubt; Ash clouds again ground planes in Australia; Obama to announces Afghanistan drawdown Wednesday evening – big or small?; Britain vows to stay the course in Libya despite civilian deaths; Sudan rebel attacks show faultlines to remain even after secession; and more
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