NATO & Afghan forces repel most complex assault on Kabul in decade of war; 11 killed as Taliban strengthens its negotiating hand (+ analysis); China to target domestic growth and buy Euro debt; Moody's cuts ratings of French banks; US tries to block UN vote on Palestine; African Union asks world to seize moment against militant group; and more
Read MoreThe seal basher, and the hang ‘im high club
Twelve months in prison for clubbing to death 23 seals, injuring others, leaves nobody with anything to celebrate.
Read MoreThe powerful Professor Mutu
Margaret Mutu has stirred the pot with comments about restricting white immigration. But the true bite comes in her claim that she can't be racist, a claim that no longer holds water
Read MoreEconomics & asset sales: Why governments get consistently ripped off
Governments are bad negotiators, because democracy demands they tip their hand before going to the bargaining table. That means governments get the short end of asset sale deals
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday September 13
European stocks drop as fears over Greek debt default increase; three French banks at risk of being downgraded by credit agency Moody's; violent clashes between Christians and Muslims in Indonesia; China's trade surplus at $17.8 billion for August; South African youth league leader guilty of hate speech; US marks 10th anniversary of 9/11 attacks; and more
Read MoreA real reason for road rage - Auckland's trains and no loop
The misuse of Don McKinnon, the road rage of Tau Henare and how the Rugby World Cup train debacle is just a foretaste of things to come for Auckland
Read MoreWho is winning the 9/11 Wars?
Ten years after those terrible attacks, Al-Qaeda has changed the US way of life. At the same time, the US has fragmented the terror group and killed most of its leaders. So who's winning?
Read MoreOMG, that's the cream of the Republican crop?
A God-quoting, science-doubting, swaggering Governor from Texas for President...what could possibly go wrong?
Read MoreOMG that's the cream of the Republican crop?
A God-quoting, science doubting, swaggering former Governor from Texas for President...what could possibly go wrong?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday September 9
Qaddafi denies fleeing to Niger in audio message; Libyan rebels say they are closing in on Qaddafi; HSBC to cut 3000 jobs in Hong Kong; militant Turkistan Islamic Party has claimed responsibility for deadly attacks in China's Xinjiang region; Obama to reveal jobs plan to Congress; Italy's upper house passes austerity plan to save $75 billion; and more
Read MoreAuckland looks great, now let's smile, eh?
The work of many years looks to have paid off in our largest city. New Zealanders seem to be putting the rugby corporate nonsense behind them. But can we all now start acting like good hosts?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday September 8
Bomb at New Delhi High Court kills at least nine, Islamist extremists claim responsibility (+ analysis); Australia's economy bounces back; German court rules Euro bailouts legal, but imposes restrictions; South Korea to buy missiles for islands bordering North Korea; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday September 7
Pakistan captures senior al-Qaeda leader who planned attacks on US, Europe and Australia; as 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, experts discuss its impact on civil liberties, homeland security, immigration and more; inflation is China's most urgent economic concern, says World Bank; Turkey has suspended diplomatic ties with Israel; Indian PM visits Bangladesh; 750,000 people at risk of death in Somalia; and more
Read MoreAmerica's 9/11: Ten Years After
As the tenth anniversary of September 11 approaches, Americans are learning what Hope and Change really mean... Is Osama bin Laden still winning?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday September 2
Libyan Council to address world leaders in Paris on election plans; Claims Qaddafi cornered in desert town (+ analysis); China wants UN-led reconstruction in Libya; Syrian official claims to have seen 70 executions; Three Pakistani soliders die in stand-off with India; Philippines seeks Chinese investment in resource sector; and more
Read MoreA new (moo) era for the farmers' voice?
Does the change of political leadership at Federated Farmers amount to a quiet, green revolution? Are farmers realising just how much they've lost touch with urban New Zealand and doing something about it?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday September 1
Rebels in Tripoli divided along geographic lines with no unifying leader; Libyan rebels rejected UN's offer of peacekeeping troops to help with transition; Australia's High Court blocked Julia Gillard's plan to send 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia; latest WikiLeaks release includes names of Australians linked to Yemeni terror groups; Hurricane Irene damage estimated at $7 billion; economic growth in South Africa slows; and more
Read MoreNew Zealand's strange relationship with prisons
New Zealand is widely perceived as a safe country and yet we don't seem to feel safe -- and 20,000 Kiwis spend time in prison each year
Read MoreLatest polls - conservatism triumphant & the accidental leader?
For all the volatility in the latest round of polls, not much has changed. Indeed, change seems to be the last thing voters want right now
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday August 31
Libyan rebels are giving Qaddafi loyalists until Saturday to surrender; Qaddafi's whereabouts unknown--some of his family members are sheltering in Algeria; People's Bank of China is reining in lending; Japan's sixth prime minister in five years elected; Pentagon wasted $30 billion on wartime contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan, says report; Angela Merkel warns indebted eurozone countries to make substantial efforts to reduce debt; and more
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