At last, some major policy announcements. And not just any old BPAs, but arguably the biggest ones of all -- savings and wages. Two sides of the same indebted coin and at the heart of building a prosperous New Zealand
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday October 18
Libyan NTC troops enter one of last two Qaddafi strongholds, raise new flag; William Hague holds talks with NTC on elections; Japan warns China against military expansion; Standard & Poors predicts 6.9% growth in Asia Pacific; Fighting breaks out again in Yemen; Occupy Wall St movement reaches round the world; and more
Read MoreToo much time, not enough phone
We're too dependent on our phones, right? Obsessed. But when you're cut off, all you can do is spend all that down-time coming up with conspiracy theories. As BlackBerry has found out after its (almost) worldwide outage
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday October 14
US approves free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama; trade agreements are expected to generate $13 billion in new exports for US; Julia Gillard drops asylum swap plan--will process asylum seekers onshore; South Korea will create task force to deal with crimes by US soldiers stationed there; Nigerian pleads guilty to US terror plot; Berlusconi calls for confidence vote in Italy; and more
Read MoreFlaming the blame game is shameful and lame
Is the government responsible for the Rena disaster? Is it to blame? Does it matter?
Read MoreIs this really how we have to remember Simon Power?
If torturing a prisoner will lead to more money for victims of crime, then isn't that a good thing to have happen?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday October 13
US Senate passes legislation to target China's currency policy while China warns of potential 'trade war' between the countries; Putin in China for $7 billion trade talks; Australia's lower house passes carbon tax for nation's 500 biggest polluters; US accuses Iranians of plot to kill Saudi Arabian ambassador in Washington; Sudanese people hit streets of Khartoum to protest food prices; and more
Read MoreSorry 'bout the spam
We're under attack, but we are doing all we can to put up some walls. Still, I'm taking bets on how long it'll be before some spammer adds a comment to this post...
Read MoreYou have the right to free speech as long as you're not dumb enough to actually try it
"Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form." Discuss.
Read MoreLuck has an unlady like way of running out - just ask John Key
It's been a bad week for the government and good for the Greens. Is the luck of the parties turning?
Read MoreThe turning tide for fossil fools
As black waves wash in to the Mount today from Rena, and political gods laugh in the face of adversity, has the tide turned for our PM and risen for the Greens?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday October 12
UN report finds "systematic" torture of detainees in Afghanistan, including electric shocks, as NATO forces drawdown; After ten years in Afghanistan, US goals for the war remain unclear; Burma to free thousands of prisoners as US claims "dramatic developments" were underway; Investigations into Egypts Coptic clashes; Chinese stockmarket boosted by government intervention; Despite EU warnings, Ukraine jails former Prime Minister; and more
Read MoreWayne Mapp's final Afghan torture test
Defence Minister Wayne Mapp faces his final torture test this week, when UNAMA releases a critical report on mistreatment of prisoners in Afghan detention centres.
Read MoreThe battle for the north – Hone's close call
Hone Harawira hung onto Te Tai Tokerau in the June by-election after he left the Maori Party. But things have changed since then, which means Mana can take nothing for granted
Read MoreIs New Zealand becoming a prison colony?
The Corrections Department wants to build a new 1,000 bed prison at Wiri for $424 million - based on justice sector projections from 2010. The projections for 2011, however, show a new prison is no longer needed
Read MoreLet them eat...err..doughnuts?
American reality - where the uber-wealthy operate under socialism, and capitalism is for the rest. It is a game of nationalised losses and privatised profits, and those occupying Wall St are calling it to account.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday October 7
Libyan rebels finally enter Sirte with the help of air-strikes (+ analysis); Aid agencies warns of growing humanitarian crisis; Apple founder Steve Jobs dies – tributes flow; Merkel wants more capital to protect German banks; Former Japanese party leader on trial for false accounting; UNESCO clears way for Palestine to join; and more
Read MoreKeep Calm... and your head in the sand
Don't panic, Mr Mannering! The message being delivered by everyone from Europe's finance ministers to the Bank of England seems to be one of wartime stoicism. But is that enough?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday October 5
Eurozone finance ministers refuse to approve more bailout funds to Greece without more austerity cuts (+ analysis on default); Euro bank stocks continue to slide; China warns of trade war with US; Suicide bombing in Somalia kills at least 70; US likely to pass long-awaited free-trade deals; Panetta criticises Congress on Palestine; and more
Read MoreSome praise for Parliament, rare though that may be
The Justice and Electoral Committee has done a good job on the issue of covert video surveillance. Mostly.
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