Defence Minister Wayne Mapp flunked his final Afghan Torture Test last Friday when he slid the long awaited New Zealand Defence Force Report on detainee treatment into the public domain under the cover of the Grand Final of the Rugby World Cup.
Read MoreNew Zealand, together the victor
Rugby World Cup 2011 has been a blast, reminding ourselves how good we can be. And being at Eden Park from 7am on the day of the final is a very special memory
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday October 21
Qaddafi is dead: Found in drain after NATO airstrike; Transitional Council claim control of Sirte; So how successful was NATO campaign? How soon should elections be held? In other news: France and Germany haggle over rescue fund; Thailand flooding a "national crisis"; Indigenous protesters march on Bolivian capital; Iran says critical UN report is "exaggerated"; and more
Read MoreQaddafi bites the dust
The revolutionary who turned mad and bad, has, after eight months been stopped in his tracks – literally. Everyday Libyan citizens who fought for freedom from tyranny, now have their chance. Their challenges however, are massive
Read MoreMoneyball in the classroom
What educationalists in New Zealand can learn from newspapers in Los Angeles.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday October 20
Small business owners join workers as strikes shutdown Greece; EU leaders to announce expanded rescue fund (+ analysis); Moody's downgrades "vulnerable" Spain by two notches; Turks strike back after Kurdish rebels kill 26 troops; IMF picks six percent growth in sub-Saharan Africa; Chinese scientist admits stealing trade secrets; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday October 19
Hamas frees Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit after five years, in return for over 1000 Palestinians (+ analysis); Shalit hopes release will "advance peace"; South Korea finally clear to approve US free-trade deal; Germany plays down talk of EU "solution"; Pakistan puts conditions on Taliban talks; Al-Shabab tells Kenyans to leave Somalia or else; and more
Read MoreWhy Epsom matters - a lesson in reading billboards
National, Labour, the Greens and ACT have all set out on different routes to victory in the country's toriest seat. The billboards dotted around the electorate lay the strategies bare
Read MoreCampaign 2011 begins: Ta da, the big issues are here
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
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