In which John Key plays the part of the scarecrow and David Shearer the cowardly lion
Read MoreWorld news Brief, Friday September 14
Demonstrators storm US embassy in Yemen over anti-Islam video; leading Khmer Rouge figure unfit for trial; North Korea rejects South Korean offer of aide as "deeply insulting"; Mexico captures cartel boss; suicide bombers target new Somali president; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday September 13
US ambassador to Libya and three staff killed at consulate in Benghazi in response to video critical of Islam; experts say it is tragic diplomat who had done so much to free Benghazi from dictator would be killed by residents; US urges "cooler heads to prevail" in dispute over South China Sea islands; Occupy Hong Kong protesters removed after 11 months; 300 killed in Pakistan factory fires; South African mining protests spread to platinum mine; and more
Read MoreWhy don't I have a right to know what I have a right to know?
John Banks knows who gave money to his mayoral campaign. We know John Banks knows who gave money to his mayoral campaign. So why don't we know who gave money to John Banks' mayoral campaign?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday September 12
UN human rights commissioner calls on international community to take "protective action" in Syria; China sends patrol boats to disputed territory in East China Sea; Chinese vice president misses third meeting with foreign dignitary in a week; Al Qaeda second-in-command reported killed in Yemen; Somalia elects new leader; and more
Read MoreRMA at the heart of our nature
Even more significant than the government's former ideas about mining our national parks, a long-awaited government advisory group report would spell disaster for the Resource Management Act if it were implemented
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday September 11
Iraqi vice president sentenced to death; Japan confirms purchase plan for disputed islands; China reports weaker economic growth for August as imports drop; US hands control of Bagram prison over to Afghan officials; Hollande outlines new austerity plan for France; and more
Read MoreI was wrrr ... wrrrooo ... not right.
It looks like a lot of people owe David Bain an apology - as well as an awful lot of cash. Here's my contribution (to the apologies, anyway).
Read MoreThe new Herald reviewed: Granny is gone
In which I spend a bit of time before breakfast browsing through the new paper that arrived in my letterbox... the good, bad and meh
Read More“They Won’t Magically Turn You Into A Lustful Cockmonster”
Who says sport, politics and literature can't mix?
Read MoreAsylum seekers bill a boatload of needless nastiness
National says it's time to get tough with asylum seekers, to keep the boats at bay... Even though no boat has reached New Zealand. Ever
Read MoreA more vigorous defence of Stewart Murray Wilson
The media have told us that Murray Wilson refused to attend a rehabilitation programme while in prison. In fact, the Corrections Department refused to let him attend
Read MoreTale of two speeches -- Michelle & Bill
Michelle Obama's speech at the Democratic convention never once mentioned her husband's opponents. Yet that's what it was all about. Bill Clinton's focused heavily on the Republicans, but was all about Obama
Read MoreWorld news Brief, Friday September 7
Human Rights Watch says CIA waterboarded Libyan prisoner; Bo scandal continues in China; Clinton visits East Timor; Colombia names team to negotiate with Farc; Democrats officially nominate Barack Obama for president; and more
Read MoreThe price of water
Perhaps no-one can own the water, but it certainly has a high value
Read MoreWorld News brief, Thursday September 6
Iran sending military equipment to Syria via Iraqi airspace, despite US pressure; Clinton meets with Chinese president; Japan to purchase three of five disputed islands in East China Sea; Bahrain upholds prison sentences for activists; World Bank chief visits Ivory Coast; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday September 5
Record number of refugees flee Syria; Clinton urges ASEAN nations to develop code of conduct for resolving disputes with China; Chinese government official Ling Jihua demoted over car crash scandal; suicide bomber rams vehicle into US consulate vehicle in Peshawar; Democratic National Convention kicks off in North Carolina; and more
Read MoreParliament - the House of Representatives (even for the childless)
Parliament is supposed to be just that, the House of Representatives, its members a proxy for each and every one of us, warts and all. So sometimes we have to tolerate debates about subjects we might think are frivolous
Read MoreGet foliced! Now science is just a 'nice to have'
If a majority of submissions said dragons were the biggest risk to our nation's defence, would National change its foreign policy? Such are the questions that arise when a minister shrugs off science in favour of "listening"
Read MoreBananas in Pyjamas (well, Gisborne shopping centres)
Should Gisborne ban the wearing of pyjamas in public because, as one councillor said, it lowers the tone? Should we judge people by what they wear?
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