Developed countries like New Zealand can learn from Cyprus; an economy overly dependent on its financial sector rather than the real economy, is vulnerable. And the rule of law exist in our minds as much as it does in laws, courts and banks. It’s like a handshake. If one sides looses faith in the deal, doesn’t matter how many law enforcers you have, the system collapses.
Read MoreNo two-state solution = no democratic Jewish state
Obama's visit to Israel and Palestine may have been a subtle but determined new attitude towards restarting the moribund peace negotiations. No guarantees, and hopefully not another case of misguided hope, but theAmerican President made it clear that no separation wall and no missile protection system offers long term solutions.
Read MoreOf marriage, same sex couples and adoption
Following the legalisation of same sex marriage, same sex couples will be able to jointly adopt their children. But which same sex couples?
Read MoreNational out to shrink local government, centralise by stealth
Rather than treating councils as a Beehive branch office, the government should pick up the phone and learn from council's local knowledge
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday March 21
Obama makes first presidential trip to Israel; hackers cause network failures in South Korea; Chinese bloggers flood Russia's embassy with nationalist microblogs; NATO reaches agreement with Afghan government over withdrawal from Wardak province; more hunger strikers at Guantanamo; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday March 19
Cyrpus vote on bailout delayed; China now fifth-largest arms exporter; budget cuts won't affect military readiness, US assures South Korea; Australia pledges extra $20 million to Burma; new pope to meet Argentine president;
Read MoreThe Pope got on a bus
The new Pope faces South, away from the comfortable church of Europe, to a more restless church closer to New Zealand. Here's how that could mean big change
Read MoreAnother press release we'll never see
As a complete rip-off of a recent Andrew Geddis post (respect!), here's another attempt by Pundit to reveal the ridiculous
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday March 15
First pope from the Americas begins new job; Xi Jinping formally sworn in as China's president; Tokyo denies claim Japanese government offered to pay Algeria ransom for release of prisoners; Khmer Rouge leader dies; new Israeli government to be sworn in; and more
Read MoreSolid Energy and the battle for economic cred
There's a lot of upside down politics in the Solid Energy saga, but at the end of the tunnel it's all about the next election
Read MoreFog on the Water
The Government’s new plan for freshwater management is about as foggy as the Waikato on a frosty winter morning… Wonder why?
Read MoreIf thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out
If you try to say something offensive to Parliament, it doesn't have to listen to you. But why not?
Read MoreGay marriage and preserving religious freedom for celebrants
Will all marriage celebrants be immunized?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday March 14
Member of EU Syria delegation killed in Damascus; Filipino Muslim sect denies leader killed in encounter with Malaysian security forces; People's Bank of China focuses on managing risks of inflation; five die in suicide attack in Kashmir; Turkish hostages released; and more
Read MoreBank fees are bad for the economy
Punitive bank fees prevent many people from using banks – and protecting themselves from loan sharks and other dodgy financial services
Read MoreMarriage equality – slipping support & conservative campaigns
With gay marriage back in the headlines, it's telling to look at the numbers and take stock of the campaign to stop marriage equality
Read MoreThe Responsibility to Protect Syrians
As official records show more than one million Syrians have fled their own country, and more than 70,000 have been slaughtered by their President's troops, the world's Responsibility to Protect (R2P) seems to be gathering dust.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday March 8
North Korea threatens US with nuclear attack; Malaysia rejects cease-fire offer; Pakistan launches naval drills with US, China; former Italian PM Berlusconi gets one-year jail term; and more
Read MoreDoes Roger Sutton really own central Christchurch?
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority appears to confuse its role in overseeing the rebuild of central Christchurch with owning it entirely. Here's a reminder - it doesn't.
Read MoreNew Zealand story: an Appeal to our better nature
Government gets bolder. Meanwhile, Forest & Bird Ambassador Sir Alan Mark launches a public appeal for a Wise Government Response to five crises confronting New Zealand
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