America and Iran appear poised to co-operate in order to stymie the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria from taking over war torn Iraq and establishing a Sunni Caliphate which stretches across the border into Syria. It is a complicated mess.
Read MoreNational's self-serving hypocrisy on election year pamphleteering
Over the weekend an 8-page taxpayer-funded advertisement for the National party arrived in our letterbox (I've tweeted a picture). Page after page laid out in National's party colours and font, bursting with photos of the PM, and of MPs Hekia Parata and Chris Finlayson. Also someone called 'Paul Foster-Bell' is prominently pictured in it, but goodness only knows who he is.
Read MoreChildren's Commissioner calls for 50% benefit raise. Yes, you heard right...
A visitor from the Hawkes Bay, our very own Children's Commissioner, has just thrown a bomb into the middle of our debate on child poverty this election year... will anyone notice?
Read MoreDirty deal dancing - when Colin finally meets Key
Colin Craig has given up. Kind of. But by conceeding he can only win a seat with a deal, he's put the onus firmly on National and made John Key an offer the PM can hardly afford to refuse
Read MoreFree trade: The end of the cosy arrangement?
What shape is the Trans-Pacific Partnership taking on and what impact will the election result have on whether or not New Zealand signs up?
Read MoreEconomy v Environment: Is fewer cows really the answer?
There's plenty of evidence that more farm production could actually help, not harm, efforts to protect the environment
Read MoreHow Internet Mana could help National reach 50%
Internet Mana gives National a cast of villians to parade before voters
Read MoreHere’s what to do about inequality
If a large majority of us are worried about inequality and National is making the problem worse, not better, why isn’t the Left doing better politically?
The ugly truth of prisoner exchanges
Obama critics are disingenuous when they imply the Taliban would not have been fussy about which Guantanamo prisoners released in exchange for a US soldier they have held for five years. Their real issue is Obama succeeded - albeit with some questions stil to answer.
Read MoreBanks redux
Having slept on the Banks decision, here's some slightly more ordered thoughts on the matter.
Read MoreI know nothing
John Banks has been found guilty ... just as I confidently said would not happen.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday June 5
Tight security at Tiananmen Square on 25th anniversay of student-led demonstrations; South Korea holds elections; Libyan general survives assasination attempt; Ukraine to be focus of G7 discussions; and more
Read MoreHistory never repeats
David Farrar thinks that Labour is bad for not doing what National has not done as a result of the Electoral Commission's report into MMP, and Labour should not do what David thinks National should have done as a result of their election victory in 2008.
Read MoreThat's the price I pay for hating Key the way that I do
If you'll excuse the paraphrasing of Billy Bragg, it seems appropriate as the left leave the moral high ground for a bit of electoral mud-wrestling and coat-tailing. But at what cost?
Read MoreSay no to the Cup of Te
No way should Labour do a 'Cup of Te' deal.
Labour should stand up for its own strong values.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday June 3
Obama administration announce plans to cut US coal emissions; tension between US and China at security conference; Thailand's ruling military junta releases plans to kick-start economy; Spanish king abdicates in favour of son; Taliban and US negotiate prisoner exchange; and more
Read MoreHow the path to election victory might go through the Maori seats
There is a single biggest loser from Laila Harre's appointment to lead the Internet Party... and it's not the Greens
Read MoreFrom the throne came the verdict, the lake of fire won't be your home
John Banks' political epitaph lies in the hands of a High Court judge. Will it be "John Banks, retired as MP in September", or "John Banks, kicked out of Parliament in June"?
Read MoreThe Left starts to fracture - and thats a good thing
I'm picking that Laila Harre's appointment as leader of the Internet Party will be good for Internet-Mana, but the impact on this year's election will be determined by the relationship with Labour. If Internet-Mana do well this year, though, there might be an important shake-up that will strengthen the broad left in the longer term.
Read MoreWhy Laila? The maths makes sense, but what's in it for her?
So Laila Harre is back in politics via the most unlikely of vehicles -- the Internet Party. The question is why, why, why has she done it
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