Easing traffic woes in Baghdad could pave way for terrorists; US troop withdrawl from Iraq; pressure on North Korea to re-enter Six-Party Talks; Clinton to meet Somali president; and more
Read MoreParliament: No longer virgin, but not yet a whore
Taito Phillip Field's conviction on corruption charges marks a low point for our Parliament. But if that is as low as it goes, it's still not doing all that bad
Read MoreBill English: Let them eat cake
Airy dismissals, as Marie Antoinette found, can be lethal for politicians. National is learning that lesson
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday August 6
US journalists' release could open door to North Korea talks; Charges laid in Aussie terror plot; Russian subs off US coast; Clinton urges intra-Africa trade; and more
Read MoreA mirror full of memories
Haircuts are milestones on the journey of life
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday August 5
Bill Clinton's surprise visit to North Korea (+analysis); Australian suicide bomb plot; Tribal slaughter in Sudan; Venezuelan govt. takes over coffee mills
Read MoreThe DJ Bill English tax re-mix
While the media was focused on other stories, Bill English quietly killed off National's tax cut policy this weekend. But that doesn't mean we can take our eyes off our tax system
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday August 4
Ahmadinejad sworn in as protest leaders boycott ceremony; Bloody weekend as troops killed in Afghanistan; Plague hits China; Israeli foriegn minister faces indictment; and more
Read MoreCarbon footprint: what's your size?
Carbon footprint calculation is a murky science. What to do, when you’ve done everything that you can, and it still might not be enough? Answer: hug a tree
Read MoreAfghanistan: Stop fudging the facts
Mainstream media wakes up to some questionable aspects of
Taking tea with the Taliban
The latest NATO tactic for trying to exit the war in Afghanistan is to reach out to the enemy. Talking with Taliban 'moderates' is now under serious, top level consideration, but do such 'moderates' exist and can they be trusted to finish the job of Operation Enduring Freedom?
Read MoreTwo grumps and a prod - from Bennett & Garrett to drink
As The Verlaines put it so pithily, sometimes "there's too many things to talk of at any one time." [sic-Ed]. Paula Bennett... David Garrett... Andrew Becroft...
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday July 31
US withdrawal from Iraq could be accelerated; China to reduce use of death penalty; more violence in Nigeria; IMF to lend more to poor countries; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday August 30
Iran's detainees; US-China talks come to an end; Chavez ends diplomatic relations with Colombis, and more
Read MoreUncensored: Super Fund Guardian's 40% advice for National finally revealed in full (+Guardian's reply)
After intervention by the Ombudsman, The Guardians of the Super Fund have finally released a full, uncensored copy of their advice to Bill English last year. It reveals a strong fight against the government's 40% local investment target and concerns that the Fund would simply overwhelm the market
Read MoreThe painfully awkward Head Girl
Novelist Margaret Drabble's self-exposure in a new autobiography is both uncomfortable and illuminating
Read MoreMemo to Labour – catch the ball
There's a number of basic rules in politics – don't make mistakes, and don't fight needless fights. Labour needs to heed both.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday July 29
US cabinet in meetings with Chinese leaders (+analysis); North Korea rules out return to six-party talks; Netanyahu resists settlement freeze; mass strike in South Africa; and more
Read MoreDon Brash as Productivity Tsar: this year's biggest political joke so far
To close the gap with Australia, will Brash dare to follow the Australian example? Or will it be Rogernomics: the next chapter?
Read MorePoll of Polls update: minor parties
Only one poll is bothering to get out of bed this winter, but it's tracking some interesting movements by the small parties
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