China's economy heats up, spurring housing market concerns; Bloody clashes in Jakarta; Obama says Israel-Palestine impasse is "costing" US; BRIC leaders gather in Brazil; and more
Read MoreUp the Hurunui without a paddle: Foreshore and Seabed Act, reprise
Extinguishment of Hurunui litigation rights recalls the Foreshore and Seabed Act, and it is breathing life into the embers of green activism
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday April 15
Nuclear summit pledges to secure fissile material within four years (+ analysis); Ukraine, Russia, Malaysia and Canada all make concrete promises to cut loose nukes; India demands action on Mumbai bombings before talks with Pakistan; Israel claims Syria gave Hezbollah scuds; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday April 14
US and China promise to work together Iran sanctions; Hu Jintao rejects foreign pressure on currency reform; Kyrgz president will stand down in return for safety guarantee; Sudan voting extended
Read MoreTroubles at Rich Hill – Conflict in the Court
Supreme Court flip flop... Queen’s Counsels quiver... old friends part company... horseracing interests dissolve... charges of “apparent bias” upheld... Where will the inquiry into the conduct of Supreme Court judge Bill Wilson take us next?
Just how do you judge a trial by media?
The Judicial Conduct Commissioner is still conducting a preliminary inquiry into Justice Bill Wilson. The important judgment may get delivered in the court of public opinion
Read MoreSimon Schama on NZ: we should chant our national story
A lovely bit of writing that I had a little hand in creating... brilliant historian Simon Schama warns against New Zealand committing a national 'suicide'
Read MoreSaving the piggies’ bacon from the draft welfare code
NAWAC’s draft welfare code for pigs, on which submissions close this week, is conservative, and not supported by the experience of free range pork producers, who speak openly to Pundit about their pigs
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday April 13
Obama promises $5 billion for nukes as summit begins (+ analysis); Thai PM considers early elections; International troops kill more civilians in Afghanistan; China posts first trade deficit in six years; Sudan's first open elections in 24 years
Read MoreNow is the worst time to change on nukes
Talk about changing New Zealand's nuclear-free stance couldn't come at a worst time. It's a policy that's time has come and which is now more a national asset than ever
Read MoreOverseas investment: our open home
The onus is on the government to explain how a looser overseas investment policy will have net benefit for New Zealand
Read MoreHas Karzai been in his brother's stash?
As Afghanistan's President rants on about being invaded by Western troops and toys with the potential of defecting to the Taliban, NATO governments' worries grow about the stability of this dubious 'ally'
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday April 9
US and Russia to cut nuclear arsenals by a third (+ analysis); Thai government in media crackdown; Government toppled in Kyrgyzstan; China finally agrees to talks on Iran sanctions; and more
Read MoreTime to say “Bye Bye, Mr Karzai”
Afghanistan’s president Hamid Karzai has been threatening to join the Taliban. He should be encouraged to do it and we should leave his country quickly
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday April 8
Geithner in Beijing for currency talks amid heightened tensions; Thailand declares state of emergency; Shiite supporters abandon Maliki; Karzai bribery accusations lead to resignations; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday April 7
Obama's new nuclear policy less hard-line than predecessors'; Thai red-shirt protesters rally despite ban; Baghdad rocked by eight explosions; Taliban takes responsibility for Peshawar bombing; Britain heads to General Election; and more
Read MoreStarter's gun fired in UK election
The British election race will be tighter than expected. And New Zealand may yet have a footnote in the outcome
Read MoreThe road to Pahaoa
A day spent on the road to Pahaoa is no ordinary day; you will find beauty there, and you will not regret it
Read MoreAbortion soon to hit the G8 agenda
Just when Canada's Conservative government through it was doing OK conceding to contraceptives as part of its initiative for developing world maternal health care, Hillary Clinton comes to town and says abortion must also be on the agenda.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday April 6
US under attack in Pakistan (+ analysis); Red Shirts swarm into Bangkok; Suicide bombings rock Baghdad; New political party in Japan; and more
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