Equality in prostitution is fine principle, but are women the same as men when it comes to shopping for sex?
Read MoreWorld News Brief Thursday, September 9
BP releases report on US oil spill--points finger at Transocean and Halliburton; Japan to lower value of yen; tensions thaw between US and China; two US soldiers killed in Iraq; Obama unwilling to extend Bush-era tax cuts; and more
Read MoreDairy milking New Zealand
Big dairy’s effects on the biosphere, and all of our back pockets, are sucking the country dry — a net picture less positive than the PR paints it
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday September 8
Obama proposes $50 billion spend to create jobs; $200 billion tax cuts part of Obama's plan; Gillard wins in Australia with the slimmest of margins; Myanmar's military leader visits China; Iran not participating with nuclear inspections; Afghanistan freezes assets of borrowers at Kabul Bank; and more
Read MoreThe gods are not at all pleased with Jim Anderton or Bill English
While the Finance Minister will worry about long-term implications, the earthquake is good news for a lot of New Zealanders facing tough times, especially Bob Parker
Read MoreClean drinking water is a basic human right
Is our government signalling a green light for the further privatisation of water services?
Read MoreOn New Chums Beach
The calls to save New Chums Beach risk snatching defeat from the jaws of conservation victory, by romanticising pristine examples. Surely we can do better
Read MoreZeroing in on the high country problem
In which, after two months chasing High Country Ministers and their officials round in a circle, I realise they’re telling me something after all
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday September 3
Middle-East peace talks begin as "partners in peace" meet in Washington; Crucial independent sides with Labor in Australian negotiations; China urges jumpstart of six party talks on North Korea; Recession cuts illegal immigration to US; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday September 2
Obama ends Iraq war stressing "huge price" paid by US as al-Maliki hails Iraqi freedom (+ analysis); Greens do deal with Gillard; Chinese manufacturing rebounds, easing Asian economic fears; Four dead as Hamas targets peace talks; and more
Read MoreThe South Canterbury Finance principle - saving us from the brutal market
The payout to South Canterbury Finance investors is NZ Inc. in action - the public represenatives acting for the greater good. But if we're willing to rescue those deemed too big to fail, why not do the same for the little guy?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday September 1
US announces new sanctions against North Korea as Kim Jong-Il talks up six-party talk; Biden in Iraq as combat comes to an end; Japanese "kingpin" to challenge PM; Israelis and Palestinians both promise not to concede too much ahead of peace talks; and more
Read MoreFive things NZ can learn from Aussie elections
With the Australian election result still hanging in the balance, what can political strategists on this side of the Tasman learn? Five tips, plus the insight of one old man
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday August 31
As Bernanke asks for private sector help, more dismal economic news expected (+ analysis); What will be in Obama's big Iraq speech?; Burma's big leadership reshuffle; US risks losing peace in Sudan; and more
Read MoreMiddle/Muddle East Peace/Piece Talks resume...again
As the players in the latest round of Middle East Peace Talks assemble in Washington later this week, the issues confronting them only seem to have grown in the two years they have been on hold, so are they just going through the motions?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday August 27
Bernanke to announce new economic plans amid worrying numbers (+ analysis); Leadership bid hits Japanese ruling party; Kim Jong-Il visits China; America's contradiction: Corrupt Karzai aide on CIA payroll; and more
Read MoreRoy leaves her garden to sow seeds of trouble, while Hide kicks-off Election 2011
Heather Roy's return to parliament this week was a bit rich – Katherine Rich, that is. By following the former National MP's example, Roy has bought herself some time, but is it borrowed? And will the right-wing parties can together or divide?
Read MoreLetter from an Auckland courthouse
Either Cameron Slater deserves our pity, or he deserves our contempt as the Peter Bethune of the right.
Read MorePower’s hidden costs: what Meridian wouldn’t tell us
Meridian is sticking to the letter of resource management law. It risks big power generation decisions being made, at big environmental cost, without full cost-benefit analysis
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday August 26
Dozens killed in Iraqi bombings designed to undermine local security forces (+ analysis); Chinese traffic jam could last until mid-September; Carter visit to North Korea set to ease tensions; al-Qaeda in Yemen now ranked top threat; and more
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