Hillary Clinton wants clarity from China on rare-earth minerals policy; Japan and US strengthen security alliance; Bank of Japan unveils $61.4 billion asset-buying programme; economic woes overshadow US mid-term elections; Afghans apply more pressure over Pakistani insurgents; and more
Read MoreOne last Hobbit related question
There's something about this Hobbit business that doesn't sit quite right with me. I need help to understand it.
Read MoreCoal conversion recipe: whip ‘em, and spin it a bit
Solid Energy wants to open up ‘new energy’ and other things: lignite resources, public debate, the company’s own mind, apparently. Shame those dangerous radicals don’t have much to say worth hearing. Shame if they had to be booted out, for asking the wrong questions
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday October 28
US Federal Reserve debates how to rescue US economy (+ analysis); China commits to improve product safety; new Middle East deal would offer Israel generous incentives in return for settlement freeze; Obama deports 70% more illegal aliens than Bush; and more
Read MoreBilbo Woke Up with the Early Sun in His Eyes
In which the author confidently predicts the resolution of The Hobbit saga. Accuracy, or indeed any connection with the real world, not guaranteed.
Read MoreMatt McCarten stands for Mana, promising to "change the campaign"
The union boss is taking his show on the road... all the way to Mana. McCarten wants to "make them work for it", and it's a safe bet both Labour and National will be on the receiving end of his sharp tongue
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday October 27
Iran begins injecting fuel into its first nuclear reactor (+ analysis); China wary of growing anti-Japan mood; US mid-terms looks set to divide Congress further on deficit; India suspicious of getting too close to US; and more
Read MoreThe Hobbit - we've lost the magic
The Hobbit stoush has been a Hollywood production, sadly a million miles from the New Zealand that once seemed so perfectly suited as the real world home of hobbits. It doesn't feel like we can trust anyone in this picture
Read MoreWhy shouldn't actors be responsible for the result of their actions ?
As Warner Bros. executives arrive in the country, let's put to bed the concept that the studio would waste its time manufacturing a crisis and look at the economic realities
Read MoreNational's rampage against hobbits and workers reaps its own reward
National is certainly on the offensive with its employment and welfare reforms, even proposing a law change specifically to benefit producers of The Hobbit; but it faces a new mood of resistance and dissent
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday October 22
US announces largest arms deal in its history... to Saudi Arabia (+ analysis); Chinese economic growth slows... to 9.6 per cent; US officials to warn named Iraqis about new Wikileaks release; China fails to stall Darfur report showing it broke embargo; and more
Read MoreYou let your gown to the ground, but I'm not waiting around until the kiss-off
“Fonterra fears cow cubicles could mar brand,” eh?
Fonterra’s been happily ‘feedlot farming’ indoors in China for nearly three years, and raising their calves in cages. Um, so remind me again … what was it they said, last December, about the ‘cubicle’ farms?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday October 21
Afghan election found to be riddled with fraud as NATO pushes for Taliban talks (+ analysis); Tories introduce biggest British cuts since WWII (even the Queen suffers); Days of violence see 33 dead in Karachi; China denies trade restrictions; and more
Read MoreFive Years After Society's Destruction
The first civil unions occurred in 2005. Five years later, as we're overtaken on gay marriage rights by Argentina, Mexico, and other countries: did we fight the right battle?
Read MoreTold you so
That old adage about lovers of sausages and the law? It's true.
Read MoreThe foreshore and seabed - a case study in law and politics, rules and symbols
The new law on the foreshore and seabed is not just about legal rules. Its a symbol, and that's what everyone is fighting about.
Read MoreGovernment stuck in the (foreshore) sand. Again
As ACT and the Maori Party kick sand in each other's face over an amendment that changes nothing, we get a good look at the politics of perception and National's misery in trying to hold its coalition partners together
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday October 20
Geithner vows not to devalue US dollar, easing fears of 'currency war' (+ analysis); Over a million join protests against French pension cuts as fuel shortages bite; China increases interest rates due to real estate fears; US pressures Turkey on Iran sanctions; and more
Read MoreA public submission, to the biodiversity Guardians
As Convention on Biological Diversity parties meet to hammer out new resolutions, having failed on most of the old ones, UK paper the Guardian is compiling a list of action points, and demanding, you know, action
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