US dollar and Euro markets fall as debt ceiling debate stalls; Wall St suspects US downgrade even if agreement reached (+ analysis); Australian inflation on the rise; Bueraucratic delays to Somalia flights; Breivik on suicide watch; Suicide bombing kills Kandahar mayor; and more
Read MoreBennett's Green Paper an excuse to party – but what about the kids
Paula Bennett releases Green Paper for Vulnerable Children – a great campaign photo op – but how about some real commitment to help the most vulnerable children right now – those growing up in deepening poverty?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday July 27
No solution yet for US debt--Obama and Boehner both seek support from American people via TV addresses; US will default on loans if compromise not reached by Aug 2; territorial feud between China and Philippines heats up; Britain and France come to agreement on Qaddafi; US military funds meant for transportation contract diverted to Taliban; and more
Read MoreA polling scandal, and a saviour on the Horizon?
In which Chris Trotter tries to make sense out of a poll he does not like, and a bunch of people get confused about online polls
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday July 26
Police across Europe investigate far-right threats after Norway massacre; Breivik calls for new revoltuion against Muslim "animals" and pleads not guilty; Analysis of US blogs that influenced Breivik; Moody's downgrades Greece declaring default "virtually 100%" certain; US debt debate drives down Asian markets; North Korean diplomat to visit US; and more
Read MoreThis famine is man made
The disaster unfolding across the Horn of Africa is a man-made catastrophe that reflects decisions by developed countries about poverty, war and climate change
Read MoreThe laws of Nature: finally, useful work for lawyers
It would be ironic if, in the end, it was lawyers who saved the world while I was out, tree-hugging and tweeting
Read MoreJohn Key & Barack Obama - the wedding night & other negotiations
President Obama says the NZ-US relationship is growing stronger by the day. Why? What's in it for both countries? And do we have to be careful about not getting too carried away?
Read MoreTVNZ kills ad-free channels to grow profits
Official papers show Television New Zealand won $79 million in government funding for its advertising-free channels TVNZ 6 and TVNZ 7, by claiming they would be self-funding by 2012. Now they are closing the new channels down to enhance profits.
Read MoreThe rise and fall of Peter Whittall
This week's Pike River hearings have focused on former CEO Peter Whittall. Once showered with public acclaim, Whittall is now in a very deep hole indeed, dug in part by his own denial
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday July 22
France and Germany have agreed to a bailout plan for debt-struck Greece; Moody's have downgraded Irish and Portuguese debt to "junk" status; China and Philippines in territorial dispute; Japan posts unexpected trade surplus as exports to China and Europe return to normal levels; famine spreads to Southern Somalia; Obama open to temporary debt rise if congressional leaders commit to significant debt-reduction plan; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday July 21
Obama endorses bi-partisan plan to cut debt and raise revenues, but will it pass the House? UN declares famine in Somalia, asks what's going on in Eritrea; Cameron faces 130 questions in parliament; Chinese security forces shoot 14 protesters, killing four; Pakistans spends US$4 million lobbying US lawmakers; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday July 20
Congressional leaders push ahead with US debt-cutting plans; August 2 is deadline that could see US default on debt obligations; Muslim activists attacked police station in Chinese province of Xinjiang; US holds talks with Qaddafi reps--says Libyan leader must step down; Clinton pledges to press Pakistan to give up on terrorism measures against India; Rupert and James Murdoch appear before Parliament; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday July 19
In Britain, phone-hacking scandal focuses on police corruption and Cameron, while threat grows in the US (+ analysis); Surprise result in Euro bank stress tests; 1,000 Syrian troops with tanks surround rebel town; Yemeni al-Qaeda reaching into Somalia; UN tells Thailand and Cambodia to pull their heads in; and more
Read MoreGod, or a guinea pig?
Mark Lynas suggests we should, in our God-like way, try a little geo-engineering. It is, after all, an emergency. If there is a God, he could be some distance from Mr Lynas, because that’s not what ‘dominion’ means
Read MoreTax Burdens: Some Facts (For a Change)
Bill English and David Farrar spent last week telling fibs about the tax burden high-income families assume. I want to set the record straight with some details about how much the top 10% really pay
Read MoreNew Zealand needs to vote for Palestine
New Zealand has a chance this September at the United Nations to support the Palestinian quest for the same basic human rights and the self-determination that Kiwis take for granted. Will it have the guts to do so?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday July 15
Credit ratings agencies threaten to downgrade US from AAA status; Republicans clash with Obama and each other over debt ceiling (+ analysis); China overtaking US as superpower; Italy plans US$67 billion in cuts to calm debt worries; At least 21 killed in more Mumbai bombings; Singapore's economy shrinks; and more
Read MoreWhat if Hone had crossed his fingers?
The Speaker says Hone Harawira has to say the magic words that make you an MP in the right way, and he only gets one chance to do it each time. Is this taking legal formalism just a bit too seriously?
Read MoreManagement wisdom: 7 top tips for NZ
New Zealand has spent a decade looking for the fast track back to the top half of the OECD. So here are seven top ideas for where this country goes next and how our businesses might succeed on a global scale
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