Three NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan -- suicide bomber disguised as police; Japan reshuffles cabinet in bid to soothe row with China; protest at US aircraft transferred to base in Japan; bombs across Iraq kill 37, wound 90; supporters of Venezuelan opposition candidate killed; and more
Read MoreAfghanistan
World News Brief, Tuesday September 11
Iraqi vice president sentenced to death; Japan confirms purchase plan for disputed islands; China reports weaker economic growth for August as imports drop; US hands control of Bagram prison over to Afghan officials; Hollande outlines new austerity plan for France; and more
Read MoreReality Test for Bamyan’s perfect PRT model
The New Zealand-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan has been presented as a model for building security and stability in Afghanistan – but the cracks are showing as insurgents step up the pressure.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday August 9
Egypt launches attacks in Sinai, killing 20; aid is rushed to victims of Philippines floods, which have displaced 850,000 and killed 64; crowds turn out in Burma to celebrate 24th anniversary of pro-democracy protests; three NATO troops killed in Afghanistan; UK's double-dip recession deepens; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday June 14
Hamid Karzai calls for end to air strikes in Afghanistan; UN sends envoy to Burma over sectarian clashes; Aung San Suu Kyi makes her first international trip in 24 years; US accuses Russia of supplying Syria with attack helicopters; borrowing costs continue to rise in Italy and Spain; and more
Read MoreObama's Osama advert riles Republicans
Republicans are reacting badly to President Obama's apparent politicizing of foreign policy success...how extraordinary.
Read MoreAfghanistan – lest we forget
New Zealand troops could be out of Afghanistan next year – but are we stumbling out of one ill-considered international military commitment straight into another, and what happens to our reconstruction and development commitment to the country our troops are leaving?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday February 28
Taliban launch suicide attack outside NATO air base in Afghanistan--nine Afghans killed; Julia Gillard defeats Kevin Rudd in leadership battle; US and South Korea launch joint military exercises on Korean peninsula; North Korea says it is ready for war; Saleh hands over power in Yemen; Bin Laden's Pakistan compound destroyed; G20 defer decision on Greece
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday February 17
US and Afghanistan in peace talks with Taliban; Xi says US should respect China's core interests; Thai police say Iranians arrested for attempted bomb attack were targeting Israeli diplomats; Iran offers to return to international nuclear talks for first time in a year; Greek finance minister says Greece is being forced out of euro; horrific scenes at Honduras prison fire scene; and more
Read MoreMurdered between the mosque and the mall
Canada's justice system has confirmed (again) that there is no such thing as an 'honour killing', but (again) rejection of this twisted, controlling, patriachal notion of honour comes way too late for the latest four victims...all from one immigrant family.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday November 4
Greece and euro crisis to dominate G20 meeting; if Greece goes bankrupt, it will trigger a domino effect, say experts; top business leaders call for development of a "multi-polar" global currency system with more emphasis on Chinese yuan; suicide bomber attacks NATO supplier in Afghanistan; US Fed lowers growth expectations for next two years; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday November 3
Greek PM wins backing of his cabinet to hold nationwide referendum on EU financial rescue plan; manufacturing slowdown in Asia may be result of European debt crisis; a boat filled with asylum seekers from Iran and Afghanistan capsized on way to Australia killing seven; Netanyahu orders building of 2000 houses for Israelies in disputed territory Palestinians claim as their own; Assange loses appeal aganst extradition to Sweden; and more
Read MoreMapp flunks his final Afghan Torture Test
Defence Minister Wayne Mapp flunked his final Afghan Torture Test last Friday when he slid the long awaited New Zealand Defence Force Report on detainee treatment into the public domain under the cover of the Grand Final of the Rugby World Cup.
Read MoreWayne Mapp's final Afghan torture test
Defence Minister Wayne Mapp faces his final torture test this week, when UNAMA releases a critical report on mistreatment of prisoners in Afghan detention centres.
Read MoreWorld news Brief, Tuesday August 9
G7 leaders pledge to support financial markets in wake of US debt downgrade; the European Central Bank buys up Spanish and Italian debt; US dollar continues to weaken against other major currencies; China calls for "international supervision" of US dollar and says the country must live within its means; Syrian forces attack Eastern city of Deir al-Zour; efforts to recover US Army helicopter shot down in Afghanistan, killing 38, hampered; and more
Read MorePulling the Teeth of the Tiger
Extracting information on military operations in Afghanistan from the New Zealand Defence Force is difficult at the best of times. The Christmas Eve NZSAS raid on the business premises of the Afghan Tiger Group in Kabul last year was not one of NZDF’s best times...
Read MoreOsama bin Laden's death: the good, the bad and the hope for peace
Is bin Laden's death a chance for peace in Afghanistan, or merely an opportunity for the world to make the same mistake again?
Read MoreAfghanistan: Our Self-inflicted Wounds
Defence Minister Wayne Mapp and his Chief of Defence Force Rhys Jones stepped up their efforts this week to keep the gloss on New Zealand’s military involvement in Afghanistan. So far, they have succeeded in raising more questions than they have answered.
Afghanistan: Mapp's raid spin is wearing thin
Defence Minister Wayne Mapp’s categoric denial that there were civilian casualties when New Zealand SAS troops took part in a night raid in Baghlan province is wearing thin as more evidence comes to hand from Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: the war of words – and friendly fire
The Government’s spin machine cranks into action but its selective secrecy policy raises more questions about SAS operations in Afghanistan than it answers