Propsed $500 billion budget cut will reduce US ability to meet global security goals, says Chuck Hagel; more than 100 independent news sites chut down in China; Australia sends first group of asylum seekers to Papua New Guinea; Snowden leaves Moscow airport after Russia gives him temporary asylum; Uruguay on path to legalise marijuana; and more
Read MoreWho's to blame for the abuse on Andrea Vance?
We're not at the bottom of this story yet, but I can't help but wonder if those of us in the media need to have a good hard look at ourselves
Read MoreI'm not surprised at all and really, why should I be?
Today saw two of the most predictable stories of recent times appear in the news.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday August 1
Zimbabwe heads to the polls amid concerns about vote fraud; Cambodia's opposition party calims election; Obama may visit Tokyo next year; Iran and Syria sign oil deal; report finds US spends half a billion dollars each year operating Guatanamo prison; and more
Read MoreBradley Manning verdict a lesson for our Defence chiefs
The Bradley Manning verdict sends a clear message to the chiefs at the top of our Defence Service (and Parliamentary Services). They should listen and hang their heads in shame. Investigative journalism is not treacherous.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday July 31
EU envoy visits Mohammed Morsi; Chinese media downplay prospect of China-Japan summit; Cambodia's government denies election fraud; Tunisia's government refuses to step down; Pope changes the tone on discussions about gays in the Catholic church; and more
Read MoreThose stupid knuckleheads, whom I respect enormously
Presented for your consideration, and without any further comment, I give you John Key's oddly divergent views of the media.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday July 30
Israel and Palestine to resume peace talks; Japan and Chins to hold talks in effort to de-escalate territorial row; Cambodia's opposition leaders reject election results; China activates natural gas pipeline from Burma; John Kerry to visit Pakistan; Morsi supporters call for fresh protest rallies in Egypt; Italian court to make appeal judgement on Berlusconi's alleged tax evasion; and more
Read MoreMorale was deteriorating and it was all Yossarian's fault
The country was in peril; he was jeopardizing his traditional rights of freedom and independence by daring to exercise them.
Read MoreEvery end is a new beginning
I thought I'd written the last word on New Zealand electoral law. Then bloody Judith Collins tells the world she's going to make a whole lot more.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday July 26
Bo Xilai charged with bribery, corruption and abuse of power; Shinzo Abe takes third trip to Southeast Asia since becoming Japanese PM; CIA closing secret bases in Afghanistan; Caroline Kennedy nominated for US ambassador to Japan; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday July 25
White House lobbies to keep National Security Agency programme amid Snowden fallout; China bans construction of new government buildings; Beijing closes visa office in Manila after South China Sea protests; South Sudan president sacks entire cabinet; UN in Syria to investigate chemical weapons claims; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday July 24
Al-Qaeda claims responsibility for raids on two Iraqi prisons; Fukushima plant leaking radioactive water into ocean; GlaxoSmithKline to reduce price of products in China; Pope gets rapturous welcome in Brazil; new prince met with worldwide celebrations; and more
Read MoreThe princely question: Go republic? Or Keep Marm & Carry On?
Should the new prince born today be long to reign over us? Or should he never inherit the throne? I confess the question's thornier than I thought
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday July 23
Japan's Liberal Democratic Party sweep to victory in upper house; double quake in China kills 73; Palestinian-Israeli talks revived; Belgium swears in new king; and more
Read MoreThe determined Mr Kerry
US Secretary of State John Kerry has managed to convince the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships to come back to the negotiations table...but that's just the easy part.
Read MoreDavid Shearer's last round. Ding, ding
With three pretenders to see off and an active destabilisation campaign underway, Shearer's hold on the leadership looks precarious. Does he have one big push left in him? And if not, what happens next?
Read MoreWhere is Edward J Snowden's head?
I was surprised the dominant response to the Ed Snowden leaks in the United States has not been concern at invasion of privacy and the misuse of state power, but anger at the leaker... until I remembered something about US DNA
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday July 19
Greece passes civil service reform bill as condition of bailout; detention of Chinese scholar raises fears Beijing is cracking down on activists; protests in India after children die from poisoned school lunches; Yemeni al-Qaeda leader dead in drone strike; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday June 18
Interim Egyptian cabinet of 34 sworn in; South Korea asks to postpone plan to take operational control of troops; China rejects claims is it singling out foreign companies after making public details of alleged corruption by GlaxoSmithKline; South Africans prepare to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 95th birthday; US-Russia relationship would not be harmed if Snowden granted asylum in Russia, says Putin
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