As John Key re-writes the script for relations between New Zealand and the US, what are the implications for China and does this mean a return to automatic support for America?
Read MorePresident Barack Obama
A living wage: There are no reasons not to
The initial response to a call for councils and other big employers to commit to a living wage of at least $18.40 an hour has been dominated by excuses. But what could be more important?
Read MoreTale of two speeches -- Michelle & Bill
Michelle Obama's speech at the Democratic convention never once mentioned her husband's opponents. Yet that's what it was all about. Bill Clinton's focused heavily on the Republicans, but was all about Obama
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday February 15
Claims Syrian troops have killed 500 in Homs in past ten days; UN to consider Arab Laegue plan for Assad to hand over power to vice president; Moody's downgrades six Euro countries; Bipartisan US group urges China to back Iran sanctions; Obama unveils new Budget; Maldives leader wants peace, former president demands new elections; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday January 26
State of the Union: Barack Obama wants economy "built to last", takes on inequality; Analysis: Speech begins Obama's re-election campaign and how Washington is broken; Japan reports rare trade deficit for 2011; Egyptians return to Tahrir for first anniversary of anti-Mubarak uprising; US Navy Seals op in Somalia rescues aid workers, kills pirates; At least two dead in China-Tibet clash; and more
Read MoreNew Zealand's new Pacific role, as the US moves in
Amongst the news of crashes and weather, one story of immense significance to New Zealand has been widely ignored... The US has reviewed its defence priorities and is moving back into our neighbourhood big-time. This offers huge risks and opportunities
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday September 22
Obama opposes Palestinian statehood vote, telling UN there is "no shortcut" (+ analysis and visual history); Tens of thousands rally in West Bank to support statehood; Taliban say peace talks were all a ploy to kill Rabbani; North Korea joins talks to end nuclear programme; US extends drone attacks into Africa; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday September 16
Investors and markets queue up to predict Greece default as bank shares drop; Merkel warns German MPs about predicting Greek collapse while minister explores what would happen if Greece left the eurozone; New Libyan leaders call for democratic state with sharia law; Japan wants better defence relations with China; Religious violence in Nigeria; Republicans reject Obama tax plans; and more
Read MoreAmerica's 9/11: Ten Years After
As the tenth anniversary of September 11 approaches, Americans are learning what Hope and Change really mean... Is Osama bin Laden still winning?
Read MoreThe buck stops... in Kabul?
The government's decision to keep the SAS in Afghanistan for another year is sound, but its reasoning is gutless. Cabinet needs the courage to own its decision
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday January 21
China admits it has much to do to improve human rights; Is it a shift in tone from President Hu? (+ analysis); Wikileaks banker fined then re-arrested; Who really killed Daniel Pearl?; Japanese debt reaches "critical point"; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday November 18
Republicans threaten to block nuclear treaty despite White House pleas (+ Clinton & Gates op-ed); China promises fire safety standards after 53 die in Shanghai; NATO leader talks of Afghanistan combat role beyond 2014; Iraq President refuses to execute Tariq; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday November 16
G20 and APEC fail to deliver enforceable deals of currency and protectionism; Obama returns to US to face unfinished business; Suu Kyi urges reconciliation and rule of law; Netanyahu wants to return to peace talks (and billions of dollars); Is Ireland negotiating an EU bailout?: 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 MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday June 23
General McChrystal apologises for criticism of Obama administration, flies to Washington (+ analysis); Kyrgyz refugees return home in tears; Obama wary of too much austerity as G20 frets about debt; Japan wary of Chinese growth; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday April 23
Obama speech to spell out his demands for financial regulations (+ analysis); Israel snubs US and keeps building in East Jerusalem; Nigeria removed from terror list; tensions flare between government and military in South Korea; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday April 15
Nuclear summit pledges to secure fissile material within four years (+ analysis); Ukraine, Russia, Malaysia and Canada all make concrete promises to cut loose nukes; India demands action on Mumbai bombings before talks with Pakistan; Israel claims Syria gave Hezbollah scuds; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday April 13
Obama promises $5 billion for nukes as summit begins (+ analysis); Thai PM considers early elections; International troops kill more civilians in Afghanistan; China posts first trade deficit in six years; Sudan's first open elections in 24 years
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday April 1
More bombings in Russia kill at least 12 (+ analysis); India and Pakistan feud over Indus River water; Obama and Sarkozy want urgent Iran sanctions; Serbia apologises for Srebrenica; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday March 17
US-Israel tensions over East Jerusalem escalate as Obama enters fray; Thai protesters spill blood in front of PM's house; Sadr posied to be power-broker as Iraq election results trickle in; McChrystal reins in Special Forces in Afghanistan; and more
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