Latest fromInternational Politics
Australia may collect Kiwis' student debt
Australia will look at ways of collecting student debt from Kiwis in Australia, doing New Zealand a huge favour by tracking down the large numbers of expats.
Alex Malley: Transtasman talks need bold leadership
This weekend Prime Ministers John Key and Julia Gillard hold their annual pow-wow in Queenstown.
Gillard prepares for Aborigine liquor law battle
I have a real fear that the rivers of grog that wreaked such havoc among indigenous communities are starting to flow once again.
Drone policy architect answers critics
Confronted by public protest and fierce congressional questioning, CIA director-designate John Brennan strongly defended the Obama Administration.
Secret plan to fend off web attacks
The United States could launch pre-emptive cyber strikes against countries it suspects of threatening its interests with a digital attack.
South Korea moves to introduce covered bonds
South Korea's decision to allow the introduction of covered bonds will help to diversify the Asia-Pacific regional covered bond market.
Rambo: Who needs assault weapons?
Sylvester Stallone says no civilian should have access to the big guns his characters use in action movies.
Election date puts pressure on opposition
Government frontbencher Peter Garrett says the prime minister's decision to name the 2013 election date puts the pressure on the opposition to deliver more than just slogans.
Europe hails Kerry's clout
The confirmation of John Kerry as United States Secretary of State is raising smiles in Europe, stirring memories of the days when America the Worldly-Wise engaged in European concerns and placed them at the top of its foreign agenda.
Gillard faces long campaign
Australia will go to the polls on September 14 following yesterday's surprise announcement of what will effectively be the longest election campaign in the nation's history.
Big guy with big ambition
Chris Christie's embrace of Barack Obama was seen as treason by some members of his party.
Row sparked by Aboriginal face
Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard has triggered a new row within her party by axing a long-serving Senator to make way for an Aboriginal candidate.
Gwynne Dyer: North Korea - a risk worth taking
If North Korea's new leader, Kim Jong Un, wanted to end the brutal and destructive tyranny his father and grandfather imposed on the country, he would need support from abroad.
Sahara raiders said to include Westerners
Canada is investigating a claim by the Algerian Prime Minister that one of its citizens co-ordinated the terrorist raid at the Saharan gas plant.
Lupe Fiasco kicked off inauguration stage
Lupe Fiasco has been rushed off stage at a pre-inauguration concert for Barack Obama after performing an anti-war song telling the audience he did not vote for the President.
Beyonce anthem steals show
Beyonce stole the show at President Barack Obama's inauguration with an impressive rendition of the US national anthem.
Pumped-up Obama takes tougher line
When firebrand Republican senator Ted Cruz went on conservative Laura Ingraham's radio show last week, the topic of conversation swiftly turned to Barack Obama.
Peter Whitmore: Immediate action needed to reduce carbon emissions
The Minister of Climate Change, Tim Groser, (NZ Herald, December 20) says it makes sense for New Zealand to drop out of the Kyoto Protocol and work towards an agreement with broader international support.
Jack Tame: Election won, it's time to knuckle down to work
If ambitions are unfettered by political nitty-gritty and his dreams are as big as his talk, Obama has the opportunity to instil change that will cement his political greatness.