POLITICS & POLICY

Displaced people from the minority Yazidi sect, who fled the violence in the Iraqi town of Sinjar, march in a demonstration at the Iraqi-Turkish border crossing in Zakho district

ISIS Weakened by US Airstrikes, Kurdish Forces Move To Retake Mosul Dam

The U.S. has lashed out at the extremist militant group Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) by sending airstrikes targeting the 400 ISIS fighters in and around the Mosul Dam complex. All these as Kurdish forces fired mortars and explosives in a bid to retake a strategic dam in northern Iraq.

Loophole in New Zealand's Gun Laws Allow Aussie Criminals to Buy Firearms

A morning commuter passes behind a machine gun mounted on a military vehicle after Thai army took positions in central Bangkok May 20, 2014.
Australian criminals who are not allowed to buy guns in their own country can just go to New Zealand to get their hands on a weapon. Reports said New Zealand police does not conduct mandatory record checks to people who apply for gun licenses. A pilot programme in 2012 was implemented for Australian and New Zealand authorities to share information but Kiwi police had apparently not use it to screen possible criminals.

NZ Greens Party Wants 40% Tax Hike For New Zealand's Wealthiest

The New Zealand Greens party has issued a challenge to other political parties in the country to support its campaign to end child poverty by increasing tax rates for the wealthy. The Greens plans to impose a 40 per cent tax on all income above $140,000 to help raise money to reduce child poverty. Reports said trust tax rates would also be raised to 40 per cent.
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A boy (2nd L) who was wounded in a bomb attack receives treatment at a hospital in Baquba, about 50 km (31 miles) northeast of Baghdad, January 15, 2014.  Bombs hit Iraq's capital Baghdad and a village near the northern town of Baquba on Wednesday, killin

New Zealand 'Extremely Unlikely' to Send Troops to Aid in Iraq Crisis

New Zealand Labour is calling on the government to provide assistance and increase humanitarian aid to Iraq. A spokesman for the Labour party's foreign affairs said Iraq "urgently" needs more help. However, according to reports, Prime Minister John Key declared it would be "extremely unlikely" to follow Australia in sending troops to Iraq.
Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Canadian Federal Government Poised to Reduce Taxes

It's like receiving an early Christmas gift. Canada's federal finance government on Tuesday hinted that Canadian families and individuals are up to receive relief from their tax burdens. But analysts think the hype is just part of the election propaganda for 2015.

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