POLITICS & POLICY

Pro-Russian rebels took control of the crash site after shooting down Malaysian Airlines jet MH17.

After Australia's carbon tax repeal has passed the Senate, former U.S. Vice President and climate change activist Al Gore expressed his disappointment and said the country is now falling behind other developed nations in reducing carbon emissions.

New Zealand had the warmest winter on record in 2013. According to the State of the Climate 2013 report released by the American Meteorological Society, some of the countries in the Southern Hemisphere including New Zealand had 2013 as the one of their warmest years.

Emerging super nations BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) have finally made good a plan flaunted in 2012 to establish a BRICS development bank that could rival and possibly topple the IMF and World Bank.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down on over the Ukrainian border with at least one New Zealander feared dead including 27 Australians among the 295 passengers. According to reports, the crashed MH17 was hit by a surface-to-air missile on the early morning of July 18, New Zealand time.

Just hours after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was reported to have lost contact from Ukraine Air Traffic Control and was the wreckage was found spread over several kilometres in the Donetsk area of Ukraine, Ukrainian officials have declared that the incident was carried out by people that they refer to as terrorists. Meanwhile, Russia has given the blame to actions made by the Ukrainian Government against Pro Moscow separatist groups.

A giant 80-metre crater enough to fit several MI-8 helicopters has been discovered in north Siberia's Yamal Peninsula, which when translated meant "end of the world."

Internet mogul Kim Dotcom is now thinking about suing New Zealand's spy agency for "illegal; surveillance." According to reports, the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has found the police were justified in not pursuing any of the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) officers for an illegal spying operation.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: Amid the geopolitical developments the AUD held its ground near 0.9380 after the Malaysian Airlines news hit the screens, but late in the US session the AUD lost ground and is now nearer 0.9340.

Australia's Labour-backed carbon tax is now gone, thanks to the Senate. As Prime Minister Tony Abbott's promise to repeal carbon tax finally came true, the government has declared that the country's climate policy is "not in limbo."

Israel launched it ground invasion on Gaza after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had placed orders to the military to go ahead. Israeli tanks arrived at Gaza on Thursday, July 17.

In commemoration of the life and legacy of South African anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela, Google treats visitors to the search engine home page with a visual journey of his life with accompanying six of his remarkable quotes.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott finally fulfilled his campaign promise on Thursday, July 18, to repeal Julia Gillard's carbon tax law. To do that after two years when the tax was collected, the PM had the backing of the new crossbenchers in the Senate, along with the Palmer United Party. Thirty-nine legislators voted to repeal the carbon tax, while 32 Labor and Green members opposed the repeal.

Meteorologists from Australia's Bureau of Meteorology announced on Wednesday that the tropical Pacific Ocean has cooled off, enough to surmise that the anticipated weather event El Niño is unlikely to be strong after all.

Typhoon Rammasun, now on its way to strike southern China and northern Vietnam, forced over 400,000 people in the Philippines to evacuate and seek higher and safer grounds on Tuesday till Wednesday.

Canadian navy soldiers are now in the hot seat after navy ship HMCS Whitehorse was pulled out of an international naval exercise in the U.S. due to serious misconduct of at least three service men onboard.

Kiwis living in Australia are gearing up to fight for social service rights by making a bold move to win a seat in the New Zealand Parliament. If they succeed, they will lobby for New Zealanders in Australia to have fairer access to the country's social services and push for permanent residency rights.

China's southern coastal regions are now bracing for Typhoon Rammasun as it left 20 dead in the Philippines, alongside a massive electrical knockdown affecting millions of people.

Hamas has refused to take part in peace talks scheduled to be held in Cairo. Israel, on the other hand, is reportedly planning ground invasion of Gaza.

New Zealand-based Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom has announced he will "drop a political bombshell" on the eve of the country's general election. According to reports, Dotcom said he will prove Prime Minister John Key has been "lying."

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas was detained at a U.S. airport on Tuesday, July 15.

Canada has strongly criticised Hamas for refusing to accept Israel’s ceasefire, as proposed by Egypt.

The massacre in Palestine continues but now the civilians in the country may start accusing Hamas of being responsible for further bloodshed.

Mr Abbott had vowed to continue his push to repeal the Labour-imposed carbon tax. He said he was confident Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer will change his mind on July 15. The prime minister said his government "won't rest until the carbon tax is gone."

Canada made history after the Royal 22e Regiment at the Buckingham Palace on Monday, July 14.

The Jewish suspects, who are accused of killing 16-year-old Palestinian Mohammed Abu Khdeir, have confessed to Israeli police that they burned him alive. One of them is 29 and the other two are 17.

New records have been created in Gaza, of which humanity should not be much proud of. Israel managed to kill 184 Palestinians and injure around 1,300 others.

Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper asked world leaders to support Israel. He said on Sunday, July 13 that terrorists in Palestine intentionally used civilians as human shields against Israeli attack.

A survey by the Herald's DigiPoll has asked New Zealanders if they supported the legalisation of cannabis or wanted it to remain illegal. New Zealand laws currently consider marijuana possession a crime with a penalty of $500. Violators may also be imprisoned for up to three months.