POLITICS & POLICY

President Obama

US Says Russia Tested Cruise Missile and Violated 1987 Missile Treaty

The Obama administration has charged Russia of violating a 1987 treaty on intermediate-range missiles (INF) by unilaterally testing a ground-launched cruise missile. According to reports in the Washington Post, the violation of the treaty was detected a few years ago. Raising the matter at the highest level, President Obama sent letter to Russian President Validimir Putin early this week.

Kiwi Mother Takes School to Task for Forced Religious Education on Her Son

Elementary schoolchildren in protective headgear
A mother in New Zealand has approached the Human Rights Commission in the country with a complaint, charging her son’s school of discriminating her child for skipping religious instruction in the school. The report by 3 News said the complainant, Tanya Jacob of Christchurch, sought a ban on all religious practices in state-run schools because it contravenes the human rights of citizens.

New Zealand to Kick Start Space Programme in 2015

NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 mission (OCO-2) launch
New Zealand is bracing to get a big slice of the global satellite launch market with its unique space programme getting ready to blast off by 2015. The National Herald reported that private initiative Rocket Lab has Peter Beck at its helm as the founder and CEO.
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An Israeli soldier sleeps near the central Gaza Strip

Row Erupts Over Wrong Photo of Kiwi Soldier Killed in Gaza

A row is brewing over the wrong use of photo that carried news report of young sergeant Guy Boyland of Kiwi origin, killed in Gaza. According to reports in TVNZ, the young soldier died in a battle with Hamas gunmen in Gaza on Friday. But the flip flop by a news paper New Zealand Herald made the news more controversial.
Demonstrators Smoke a Giant Joint of Cannabis During a Pro-marijuana Legalisation March in Brasilia

US State Colarado Sees Spurt in Homeless Youngsters after Legalising Marijuana

Colorado’s legalisation of cannabis (marijuana) has led to an increase in the number of young people living on the streets, reported Telegraph. Colarado made history in January this year when it opened stores licensed to sell marijuana legally. The Passage of Amendment 66 legalised marijuana and created a bonanza for green entrepreneurs and tax collectors.
A Malaysian air crash investigator (R) inspects the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, near the village of Rozsypne, Donetsk region, July 22, 2014. A train carrying the remains of many of the 298 victims of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 arrived

Australians Praise PM Tony Abbott for MH17 Response But Still Angry at Budget

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has received the public's support for his active role and leadership in the investigation of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 disaster. The results of a News Corp poll revealed 48 per cent of respondents believe Mr Abbott has displayed "more leadership" in response to the MH17 tragedy and his tougher stance on Russia compared to U.S. President Barack Obama.

Canada’s Toronto City Abuzz with Claims on UFO Sightings

The north Toronto city on Saturday night had a UFO experience with the social media abuzz with speculations by people spotting strange, flashing lights over the city, reported Guardian LV. North York residents tweeted that they saw colourful lights moving in sky at Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue. The Toronto Police also confirmed having got calls from the public informing of pink, green and white lights in a single diagonal line.

Australian Dollar Outlook - 28 July 2014

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has slipped below the .9400 level over the weekend as the latest US economic data was slightly better than expected.
U.S. President Obama speaks about the economy, in Austin

US Right Activists Seek Ban On Execution by Lethal Injection

Death sentences in some US states by lethal injection has come under heavy criticism as a barbaric act and the clamour is up for its legal review by the apex court, reports Global Post. The latest trigger is the protests that followed after a convict struggled in agony for almost two hours to breathe his last after the botched execution.
An employee at a garment factory

New Zealand to Bring Strict Law to Ensure Safety in Work Place

New Zealand will be passing a new legislation shortly to make health and safety a top priority in workplaces, reported NZ Herald. According to leading a employment lawyer Shima Grice, New Zealanders have to study the implications of the new law and prepare themselves to operate within it.
An Israeli Apache helicopter fires flares near the border with the northern Gaza Strip

Canada Seeks Probe into Weapons Seized at UN Schools in Gaza

The Canadian Government has called for a UN investigation into the reported discoveries of weapons caches at the UN-run schools in the Gaza Strip, reported Global Post. According to Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird it was shocking that stockpiles of rockets were found in a school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza.
Four thousand U.S. dollars are counted out by a banker

Australian Dollar Outlook - 25 July 2014

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar kicked higher yesterday after China's flash manufacturing data as reported by HSBC for July rose to 52 from last month's figure of 50.7.
Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a televised statement

US Data Asserts Russia Supplied SA-11 Surface To Air Battery to Ukraine Rebels

The US administration has gone public with its classified intelligence to nail the claims of innocence aired by Russia about the downing of Malaysian airliner, reports Washington Post. The US officials in a briefing for reporter provided material information rebutting all claims made by Russia to the contrary. The Malaysia Flight tragedy killed 298 civilians
An aerpplane takes off

New Zealand Minister Offers to Quit on Charges of Breaching Airport Security

An incident involving airport security by Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has put the John Key Government in New Zealand on the defensive, reports NZ Herald. The minister has offered to quit after being quizzed by the aviation security officials. But the issue has raised concerns on compromises in air security.
Britain's Royal Family

Ideological Support Swells for Scottish Independence

Despite the nationalist concerns by the UK political elite, support is welling up from many quarters asking the Scottish not to dither in making a choice for independence, reports the Guardian. A report in Guardian talks about the support offered by top leader of the Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru. In an interview its leader Leanne Wood said solidarity through divergence was a better way of showing people outside of Scotland what is possible
Two boats with 10 Cuban migrants are pictured anchored in Cayman Brac waters in this July 20, 2014 handout photo. The 10 migrants abandoned one of the boats and set out for Honduras in the other, but returned shortly after to drop off five of their number

Migrant Massacre at Sea: Five Arrested for the Deaths of 100

All they wanted was a chance at a better life. But migrants aboard a boat enroute to Europe didn't realize death could come knocking while they pursue their journey. On Wednesday, Italian police arrested at least five men for the alleged deaths of over 100 as panic ensued triggered by poisonous fumes in the overcrowded boat.

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