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Social networks and the global media are buzzing: what’s the plan? Are the Europeans about to decide Ukraine’s fate over the heads of the Ukrainians? And most importantly, why now? Yesterday and today Ukrainian public opinion is split between two emotions: distrust and hope. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande spent 5 hours
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Sydney siege ends with gunfire with many lives saved, but two hostages killed and several wounded in the ensuing gun battle. At 2.10 am AEDT police stormed the Lindt cafe at 53 Martin place when shots and screams were heard coming from the Cafe when Haron Monis, an Iranian self styled cleric, began executing hostages.
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The conditions on Manus Island and Nauru has been of global interest since the deaths of the asylums seekers Reza Barati and Hamid Kehazaei who died during their stay at Manus Island. Around the same time beatings and death threats towards child refugees in Nauru were reported. Amnesty International has labelled the treatment of asylum
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Tony Abbott’s threat to shirt-front Putin has resulted in an unexpected visit by the Russian Pacific fleet. The Australian PM’s less than diplomatic and repeated bracing of Vladimir Putin over preceding weeks has seeded what appears to be a machismo laden confrontation now taking place. 4 Russian capital ships including the Guided missile cruiser Varyag,


