4 Dec: China is ending a decades-long tax exemption on contraceptives to push up its birth rate. Experts say the change could leave women and young people more vulnerable.... more
4 Dec: Indonesia's government says it will summon eight companies over their suspected role in worsening the scale of floods and landslides that have killed over 700 people. But environmental groups say authorities are hypocritical and partly to blame for the destruction.... more
4 Dec: The elections are a clear attempt by the regime to gain legitimacy and sideline the government in exile. But they open the possibility of some diffusion of power.... more
3 Dec: Indonesia's new visa scheme is being touted as a solution to dual citizenship. But some in the Indonesian community say the visa has "no real benefit" and amounts to a government revenue grab.... more
3 Dec: Benjamin Netanyahu is demanding Syria establish a "demilitarised zone" between the border with the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights and capital Damascus, as part of any possible peace deal with the new Syrian government.... more
2 Dec: Criticism of Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown - for planning a rates hike, at the same time the Government's put up a plan to force Councils to cap them... more
