Some seem keen to ignore the chaos on Venezuela, not least because Donald Trump has taken a stance against the dictator Nicolo Maduro. But that's a mistake and New Zealand's silence only lines us up again alongside Putin's Russia
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World News Brief, Wednesday March 11
White House criticises senators' letter about Iran; police and students clash in Burma; China reportedly building second aircraft carrier; Ivory Coast's former First Lady jailed for election violence; Venezuela hit with fresh sanctions over human rights violations; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday November 5
Rebel elections threaten Ukraine-Russia ceasefire; South Korea and the Netherlands sign a $23 million deal to upgrade Dutch nuclear reactor; Japan's Nikkei index rises to seven-year high; EU cuts growth forecast; minimum wage rises 15 percent in Venezuela; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday July 10
Israel ramps up campaign against Hamas; both presidential candidates claim victory in Indonesia; US presses China on currency reform; Germans investigate suspected US spy; water shortage in Venezuela hits poor hardest; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday April 8
India begins five-week elections process; Japan and Australia close to signing bi-lateral trade deal; US defense secretary tours China's first aircraft carrier; Nigeria becomes Africa's largest economy; UN expresses concern over violence in Venezuela; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday March 12
Unrest intensifies in Venezuela; North Korea getting around UN sanctions by using embassies in Cuba and Singapore to facillitate illegal weapons trade; Thailand cops flak in continuing search for missing airliner; Pakistan suffers heavy losses in conflict with Taliban; Tibetans arrested to prevent anti-China demonstrations; new claims as to responsibility for Lockerbie bombing; ousted Ukrainian president insists he is still commander in chief; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday February 26
Unrest grows in Venezuela; China's property market slows down; Chinese man sues government over air pollution; India to double price of natural gas; Russia questions legitimacy of Ukraine's interim government; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday February 19
Iran nuclear talks begin; China rejects UN criticism of its policy of sending North Korean defectors back home; antigovernment protests in Bangkok kill four; Pakistan suspends Taliban talks; US diplomats expelled from Venezuela; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday February 14
Putin backs Egypt military chief's run for presidency; John Kerry's visit to South Korea, China and India hoped to ease regional tensions; China plans to curb coal consumption and reduce air pollution; five killed in Venezuelan anti-government protest; 65 prisoners released from Bagram prison over US protests; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday July 9
Egyptian soldiers fire on pro-Morsi protesters; former Chinese rail minister gets death sentence; China mourns two teenaged girls killed in plane crash at San Francisco International Airport; 13 bombs planted in Buddhist temple in India; Snowden gets offers of asylum from Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday March 7
Venezuela's future in question after Chavez's death; North Korea threatens to end cease-fire; Malaysian forces kill Filipino militants; electronic polling system holds up vote in Kenya; rebel bombings cut power in Colombia; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday February 20
Chavez returns to duty after two months off for cancer treatment; China denies hacking claims; former Japanese prime minister paves way for Japan-Russia leadership meeting; Obama may consider arming Syrian opposition; ANC dismisses new South African party; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday December 14
Japan accuses China of violating its airspace; South Korean elections begin; Indian state of Gujarat holding key elections; Taliban could govern parts of Afghanistan under new peace deal; concerns for Hugo Chavez's health deepen; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday October 12
Turkey forces Syrian passenger plane to land; IMF chief calls on China and Japan to end ther row over East China Sea islands; Chinese writer Mo Yan wins the Nobel Prize in literature; Spain's credit rating falls to one level above junk; Venezuela's Chavez chooses new vice president; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday October 10
Hugo Chavez wins reelection in Venezuela; South Korea, Burma agree on investment talks; North Korea claims to have missiles capable of reaching United States; Afghanistan could descend into civil war following US withdrawal, says new report; Mexican drug lord killed; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday October 2
Three NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan -- suicide bomber disguised as police; Japan reshuffles cabinet in bid to soothe row with China; protest at US aircraft transferred to base in Japan; bombs across Iraq kill 37, wound 90; supporters of Venezuelan opposition candidate killed; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday September 28
Spain to unveil $50 billion in spending cuts for 2013; China urges Japan not to infringe on China's "territorial integrity" in South China Sea; North Korea's stalled nuclear talks with six nations to begin again in China; US to ease import ban on Burma; China denies influencing Venezuelan election; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday December 22
US Senate nears agreement on treaty with Russia to reduce nuclear arms; Democrats push through Republican opposition to START; tensions ease on Korea peninsula; Iraq's parliament will vote on cabinet; Islamists suspected in Kenya bombing; Venezuela passes internet law; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday September 28
Israel's settlement moratorium ends, but Palestinians stay at the table (+analysis); China and US in game of chicken; Kim Jong-Il expected to name heir at massive meeting; Chavez's opponents make gains in Venezuelan elections; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday September 15
Trade tiff between US and China; victims of needle stabbings get all-clear; Iran to meet with international community; Russia to fund weapons for Venezuela; and more
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