In an official note to the Ecuadoreans it said it was "surprised" by media reports that "Ecuador is about to take a decision and proposes to grant asylum to Mr Assange".

BBC: Julian Assange: UK 'threat' to arrest Wikileaks founder

On how to take community relations work forward, Alliance proposes a revamped, more powerful, Community Relations Council to be known as the "Shared Future Council".

BBC: Alliance shared future plans ambitious

And the Home Office proposes to give the police the power to take DNA from people who have convictions pre-dating the database.

ECONOMIST: The vast police directory is trimmed, but only a little

Whether or not they win a majority, Republicans will likely be forced to take an oppositional stance on anything Obama proposes, except a continuation of all Bush era tax cuts.

FORBES: Voters Ready For D.C. Gridlock

Mr Rudd proposes that Canberra almost double, to 60%, its share of hospital financing, and take over all aged-care costs.

ECONOMIST: The health-care debate Obama missed

Hadopi, the government organization behind the country's existing "three strikes" law, released a new report that proposes websites take a page from YouTube's book and actively monitor content by using recognition algorithms and the like to take down things that are presumed illegal.

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