As the U.S.-led coalition fights an increasingly tough war against the Taliban, there is new talk of reaching out to elements of the group. On Thursday, a conference in London will explore ways of bringing the Taliban into the government and how to transfer security responsibility to Afghan forces. There is growing hope that an agreement with the Taliban could end the war.

In a nationwide referendum, nearly 88 percent of New Zealanders voted "NO" when asked: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offense?" Do you think governments should make laws about how to punish children, or it is a private matter? Tell us what you think.

A Worldfocus contributing blogger writes about a new government program in the Philippines that provides cash assistance to poor families who follow human development guidelines, and assesses its likelihood of success.