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Weekend Rewind II

Once again we reach Saturday with the Syrian refugee crisis having dominated this week, but perhaps just a few flickers of hope to embrace.
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Once again we reach Saturday with the Syrian refugee crisis having dominated this week, but perhaps just a few flickers of hope to embrace.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced on Wednesday Australia would take 12,000 Syrian refugees and offer them permanent protection. That possibility couldn't come soon enough for Rabia and his wife and sons, who have been holed up in Lebanon waiting for word back on their application for Australian asylum for 18 longs months.

HuffPost Australia's Josh Butler interviewed Rabia this week and his tale is staggering.

As we've watched this great mass of humanity on the move it's hard to imagine even the practical logistics of what they face. This post on Medium illustrated in stark simplicity the concept of leaving your home for good with just what you can carry. What would you take with you?

And while we've been challenged by the inhumane approach of Hungarian authorities to Syrians fleeing Assad's barrel bombs, this 15 minute Guardian documentary captured some beautiful moments of human compassion and resilience.

And now we turn to what to do about it all? Former Bush administration adviser and current member of the Council on Foreign Relations Elliot Abrams was in Australia this week. His interview on Lateline is worth a watch.

It was RUOK day on Thursday. For its sheer bravery I share this piece by my HuffPost UK colleague Poorna Bell about the suicide of her husband Rob this past May.

Karen Barlow did a fascinating interview with the two backbenchers behind a move to criminalise so-called revenge porn.

And at the risk of setting a precedent, this week's Rewind ends with another animal story. HuffPost Australia's Lifestyle Editor Leigh Campbell had one of the 'best days of her life' visiting a unique animal sanctuary in Western Sydney. The video, shot by our Video Editor Tom Compagnoni, is a heart-warming way to start the weekend.

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