Police in Spain have arrested 48 people in connection with a suspected human trafficking ring - believed to have lured over 1000 women to the country for sex work.

Authorities found evidence these women, who were mainly from Venezuela and Colombia, were made to believe they were taking beauty or cleaning jobs.

UK correspondent Gavin Grey says these women were kept under constant video surveillance and only allowed out for two hours per day.

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Retailers are hoping a sales rebound means an industry uptick has begun.

Stats NZ data shows total retail sales increased 0.9 percent in the three months ending December - against the quarter before.

Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly says this is a good sign for the economy - but warns companies not to get ahead of themselves.

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Conservatives have won Germany's election, with the far-right securing record votes.

Exit polls have the centre-right CDU topping votes at about 29 percent.

AFD has had the best showing for a German far-right political party since World War Two, surging to 20 percent.

New Zealand Initiative executive director Oliver Hartwich unpacks the economic factors at play.

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