ZDNet's worldwide team provides global 24/7 technology news and analysis. In addition to my own coverage analysis here in the ZDNet Government column and on ZDNet's DIY-IT, every week I'll bring you a selection of the best government-related articles posted by our intrepid reporters and analysts. Here are some of the most interesting from the last week.

Top stories this week

Internet agency ICANN to escape US control

The head of the agency entrusted to essentially run the internet has said that the group is on course to break free of US oversight late next year.

NSA 'Core Secrets' leak points to spies working within companies

The latest Snowden leaks suggest the NSA has access to well-placed staff whose mission is to infiltrate companies to gather secret and sensitive corporate data.

Meet the UK's PRISM program

British police can access millions of UK mobile customers' data without a warrant.

Oracle v. Google could end up in the U.S. Supreme Court

Google has petitioned the highest court in the country to overturn a previous appeals court ruling favoring Oracle, which in itself overturned a mixed bag of district court rulings that primarily sided with Google.

Other government coverage around ZDNet

Google grants one third of 'right to be forgotten' requests

Google has published statistics on how it's handing delinking requests under Europe's 'right to be forgotten'.

Foreign fighters bill gives ASIO more metadata, computer access

Australian Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Vivienne Thom has warned that the definition of 'security' in new legislation is so broad that allowing ASIO powers to access metadata and computers for security reasons can cover more than ever.

Accenture tapped to design NZ tax department transformation

Accenture has beaten Capgemini to design the Inland Revenue Department's transformation as the NZ$1.5 billion project steps up a gear.

Australian competition regulator warns of split issues

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has said that splitting its regulatory functions into two entities could impact the regulation of telecommunications and the NBN.

Smartphones 'remotely wiped' in police custody, as encryption vs. law enforcement heats up

British police are warning that smartphones in custody for forensics and ongoing investigations are being remotely wiped, potentially killing vital evidence.