Still reeling from the devastating floods in June, China has been struck again with another catastrophe. On Monday, China's western Gansu province was hit by two earthquakes, killing 89 and injuring more than 500 people. Authorities feared the death toll could go up as about 1,200 buildings had collapsed and tens of thousands more badly damaged.
Consistently shunning preferential treatment and special attention, Pope Francis has done what most heads of state would not. For his first overseas international trip since becoming the 266th pontiff, Pope Francis opted to carry his own luggage bag, fall in line and then wait for his turn to board commercial aircraft Alitalia for his week-long visit to Brazil in celebration of the World Youth Day 2013 festivities in his home continent.
IT exporters like Infosys are looking into strategies of stalling their employees from working overseas, as calls for immigration reform have urged politicians to respond to loss of jobs and a pushback in the economy.
The quarterly State of the States report issued regularly by CommSec once again named on Monday Western Australia as the strongest state in the Land Down Under.
The United Nations has issued a warning to all 750 million smartphone users around the world to be wary of the removable SIM card on their smartphones. A German research firm has discovered a flaw in the old encryption technology used to make the device operational, enough to make it susceptible to the illegal activities of hackers.
Marte Deborah Dalelv, a Norwegian national, couldn't believe her fate. She had been raped against her will while on a business trip to Dubai, and yet she had been slapped by a 16-month jail time just because she had the guts to report the incident to the local police.
The world of construction and architecture is abuzz now that China had begun building what could topple Dubai's Burj Khalifa and become the world's tallest structure.
After recording the biggest 1-day percentage sell-off in the last 13 years, Microsoft might be headed into really tough times. As investors continued to show concerns about the standing of one of the most influential tech companies in the world, Microsoft might have no other option but to bring the man that guided the firm to greater heights. Yes, Bill Gates might actually return to his old post.
Yesterday we discussed the hugely stimulating topic of 'economic structure'. That is, what are the determinants of an economy's output...which industries grow and create employment, tax revenue and profit? It might sound like an arcane, boring and useless discussion point but it's hugely important in modern day analysis.
Investors are wilting. In these hot, hazy, humid days of summer, they are growing languid, squishy...and soft. They go to the beach. They think of other things. They read novels...or the mainstream press. Their brains turn to mush.
Not much happened in the financial markets overnight. Europe was in the red on renewed concerns over the health of the peripheral nations of Portugal, Spain and Greece. The US backed off a little as everyone awaits 'the man' tomorrow, the US dollar was weak and gold was up a little bit...but still below the important US$1,300 threshold.
Peace and order law enforcement officers in Brazil on Thursday announced that masks of any form and design will be banned for the entire duration of the World Youth Day 2013, most especially during the scheduled mass of Pope Francis on July 23 in Rio de Janeiro.
Rival cellular smartphone makers Apple and Samsung have responded to clamors to create anti-theft features on their products. Top prosecutors from the U.S.' San Francisco and New York City states said law and security enforcement officers will now road test the efficiency of the new safety elements of the smartphones.
Despite a steadily rising number of deaths now at 45 worldwide, the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is still not considered a global health menace, a panel of experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Wednesday.
Pope Francis, who had earned a reputation for keeping his security detail on their toes whenever he goes out of the expected cordon sanitaire during events in Vatican, will be doing the same for his first international trip. On Wednesday, the Vatican announced this year's newly-installed spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic church had just dumped the idea of riding the ever famous bulletproof popemobile for his Rio de Janeiro, Brazil trip in observance of the World Youth Day 2013 festivitie...
Public nurses and midwives across the state of New South Wales in Australia have decided to take their employment-rant related concerns to a higher level. Patients confined at NSW state hospitals and community health service centres may expect work disruption as the nurses have voted to a state-wide strike action on July 24.
Although China's Internet penetration rate was 42 per cent as of last count, the South Asian giant continues to hold on to the number one post in terms of users. A report from China Internet Network Information Centre (CNNIC) released on Wednesday said the penetration rate went up by 2 per cent to 44 per cent as number of users rose to 591 million.
Today, just two weeks after the end of the June quarter, China will release its second quarter GDP statistics. It's a miracle of statistical compilation.
With the 28th World Day of Youth (WDY) just a mere six days away, the Vatican has released the itinerary of Pope Francis for the anticipated global event to be held in Brazil from July 23-29.
According to data on the Chinese economy, growth in the second quarter declined to 7.5% from 7.7% in the quarter leading up to March. China is one of Australia's biggest importers of natural resources. Analysts say that demand for Australian resources is still high in China and is unlikely to fall.
Banks in Australia have the highest concentration of residential mortgages than any other type of institution in the world, making them vulnerable to a possible house price correction according to the analysis of a leading credit market economist. Since houses in Australia are overvalued, many Australians consider housing affordability an issue. This is true especially for voters as housing ranks ahead of border security, broadband and education among the issues government must focus on.
Not much in the markets to draw our attention. Other than another pronouncement by the Fed that it will remain 'highly accommodative' for the so-called 'foreseeable future'.
The Australian market was subdued from morning to mid-day at the start of this week as investors become cautious while awaiting key data regarding China's economy. Some investors took profits after recent market gains, contributing to the fall.
Is he Harvey Two-Face or Janus? The 'he' we're referring to is US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. He thoroughly confused markets after the US close on Wednesday. On the one hand, the Fed will not necessarily end QE when the US unemployment rate reaches 6.5%. On the other hand, interest rates will not rise even if the Fed 'tapers off' bond purchases.
Everything is looking good for the US of A! Or is it?
Eight more cities in China want to limit the purchases of private cars in order to fight and manage the growing double whammy air pollution as well as traffic congestion menace in the country. The eight include Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Shijiazhuang, Tianjin and Wuhan.
Newcrest Mining Ltd is cutting jobs at its Telfer mine in Western Australia as proof of concrete action on its controversial restructuring plans announced last June 7.
Labour force figures today are expected to push the unemployment rate higher than last month's 5.5 per cent as the decline of the Australian dollar and sluggish economy hampers jobs growth.
In full compliance to orders from the leader of the Roman Catholic church Pope Francis to practice austerity and simplicity at all times, a priest from Colombia has decided to sell off his white Mercedes Benz E200 convertible with a black top to the market for $63,000.
The IMF says China's slow growth was a big risk as the world's second biggest economy moves to growth led by consumption. Any kind of economic slowdown could affect Australia and other commodity exporters. China is one of the biggest consumers of energy in the world. China's trade surplus of US$27.13 billion missed expectations this June as both imports and exports declined as well. A government spokesperson says China's foreign trade to face "grave challenges" ahead.
