POLITICS & POLICY

Web tycoon based in New Zealand has denied accusations that he was involved in hacking a blogger's site earlier in 2014. In a statement, Dotcom said Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater's insinuations were designed to "deflect" the people's attention from his "dirty political behaviour."

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Tuesday that Canberra and Jakarta would sign by the end of August the Code of Conduct, an indicator that the diplomatic rift between Australia and neighbour Indonesia would formally end.

Ukraine has finally given the go signal for the Russian humanitarian aid mission to enter the country. However, it has yet to be decided when this will ever happen, as a bus carrying refugees have been hit with a missile near the city of Luhansk. Ukrainian officials accused pro-Russian rebels of carrying out the act.

HitchBOT, Canada's beer cooler-turned-hitchhiking robot, has finally arrived in Victoria, finally completing a 6,000-kilometre cross-Canada trek that started on July 26 from Halifax.

Any probe report has to be convincing to the general public

Joint operation with Iraq state army and air power of the US are producing the desired results

As the election campaign in New Zealand sweeps across the country, Prime Minister John Key's election posters were marred by anti-Semitism messages. Although Mr Key is not a practicing Jew, he is the son of a Jewish woman who sought refuge from Europe.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is facing mounting pressure to elevate climate change in the G20 agenda. According to a report from the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia (CEDA), the upcoming G20 summit in Brisbane in November will be the "perfect opportunity" for global economies to reform the financial and taxation sector while developing plans to address the threat of climate change.

Food makers from member-states of the European Union included in Russia's list of banned agriculture imports are devising ways to smuggle their products into President Vladimir Putin's country via Switzerland, according to reports.

The U.S. has lashed out at the extremist militant group Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) by sending airstrikes targeting the 400 ISIS fighters in and around the Mosul Dam complex. All these as Kurdish forces fired mortars and explosives in a bid to retake a strategic dam in northern Iraq.

Australian criminals who are not allowed to buy guns in their own country can just go to New Zealand to get their hands on a weapon. Reports said New Zealand police does not conduct mandatory record checks to people who apply for gun licenses. A pilot programme in 2012 was implemented for Australian and New Zealand authorities to share information but Kiwi police had apparently not use it to screen possible criminals.

The New Zealand Greens party has issued a challenge to other political parties in the country to support its campaign to end child poverty by increasing tax rates for the wealthy. The Greens plans to impose a 40 per cent tax on all income above $140,000 to help raise money to reduce child poverty. Reports said trust tax rates would also be raised to 40 per cent.

The AFP has revealed intelligence agencies have discovered that Sharrouf had left Australia using a false passport. Authorities said Nettleton and her children went to Syria where her sons were seen with Sharrouf through pictures.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: AUD flat reacting to limited news flow and the uneventful RBA Minutes release, which had been taken into consideration by the markets. Northern Hemisphere is taking in the last of the summer holidays.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on President Vladimir Putin to explain reports alleging Russian troops and tanks had advanced into eastern Ukraine to support the separatist rebels in the area.

Around four thousand Cannabis plants were discovered by accident planted on open land in California.

Thousands of pro-Palestinian activists from the US and Canada rejoiced over the weekend, albeit temporarily, as the group managed to block the docking of an Israeli ship at the port of Oakland in California. The blockade campaign was dubbed "Block the Boat for Gaza."

Australia is going to accommodate 4,400 refugees from Syrian and Iraq.

A third plane carrying non-lethal military supplies had arrived in Ukraine from Canada.

A life cut short in the sky and the pain of others

De-escalation is a must to bring the civilian life in Eastern Ukraine back to normalcy

Plain speak by the British Prime Minister underscores the need to tackle the IS threat with greater cooperation among affected nations

ISIS militants seem to be trying to marry captured Yazidi women.

The Russian foreign affairs lashed out at Australia and Bishop for suggesting that the humanitarian convoy to Ukraine may be used as a means for invasion. The ministry said Bishop has gone too far in making "irresponsible innuendos" against Russia.

The survey also shows the gains made by smaller parties in improving their support base.

Obama wants the Iraq government to do its job better

Ukraine has to put the house in order before facing the arm twisting by Russia

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The AUD is a little higher as risk appetite improved overnight.

Canada Post may be able to make home delivery exemptions to the disabled, but only upon receipt of a doctor's note.