POLITICS & POLICY

The Australian government has a taxpayer-paid relationship counselling programme that includes sex advice from no less than Prime Minister Tony Abbott. However, reports say that some Aussies are finding it hard to swallow lessons on intimacy from a man who studied how to be a priest and applies conservative Catholic standards to government policy on issues like same-sex marriage.

New Zealand ambassador to Israel Jonathan Curr has canceled his trip to Israel because the Israeli Foreign Ministry objected his "dual credentials." Curr was also supposed to present his credentials to the Palestine Authority.

The offer for more autonomy to Scotland could have been discussed a bit earlier.

The stimulus as well as the efforts at streamlining business financing for SMEs may yield positive results.

Three Punjabi radio stations may be banned by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

U.S. filmmaker Michael Moore asked Toronto voters to vote their mayor Rob Ford out this time.

It may take some more time to see the opportunities inherent in the ceasefire.

Kiwis may not have thought that their urge for some vicarious pleasure in the weekend will turn into a total crash of the Internet service!

Fidel Castro still reserves the old fury and likes to rant against the West.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar touched .9400 on Friday night after the US non-farm payroll data for August came in well below expectations.

The success rate in any common capital market initiative hinges on the track record of SMEs who want to enter the market.

As the Afghanistan mission is coming to a close, NATO has more war fronts in the making.

India can become a vibrant market for Australia's uranium exports.

New Zealand remains opposed to Japan's plan of resuming its whaling operations in the Antarctic. Prime Minister John Key has expressed his disappointment and reiterated that New Zealand does not support whaling.

The terrorist group ISIS has posted a new photo online showing a tiny baby lying on an ISIS flag with guns and grenades surrounding the newborn.

Canada has an ISIS salon, and the owner does not want to hide it.

Australia's asylum seeker policy is once again in the spotlight over poor conditions in offshore detention centres. An Iranian refugee has developed an infection while in Manus Island.

Ministers should know transparency can save many embarrassments especially in this digital era.

New Zealanders may be looking for a political change in the election as trends are changing very fast

The recent beheading video of another American journalist, Steven Sotloff, only strengthens the conviction of Australia and other countries to do what they can to stop ISIS.

A legally valid Ebola vaccine will be a great relief to those suffering from the disease and can save many lives

Russia has gained a new enemy, this time the militant group Islamic State. At least on this one, Russia can join forces perhaps with the European Union and the United States to annihilate the group and stop its senseless crusade.

Workers tasked to decommission the highly radiated Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have slapped a lawsuit against operator Tokyo Electric Company (Tepco) over unpaid hazard wages.

Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper expressed his willingness to back fights against the Islamic State. However, he said that Canada would have a limited budget to do so.

Putin's proposal can lead to a truce and provide the needed time for the work towards a broad dialogue.

NATO's current approach in not entangling in the political and historic baggage of members will help in de-escalating many tensions.

Jabhat al-Nusra, the militant group in Syria that held US journalists hostages had at least three Canadian members who were involved in the proceedings.

Ukraine has received a tangible form of help from the European Union when Slovakia finally opened a pipeline to deliver much needed essential gas to the war-torn country.

The housing bubble is often a precursor to crashing economies as it has been proved in many countries.