POLITICS & POLICY

Crews of power supply utility firms on Monday are racing to restore electricity to more than 250,000 homes and businesses groping in the dark in Atlantic Canada after tropical storm Arthur lashed through the area on Saturday morning.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar opens this morning little changed from Friday's levels as trading was very quiet due to the US Independence Day holiday.

New Zealand's booming economy has attracted more migrants to the country. It also gave citizens overseas to return home. As a result, the country is currently experiencing its strongest influx of immigrants in more than 10 years.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott believes his government's budget reforms will "ultimately" pass the Senate but admits he may encounter difficulties ahead. He said the budget will be approved since there is "no credible alternative" for controlled spending.

At least three people remain trapped when a gold mine in southern Honduras caved-in on Wednesday. Eight have been successfully rescued.

Regulatory controls laid down by the Chinese government on gold financial deals will mostly curb the country's imports of the yellow metal, a consultant told Reuters on Thursday.

U.S. President Barack Obama, the 44th president of his country, has been voted as the worst first citizen of the country since the World War II.

Climate change action is at risk of not being a priority in the G20 agenda as Australia "sees little consensus" among the group of leading economies. According to senior official Heather Smith, who is also the personal representative of Prime Minister Tony Abbott, said G20 countries have yet to agree on taking major new steps to address climate change.

Before then Prime Minister Julia Gillard stepped down from power, she accused former Opposition leader Tony Abbott a misogynist. Now the PM, Mr Abbott was called by an incoming senator, Jacqui Lambie, a political psychopath.

The New Zealand government welcomed the decision of Malaysia to send back the diplomat accused of sexual assault. According to the Malaysian authorities, it would allow Muhammad Rizalman bin Ismail to "cooperate fully and assist" authorities in New Zealand.

June has become the deadliest month in Iraq with 2, 400 death recorded according to the United Nations

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has retreated from the 0.9500 level of yesterday after a poorer than expected trade deficit figure pushed our local currency down.

Similar to the situation in many countries, political parties and politicians are the least liked institutions in Australia. Only 13 per cent of Aussies trust the political parties, while the most trusted institution is the High Court,

Independence Day, known as "Fourth of July," is commonly associated with parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games and family reunions. Also, fireworks give the celebration its "bang." But before lighting those sparkles, there are always safety precautions to remember.

The Al Gore-Clive Palmer alliance may have reignited the climate change debate. The Australia Institute defended its role bringing the Nobel prize winner and Australian MP together. According to reports, it said the Palmer United Party (PUP) "had avoided a big step backwards" through its concessions and reset the debate in Australia.

Patterns pointing to an El Niño weather phenomenon happening this year have started to emerge, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said on Tuesday. At present, ongoing surface temperatures at the Pacific Ocean point to levels of a weak El Niño.

Although still a relatively weak storm as of Wednesday, weather forecasters have advised residents off the U.S. East Coast. and Canada's Maritimes to brace for a wet weather this coming July 4th weekend.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has made new year to date highs following yesterday’s RBA meeting.

Increasing storm frequency, ocean temperatures and rising sea levels triggered by climate change are making U.S. military installations vulnerable and if actions aren't done to mitigate it, the country's military's readiness for combat could cave in.

The Malaysian government has asked New Zealand to drop the sex charge against its envoy in the country, Muhammad Rizalman Ismail. According to official documents, Malaysia "refused" to waive diplomatic immunity.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is under detention in Paris by authorities for questioning over alleged corruption, specifically influence peddling.

Controversial Canada politician Rob Ford called himself his “own worst enemy” when he is under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

The Australian government will brood over Brunei’s harsh Sharia Law ahead of Trans-Pacific Partnership

An unnamed diplomat has escaped his sexual assault charges in New Zealand by claiming diplomatic immunity. The details of the case, including the diplomat’s identity and home country, were suppressed by a judge.

The New Zealand government is under pressure to name the diplomat accused of assaulting a young woman and identify his home country. According to Prime Minister John Key, a court suppression order is blocking the government to reveal the identity of the diplomat who has now left New Zealand.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: With the AUD trading in familiar ranges, the focus will be on the RBA's post-meeting statement released at 14:30AEST today.

A new study released by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) has said the maddening climate change will drive the iconic emperor penguins to extinction by end of the century.

A kid aged ten is the youngest to have volunteered to fight with the Sunni extremist group, the ISIS

Australia Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has remained silent on the details regarding reports of an asylum seeker boat stranded about 175 nautical miles from Christmas Island. Morrison only said the issue was not a "significant event" and therefore not worthy of comment.