POLITICS & POLICY

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is firmer today, rallying overnight as the appetite for riskier assets returned to the market.

Amnesty International has called on Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott to stop being a “baddie” and start becoming a “goodie.” The international human rights organisation said Australia’s refusal to accept more Syrian refugees reflects badly on the country’s reputation compared to other nations.

The minimum wage for New Zealand adult workers has been set at $14.25 per hour. It connotes an increase of 3.6 per cent of 50 cents over the previous $13.75. The new salary scheme will take effect on April 1.

Following the death of an Iranian asylum seeker Reza Kevati in the Australia-run detention centre in Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, an investigation has been launched to determine the truth about the violent riots. Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison is in the hot seat for his admission that most of the riots in Manus Island happened inside the asylum seeker detention facility and not outside as previously claimed.

Finance ministers and central bank governors discuss tax, reorienting and refinancing the International Monetary Fund and encouraging central banks to work with cooperation.

Back in September 2013 election, Senate positions in Western Australia were won by three Liberal Party members. But the position of the third Senator-elect Linda Reynolds was jeopardized. Zhenya Dio Wang of the Palmer United Party and Sen. Pratt won the final two seats.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key admitted he was "embarrassed" with the errors committed by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB). The spy agency's director Ian Fletcher has apologised to Mr Key for the wrong reporting of figures involving the number of warrants and other surveillance approvals in 2013.

China criticises Australia’s asylum seeker policy but Gillian Bird chose to be elusive

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar fell quickly after a disappointing flash manufacturing PMI number from China yesterday afternoon but has recovered to open the day around the .9000 level.

The PM will be introducing Cate McGregor, his college friend, who will be featured in ABC's Australian Story next week. Ms McGregor used to be Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm McGregor, an army officer and cricket expert whom Mr Abbott met during their student days.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar traded over .9000 again overnight before the release of the minutes from the most recent FOMC meeting which occurred late on Wednesday US time.

Canada closed the Kiev embassy while it threatened Ukraine that sanctions could be brought in against it.

Suspended Canadian senator Patrick Brazeau has got a new job. He is working in one of the strip clubs in Ottawa as a manager.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has emerged the most liked and trusted politician in a recent poll. According to a Fairfax Media-Ipsos survey, 59.3 per cent of Kiwis say they like Mr Key, while 58.7 per cent say they trusted him.

China has recently surpassed India as the world's top consumer of the safe haven yellow metal gold for the first time in 2013.

Save the Children Australia calls for unity for full and immediate humanitarian access inside Syria

North Korea is a heartless murderer of the highest order, staging killings comparable to Adolf Hitler's Nazi-era regime, the UN's Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights said on Tuesday.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: Yesterday in Australia, the Minutes to the February Board Meeting provided few extra clues to recent public pronouncements by the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Australian Employment Minister Eric Abetz sought an apology from convicted MP Craig Thomson for misleading Parliament and denying he misused the Health Services Union (HSU) credit card when he was still the union's national secretary.

The fisheries organization at Fukushima Prefecture in February launched a Web site that will contain information concerning the radiation levels of fishes caught in waters surrounding the crippled nuclear power plant.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is slightly lower this morning following quiet range bound trade overnight.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop talks about plans that will fortify Australia’s relation to ASEAN nations

Retail sales in New Zealand grew 1.2 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2013, but was still behind what economists expected.

Australia has been urged by International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde to continue being the "pioneer" in the ongoing climate change debate. Ms Lagarde spoke ahead of the G20 meetings and acknowledged Australia's effort in being at the "forefront" of climate change issues.

Despite being considered illegal in the country, China has nonetheless launched at least 25 baby dump hatches for unwanted and abandoned children nationwide. The scheme effectively encourages irresponsible parenting to a country with a population of 1.360 billion as of end 2013.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is higher as the prospect of a stable interest rate outlook helps investors shrug off last week's disappointing jobs figures.

The Abbott government is paying $4.3 million for media positioning analysis.

The Australian government collected $4.1 billion carbon tax in 2012/13, $1.2 billion less than the original projection of $7.7 billion.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is lower following weak employment data.