POLITICS & POLICY

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.

Declaring they pose a potential threat to national public order, the government of New Zealand has denied issuing visas and effectively barred Los Angeles rap collective Odd Future from coming into the country, jeopardising the group's supposed participation in the Rapture event at Western Springs in Auckland on Saturday night.

That question actually remains unanswered, not because New Zealand Prime Minister John Key was offended by the query if he is a reptilian alien who could change shapes, but because no evidence could be found to disprove the theory.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has once again maintained its firm tone overnight, pushing higher yesterday, as Chinese trade figures exceeded expectations.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison shed light on pertinent issue of alleged child bride case, Syrian passport cancellations and torture claims

As a celebration for the 11th year of Safer Internet Day, AFP partners with ThinkUKnow cyber safety program

Australia: The AUD reached its highest level since the 14th of January, following some good domestic data yesterday, while overnight, new Fed Chair Janet Yellen's first address to the House provided few surprises.

Australian Civil-Military Centre (ACMC) launched a research paper which shed light to sexual violence rampant in conflicted areas

Hillary Clinton blamed it on her failure as a wife.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key wants Japan to apologise for breaching the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Shonan Maru No 2 entered New Zealand's EEZ while tailing one of the ships of anti-whaling organisation, Sea Shepherd.

China's mad dash for the safe haven yellow metal gold has surpassed 1,000 tonnes in 2013.

A social media campaign for the benefit of SPC ARDMONA reaches 14.6 million for the benefit of SPC ARDMONA

New Zealand Parliament is preparing for the first reading of a bill forcing tobacco firms to sell their cigarettes in plain packaging. But the government has previously said it will not take any further action unless the legal challenge in Australia has come to an end.

Two senators found a disgusting dining set at the Parliament House.

The Australian Dollar has remained contained within recent ranges overnight as the market awaits for events later in the week before making any significant moves.

The Australian Industry Group has urged the federal government to put on enough spending so as not to derail the economy now reeling from weak revenues from the mining sector.

The New Zealand government has summoned a top Japanese diplomat in the country to answer questions regarding the arrival of a Japanese whaling fleet in New Zealand's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully criticised Japan's whaling activities as "deeply disrespectful" and offensive.