POLITICS & POLICY

Barack Obama, Tony Abbott Talk Military and Trade Cooperation

U.S. President Barack Obama called for the full implementation of 2011 plan to station U.S. troops in Australia and backed the ambitious goal of negotiating the free trade Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, when he called up incoming prime minister Tony Abbott, on Wednesday night, to congratulate him.

Bill Shorten Vs. Anthony Albanese: Who Will Be the Next Australian Labor Party Leader? (VIDEO)

Australian Labour Party power broker Bill Shorten announced on Sept 12 that he will seek Labor leadership after the party's stinging loss to the Coalition's Tony Abbott in the recently concluded federal polls. Former prime minister Kevin Rudd, who lost to Mr Abbott in the elections, kept his Parliament seat but declined to become the party's leader. The Coalition's win marked the end of the Labor party's rule in Australia for six years.

Freedom Flotilla to West Papua Tactically Changes Plan to Dodge Indonesian Navy; Says “Sacred Mission” Accomplished After Symbolic Ceremony at Sea

Evading the Indonesian navy, two boats met near the Australia-Indonesia border, to ceremonially reconnect the indigenous peoples of Australia and West Papua and handover sacred water and ashes carried onboard the Freedom Flotilla, to be presented to West Papuan leaders. This marks the successful completion of the “scared mission” of the Freedom Flotilla, which travelled 5000 km beginning in Lake Eyre, late Aug, a press release issued on Friday said.
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Ban Live Imports from Australia; PETA Australia to Israel

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Australia, has called upon Israel to stop importing live animals from Australia. PETA Australia emphasised that live cattle are transported in complete violation of animal rights. The conditions the cattle endure during their travels to Israel are very grim; many collapse or die from dehydration, suffocation, trampling or disease. PETA Australia made this demand in a letter addressed to Israel’s Environmental Protection Minister Amir Peretz and...

Hiring Outlook in New Zealand Softens but Spurred by Mining, Construction and Technology is Stronger than International Markets

Employment Outlook Survey of New Zealand reveals a moderate fall, in hiring, in the country for the coming fourth quarter of 2013. This follows, two quarters of marginally more optimistic results, according to, survey data released by, ManpowerGroup. However, the survey finds that the pace of hiring will continue to remain stronger when compared to the international market.

Boost Measures to Protect Children from Violence in Conflict-Ridden Countries: U.N. Official

As millions of children suffer across the world in conflict-ridden countries, unable to go to school, the international community has the responsibility to take up measures to protect them from violence. These thoughts were expressed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, at the 24th Session of the Human Rights Council, which began in Geneva on Monday.

Why the U.S. is Really Chasing War With Syria

Apparently, global markets rallied overnight on hopes that a conflict may be avoided if Syria gives up its chemical weapons. If that's the case, it's a rally that will fade later in the week.

Doomsday World War 3 on Hold; Syria Vows to Turnover Chemical Weapons; U.S., Russia Become Unlikely Allies; Global Markets Rejoice

In what might become global history's momentous yet unbelievable collaboration, the U.S. and Russia have become unlikely allies as both work to win over Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to turnover his government's stockpile of chemical weapons. News of alternative solutions to avert any impending doomsday World War 3 immediately caused the global markets to jump on Tuesday.

Freedom Flotilla Proceeds to West Papua as Indonesian Security Forces Get Ready for Showdown

The Freedom Flotilla’s flagship yacht, “The Pog” with six protestors, has left Thursday Island towards West Papua. Meanwhile, reports say the Indonesia security forces are preparing themselves for a possible showdown with demonstrators. Reports say, around 2500 security personnel have arrived at the Flotilla’s destination port of Merauke, anticipating trouble.

U.S. Syria Strike Not War But 'Unbelievably Small' Punishment for Chemical Warfare

Should the United States wage a strike on Syria and President Bashar Assad's forces, the attack is bound to be swift and harsh. President Obama has already signalled that a punishment is necessary for Syria to exercise restraint in the international community. Various contingency plans will be created while locations where the chemical weapon storage areas will be the major targets of attack. The U.S. has maintained the position that Syrian should be disarmed of its chemical stockpile so tha...

Syrian Crisis: Syrian People’s Assembly Writes to Western Counterparts, Seek Civilised Dialogue, Not Language of Fire and Blood

Even as U.S. and allies push forward with their plans to enter the Syrian civil conflict on the side the rebels, the Syrian People’s Assembly has reached out to the U.S. Congress ahead of the crucial vote approving President Obama to strike government forces in Syria. Warning that, “irresponsible, reckless action by the U.S. will kill innocent civilians; the letter implores the U.S. to "communicate with us [Syria] through civilised dialogue rather than the language of fire and blood."

Syrian Crisis: Another Iraq in Making? U.S. Fails to Provide Proof Against Assad Regime, Rebels Accept Responsibility to Ghouta ‘Chemical Attack’

In what could turn out to be a major embarrassment for the United States and its allies, reminiscent of similar action in Iraq, the world is still to see concrete evidence of President Assad government in Syria ordering use of chemical weapons. Although the Obama administration and its allies continue to insist they have the intelligence, the German media reports that Assad has actually refused permission to his troops to use chemical weapons on several occasions.

Australia Under New Management: Abbott’s Promise to Abolish Carbon Tax, What Does it Mean and Why Greens Will Turn Red

With victory in his pocket and claiming a mandate to act, Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott has vowed to immediately scrap the hated tax on carbon polluters, popularly called Carbon Tax. He is reported to have instructed his team on Sunday to begin drafting legislation to abolish the carbon-pricing scheme. Meanwhile, businesses are warning that the economy will face a multi-billion-dollar drag, if the opposition Labor and the Greens succeed in thwarting Abbott's plans.

Natural Gas: What the War in Syria is Really About

The US President is currently undertaking a massive sales pitch for war. We heard on the radio this morning that President Obama was set to front about six different media outlets today to make his case for war with Syria.

Syria's President Bashar Assad May Exchange Chemical Weapons for Amnesty; Obama “Skeptical”

As President Obama pushes his case for an attack on Syria over the use of chemical weapons on civilians, Syrian President Basar al-Asaad tells U.S. TV he has no chemical weapons. Secretary of State John Kerry has denied Assad's claims of not having a chemicals weapons stockpile. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked Syria to give up its chemical weapons to international agencies to prevent an attack from the U.S. The new proposal may pause a U.S. led strike on Syria.

Doomsday World War 3 Only 1 Week Away? Surrender Chemical Weapons or Face Attack – U.S. to Syria (VIDEOS/PHOTOS)

The U.S. has sounded the alarm, giving Syria a one-week deadline ultimatum to turn over all its chemical weapons or otherwise face the wrath of a military strike. As expected, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a counter verbal attack that its government will not take lightly any international intrusion to the country’s civil war. Would doomsday World War 3 occur middle of September 2013?

World War 3 Countdown: Syrian Children Plead for Obama to Strike, Assad Defiant Amidst Attack Threat (VIDEOS)

The countdown to World War 3 may happen soon enough as the US Congress prepares to approve or deny President Barack Obama’s proposal to strike Syria. A video posted on Youtube allegedly produced by the residents of Kafranbel, a village in northern Syria, sent a message for the world to see and called on the United States to strike Syria. Despite the possibility of Syria being Ground Zero of World War 3, the Syrian leader has vehemently denied knowledge of chemical weapons use against opposing ...

Tony Abbott Keeps PNG Solution, Maintains Processing on Rape Island (VIDEOS)

Australian Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott had said during the campaign that he would stop the asylum boats from coming to the country's shores. On Monday, he called Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill that the incoming Coalition government commits to maintain the offshore processing system in Manus Island, also called Rape Island by male asylum seekers.

Meet Nova Peris: The First Aboriginal Woman Elected in Australian Parliament

In a historic win in the recent Australia Elections 2013, Nova Peris has become the first aboriginal woman in the country to become a Parliament member. The former Olympian who also won a gold medal will occupy a place in the Senate as the representative of the Northern Territory with the Australian Labour Party supporting her.

Kevin Rudd News: What's Next for Australia's Former Prime Minister?

Despite losing to the Coalition's Tony Abbott in Australia's recently concluded Federal Elections, Kevin Rudd and wife, Therese Rein, still found a reason to smile and laugh amidst the crowd of Labour supporters.For a group of Labour supporters who lost to the Opposition, they were not exactly crying because of Mr Rudd's harrowing defeat. It was a night of festivities in Brisbane on election night as what was supposed to be a campaign wake.

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