POLITICS & POLICY

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is under pressure this morning and has traded below USD 1.0300 after a volatile overnight session in the northern hemisphere. The US dollar, on the other hand, got a boost

The Boston Marathon held last Monday was supposed to be a fun event for 29-year-old Krystle Campbell of Arlington, Massachusetts but the heinous bombing incident that occurred took her precious life. Officials confirmed to the public that Krystle Campbell was one of the three Boston Marathon bombing fatalities causing her family and friends to mourn their tragic loss even through social media.

Until April 16, 2013, Tuesday, there were only two rights that gays in New Zealand did not enjoy - the right to adopt children as a couple and the right to marry. The next day, the country's Parliament passed the Marriage Equality law that granted same-sex couples the right to marry, leaving only the right to adopt children as a couple as the only one right still denied them.

An interesting job vacancy ad was posted in Weibo, China's counterpart of Twitter. The ad announced that a third-party security company in Beijing called Anquan is looking for a Chief Pornography Identification Officer.

Despite the continued global uncertainty, the impact of the high dollar, coupled with challenging conditions faced by some sectors on the home front, the Australian economy will nevertheless grow solidly by 3.0 per cent in 2013 and 3.3 per cent in 2014, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Brazil has vowed to strengthen and intensity its security measures and tactics in light of the heinous Boston Marathon bombings on Tuesday which has so far claimed three lives and injured more than 170. Brazil is set to play host to two major global events this year, and then each next year and on 2016.

Shares of global iron ore mining giant BHP Billiton spiked by 25 cents, or 0.78 per cent, higher at $32.40 at 1035 AEST on Wednesday morning as it announced it will be maintaining its annual production guidance for the year.

A strong but shallow 6.8 magnitude earthquake rocked the northern coast of Papua New Guinea on Wednesday morning, but scientists immediately quelled off concerns of a possible tsunami aftermath in the Pacific.

The Boston Marathon explosion sparked different reactions among social media users who learned about the Apr. 15 tragedy. Several calls for prayers were posted almost instantly. Some users looked for who or what to blame. Others did the least they can, like spreading messages and images that could help keep one's faith in humanity.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar is higher, as overseas share markets bounce back from heavy losses yesterday.

Elsewhere around the world, investors are panicking over the continued falling prices of gold, considered the best safe haven tool to counter inflation. But not in India where the price slump of the yellow metal has been more than welcomed, if not wonderfully embraced.

China's first quarter GDP grew at 7.7% in the first quarter, according to figures released by China's National Bureau of Statistics. It's a solid, respectable result that would be the envy of any developed nation. But it's a far cry from the 10% plus growth that China achieved from its stimulus efforts in 2009 and 2010.

The United States of America is now vigilant after the tragic 2013 Boston Marathon blast that reportedly killed three people and injured more than 100 people. US President Barack Obama promised the victims that the people responsible for the attack will receive “the full weight of justice” as he ordered federal agencies to help in preventing further “acts of terrorism” through increased vigilance.

The Boston Explosion Monday afternoon claimed at least three lives and wounded at least 120 by-standers, participants, and supporters of the athletes in the event. The twin blasts pulled social media users together as they share their grief and shock. Some posted photos calling for prayers, many others condemned the violence.

Australia wants to improve the emissions monitoring of its coal seam gas (CSG) projects by using direct measurement rather than alternative methods for estimating vented fugitive emissions from well completions and workovers.

U.S. stocks suffered steep declines Monday as a plunge in prices for gold and other commodities unnerved investors. Worse-than-expected data on Chinese and U.S. economic growth fueled the selloff, which began during Asian hours and spread around the globe.

China's ambitions to expand its dominance has gained foothold in the European region as it signed on Monday a free trade agreement with Iceland enabling access to the latter's abundant resources such as rare earths, iron ore and oil.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar fell to a one month low during overnight trade as disappointing Chinese economic data and bombings in Boston weighed heavily on market sentiment.

Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who save thousands of Jews from death during World War II, was made an honorary Australian citizen. He is the first person accorded such a recognition.

Bayside suburbs around Melbourne's CBD as well as riverfront properties in at least five areas in Victoria are at risk to exposure of rising and severe flood waters, a coastal flooding report released on Monday by the Municipal Association of Victoria revealed.

The NSW government surely did not anticipate it that although it had its way it removing the iconic Rainbow Crossing on Oxford Street at Sydney, it however started a viral trend of rainbow crossings that have now emerged everywhere in Australia.

U.S. stocks traded in negative territory for most of the day Friday before paring losses late in the session to end off lows. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished nearly flat, losing 0.08 point to 14865.06, far off the day's low of 14790.57.

It's bad enough that big government statists are trying to take away your Bill of Rights, hide what goes into your foods, poison you with vaccines, run your healthcare, tax you into poverty, spend the country into oblivion and micromanage virtually every aspect of your life. Now, they think your kids belong to them also.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) on Monday said it will tender before the federal government's review of workplace laws a plea lobbying for Aussie employees to be given the right and access to more flexible working hours.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar's strong run of late has moderated after a decline in commodity prices on Friday and some modestly disappointing figures from the US.

Displaying her steely will that earned her the tag Iron Lady, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is still in apparent control over her funeral. The baroness left details on how her final send-off would be as early as eight years ago.

A classified Defense Intelligence Agency report described in testimony on Capitol Hill yesterday reveals that "North Korea now has nuclear weapons capable of delivery by ballistic missiles."

It was a party of mixed reactions when Woodside Petroleum announced on Friday morning it is no longer pursuing its planned $40 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the Kimberley region.

Off-duty Pasadena Fire Captain/Paramedic Art Hurtado was just going through his normal Wednesday life until an unnamed man publicly sawed-off his arms inside the Home Depot store in West Covina, Los Angeles. The courageous paramedic did the best he can to save the injured man.