POLITICS & POLICY

Canada Post's first batch of community mailboxes will already be coming in by February.

Canada has threatened the U.S. with a retaliatory court action if the latter pushes through with a pending agricultural bill that requires meat sold in U.S. markets to detail its country of origin.

The heat is back on embattled Australian MP Craig Thomson who is facing charges on the misuse of Health Services Union (HSU)-issued credit cards. Just when all seems quiet for the former Labour MP, a new female witnessed emerged on Tuesday who could provide proof that the MP indeed misused his credit cards.

Queen Elizabeth II is said to be just a few spending away from depleting her funds. Not quite the poorhouse, though, but a new report claimed that the British royal’s wealth is “crumbling,” and her household finances are already at a “historic low” with only £1 million [AUD1.9 million] left in reserve.

The year 2013 has proven to be the second most costly for Kiwi insurers, based on data released by the Insurance Council of New Zealand on Tuesday.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has recovered slightly, after hitting a low of USD0.8660 over the long weekend.

Because of a strict campaign to collect unpaid taxes and penalties for 2013, the Australian government's coffer is richer by $430 million. The contributors are mainly the richest Australians, including racing celebrity Sean Buckley, art dealer John Ioannou and businessmen Bob Jane and Geoffrey Edelsten.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has had his uncle’s entire family eradicated, according to a new report. The once powerful Jang Song-thaek was executed in December for apparently attempting to overthrow his nephew.

London mayor Boris Johnson has been named Honorary Australian of the Year at the Australian Day Awards ceremony in London on Saturday, and he couldn’t figure out why. The British politician was grateful with his new award, but admitted he couldn’t figure out why he was given one.

French president Francois Hollande split with his long-time partner amid his affair scandal with alleged mistress, Julie Gayet. The now former first lady Valerie Trierweiler left for India on Sunday after the embattled leader’s announcement.

Australian Labour Party and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten described Prime Minister Tony Abbott's speech in the World Economic Forum as "embarrassing." Mr Abbott had criticised Labour's stimulus package during the global financial crisis in front of the summit participants in Davos, Switzerland. He accused the Labour government of spending money to attract progress.

Syrian Electronic Army was able to hack social outlets of CNN on Thursday January 23, 2014.

An international law expert from the University of Indonesia said on Thursday that Australia could be defying the 1951 Refugee Convention, based on the statement of Prime Minister Tony Abbott that Canberra would stop boats carrying asylum seekers that enter the country's waters.

Australia's policies on asylum seekers, sexual orientation, indigenous affairs, and disability were scrutinized by New York-based watchdog Human Rights Watch and found them wanting. The group gave a scathing review of Prime Minister Tony Abbott's Coalition government and the previous Labour government.

TransCanada Corp has started operating on Wednesday the Texas leg of its controversial Keystone XL pipeline.

Russian leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky advised U.S. President Barack Obama to divorce his wife Michelle Obama in order to become a better leader

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar remains above USD 0.8800 after inflation figures came in stronger than expected, making another cash rate cut highly unlikely.

In response to East Timor’s urging on the International Court of Justice to force Australia to return seized documents regarding the two countries’ controversial oil treaty, Australian authorities defends their position and rejects to give in to the demands.

Western Australia is given the green light to undertake its plans of catching and killing sharks in its popular beaches. But the Humane Society has described the move as a "complete disgrace" as the federal government granted the state of Australia an exemption from environmental laws.

Asylum seekers from Africa are accusing Australian Navy personnel of torture on Wednesday. Their charges were corroborated by Hidayat, the Indonesian police chief, and backed by photos of the injuries.

Russian president Vladimir Putin isn’t homophobic because he loves Elton John “despite his orientation.” The controversial leader, who ensured the passing of the anti-gay propaganda law in his country, denied that he is prejudiced against homosexuals.

In an aggressive move to regain its position in the oil treaty dispute, East Timor asked the International Court of Justice Monday for Australia to return data and documents it confiscated from the former’s lawyer in December.

Andrew Grant steps down as CEO of CO2 Group Ltd, the largest carbon developer in Australia, as government draws on a new policy to adjust to climate change, thereby forcing the company to consider investing into new business areas.

If rumours have to be believed, U.S. President Barack Obama and the first lady of the country Michelle Obama are getting divorced.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar traded at a new 3½ year low on Friday as the market digested the weak local employment data from Thursday.

The Supreme Court of Chile is asking Australia to extradite Adriana Rivas, the woman accused of involvement in torture and murder during the military dictatorship period of 1973-1990 in Chile. She was an intelligent agent for her country’s secret police, and is now wanted for her role in the murder of a Community Party leader in 1976.

Not only did Lt Gen Gu Junshan owned dozens of homes and crates of luxury liquor, he also possessed a golden statue of Mao Zedong, a golden washbasin, a golden statue of a ship. The Chinese people aren't pleased.

Three Al-Jazeera journalists, including a highly praised Australian, were arrested for allegedly broadcasting fake news. The arrest took place in Cairo on Dec. 29, 2013.

The Keystone XL pipeline only has two options, either it's a go or no go. The massive project continues to tether as U.S. President Barack Obama decides whether to choose climate change over economics. Canadian support for the project, meantime, has gone cold.