POLITICS & POLICY

Lives of thousands of children are at risk in Syria, warns Australian aid agency Save the Children saying a President of U.N. Security Council, Australia has “a real opportunity” to help protect these children and ensure they have access to the humanitarian aid they need.

If comments are anything to go by, it is evident that the new Liberal National Coalition Tony Abbott government in Australia will not be too upbeat about punishing the Syrian government, like his predecessor Kevin Rudd was.

Now that Tony Abbott is the new Prime Minister of Australia, the relationship between Australia and New Zealand will remain the same, according to Prime Minister John Key. The New Zealand Labour party had a lot to learn from the Australian Labour party's loss to the Coalition in the recent elections. Shane Jones, David Cunliffe and Grant Robertson who are all in the running to succeed David Shearer after his exit as the party leader, should pay attention to what just happened in Australia.

Treasurer Chris Bowen is not interested in serving as the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), left vacant after outgoing Prime Minister Kevin Rudd quit from the post following the party's debacle in the Saturday federal election.

An industry-wide labour strike at South Africa’s gold sector has ended with most mine workers accepting an eight per cent pay increase.

Let’s have a look at the probable important names in the next Australian government.

NBC News has released the Damascus gas attack videos on Saturday, which were shown to senators by the Obama government earlier.

Stephen McNeil said that he, if elected, would introduce legislation to let private power producers sell their products to customers directly.

A closed door meeting was held to discuss greater transparency regarding the expenses of Canadian MPs.

Officials from Israel's customs agency nabbed a French consul employee on Tuesday after the latter tried to smuggle into the country 152 kilogrammes of gold bars plus 500 kilogrammes of tobacco as well as checks amounting to $2 million.

Ex-prime minister Kevin Rudd suffers twitter backlash and now is hiding from the camera

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has started the week over .9200 after touching a three week high on Friday night as the US jobs data fell short of predictions and some analysts felt that the US Federal Reserve's tapering program would be delayed.

Australia’s new Prime Minister elect is Tony Abbott

Australian voters wanted change and ditched the Australian Labor Party. The Coalition got 87 seats, Labor 54, Greens 1 and Others 2. Since the 150-seat Parliament needs 76 seats for a majority, the Coalition becomes the administration and Tony Abbot gets to fulfill his ambition to be Australia's next prime minister.

With almost two-thirds of the votes counted, Australian Labor Party leader and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has conceded defeat to the Coalition led by Tony Abbott.

Pre-election surveys that said a Coalition win were confirmed by exit polls which showed that the Opposition - soon to be the administration - could win up to 100 seats. The number all point to the inevitable - that Australia's next prime minister is probably Tony Abbott.

Australia Election 2013: when is the counting of votes done and when is the tentative announcement of results?

Sep 7 Australia Election 2013: Kevin Rudd, Tony Abbott, Ginger Bread and Cakes

It's judgment day for Australians who will be casting their votes on today's federal elections 2013 in a contest between Australian Labor Party's Kevin Rudd, who is hoping for another fresh start, and the Coalition's Tony Abbott who has long sought the position of Prime Minister.

Calling on voters to make sure their vote on Saturday’s federal election counts, the Australian Election Commission issued a statement on Thursday, asking voters to ensure they fill in their ballot papers correctly. In the statement the commission outlined it effort to ensure success of the federal elections.

Pro-refugee organisations in Australia, have called upon voters to cast their vote for the rights of refugees and West Papuans and join in a creative act of resistance, after voting, on election-day, Sept 7.

As the world tethers on a balance, watching its global leaders fight for reason to blast Syria for its alleged illegal use of chemical weapons, the global populace likewise ponders if World War III is really just about to happen and will anyone ever survive a chemical gas attack.

U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan, early Friday, killed at least 6 people. Although, the identity of those killed was not immediately known, reports quoted a security official saying they are all Al-Qaeda-linked Haqqani militants.

The YouTube video shown is believed to be the reason why North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un had his former girlfriend, Hyon Song-wol allegedly executed on Aug 29, 2013.

The U.S. had decried the world stands to gain no support to curb Syria's alleged use of illegal chemical weapons because Russia had held hostage the 15-nation panel of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Australian Federal Election 2013: the best of Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott’s political gaffes and quotes

With a day to go before elections, on Thursday, the battle seemed to get bitter. What happens when the media mogul brushes a business tycoon the wrong way; sparks fly. Flamboyant Australian billionaire Clive Palmer, enraged by an article in a local national newspaper, that questioned his credibility and credentials, not only wowed to take the newspaper owner Rupert Murdoch to court, but also called Murdoch’s estranged wife Wendi Deng, a Chinese spy.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has retreated from its recent highs as the G20 meeting begins in St. Petersburg and financial markets await the most recent US jobs data tonight.

Australian Federal Election 2013 last minute reminders for Muslims and Aussie voters