POLITICS & POLICY

Independent MP Rob Oakeshott has sought changes in Australia's general sales tax (GST) ahead of the two-day tax forum which begins Tuesday.

MORNING REPORT (7am AEDT)The US ISM manufacturing index rose from 50.6 to 51.6 in September, well above expectations centred on a result near 50.5. Production, employment and supplier deliveries all rose strongly. Construction spending rose by 1.4pct in August after falling by 1.3pct in July. And US car makers posted double-digit annual gains in sales in September with GM sales up 20pct and Chrysler up 27pct.

The "Occupy Wall Street" protest in New York continued on Tuesday even as similar demonstrations were held in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and other major cities in the U.S.

The European Union (EU) is amenable to making additional promises in dealing with climate change but these should be part of a more comprehensive global approach because their coalition is responsible for only 11 percent of emissions all over the world.

Australian marriage equality advocates have moved to quell fears about same-sex marriages among Australia's Catholic Bishops, saying religious celebrants will not be forced to perform same-sex marriages when these marriages are legally allowed.

Before Kate Middleton lived in a palace with a Prince, she worked for their family business that sells party favors online.

The National Broadband Network (NBN) was launched in Tasmania on Monday, with 90,000 homes expected to be connected to the network. However, the roll out was overshadowed by reports that the initial launch of the NBN in May cost taxpayers almost $140,000 with only seven initial customers.

US president Barack Obama copped a bit of flak in 2009 for appointing a Harvard law professor to a senior White House regulatory position.

Truth be told, the biggest terrorist threat that Americans currently face does not originate from al-Qaeda. In a shocking revelation that essentially confirms the US government's involvement in funding, promoting, and even initiating terrorism, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was recently exposed for intercepting what can only be considered its own terrorist plot to send drone bombs into the US Capitol and the Pentagon.

An appeals court struck a suicide advisory from a South Dakota abortion law, underscoring decades of research finding no link between the procedure and mental health disorders. But the idea of psychological harm remains active in several states.

MORNING REPORT (7am AEST)US personal income fell by 0.1pct in August but spending rose by 0.2pct. The lift in spending was in line with expectations. Meanwhile the Chicago purchasing managers index soared from 56.5 to 60.4 in September while the consumer sentiment index rose from 57.8 to 59.4.

Manufacturers experienced another tough month in September with the Australian Industry Group - PwC Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI®) down 1.0 point to 42.3, indicating a further weakening in the sector.

U.S. stocks fell Friday, closing out the market's biggest quarterly drop since the financial crisis with a triple-digit dive in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The blue-chip Dow shed 240.60 points, or 2.2%, to 10913.38, after a batch of glum overseas economic data weighed on investor sentiment.

The Australian dollar is currently trading around USD0.9660 weighed down by ongoing European debt concerns.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the most famous cancer institute in Britain on Sept. 29, and here are their most tear-jerking experiences.

The Duchess and her younger sister have become sensational fashion icons since the Royal Wedding, but which one has the better style?

Following the gaffe he had committed earlier this week, Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd shifted his gears and voiced out support for his boss, the embattled Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

A Muslim-American from Ashland in Boston was arrested on Wednesday near the Pentagon and charged with trying to destroy or damage the headquarters of the U.S. Defense Department and the U.S. Capitol with remote-controlled model planes loaded with 24 pounds of C-4 explosives.

The Renewable Energy Target is a critical policy that will help Australia develop natural clean energy advantages and reduce approximately 380 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, Australia’s peak body for renewable energy said on Friday.

After months of stalling, the federal government finally approved the inclusion of six drugs to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) that provides state subsidies for the medicines that are normally used for life-threatening medical conditions such as cancer, heart failures and tuberculosis.

The federal government added 48 drugs Friday to the list covered under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, including treatments for heart disease in infants and children, tubercolosis and cancer.

Victoria’s building and construction industry has backed calls from the state government for the Commonwealth to delay the introduction of model Work Health and Safety Laws.

Australia is fairly stable compared to the rest of the world but the country needs more savings buffer if only to insulate its economy from global uncertainties.

Australia registered on Friday a budget deficit of $46.4 billion (A$47.7 billion) for the year ending June 30, 2011. The gap is 3.4 per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

Various companies from a cross section of industries have sought the assistance of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the wake of an onslaught of cyber burglaries that have plagued their computerized control systems.

A century from now, Australia could turn into an empty mine-pit with used up natural resources, no jobs and no future in sight unless present governments formulate strategies and implement action plans that would anchor the country to not just rely on its natural resources for sustained economic growth.

American investment analyst James Dines criticised Australia's natural resources policy, particularly selling large land areas to China.

German lawmakers voted 523 to 83 on Thursday to widen the extent of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) and become the 11th European nation to concur with the idea of increasing the bailout fund.

Japan will seek closer ties with Australia a day after Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard spelled out the country's foreign policy direction that would be geared towards riding on the rise of Asia as an economic power.