POLITICS & POLICY

The enormous value of Australian workers' accumulated annual leave entitlements was the subject of research undertaken by Tourism Australia in the wake of the global financial crisis.

In a paper released today by the School of Public Policy in Canada, Duanjie Chen and Jack Mintz analyze small business tax policies. The authors find that despite the common belief that small business tax concessions encourage job creation and economic growth, this cannot be substantiated.

His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah called on all parties to adhere to the Amir's directives to respect the Constitution and the laws for the best interest of the country. The premier's remarks were made on Sunday amidst political tensions in some parts of the Middle East.

Space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to return to Earth for the final time on Wednesday, June 1, completing a 16-day mission to outfit the International Space Station. If Endeavour lands Wednesday, it will have spent 299 days in space and traveled more than 122.8 million miles during its 25 flights. It launched on its first mission on May 7, 1992.

In an unprecedented on-orbit maneuver, Commander Mark Kelly completed the first ever Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV)-like approach to the International Space Station at 3:24 a.m. CDT today as part of the Sensor Test for Orion Relative Navigation Risk Mitigation (STORRM). The orbital rendezvous verified the successful operation of the MPCV's next generation docking sensor, which NASA has identified as a critical technology needed for future space exploration missions.

Australia envisions becoming a world-leading digital economy by the end of the decade by fully realising the benefits of the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Australia’s peak body for the building and construction industry says it could not support the introduction of a carbon tax from 1 July 2012 unless the government properly addresses the cost impact and uncertainty in relation to the increased cost to housing and to the building industry.

Appearing in “We Say Yes” campaign commercials as a carbon tax ambassador, Cate Blanchett seemed unaffected by expected criticisms from those who do not support putting a price on carbon.

An Australian Army soldier, a member of the Mentoring Task Force was shot by an Afghan National Army soldier yesterday while undertaking guard duty at a patrol base north of Tarin Kot.

The Fukushima nuclear disaster has dealt more body blows to the uranium and nuclear power industries.

Japan can avoid turning the affected Fukushima Prefecture into a dead zone by immediately applying chemicals and planting radiation-absorbing plants at the contaminated soil, scientists said.

A gradual implementation of the carbon tax is the favoured scheme of industry groups led by the Business Council of Australia.

The Malaysian government has announced that an independent investigation on the planned rare earth facility by an Australian company is now being conducted to fast-track the report by next month.

All nuclear power plants in Germany will halt operations by 2022.

Plans to establish a regional processing center in Malaysia for asylum seeker will be carried out by the federal government despite condemnations from the Greens, conveys Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

CPA Australia is encouraging individuals and businesses to be vigilant in identifying what they are able to claim so as to avoid missing out on the cash they are entitled to receive for the current financial year.

Budweiser is asking adult men across America to help save one million gallons of water by not shaving in the days and weeks leading up to World Environment Day (June 5). As part of Budweiser's ongoing commitment to water conservation, the Grow One. Save a Million. program allows consumers to get involved and save roughly 5 gallons of water for each shave they skip.

As international concern grows over the mounting toll of fighting in Libya, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) is urging his colleagues in Congress to give "serious attention" to increasing evidence that members of the Algeria-backed Polisario Front are among those "being recruited and participating as mercenaries in Col. Gadhafi's murderous campaign against the Libyan people." Earlier this month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Libyan leaders, callin...

Australian actor Michael Caton described Cate Blanchett a “passionate person” as he defends her role in an ad promotion supporting carbon tax.

Australia’s largest and most representative business group has reaffirmed its opposition to a carbon tax or trading scheme prior to the operation of a global mitigation agreement.

The Australian Government has welcomed the news that Ratko Mladic was arrested in Serbia and congratulated the Serbian authorities on this development.

Work on the $16 billion Santos (ASX: STO) Liquefied Natural Gas Project near Gladstone is underway, with Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh officially launching the project on Saturday.

The rules on foreign ownership in ASX Ltd, according to Australian Financial Services Minister Bill Shorten, did not drop Singapore Exchange Ltd’s bid and they do not need any correction. This after the government decided to uphold a tax office ruling that gains from asset sales by private equity firms.

As the 30 days of public hearing in eight locations ended today, Premier Anna Bligh argued that investing $15 million in an implementation to review and extract any lessons from the disaster that ravaged over Queensland is one of the best ways to honor the 35 victims.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers, the country’s largest manufacturing union, has released a costed plan that aims to safeguard existing jobs and create a long-term base for renewable energy manufacturing in the country.

The National Press Club criticized Thursday a decision by the Justice Department to subpoena a New York Times reporter to testify in a criminal trial about who leaked him information for a book he wrote.

Seniors have lost almost one-third of their buying power since 2000, according to the Annual Survey of Senior Costs, released today by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). TSCL is one of the nation's largest nonpartisan seniors advocacy groups.

While NSW continues to give leads on poorly manufactured solar panels, Western Australia considered following it as more and more complaints and inquiries against the solar industry continues to rise from 50 and 300 respectively.

West Australian Energy Minister Peter Collier announced that short-term gas supplies will be provided in a bid aiming to bring more transparency to the market.