POLITICS & POLICY

The London Evening Standard has included these famous women in their annual top 20 "Most Influential" people in the capital among many other personalities.

The Australian sharemarket is improving for the second straight day thanks to news that Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has agreed to step down later this month. This resulted in strong gains from the American markets late in trade this morning, which has translated in an impressive performance from shares locally. The All Ordinaries index (XAO) is up 1.4 pct or 60.5 pts to 4417.2.

After hosting Queen Elizabeth in October, Australia will welcome on Nov. 16 and 17 U.S. President Barack Obama who will visit Canberra and Darwin.

Ned Kelly will finally get his last wish, burial on consecrated ground, 131 years after his execution.

Withstanding difficult coal market conditions and low interest from industry peers, Australian coal miner Queensland Coal Corporation will enter into an initial public offering early next year.

The chair of the ongoing media inquiry proposed on Tuesday a new industry levy to strengthen the Press Council, Australia's newspaper watchdog.

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman received for the year about 198,000 complaints against telecommunication firms in Australia. The complaints were up by almost 25,000 from the previous year's 168,000.

Contrary to claims by the Opposition that the carbon tax passed Tuesday by the Australian Senate would cause economic slow down, a climate expert said that the impact of a $23 per tonne tax would be to increase inflation rate by less than 1 per cent.

From Bell FX Currency Outlook: The AUD has been steady since yesterday morning and is trading at USD 1.0375 as European politics dominated headlines and focus.

From Morrison Securities Pty. LtdU.S. stocks jumped in afternoon trading after reports that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi plans to resign, seen as a breakthrough in the country's political impasse. Berlusconi was planning to resign after the country's 2012 budget vote is approved, according to several media reports. Few details were immediately available, but traders viewed the development as a positive one for stocks, which have been wracked by soaring Italian bond yields a...

From: Craig James, Commsec Chief EconomistMORNING REPORT (8am AEDT - US close) -- US ICSC chain store sales rose by 2.7pct in the week to November 5 compared with a year ago. ICSC research expects comparable store sales to rise 3.5-4pct in November. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 1.3pts to 90.2 in October - improving for the second straight month.

Lady Diana's Statue to be Erected in Front of Royal Couple's Kensington Apartment [PHOTOS]

Tennessee pastor Michael Pearl is being censured for his views on raising children by never "sparing the rod."

The host of U.S. reality cooking show, "Top Chef," is learning that juggling a television show, losing the baby weight and raising a toddler can be done if you have a little help, humility and a little bit of know-how.

The recent development in Herman Cain's alleged string of inappropriate behaviour towards female employees comes by the name of Sharon Bialek.

Newly listed Australian gold base metals and uranium miner Mining Group Limited announced it has bought an 80 per cent interest in the Philippines' Comval Project, effectively expanding its gold and base metal tenement overseas.

Despite pressure from other Labor leaders for a formal party position on gay marriage, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Tuesday that she would allow a conscience vote on the issue.

The original queen of pop is leaning towards enrolling her children, Rocco and David, at Marlborough College, the same school attended by both Kate and Pippa Middleton.

Scrambling to extend the life of its mines, four of which are set to conclude by 2020, China's Minmetals Resources Ltd. is on the prowl to acquire Australia-based miners Mirabela Nickel Ltd. and Alumina Ltd., with a $7 billion to boot to capture the two companies' nickel, bauxite and alumina output.

Prompted by global concerns pulling down valuations, Zijin Mining Group Co. of China has allotted some Yu10 billion (US$1.6 billion) to acquire deals targeting gold, copper and other metals that are in short supply in China.

The proverbial red tape prevalent in most governments has largely affected small businesses in Queensland, which have been thumped $7 billion in taxes, fees and other charges annually.

Prices of copper crept up on Tuesday as investor confidence rallied on Greece forming a new government that will push the necessary bailout package needed to control a looming default.

The Duchess was recently seen constantly touching her belly, and now, royal pregnancy rumors are really starting to escalate.

A security aide of slain Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi detained in Misrata has told CNN and BBC that the longest-serving leader of Africa was forced to scavenge for food and hide in abandoned homes in his hometown Sirte during his last days.

After a less than ideal start to the trading week yesterday, Australian shares are rising modestly. The All Ordinaries index (XAO) is up 0.2 pct or 10.7 pts to 4346. Most of the larger sectors are currently improving with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials index up 0.4 pct while the S&P/ASX 200 Financials index is 0.3 pct or 12.1 pts higher to 4066.6.

As the Australian Senate votes on the carbon price on Tuesday, the Labor government said it will stick to its proposed $23 per tonne price.

BHP Billiton's indenture arrangement bill, a prerequisite to start the expansion plans of its $30 billion Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine project, has received ample backing from the Liberal MPs, guaranteeing its likely passage before Christmas.

Australian Prime Julia Gillard has the Qantas crisis and the G20 Summit to thank for lifting her sagging popularity. Latest survey made by Newspoll released on Tuesday shows that Labor got a 47 per cent rating, up by 1 per cent, while the coalition lost 1 per cent.

Bell FX Currency Outlook:The AUD has traded in a wide range in the last 24 hours as it continues to take direction, like just about all financial markets, from developments in Europe.