POLITICS & POLICY

Its helps if Australia will learn from history, according to renowned economist John Hewson, and prepare as early as possible for the easing down of global demands for its resources exports.

Investor optimism has returned following weekend developments in Europe, sending the local share market up sharply in early trade. After reaching a high of 4423 points in the first half hour of trade the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is up 33.8pts or 0.8pct at lunchtime in the East to 4392.4.

Everyone has to start somewhere and as ABC News found out, even with noteworthy titles such as "CEO" and "Governor," these presidential candidates still had their share of really bad jobs. A look at their resume would suggest that even the future leader of the free world had his share of menial labor, and we're not just talking household chores here.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh tweets “We did it … we got back up again and we won the 2018 Commonwealth Games,” confirming reports that the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has chosen Gold Coast on Saturday as the official venue for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The U.S. wants Israel to first obtain permission from Washington for any pre-emptive attack on Iran's nuclear facilities but failed to get a clear response, unnamed sources said according to U.K.'s "The Telegraph".

As developed nations scramble trying to resolve respective fiscal problems, worldwide prices of crude oil continue its ascent as the winter requirements peak that could eventually trigger global domestic prices of gasoline and diesel to spike as well.

Victoria Health Minister David Davis said on Sunday that the state will back the move by public hospitals to turnover to Fair Work Australia (FWA) the planned nurses' strike which could lead to bed closures.

The Greens are seeking a debate on a reported plan to expand American troops in Australia. Greens leader Senator Bob Green said it is Parliament's duty to debate the pros and cons of a wide U.S. military presence in the country.

The new week looks promising for Prime Minister Julia Gillard as her poll numbers reflected considerable boost against Opposition Leader Tony while she prepares for the Australian visit this week of U.S. President Barack Obama.

Amid continued debate over Australia's carbon tax, the country's greenhouse gas emission rose by 3.8 per cent in October, according to the Emissions Insights report of RepuTex carbon analytics for the last month.

War-torn Afghanistan may have yet to create a concrete and definitive framework to be able to attract more foreign investments, but regional investors interested in its mining treasure remain undeterred even as the country still remotely sees the end of its inner problems.

Global demand for platinum, the yellow metal's alter ego in terms of value, will increase 5.8 per cent annually from 2010 to 2020, mining corporate finance company Allan Hochreiter partner René Hochreiter said.

In this age of technological innovation and advancement, e-commerce and rapid urbanisation, almost everything is possible and achievable. In business, companies can create a product and make consumers want it, in the same way that consumers can create a need for a product and make business actually produce it.

China, the world's second-largest economy, would be better off scouting and buying gas imports from Central Asia, primarily Turkmenistan, to meet near-term demand.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar has opened this morning over 1.0300 as new leaders took control in Greece and Italy and the financial markets breathed a sigh of relief.

U.S. stocks soared Friday, capping a volatile week, as signs of stabilization in Europe and better-than-expected consumer-sentiment data fueled a second straight day of big gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 259.89 points, or 2.19%, to 12153.68, its biggest gain this month. The rally, which followed a 113-point rise Thursday, helped the blue-chip index nearly to recover what it lost during Wednesday's drubbing.

From: Craig James, Commsec Chief EconomistMORNING REPORT (7am AEDT)US consumer sentiment rose for the third straight month in November, rising from 60.9 to a five-month high of 64.2. The Economic Cycle Research Institute economic index rose from 122.1 to 122.3 in the latest week.

On the recent "Ellen" episode, Jermaine Jackson said that his brother, Michael, was definitely not an addict, repudiating long time allegations that his brother could have live if he wasn't so dependent on illegal substances. "No, he wasn't addicted

In a modest sized study of post-mortem brain tissue from 7 boys diagnosed with autism and 6 boys without, the former group had an average 67% more neurons than the latter group. Some people who are diagnosed with autism live perfectly normal lives, some even have exceptional careers.

Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from the Australian power industry increased by 3.8% over the month of October, as lost generation gradually made a comeback in the lead up to summer, according to October's Emissions Insights report from RepuTex carbon analytics.

If the minority party in the South Australia Parliament continues its political delaying tactics, much more will be lost for the coffers of the state government, a possibly irked Resources Minister Martin Ferguson said on Thursday.

Despite Asian prices of gold declining on Thursday, Indian investors continue to believe in the psychological stabilizing effect of the yellow metal as gold buying grew 8 per cent to register an all-time high of 81.73 billion rupees, according to the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI).

Not all good things last. Or perhaps, some good things HAD to last.Australia may already need to create alternative options if it wants to secure the momentum of its economic growth in years to come after a new research indicated the country has saturated the economic benefits of its mining boom.

With the European debt crisis looming over the world economy, Australia must ensure that it will not replicate the financial missteps many countries in Europe have committed, says Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

Gay rights advocates are supporting a bill in the Queensland Parliament that seeks to recognise same-sex unions. The bill was introduced by Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser.

Despite Australia being a prosperous nation, 11 per cent of adults in the country and 12 per cent of children live in poverty. About one million Australian children do not always have enough to eat. Efforts of Foodbank, the largest hunger relief organization in Australia, to reach these needy residents got a boost following the commitment by the Australian dairy industry to provide one million litres of milk yearly for residents in need.

As fresh concerns rose over the massive fiscal crisis that continue to cripple the eurozone particularly Italy and Greece, investors on Thursday went to a market frenzy as most cashed their investments prompting Asian gold prices to go down.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian dollar has opened this morning fairly unchanged at USD1.0150 as worries over Europe's ability to handle its debt crisis abated somewhat.

Western Australia and BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP) agreed on Thursday to increase the royalty rate for iron ore after it amended the State Agreements Acts. The deal, however, is subject to approval by the state's parliament.