POLITICS & POLICY

Despite a pact reached last week, euro zone leaders are still far from achieving a lasting solution to the protracted sovereign debt crisis in the European continent.

The campaign against polio has received an added boost with the declaration of world leaders to channel more funds in the fight against Poliomyelitis.

Grace Kelly was a Hollywood actress turned royalty. Now that the script is on hand, who could possibly play her role?

It seems like only yesterday when the world buzzed about Kate and Wills engagement and later on celebrated the couple’s historic Royal Wedding, now they celebrate their six months in marriage.

If there is one trend these days, it is the acquisition of gold bullion by nervous investors and global markets. This "fear index" will likely fuel gold futures to further soar in the coming months.

With base metals taking a blow in prices in recent weeks, the Australian government may have to rethink of policy and fiscal regulations that will keep the country's economy afloat and not be totally dependent on majority of earnings coming from its mines and minerals sector.

Despite the global slowdown that continues to trouble the world's financial markets and some nation's political stability, a number of international companies remain confident they will be able to carry out and push their businesses to viability and stability.

The Transport Workers Union promised Monday that baggage handlers, ground crew and catering staff who belong to the union will not strike for the next 21 days, if Qantas negotiates in good faith.

Nomura opened the Chi-X Australia stock trading on Monday. The company promised to bring down prices by removing the monopoly of the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX).

After a negative start, the local share market is paring losses to hold only slightly lower at lunchtime in the East. Stocks in New York ended modestly higher on Friday night while European share markets ended mixed. At Midday in the East, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is down 9.5pts or 0.2pct to 4401.9.

Qantas planes are expected to be flying by mid afternoon.

Despite Fair Work Australia's (FWA) intervention on Qantas' labor row which will result in resumption of flights by 12 noon of Monday, Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce's unilateral action did not escape criticism of several groups.

Iranian actress Marzieh Vafemehr, who was charged in connection to her role in the Australian film My Tehran for Sale, has been freed and spared from lashing, Amnesty International announced.

Queen Elizabeth has endorsed the need for reforms to allow the Commonwealth to deal with future challenges, according to The Australian. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2011, have accepted all 35 recommended course of actions for the strengthening of the role of the Commonwealth Ministers Action Group. A major contributing factor to the nod was the undemocratic overthrow of the Fijian government in a coup in 2006, according to WAtoday.com.au.

As Japan struggles to rise above the March 2011 tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disasters, the country is expected to turn to other fuels, notably gas in the form of imported liquefied natural gas (LNG), oil and coal to fill the nuclear gap.

The U.S Presidential candidates have revealed a little bit about their personalities as they named their favorite films

Global markets took a breather on Friday night, as investors consolidated after recent gains. US markets were relatively flat, while in Europe, markets were a touch weaker. There was a lot to take in after all the announcements out of Europe throughout the week. Despite Friday's subdued moves, global markets finished the week with huge gains.

Australia has been ranked as one of the world's nations whose government imposes a low tax rate on its citizens.

A new modeling tally released by the Australian federal government on Friday showed the workers' pension savings stand to gain more from the planned 30 per cent mining profits tax as it would boost pension funds to $535 billion by 2035.

Australian policy regulators have been urged to devise and implement fiscal plans that will help anchor the country as it glides and cushions itself on the impact brought about by the global economic slowdown.

The Australian sharemarket surged in the first hour of trade today, with the All Ordinaries index (XAO) rising by as much as 1.5 pct. As the day went on however, the market gave away much of its impressive gains to end largely flat by close of business.

The confidence of small businesses in Australia is yet to be fired up, according to the results of the latest survey done by the National Australia Bank.

The Australian sharemarket is gaining for the third consecutive day with the All Ordinaries index (XAO) up 0.8 pct or 36.6 pts to 4440.5. Almost all sectors are improving with the exception of the defensive healthcare and telco sectors.

Concerns about the NSW planning system along with turbulence in international and national economic markets is keeping a cap on confidence in the state’s property sector, a new survey has revealed.

Australia will share its food productive expertise with poor African nations through a new $36-million food security centre which Prime Minister Julia Gillard launched at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth on Friday.

Timmy the sheep led a mob of concerned Victorians at a rally at the MCG Thursday night calling on Primary Industries Ministers to close the loophole that allows un-stunned slaughter in Australia.

The ongoing industrial dispute in Qantas which has caused family holidays to be canceled and business meetings to be postponed has dug so far a $68-million hole in Qantas's pocket.

At long last, leaders of the Eurozone have reportedly agreed on a common stand to resolve the two-year old debt crisis in the region.

A report in 2009 by the European Commission on the Economic Crisis in Europe highlighted the need for a framework in crisis prevention, mitigation, control and resolution.