Vittorio Hernandez

The diplomatic relationship between neighbours Australia and Indonesia is far from healed caused by the spying scandal in 2013. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's recent decision to decline an invitation from Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to a Bali conference may have even added to the gap.

Australia is still a good place to live despite the expected $30-billion budget deficit that could destabilise the Abbott government as citizens express anger due to the administration's failure to live up to its election promise not to raise taxes.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott will surely deny it, but he is now experiencing his Julia Gillard moment as latest surveys showed a drastic drop in the Coalition's approval rating from Aussie voters over his proposed deficit tax.

Tuesday's session saw a tussle between buyers and sellers, albeit it was an exchange that took place with the index occupying positive territory over the session. Volumes were conspicuously low with only $3.3bln in shares having changed hands. As the session drew to a close the ASX 200 found some comfort in the RBA statement that accompanied its decision to leave rates on hold, although the substance of the text varied little in the last month. The Reserve Bank left the official cash rate on ...

The Australian sharemarket is improving for the third consecutive day, with the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) up 0.3 per cent. The market is treading water ahead of the Reserve Bank's monetary policy meeting this afternoon. Economists are widely expecting the RBA to keep interest rates on hold this month.

With Japan still closed for public holidays by observing Greenery Day, Australia's May data day will be the biggest market macro news on the boards.

In US economic data, the ISM services index rose from 53.1 to an 8-month high of 55.2 in April, and above forecasts for a result near 54.1. The employment trends report rose from 117.5 to 118.0 in April.

From $500,000, the highest bid so far received by American female medical student who is auctioning her virginity has reached $800,000, according to Danielle's blog.

Middle Eastern air carrier Etihad launched on Monday a new service in Abu Dhabi, The Residence, which offers a 11.6-square metre 3-room upper deck cabin on its Etihad A380 jet. It has a living room, separate double bedroom, ensuite shower room and even an academy-trained personal butler, travel concierge and chef.

Employees of the Australian Tax Office had been reminded by no less than Commissioner of Taxation Chris Jordan that they are not ramp models but public servants.

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) intercepted an illegal shipment of weapons from China into the country. The contraband includes 5,400 knuckled dusters and 790 tasers that looked like iPhones and torchers.

Argentinean boxer Marcos Maidana insists he was robbed of victory in his Saturday fight against American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The Australian sharemarket has kicked off the trading week modestly higher, in what has been a very light day of trade for local stocks. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) rose by 0.1 per cent. Volume was light partly due to market closures in a number of major markets. A public holiday in Japan, South Korea and the U.K. will keep their markets closed today. U.S. equities failed to rise on Friday despite the most significant monthly jobs growth in over two years. Continued concerns surrounding Ukrai...

The ASX 200 has given up its early gains on Monday to be trading almost by 0.2% lower as investors focus on banking stocks. Westpac (WBC) shares have fallen more than 1% after having initially risen by 0.8%. The bank reported first-half cash earnings rising by 8 per cent to $3.77 billion in the face of tighter margins.

Selling virginity on the Internet is no longer new. Several women, mostly teenagers in desperate need of money, do it out of financial necessity.

288,000 jobs were added to the US work force in the month of April - the largest print since June 2010. This saw the unemployment rate fall below the 6.5% threshold to 6.3% for the first time since October 2009.

In US economic data, non-farm payrolls (employment) rose by 288,000 in April, the best gain since January 2012 and well above forecasts for a gain of 210,000. The unemployment rate fell from 6.7% to a 5-1/2 year low of 6.3%. But less people looked for work with the participation rate falling from 63.2% to 62.8%. Factory orders rose by 1.1% in March.

In addition to the problem of unfinished football stadiums in Brazil for the country's hosting of the World Cup games in June, in the case of the stadium in Arruda, operators would need to replace missing toilet bowls.

Although Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is insisting that his proposed deficit tax would not lead to a Julia Gillard moment, Aussie voters think otherwise.

Virgin Mobile's network partially collapsed on Friday night, causing one-third of its 1 million postpaid customers in Australia to suffer from no phone service on Saturday.

As expected, Floyd Mayweather Jr's win on Saturday over Argentinean boxer Marcos Maidana triggered speculations who would Money May's next fight be.

American boxer Floyd Mayweather, the 11-1 favourite, as expectedly won over Argentinean boxer Marcos Maidana in a close fight on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Despite the objection of American boxer Floyd Mayweather, the Nevada State Athletic Commission approved the use by Argentinean boxer of a standard Everlast MX glove, ensuring the fight on Saturday night will push through.

While relatives of many Chinese passengers of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 were angered by the decision of the Malaysian government to close the Family Assistance Centres worldwide and its advice for them to go home and wait for further news, the kin of an Australian couple in the same ill-fated plane have a different response.

The world is waiting for the much anticipated match between unbeaten American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr and Argentinean pugilist Marcos Maidana. Everything is ready with the two opponents having weighed in and Money May even sharing via Twitter his Power Ranger-type of attire, but latest report said that Mayweather's camp is threatening not to push through with the bout because of Maidana's custom-made gloves.

Political observers are asking if Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's decision to postpone his trip to Bali next week is an indication that he is rejecting the olive branch offered by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono?

While unbeaten American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr is the 11-1 favourite to win the Saturday bout against Argentinean boxer Marcos Maidana, Money May himself admits it won't be an easy fight because Maidana is not a pushover.

The Australian share market closed only slightly firmer by the close of trade on Friday, but closed the week down 1.4 per cent, erasing all of last week's 1.3 per cent gain.

Controversial American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr received on Thursday night The Sugar Ray Robinson Award as 2013 Fighter of the Year. He got the award two days before his anticipated bout against Argentinean boxer Marcos Maidana in the same venue, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.