ECONOMY

Recent downturns like the Ukraine crises and a possible China slowdown have led to growing fears of another recession in 2014 and a possible stock market crash.

Instead of an 11-year record high unemployment rate of 6.1 per cent that economists forecast on Wednesday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics surprised Aussies with a different figure. The number of jobless Aussies actually went down, rather than up, as 18,100 new jobs were created in March.

The recent World Economic Outlook from the International Monetary Fund has seen a significant growth from the advanced economies based on global activity.

Toyota Motor Corp announced on Wednesday of a massive recall involving 6.4 million vehicles worldwide after at least five defects were found, ranging from faulty airbags and seat rails to defective windshield wipers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday urged global governments as well as the world's numerous pharmaceuticals to lower down and make affordable the prices of cure pills for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) as the agency released its first ever global Hepatitis C treatment guidelines.

Tokyo Electric Power has started pumping radioactive groundwater from the crippled Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant as a preventive measure to curb further leaks in the facility.

Did Australian voters made a mistake when they elected the Coalition to power in September 2013? Aussies who found themselves jobless the past six months since Tony Abbott became prime minister are probably asking that question as the jobs market became tighter.

Australian retailer David Jones Ltd has agreed to be bought by South Africa's Woolworths Holdings Ltd. for A$2.15 billion ($2 billion), ditching a way higher offer lodged earlier by rival Myer Holdings Ltd at A$3.4-billion ($3.09-billion).

Exactly a month after it went missing, Malaysia Airlines MH370 still has yet to be found. The combined forces of 26 nations still have yet to find definite pieces of evidence leading to its possible wreckage site. All that remains conclusive is the millions of dollars thrown into the search and retrieval operations.

The Ebola virus outbreak now enveloping West Africa could take months before it gets totally eradicated, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

Financially strapped Tokyo Electric Power Co, operator of the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, has been slapped a US$1 billion lawsuit by the 79 US sailors who were the first respondents to the crisis three years ago. The sailors claimed the operator lied about the high level of radiation in the area as they carried out their humanitarian mission.

Already upgraded into a category three system, Weather Bureau forecasters on Tuesday forecast Tropical Cyclone Ita would even strengthen further into a category four.

New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters has recently denounced the intention of Prime Minister John Key to sell more of the Kiwi country to foreign ownership.

The visit of the royal trio Duke and Duchess of Cambridge plus Prince George may have whet the appetite of the Kiwis these days, but it should not be mistaken for a fact the fascination will go long term. A poll released on Monday said Kiwis don't want William as king and prefer a homegrown to become head of state.

The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia reportedly will bring in $44m in domestic and international sales

Boeing has debuted over the weekend to the global aviation industry Air New Zealand's first ever 787-9 Dreamliner. And it's painted black all over with the official New Zealand Fern Mark the only colour contrasting it in white emblazoned across the rear of the plane.

Humility and simplicity are Pope Francis' leadership mantras ever since accepting the post as supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. These should no longer come as a surprise on the set April 27 canonization of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII.

The royal tour of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge of New Zealand will bring many benefits to the country. The New Zealand government said the royal couple's visit is good for the island nation. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to begin their nine-day tour of New Zealand. The government has promised that the money used will be going back to the economy as the royal tour highlights the country's business and tourism industry.

James Packer's Asian gaming joint-venture Melco Crown wants to build a casino in Tokyo in time for the 2020 Olympics, according to The Australian.

Australians who want to fly directly to London have now an option with the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner that kicked off from Royal Brunei Airlines.

A new survey released by the Pew Research Center has revealed that 69 per cent of Americans believe that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol to one's overall health, while 63 per cent believe alcohol was more harmful to society than marijuana.

Russia has implemented a ban against beef imported from Australia which will take effect from next week. Russia claimed the ban was instituted because of growth hormones. Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce belied the allegations.

The Malaysia Airlines MH370, now a month still missing into oblivion somewhere, will be the focus of a global ministers meeting in Hawaii. The assembly was primarily called to bolster cooperation for humanitarian assistance efforts.

Thanks to hard-earned lessons in 2010, Chile was more than focused and prepared when it got hit again by a massive earthquake four years later in 2014. Commendable and worth emulating by other nations.

With the pending shutdown and downsizing of two large multinational employers with facilities in Australia, more Aussie workers would soon lose their jobs, worsening the country's high unemployment rate.

By end of this decade or year 2020, Australia would have become the world's top gas exporter, according to the International Gas Union (IGU). Moreover, the body assured the country that the U.S. shale gas exports will likely affect liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Asia.

Philip Morris announced it will stop its production in Melbourne by the end of 2014

Noting changes in currency exchange rates, Apple on Monday disclosed App Store prices in Australia and four other countries stand to rise.

The number of measles virus infections in Canada has risen and had infected not only children but also a number of adults, prompting health officials to call for a national vaccine registry.