The inaugural ASEAN Defence Minister’s Meeting (ADMM)–Plus Maritime Security training exercise commences in Sydney.
A Christchurch man is waging a one-man battle against prostitution in his community and could get into trouble for his tactics and community organising efforts
The United Nations Security Council, on Thursday, passed an Australia-sponsored landmark resolution seeking to restrict trade and distribution of illicit small arms and weapons. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop presided over the debate on the resolution. The resolution got an overwhelming 14 yes votes with no country voting against and the lone dissenter, Russia deciding to abstain.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s decision to visit Indonesia is his first trip abroad after assuming office is clear indication where the stakes lie for the new government. Unlike his predecessor, Kevin Rudd, who sought opportunities to align with the West on key international issues like Syria, Mr Abbott is more focused on sorting problems at home and in the immediate neighbourhood.
The Australian Greens are demanding a full judicial inquiry with the authority of the Royal Commission to investigate the alleged "dirty deals" of the Reserve Bank of Australia including its subsidiaries. The Reserve Bank of Australia is currently under fire for using a front man to deal with the brother-in-law of Saddam Hussein. The front man was trying to close a deal involving the sale of plastic banknotes to the Iraqi government at the height of the sanctions imposed by the United Nat...
Speaking at the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Vanuatu, on Saturday, called up the world body not to ignore the rights of the people of West Papua. Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Moana Carcasses Kalosil urged the United Nations to appoint a Special Representative to investigate alleged human rights abuses in the Papuan provinces of Indonesia. He also called upon the UN to discuss the political status of the province and rectify some historical errors.
Australia’s West Papuan refugee community and supporters of refugee rights will hold a protest rally outside the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on Monday from 8 am till 5 pm against the department’s decision to deport seven West Papuan asylum seekers to Papua New Guinea, in spite of well grounded fears of their continued persecution.
Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's Twitter avatar is special according to director of the Museum of Australian Democary at Old Parliament House.
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday urged the National Coalition for the Syrian opposition forces to reach out to other groups and agree on a united delegation for an upcoming peace conference in Geneva. Reports suggest that the peace conference will be held in mid-November. Hectic parleys are on in New York, to firm up the exact date, which is expected to be finalised this week. Meanwhile, it was known that Iran may also participate in the peace talks.
Today's Weekend Daily Reckoning will wade into the shifty and dangerous swirls of Australia's oil and gas politics. Up for grabs are billions in royalties and earnings. But it may also be a tale of price spikes and lost jobs. In other words, it could get ugly.
New Zealand has committed to an additional $2.6 million in emergency aid to the victims of the Syrian crisis. The country’s Foreign Minister Murray McCully said that $604,000 would be given to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) while $2 million will help support humanitarian relief efforts in Syria and its neighbouring countries.
Children of Australia's richest families will meet Microsoft founder Bill Gates in the U.S. Sep. 30-Oct. 3, 2013 as part of Philanthropy Australia's New Generation of Giving (New Gen) Program.
New Zealand is expected to feel the heat as climate scientists warn of rising sea levels, increasing number of extinct animal and plant species, and insufficient food supply. All these consequences of global warming and more were presented in an international gathering of world representatives on climate change.
Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is softer this morning as the brinkmanship between the Republicans and Democrats continues as a otential government shutdown on October 1 becomes more of a possibility.
Filmmaker John Greyson and doctor Tarek Loubani are going to stay in Egyptian prison for 45 days more.
The Syrian National Coalition, a major opposition group, has critical roles and responsibilities in negotiating peace and fostering democracy, and helping to preserve the unity of their strife-torn country. This message was conveyed to the Syrian opposition group at the Ministerial Meeting of the Friends of the Syrian People at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Thursday.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Chairman Rod Sims on Thursday provided a regulator’s perspective on the importance of competition provisions in regional trade agreements. He was addressing trade negotiators at a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) seminar in Brisbane.
The United Nations Secretary-General and General Assembly President urged Member-States to take renewed steps to rid the world of nuclear weapons. At the first high-level meeting on the subject, held by the UN General Assembly, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the world cannot ignore the very tangible benefits, disarmament would bring for all humankind.
Six West Papuans have fled across the border to Australia after being sought by Indonesian authorities for participating in a Freedom Flotilla to West Papua ceremonial function at sea with Australian Indigenous Elders. A press release issued by the organisers of the Freedom Flotilla said, they six West Papuans have been detained by Australian Immigration after reaching Boigu Island in Australia on Tuesday.
Sexting scandals have been destroying careers of politicians. First, there was New York City mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner and Sydney Leathers.
Their version in New Zealand is Paul Findlay, the political party People's Choice bet in Hagley-Ferrymead, and a 15-year-old.
An exclusive report published by The Guardian on Thursday has scrutinised the organisers for failing to provide safe working conditions for those employed in the construction of venues. Qatar won the bid in 2010 in what was a contentious vote, despite having just one world-class stadium. The country has been building ten more new stadia and expanding two more, in the run-up to the premiere football event in the world.
Thirty activists were jailed by a court in Russia on Thursday, Sept 26.
Stressing the importance of international solidarity in setting a new long-term global development agenda, leaders of African nations told the General Assembly that if the development agenda is properly managed, the world could see the 21st century becoming an “African century.”
Calling for a new global commitment to peaceful, inclusive development, on day two of the UN General Assembly debate, leaders from the Latin American region warned the United Nations General Assembly that deepening inequality and unfair economic policies by powerful countries condemn vulnerable people to the margins of society and prevent small countries from enjoying the rights enshrined in the UN Charter.
China is planning to build as much as to 40 massive projects to convert coal to synthetic natural gas (SNG) as it zealously works to curb its coal pollution emissions. But a group of researchers had strongly warned it best to all together shelve the project because the SNG plants will greatly increase China's greenhouse emissions, releasing yet another environmental disaster.
China's Alibaba, the country's largest e-commerce company, has shunned the Hong Kong bourse for its planned initial public offering (IPO). Reportedly estimated to be worth $70 billion up to $120 billion, the IPO is being mulled to be organized in the U.S., either by the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq.
With the sacking of Tim Flannery and the removal of the Climate Change Commission, Australia might end up having no climate change policy. The new Australian Senate will more likely breeze through the repeal of Australia Labour's carbon tax. However, the Senate remains skeptical about the Coalition government's plan to push the Direct Action plan worth $3.2 billion as an alternative.
China, the world's stronghold of rare earths, is set to go on a splurging spree in October for the precious elements.
Bill Gates and Bill Clinton pose for a selfie while they were having fun
New Zealand will soon welcome President Francois Hollande of France to its shores as the French leader will visit the country for the first time. It is also the first time that a France's head of state will arrive in New Zealand to further strengthen the ties between the two countries and discuss the common interests in the South Pacific.
