POLITICS & POLICY

Australian Dollar Outlook - 30 September 2013

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.

Syrian Civil War: Key Role for Opposition Groups to Make Peace Work, Avert Chaos

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.
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UN General Assembly Debate: Latin American Leaders Urge to Promote Social Justice and End Inequality

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’s Synthetic Natural Gas Plants Should be Shelved, a Ticking Environmental Disaster

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 Shuns Hong Kong Bourse, Targets U.S. for IPO Plan

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.

Australia May End Up With No Climate Policy, UN to Release Comprehensive Climate Change Report

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.

UN General Assembly Debate: Iranian President Rouhani Asserts Claim to Peaceful Use of Nuclear Technology and Proposes Immediate ‘Time-Bound’ Talks to Mitigate Concerns [Watch VIDEO]

Reasserting his country’s right to peaceful nuclear enrichment, the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani proposed immediate “time-bound” talks to resolve the nuclear issue. Addressing the 68th General Assembly of the United Nations on Tuesday, President Rouhani said, he had listened carefully to the statement made by President Obama [made earlier at the General Assembly].

2013 Comet ISON: Mars Spacecraft to Capture Images and Observe Comet's Red Planet Flyby on October 1 [PHOTOS]

The European Space Agency (ESA) Mars Express spacecraft is currently preparing to capture and further observe the 2013 Comet ISON while making its closest flyby to planet Mars on Tuesday, October 1. Space.com reports that Comet ISON will pass by the Red Planet at 6.5 million miles (10.4 million kilometers) so the spacecraft that started the observation campaign on September 21 must have a superior view.

UN General Assembly Debate: U.S. President Obama Dares Nations to Confront ‘Profound New Challenges’ [Watch VIDEO]

Terming the prevention of slaughter within countries, whose institutions offer no hope to innocent men, women and children, as the new challenge the world faces today, U.S. President Barack Obama called upon nations to demonstrate the courage and determination to act decisively “when the breakdown of societies is so great [and] the violence against civilians so substantial.”

UN: Over 130 World Leaders to Address UN General Assembly's Annual Debate on Opening Day

Some 130 world leaders are set to gather at United Nations headquarters in New York for the General Assembly's annual General Debate, which kicks off Tuesday and aims to set the stage for building a new global development agenda which both protects the planet and promotes equity, justice and prosperity for all people. A news release by the UN said thus far 84 heads of State, 41 heads of Governments, 11 Deputy Prime Ministers and 65 Foreign Ministers are scheduled to address the 68th Annual Se...

UN: Make Post – 2015 Development Agenda Disability-Inclusive

At the United Nations (UN), world leaders pledged to work together on national and international policies that enhance and promote disability-inclusive development. This, as UN officials on Monday urged, a High-level meeting of the General Assembly, that the rights of persons with disabilities be directly addressed by the post-2015 development agenda.

UN General Assembly 68th Session: UNGA President John Ashe Holds Consultative Dialogue with Civil Society to 'Set Stage' for Sustainable Development Talks

Ahead of the 68thGeneral Assembly Session as world leaders begin to converge at the New York Headquarters of the United Nations, General Assembly (UNGA) President John Ashe and Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson held wide ranging consultations with more than 1,100 civil society representatives about their priorities for global sustainable development in the years following the end of the current development cycle in 2015.

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