POLITICS & POLICY

Latest China Crackdown Against Against Online Porn Sites Leads to Closure of 225 Websites

China continued to intensify its campaign against online porn sites with its latest crackdown leading to the closure of 225 Web sites, including 4,000 Web channels and columns as well as 30,000 blogs and microblogs that allegedly contained and disseminated "obscene and vulgar information," according to the country's State Internet Information Office (SIIO).
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Gold Up on China Demand

Prices of safe haven yellow metal gold rose to $1,598.55 an ounce, or as much as 0.3 per cent, at 11:25 a.m. in Singapore on increased from China even as the country continued to produce more gold within its confines.

Global Markets Overview - 26 February 2013

Blue-chip stocks headed toward their third decline in four sessions as Italian election exit polls raised fears the country might abandon austerity measures. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 64 points, or 0.5%, to 13937 in midafternoon trading Monday.

How Obama Really Got Elected

Prior to the November elections, Republican efforts to overhaul voter identification laws, according to the White House, congressional Democrats and most of the mainstream media, were nothing more than thinly veiled attempts to prevent legal Americans (especially minorities) from voting.

Cyclone Rusty Intensifies: Western Australia Brace for the Worst

Residents in Western Australia have been advised to take cover as Cyclone Rusty intensified on Monday to become a Category 2 storm. The development has forced the closure of major iron ore ports in the region, essentially derailing exports of the steelmaking key ingredient. Iron ore prices are likewise forecast to spike in the world market.

Barbecue Days are Numbered in China

Barbecue-related activities and cooking in open stoves in public, densely-populated places in China would soon be prohibited to limit the smog but could be a bane to street food hawkers and vendors.

Could William Shorten be Australia’s Next Prime Minister?

Majority of Australians believe that the September national election would be a contest between the Coalition and the Australian Labor Party. Which party would get a majority vote would determine who would be Australia's next prime minister.

Global Markets Overview - 23 February 2013

Stocks continued to sink midday, after reports of manufacturing pullbacks in the U.S. and Europe piled on top of investor concerns over the possibility of an earlier-than-expected end to the Federal Reserve's stimulus programs.

Australian Dollar Outlook - 23 February 2013

Bell FX Currency Outlook:The Australian Dollar hit a 4-month low in early morning trade due to a number of issues which has dampened recent market confidence, but did find support at this key level.

NSW Advised to Brace For Wet, Wet Weather and Floods

Residents in towns located across northern NSW have been advised to brace for a wet weather on Thursday evening going towards Friday morning in what could also potentially result to floods, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).

Australian Dollar Outlook - 21 February 2013

Bell FX Currency Outlook: Australian Dollar tumbles in morning trade as the U.S. established gains with the Federal Reserve minutes showing concern that more quantitative easing might be needed.

If There's Something Weird In Your Neighborhood Who You Gonna Call? Facebook?

Probably nobody by now would question the effectiveness of social media networking site Facebook when it comes to locating missing people or raising charity for people or organisations in need. Yet this proven efficacy took another dimension for a mother who was contacted by local police of her son's death through Facebook.

Will the Green’s Christine Milne Do a Nick Clegg, Ally with Tony Abbott and Become Australia’s Deputy PM?

The breaking of the Labor-Green Party coalition on Tuesday did not surprise political observers in Australia. After all, politicians follow the most important rule in the business, that is - In politics there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interest. What pundits would observe is Greens leader Christine Milne's next moves given that the country's election is just a few months away. They are asking if Ms Milne would do a Nick Clegg and be a kingmaker, while at the same t...

Australian Dollar Outlook - 20 February 2013

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar was little changed for the second successive night in offshore markets. The AUD looks to the RBA rate cut expectations should recede further with the economic news trickling in.

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