POLITICS & POLICY

Australia, known as having some of the best scientists and research infrastructure in the world, has unfortunately lagged behind, or so it seems. Latest data released by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) showed the number of clinical trials that Australia undertakes has fallen for the fourth consecutive time in five years.

Local police in Olongapo City, a province in northern Philippines, are doing round-the-clock investigation work to gather evidence that could point to the motive of the death of an Australian beach resort general manager who was killed at gunpoint to his temple on Friday night.

Australia and Japan have finally reached an agreement on how to go about the exchange of their respective agricultural products as negotiations for a bilateral free-trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries continued.

The Australian Dollar tumbled one US Cent on Friday night in an interesting end to the week as base metals prices fell lower, as markets became concerned about the pace of global growth.

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia has created a committee body to monitor the rare earths processing facility of Australian miner Lynas Corporation in line with the latter's compliance to the 31 recommendations with regards to its temporary operating license (TOL).

China's Shenzhen, a Special Economic Zone, will start its carbon emissions trading on June 17, its Mayor Qin Xu said in an interview with a local newspaper.

On the eve of her second trip to China, Prime Minister Julia Gillard blamed on Thursday the former Howard coalition government that lost to Labor in 2007 for squandering the nation's resources by spending government income on quick fixes instead of investing it into the future.

Australia has introduced changes to the tax treatment of superannuation but critics are quick to point out that reforms barely scratched the surface of needed reforms to address the incredible inequity that lies at the heart of the tax treatment of superannuation, according to the Australia Institute.

Beginning July 2014, Australians who earn more than $100,000 on their superannuation pensions and annuities will be taxed at 15 per cent. The change is part of the amendments to the country's superannuation system announced on Friday.

The Australian government has made its initial moves to protect its thousands of citizens currently living in South Korea. Officials of the Defense department have revealed its evacuation plans for 7000 Aussies, as Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Foreign Minister Bob Carr are jetting to China in an effort to help mitigate the conflict at the Korean Peninsula.

In an interview with ABC News April 2, Gen. James Thurman, the top U.S. commander in South Korea, said the current tense situation on the peninsula is the worst it's been since he assumed command of the 28,500 U.S. forces there two years ago.

Bell FX Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is weaker this morning as financial markets showed disappointment with overnight's ECB meeting and weaker than forecast data in Europe and the US.

North Korea Leader Kim Jong Un’s final approval with the nuclear war on the United States led the social media web sites to react using funny or mocking images. Even hackers took over the North Korean social media accounts like “Twitter” and “Flickr” to publish compromised messages and photographs.

For Australia to reach its goal of having a 40 million population by 2050, it recognises the vital role that skilled migrants will play to fill in the gap that natural births could hardly meet.

Lowering the Australian voting age to 16 years old won't bear any significant political results, a study made by the Australian National University (ANU) showed.

Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has auctioned off its Geelong refinery in Australia, sending anxieties to some 400 workers who risk to lose their jobs should the company fail to find a buyer.

With a current population of 1.4 billion, and still actively growing, not to mention an also increasing elderly population, China is getting headaches where to place its dead. Faced with the reality and problem of scarce land, the world's second-largest economy has started to pitch the option of sea burial to its citizens.

United Nations Chief, Ban Ki Moon has strongly condemns any use of nuclear weapons as he asserted in a statement following North Korea’s declaration of war against the South, noting that that the crisis may have already “gone too far.”

Bell FX, IG Markets Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar is trading near USD 1.0450 after a mixed session overnight. The AUDEUR will be closely watched today as local retail sales and building approvals, a good measure of returning consumer confidence, has been estimated to kick 0.3 per cent and 2.5 per cent higher, respectively and should provide more traction to the AUD.

Toro Energy, potentially Western Australia's first uranium miner, is now looking for joint partners to push through its planned uranium mine project in Wiluna town in the northern Goldfields.

China has begun to mobilize its military in the perimeters of the Korean peninsula after North Korea has put an end to any form relationship with South Korea and instead, declared entering into a "state of war" on March 11, 2013. U.S. officials said that the Chinese People's Liberation Army has increased its presence on the border with North Korea.

The University of Maryland at College Park (UMCP) and Lowell Observatory astronomers utilized NASA’s Swift Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope (UVOT) to observe the 2013 Comet C/2012 S1 ISON’s near-Earth approaching movement and composition. The Swift UVOT managed to capture an image of the comet which the space agency released to the public two days ago.

The water quality at South Australia's Adelaide beaches is now being questioned and might be subjected to quality testing following the surge of carcasses of dolphins, fish and penguins that have washed ashore in the recent days.

A very "fast-moving" band of rain has brought an unexpected large amount of rainfall, submerging Sydney's CBD in panic-gripping flash floods on Wednesday morning.

The Australian dollar has opened near USD 104.50 after an up-and-down offshore session.

Hong Kong-listed China Foods Ltd, consumer food arm of Cofco, China's largest state-owned food conglomerate, is eyeing to purchase wineries located in Australia and the United States, in an acquisition that could be worth at least $20 million.

Combined naval forces from Australia and Canada have seized some 500kg of heroin valued at $100 million from a boat in what could be one of global maritime history's biggest multi-national naval operation. The bust operation happened somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

What! The International Space Station has been invaded by an alien? People back on Earth got concerned for the team aboard the station, but eventually learned they were goofed because it was an invasion concocted no less than by renowned Chris Hadfield, Canadian astronaut and the commander of Expedition 35. Still all part of April Fool's day global phenomenon commemoration.

Bell FX, IG Markets Currency Outlook: The Australian Dollar has returned from the Easter break slightly better ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia announcement later today.