POLITICS & POLICY

The U.S. space agency disclosed Wednesday it is building a more powerful rocket capable of propelling astronauts to deep space missions, including going to asteroids and the planet Mars.

A human-error-led train collision resulted in nine casualties including the on-duty train guard in India.

Efforts of Chinese authorities bear positive results after six months of investigation on the "gutter" cooking oil" that proliferates on the market.

Twenty hours after gunfire and explosions rocked the Afghan capital on Tuesday, government security forces declared the stand-off officially over as the last of the Taliban insurgents was killed, according to statements issued by authorities.

After an overnight stay on board a patrol vessel of Japanese coast guard, the government is inclined to give in to nine North Korean defectors' request.

Former West Australian Premier Brian Burke is facing a new corruption trial after the Court of Appeal in Perth reversed on Wednesday his acquittal by the Supreme Court.

Japan has hit a new high record for having the most centenarians for 41 consecutive years.

Nine North Korean passengers including three children, who are believed to have escaped their country, are seen on board a small boat drifting in Japan's Noto Peninsula.

Australia will have no use of the carbon pricing scheme that Prime Minister Julia Gillard had introduced to the Parliament on Tuesday, according to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, who claimed that the proposal would even increase local carbon emissions.

Coca-Cola Amatil has expressed plans to launch a legal action against the upcoming Northern Territory recycling initiative that would provide a $0.10 incentive for every plastic bottle returned to a beverage manufacturer.

One of the world's most powerful women says the Miss Universe 2011 title should have gone to Miss Philippines, and not to Miss Angola.

Consumer sentiment in Australia improved and went up 8.1 percent this month compared to August, according to a survey conducted by the Melbourne Institute and Westpac Bank.

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd’s globetrotting ways in the past nine months have racked up a travelling cost of more than $1 million, which so far exceeded the expenditures posted by his more high-profile counterpart, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

On the eve of the Federal Government's October Tax Forum, new research from MYOB has found more than two thirds of Aussie business owners (71%) want the Business Activity Statement (BAS) simplified and three quarters (76%) want to have the GST rules reviewed and clarified; while over one third (33%) said that addressing these concerns would impact their voting intentions.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday called on Arab nations to support the Palestinians' bid to become a United Nations member, saying its recognition is an obligation.

The two American hikers detained in Iran on charges of spying and illegal entry have been allowed to post $500,000 bail for their freedom.

Heavily armed Taliban militants took over a building in Kabul's diplomatic district Tuesday and fired rockets at the U.S. embassy, NATO's International Security Assistance Force's (ISAF) headquarters and other embassies. The attack coincided with suicide bombings in other parts of the capital.

Government officials of South Korea consider proposing talks with Japan over the issue of South Korean "comfort women" who were subjected to brutality by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, Korea Times reported on Tuesday.

23 Indian children aged five and 10 tested positive on the latest HIV tests, an Indian official told AFP.

Business confidence fell into negative territory in August to minus 8 points from plus 2 in July, the lowest level since 2009, according to the National Australia Bank monthly business survey.

President Obama will visit Australia next month after two failed attempts last year.

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano, assured on Monday the 35-nation governing body of Vienna-based U.N. agency that Fukushima atomic power plant reactors are now stable.

The ongoing Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Brazil has the world glued on the television and instead of the traditional top 15, the producers have decided to add one more spot top the finalists.

Australia: Yesterday the AUD fell steadily throughout the day as our equity markets posted significant losses. The AUD fell from a high of USD1.0470 early in our trading session yesterday, down to USD1.0320 at the end of the day.

Australian steelmakers are seeking a reduction of interest rates and warned that if the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) would continue with the current trend, the long-term future of the steel manufacturing industry in the country would be at risk.

U.S. President Barack Obama will visit Australia on November 16 and 17, the White House announced on Tuesday.

World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao boldly announced to media that he would like to run as a vice presidential candidate in the Philippines in year 2016.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Monday won Caucus support to push ahead with her Malaysian refugee swap.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said on Monday that it would observe closely the moves of supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths, particularly if the two would try to purchase Franklins or other independent grocers.