POLITICS & POLICY

AFTERNOON REPORT (4.30pm AEST)Local stocks posted a slight win today, but importantly managed to hold onto yesterday's impressive gains, despite slight falls on Wall Street overnight. Sentiment was boosted by hopes European leaders will agree on a second bail-out package for Greece, while a disappointing flash read on China's manufacturing sector limited gains as markets around the Asian region fell. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) rose 7.8pts or 0.2pct to 4626.2 while the S&P/ASX 200 ...

The Queensland government is urged to put controls on the the coal seam gas sector that has excessively consumed the state's water supply.

Members of Australia's largest and most representative business organization, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) are taking the concerns of business and ACCI's member organizations about the proposed carbon tax to the community through support of an advertising campaign by the Australian Trade and Industry Alliance (ATI) which commenced on Thursday.

Recent media reports that finance sector jobs must be slashed in order to protect record finance industry profits have angered Australia’s finance sector workforce.

A price on carbon would hit regional communities across Queensland who would feel the impact of the estimated Australia wide loss of employment in existing coal mines, the Australian Coal Association (ACA) said on Thursday

The United Nations has officially declared Somalia’s food crisis a famine in several parts of the country.

What do Pamela Anderson, Jeremy Piven , Marilyn Manson and Denzel Washington all have in common? They were all nerds in high school!

Egypt's reshuffled cabinet will not be sworn in until Prime Minister Essam Sharaf recovers from a drop in blood pressure and returns to work, cabinet sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

Nigeria's Afribank has called off deal talks with Vine Capital over doubts the private equity firm has the ability to raise the necessary funds to recapitalize the rescued lender, banking sources said on Tuesday.

South Africa plans to set up a state-owned pharmaceutical company, a senior official in the ruling ANC party said on Tuesday, a move that could squeeze local players in one of the world's biggest market for anti-retroviral drugs.

Moviegoers at Llandudno Junction cinema were surprised last weekend when they saw the Royal couple inch their way into their seats to catch a late screening of the comedy "Bridesmaids".

Moviegoers at Llandudno Junction cinema were surprised last weekend when they saw the Royal couple inch their way into their seats to catch a late screening of the comedy "Bridesmaids".

Australian gaming company Tabcorp has paid $410 million to run retail betting operations in Victoria, the country's second most populous state.

Hacking group LulzSec defaced on Monday the website of U.S. tabloid The Sun, posting a fake article that media mogul Rupert Murdoch had been found dead.

Australia may get a longer reprieve from upward interest rate adjustments as the latest minutes from this month's meeting of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) shows.

Efforts in closing the gap between Asia's fast-rising economies and those marred in poverty should be intensified, the Asian Development Bank said.

Risk management strategy is now at the forefront of the overhaul list, according to a survey conducted at the Queensland Safety Show, held in Brisbane last month.

As investors are driven to stay on the sidelines by the US and EU debt crises, they opted for gold, the commodity hit a record high US$1,603 (S$1,953) an ounce on Monday.

Famous "Weeds" star Mary Louise Parker has revealed the reason why she didn't meet Prince William and Kate Middleton despite attending the royal BAFTA Brits to Watch event: J.Lo's aggressive perseverance.

Japan is now facing a contaminated beef scare as the radioactivity spreading from the affected Fukushima plant has not been prevented by the government.

Australia's Labour Party has felt the pangs of public dismay as its popularity plunged to its lowest, according to a survey conducted by Nielsen.

Australia's New South Wales and Queensland could make a comeback in the second half if benchmark rates remain at their current levels, the June report of CommSec State of States said on Monday.

The Duchess' first car, which she sold to a Chelsea resident, will be auctioned off on eBay and is expected to draw in as much as £30,000.

According to a source, the Royal Couple has been invited to see Harper Seven, Victoria and David Beckham's newborn baby daughter in the Beckham residence in England.

AFTERNOON REPORT (4.30pm AEST)Debt concerns in the US and Europe once again rattled local investors, with the Australian share market ending the trading week in the red. Ratings agency Standard & Poor´s today warned there is a one-in-two chance it could cut the United States´ prized triple-A rating if a deal on raising the government´s debt ceiling is not agreed soon. The deadline for the agreement is August 2nd. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) fell 18.6pts or 0.4pct to 4542.7 while the S&P/A...

View exclusive images from Lady Gaga's sensational concert event "Sydney Monster Ball" last July 13.

The singer known to use many props to elevate her performances was attacked by several disability groups after dragging herself in a wheelchair during her Sydney concert last July 13.

Change and changing mindsets, no matter at what stage are loathed at, but at times circumstances just points to the inevitable. This is how the staunch supporters of the carbon tax in Australia perceive their advocacy in the days to come.

There have been three major disasters in the first three months of this year in the Pacific region: the Japanese quake and tsunami ranks the highest for the human and financial costs, followed by the Christchurch quakes in New Zealand and then the Queensland (and Brisbane) floods and cyclone.