POLITICS & POLICY

Limited number of Japanese evacuees allowed brief visit to no-go zone

About 100 residents from the village of Kawauchi, Japan were allowed to return home briefly on Tuesday to gather belongings left behind when they were asked to evacuate after the massive earthquake and tsunami damaged the nuclear reactors of the Fukushima Daichi nuclear power plant last March 11.

U.S. employment rate for black men at lowest level

According to the latest U.S. monthly job report, the percentage of employed African-American men fell to its lowest level since records began in 1972. The figure belie expectations that the election of the first African-American in the White House could boost the blacks chances of getting jobs.
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Nuclear still cheapest, low carbon energy for UK

A day after Japan announced its commitment to atomic power for its energy policy, the UK’s Committee on Climate Change (CCC) announced that nuclear power will remain the cheapest way for the UK to grow its low-carbon energy supply for at least a decade.

Australia, Malaysia tackle people smuggling

Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard have agreed to enter into a new bilateral arrangement as part of the Regional Cooperation Framework agreed to at the recent Bali Process Ministerial Conference in Bali on 30 March 2011.

Australia targets lower budgetary spending

In an attempt to restore fiscal balance, the Australian government plans to cut its spending to cope with the recent rise in the Australian currency, Treasurer Wayne Swan said today.

World navies adding aircraft carriers to establish clout

Navies across the world are adding aircraft carriers to their fleet, refurbishing old ones and adding new inventories even as some experts have questioned the cost and the relevance of aircraft carriers in the changing military warfare.

Obama: Getting Osama was top priority despite risks of raid

American President Barack Obama said on Sunday that "finally getting" the world's most notorious terrorists Osama bin Laden was the top priority and far outweighs the risks, that eventually made him give the go signal to the commando raid.

Govt offers $5000 car write-off for small businesses

Recognising many small business operators are doing it tough in a patchwork economy, the Australian government is providing small businesses with an instant tax write-off of the first $5,000 of any motor vehicle purchased from 2012-13.

Australian lenders back bank inquiry findings

The Australian Bankers’ Association (ABA) welcomed the finding in the report that competition is the best means of protecting consumers’ interests, in preference to further layers of regulation.

Former Osama warrior said to be hiding in Mindanao

A Malaysian who once was with the late Osama bin Laden’s band of warriors in Afghanistan and has remained on the FBI’s list of “most wanted terrorists” is reportedly now hiding in Mindanao in the southern Philippines.

Bank inquiry to rethink mortgage exit fee ban

A review of the present ban on mortgage exit fees and setting a standard fee for wholesale funding guarantee for banks are included in the series of modifications caused by the Senate inquiry into competition in the Australian banking.

Australia moves to protect vast south-west oceans

Environment Minister Tony Burke announced on Friday that the federal government has declared some 538,000 square kilometres of Australia's south-west oceans as marine protected areas. This means, all fishing activities in the protected zones are prohibited.

Police hunts Filipino car smuggler of U.S. stolen cars

Philippine authorities have launched a manhunt against a Filipino behind the smuggling of a fleet of luxury vehicles believed to be stolen from the U.S., with one expensive "chopper" belonging to a Hollywood scriptwriter.

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