POLITICS & POLICY

Better hide those bronzed skin when visiting Tehran, Iran. At least if you are a woman. On Thursday, Tehran police chief Brig. Gen. Hossien Sajedinia has warned that all women sporting a tan will be arrested and imprisoned because this violates the "spirit of Islamic law." Thus, any woman that looked like a "walking mannequin" will be punished.

The Surgeon General has warned that smoking is dangerous to your health. Now the Federal government said smoking is harmful to your finances, as taxes on cigarettes will rise by 25 percent by Thursday midnight.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued warning on Thursday that Asian economies are in danger of overheating as more capital influx could lead to inflationary pressures that could bust the region’s recent gains.

Australia's corporate watchdog has filed charges against 113 different companies between January 1 and March 31, 2010 for alleged violation of the Corporations Act. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) said the allegations were brought to court after receiving complaints from the public and insolvency practitioners.

For causing the collapse of the companies they were managing, six corporate directors were banned by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) from managing corporations for more than 20 years.

Labor opposition leader Eric Ripper of Western Australia condemned the Federation on its move to tax the mining industry - which contributed to the recovery from the global financial crisis.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Thursday morning that Federal Government will shred off the amount of tax that burdens the majority of the Australian citizens.

The tobacco industry will appeal to the State Government to fight the compulsory plain packaging for cigarettes.

She has been called a medical wonder. 10-year-old girl Rachael Shardlow miraculously survived being stung by a box jellyfish, one of the world's most venomous creatures, in December while swimming 23 kilometres upstream from the ocean mount in Calliope River, near Gladstone in Queensland.

A retired jeweler sorting through items donated to a Pennsylvania charity got the surprise of his life when he discovered an expensive 2.6 carat diamond and platinum ring estimated to be worth $US17,600 ($19,000).

Organisations that apply a "wait and see" approach to thinking about the impacts of climate change on their business might reach a point where it is too late to adapt, according to a University of Queensland (UQ) Business School expert.

The Prime Minister of Cambodia denied allegations that Broken Hill Proprietary (BHP) Billiton bribed the government with a huge amount of money for mining explorations in his country.

China has announced on Tuesday that it is set to require telecom operators and internet service providers to report and cooperate with state security officers on possible leak of state secrets, as the country moves further to tighten its grip on communication facilities and discourage political dissent.

Construction workers around the country will hold a rally on Wednesday to honor their fellows and urged the government to provide a better and safer working environment.

Mortgage brokers could be facing a threat on ban commissions if the federal government pushes its campaign against kickbacks.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Tuesday announced that his Labour government is suspending the carbon emissions trading scheme (ETS) until 2012, which is a complete reversal from one of his key election promises.

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Workers' Union or CFMEU, Australia's premier union in construction, forestry and forest products, mining and energy production, on Tuesday its support to the resources tax which is expected to be included in the recommendations in the Henry tax review.

Western Australian Treasurer Troy Buswell resigned on Tuesday after revelations that he used public money and resources during his four-month illicit affair with Greens MP Adele Carles was made public and snowballed into calls for him to quit.

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) scientists will use technologically-advanced automated monitoring equipment to track greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of urbanisation as part of a new national research network.

The Federal Government has promised a budget of $2.4 million to aid drought-stricken farmers who are looming on their future.

A US-based environmentalist group has filed charges against Broken Hill Propreity (BHP) Billiton, stating that the company's Mexico operations have polluted its groundwater flowing into the neighboring areas.

Australia's Water Minister Penny Wong has announced a third round of buybacks as he encouraged sellers to release their water entitlements in the southern Murray Darling Basin.

Aboriginal landowners in the Northern Territory are up in arms against a government plan to construct the country's first long-term nuclear waste storage facility on their territory.

Tourism New South Wales has unveiled its "extraordinary Sydney" campaign on Monday aimed at attracting tourists to visit the city and experience its "extraordinary aspects."

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan said that the ongoing Henry Review of the country's tax system would definitely ease the burden to taxpayers when filing their income tax returns, but said the review cannot be expected to provide any quick fix.

The Australian parliament on Monday junked moved to allow gambling applications to become readily available for download using smart phones, particularly iPhone. Lawmaker Nick Xenophon said Australians already have too much exposure to gambling and the risk of over exposure is ever present, especially among children.

Financial Services Minister Chris Bowen on Monday said banning commissions for financial advisers will restore trust in the industry and protect live savings.

Pensioners will have to bear on the new rule imposed by the federal government, which is to penalize those who sell its excess electricity from their solar power systems to the electric company.

Several players in the mining industry said the Henry tax review will hamper the nation’s economic recovery and lose foreign investors in the long run.