JULIA GILLARD

Upon meeting with the British monarch, Gillard shook hands, but failed to curtsey.

The boy is the youngest Australian to be arrested under Indonesia's drug laws.

Leaders around the world have reacted (mostly) favorably to news that Libyan rebels have captured the capitol city of Tripoli and have arrested two of Moammar Gadhafi’s sons.

Australia's strong currency struck a heavy blow to the nation's manufacturing industry on Monday when BlueScope Steel , its largest steelmaker, unveiled plans to shut half of its steel-making capacity, cease exports and slash 1,000 jobs.

The World Bank chief Tuesday called for national governments to seek long-term debt curbs to solve the current sovereign debt crises in Europe and the United States, but said it was too early for special action by the Group of 20 nations.

The World Bank called for national governments to seek long-term debt curbs on Tuesday to solve the current sovereign debt crises in Europe and the United States, but said it was too early for special action by the Group of 20 nations.

Yellow-clad fans in their thousands thronged Melbourne's city center on Friday to hail Cadel Evans as Australia's first Tour de France champion took a ceremonial ride into town after returning from Europe.

Australian Nancy Wake, who as a spy became one of the Allies' most decorated servicewomen for her role in the French resistance during World War II, has died in London, officials said Monday. She was 98.

Not only is the Singaporean Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, the highest paid elected leader in the world (bringing home a cool $2.4-million per year), but most of his top ministers earn in excess of $1-million annually (not including generous perks and pensions).

Prime Minister Julia Gillard thinks that Murdoch's Australian papers might be up to no good.

You got a body, you got a Plank, is the universal slogan for planking, an activity that involves a person lying face down, body stiff and often on dangerous or unusual places. Termed by many as an Internet craze, planking is promoted mostly through planking photos uploaded on Facebook and dedicated sites. Planking, also known as lying down game or face downs, often see players compete to find the most unusual and original location in which to plank.

Leaders around the world have united in their condemnation of the bombings in Mumbai which have killed at least 21 people and injured more than 130.

With the advent of the first female Prime Minister in Thailand, women now seem to be more powerful than ever.

A policy overhaul to be decided by Cabinet within weeks would remove all gender barriers from the military next year.

Tobacco giant Philip Morris is threatening to sue the Australian government for possibly billions of dollars over its plan to be the first country to introduce plain, brand-less packaging for cigarettes.

Australian gay and lesbian couples are in a bid to change Prime Minister Julia Gillard's opposition to same-sex marriage at a dinner table meet at her official residence, after activists won a charity auction to attend a private dinner party.

Responding to recent cyber attacks on global companies and government officials, Australia will develop a cyber defense strategy to combat hacking and electronic espionage, the government said on Friday.

Planking is a fast-growing, but possibly dangerous, game – started in England, most popular in Australia, but spreading worldwide – in online society where people post up their pictures of lying down on some of the most unusual and obscure places.

Here is a selection of comments from prominent global figures on news of the death of Osama Bin Laden:

A Chinese-Australian writer whose disappearance in China ignited alarm during a crackdown on dissent said on Friday he is safe and plans to return to Australia in coming days.

Lights being turned off in homes, businesses and public buildings in Fiji and New Zealand at 8:30 PM local time marked the commencement of Earth Hour 2011, with widespread endorsement of the message that the world and its environment need commitments for action going “beyond the hour”.