BUSINESS

While the Samsung Galaxy S4, the original edition and the Google Play Edition, are the unanimous choices of tech experts for smartphones for September 2013, in the tablet category, the winner is the new Google Nexus 7.

Due to its net loss of $5.77 billion for the 2013 financial year caused by $6 billion asset write-downs and restructuring costs, Newcrest Mining executives took substantial cuts in their pay package and bonuses.

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 140 points or 0.9% while the S&P gained 1.0% to 1671 and the Nasdaq added 1.2%.

The Australian share market enjoyed a solid start to the trading week. The removal of election uncertainty, strong Chinese trade data and a successful Olympic bid by Tokyo also supported stocks in the region. Japan's Nikkei Index rose 2.5 per cent while the Shanghai Composite in China was up 3.5 per cent.

According to a blog post written by American youth, Kevin Nava and Zane Clarke-Waxman are urging young Americans to take a ‘transpartisan’ stand on a war against Syria.

Google Android made a big splash last week when it announced the renaming of the OS 4.4 version from the earlier speculated Key Lime Pie to Kit Kat, the same chocolate bar sold by Nestle.

Pope Francis has led what could be the largest inter-faith rally against the planned U.S. military strike launch on Syria. At least 100,000 attended the peace vigil he had called on Saturday in Rome.

Australian shares are a touch higher, with some better than forecast economic news out this morning assisting. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) is up 0.4 per cent. The number of loan commitments by those buying, building or renovating properties jumped by a better than forecast 2.4 per cent in August. The number of job advertisements made by businesses in newspapers and online slid by 2 per cent, however Chinese inflation numbers were mostly as expected.

Johnson & Johnson recalled 200,000 bottles of Infants' MOTRIN Drops due to the risk caused by tiny plastic contamination. The products are suspected to be contaminated with synthetic compound which can be dangerous to humans and birds.

Japan's winning bid of the 2020 Olympics Games has many tethering for the safety and security of the world populace joining the historic event in Tokyo seven years from now amid the more sinister radiation scare from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Apple iPhone 5S will roll out in stores on Sept 20 but Apple fans are already lining up outside stores as early as Sept 6

Know when the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C will be released in stores and Apple’s plan of a larger screen display for new iPhones from its Sept. 10 event.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play edition topped last week's ZDNET review of the best Android smartphone in the market for September 2013. In its latest review of smartphones, Time Techland also pointed to a device from the South Korean tech giant as the top smartphone on the market.

There will be an 8.5 per cent drop of new-born lambs in New Zealand due to the drought. Based on a yearly stock number survey by Beef + Lamb New Zealand, the number of lambs is expected to about 24.5 million.

It is a buyers' market in Australia's Gold Coast as property prices plummet up to 50 per cent since 2010, while median price is a third below Sydney's prices. Although property prices in Gold Coast went up 0.8 per cent in the past year through June, other large Australian cities logged an average of 3.8 per cent hike.

Financial types aren't known for their boxing prowess. But economist Saul Eslake took to the metaphorical ring this week and, with straight lefts and right hooks, beat Australia's housing policy to a pulp.

By Stephen Hogan, Senior Private Client Adviser, Equities/DerivativesAustralian MarketThe Australian market (XJO) closed up 36.

Apple is again embroiled in another round of labor abuse accusations in China following the publication on Thursday by China Labor Watch of a report that cited legal and ethical violations at the Jabil Circuit factory in Wuxi City.

The official launch of the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch and the arrival of Google Glasses are signalling a transformation of body wear products by tech firms. Holding a phone in your in hand requires additional effort and most people are not comfortable having traditional headphones in their ears. These can also get damaged easily.

With competition growing toward the holiday season, Sasmung has released its response to the iWatch, the Samsung Galaxy Gear at a trade show in Germany. Others like Sony, Microsoft or Amazon already have one in the market or are planning to launch one in the near future. Not to mention patents galore. For instance, Apple Inc has already filed for trademark applications in Mexico, Japan and several other countries. Apple's trademark patent was one reason why its rivals want to release their v...

Chobani, the largest Greek yogurt manufacturer in the U.S., announced a recall of some yogurt cups said to contain molds after the company received several complaints of people getting sick after eating its products. According to Chobani, less than 5 per cent of its total yogurt production was discovered to contain molds. The contaminated batch of Chobani yogurt came from the company's facility in Idaho.

Investor caution saw the local market close flat after being in the red for most of the session. Investors elected to stay out of equities ahead of the August non-farm payrolls report being released in the US tonight and tomorrow's Federal Election.

It would make more economic sense for Australia to pursue renewable energy rather than continue the use of coal, despite the possible availability of carbon capture and storage technology, according to a study by the University of New South Wales.

Aussie Market started off weaker than expected.

LG pulls off a practical joke on unsuspecting job applicants. The world's first 84-inch HDTV tricks them into believing the world is going to end.

New Zealand was recognised as the fourth best financial market in the world in a report released by the World Economic Forum. The country's relatively smooth ride through the global financial crisis that has left other nations struggling has made New Zealand one of the most efficient financial markets worldwide.

Any company which has a table of organisation should ought to let it work to its full advantage. In the case of Yahoo! which has recently launched a new logo, CEO Marissa Mayer should better have left any aesthetic dealings to her team. Her job after all deals much more than tinkering with the design of a new logo.

Aussie teen, Sonny Dickson, the ultimate iPhone leaks source is making Apple Inc nervous

Where trucks and delivery vans can't reach, robotic drones may be the solution. In China, a parcel express courier has started finding good domestic use for robotic drones. It uses them to deliver and drop packages to target recipients, especially in hard-to-reach far flung areas in the country.