SERVICES

Australia's internet service providers are wary that the planned National Broadband Network (NBN) may push up their prices much to the dismay of customers.

Macquarie Group Ltd. (ASX:MQG) is optimistic that with better market conditions, the second half of the year would bode well for its businesses particularly for Macquarie Securities and Macquarie Capital.

Some 15,000 model structures made from an estimated 30 million Lego bricks, along with over 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions, will be the main features at Legoland Malaysia that is set to open late next year.

Apple Inc has denied reports that the company installed a tracking device on its iPhones to know the locations of users.

Sony Corp has warned its 75 million PlayStation Network and Qriocity online service customers to check their credit card accounts as some important credit card data such as billing addresses and other personal information may have been stolen by a hacker.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is walking on tight rope as she pursue both trade and diplomacy issues in China as she meets her counterparts Prime Minister Wen Jiabiao and President Hu Jintao today.

Singapore commodities giant Olam International Limited has announced that it has notified NZ Farming Systems Uruguay Limited (NZFSU) of its intention to increase its equity in the company with the offer of NZ$0.70 per share for all of the shares in NZFSU totalling 22 percent.

Staying focused on your daily work to meet deadlines is no mean feat for business owner Ms Kellie Hill, owner and principal consultant at Australia's KHC.

Singapore's Tiger Airways' subsidiary in Australia has received a warning from the air safety regulator because of some concerns on its maintenance and flight trainings.

Australia's Jetstar is preparing to file legal action against the Sydney Airport for its security lapse and causing flight delays and thousands of passengers stranded.

Budget airline Jetstar says it will seek damages after a Sydney Airport security lapse at Terminal 2 left thousands of its passengers stranded.

Sydney Airport defended its decision to rescreen passengers after a security device lost power yesterday afternoon.

Significant delays are anticipated at Terminal 2 tonight as a result of a power failure that caused a security breach shortly after 4pm at Sydney airport today.

Google Inc has to deal with the increasing salaries of employees and staff that could further erode strong financials if it does not make the most of advertising revenues from video and display advertising, analysts said.

Virgin Blue (ASX: VBA) today launched its premium kerbside entrance and premium kerbside valet service at The Lounge, Sydney domestic terminal.

Potentially millions of customers are still waiting for their pay following the latest in a series of glitches at National Australia Bank (ASX: NAB) which have disrupted payment processing.

V Australia passengers were stranded in Los Angeles overnight after their original Boeing 777 aircraft encountered engine problems and aborted its take-off.

Ford Motors Australia has announced that it would cut down 240 jobs at its Victoria plant as demand for larger oil-guzzling cars had been down.

Consumer confidence in Australia is far higher in the rural areas than those in the urban parts these past two to three months. This has been revealed in the the Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index published today.

Asian regional markets are mixed in the last hours of trading in Australia, Singapore, and Japan as investors kept a "wait and see" attitude and bearish sentiments spilled from European and U.S. markets.

Microsoft Bing is seen overtaking Google as more users are making the switch to the Bing powered research on the Internet.

The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) is seeking clarification from Qantas management on behalf of the travelling public over whether the QF50, which made an emergency landing at Sydney airport today, was actually a Qantas flight or not.

Australian renewable energy company, CBD Energy (ASX: CBD), has disclosed to the ASX it would finalise its joint venture with two of China's largest renewable energy companies and pursue A$6-billion worth of renewable energy projects in the coming years.

Workers at the Royal Dutch Shell BV's fuel refinery at Clyde and Gore Bay Terminal in Greenwich, Sydney, NSW are in danger of losing their jobs as the company would likely convert its facility to a fuel import terminal.

Australia is closely watched by other countries in the Asia-Pacific as to how it will implement a very tough anti-smoking law that seeks to discourage the habit and promote a more healthy lifestyle.

Barely a month after his announced retirement from the Macquarie Group, chairman David Clarke has succumbed to his lingering illness today at age 69.

A security breach at the Qantas domestic terminal in the Melbourne Airport has prompted the evacuation of passengers this morning causing some delays for thousands of passengers.

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX) has been informed that there is a big possibility that its proposal to $8.4-billion take over the local Australian bourse will be rejected by Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan.

The performance of Australia's services sector declined further in March, as both the retail and transport industries slackened for the fifth consecutive month.