COMPANIES

RMIT University’s Advanced Manufacturing Precinct has commissioned Australia’s first commercial hybrid solar lighting technology as part of the City of Melbourne’s 1200 Buildings Program, which aims to reduce energy use, save water and lower carbon emissions.

A major gas leaked from a coal seam gas well in the Daandine field, a property 25 kilometers west of Dalby.

Agribusiness Elders (ASX:ELD) posted improved sales and earnings together with reduced debt in its 2011 interim profit announcement issued today. It however lowered its profit forecasts for full year underlying profit.

The Federal Government's flagship National Broadband Network has had its grand opening on the mainland, in the NSW city of Armidale.

Once the sun set and just before the start of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 21, the raceway's house lights dimmed and fans "flashed their brights," breaking the Guinness World Records achievement for most flashlights lit simultaneously. Energizer outfitted the 65,000 fans with LED headlights as they entered the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX:NAB) has taken the pricing war among the big four banks to new heights by selling discounted mortgages online.

Woolworths has axed eight employees in three states for performing the potentially dangerous stunt of 'planking' on top of the store's meat grinders, display shelves, trolleys and stacks of milk crates.

Sustainability experts from across the globe were canvassed as part of the annual SustainAbility survey, with respondents asked to name the companies they consider sustainability leaders; why they think the firm is a leader in sustainable development; and which industries have done the most to advance sustainability in the past year.

Woolworths Ltd is planning to roll out contactless payment facilities across all brands, to make the shopping experience quicker and more convenient and help reduce time spent waiting in checkout queues.

Environment group Greenpeace has warned consumers of the possible dangers pose by children's toys made in China because of the high percentage of a harmful chemical found in them.

The Environment Protection Agency or EPA has approved a new coal-fired power plant, which will use gas from brown coal and natural gas to produce electricity, in eastern Victoria.

A Qantas flight from Thailand to the UK has been forced to return to the Bangkok airport after one of its engines broke down after take-off.

Staff were fired for serious breaches of health and safety guidelines, and not for planking, Woolworth says.

Honda Motor Co. has announced it would recall more than 1,000 new Honda Civics in the U.S. because of defects found in the fuel line. The defect could cause fuel leak, the company said in a statement.

MF Global Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: MF), a broker-dealer providing trading and hedging solutions, today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2011.

BlackRock, Inc. announces that it has agreed to repurchase Bank of America Corporation's remaining ownership interest in BlackRock totaling 13,562,878 of its Series B Convertible Preferred Shares for approximately $2.545 billion, or $187.65 per share.

Australia’s largest independently owned mortgage broker, Mortgage Choice, has bucked broader industry trends in March as it reached its highest value of home loan approvals since October 2009.

Australians support the insurance industry’s calls for a ban on the building of residences in flood-prone areas, an online survey has found.

The fastest growing employee base has been found to be the 'Twilight' generation, with workers aged over 63 growing at 8.6%, according to the first MyCareer employment forecast for 2011.

Thompson suggested the annual appraisal system be replaced with performance management techniques that are implemented on an ongoing basis, providing feedback and developmental opportunities closely linked to the employee's and employer's goals.

Fifty-four per cent employers in Australia are experiencing difficulty filling critical positions, according to the latest Talent Shortage Survey from Manpower Australia.

Moody’s Investors Service, in the latest indication of increasing scrutiny of international banks, has slashed its credit rating for Australia’s big four banks, that are among the world’s most creditworthy.

An interim ATSB investigation report has confirmed that a Rolls-Royce engine manufacturing defect ultimately led to the 4 November 2010 uncontained engine failure on board a Qantas A380 aircraft over Batam Island, Indonesia.

Cargill's cocoa and chocolate operations at its production facility in Côte d'Ivoire have now resumed. Cocoa bean purchases have also recommenced, and exports of products and beans will also resume in the next few days.

Moody's cut their credit rating cut one notch to Aa2 due to their reliance on overseas debt markets.

Stocks in Australia and Tokyo close higher Wednesday, reflecting the generally brighter sentiments around Asian markets.

Leighton Holdings Ltd (ASX: LEI) has made a number of organisational changes aimed at simplifying the reporting structure for the Group’s intentional operations.

Global miner Xstrata Mount Isa Mines says it plans to phase out copper smelting at Mount Isa and refining operations in Townsville by the end of 2016 in a bid to sustain the future of its Mount Isa operations through expanded mining and concentrate production.

To compensate for the 24-day long outage of the Playstation Network that occurred as a result of a major security compromise, Sony Computer Entertainment is offering PSN users a "welcome back" package of free content.