COMPANIES

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.

Beleagured Japanese firm Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) has announced that it will impose salary cuts of as much as 50 percent on top executives and about 20 percent on staff as it copes with the growing financial woes from its Fukushima Daiichi power plant.

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.

Australia's proposed $230-million rare earths production facility in the Pahang state in Malaysia needs further environmental assessment, the Malaysian government said.

Holcim Philippines mulling over new cement plant

With the shortage of parts from Japan now biting into their revenue position, Thailand’s car companies have slated steep production cutbacks for six weeks starting this week.

Indonesian car makers posted total sales of 225,413 units in the first quarter of the year, with Astra Motors cornering more than half of the total

The world’s biggest carmaker has announced it will have a drastic cut in production at its factories in Japan and overseas as it continues to face a shortfall in supply of parts after a massive earthquake and tsunami hit Japan.

Canada’s Banro Corp. and China Gold International Resources Corp. have signed a MOU to pursue talks on a proposed joint venture partnership to develop gold mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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.

Philippine conglomerate San Miguel Corp. has raised $900 million in new capital from a public offering of common shares and convertible bonds to foreign investors

Australia is on track of an unprecedented mining boom, the country's Treasurer Wayne Swan in the Mining Weekly publications.

Brazilian steel maker Cia Siderurgica Nacional SA (CSN) has accepted Rio Tinto Ltd's $3.9-billion takeover offer for the Africa-focused coal miner Riversdale Mining Ltd.

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.

Australia's natural gas assets are being targeted by China's national oil companies this year, according to energy consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie.

Indonesian automotive components maker PT Astra Otoparts Tbk and NYSE-listed Visteon Corp. have announced the establishment of a new joint venture that will produce car parts for both the Indonesian and global markets.

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.

Michael Luscombe, chief executive of the retail Goliath Woolworths (ASX: WOW) declared he will not be the first to blink on milk prices.

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.

Renewable energy company CBD Energy Ltd's (ASX: CBD) first joint venture project with its new Chinese partners will finalise its very first 100 megawatt wind farm in Australia this week.

BHP Billiton is seeking government approval for a planned expansion of its Port Hedland operations in the Pilbara Region that would would double its current iron ore output in the medium term.

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

While the first radiation measurements taken inside two reactor buildings at Japan's crisis-stricken Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant show a harsh environment, it is not one that will be impossible for humans to work in.

National Australia Bank (ASX:NAB) says it is renewing its commitment to sustainable economic and social development for indigenous Australians.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Japan on Sunday to remain active on the world stage and pledged support for Washington's key ally in East Asia as the operator of a stricken nuclear plant finally set out a timeline to shut it down.

Boral Ltd (ASX: BLD) is set to strengthen its core Australian business following an agreement to acquire certain construction materials assets and operations of the Wagners Group for $173 million.