Victoria police investigating the alleged hacking of the Labor Party's database of supporters in November 2010 searched the computers of three reporters from "The Age" inside the newspaper's office instead of confiscating the machines on Thursday.
Spurred by its growing domestic demand for electricity parallel to its increasing population and rapid urbanization, imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by China will climb 30 per cent to a record high in 2012.
After building more than enough stockpiles in September and October that will last its country's energy requirements through the winter, imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by South Korea, the world's second-largest buyer of the commodity, had fallen 34.5 per cent in November compared to a year ago.
Chevron Corporation's Australia unit, the Chevron Asia Pacific Exploration and Production Company, announced on Thursday its discovery of another natural gas find in the Exmouth Plateau area of the Carnarvon Basin, offshore Western Australia. The recent find is the company's 12th in Australia since mid 2009.
Australia has joined the United States, New Zealand and the Netherlands in condemning Japan's annual whale hunt in Antarctica which starts Friday.
Police officials swooped down on the Melbourne office of The Age, owned and operated by Fairfax Media, following allegations that one story ran by the newspaper utilized information hacked from sensitive files kept by the Australian Labor Party.
Caltex Australia is expecting profits to slide in 2011 because of production disruptions and wild changes in the global supply and price of crude oil.
The Australian sharemarket is improving for the first time in four sessions with the All Ordinaries index (XAO) up 0.4 pct or 18.1 pts to 4215.9. Companies in the consumer discretionary sector, particularly the retailers are amongst the worst performers at lunch however.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde admitted on Thursday that global economies could soon slide into brink of collapse if the restive situation in Europe is not resolved at the soonest possible time.
MORNING REPORT
(8.00am AEDT)The Empire manufacturing survey bounced to a 7-month high of 9.53 in December. The Philly Fed survey bounced to an 8-month high of 10.3 in December. Both suggest that the US economy is weathering the ongoing European crisis relatively well. US producer prices rose 0.3pct in November after falling by a similar magnitude in October. Excluding food and energy producer prices was up just 0.1pct in November.
From Morrison Securities Pty. Ltd.U.S. stocks gained after investors took heart from stronger U.S. economic data, but fell off session highs after the head of the International Monetary Fund stoked fears that Europe's sovereign-debt crisis is worsening.
Australia is now one in a list of countries with the most expensive essentials from food to housing, according to a study. In fact, key essentials are now pricier in Australia than in London, New York and Singapore, prompting Aussies to call Australia as the land of the great big rip-off, reports said.
U.S. coal giant Peabody Energy said it will increase seaborne export coal volumes at its Wilpinjong and Millennium mines in Australia by 3 million tonnes to 5 million tonnes after expanding both operations.
The independent Environmental Integrity Project, an environmental watchdog group, in a report released on Tuesday said some 20 sites in 10 US States risk toxic contamination from coal ash.
There are more liquor shops in poorer suburbs than anywhere in Victoria, according to new data. Either the locals want more liquor, or they just could not resist what is right in front of them.
Member-nations of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have agreed to raise its oil yield quota to 30 million barrels a day (mbpd), which is actually what the cartel has almost been producing lately.
A lawyer representing Muammar Gaddafi's daughter, Aisha Gaddafi, said on Wednesday he had sent a letter to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to ask if an enquiry had been launched into the killing of her father and brother.
The Australian sharemarket lost ground for the second time this week with the All Ordinaries index (XAO) ending the day 1.2 pct or 52 pts lower to 4197.8. Today's falls have wiped out almost all of the gains recorded so far this month. In fact since the start of the month, shares have only edged higher by an unimpressive 0.3 pct.
China's largest patrol ship will guard its territory in the East China Sea, where a group of uninhabited islands also being claimed by Japan and Taiwan is located.
South Korea has been added as one of Australia's close military allies as the two nations formally agreed on Wednesday to conduct more joint exercises in the future in hope of further cementing their ties.
Terrorist groups lurk on social networks like Facebook and YouTube to entice people to join their movement, according to a new study.
Weather reports over Bay of Plenty, where MV Rena is wedged in on a reef, said the area will experience increasing winds on Thursday at speeds of 30 knots, bringing swells up to 4m high. Marine authorities fear of damages that the ill weather could inflict on ill fated vessel MV Rena.
Japan is set to spend some $8 billion that will upgrade its air capability, possibly opting for a fleet of radar-evading F-35 combat jets manufactured by American firm Lockheed Martin, reports said.
As exports and home sales continue to slide, no thanks to the continuing European debt crisis and stringent real estate policies at the home front, China's manufacturing has been forecast to contract for a second month in December.A preliminary reading of HSBC Holdings PLC's China purchasing managers' index (PMI) released Thursday (2:30GMT) showed the activities in the country's mainland's factories continue to dip in December, 49.0.
Asian buyers of the much coveted precious metal gold went into a buying spree as other skilled investors liquidated their investments of the safe haven metal on speculation of a dollar strength rising.
The Mackay Conservation Group warned of the danger of the new coal terminal being planned in Queensland a day after the state government announced the award of tracks of land to two companies which will develop the ports.
Morningstar has again launched its yearly pick for the top fixed-income managers of the year. The tough criterion will again focus on how these managers delivered outstanding returns based on a sound strategy for the long term and not just on the highest returns made for the fiscal year.
The World Bank (WB) banned on Thursday Australian engineering firm Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) from participating in its projects for two years. The ban was due to KBR's misconduct in talks over a Vietnamese water supply contract.
The Australian sharemarket is doing it tough at lunch with the All Ordinaries index (XAO) down 1.3 pct or 55.1 pts to 4194.7. Today's weakness has effectively wiped out almost all of this month's gains.
Australian banks are citing the high cost of money caused by the ongoing eurozone debt crisis as they reason why they would not likely follow the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) the next time the central bank cuts the overnight cash rate.
