Christine Gaylican

Darwin International Airport recently announced it had struck a new aviation pricing agreement with the Qantas Group that would bring in a planned investment of more than $100 million into its airport facilities over the next 10 years.

To combat the threat of terrorism and crime, the Australian Parliament has decided to boost the budget of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

As other countries contend with labour and economic slowdown, Australia conjures on the opposite: Addressing how to downplay the impact of redounding domestic growth on the entire Australian economy.

New South Wales would have to brace for employment cuts and other extreme measures in order to save the Murray Darling river system.

Australia's biggest sexual harassment case may be ended this week if both parties agree on the terms that plaintiff Kristy Fraser-Kirk and defendants David Jones company officers and former CEO Mark McInnes.

Australian mining firm Indophil Resources NL jumped to the highest in 10 months in the ASX after one of the Philippines' s largest conglomerate San Miguel Corp. agreed a share placement worth $40-million in the company on October 8.

Deputy Governor Ric Battelino of the Reserve Bank of Australia is optimistic that there would be turnaround in the property and real estate sectors as an encouraging shift of financing models will pave the way for future growth.

The relative strength of the Australian dollar against other currencies will not be bogged down by another round of interest rate increases. This was the assurance given central bank Deputy Governor Ric Battellino on Friday.

Local stocks pulled back slightly today, but still mirrored the weakness of Wall Street as the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 10 points, or 0.21 per cent, at 4,681.3 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index had eased 5.9 points, or 0.12 per cent, to 4,740.3 points.

Australia's QR National has completed the acquisition of some A$3 billion worth of loans from 11 banks before its planned initial public offering, the company said in statement today.

Chevron Corp.'s liquefied natural gas output from its $42-billion project in northwest Australia output will partly be marketed in Southeast Asia, China, and India.

The employment surge this month also translates to a wake-up call for the Australian parliament to consider its policy on migration as the country now succumbs to higher demand for labour since 2006.

The strong performance of the Australian dollar will continue and even inched higher than the US dollar in the next few days if the global economic data due tonight sets a good pace.

The Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) Board of Directors have not made any final decisions whether to pursue or not their planned iron ore venture with BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP) in Western Australia seen to earn and save the companies billions of dollars.

Attentive and trained flight attendants of Qantas Airlines has secured their 280 passengers bound for Hong Kong when a threat from an emotionally unstable passenger became clear.

The relative weakness in the construction industry may soon be abated, thanks to the Reserve Bank of Australia's decision to keep interest rates steady.

Android users can now access the eToro's financial trading platform and OpenBook, as its new social trading network.

Australia's biggest wheat producer down AWB Limited (ASX: AWB) is now very close to be acquired by Canadian firm Agrium Inc. ((TSX and NYSE: AGU) as the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) gave its nod to the deal.

Australians consumed more fast food and dined out often in August providing a boost to retail sales, which grew by 0.3 percent, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said.

Australia posted another trade surplus in August, which would be on its fifth consecutive month on the back of higher exports of coal and lower imports of industrial machines and aircraft.

Australia's labour market has once more risen in September on account of job postings on newspapers and the Internet, the ANZ Bank said in a statement today.

New Zealand insurer Tower Ltd. listed in both the NSX and the Australian Stock Exchanges (TWR: NSX/ASX) has announced that it offers to buy industry rival Fidelity Life Assurance Co. for about $118 million.

The Sydney Airport will be able to meet its debt obligations due in 2011 and 2012 as its issued bonds recently fetched US$ $965 million.

BHP Billiton Ltd. (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Group (ASX: RIO) has sought a little more time from the competition regulator in order for them to submit another set of documents to make their proposal more viable.

New Zealand's low borrowings and excellent fiscal policy and monetary position have convinced Moody's Investors Service to give it the highest rating of Aaa credit rating.

Australian demand for construction or improvement of home building has declined in August as higher interest rates turned off would-be borrowers.

The International Monetary Fund has downplayed the impact of global currency war among countries, but admitted it is possible to occur.

Market confidence on Australian companies improved further as credit-default bonds fell anew.

Australia's second biggest airline Virgin Blue has announced that its reservation and check-in systems are now back in business after another technical glitch occurred early this morning.