Sharon Olalia

Liberal MP Daryl Maguire was crowded by a large group of exasperated solar power users in a protest over alterations to the Solar Bonus Scheme.

The famed deal between Telstra Corporation Ltd and the National Broadband Network (NBN), which amounts to $9 billion, is expected to be signed as early as next week with the cabinet to see documents by late second quarter or early third quarter of this year.

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.

A demonstration against the NSW government gathered thousands of protesters on Sydney for the administration to stop trimming down the solar benefit scheme.

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

Australia has no foreseeable risk to food security, according to Global food security: facts, issues and implications, released today by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences.

Avalon and Melbourne International at Tullamarine continue their daily operations despite anonymous threats sent through The Herald against them.

As households evaluate their finances due to the interest rate increase the consumer confidence hit rock bottom in May.

Key independent MP Rob Oakeshott thought fuel should not be subject to carbon tax, positioning him in conflict with Greens members of the multi-party climate change committee.

Amnesty International demands explanation from the federal government regarding its plan with 100 plus asylum seekers who have arrived since it announced its new refugee policy.

The Reserve Bank has confirmed anticipations of interest rate growths. According to the government, the policy positions held by the opposition has added to the rate pressures as it would wipe almost $7 billion off the budget bottom line.

Residents in the city of Armidale in rural New South Wales today became the first centre in mainland Australia to be connected to the National Broadband Network.

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.

A recent poll indicated that Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s ratings experienced decline as the federal government’s deal for asylum-seekers exchanges with Malaysia has taken its toll on Julia Gillard.

Macarthur Coal Ltd (ASX:MCC) has lifted its net profit guidance as a consequence of the sale of partial interest in Codrilla for $74.9 million.

As debt concerns flood Europe and the market awaits central bank’s meeting for the month of May, the Australian dollar was more than one US cent lower at noon.

Whitehaven (ASX:WHC), the Australian coal producer that put itself up for sale in October, announced today it had ended talks for a potential takeover transaction.

Leighton Holdings Ltd (ASX: LEI) today announced a loss after tax of $382m for the nine months to 31 March 2011 from total revenue of $13.8bn. The company said it expects to report a loss after tax of $427 million for the 2010/11 financial year.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard appeals to “plankers” to put an end to the dangerous craze they are promoting.

Australia's housing market has slowed in recent months, as auction clearance results, new home loans and home prices slump, national official figures show.

Although Prime Minister Gillard takes a narrow lead of three points against Opposition leader Tony Abbot, her popularity ratings continue to drop.

Another huge wage increase is expected to destabilize the struggling sector of small businesses in the face of federal budget warnings of a patchwork economy. This shall be the argument of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry or ACCI in the succeeding national wage trials this week.

A local tsunami alert was raised by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center after a strong earthquake has been recorded at 6.5 magnitude.

The solar industry today questioned both the sensibility and legality of the New South Wales Government’s decision to retroactively reduce the Solar Bonus Scheme and close it permanently.

Resource giant BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP) says it has met all concerns raised over its planned expansion of the Olympic Dam uranium and copper mine.

The Federal Government’s population strategy released today reveals housing policy has become the latest Government evictee, according to the Residential Development Council.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard expressed Australia's sincerest gratitude to the Obama government for killing the most wanted terrorist.

A visual treat performed by planets Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter was visible today in the dawn sky background around sunrise.