AUSTRALIA

Australia's Qantas Airways unveiled plans on Tuesday to set up two new Asia-focused airlines and launch a $9 billion-plus fleet upgrade, part of a do-or-die makeover that also gives a major boost to plane maker Airbus .

In the patent war over Samsung's Galaxy tablet in Europe, Apple may have released false evidence to the German courts against the Korean firm.

Manufacturing in the New York area contracted for the third straight month in August, data showed on Monday, tempering any lingering hopes for a rebound in the U.S. economy in the second half of the year.

The chief executive of Harmony Gold, Africa's third largest gold producer, said on Monday he remained committed to a 2015 output target of 2 million ounces despite a decline in production over the last financial year.

Tanzania plans to conclude negotiations with mining companies early next month to allow the government to raise royalty payments on gold exports to 4 percent from 3 percent.

Newcrest Mining , the world's No.3 gold miner, plans to focus on expanding in Asia, where it will spend A$9 billion ($9.3 billion) to boost its gold output by 50 percent over the next five years.

Asian equities bounced on Monday and safe-haven assets like gold and the Swiss franc fell as market players cautiously returned to pick up bargains after last's week wild ride, though concerns over the weak global economic outlook may keep gains in check.

Samsung's Galaxy products are increasingly disappearing from store shelves in Europe and Australia thanks to an intellectual property fight with Apple, say recent reports.

Serena Williams won her second straight tournament and proved her mettle ahead of the U.S. Open with a convincing 6-4 6-2 win over Australia's Samantha Stosur in the Toronto Cup final on Sunday.

Asian equities bounced on Monday and safe-haven assets like gold and the Swiss franc fell as market players cautiously returned to pick up bargains after last's week wild ride, though concerns over the weak global economic outlook may keep gains in check.

British finance minister George Osborne is recruiting international support for his unyielding stance on deficit cutting, the Financial Times said on Monday.

China's state-owned Bright Food Group has agreed to buy Australian branded food business Manassen Foods, giving it an enterprise value of over A$500 million ($516 million), a person with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Sunday.

The loss of market confidence in economic leadership in key countries like the United States and Europe coupled with a fragile economic recovery have pushed markets into a new danger zone, something that policymakers have to take seriously, the head of the World Bank said on Sunday.

The loss of market confidence in economic leadership in key countries like the United States and Europe coupled with a fragile economic recovery have pushed markets into a new danger zone, something that policymakers have to take seriously, the head of the World Bank said on Sunday.

The loss of market confidence in economic leadership in key countries like the United States and Europe coupled with a fragile economic recovery have pushed markets into a new danger zone, something that policymakers have to take seriously, the head of the World Bank said on Sunday.

A California institute plans to reboot its listening post for intelligent life in space, with private donations to replace government cutbacks.

Pesticides of toxic concentrations have been detected 38 miles inside the reef.

Hollywood producer Jon Peters' former personal assistant testified on Friday that he crawled into bed with her uninvited at an Australian hotel.

The Perseid meteor shower, which is considered one of the best the year, is expected to peak from Aug. 12 into the morning of Aug. 13. But with a full moon washing out all but the brightest meteors, NASA said, rates will probably only be 20 to 30 per hour at most, should the weather permits. If there is clear weather and dark skies, the Perseid meteor shower can be seen by most of the world, but it's best seen by observers in the Northern Hemisphere.

Planking is when a person impersonates a stiff plank of wood by lying face down. The photos are then posted on Facebook or other social networking sites.

With the wild ride on the world's markets enough to give even the most seasoned investors the jitters, everyone is talking about gold.