AUSTRALIA

Kevin Rudd's energies at this week's G20 summit in Pittsburgh are likely to focus on exit strategies from the GFC-fighting government interventions of the past year and the global financial regulation.

The Federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan, has launched the nation's first Longevity Index at the opening of the Australian Institute for Population Ageing Research (AIPAR) at the University of New South Wales.

At first impression, the man no one knows as Michael Penniman seems uncharacteristically quiet. As he takes a well-earned break from rehearsing for a tour to promote one of the year's most eagerly anticipated music releases, he seems tired and anxious, a far cry from his usual ebullience.

American Airlines will team up with British Airways and Qantas Airways to bolster cash-strapped Japan Airlines, two sources said, aiming to fight off a rival offer from Delta Air Lines.

American Airlines will team up with British Airways and Qantas Airways to offer cash-strapped Japan Airlines fresh capital and expanded business ties, two sources said, aiming to fight off a rival offer from Delta Air Lines .

Asian stocks retreated from 13-month highs on Friday as a conflicting picture about the strength of U.S. economic recovery stopped investors from extending this week's rally but gave some respite to a battered U.S. dollar.

Asian stocks retreated from 13-month highs on Friday and commodity prices dipped after data giving a conflicting picture about the strength of the U.S. recovery stopped investors from extending this week's rally.

Australia's competition regulator plans to allow U.S. major Chevron Corp and partners to jointly market gas from the Gorgon project in Australia to domestic consumers, it said on Thursday.

Australia's futures exchange operator ASX Ltd plans to establish a futures market for renewable energy by the end of the year as the country seeks to quadruple green power generation by 2020.

Asian stocks hit their highest level in 13 months on Thursday and the Australian dollar surged after U.S. economic data raised hopes that the global economic recovery was strengthening.

The Australian Dollar opens sharply higher on Thursday at 0.8725 on greenback weakness and a continuation of the recent shift into high-yielding assets.

The number of Australians living with HIV has risen by almost 10,000 cases in the past decade and today there are more than 28,000 registered cases of the virus.

Brazil's JBS SA said on Wednesday that it would take over bankrupt U.S. chicken company Pilgrim's Pride Corp and Brazilian rival Bertin, in deals that will propel it to the top of the world meat industry with $30 billion in annual revenue.

World equities rose on Wednesday to new 11-month highs, after upbeat U.S. data boosted faith in an economic recovery, persuading more investors to sell their low-yield dollars to buy growth-oriented stocks and commodities.

Asian shares swept to their highest levels for 2009 on Wednesday after upbeat U.S. economic news boosted riskier assets leveraged to global growth, while the U.S. dollar slipped to a one-year low.

Asian shares hit their highest levels for 2009 on Wednesday after upbeat U.S. economic news gave riskier assets leveraged to global growth a boost, while the U.S. dollar slipped to a one-year low.

Macquarie Group Ltd, the Australian investment bank best known for privatizing public roads and airports, is making a big investment in Wall Street.

Taylor Swift appeared Tuesday on ABC's The View to say she would accept an apology from Kanye West after his outburst at the MTV VMA Awards.

British star Clive Owen has specialized in playing macho men in two decades of movies and television: tough, taciturn and unshaven, with long stares from smoldering gray-green eyes.

Author Dan Brown may have outraged the Vatican in The Da Vinci Code, but his new book, The Lost Symbol, is being welcomed by his latest subjects, the Freemasons.

Shiatsu massage also known as acupressure, is a point-pressure massage using the fingers. It is designed to help regulate the flow of energy within the body. During a shiatsu massage, thumb, fingers, palms or feet to the body apply pressure.