AUSTRALIA

The spread of H1N1 flu in Australia, Britain, Chile, Japan and Spain has nudged the world closer to a pandemic, the World Health Organisation said on Tuesday.

Global consumer confidence is stabilizing after falling for 18 months, providing a glimmer of hope for a shattered world economy in which three quarters of households cut spending, a survey showed on Tuesday.

World stocks edged lower on Tuesday after a buoyant session the day earlier and the dollar climbed off its lows against major currencies.

Improving global manufacturing data lifted Asian shares on Tuesday near levels before the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September, but the pace of gains slowed as investors pondered how much longer a heady three-month rally will last.

Improving global manufacturing data lifted Asian shares on Tuesday, bringing a regional index near to levels before the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September, but the pace of gains slowed as investors weighed how much longer a heady, three-month rally will last.

Improving global manufacturing data lifted Asian shares on Tuesday, bringing a regional index near to levels before the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September, but the pace of gains slowed as investors weighed how much longer a heady, three-month rally will last.

Scientists asked people around the world on Monday to help compile an Internet-based observatory of life on earth as a guide to everything from the impact of climate change on wildlife to pests that can damage crops.

The Amsterdam Court of Appeals on Friday ordered Royal Dutch Shell Plc to pay the largest securities fraud settlement ever in Europe to shareholders from claims relating to the oil giant's inflation of its proven oil and gas reserves during the years 1997 through 2003.

The United States has made a new request for Australia to accept a group of detainees from Guantanamo Bay for resettlement, a government spokeswoman said on Saturday.

Low levels of vitamin D are associated with the loss of cartilage in the knee joint of older individuals, researchers in Australia report.

Independent oil and gas research, Derrick petroleum Service on Thursday said a $20 Billion excess of Oil and Gas assets is currently for sale worldwide due to the whipsaw in oil and gas prices demand in the economic downturn with estimated value of more than $10 million.

Nokia said it opened its online software and content store, Ovi Store, globally to some 50 million phone users on Tuesday.

Nokia officially entered the mobile applications market on Tuesday after opening its online software and content store, Ovi Store.

Nokia on Monday began rolling out its much-anticipated online software and content store, Ovi Store, as it aims to follow the success of Apple's App Store.

Mongolia's opposition Democratic Party (DP) candidate Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj won the presidential election, authorities said on Monday, in an outcome analysts said could complicate a pivotal mining deal.

An Australia woman's account of a late night shooting in Sydney has turned her into an Internet sensation with T-shirts, mugs and a dance remix made in her honor but there's just one problem -- she made it up.

Asia's largest oil and gas producer PetroChina is buying Keppel Corp's 45.5 percent stake in Singapore Petroleum Company (SPC) for S$1.47 billion ($1.02 billion) and plans to make a general offer to buy the rest of the firm.

A key measure of German business sentiment rose in May and Japan raised its economic outlook for the first time in three years in further signs the worst of the global recession may be over, with stability seen later in 2009.

An Australia woman's account of a late night shooting in Sydney has turned her into an Internet sensation with T-shirts, mugs and a dance remix made in her honor but there's just one problem -- she made it up.

European foreign ministers will press Myanmar at an Asia-Europe meeting next week to end the trial of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but analysts expect only lukewarm backing from their Asian counterparts.

Authorities moved to evacuate thousands of people from a second Australian town Friday as floodwaters from days of torrential rain inundated large parts of the country's east coast.