AUSTRALIA

The IBT 1000 List of the fastest-growing public companies in the world -- which debuts today for what its editors hope will be yearly issuance -- is a reflection of the engines driving the world's economic growth.

ConocoPhillips is said to be in talks with the sub-continent oil company, and could sell some of its land leases in South Texas.

Fish hooks and fishbones dating back 42,000 years found in a cave in East Timor suggest that humans were capable of skilled, deep-sea fishing 30,000 years earlier than previously thought, researchers in Australia and Japan said on Friday.

Mining and exploration company Straits Resources and its partner Argonaut have lost a court appeal to explore an area in South Australia that they believe holds huge copper and gold resources, the companies said on Monday.

Researchers found for the first time brain that changes in Internet-addicted people are similar to addicts of alcohol, marijuana and even cocaine.

Richard Branson's Virgin Australia has announced the launch of international-grade service on its Airbus A330-Melbourne routes, to target the business sector traveler in Australia.

Walk softly. Global growth looks to be smoothly downshifting as China slows, the U.S. economy firms, and troubled Europe, at least for now, avoids a messy crash.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the captain of the Indian cricket team, has been suspended for the fourth and final Test against Australia, because of slow over rate, the International Cricket Council said on Sunday.

A rampant Australia blitzed India's tail to crush the hapless tourists by an innings and 37 runs with more than two days to spare in the third test and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series on Sunday.

Australia, fired by David Warner's 180, are closing on victory after reducing India to 88 for four in their second innings after two days of the third test on Saturday.

Australia crumbled after opener David Warner was dismissed for 180 as India's pace attack finally stood up in the third test and bowled the hosts out for 369 to bring up tea on the second day on Saturday.

A recent Swedish study reveals a link between the eating of processed meat such as sausages and the incidence of pancreatic cancer. Consuming a single serving of processed meat every day can increase your risk of pancreatic cancer, suggests the new study.

Psi Health Solutions Inc. is launching its stylish acupressure wrist bands Friday in Italy, the company's seventh international market. Manufactured in China, Psi Band's global expansion mirrors a growing trend for small businesses struggling with growth and sales in the still sluggish U.S. economy.

W.J. Deutsch & Sons, Ltd. has worked with a variety of foreign companies in the past three decades, growing with the globalization of drinks.

Japan's Nikkei share average climbed to a one-week high on Friday, rising above the key threshold of its 25-moving average after smooth European debt auctions prompted buying of exporters, while the market remained on edge ahead of U.S. corporate earnings.

An Australian man, Simon Fletcher, who was having heart problems, is a live today because of the addicting scrabble-like game known as Words With Friends.

David Warner smashed the fastest test century by an opening batsman as Australia battered India on the first day of the third test on Friday.

Days after Americans Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z welcomed their first child together - Blue Ivy Carter - there is, perhaps, more reason to celebrate. A new species of Queensland horse fly has been named after Beyonce, due to its rather glamorous-looking golden-colored lower abdomen.

Nobody, not the EU, the IMF nor the markets had any concerns about the Irish fiscal position prior to 2008.

Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag is the man polarizing opinions in the Indian dressing rooms, according to a report in an Australian newspaper.

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has rejected suggestions of in-fighting in his team on the tour of Australia, saying the claims were possibly the result of a beer-induced fantasy.