AUSTRALIA

Global grain output is forecasted to be at 1.60 billion metric tons in 2010-11 period due to expected increase in production in US, South America and Australia, according to Germany-based analytical firm, FO Licht.

The Australian Dollar has opened firmer this morning, trading at USD0.8260 following on from yesterday's lead, as equity markets offshore posted gains. Gains in base metal prices also helped support the AUD, with copper up 1.1%, nickel up 1.5% and aluminium +2.8%.

They can call their wives and families back home but German players have no way of reaching team mates with their fancy new cell phones issued for the World Cup in South Africa, players said on Tuesday.

The AUD has opened at USD0.8100 after a tumultuous few days in the markets driven by fears (not concerns) about the European debt crisis spreading to more countries and slowing the recovery in the global economy.

Negotiators from the Senate and House will begin meeting this week to craft a final Wall Street reform bill, with banks facing changes that threaten their profits, if not their business models.

Connecticut's top prosecutor called on Google Inc on Monday to say whether it had collected data from personal and business wireless networks without the owners' permission.

Connecticut's top prosecutor plans to call on Google Inc on Monday to say whether it had collected data from personal and business wireless networks without the owners' permission.

The Australian Dollar was sold off two US Cents towards 0.8200 overnight and has subsequently traded below 0.8200 following reports out of Europe regarding Europe's debt crisis, which may have spread to Hungary.

Australian police have been asked to investigate internet giant Google over possible breaches of telecommunications privacy laws, Attorney General Robert McClelland said on Sunday.

Finance chiefs raced on Saturday to agree on ways to support growth and make global banks safer with a warning from Washington ringing in their ears that Europe and Japan must do more to boost home-grown demand.

Once vilified, street art now carries a vast amount of cultural cache. Gone are the days when spray paint on a wall signified blight

Stocks edged up on Friday, with investors anticipating a strong reading for a key employment report due out later in the day, which could provide an indication of the pace of recovery in the world's largest economy.

The AUD is slightly weaker this morning after weakness in the EUR reduced risk appetite with some negative news out of the region.

Global miner Xstrata threatened to scrap $5.4 billion in Australian coal and copper projects, blaming a new mining tax and taking the value of new developments put on hold to above $20 billion in just a month.

Global miner Xstrata threatened on Thursday to scrap $5.4 billion in coal and copper projects in Australia, blaming Canberra's new mining tax and bringing to more than $20 billion the value of shelved new developments.

The AUD continues to trade in a volatile manner while remaining contained within the range between USD0.8250-USD0.8450.

School programs which include lessons on nutrition and food preparation for school students could be the key to curb Australia's high obesity rate, dietitians have been told.

(Reuters) - Americans inhale more cancer-causing agents with their cigarettes, probably because of the tobacco blend, while smokers in Canada, Britain and Australia get less, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.

The Australian Dollar has opened lower this morning, continuing on from yesterday's weakness, which saw the AUD trade below 0.8400.

The Bank of Canada raised its key interest rate on Tuesday, the first G7 industrialized economy to do so after the global recession, but said the European debt crisis made its next move highly unpredictable.

An Australian zoo has posted an urgent plea on its Facebook page for help in returning eight stolen endangered monkeys, so small they could fit in a handbag or the palm of your hand.