AUSTRALIA

Australia's government gained bipartisan backing on Tuesday for its revised carbon-trade plan, avoiding an early election and boosting compensation to big carbon emitters, coal companies and electricity generators.

Demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Asia-Pacific is showing early signs of a pickup and its recovery is set to outstrip the pace of supply growth, Australia's Woodside Petroleum Ltd said on Tuesday.

The dollar recouped some of its overnight losses on Tuesday, while Asian shares slipped as investors shrugged off upbeat U.S. home sale data and took light profits on recent rallies.

The dollar stabilized in early trade on Tuesday after losing ground in New York, while Asian shares slipped as investors shrugged off upbeat U.S. home sale data and took a breather after recent gains.

The new Hungry Jack's Double Angry Angus Burger contains 5.6g of salt - nearly one and a half times the recommended daily amount for adults.

The holiday season is upon us, and with it come the inevitable bevy of holiday themed movies. There's at least one every season: you know, the one in which the sophisticated young city dweller

Gold powered to another record high on Monday, benefiting from its reputation as a hedge against inflation and sluggish economic growth, while oil and copper prices rose on a weaker dollar and supply concerns.

Cloud Peak Energy Inc , a unit of Rio Tinto Plc, fell in its debut on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday after its shares priced below expectations in the U.S. coal miner's initial public offering.

Europe's biggest carmaker, Volkswagen, will almost double exports from its South African plant in 2010 under a 27 billion rand ($3.59 billion) global contract for right-hand drive models of its new Polo.

Australia's parliament votes next week on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's plan for a sweeping carbon trade scheme with hopes it will finally win approval after two years of divisive debate.

Australia's government demanded on Thursday that conservative rivals stop opposing carbon trade laws, citing a heatwave searing the country's biggest cities as evidence of Australia's vulnerability to climate change.

Australia's resurgent economy has lured a string of offshore commercial property investors to its shores, many betting the rebound will underpin market competitiveness in the face of a soaring local currency.

Apple's popular iPhone is to make its South Korea debut next week after earning approval from the nation's telecommunications director, local media reported on Wednesday.

The mobile is potentially overtaking PCs as the device of choice for access to social network site (SNS) in Asia and Pacific, IDC said on Monday in a survey-based report. It also noted that the telecom carriers need to set the stage for mass adoption by lowering data tariffs and offering user-friendly mobile applications.

Vestas Wind Systems said Wednesday it plans to announce significant orders for its wind turbines in the next five months, citing a pick-up in demand for wind power in Asia as more funding for projects becomes available.

Wind farms account for about a quarter of Australian electricity generating developments now under construction or planned as the country moves to increase its reliance on renewable energy, a government report said on Wednesday.

Energy firm Altona Energy Plc said it signed a joint venture deal with a unit of state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corp to develop its project at Arckaringa in South Australia, sending its shares up as much as 42 percent.

French insurer AXA SA and Australia's AMP Ltd need to sweeten their bid for AXA Asia Pacific Holdings by about 10 percent to seal the proposed $11 billion deal, analysts and fund managers say.

After months of stalemate, Australia's government could finally seal an agreement for its sweeping carbon trade scheme by early next week after the opposition said on Tuesday they were confident of a deal.

Google is to talk with Chinese writers and publishers over copyright violations, a move following the search engine's settlement with some Western countries, Global Times reported on Monday.

India has put its nuclear power plants on alert and tightened security after intelligence about possible attacks, a report said on Monday.