AUSTRALIA

Friends and family of actor Heath Ledger gathered in Perth for a private funeral service on Saturday followed by a spontaneous splash in the West Australian surf.

A private funeral for Hollywood actor Heath Ledger will be held in Perth today his family says, according to reports.

Japanese stocks slumped into negative territory after data showed machinery orders fell more than three times faster than expected in December.

Wheat posted gains on Thursday after millers and overseas importers encountered shortage of spring grain, used to make bread, pasta and other staple foods.

Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs, six of which were found in his body, according to results of a toxicology test released Wednesday by the New York City medical examiner's office.

Actor Heath Ledger's former partner Michelle Williams spoke publicly on Friday for the first time since the star's death saying: My heart is broken and asked for privacy for her and daughter Matilda.

Entertainment Tonight ditched plans to air a video that showed the late Heath Ledger partying at an alleged Hollywood drug party, after a lobby from fellow actors.

The United States, Sweden and Japan topped a new ranking that measures how well countries use telecommunications technologies - networks, cell phones and computers - to boost their social and economic prosperity.

Uranium declined on Tuesday following an increase in production from Australia and Kazakhstan, two of the world's largest producers.

Heath Ledgers relatives are expected to arrive from Australia on Friday as they prepare for the funeral of the son they refer to as the most amazing 'old soul' in a young man's body.

Lachlan Murdoch, son of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, and Australian gaming magnate James Packer launched a joint A$3.3 billion ($2.9 billion) offer on Monday to buy out the Packer-backed publishing company Consolidated Media Holdings CMJ.AX.

Asia's private equity industry largely shrugged off last year's global credit crunch, with assets under management, fundraising and investment rising at double-digit levels, an industry publication said on Friday.

Asian stocks fell to a five-month low after U.S home construction and manufacturing numbers added concern that the world's largest economy is in recession.

The yen weakened across the board on Tuesday as investors waded back into risky carry trades, sparked by moderate gains in global equities and a rise in commodity prices.

Wheat futures fell the most in a week on Monday on speculation the U.S. government will predict bigger harvests than in December for some major exporting countries.

China's Lenovo Group Ltd introduced its first consumer computers in the United States on Wednesday, expanding in a region it entered in 2005 with the purchase of IBM's PC business. The unveiling of three new notebook computers with advanced features is part of a broader expansion by Lenovo into the global consumer PC market. The company also plans to sell the new consumer computers in ...

Asian share markets, already ragged after five months of turmoil, fell deeper on Monday as rising U.S. inflation and high oil prices fanned concerns the Federal Reserve may be unable to make deeper rate cuts to prevent a possible recession.

The European Union threatened on Thursday to boycott U.S. talks among top greenhouse gas emitting nations, accusing Washington of blocking goals for fighting climate change at U.N. talks in Bali.

Corp. on Wednesday completed the acquisition of Multimap, one of U.K.'s top online mapping companies at undisclosed amount, in a move to boost its advertising business.

Asian resources firms are ready to take a record share of deals but reasonable prices are hard to come by.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the world on Wednesday to agree to work out a new climate treaty by 2009 but said it might be too ambitious to set goals for greenhouse gas cuts in Bali.