IBT Staff Reporter

Australia's drug modulator has revealed 15 people have committed suicide and hundreds have experienced suicidal thoughts while on Champix - the popular smoking-cessation drug, since 2008.

Perth scientific study has proven that it takes only two people to huff and puff their cigarettes at the alfresco spots to increase the risk of developing respiratory difficulties among non-smokers.

Microsoft Corp met Wednesday with Japan's Fair Trade Commission officials to object to the planned tie-up between Yahoo Japan and Google Inc, the Nikkei business daily reported.

According to latest health plan by the new health boss Kim Snowball, health outcomes of the Aborigines is of the highest priority for him, and that health managers will be sacked if they fail to employ more Aborigines in their departments.

Recent dental research reveals soft drinks and energy drinks to be the culprits in setting the stage up for a silent epidemic of tooth erosion among Australian teenagers.

A total of 40 U.S. billionaires have pledged to give away at least 50 percent of their wealth as part of a campaign by investor Warren Buffett and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

According to the ACTU, Australians are under too much pressure at work, and as a result, their family life quality is going down.

New York's attorney general on Wednesday said he has subpoenaed General Electric Co's GE Money lending unit and 10 health care providers as part of a probe into alleged predatory health care lending that may be driving seniors and other vulnerable patients into debt.

A total 142 Australian troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan were discharged from the defence force for suffering mental trauma.

Slightly better-than-expected jobs and services data buoyed U.S. stocks on Wednesday, with Priceline.com's upbeat outlook lending support.

Here are just some of the issues that arise time and time again, and some strategies to make the most of your time in front of the hiring manager.

Liberal leader Tony Abbott pitches his $3.1 billion health and hospital package to Sydney voters on Thursday hoping that 2,000 new public hospital beds and extended late-night GP services will sway them to their side before the Aug. 21 elections.

LinkedIn is making its first acquisition, a company that sifts through large amounts of data to try to determine relevant information, the business social networking site said on Wednesday,

Nearly three-fourths of oil from the BP spill is gone from the Gulf of Mexico, with 26 percent remaining as a sheen or tarballs, buried in sediment or washed ashore, U.S. scientists said on Wednesday.

Smartphones running Google's Android software were the top seller among consumers in the United States in the second quarter, industry tracker NPD said on Wednesday.

Stocks rose on Wednesday, lifted by slightly better-than-expected jobs and services data, as well as an upbeat outlook from Priceline.com.

Nearly three-fourths of oil from the BP spill is gone from the Gulf of Mexico, with 26 percent remaining as a sheen or tarballs, buried in sediment or washed ashore, U.S. scientists said on Wednesday.

Private sector employment rose slightly more than expected in July, easing some concerns about labor market weakness ahead of a key government jobs report later this week.

Private employers added 42,000 jobs in July, compared to a revised gain of 19,000 in June

The services sector grew slightly more than expected in July, with new orders and employment rising in the latest month, according to an industry report released on Wednesday.

No. 2 U.S. homebuilder PulteGroup Inc posted its first profit since 2006 and solidly beat analysts' estimates for the second quarter, sending shares up 2 percent.

BP Plc claimed a significant milestone in efforts to plug its broken Gulf of Mexico well for good on Wednesday, as a U.S. government report showed nearly three-fourths of the spilled crude had been mopped up or dispersed.

Barnes & Noble Inc shares soared 21 percent on Wednesday after the struggling bookseller said it was up for sale and could get a bid from its founder to go private.

The benchmark U.S. crude oil price rose a touch on Wednesday, responding to official figures showing a higher than expected fall in crude stocks. The optimism was, however, tempered by a rise in gasoline and distillate inventories.

As many as 50,000 struggling homeowners in five U.S. states with high unemployment may receive help from a special $600 million federal fund intended to head off foreclosures.

The demand for mortgage applications to purchase homes rose last week for a third straight week as interest rates tumbled

The demand for U.S. mortgage applications to purchase homes rose last week for a third straight week as interest rates tumbled

Gold rose above $1,200 an ounce in Europe on Wednesday as a swell of fund buying put the price on track for its sixth successive daily gain. A soft performance on the global equity market and expectations for a rise in Chinese demand were early drivers to the day's rally, although U.S. private sector jobs data pushed up the dollar and diffused some of gold's safe-haven appeal.

The dollar rebounded from an eight-month low against the yen on Wednesday and rose against the euro as encouraging U.S. employment and service sector data prompted traders to unwind bets against the U.S. currency.