Australia
Citizen backlash keeps Malaysia rare earth plant on hold
GEBENG, Malaysia - The expensive machinery lies silent, idling as Malaysia's government weighs a delicate decision to allow shipments of raw material to arrive from Australia and finally start operations at the world's largest rare earths plant outside China.
Australia government climbs out of the red with 2012-13 budget
CANBERRA - Australia's government delivered its promised surplus budget on Tuesday, scrapping planned tax breaks but offering more cash to its traditional supporters to deflect attention from scandals that threaten Prime Minister Julia Gillard's grip on power.
Australia's NAB opts for UK bank revamp over sale
MELBOURNE/LONDON - National Australia Bank illustrated the tough market facing sellers of UK banking assets on Monday, scrapping plans for a sale of its British banking operations and saying it would instead shrink them by cutting 1,400 jobs.
Australia PM suspends embattled lawmaker from party
SYDNEY - Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Sunday moved to distance herself from growing anger at a series of government scandals, suspending a lawmaker accused of misusing funds, a week after the parliament Speaker stood down over a sexual harassment lawsuit.
Australian parliament speaker stands aside amid lawsuit row
SYDNEY - Australia's parliament speaker said on Sunday he was temporarily stepping down over a sexual harassment lawsuit which threatens to further weaken Prime Minister Julia Gillard's hold on power.
Australia says Afghan troops to stay through 2014
BRUSSELS - Australia pulled back on Thursday from its announcement that it wanted to withdraw early from Afghanistan, saying it would stick to its original commitment to keep combat troops there through the end of 2014.
Australia to begin Afghan exit a year early
CANBERRA - Australia will start withdrawing troops from Afghanistan this year and expects all international forces there to be playing a supporting role for Afghan forces by mid-2013, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said on Tuesday.
Australia's environment warrior Brown to quit politics
CANBERRA - Australia's environment warrior Bob Brown, who built the Australian Greens into a powerful political force, announced on Friday he was quitting politics after 16 years in parliament and more than 30 years as an environmental campaigner.
Australia's miners end advertising truce with government
CANBERRA - Australia's powerful mining lobby has launched an advertising campaign warning the Labor-led minority government against imposing more taxes, recalling its 2010 anti-tax crusade that helped bring down the then prime minister.
Rio, BHP iron ore output to dip as China demand cools
SYDNEY - Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton are set to report lower-than-expected iron ore output for the March quarter after heavy rains and cyclones disrupted port and mining operations in Australia.
Syria blames rebels for Houla massacre
AMMAN - Facing growing world outrage over the killing of at least 109 people in a restive town, Syria on Sunday accused rebels of carrying out the massacre, in which dozens of children perished.
Greek debt – remember the goats
Greece's creditors have essentially let it off the hook by overwhelmingly agreeing to take a 74 percent loss. So what better time to remember one of the first times Athens got in trouble with paying its debts.
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
