SERVICES

Qantas passengers again faced delays even if the unions and the air carrier's labor dispute is under arbitration with Fair Work Australia. The culprit this time was computer outage.

Doubt is being cast over the fairness in choosing the new seven wonders of the world as the organiser's costly requirements to win the slots meant that only natural places in countries that can afford the expenses are more likely to win the highly commercialized global contest.

Despite union opposition, Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce said the national carrier still plans to push through setting up a hub in southeast Asia and to fast track plans to enter into closer alliances with other airlines.

In reading the biography of "Steve Jobs" written by Walter Isaacson one gets to grasp the man is no god, he was quite human in all aspects that some readers would actually be disappointed of the truths revealed.

Qantas assured its passengers on Thursday that the strike-prone flag carrier would not suffer from another industrial action for the next four years.

New Zealanders are planning to cut on their holiday travel plans in the next 12 months. A report by Roy Morgan Research, a market research and public opinion survey firm in Australia, explained the reduction in travel plans to the weaker consumer confidence.

Qantas's brand was damaged more by the strikes than the shutdown of the fleet by its chief executive, former Qantas Chief Executive Geoff Dixon said on Wednesday.

From Stan Shamu, Markets Strategist, IG MarketsGlobal markets extended their losses overnight on deepening concerns about the European debt crisis, after a poorly-received German debt sale. Germany failed to find buyers for 35% of the bonds it offered at an auction. There was also a swathe of disappointing economic data, with European services and manufacturing output shrinking for a third month, US durable goods orders falling and unemployment claims topping forecasts.

While the Australian Industry Group (AiG) recognizes the importance of road safety, the group opposes the planned establishment of a Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal.

Oil and gas field service provider Titan Energy (ASX: TTN) is going public by listing in the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) on Dec 7. The company hopes to raise $5.45 million capital by issuing 5 million shares at $1 per ordinary share.

Aussie business owners' dissatisfaction with the Federal Government has soared to a three year high with the majority of Aussie SMEs (56%) now dissatisfied, up from 31% in August 2010. This is the highest dissatisfaction level recorded by the Business Monitor since June 2008, accprding to the latest research from the MYOB Business Monitor Special Report released on Wednesday.

Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce and some aviation experts are of the opinion that Fair Work Australia (FWA) would rule in favour of the air carrier to settle the industrial dispute with unions.

The Australian government has assured mining companies and opposing sectors their demands will be met in the final version of the proposed mining tax bill.

Australia's leading Internet venture fund, Future Capital Development Fund (FCDF) has announced it has invested in another Internet company, TheAgendaDaily.com ("Agenda") - a hybrid media / commerce business which successfully offers customers engaging daily recommendations alongside exclusive member only sales.

Another victim of Friday's fire at the Quaker Hills Nursing Home in Sydney died Monday night bringing the death toll to eight.

The 21-day period for Qantas management and unions to agree on new contracts lapsed on Monday with no negotiation extension made by the parties, so the dispute will now have to be settled by the Fair Works Australia (FWA).

With the forwarded drawdown from $300 million worth of funds to prop up its operations, Australia's OneSteel Ltd scrambles to turn around its operations within 12 months, according to reports.

Rydges Hotels and the Denwol group will build a $68-million four-star hotel just outside the International Terminal of Sydney Airport. Construction is expected to begin soon and is scheduled to be substantially complete by late 2012.

As the 21-day conciliation process for Qantas and the unions ends on Monday midnight, another strike looms for the troubled Australian air carrier. The Transport Workers Union (TWU) threatened to pursue another round of industrial action unless the company improves its offer.

The Australia Statistics Bureau showed that during the period 2000 to 2011, renting outpaced home ownership in the country.

Passengers of an Austrian airline were forced to pay $30,000 for the refueling of their flight in Vienna to get to their final destination in the U.K.

Maintenance workers have found a live carpet shark inside the seawater intake tank of the Southern Seawater Desalination Plant in Binningup, according to Water Corporation, operator of the plant.

The Downing Centre Local Court has ordered the GMI Food Wholesalers and its directors to pay a fine of $236,000 for supplying Virgin Blue with inflight chicken meals tainted with the listeria bacteria that infected several passengers of the airline in 2009.

Qantas unions found an ally in transport workers overseas when the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) warned the Australian flag carrier that it would get involved if there are future industrial rows between Qantas and its unions.

Ten daily flights are available to Australians after the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) allowed Tiger Airways on Tuesday to increase its flights from Singapore to Australia.

Qantas will start using biofuel to power its planes next year, the airline's CEO Alan Joyce announced during the Australian Airports Association convention in Brisbane on Monday.

Resorts World Manila (RWM), a casino, hotel and mall complex beside Manila's international airport, launched its third hotel, the 712-room Remington Hotel, on Friday.

Philippine-based international port developer International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) posted revenue from port operations of $474.9 million for nine months ending Sept. 30 2011. The income based on ICTSI's consolidated unaudited financial results for the period is 29 percent higher than the $368.2 million reported in the same period last year.

Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from the Australian power industry increased by 3.8% over the month of October, as lost generation gradually made a comeback in the lead up to summer, according to October's Emissions Insights report from RepuTex carbon analytics.