Vittorio Hernandez

Australian air travelers will have one less headache as the holidays approach with the solution to the customs officials' strike in sight. The Commonwealth Public Sector Union (CPSU) tentatively agreed on Thursday to accept an offer from the federal government of 11 per cent salary hike spread over three years.

Australian affordable tablet computer manufacturer Kogan may have given in to pressure from Apple not to sell Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1, but two retailers are resisting Apple.

The Australian Stock Exchange is back online after trading was halted for four hours on Thursday due to a technical glitch. Trading resumed 2 p.m. after the market stopped at 10:05 a.m.

More Australian consumers are shifting to plastic money to do their purchases. As a result credit and debit card transactions are expected to reach 4 billion in 2011.

It certainly has been a strange session so far, with the Australian sharemarket remaining closed due to a technical glitch. A few big names such as BHP Billiton (BHP), ANZ Banking Group (ANZ) and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) seemingly kicked off trade normally for a few minutes this morning until a number of other businesses were opening in the wrong order.

Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart predicted continuous growth for Australia's booming mining industry despite threats from red tape, taxes and labour shortages.

More travel woes are in store for over 10,000 domestic Qantas passengers with another round of strike scheduled on Friday following the rejection by the Transport Workers Union (TWU) of an offer from Qantas.

Market watchers around the globe are anxiously awaiting a key meeting of European leaders in Brussels tonight, with hopes the European Union summit will be able to come up with a clear and definitive solution to the region's debt crisis. US and European markets tumbled overnight with investors nervous about the outcome, but locally we were spared the sell-off, despite an initial dip at open. Sentiment was instead boosted by benign inflation numbers, which have boosted the chance of a rate cut...

Research by carbon analytics firm RepuTex showed that the proposed carbon tax will cost the Standard & Poor's ASX 200 firms $18.7 billion in the decade 2013 through 2022.

Beginning next week some patients in South Australian hospitals will have bedside touch screen computers under a $36.7 million deal between Telstra and the medical institutions.

Vector, the operator of the natural gas pipeline in New Zealand's North Island, reported a rupture on its Maui pipes. The rupture happened at a considerable distance south of New Zealand Steel's Glenbrook and Taharoa operations.

The Australian sharemarket is losing ground for the second straight day, with the All Ordinaries index (XAO) down 0.4 pct or 18.5 pts to 4269.2. All sectors are lower with the exception of the defensive healthcare space.

Alkane Resources (ASX: ALK) has committed 100 per cent the niobium production of its Dubbo Zirconia Project (DZP) in central west New South Wales (NSW) to a joint venture (JV) with a European firm.

Prices of goods and services in Australia rose by 0.6 per cent in the September quarter, boosted mainly by hikes in electricity, travel, rents, water and property rates.

Queensland moved a stop closer to legalising same-sex unions when Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser introduced on Tuesday the Civil Partnerships Bill.

Despite Australians delaying having a baby because of concerns over financial future, a record 297,900 babies were born in 2010.

Despite predictions of more strength on the local share market today, it appears fear and volatility remain at play. After a 2.7pct gain yesterday, the All Ordinaries Index (XAO) fell 25.9pts or 0.6pct today to 4287.7.

Two new but separate studies on popular drinks showed positive and negative news for drinkers.

Although business information analysts are forecasting a 6.1 per cent dip in spending at the Melbourne Cup Carnival this year, bets will continue to rise by 1.6 per cent.

Despite the inconvenience suffered by Australian travelers because of the Qantas series of strikes, public opinion still appears to favor the unions that represent the air carrier's workers, instead of Qantas management.

Apple is insistent on closing all doors for rival Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 to enter Australia - even through online retailers.

The Australian sharemarket is pulling back modestly despite strong gains out of global markets overnight. The All Ordinaries index (XAO) is down 0.2 pct or 8.6 pts to 4305. All sectors are trading in the red with the exception of the mining sector which is helping minimise the losses on the broader market.

Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Deputy Governor Ric Battellino hinted on Tuesday that the Australian central bank may lower the cash rate. He said that the release on Wednesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics of the consumer price index (CPI) would be a key for the RBA to determine easing monetary policy.

Chinese police have identified one of the two drivers who ran over two-year-old Yueyue on Oct 13 and charged him with hit-and-run death.

Tourism Australia and Jetstar entered into a $10-million partnership in an attempt to boost the country's visitor arrivals, particularly those from Japan.

The local share market started the trading week on a very positive note, although volumes were low. Investor sentiment was boosted by impressive gains in US and European share markets on Friday, while strong Chinese manufacturing data added to the overall buying mood. The All Ordinaries Index (XAO) rose 110.2pts or 2.6pct to 4313.6 while the S&P/ASX 200 Index (XJO) gained 113pts or 2.7pct to 4255.

About 200 Foshan residents gathered over the weekend at the hardware market where 2-year-old Yueyue was hit thrice by two trucks and ignored by 18 people on Oct 13. The residents, in an attempt to remove their city's stigma of being indifferent to strangers in need, held a memorial for the toddler whose death stirred China into a national soul-searching.

Job security in Australia had become more elusive for many workers in the country. According to the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), casual employment rates doubled in 25 years.

Western Australia topped the list of broker Commonwealth Securities's quarterly State of the States report. WA displaced the Australian Capital Territory in the roster based on highest growth rate.