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Australia lowers key interest rate to 3 percent
Australia's central bank cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point Tuesday, taking it to its lowest level since the global ...
Asia stocks down on US manufacturing report
A weaker-than-expected U.S. manufacturing report sent Asian stock markets down Tuesday. U.S. manufacturing shrank in November to its weakest level ...
Archer Daniels Midland raises offer for GrainCorp
Agribusiness conglomerate Archer Daniels Midland Co. is increasing its buyout offer for GrainCorp by almost 4 percent and disclosed it has already ...
New Zealand: forget Kyoto, write new climate deal
Highlighting a rift between the rich countries and emerging economies like China, New Zealand's climate minister staunchly defended his government's ...
IOC ready to take away Armstrong's Olympic bronze
His seven Tour de France titles erased from cycling's record books, Lance Armstrong still holds claim to one piece of sports hardware — an Olympic ...
Column: Sport loses one of its toughest in Ponting
The cricket ball that hit Ricky Ponting in the mouth surely regretted it. It probably wanted to curl up into a ball and cry. Because Ponting was ...
Gotye wins big at Australia's Aria music awards
Gotye has taken home album of the year at Australia's Aria music awards for his internationally acclaimed "Making Mirrors." The album features the ...
UN vote recognizes state of Palestine; US objects
The United Nations has voted overwhelmingly to recognize a Palestinian state, but the Palestinians still face enormous limitations: They don't control ...
NJ spruce lights up as Rockefeller Center tree
An 80-foot Norway spruce that made it through Superstorm Sandy was transformed into a beacon of shimmering glory Wednesday when New York City Mayor ...
In elf ears and wizard hats, 'Hobbit' fans rejoice
Wearing elf ears and wizard hats, sitting atop their dad's shoulders or peering from balconies, tens of thousands of New Zealanders watched their ...
'Dexter,' 'Chuck' star Yvonne Strahovski onstage
Yvonne Strahovski is making her Broadway debut this fall, which is pretty cool, especially since she's never actually caught a Broadway show before.
Asia stocks fall as talks over US budget stall
Lack of progress in negotiations for a deal to avoid a U.S. budget crisis before a January deadline sent Asian stock markets lower on Wednesday.
Asia stocks post slight gains after Black Friday
Asian stock markets posted slight gains Monday after the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season in the U.S. topped expectations, offsetting ...
Hobbits, superheroes put magic in NZ film industry
A crate full of sushi arrives. Workers wearing wetsuit shirts or in bare feet bustle past with slim laptops. With days to go, a buzzing intensity ...
Best-selling Australian author Courtenay dies
Best-selling Australian author Bryce Courtenay, whose first and final books drew on his tough early-life experiences in Africa, has died of stomach ...
Australian author Bryce Courtenay dies of cancer
Australian best-selling author Bryce Courtenay has died of stomach cancer. He was 79. His publisher Penguin Group said Friday that the South ...
New Zealand volcano erupts; dozens of hikers safe
A New Zealand volcano erupted with a brief blast of dark ash Wednesday, canceling flights but causing no significant damage. Schoolchildren and dozens ...
Australians find drugs worth $246M in steamroller
Australian police seized 237 million Australian dollars ($246 million) worth of cocaine and methamphetamine found inside a steamroller shipped from ...
Tolkien heirs sue moviemakers over merchandizing
The heirs of late author J.R.R. Tolkien are suing the producers of "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" movie trilogies over alleged exploitative ...
How Asia sees Obama's pivot to the Pacific
A lot has happened in Asia while the United States was off fighting its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and most of it can be summed up in one word — ...
US budget hopes boost Asia stocks
Asian stocks rose Tuesday as investors gained confidence that President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress will reach a budget deal to avert tax hikes ...
Aussie fake-bomb plotter sentenced to 13½ years
An Australian investment banker who admitted chaining a fake bomb to a Sydney teenager as part of a bizarre extortion plot was sentenced to 13 years ...
Wranglers say 'Hobbit' animals died on unsafe farm
Animal wranglers involved in the making of "The Hobbit" movie trilogy say the production company is responsible for the deaths of up to 27 animals, ...
Asia stocks up amid optimism over US budget
Asian stock markets rose Monday, registering optimism after negotiations late last week between President Barack Obama and leaders of Congress raised ...
US or China? Clinton says Australia needn't choose
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton assured Australians they do not have to choose between the United States, their most important security ally, ...