An international team of scientists have successfully extracted DNA from a fossilised Australian emu eggshell, in a move that will throw more light on ancient birds and their extinction.

The fossilised eggshells, which yielded DNA, belonged to many exinct birds including moa of New Zealand and 19,000-year-old Australian emu.

The scientists also managed to extract DNA from the egg of elephant bird of Madagascar. Elephant birds, whose eggs were bigger than footballs, had gone extinct by the 17th century.

Kyle Minogue, the Australian pop star, is promoting the designer's new range of bags, for the posh handbag firm Tous.

She looked sensational while moving on the ramp. She looked extremely confident and smart.

As Kylie's sister Dannii gets set for motherhood, Kylie is currently in the studio working on a new album.

For Minogue sisters, it is the time to celebrate.

Performing amazing magic tricks, Kyle has been stealing hearts away.

Everyone is hoping that Kylie will conjure up success at Brits also tonight.

Electronics and home wares retailer Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd still hopes a big lift in first half earnings after reporting a 4 per cent increase in first half sales.

The company revealed today sales for the six months to December 31 were $3.27 billion compared with $3.15 billion in the same period last year. Also, its Australian, New Zealand, Slovenia and Ireland businesses reported an increase of 2.5 per cent in like-for-like sales.

A substantial boosting of its gas reserves has been undertake by Arrow Energy, which has allowed the company to increase its ability to feed the several liquefied natural gas projects, as it increasingly evolves into a significant part of Queensland's rapidly growing coal seam gas industry.

As shared by the Brisbane-based company, by the time the end of December rolled in, its proven and probable (2P) reserves surged 43% to 3690 petajoules. Gross reserves, on the other hand, including joint venture partner Shell's interests, hiked by 503% to 6250 petajoules.

The Australian stock-market yesterday declined to hit a fresh six-week low, mainly on the back of higher-than-expected inflation numbers, which focused the attention of investors on rises in interest rates and how those would affect businesses.

Concerned investors indulged in heavy selling of domestic shares, and the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index closed after dropping 73.3 points, or 1.55%, at 4644.6 points. The broader All Ordinaries, on the other hand, slipped 73.1 points, or 1.45%, to 4670.0 points.

In a news that must come as a welcome relief amidst frequent reports of hate crimes against Indians in Australia, the Australian government has named Ralph Martin, an Indian origin researcher of Alzheimer's, for the high civilian honour of Australian of the Year 2010. He will be felicitated along with other national award recipients at a ceremony in Canberra on January 25.

Under new policies that came into effect at the bank starting yesterday, first time borrowers of homes loans from Westpac will now have to pay an initial deposit of at least $37,500, in order to gain an average home loan, a sum which is $12, 500 more than before.

The bank has advised its managers and mortgage loan brokers that new customers will now not be able to secure a loan unless they can qualify to meet a loan-to-valuation ratio which currently stands at 87%, in contrast to the earlier 92% requirement.

With its $23 million, three-year agreement with the Department of Education in Western Australia (WA) coming through, the ASG Group – an ASX-listed services provider – will supply IT services to the Department.

The contract, which is extendable for another two years, will require ASG to supply to the Department IT services like Oracle applications management, database administration and server operations, pertaining to “all critical corporate applications including HR, payroll and finance.”

Official figures from the RBA have confirmed that for the month of November, credit to private sector hiked marginally for the month of November.

After recording a fall of 0.1% for the month of October, in November, private credit surged by 0.1%, which is a 0.8% rise when compared to last year.

Housing credit, on the other hand, also surged by 0.7% during November, which is again an 8.1% rise when compared to November of 2008.

Australia’s corporate regulator’s recent failed attempts to prosecute high profile cases have invited calls for fundamental changes regarding its dealing with lengthy and expensive cases.

The age reported that Professor Ian Ramsay doubted the Australian Securities & Investments Commission's capability in handling complex litigation.

Professor Ramsay, director of the Centre for Corporate Law at Melbourne University said that ASIC was lacking ability to identify cases it could litigate successfully.

The landmark tax review headed by Treasury secretary Ken Henry is expected to be devoid of any proposal for the broad income tax cuts.

The Weekend Australian reported that the Henry review, which was handed over to Federal Treasury boss Wayne Swan previous Wednesday, the major tax reform would be without tax cuts for all.

The report, citing the leaked content of the review, also said Henry report focus on revenue collection via a small set of general taxes.

The Australian Securities & Investments Commission has released guidelines with a view to improve market practices relating to the handling of confidential information by listed companies.

The released guidelines are expected to boost confidence in Australia’s capital markets.

ASIC wants to hack the risk of insider trading by demanding all confidential, price sensitive information to go through the Austrian Stock Exchange.

Australia's leading beer and wine producer Foster's Group Ltd announced Tuesday that the managing director of its CUB brewing unit Alex Stevens has resigned due to ill health.

Melbourne-based Foster's Group’s chief executive Ian Johnston will act as the boss of the CUB unit until next notice.

Commenting on Mr. Stevens’ departure, Mr. Johnston said, “Whilst we are very sorry about this unexpected development, we respect and support this decision and sincerely wish him well for the future.”

Australian miner Macarthur Coal Ltd is reportedly pursuing talks with Noble Group to buy stake in Gloucester Coal Ltd., a person familiar with the matter claimed.

Noble Group owns 87.7 per cent Gloucester Coal Ltd.

Both, Macarthur and Gloucester asked for trading in their shares to be suspended on Tuesday.

The potential deal will boost Macarthur’s control over mines producing coal for power plants that generated A$81.7 million in profit during fiscal 2009.

Air New Zealand has announced its plan to launch direct services between Sydney and Rarotonga from July next year.

The once a week new service will be run on a trial basis for a period of four months from July to October.

The airline will use Boeing 767-300 with a capacity of 223 seats including 24 business class seats to provide 17 return services on Sunday from Sydney and Friday from Rarotonga.

Air New Zealand is already providing service between Australia and the Cook Islands, but that is via Auckland.