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.