Sydney  - BHP Billiton Ltd's aborted bid for mining rival Rio Tinto Ltd dragged Australian stocks down Wednesday.

The ASX 200 gave up 83 points, or 2.2 per cent, to close at 3,540.

Rio's share price plunged by a third in the wake of BHP's decision to call off its hostile takeover bid over concerns it would be taking on too much debt if it won control of the world's second-biggest producer of iron ore.

In contrast, investors welcomed the failure of the bid, driving up the share price of the world's biggest mining company by 4 per cent.

"BHP is a better story with a lot less debt," said DJ Carmichael and Co analyst Chris Chong.

Sydney, Nov 26 : Australian off-spinner Jason Krejza, who made an impressive debut against India earlier this month by taking 12 wickets, is doubtful to play in the second Test against New Zealand starting Friday, after injuring his right ankle during training session at Adelaide Oval.

Krejza was expected to be included into the side after being overlooked for last week’s first Test at Gabba.

Sydney - Anglo-Australian mining company BHP Billiton Ltd said Tuesday the

Sydney, Nov 25 : Cricket Australia is investigating into a pub brawl on Sunday night involving all-rounder Andrew Symonds, though the latter has denied the blame on him.

The investigation report is expected to come by Wednesday, and might jeopardize Symonds’ chances of paying in Brisbane Test beginning Friday.

CA chief executive James Sutherland said the investigation would not be rushed or compromised.

Sydney - It has been hailed as the greatest voice ever recorded in Australia: plaintive yet uplifting, keening but controlled, distinctive but not so extraordinary that it quickly becomes tiresome.

It belongs to blind-from-birth Aboriginal singer-songwriter Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, and it's about to go global with the release in the United States of the self-titled album Gurrumul, which has done so well elsewhere.

Sydney  - A rite of passage for intrepid travellers has been a road trip across the Simpson Desert in central Australia.

There are not really roads, of course, just tracks laid down by explorers that help drivers get across the 176,500-square-kilometre expanse. A four-wheel-drive is the only way to go, preferably in convoy, and hopefully with lots of spares and someone handy as a mechanic.