Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL) is the largest converged services carrier providing all telecommunications services from basic voice telephony to data, internet, video-conferencing and carrier services to consumers and businesses all ov
Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL) is the largest converged services carrier providing all telecommunications services from basic voice telephony to data, internet, video-conferencing and carrier services to consumers and businesses all ov
Russia's space agency says it has successfully launched three satellites to enhance its equivalent of the US Global Positioning System. The space agency says three GLONASS-M satellites have been put into orbit by a Proton-M rocket that blasted off from th
Taiwanese prosecutors on Thursday launched a new bid to detain the indicted former president Chen Shui-bian ahead of his trial on corruption charges. "We appeal on the ground that (Chen Shui-bian) could flee the country, conspire with the witnesses or des
As Hong Kong's already-frantic workers cling to their jobs amid the global economic downturn, the hectic and the exhausted are being offered a haven of relaxation in the overcrowded finance hub. One of the ubiquitous shopping malls in the city's most fran
A smashed guitar of former Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain has been sold for 100,000 dollars to an unnamed collector, the Seattle Times newspaper reported Thursday.Cobain smashed the Fender Mustang guitar in New Jersey during his first US tour with the band
Sri Lanka's military beat back a Tamil Tiger counter-offensive in the island's north, killing at least 18 guerrillas, the defence ministry said on Thursday. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) mounted the offensive outside their besieged pol
The leader of a coup in Guinea tightened his grip on the west African state Thursday, winning the allegiance of the toppled government, despite growing international calls for swift elections. After Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare and his cabinet turn
In the aftermath of the seaborne attack on Mumbai, Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed Thursday warned of an increased threat of militants using the seas to launch attacks in the future. Nasheed, who held talks with Indian leaders on Wednesday, told a pres
A British soldier was shot dead in Afghanistan on Christmas Eve, the same day a US soldier died in a separate attack, officials said Thursday as international mortar fire killed four road workers. The Royal Marine, whose identity was not released, was kil
An explosion ripped through an apartment building in southern Ukraine, killing 19 people, and officials said on Thursday they expected the toll to rise. Twenty-four people were still unaccounted for, Emergencies Ministry spokesman Ihor Krol said, after 21
Police in northern Bangladesh arrested seven suspected militants tied to a banned Islamic group and seized a large cache of bomb-making materials, an official said Thursday. The raids came days before national elections to restore democracy, though police
Iran's state-owned newspaper says the country has hanged nine people, including a woman, convicted of murder. A report Thursday by the IRAN newspaper says all the convicts were hanged in Evin prison north of Tehran. They were identified only by their firs
Police fired teargas and live rounds into the air to disperse hundreds of protesters who took to the streets in northern India's Uttar Pradesh state on Thursday after the killing of a senior public servant. The protesters, from the opposition Samajwadi Pa
Former Dutch international Victor Sikora will make his Australian A-League debut for Perth Glory on Boxing Day following approval of his working visa and international clearance, Glory said Thursday. Sikora, 30, who arrived last Saturday from Amsterdam, t
South Africa had every reason to look back fondly on 2008, a year in which Allen Stanford became a name known to all cricket fans and the once all-conquering Australia came back to the pack. Even before the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne started, the Protea
Long established as world number one, Tiger Woods runs the risk of being deposed at the top of the rankings in the first quarter of next year. The American has been out of action since having reconstructive knee surgery after winning the US Open in June a
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has asked his players to concentrate on the test series against Bangladesh beginning on Friday rather than worry about the uncertainty surrounding next month's tour in Pakistan. Sri Lanka agreed to step in to tour in P
Tottenham coach Harry Redknapp revealed Thursday that he was interested in luring West Ham striker Craig Bellamy to White Hart Lane in the January transfer window. Negotiations between the two clubs are believed to have started with Redknapp admitting he
Rangers and Celtic lock horns for the second time this season on Saturday at Ibrox for an Old Firm Christmas cracker. The Ibrox club triumphed 4-2 when the clubs first met in August to go top of the Scottish Premier League. But since then Celtic have over
Ryan Giggs feels Manchester United could be on the verge of a traditional burst of form over the festive period to put themselves right back in the Premier League title race. Sir Alex Ferguson's English champions return to domestic action against Stoke on
Former France midfielder Luis Fernandez was appointed coach of struggling Ligue 2 club Stade Reims, French sports daily L'Equipe reported. Six-times French champions Stade Reims were European Cup finalists in 1956 and 1959. Fernandez, who won the European
Real Madrid coach Juande Ramos said Thursday the Spanish champions, trailing in fifth position behind arch rivals Barcelona in La Liga, were experiencing "a complicated situation". Yet the former Tottenham boss who replaced Bernd Schuster at the Bernabeu
Ace Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will be keen to maintain his impressive performance against Bangladesh in a two-Test series starting here on Friday. The off-spinner troubled Bangladesh in previous Tests, grabbing 76 wickets in nine games, incl
The high-riding Los Angeles Lakers host NBA champions the Boston Celtics in a Christmas Day cracker on Thursday when the long-time rivals will have the league's biggest prize uppermost in mind. Although bragging rights will be on the line at the Staples C
Four months after successfully holding the Summer Olympics in Beijing, China is mulling a bid to host the 2018 Winter Games in the frigid northern city of Harbin, state media said on Thursday, quoting a government official.
China's state-owned enterprises should avoid cutting jobs in 2009 even though it is shaping up as a most difficult year, the chief regulator of state assets said in remarks published on Thursday. Li Rongrong, chairman of the State-owned Asset Supervision
Reliance Industries Ltd on Thursday began processing crude oil at a new refinery in western India, almost doubling company output and creating the world's biggest refining complex just as global oil demand retreats.
China's top economic planning agency is drafting a stimulus package to save the automotive sector from a US-style crisis, state media reported Thursday. The National Development and Reform Commission is to send rescue plans to the cabinet by the end of th
Japan's production of cars, trucks and buses marked its steepest drop in at least four decades in November, an industry group said Thursday, as the fallout from the US slowdown crimped auto demand. Vehicle production in Japan, home to Toyota Motor Corp an
Japan's production of cars, trucks and buses marked its steepest drop in at least four decades in November, an industry group said Thursday, as the fallout from the US slowdown crimped auto demand. Vehicle production in Japan, home to Toyota Motor Corp an
Turkey's government cut total budget spending planned for 2009 by 3.061 billion lira ($2.02 billion), Economy Minister Mehmet Simsek said on Thursday, as the country heads into a possible loan deal with the IMF. Parliament also accepted a resolution cutti
Russia's budget deficit next year will be at least three percent of GDP under the most optimistic scenario, a senior Kremlin economic aide said Thursday. But the deficit could exceed five percent if the global economic slowdown is sustained, said Arkady D
Russia's gold and foreign exchange reserves rose by a record $15.4 billion in the latest week thanks to a stronger euro and a rise in commercial banks' foreign currency deposits. The reserves, the world's third largest, rose to $450.8 billion on December
China has started filling tanks at its largest oil reservoir, taking advantage of tumbling world crude prices, state media reported Thursday. The facility's 10 tanks, which have a total capacity of 6.3 million barrels, are operated by China National Petro
Thailand's government will expand its planned stimulus package to 300 billion baht ($8.6 billion) as it aims to boost its economy teetering on the brink of recession, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said. The spending will come from additional budget inc
Vietnam's consumer prices rose by 23 percent in 2008, sharply up from eight percent in 2007, the state-run General Statistics Office (GSO) said Thursday. Food prices almost doubled, the cost of housing and construction materials rose by more than 20 perce
The UAE joined Saudi Arabia in deepening oil supply curbs on Thursday to comply with producer group Opec's biggest ever output cut last week, telling refiners it would tighten shipping limits on exports of its main grades.
British retail sales figures for December will reflect a poor Christmas season, the British Retail Consortium said on Thursday as fears grow that Britain is entering a deep recession. A traditional last minute rush for gifts and heavy discounting in the r
Toyota Motor Corp Executive Vice President Akio Toyoda declined on Thursday to discuss the possibility of his taking over as president after media reports he could fill the post as early as April. "Today, these two cars are the stars," Toyoda, a grandson
South Korea plans to spend 5.4 trillion won ($4.1 billion) next year to stabilise its job market as job creation slowed to its lowest level in five years and firms' halt expansion plans amid a weakening economy. The country's labour ministry said in a sta
Libya's oil refiner and marketer in Africa Tamoil said on Thursday it planned to invest $5 billion in three energy projects in Egypt. "Tamoil reached an understanding agreement with Egyptian authorities over the investment projects in Egypt on the sidelin
Japan and Vietnam signed an economic partnership pact Thursday with a promise to cut tariffs on some 92 percent of goods and services traded between the two nations within a decade. Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone and Vietnam's minister for in
US authorities on Wednesday investigated the apparent suicide of a French investment manager who lost more than a billion dollars in Wall Street titan Bernard Madoff's alleged pyramid scheme, as the widening scandal took a tragic turn. Thierry de la Ville
China on Thursday published guidelines for mainland companies to invest in Taiwan, in a bid to further strengthen ties with the long-standing rival that it considers part of its territory. A joint statement by China's National Development and Reform Commi
Cameroon's cocoa bean exports between August and November were 75,949 tonnes, up 19 percent on the same period last year, according to data released late on Wednesday by cocoa bodies in the world's fifth biggest grower. Shipments in the first four months
A good take-up rate prevailed at this week's tea auction in Kenya but prices stayed mixed, market participants said on Wednesday. Africa Tea Brokers (ATB) said 124,306 packages (7.93 million kg) were up for sale at the auction, with 7,960 remaining unsold
The Karachi Port handled 76,883 tonnes of cargo including 30,474 tonnes of import, 46,409 tonnes of export, 3,513 loaded and empty containers (TEUs) during last 24 hours ending at 0700 hours on Thursday. The freights comprised of 65,233 tonnes of dry carg
Hard red winter wheat futures on the Kansas City Board of Trade settled higher on Wednesday, lifted by strength in soybean futures. The benchmark March settled up 6 cents at $6.00 after ranging from $5.90 to $6.04. Wheat was largely a follower of soybean
China's State Reserves Bureau (SRB) has agreed to buy about 300,000 tonnes of aluminium at around 12,300 yuan ($1,800) per tonne in January to support producers, trading and industry sources said on Thursday. The price represents a premium of almost 10 pe
US milk futures closed mostly lower in Wednesday's abbreviated trading session as lower cash cheese prices prompted selling, traders said. CME dairy markets closed at noon CST (1800 GMT) on Wednesday and will be closed on Thursday for Christmas and on Fri
Chicago Board of Trade corn futures closed higher on Wednesday, supported by short covering and declines in the dollar that made US supplies more attractive to overseas buyers, traders said. Falling crude oil prices, which hurt demand for corn-based ethan
Ukraine is likely to keep its grain crop at a high 45 million tonnes next year, down about 10 percent from a record 50-51 million in 2008, but still well above average levels, Economy Minister Bohdan Danylyshyn said on Thursday. In his comments, published
The won rose more than 2 percent against the dollar on Wednesday, more than recovering its losses in the previous session, as several dealers suspected dollar-selling intervention by the South Korean authorities. Dealers also said the won was also lifted
The Taiwan dollar continued its climb for a second day in thin Christmas Day trade bolstered by exporter deals, but its gains were kept in check by the central bank's intentions to slow the local currency's rise. The Taiwan dollar rose to an intraday high
The dollar was steady against the yen on Thursday in thin holiday trade, after recovering some of losses made in the wake of dismal economic data that underscored the deepening recession in the United States. The euro edged down against the dollar and the
The dollar fell against most major currencies on Wednesday as data on unemployment, spending and durable goods orders reinforced the bleak outlook for the US economy in the year ahead. Trading desks were lightly staffed ahead of the Christmas holiday, con
The New Zealand dollar limped quietly into the Christmas holiday period on Wednesday, with little investor interest in the currency or appetite for risk amid a deteriorating global outlook. Kiwi trades a wafer-thin range around $0.5675/85, easing from 0.5
Sri Lanka's rupee fell to a new 14-month low on Wednesday with a state bank buying dollars to settle import bills, while shares recovered from a 4-year low hit Tuesday on foreign bargain hunting in conglomerate John Keells Holdings. The rupee fell 0.1 per
Mexican stocks gained on Wednesday, buoyed by a rise in cellphone operator America Movil while the peso lost ground. The benchmark IPC stock index moved up 0.75 percent to 22,340.70 points in low volume as investors took time off for the holidays.
The Canadian dollar strengthened versus the US currency on Wednesday, as thin market volumes forced the currency to ride the wave of corporate buyers and fund managers readjusting portfolios ahead of the year end. Bonds ended little changed in a holiday-s
China's yuan closed slightly higher against the dollar on Thursday, propelled by small-scale but urgent yuan demand ahead of the New Year holiday, while dealers said the central bank was largely letting the market go its own way in the thin year-end trade
Long-dated Japanese government bonds advanced on Thursday, with the 30-year yield hitting its lowest level in more than five years, as the prospects of the global economy slowing further nudged investors to the perceived safety of debt. Data released in t
Long-dated Japanese government bonds advanced on Thursday, with the 30-year yield hitting its lowest level in more than five years, as the prospects of the global economy slowing further nudged investors to the perceived safety of debt. Data released in t
Taiwan stocks fell 0.22 percent on Thursday, as LCD shares such as AU Optronics dropped despite a media report that the government may be taking steps to support the struggling industry. The main TAIEX share index closed down 9.64 points at 4,413.45, with
Chinese stocks slipped 0.61 percent on Thursday in thin trade to a fresh six-week closing low as blue chips remained soft on looming expiries of lock-up periods for shares and a bleak outlook for corporate earnings. The Shanghai Composite Index, which tra
US stocks rose in a holiday-shortened session on Wednesday after a barrage of economic data signalled the economy was weak, but not as bad as feared, while the fall in crude oil prices and bargain hunting helped retail and airline stocks. The Dow snapped
Financial markets in Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore and South Korea were closed on Thursday for a public holiday.
Thai shares closed 1.25 percent higher on Thursday as funds bought shares for year-end tax rebates, dealers said. They said trading was very light as investors were away for the Christmas holiday. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index rose
The Nikkei share average rose 1 percent in holiday-thinned trade on Thursday, with Toyota Motor Corp and other battered stocks rebounding after the US Dow snapped a five-day losing streak. But Isuzu Motors Ltd fell 1.8 percent after a newspaper reported t
Indonesia is maintaining its zero percent palm oil export tax in January, while it will raise crude palm oil base export price to $418 a tonne from $415 a tonne in December, the trade ministry said late on Wednesday. The moves are effective from January 1
Shanghai aluminium futures rose 0.5 percent to a three-week high on Thursday after sources said China's State Reserve Bureau plans to purchase the metal at about a 9 percent premium to current prices. China's State Reserves Bureau (SRB) has agreed to buy
US rough rice futures at the Chicago Board of Trade closed higher on Wednesday amid light volume in the shortened pre-holiday session, traders said. CBOT markets closed early at noon CST for Christmas Eve. They will remain closed on Thursday for Christmas
US wheat futures closed higher on Wednesday as traders covered their short positions ahead of the Christmas holiday. Volumes were light. US grain exchanges will be closed on Thursday for the Christmas holiday. The Chicago Board of Trade March wheat future
Tokyo rubber futures fell nearly 3 percent on Thursday as weak demand and falling crude oil prices continued to hurt market sentiment. The key Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for June delivery ended the morning session down 3.5 yen, or 2.7 percen
US soybean futures rose to a five-week high on Wednesday as firm domestic cash markets lent support along with concerns about dryness in South America as January, a key crop development period, approaches. But volume was thin before the Christmas holiday,
Gold rose on Wednesday after the latest US economic data fed fears of a long recession, though trading desks were thinly staffed with many participants already gone for the Christmas holiday, traders said. Spot gold advanced to $845.80 an ounce in late tr
Japan's retail regular gasoline prices have fallen to their lowest on records going back to 2004, a research body said on Thursday, as crude oil prices have dived more than $100 since hitting all-time highs in mid-July. The average pump price of regular g
Vietnam's coffee exports are forecast to rise 18.2 percent in December from a year ago to an estimated 130,000 tonnes or 2.2 million bags, the government's statistics office said on Thursday. It also raised the coffee exports of last month, saying actual
Heavy seasonal rains are to persist in south-eastern Brazil's coffee zones, private meteorologist Somar said, and showers will be heaviest in Minas Gerais, the main coffee state. Rains tend to pick up at this time of year, which is spring in Brazil.
Heavy snow and freezing temperatures has left thousands of passengers stranded at airports in the northern United States ahead of Thursday's Christmas holidays.Several airports were forced to cancel flights and delay others on Wednesday, one of the busies
With tents still serving as homes and schools seven months after Cyclone Nargis lashed Myanmar, survivors say they are struggling to rebuild their lives as international aid trickles in. Fisherman Htein Lin Aung, a father of three, says a new roof is out
Lebanon's Western-backed Prime Minister Fuad Siniora said his country has no interest in holding peace talks with neighbouring Israel at the moment. "I see no interest for us right now to discuss direct negotiations or indirect negotiations with Israel,"
Special prayers for victims of terrorist attacks and low-key festivities marked a subdued Christmas across India in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks and the anti-Christian violence in eastern Orissa state, news reports said. In the financial hub of Mum
A British television channel's decision to invite Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to deliver a Christmas message was criticised by the Foreign Office Thursday, which said it would cause offence. Ahmadinejad will give an address on Channel Four later
War and economic hardship loomed over Christmas celebrations across the world Thursday, with Pope Benedict XVI denouncing greed and pleading for an end to violence in the Middle East. The pontiff lamented that "the horizon seems once again bleak for Israe
Ten people were killed when Muslim separatist guerrillas launched attacks and occupied a village in the southern Philippines, military and police officials said on Thursday. Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels attacked Midtungo village in the sout
A militant body loyal to fugitive former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra vowed Thursday to rally in the capital until the new government falls. Leaders of the pro-Thaksin group, who wear red shirts to distinguish themselves from yellow-clad anti-Th
Bangladesh's former prime minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, has accused the government and her rivals with conspiring to rig Monday's parliamentary election, rhetoric that could set the stage for protests and violence if she loses. The December 29 vote will ma