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Print - 2009-12-15
BoJ tankan improvement slows, capex outlook bleak

BoJ tankan improvement slows, capex outlook bleak

Japanese business morale improved more slowly in the fourth quarter and large manufacturers surveyed by the central bank planned record cuts in capital spending, as a strong yen threatened a fragile economic recovery. The Bank of Japan's quarterly tankan
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Naudero RPPs: ECC may allocate 18.5mmcfd more gas

Naudero RPPs: ECC may allocate 18.5mmcfd more gas

The Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, scheduled to meet on Tuesday, is likely to approve allocation of 18.5 mmcfd additional gas for rental power plants (RPP) 1 and 11 at Naudero, owned by US based Walters Power International (WPI) Li
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Exxon Mobil to buy XTO energy for $41 billion

Exxon Mobil to buy XTO energy for $41 billion

Exxon Mobil Corp will buy XTO Energy Inc, one of the largest US natural gas producers, in an all-stock transaction valued at $41 billion including debt, the companies said on Monday. The deal includes about $10 billion in XTO debt, and is based on the Dec
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Naudero RPPs: ECC may allocate 18.5mmcfd more gas

Naudero RPPs: ECC may allocate 18.5mmcfd more gas

The Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, scheduled to meet on Tuesday, is likely to approve allocation of 18.5 mmcfd additional gas for rental power plants (RPP) 1 and 11 at Naudero, owned by US based Walters Power International (WPI) Li
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Eurocrats strike over EU states' pay blockade

Eurocrats strike over EU states' pay blockade

European Union bureaucrats on Monday downed their pens and laptops in protest as they went on strike at member states' plans to block a proposed 3.7-per-cent pay rise. The inflation-busting rise has infuriated EU states whose public finances have been rav
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Naudero RPPs: ECC may allocate 18.5mmcfd more gas

Naudero RPPs: ECC may allocate 18.5mmcfd more gas

The Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, scheduled to meet on Tuesday, is likely to approve allocation of 18.5 mmcfd additional gas for rental power plants (RPP) 1 and 11 at Naudero, owned by US based Walters Power International (WPI) Li
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
British Airways crew vote in favour of strike

British Airways crew vote in favour of strike

Thousands of British Airways cabin crew voted to strike, hours after the airline revealed a 3.7 billion pound ($6 billion) hole in its pension fund that will require deft handling by management if a proposed merger with Iberia is to stay on track.
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
CIA and GHQ may destabilise system: Azfar explains 'apprehensions'

CIA and GHQ may destabilise system: Azfar explains 'apprehensions'

"We have apprehensions that the CIA and GHQ may destabilise the system," said Kamal Azfar, representative of the Federation, in response to a query of the Supreme Court about Federation's petition cautioning the court to mitigate against 'destabilisation
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
China's BAIC buys Saab assets

China's BAIC buys Saab assets

Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co (BAIC) said on Monday it had acquired some assets of General Motors' Saab unit as part of a push to develop its own-brand cars. BAIC, China's fifth-largest automaker, will buy the intellectual property for Saab's 9-5
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
CIA and GHQ may destabilise system: Azfar explains 'apprehensions'

CIA and GHQ may destabilise system: Azfar explains 'apprehensions'

"We have apprehensions that the CIA and GHQ may destabilise the system," said Kamal Azfar, representative of the Federation, in response to a query of the Supreme Court about Federation's petition cautioning the court to mitigate against 'destabilisation
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
France unveils $52 billion public spending spree

France unveils $52 billion public spending spree

President Nicolas Sarkozy said Monday that France would take out a loan to finance a 35-billion-euro spending spree aimed at boosting competitiveness and funding the best universities in the world. "Today, we must prepare France for the challenges of tomo
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Developing nations end boycott at climate talks

Developing nations end boycott at climate talks

Poor countries ended a boycott of UN climate talks Monday after getting assurances that rich nations were not conspiring to soften their commitments to cutting greenhouse gases, European officials said. European Union environment spokesman Andreas Carlgre
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
ArcelorMittal could cut 10,000 jobs

ArcelorMittal could cut 10,000 jobs

ArcelorMittal, the world's biggest steelmaker, could cut 10,000 jobs world-wide next year to boost productivity and reduce general expenses by around $500 million, French newspaper Les Echos said on Monday. The company, which currently employs 285,300 peo
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Developing nations end boycott at climate talks

Developing nations end boycott at climate talks

Poor countries ended a boycott of UN climate talks Monday after getting assurances that rich nations were not conspiring to soften their commitments to cutting greenhouse gases, European officials said. European Union environment spokesman Andreas Carlgre
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
TeliaSonera launches first commercial 4G/LTE network

TeliaSonera launches first commercial 4G/LTE network

Nordic telecom operator TeliaSonera announced Monday the launch in Stockholm and Oslo of the world's first commercial 4G/LTE mobile network, up to 10 times faster than current networks. "Today, as the first operator in the world, TeliaSonera launches 4G s
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Gulf leaders gather to discuss monetary pact

Gulf leaders gather to discuss monetary pact

Leaders of the six Gulf Arab states were to move ahead with plans to set up a common currency and launch a new $1.6 billion regional electricity grid Monday, the latest bids for regional integration at a summit where Iran's nuclear programme was also on t
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Swiss producer, import price drop narrows in November

Swiss producer, import price drop narrows in November

Swiss producer and import prices continued to fall in November but at a slower pace than the previous month, indicating that deflation pressures might be easing as energy costs rise. The combined import and producer price index for November fell 3.3 perce
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Swiss case & $60 million account: NAB told to submit detailed report

Swiss case & $60 million account: NAB told to submit detailed report

The Supreme Court on Monday directed National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to submit a detailed report, including supporting documents, regarding Swiss case and 60 million dollars frozen in Swiss accounts through money laundering reference against (now Pre
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
EU warms to Oracle-Sun deal

EU warms to Oracle-Sun deal

EU regulators signalled on Monday they could clear Oracle Corp's $7 billion take-over of Sun Microsystems after the US software company promised measures to ease competition concerns. The European Union's executive European Commission said it was optimist
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Swiss case & $60 million account: NAB told to submit detailed report

Swiss case & $60 million account: NAB told to submit detailed report

The Supreme Court on Monday directed National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to submit a detailed report, including supporting documents, regarding Swiss case and 60 million dollars frozen in Swiss accounts through money laundering reference against (now Pre
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
US high court orders to Chrysler sale appeal dismissed

US high court orders to Chrysler sale appeal dismissed

The US Supreme Court ordered a lower court to dismiss a legal challenge by three Indiana pension funds to the government-backed sale of bankrupt automaker Chrysler LLC to a group led by Italian carmaker Fiat SpA. The sale closed on June 10, a day after th
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
No indications army wants to topple government: Petraeus

No indications army wants to topple government: Petraeus

US General David Petraeus on Monday said that according to the international laws the US has the right to launch cross-border offensive, adding that his country will not send its ground troops to Pakistan. Talking to media here at the US Embassy, Petraeus
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Sri Lanka keeps rates unchaned to spur growth

Sri Lanka keeps rates unchaned to spur growth

Sri Lanka's central bank kept interest rates unchanged as expected to encourage bank lending and spur faltering economic growth amid signs of accelerating inflation. The central bank kept its repurchase rate at a five-year low of 7.50 percent after cuttin
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
No indications army wants to topple government: Petraeus

No indications army wants to topple government: Petraeus

US General David Petraeus on Monday said that according to the international laws the US has the right to launch cross-border offensive, adding that his country will not send its ground troops to Pakistan. Talking to media here at the US Embassy, Petraeus
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
China vows to curb soaring property prices

China vows to curb soaring property prices

China will use tools including land-use policies and taxation to control property price rises, the government said on Monday, the latest indication of its concern that housing prices could rise too much if left unchecked. The government said it would push
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Cadbury sees interest from third parties

Cadbury sees interest from third parties

Britain's Cadbury Plc said it has received interest from other bidders after raising its growth targets and reporting upbeat trading as it dismissed a 10 billion pound ($16.5 billion) bid from Kraft Foods. The Dairy Milk chocolate maker on Monday called K
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Taiwan vows help for China trade pact job losers

Taiwan vows help for China trade pact job losers

Taiwan plans to spend 45 billion dollars (1.4 billion US dollars) to help people who will lose their jobs as a result of a planned trade pact with China, local media reported Monday. Wang Ju-hsuan, chairwoman of the Council of Labour Affairs, made the pro
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Toyota to sell hybrid cars in two years

Toyota to sell hybrid cars in two years

Toyota Motor Corp will begin selling "affordable" plug-in hybrid cars in 2011, upping the ante on General Motors and Nissan Motor as they aim to take the lead in the field of rechargeable cars. Toyota's first plug-in model, the Prius Plug-In Hybrid (PHV),
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Woodside announces $2.3 billion fundraising for LNG push

Woodside announces $2.3 billion fundraising for LNG push

Australian energy giant Woodside Petroleum on Monday announced a 2.5 billion dollar (2.3 billion US) share offer to boost its ambitious push into the booming liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector. Woodside, which aims to be among the world's top LNG producer
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Rising Indian inflation adds to case for tightening

Rising Indian inflation adds to case for tightening

India's wholesale prices rose faster-than-expected in November, and analysts said inflation worries could see the central bank withdraw more liquidity support in coming weeks and raise rates early next year. The wholesale price index rose 4.78 percent in
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Commercial property values rise in UK

Commercial property values rise in UK

British commercial property values posted the largest monthly increase in 15 years, up 2.4 percent in November, as the market's recovery accelerated after a two-year downturn, data showed on Monday. The Investment Property Databank's (IPD) monthly index h
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Protectionism intensified in 2009

Protectionism intensified in 2009

Protectionist pressures have not relented despite signs of economic recovery in many countries in the second half of this year, a trade study said on Monday. The report by Global Trade Alert, a project of independent researchers, gives the lie to the pled
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Linking Gulf power grids to cost $1.6 billion

Linking Gulf power grids to cost $1.6 billion

A project to link the power grids of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will cost $1.6 billion, a senior official from the body overseeing interconnection said on Monday. The full construction of the grid is expected to be c
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Asian debt spreads tighten

Asian debt spreads tighten

Asian credit spreads tightened across the board on Monday after news that Dubai had received aid from Abu Dhabi to fund a bond redemption helped calm a market worried about the credit worthiness of government-supported debt. The Asia ex-Japan iTraxx inves
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Asian debt spreads tighten

Asian debt spreads tighten

Asian credit spreads tightened across the board on Monday after news that Dubai had received aid from Abu Dhabi to fund a bond redemption helped calm a market worried about the credit worthiness of government-supported debt. The Asia ex-Japan iTraxx inves
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Jakarta shares down

Jakarta shares down

Indonesian shares closed 0.50 percent lower Monday on profit-taking in telecommunications and resources-related stocks, dealers said. The Jakarta Composite Index lost 12.71 points to 2,506.38. Weak rupiah weighed down overall sentiment, they added. He exp
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Hong Kong, China stocks up

Hong Kong, China stocks up

Shares in Hong Kong and China reversed earlier losses, led by banks and refiners, after Dubai said it had received $10 billion from fellow United Arab Emirates member Abu Dhabi, soothing investor worries about the economic outlook. The benchmark Hang Seng
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Taiwan stocks hit 17-month high

Taiwan stocks hit 17-month high

Taiwan stocks rose 0.31 percent on Monday to a nearly 17-month closing high, but Asustek led some technology shares lower after it announced a plan to reduce its holding in a subsidiary to ease conflicts of interest. The main TAIEX share index jumped 24.0
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
New Zealand shares drop

New Zealand shares drop

New Zealand shares closed 0.93 percent lower Monday following falls in some leading stocks during thin trade, dealers said. The benchmark NZX-50 index fell 29.19 points to 3,098.80 on turnover worth 73.8 million dollars (53.3 million US). There were 53 fa
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Dubai to pay debt with $10 billion aid from Abu Dhabi

Dubai to pay debt with $10 billion aid from Abu Dhabi

The Dubai government said it will pay 4.1 billion dollars to cover Islamic bonds issued by its Nakheel property developer which mature Monday after receiving 10 billion dollars from oil-rich Abu Dhabi. The Dubai stock market surged over 10 percent as it a
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Dubai to pay debt with $10 billion aid from Abu Dhabi

Dubai to pay debt with $10 billion aid from Abu Dhabi

The Dubai government said it will pay 4.1 billion dollars to cover Islamic bonds issued by its Nakheel property developer which mature Monday after receiving 10 billion dollars from oil-rich Abu Dhabi. The Dubai stock market surged over 10 percent as it a
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Australian stocks up

Australian stocks up

Australian share prices finished 0.41 percent higher Monday on a late boost after Abu Dhabi stepped in to shore up the struggling Dubai World conglomerate, dealers said. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index added 18.8 points to close at 4,654.0, while the broa
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Indian shares ease

Indian shares ease

Indian shares eased 0.1 percent on Monday, with banks leading the losses as rising inflation sparked fears the central bank may withdraw more liquidity support soon and raise rates early next year. Investors were, however, comforted after Abu Dhabi bailed
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Thai shares rise

Thai shares rise

Thai stocks gained 0.87 percent Monday due to Abu Dhabi's 10 billion dollar bailout for troubled Dubai and recent positive economic data in the United States, an analyst said. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index added 6.10 points to close
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Seoul shares surge

Seoul shares surge

Seoul shares reversed earlier losses to end up 0.5 percent on Monday after news of Dubai's bailout by Abu Dhabi, which boosted sentiment towards construction issues including Samsung C&T. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) ended up 0.47 percent
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Singapore shares steady

Singapore shares steady

Singapore shares closed steady Monday in muted trading as investors wind down ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays, dealers said. The blue chip Straits Times Index (STI) dropped 1.21 points or 0.04 percent to 2,799.54. Volume totalled 1.20 billion
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Philippines shares gain

Philippines shares gain

Philippines share prices closed 0.36 percent higher Monday on light trading with no major developments to drive the market, dealers said. The composite index gained 10.97 points to 3,042.10 while the all-shares index gained 0.59 percent to 1,894.16. Volum
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Malaysian shares higher

Malaysian shares higher

Malaysian shares closed up 0.43 percent Monday, in line with regional markets, as investors were boosted by a 10 billion dollar bailout for Dubai from oil-rich Abu Dhabi, dealers said. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index gained 5.45 points to close at 1,265.
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Tokyo stocks end flat

Tokyo stocks end flat

Japan's Nikkei average trimmed earlier losses and ended flat on Monday after Dubai said it had received $10 billion from fellow UAE member Abu Dhabi, easing fears of a potential debt default that had rattled global markets. Kajima Corp and other construct
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Swiss franc retreats

Swiss franc retreats

The Swiss franc was trading at its weakest level in four weeks against the euro and was still within reach of 2-1/2-month lows against the dollar with an improved economic outlook lifting the greenback across the board. The franc could find guidance in Sw
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Australian dollar off lows

Australian dollar off lows

The Australian dollar reclaimed ground above 91 US cents on Monday after demand for higher-yielding currencies got a boost from news that Dubai World had averted a possible debt default. Dubai said on Monday it had received $10 billion from fellow United
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Yen falls, euro gains

Yen falls, euro gains

The yen fell sharply and the euro rose on the dollar after news that Dubai had averted a possible debt default, encouraging investors to rush back into riskier and higher-yielding currencies. Dubai said it had received $10 billion from Abu Dhabi to help i
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Bangladesh interbank forex, interest rates

Bangladesh interbank forex, interest rates

Interbank buy/sell rates for the taka against the dollar on Monday. 69.20/69.20 (previous 69.20/69.20). Call Money Rates: 3.25-8.00 percent (previous 3.50-8.50 percent).
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Taiwan dollar weakens

Taiwan dollar weakens

The Taiwan dollar eased on Monday in thin trade from a one-week closing high in the previous session as the island's central bank sold the currency, paring earlier gains, dealers said. Friday's final price of T$32.278 to the US dollar was the strongest cl
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Asian currencies: won and baht up

Asian currencies: won and baht up

The South Korean won and the Thai baht were lifted by news Dubai received a $10 billion bailout from fellow UAE member Abu Dhabi, while most Asian stocks rallied on improved risk appetite. The won rebounded sharply, gaining 0.7 percent against the dollar
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Yuan volatilities fall

Yuan volatilities fall

Benchmark offshore dollar/yuan volatilities hit a four-month low on Monday as the market expected China's central bank to retain its stable yuan policy in the near term and the dollar held strong against a basket of major currencies. Benchmark one-year do
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
India's local rice buys up three percent

India's local rice buys up three percent

Rice purchases by India rose 3 percent to 13.4 million tonnes from October 1, when the new marketing year began, on aggressive buying by agencies in the northern states of Punjab and Haryana, government officials said. Higher state purchases will boost go
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Saudi sees progress in Africa farmland investments

Saudi sees progress in Africa farmland investments

Major oil exporter Saudi Arabia sees progress in talks with various African countries to invest into farmland as part of a food security plan, a government minister said on Sunday. Food security has topped the policy agenda in the Gulf Arab region followi
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Snow to disrupt US corn harvest; weather favourable for wheat

Snow to disrupt US corn harvest; weather favourable for wheat

A blanket of snow will continue to prevent farmers in the US Midwest from harvesting the corn crop, while the weather this week is expected to be favourable for wheat in the Plains, a forecaster said on Monday.
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Russia grain prices change little

Russia grain prices change little

Russian grain prices changed little last week, as prices for different cereals moved in opposite directions and analysts were divided on Monday about their movement. SovEcon agricultural analysts estimated Russian wheat prices with 11.5 percent protein co
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Activity at Karachi and Qasim ports

Activity at Karachi and Qasim ports

The Karachi Port handled 171,674 tonnes of cargo including 98,017 tonnes of import, 73,657 tonnes of export cargo and 2,825 loaded and empty containers (TEUs) during last 48 hours ended at 0700 hours on Monday. The total import cargo of 98,017 tonnes, com
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Ivorian cocoa arrivals seen at 474,000 tonnes

Ivorian cocoa arrivals seen at 474,000 tonnes

Cocoa arrivals at ports in top grower Ivory Coast reached around 474,000 tonnes of beans by December 13, exporters estimated on Monday, compared with 383,960 tonnes in the same period of the previous season. Arrivals for the year so far are 23 percent abo
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Bulgarian referees suspended over mistakes

Bulgarian referees suspended over mistakes

Bulgaria's Football Union (BFU) announced Monday it had dissolved its referees' committee and suspended eight referees indefinitely for poor decision-making in two weekend matches. "The seven-member referees' committeee, a management body that appoints re
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Over half a million World Cup ticket requests in third sales phase

Over half a million World Cup ticket requests in third sales phase

The first 10 days of the third ticketing sales phase for the 2010 World Cup has seen the number of tickets applied for hit the 500,000 mark, FIFA revealed Monday. According to football's ruling body, 386,300 of those tickets were requested by South Africa
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
England bowlers turn down IPL chance

England bowlers turn down IPL chance

England fast bowlers Stuart Broad and James Anderson will not play in next year's Indian Premier League, British media revealed on Monday. The seamers were in line for exciting opportunities in the cash-laden climes of the IPL but will instead turn their
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Former judo star jailed

Former judo star jailed

A former Olympic judo star from Barbados was jailed for at least nine years Monday for his role as an enforcer in major drug gang in Britain. James Waithe worked as an aggressive debt-collector for the gang, which made up to one million pounds (1.6 millio
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Woods' future cloudy as wife buys new home in Sweden

Woods' future cloudy as wife buys new home in Sweden

Gloom increased around scandal-tainted golf legend Tiger Woods on Monday after it was announced that his wife bought a new home in Sweden and more corporate sponsors severed ties. Woods announced Friday he was taking an indefinite break from golf after ad
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Intikhab rejects reports of his sacking

Intikhab rejects reports of his sacking

Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam Monday rubbished reports of hissacking and being replaced by newly appointed bowling and fielding coach Waqar Younis. Intikhab, a former Pakistan captain who took over as coach last year, said he instead is focussing o
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Pakistan take lead in deciding Test

Pakistan take lead in deciding Test

At end of rain and bad-light hit fourth day's play in third cricket Test on Monday, Pakistan erased a deficit and take 99-run lead while New Zealand managed to take four wickets. Pakistan were 347 for four by the end of the day's play. After early loss of
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Former Juventus director Giraudo given jail term for match-fixing

Former Juventus director Giraudo given jail term for match-fixing

Former Juventus director Antonio Giraudo has been sentenced to three years in prison for his role in Italy's 2006 soccer match-fixing scandal. Giraudo, already banned from football by a 2006 sports tribunal, has been found guilty of sporting fraud and con
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
India shifts venue of Sri Lanka one-dayer

India shifts venue of Sri Lanka one-dayer

India's cricket chiefs on Monday changed the venue of the second one-day international against Sri Lanka due to political tension in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam. The match will now take place on Friday in Nagpur, which had hosted a Twenty20 internat
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Logo and slogan of Euro 2012 unveiled

Logo and slogan of Euro 2012 unveiled

The logo and slogan for the Euro 2012 football championships, which Ukraine is co-hosting with Poland, was unveiled in a special ceremony in Kiev Monday attended by UEFA president Michel Platini. Ukrainian Football Union (FFU) head Grigoriy Surkis and Grz
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
SEA Games: Singapore swim kings, Laos footballers lose

SEA Games: Singapore swim kings, Laos footballers lose

Host nation Laos crashed out of the Southeast Asian Games football competition to Malaysia Monday as Singapore confirmed their status as kings of the swimming pool. Elsewhere in capital Vientiane, 2007 table-toppers Thailand won four golds in track and fi
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
New NASA satellite blasts off

New NASA satellite blasts off

NASA launched Monday a new breed of satellite called WISE on a mission to orbit Earth and map the skies to find elusive cosmic objects, including potentially dangerous asteroids. The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) will use infrared rays to map
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
France seeks foreign cash to grow nuclear sector

France seeks foreign cash to grow nuclear sector

France pledged 1 billion euros ($1.5 billion) to support next generation reactor design and said it would seek foreign capital to back its move to the forefront of nuclear energy expansion. The investment is part of a 35 billion-euro spending plan French
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Natural disasters at decade low in 2009: UN

Natural disasters at decade low in 2009: UN

The world this year suffered the fewest number of natural disasters in a decade, but floods, droughts and other extreme weather continued to account for most of the deaths and economic losses, according to a United Nations report released on Monday. There
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Erdogan calls for unity after Kurdish party ban

Erdogan calls for unity after Kurdish party ban

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Monday called for national unity after a court ruling banning a main Kurdish party sparked violent clashes and plunged the EU candidate into political uncertainty. Turkey's Constitutional Court on Friday ruled in f
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
US Supreme Court rejects Guantanamo torture case

US Supreme Court rejects Guantanamo torture case

The US Supreme Court said on Monday that it rejected an appeal by four former Guantanamo Bay prisoners arguing that they should be able to proceed with their lawsuit against top Pentagon officials for torture and religious abuse. The justices refused to r
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Steps from Eiffel Tower sell for 85,000 euros

Steps from Eiffel Tower sell for 85,000 euros

A piece of a staircase from the Eiffel Tower sold at auction for 85,000 euros (124,000 dollars) in Paris on Monday. The 7.8-metre chunk of the tower's spiral staircase, containing 40 steps, was part of a larger piece removed from the tower in 1983.
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
World power meeting on Iran cancelled

World power meeting on Iran cancelled

An upcoming meeting by five world powers on trying to curb Iran's nuclear programme has been cancelled on China's request, senior officials from three of the countries involved said Monday. One of the officials said China cited scheduling problems in aski
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Chavez rejects Clinton's 'threats' on Iran ties

Chavez rejects Clinton's 'threats' on Iran ties

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez rejected late on Sunday the top US diplomat's "threats" on the consequences of Latin American ties with Iran, blasting Hillary Clinton's remarks as an "imperial offensive." "Mrs Clinton's statements (are) like a threat abo
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Saudi Arabia, Canada worst ranked in Climate Protection Index

Saudi Arabia, Canada worst ranked in Climate Protection Index

Saudi Arabia and Canada did the least this year to cut their greenhouse gas emissions and fight global warming, two European pressure groups said in a report Monday. In its fifth annual Climate Protection Index, the Climate Action Network and Germa-nwatch
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Cambodia frees convicted Thai spy

Cambodia frees convicted Thai spy

Cambodia released from jail Monday a Thai man convicted and then pardoned for spying on Thailand's fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. The release of Siwarak Chothipong came as Thaksin paid a visit to Cambodia that could reignite diplomatic tensio
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Sebastian Pinera beats leftists in Chile, now faces runoff

Sebastian Pinera beats leftists in Chile, now faces runoff

Right-wing billionaire Sebastian Pinera beat three leftists in Sunday's presidential election but failed to obtain a majority, setting up a runoff against a veteran of the coalition that has ruled Chile for two decades of democracy. The Harvard-educated P
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Hamas Prime Minister vows to 'liberate Palestine' at mass Gaza rally

Hamas Prime Minister vows to 'liberate Palestine' at mass Gaza rally

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya on Monday told tens of thousands of Hamas supporters his group remains committed to the elimination of Israel, on the 22nd anniversary of its founding. "We will never give up on Palestine from the river to the sea," Hani
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
US launches space-mapping satellite WISE

US launches space-mapping satellite WISE

NASA on Monday launched its Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) satellite on a mission to orbit Earth and scan the sky in infrared light to photograph the glow of hundreds of millions of objects. The launch, which had been delayed from Friday after
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Journalist gets life sentence over Rwanda genocide

Journalist gets life sentence over Rwanda genocide

A former journalist was sentenced to life in prison for her role in inciting genocide in Rwanda, local groups said Monday, in the latest of a series of trials for the 1994 slaughter. Valerie Bemeriki, who worked for the influential Milles Collines (RTLM)
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Obama gives himself B+ for first months in office

Obama gives himself B+ for first months in office

US President Barack Obama, in remarks aired late Sunday, awarded himself a B plus for his first 11 months in office, stressing in an interview with talk show queen Oprah Winfrey that there was still much to be done. "A good solid B plus," Obama said durin
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Sunshine speeded 1940s Swiss glacier melt

Sunshine speeded 1940s Swiss glacier melt

A surge in sunshine more than 60 years ago helped Swiss Alpine glaciers melt faster than today, even though higher average temperatures are being recorded now with global warming, Swiss researchers said Monday. Their study into the impact of solar radiati
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Dollar slips in London

Dollar slips in London

The dollar slipped on Monday after Dubai's announcement it had received help from Abu Dhabi to repay its debts bolstered risk appetite and eroded some of the US currency's safe-haven appeal. The currency market's bent to sell dollars on improved risk appe
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Sterling up

Sterling up

Sterling strengthened a bit against the dollar but was little changed against the euro on Monday, struggling to carve out a clear path amid the news that Dubai averted a possible debt default. There were no UK economic data reports to give the pound direc
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Indian rupee weakens

Indian rupee weakens

The Indian rupee weakened on Monday in tandem with losses in other regional peers and expectations for a lower start to domestic shares. Concerns about accelerating inflation also weighed. At 9:40 am (0410 GMT), the partially convertible rupee was at 46.7
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Euro rates edge down

Euro rates edge down

The interbank cost of borrowing dollars and euros held near record lows on Monday as the market prepared for a US policy decision and the final chance to get cheap one-year money from the ECB. Three-month euro Libor rates edged lower ahead of this week's
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Dubai stocks surges 10.37 percent

Dubai stocks surges 10.37 percent

Dubai share prices surged by more than 10 percent on Monday boosted by Abu Dhabi's surprise decision to bail out the Dubai government with a 10-billion-dollar handout. Bullish sentiment on the Dubai Financial Market, which closed 10.37 percent up at 1,871
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Monday's midday trade: Wall Street gains

Monday's midday trade: Wall Street gains

US stocks advanced on Monday on relief that Abu Dhabi's $10 billion in aid would help neighbouring Dubai avoid default, and a take-over deal by oil and gas giant Exxon Mobil Corp fed optimism about the increase in mergers and acquisitions. Citigroup Inc's
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
European CDS tighten

European CDS tighten

European corporate credit defaults swap spreads were tighter on Monday as relief at Abu Dhabi's rescue of Dubai World swept through the market. By 1612 GMT, the investment-grade Markit iTraxx Europe index was at 79.75 basis points, according to data from
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
European CDS tighten

European CDS tighten

European corporate credit defaults swap spreads were tighter on Monday as relief at Abu Dhabi's rescue of Dubai World swept through the market. By 1612 GMT, the investment-grade Markit iTraxx Europe index was at 79.75 basis points, according to data from
Published 15 Dec, 2009 12:00am
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