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Print - 2009-12-30
LME copper hits 16-month peak

LME copper hits 16-month peak

London copper prices rallied almost 3 percent to a 16-month peak on Tuesday after the Christmas break, chasing gains made in Shanghai over the holiday period. Strike votes at two large Chilean copper operations, Codelco's Chuquicamata mine and Xstrata PLC
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
US gold eases in holiday trade

US gold eases in holiday trade

US gold futures turned lower in quiet trade Monday on weak buying sentiment, as bullion investors stayed on the sidelines with European and other major metals markets closed since late last week for Christmas. Gold futures for February delivery down 60 ce
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Gold little changed in Asian subdued trade

Gold little changed in Asian subdued trade

Gold was little changed on Tuesday in light trading as investors were slow to return from the holidays, with European and other major metals markets closed since late last week for Christmas. With the dollar holding firm against other major currencies, an
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Oil hits four-week high above $78 in London

Oil hits four-week high above $78 in London

Oil hit a four-week high above $78 a barrel on Monday as colder weather across the United States and signs of economic recovery helped boost the outlook for fuel demand. Oil has risen more than 12 percent from a dip below $70 two weeks ago on expectations
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
OIL hits five-week high in New York

OIL hits five-week high in New York

Oil rose on Monday to touch a five-week high over $79 a barrel as expectations of colder weather in the United States and signs of economic recovery boosted the outlook for fuel demand. US crude traded up 95 cents from Thursday's close to $79.00 by 11:15
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Oil ends steady below $79

Oil ends steady below $79

Oil held steady below $79 on Tuesday, after hitting a five-week high a day earlier, as the firm dollar offset colder US weather and expectations of a further drawdown in crude inventories. The dollar held firm near a two-month high against the yen as inve
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Malaysian tin soars

Malaysian tin soars

Malaysian tin sharply rose 2.8 percent on Monday reaching a more than 14-month high due to an increase in London Metal Exchange (LME) prices and strong demand from Europe, one trader said.
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Russian grain prices show no clear trend

Russian grain prices show no clear trend

Russian grain prices showed no clear trend last week in quiet trade ahead of the long holiday and stormy weather at key export ports, analysts said. Ordinary milling wheat with bug damage of 1 percent lost around $2 per tonne, declining to an estimated $1
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Manila to buy 586,554 tonnes of rice

Manila to buy 586,554 tonnes of rice

The Philippines, the world's biggest rice importer, said on Tuesday it will buy 586,554.37 tonnes of rice from its last tender this year on December 15, slightly less than the volume it sought to purchase due to high bids. Vietnam's Vinafood 2 secured the
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
China sees excessive first quarter soya supply on big imports

China sees excessive first quarter soya supply on big imports

China is expected to import 12 million tonnes of soyabeans in the first quarter, up 2 million tonnes from the previous quarter, creating a surplus, according to a report by an official grain think-tank. China's soya imports in December was seen to hit a m
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Tokyo rubber futures lower

Tokyo rubber futures lower

Key Tokyo rubber futures inched down on Tuesday, coming under pressure after oil prices reversed their recent gains. The key Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for June delivery stood at 274.8 yen per kg late on Tuesday, down 2 yen or 0.7 percent fr
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
New York sugar hits 29-year high

New York sugar hits 29-year high

Raw sugar futures surged to their highest price in almost 29 years on light investment fund buying spurred by tight supplies, analysts said. The benchmark March raw sugar contract jumped to a new lifetime peak at 27.30 cents per lb, its loftiest level sin
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
China's tight cotton supply drives prices to record high

China's tight cotton supply drives prices to record high

Tight cotton supply in China, the world's largest consumer, after the government sold all of a planned release of its reserves, drove local futures to a record high on Tuesday. Dealers said the supply tightness could worsen because heavy snow in the count
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Malaysian palm oil ends flat

Malaysian palm oil ends flat

Malaysian palm oil futures ended barely changed on Tuesday after earlier gains faded on profit taking and as a firmer US dollar weighed on prices. "Traders were unwilling to take on added risk ahead of the holidays and that kept prices choppy throughout t
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
South Korea to pardon former Samsung chairman

South Korea to pardon former Samsung chairman

South Korea will pardon one of the country's most influential businessmen, former Samsung chairman Le e Kun-hee, for his previous convictions to help its bid to land the Winter Olympics, the justice minister said on Tuesday. "This decision was made so tha
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Europe set for uneven economic recovery: IMF's Belka

Europe set for uneven economic recovery: IMF's Belka

European countries are likely to recover from the economic crisis at varying speeds in 2010 although some will need to move sooner than others to rein in their budget deficits, a senior IMF official said on Monday. Marek Belka, director for the Internatio
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
East Asia to launch FX emergency fund in March

East Asia to launch FX emergency fund in March

East and Southeast Asian countries said on Monday it will launch a $120 billion emergency fund in March, the first such alliance in the region to shield itself from a financial crisis. Under the scheme, known as the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralizati
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
East Asia to launch FX emergency fund in March

East Asia to launch FX emergency fund in March

East and Southeast Asian countries said on Monday it will launch a $120 billion emergency fund in March, the first such alliance in the region to shield itself from a financial crisis. Under the scheme, known as the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralizati
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
China train maker sputters on debut; warning for IPOs

China train maker sputters on debut; warning for IPOs

CNR Corp, one of China's top two train makers, limped in with a lukewarm market debut after its $2 billion IPO in Shanghai, signalling investors' intolerance for high valuations as a flood of new equity awaits next year. CNR opened 4.3 percent above its I
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
India's central bank focusing on managing inflation, growth

India's central bank focusing on managing inflation, growth

India's monetary policy focus is shifting to managing recovery and containing inflation from fostering growth after the global downturn, a deputy governor at the Reserve Bank of India said. Shyamala Gopinath said rising food prices were fuelling concerns
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Russian president bans tax crime suspects' jailing

Russian president bans tax crime suspects' jailing

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a bill banning the jailing of people suspected of tax crimes and has fired another senior prison official following the death in custody of a tax lawyer in November.
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Hong Kong could slip into second recession, leader warns

Hong Kong could slip into second recession, leader warns

Hong Kong could slip into a second recession in 2010, only months after appearing to emerge strongly from the global economic crisis, the territory's leader warned Tuesday.Donald Tsang, speaking in Beijing, said he was "rather pessimistic" and feared the
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
China loan to Kazakhmys boosts ties

China loan to Kazakhmys boosts ties

Kazakh copper producer Kazakhmys has secured a bigger-than-expected $2.7 billion loan from China in a sign of strengthening ties between the two countries, the head of Kazakhstan's state welfare fund said. China has invested $13 billion into the oil-rich
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Nigeria leader signs budget from sickbed: source

Nigeria leader signs budget from sickbed: source

Nigeria's ailing president has signed a supplementary 2009 budget taken to him in Saudi Arabia covering spending in sub-Saharan Africa's second biggest economy until the end of March, a presidency source said on Tuesday. President Umaru Yar'Adua has been
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Putin launches new Pacific oil terminal

Putin launches new Pacific oil terminal

Russia launched on Monday a new Pacific oil terminal that will allow the world's largest energy producer to conquer Asian markets and divert some Siberian crude flows away from Europe. "This is a great New Year present for Russia," Prime Minister Vladimir
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Sri Lanka to cut petrol price ahead of January poll

Sri Lanka to cut petrol price ahead of January poll

Sri Lanka will slash the price of petrol by 11.5 percent with effect from Tuesday midnight, the government said, ahead of a presidential election scheduled on January 26. "The price of a litre of petrol will be reduced by 15 rupees effective midnight toda
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
ING sells stake in Chinese insurer Antai to CCB

ING sells stake in Chinese insurer Antai to CCB

Dutch ING, which is splitting up its bank and insurance arms, will sell its stake in Chinese insurer Antai to China Construction Bank (CCB) as part of its ongoing restructuring programme. ING said on Tuesday it had agreed to sell its 50 percent stake to C
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
India, Japan to ease visa rules for boosting trade

India, Japan to ease visa rules for boosting trade

India and Japan agreed on Tuesday to ease visa rules within a year to boost trade between two of Asia's biggest economies that are also trying to broaden co-operation in defence and nuclear energy. Japan is among India's biggest aid donors and bilateral t
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Opel posts 31 percent gain in German auto sales

Opel posts 31 percent gain in German auto sales

The German car maker Opel, which was rocked this year by industrial uncertainty, said Tuesday that its German sales gained 31 percent in 2009 owing to a government cash-for-clunkers scrapping bonus. Opel said the sale of 339,000 vehicles was its best resu
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Opel posts 31 percent gain in German auto sales

Opel posts 31 percent gain in German auto sales

The German car maker Opel, which was rocked this year by industrial uncertainty, said Tuesday that its German sales gained 31 percent in 2009 owing to a government cash-for-clunkers scrapping bonus. Opel said the sale of 339,000 vehicles was its best resu
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Italy business morale hits 18-month high

Italy business morale hits 18-month high

Italian business confidence jumped more than expected in December to its highest level in 18 months due to a rise in production expectations and an improvement in orders, but economists said the recovery may slow next year. Economic research institute ISA
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Microsoft views China as top search market

Microsoft views China as top search market

China is a vital market for Microsoft's Web search business, as it chases leaders Baidu Inc and Google in the world's biggest Internet market, the world's largest software maker said. Since launching its English-language Bing search site in June, Microsof
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Japan factory output jumps

Japan factory output jumps

Japan's industrial output rose for the ninth consecutive month in November, driven by strong exports and domestic subsidies, but swelling inventories and falling wages threaten to end the longest climb in more than 12 years. Demand from the United States
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
US consumer confidence up, house prices stall

US consumer confidence up, house prices stall

US consumer confidence rose to a three-month high in December, while prices in the hard-hit housing sector stalled in October, breaking a five-month string of gains. The consumer confidence reading released on Tuesday reinforced views that the economy is
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Recovering global economy still scarred by crisis

Recovering global economy still scarred by crisis

The global economy that was headed for an abyss at the start of 2009 now appears to be in recovery, but remains fragile and scarred by the worst crisis in decades. The year began with major economies on the brink of disaster in what turned into the steepe
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
JAL bankruptcy proposed as option to banks

JAL bankruptcy proposed as option to banks

A state-backed turnaround fund may seek to put Japan Airlines Corp through bankruptcy court as part of a restructuring of the struggling carrier, two sources with knowledge of the matter said. JAL applied in October to the Enterprise Turnaround Initiative
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Kuwaiti firm in talks with US to settle fraud case

Kuwaiti firm in talks with US to settle fraud case

A leading Kuwaiti firm indicted for fraud in connection with multi-billion dollar contracts with the American army said Monday it is in talks with US authorities for an out-of-court settlement. "The company is negotiating with the US government for a sett
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Russia to boost efforts curbing speculative capital

Russia to boost efforts curbing speculative capital

Russia will moderately step up efforts to curb speculative capital, while gradually moving its economy to a free float rouble exchange regime, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday. "We need to correct the rules so it is less interesting for specu
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Russia to boost efforts curbing speculative capital

Russia to boost efforts curbing speculative capital

Russia will moderately step up efforts to curb speculative capital, while gradually moving its economy to a free float rouble exchange regime, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday. "We need to correct the rules so it is less interesting for specu
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
China eyes Asean resources from free trade pact

China eyes Asean resources from free trade pact

A free trade agreement between China and its Southeast Asian neighbours, which takes full effect from January 1, will help China fill its urgent need for natural resources, a senior commerce official said on Tuesday. The pact with the Association of South
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Ukraine says Russia agrees to oil transit fee rise

Ukraine says Russia agrees to oil transit fee rise

Ukrainian state energy firm Naftogaz said on Tuesday Russia had agreed to a 30 percent increase in the transit tariff for the oil it transports to Europe in a deal that calmed fears of supply cuts. Russia said on Monday it had agreed terms for a new oil d
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
German state inflation quickens as fuel costs rise

German state inflation quickens as fuel costs rise

Annual inflation accelerated in four German states in December as fuel costs rose strongly, data showed, pointing to firmer price pressures in the broader euro zone. Prices from German states provide the first insight into trends across the euro area, whe
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
China says billions missing from public funds

China says billions missing from public funds

Over 34.4 billion dollars went missing from public funds in China in the first 11 months of 2009, state media said Tuesday, with national auditors highlighting embezzlement, waste and fraud. Over 230 people, including 67 government officials, have been ha
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Dubai takes new steps to clamp down on corruption

Dubai takes new steps to clamp down on corruption

Dubai's ruler announced a new law to combat corruption, with the power to impose prison terms of up to 20 years on offenders as the emirate tightens financial rules in the wake of a debt crisis. The law "comes in line with Dubai's ongoing efforts to eradi
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Seoul shares dip

Seoul shares dip

Seoul shares declined on Tuesday with losses led by Kumho Asiana Group shares including Kumho Tire amid renewed liquidity worries, while the ex-dividend effect dented markets further. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) finished down 0.78 percen
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Thai shares end higher

Thai shares end higher

The Thai stock market rose 1.15 percent on Tuesday in line with regional bourses, an analyst said. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index gained 8.45 points to close at 742.16 points, and the blue chip SET-50 index added 7.27 points to 526.8
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Hong Kong shares finish flat

Hong Kong shares finish flat

Hong Kong shares were largely flat on Tuesday as property stocks recovered from a fall caused by weaker-than-expected bids at a government land auction. The benchmark Hang Seng Index gained 19.22 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at 21,499.44. Turnover was
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Taiwan stocks decline

Taiwan stocks decline

Taiwan stocks closed 0.05 percent lower on Tuesday, dragged down by TSMC and other major technology shares as investors worried that they could be overbought after the market's recent run-up to an 18-month high. The main TAIEX share index closed down 3.66
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Chinese shares slightly firmer

Chinese shares slightly firmer

Chinese shares closed up 0.72 percent on Tuesday following early lows, due to late bargain hunting in banking and commodity stocks, dealers said. The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B shares, was up 22.98 points at 3,211.76 on turnover o
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Wall Street edges up to 2009 highs

Wall Street edges up to 2009 highs

US stocks edged higher for a sixth straight day on Monday as data indicating improved consumer spending lifted shares of retailers, offsetting a drop in airline shares amid security worries. Indexes hit fresh closing highs for 2009, but volume was light i
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Singapore shares make slight gains

Singapore shares make slight gains

Singapore shares closed 0.49 percent higher on Tuesday, boosted by buying in stocks related to the offshore oil and gas sector, dealers said. The blue chip Straits Times Index rose 14.08 points to 2,869.76 on volume of 1.67 billion shares worth 1.11 billi
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
US bonds steady at lower levels

US bonds steady at lower levels

US government debt prices remained at slightly lower levels on Monday following a $44 billion auction of two-year notes. The market for Treasuries was thin, with many regular participants absent during the second of two holiday-shortened weeks to end the
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
US bonds steady at lower levels

US bonds steady at lower levels

US government debt prices remained at slightly lower levels on Monday following a $44 billion auction of two-year notes. The market for Treasuries was thin, with many regular participants absent during the second of two holiday-shortened weeks to end the
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
New Zealand shares rise

New Zealand shares rise

New Zealand share prices closed 0.62 percent higher on Tuesday, but volumes were thin in the first trading day of a holiday-shortened week, dealers said. The benchmark NZX-50 index gained 19.93 points to 3,225.13 on a modest turnover of 15.96 million doll
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Jakarta shares soar

Jakarta shares soar

Indonesian shares closed 0.37 percent higher on Tuesday spurred by gains in commodity-related stocks, dealers said. The Jakarta Composite Index gained 9.30 points to 2,518.99 in light trade. "Healthy foreign buying in most commodity plays drove the main i
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
JGBs edge up

JGBs edge up

Japanese government bonds edged up on Tuesday with futures snapping a four-day decline as the market gained a bit of a breather with a bull run by Tokyo stocks slowing to a crawl. But JGB gains were limited by caution ahead of a 10-year auction next week
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
JGBs edge up

JGBs edge up

Japanese government bonds edged up on Tuesday with futures snapping a four-day decline as the market gained a bit of a breather with a bull run by Tokyo stocks slowing to a crawl. But JGB gains were limited by caution ahead of a 10-year auction next week
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Philippines shares climb

Philippines shares climb

Philippines share prices closed 0.65 percent higher on Tuesday due to year-end window-dressing, but volumes remained thin ahead of a three-day public holiday, dealers said. The composite index gained 19.84 points to 3,052.68 points while the all-shares in
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Malaysian shares soar

Malaysian shares soar

Malaysian shares ended 0.20 percent higher on Tuesday due to what one dealer described as late "window-dressing". The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index gained 2.49 points to 1,275.22. Gainers outnumbered losers 383 to 251. Volumes continued to be thin with 489
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Tokyo stocks eke out four-month closing high

Tokyo stocks eke out four-month closing high

Japan's Nikkei average eked out a four-month closing high on Tuesday, buoyed by trading firms such as Mitsui & Co after gains in oil and metals prices, while automakers also edged up. Japan Airlines fell over 10 percent at one point to a record low after
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
IMM speculators go long dollar for first time since May

IMM speculators go long dollar for first time since May

Speculators ditched bets against the dollar in the latest week and were long the US currency for the first time since May, according to Commodity Futures Trading Commission data released on Monday. The value of the dollar's net long position was around $7
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Yen lower, dollar steady

Yen lower, dollar steady

The yen fell on Monday while the dollar held near recent highs as risk appetite remained robust in holiday-thinned trade as equities and commodities gained ground. Trade was thin around Europe as many market participants were off for the period between Ch
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Dollar holds firm

Dollar holds firm

The dollar held firm near a two-month high against the yen on Tuesday as investors looked ahead to the greenback's direction in the new year after a rally this month. Activity stayed slow with many investors still away although the Australia and UK market
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
US dollar climbs against euro

US dollar climbs against euro

The US dollar rose against the yen and euro in holiday-thinned trading on Monday as investors assessed the outlook for the greenback after a recent rally. Trade was light with many market participants in Europe off between Christmas and the New Year. Mark
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Australian dollar broadly firms

Australian dollar broadly firms

The Australian dollar held broadly firm in thin trade on Tuesday while bond futures slumped to six-month lows as a rout in US Treasuries on some bets for faster economic recovery pressured sovereign debt markets. The Aussie hovered around $0.8877, having
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Most Asian currencies ease on year-end

Most Asian currencies ease on year-end

Most Asian currencies fell on Tuesday, as the US dollar gained on year-end corporate buying and general optimism the US economy may be poised for better growth in 2010. The Philippine peso led the Asian FX losses shedding 0.39 percent from late Monday whi
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
South Korean won ticks down

South Korean won ticks down

The South Korean won ended just a tick down against the dollar in slow trade on Tuesday as traders sat on the sidelines seeking more clarity on the dollar's direction in the new year. Traders also shrugged off central bank data, released before the market
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Swiss franc inches up

Swiss franc inches up

The Swiss franc remained firm against the euro on Tuesday, continuing to trade beyond the central bank's former intervention threshold, while trading firmer against the dollar on Tuesday. On December 18, the franc, which is regarded as a safe-haven curren
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Yuan ends steady

Yuan ends steady

The yuan ended virtually flat against the dollar on Tuesday after the Chinese central bank set a stable yuan mid-point, while dealers said year-end client demand for dollars kept the yuan's exchange rate below the central bank's reference rate. Spot yuan
Published 30 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 Tuesday. 69.23/69.27 (previous 69.25/69.27) Call Money Rates: 3.25-8.00 percent (previous 4.40-7.50 percent).
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Hong Kong dollar falls

Hong Kong dollar falls

The Hong Kong dollar extended losses on Tuesday, undermined by persistent commercial demand for the US dollar and a sluggish stock market. The local currency was quoted at 7.7567 against the US dollar, having earlier hit a session low of 7.7575. Dealers a
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
National Youth Inter-Club Weightlifting Championship kicks off today

National Youth Inter-Club Weightlifting Championship kicks off today

In order to encourage talent for participation in Youth Olympic Games 2010 qualification events, Pakistan Weightlifting Federation in collaboration with IOC Olympic Solidarity and Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) organised a Youth training camp at Punja
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Dangerous pitch threatens Delhi's World Cup venue hopes

Dangerous pitch threatens Delhi's World Cup venue hopes

The Indian capital is in danger of losing its hosting rights for the 2011 World Cup following a scathing report on the Feroz Shah Kotla pitch after a one-day international was abandoned, Indian media reported on Tuesday. The fifth and final one-day intern
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Swann, Broad rip through South African batting

Swann, Broad rip through South African batting

Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad took England to the brink of victory as South Africa collapsed on the fourth day of the second Test at Kingsmead on Tuesday. South Africa, trailing by 232 runs on the first innings, were 76 for six when bad light gave the hom
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Van der Sar on compassionate leave

Van der Sar on compassionate leave

Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has been granted indefinite compassionate leave after his wife suffered a brain haemorrhage, according to manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The 39-year-old former Dutch international, who has been absent since last
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Fabregas focused on success with Arsenal

Fabregas focused on success with Arsenal

Cesc Fabregas is happy at Arsenal and feels he still has much to achieve with the Premier League club once he recovers from a hamstring problem that will keep him out for up to three weeks. The Spain midfielder, who scored twice before limping out of Arse
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Pakistan, India to clash on opening day of hockey World Cup

Pakistan, India to clash on opening day of hockey World Cup

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will face off on the opening day of field hockey's World Cup next year, according to the schedule announced by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Tuesday. India and Pakistan have been drawn together in pool B along
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Pakistan hold out for record chase

Pakistan hold out for record chase

Pakistan stubbornly refused to concede the first Test in the face of a would-be world record run chase, but a steady trickle of wickets ensured the Australians maintained the upper hand entering the final day.
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Pakistan jumps to 156th in FIFA world ranking

Pakistan jumps to 156th in FIFA world ranking

Pakistan has leapt up 21 places within eight months and stood at 156th rank in the latest FIFA World Ranking. Because only around 30 matches were taken into account for the final FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking of the year, there was no change at the top, wi
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Mourinho keen to resume coaching in England

Mourinho keen to resume coaching in England

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he wants to return to England to coach, hinting he could be back with a Premier League club for the start of next season. The Inter Milan boss, who won six trophies with Chelsea from 2004-07 returned to Stamford B
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Henin expects better results on return

Henin expects better results on return

The time away from tennis has helped Justine Henin "grow up" as an individual and the former world number one is confident she is returning to the tour a better player. Seven-times grand slam champion Henin announced her comeback to the women's tour in Se
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
City owner not interested in buying Real Madrid: report

City owner not interested in buying Real Madrid: report

Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan has not made inquiries about trying to buy Real Madrid, according to a source close to the Emirati minister of presidential affairs. The AS sports daily claimed on Sunday that the Abu Dhabi-based bi
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Chelsea back on course after derby delight

Chelsea back on course after derby delight

Chelsea won for only the second time in eight matches to extend their Premier League lead to five points after coming from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 in a dramatic west London derby on Monday. Fulham needed just four minutes to go ahead at Stamford Bridge
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Standoff over US base closure sours US-Japan ties

Standoff over US base closure sours US-Japan ties

When the US took over a Japanese airfield here in the closing days of World War II, it was surrounded by sugarcane fields and the smouldering battlegrounds of Okinawa. It is now the focus of a deepening dispute that is testing Japan's security alliance wi
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Afghan soldier kills US soldier

Afghan soldier kills US soldier

An Afghan soldier killed a US servicemember and wounded two Italian soldiers in a shooting on a military base in western Badghis province, a senior Afghan army official said on Tuesday. "The soldier opened fire on the two Italians and one American in a jo
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
North Korea built plant to make gas for uranium enrichment: report

North Korea built plant to make gas for uranium enrichment: report

North Korea may have constructed a plant to manufacture a gas needed for uranium enrichment in a development that would indicate that Pyongyang had opened a second way to build nuclear weapons as early as the 1990s, The Washington Post reported late Sunda
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
US missile shield holding up nuclear deal: Putin

US missile shield holding up nuclear deal: Putin

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday US plans for a missile defence system were the main obstacle to reaching a new deal on reducing Cold War arsenals of nuclear weapons. The two largest nuclear powers say they are close to agreeing on a
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Thai health minister quits in graft scandal

Thai health minister quits in graft scandal

Thailand's Public Health Minister resigned on Tuesday after being implicated in a corruption scandal over a health care scheme funded under the government's $43 billion economic stimulus package. It was the third ministerial resignation since the governme
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Researchers develop see-through goldfish

Researchers develop see-through goldfish

First came see-through frogs. Now Japanese researchers have succeeded in producing goldfish whose beating hearts can be seen through translucent scales and skin. The transparent creatures are part of efforts to reduce the need for dissections, which have
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Secret files show British Prime Minister hostile to Vietnam boat people

Secret files show British Prime Minister hostile to Vietnam boat people

Margaret Thatcher was unsympathetic to the fate of Vietnamese boat people in 1979, saying it would be "quite wrong" for them to get social housing here ahead of white Britons, secret files showed Wednesday. Thatcher, who became Britain's first female prem
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
China targets political foes after dissident trial

China targets political foes after dissident trial

A senior Chinese police official has vowed "pre-emptive attacks" against threats to Communist Party control, in a speech published days after the nation's most prominent dissident was jailed for criticising the Party. Vice Minister for Public Security Yan
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Somali pirates hijack three more vessels

Somali pirates hijack three more vessels

Somali pirates captured a freighter, a bulk carrier and a chemical tanker in a few days, defying foreign warships in the Gulf of Aden and ending the year with a flurry after collecting millions in ransom. The marauding sea bandits' latest catch was the St
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Key US security agencies lack permanent leaders

Key US security agencies lack permanent leaders

Two federal agencies charged with keeping potential terrorists off airplanes and out of the United States have been without their top leaders for nearly a year. It took the Obama administration more than eight months to nominate anyone to lead the Transpo
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Obama vows to hunt extremists, al Qaeda claims jet attack

Obama vows to hunt extremists, al Qaeda claims jet attack

President Barack Obama has vowed to hunt down extremists wherever they plot attacks against the United States, as al Qaeda said it hatched the attempt to blow up a US-bound airliner on Christmas Day. Obama pledged Monday to "disrupt, to dismantle and defe
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Yemen may harbour up to 300 Qaeda suspects

Yemen may harbour up to 300 Qaeda suspects

Yemen's Foreign Minister Abubakr al Qirbi said on Tuesday there could be up to 300 al Qaeda militants in his country, some of whom may be planning attacks on Western targets. "Of course there are a number of al Qaeda operatives in Yemen and some of their
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Israeli building plan prompts US criticism

Israeli building plan prompts US criticism

Israel announced plans on Monday to build nearly 700 new Jewish homes in areas of the occupied West Bank it considers part of Jerusalem, prompting strong US criticism implying they could undermine peace talks. The United States said it opposed Jewish sett
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
Pro-government rallies reported across Iran

Pro-government rallies reported across Iran

Tens of thousands of government supporters rallied on Tuesday, state media said, and a reformist party called on Iran's rulers to apologise to the nation two days after eight people were killed in anti-government protests. The rallies on Tuesday called fo
Published 30 Dec, 2009 12:00am
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