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Print - 2010-01-15
Dubai seeks private sector help on 1,500 megawatts plant

Dubai seeks private sector help on 1,500 megawatts plant

Dubai's government utility has taken the initial step toward ordering its first privately-operated power and water plant as it looks to cut costs, the utility's chief executive said on Wednesday. The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has issued
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Romanian finance minister says 100,000 public jobs to go

Romanian finance minister says 100,000 public jobs to go

Romania's finance minister said Thursday that 100,000 jobs in the public sector will be cut as recession-mired Romania makes budget cuts to meet the requirements of its bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund. Sebastian Vladescu made the announc
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Fitch warns China over 'unsustainable' credit boom

Fitch warns China over 'unsustainable' credit boom

Fitch Ratings on Thursday warned China's credit boom was "unsustainable", adding that stimulus spending in response to the global financial crisis risked creating serious financial distress. However, the ratings agency affirmed its sovereign credit rating
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Asian bond spreads narrow

Asian bond spreads narrow

Asian bond spreads narrowed on Thursday as worries eased that other central banks in the region would follow China's lead and tighten liquidity, while Indonesia's recently issued debt remained well supported. The Asia ex-Japan iTraxx investment-grade inde
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Asian bond spreads narrow

Asian bond spreads narrow

Asian bond spreads narrowed on Thursday as worries eased that other central banks in the region would follow China's lead and tighten liquidity, while Indonesia's recently issued debt remained well supported. The Asia ex-Japan iTraxx investment-grade inde
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
China stocks recover, Hong Kong market slips

China stocks recover, Hong Kong market slips

China's key stock index ended 1.35 percent higher on Thursday, with banks and property stocks firmer a day after the market sank more than 3 percent following Beijing's surprise monetary tightening. The Shanghai Composite Index ended up 42.892 points at 3
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Technology, financials lift Wall Street

Technology, financials lift Wall Street

US stocks rose on Wednesday as investors bet on recently weakened technology and financial shares ahead of earnings from bellwethers Intel Corp and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co, taking the Dow industrials to a fresh 15-month high. A brokerage upgrade of drugmak
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
US bonds slip

US bonds slip

US Treasury prices fell on Wednesday as a renewed appetite for stocks and other risky assets curbed demand for government bonds while an auction of 10-year notes enticed some investors. Wall Street rebounded on encouraging company earnings results and a m
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
US bonds slip

US bonds slip

US Treasury prices fell on Wednesday as a renewed appetite for stocks and other risky assets curbed demand for government bonds while an auction of 10-year notes enticed some investors. Wall Street rebounded on encouraging company earnings results and a m
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Seoul shares up

Seoul shares up

Seoul shares rose on Thursday, fuelled by rises in technology issues such as Samsung Electronics ahead of Intel Corp results in the United States, while POSCO slipped ahead of its quarterly results. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) finished u
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Taiwan stocks up

Taiwan stocks up

Taiwan stocks closed 1.14 percent higher on Thursday, as Acer hit a 10-year closing high after IDC said the company's market share rose in the fourth quarter of last year. The main TAIEX share index rose 93.42 points to 8,289.98. Turnover rose to T$146 bi
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Nikkei hits 15-month closing high

Nikkei hits 15-month closing high

The Nikkei average booked its highest close in 15 months on Thursday, buoyed by tech firms such as Panasonic Corp on hopes the upcoming US earnings season will show a rebound in a key market for Japanese manufacturers. Mizuho Financial Group rose after Bl
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
JGB futures fall

JGB futures fall

Japanese government bond futures fell on Thursday, with two consecutive days of gains halted by Tokyo stocks rising to a 15-month high and weaker US Treasuries. The yield curve flattened as superlong JGBs bucked the trend by climbing following a well-rece
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
JGB futures fall

JGB futures fall

Japanese government bond futures fell on Thursday, with two consecutive days of gains halted by Tokyo stocks rising to a 15-month high and weaker US Treasuries. The yield curve flattened as superlong JGBs bucked the trend by climbing following a well-rece
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Yuan ends flat

Yuan ends flat

The yuan ended little changed against the dollar on Thursday, holding steady before what is expected to be an upbeat report on Chinese 2009 economic growth next Thursday. The National Bureau of Statistics said China will announce on January 21 its gross d
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Yen falls

Yen falls

The yen fell broadly on Thursday after a solid Australian employment report boosted risk appetite, encouraging investors to pick up higher-yielding currencies. The Australian dollar jumped after government data showed net employment increased in December
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
High yield commodity bloc units rally

High yield commodity bloc units rally

High-yielding currencies rallied on Wednesday, reversing losses in the prior session, as investors concluded China's unexpected monetary policy tightening would not derail the world's third-largest economy. Commodity-linked currencies such as the Australi
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Hong Kong dollar eases

Hong Kong dollar eases

The Hong Kong dollar weakened against the US dollar on Thursday with UK and US banks buying US dollars, traders said. China's move this week to raise bank reserve requirements continued to put pressure on the Hong Kong currency as tighter Chinese monetary
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Australian dollar climbs

Australian dollar climbs

The Australian dollar rose smartly against all major currencies on Thursday after stunning jobs data boosted bets on an almost certain chance of an interest rate rise in February. Bill and bond futures skidded after a labour report showed 35,200 jobs were
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Asian currencies up

Asian currencies up

The South Korean won and Philippine peso led Asian currencies higher on Thursday as investors' risk appetite rose on the back of favourable Australian jobs data while concerns about China's policy tightening receded. The yen dipped broadly after data show
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Swiss franc mixed

Swiss franc mixed

The Swiss franc dipped against the euro on Thursday but remained close to its highest level since March 2009, and firmed against the dollar as investors awaited December producer and import prices due out on Friday. Analysts say Switzerland's comparativel
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Political battle deepens over new: EU Commission

Political battle deepens over new: EU Commission

Socialists in the European Parliament increased pressure on Bulgaria on Thursday to change its candidate for the European Commission, raising the risk of further delay in installing the new EU executive. Centre-right members of parliament flexed their mus
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Dubai says 'fully prepared' to host UN headquarters

Dubai says 'fully prepared' to host UN headquarters

The Gulf emirate of Dubai said on Thursday that it is "fully prepared" to host the United Nations headquarters, an idea floated by US magazine Forbes. "Dubai is fully prepared to host the UN's headquarters on its soil if UN officials decide to move the he
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Row over use of word 'Allah': Malaysian Catholics' lawyers offices hit

Row over use of word 'Allah': Malaysian Catholics' lawyers offices hit

Malaysia's Catholic Church said Thursday its lawyers' offices had been burgled and ransacked in the latest of a spate of attacks triggered by a row over the use of the word "Allah". Police said a church in southern Johor state was also attacked, bringing
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Yemen seeks $4 billion a year in aid

Yemen seeks $4 billion a year in aid

Yemen, facing a daunting array of security and economic problems, needs about $2 billion a year in aid to stay afloat and double that to turn its economy around, Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi said on Thursday. "I am not an economist, but I think one i
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Yemen in war with al Qaeda, urges citizens to help

Yemen in war with al Qaeda, urges citizens to help

Yemen on Thursday declared open war on al Qaeda and warned its citizens against aiding the global militant group, but Islamist clerics threatened jihad if foreign military forces intervene. Yemen has come under pressure to act against al Qaeda since attac
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Roman Catholics plead for Middle East peace

Roman Catholics plead for Middle East peace

Roman Catholic bishops gathered in Jerusalem on Thursday pleaded for a "just resolution" of the Middle East conflict, with Palestinians getting a viable own state and Israel enjoying security. "For us, this is not merely about politics, it is an issue of
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
World's biggest agricultural fair opens with protests

World's biggest agricultural fair opens with protests

The world's largest agricultural fair, Berlin's "Green Week", kicked off Thursday with Greenpeace activists heckling the German agriculture minister, calling for a ban on genetically modified potatoes. The fair, now in its 75th year, is expected to attrac
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Iran frees 'mournful mothers', opposition figures

Iran frees 'mournful mothers', opposition figures

Iran has released 30 so-called "mournful mothers" who were arrested for protesting the death or disappearance of their children in post-election unrest, an opposition website reported Thursday. The authorities also released an aide to former reformist pre
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Hindu party wants Commonwealth beef ban

Hindu party wants Commonwealth beef ban

India's leading opposition party wants a ban on beef at the Commonwealth Games later this year to strengthen the country's "cultural values and age-old traditions". Rajnath Singh, a former president and senior member of the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Jan
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
China defends censorship after Google threat

China defends censorship after Google threat

China defended its extensive censorship and brushed aside hacking claims on Thursday, telling companies not to buck state control of the Internet after US search giant Google threatened to quit the country. The Google dispute could stoke tensions between
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
China sending lower level representative to six-power meet on Iran: US

China sending lower level representative to six-power meet on Iran: US

China will send a lower level representative to a meeting Saturday of six world powers in Iran's nuclear program, a State Department spokesman said Thursday. "We are aware that the representation will be below the level of political director," State Depar
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Chinese home appliances will sell cheap in Venezuela

Chinese home appliances will sell cheap in Venezuela

A shipment of Chinese home appliances will be sold cheaply in Venezuelan government stores to stop speculation by retailers after the country's currency was devalued last week, President Hugo Chavez said Wednesday. "A boat is coming from China. It brings
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Struggling Younus returns to ODI squad

Struggling Younus returns to ODI squad

Pakistan named struggling former captain Younus Khan in their 17-man squad for the five-match one-day series in Australia despite his poor form. "Younus is a big-match player and his performance in the domestic matches are not a yardstick for his selectio
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Maradona's earring auctioned for 25,000 euros

Maradona's earring auctioned for 25,000 euros

The earring that was confiscated from Diego Maradona as part payment of his tax arrears in Italy has been sold to an anonymous woman at auction for 25,000 euros, a spokesman for the agency organising the sale said on Thursday. The piece of jewellery was t
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Serena, Elena reach Sydney final

Serena, Elena reach Sydney final

Serena Williams survived a scare from France's Aravane Rezai on Thursday before booking her spot in the Sydney International final against Russian Elena Dementieva. The Australian Open champion was teetering on the brink of defeat after losing the first s
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
U-19 World Cup squad: five cricketers discovered through Hunt for Heroes

U-19 World Cup squad: five cricketers discovered through Hunt for Heroes

Mobilink, Pakistan's market leader in cellular services and part of Orascom Telecom holdings wishes all the best to the Pakistan Under-19 squad for the upcoming ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand. Mobilink feels greatly honoured to have discovered and
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Barcelona lose Kings Cup crown

Barcelona lose Kings Cup crown

Barcelona lost the first of the three titles they won in an extraordinary 2008/09 season on Wednesday as despite beating Sevilla 1-0 they went out of the Kings Cup on the away goal rule when the last 16 tie finished 2-2 on aggregate.
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Parliament urges PCB purge

Parliament urges PCB purge

Pakistan's parliament has recommended the president fire the top hierarchy of the country's cricket board, including team coach Intikhab Alam. Jamshed Dasti, the chairman of the lower house's standing committee on sports, made the recommendation Thursday,
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Ponting makes Pakistan pay for fielding errors

Ponting makes Pakistan pay for fielding errors

Australia captain Ricky Ponting made Pakistan pay dearly for their mistakes in the field as he brought up only his second Test century on his home ground to guide his team out of early trouble on opening day of third cricket Test at Bellerive Oval. After
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
South Africa dominate opening day versus England

South Africa dominate opening day versus England

South Africa dominated the first day of the fourth and final Test against England at the Wanderers Stadium on Thursday, bowling out their opponents for 180 and reaching 29 for no wicket in tricky batting conditions. England captain Andrew Strauss won the
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Abbas says will reject US pressure for talks

Abbas says will reject US pressure for talks

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he will resist renewed US pressure to resume peace talks unless Israel first fully halts settlement building in the occupied West Bank. Abbas's remarks to Egypt's Voice of the Arabs radio appeared to pour cold wate
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Stampede kills seven at Indian festival

Stampede kills seven at Indian festival

Seven Hindu pilgrims were killed Thursday in a stampede at a religious festival on the river Ganges in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, a senior police official said. The crush happened as hundreds of devotees rushed for places on a ferry to take
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Six hanged in Sudan for deadly 2005 riots

Six hanged in Sudan for deadly 2005 riots

Six people were hanged in Sudan's capital on Thursday for their role in deadly clashes in 2005 between police and residents of a camp for the displaced, the official news agency SUNA reported. The clashes broke out in May 2005, a few months after the end
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Piracy attacks at six-year high in 2009

Piracy attacks at six-year high in 2009

Pirate attacks around the world hit their highest level last year since 2003, with Somali gangs accounting for more than half the incidents and a growing worry, a maritime watchdog said on Thursday. Somali pirates have stepped up attacks in recent months
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Ahmadinejad sees 'Zionist style' in bombing

Ahmadinejad sees 'Zionist style' in bombing

This week's assassination of an Iranian scientist was carried out in a "Zionist style", President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday, in his first direct comment on the bombing attack in Tehran. Iranian officials and media have blamed both Israel, which
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Germany and Japan pledge joint efforts on climate, disarmament

Germany and Japan pledge joint efforts on climate, disarmament

Japan and Germany agreed Thursday to work together on climate change, nuclear disarmament and rebuilding Afghanistan during a Tokyo visit by Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle. Germany's top diplomat, who is also deputy chancellor, met Japan's Prime Minis
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
US and Russia 'on the verge' of nuclear treaty: Burns

US and Russia 'on the verge' of nuclear treaty: Burns

The United States and Russia are "on the verge" of a new nuclear disarmament treaty after months of talks, US Under Secretary of State William Burns said in comments released on Thursday. "We're on the verge of completing the agreement and. I'm optimistic
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
US to take over main role in southern Afghanistan

US to take over main role in southern Afghanistan

United States forces are to take over the main role in southern Afghanistan from the British in a shake-up of the region's command structure, a newspaper reported Thursday. The arrangement for the vast area known as Regional Command South is to change fol
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Afghan market suicide bombing kills 20

Afghan market suicide bombing kills 20

A suicide bomber targeted a crowded market in a restive district of southern Afghanistan on Thursday, killing up to 20 civilians in the deadliest attack in four months. The bombing in the Dihrawud district of Uruzgan province comes as attacks by the hard-
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Iraq sentences 11 men to death

Iraq sentences 11 men to death

An Iraqi court Thursday sentenced to death 11 men, including al Qaeda militants, over devastating truck bombs in Baghdad that killed more than 100 people in August and dealt a harsh blow to the government. The trial was the first to convict suspects arres
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Fifteen killed as bombs hit Najaf

Fifteen killed as bombs hit Najaf

Fifteen people were killed and 25 wounded in three bomb attacks in the Shia Muslim shrine city of Najaf on Thursday, an Iraqi interior ministry official told AFP. A car bomb exploded near a mosque and two other bombs blew up in a retail market in the city
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Sri Lankan government helped India's ruling party in election

Sri Lankan government helped India's ruling party in election

Sri Lanka stopped using heavy weapons against Tamil Tiger rebels to help the re-election bid of neighbouring India's ruling party, a top official in Colombo said Thursday. Lalith Weeratunga, senior aide to President Mahinda Rajapakse, said New Delhi reque
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Nigeria court ruling over vice President powers sparks confusion

Nigeria court ruling over vice President powers sparks confusion

A Nigerian federal court ruling allowing Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to assume executive presidential powers has sparked more uncertainty over who is in charge of Africa's most populous nation. Judge Daniel Abutu on Wednesday said Jonathan can perfor
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
South Korea signs deal to build nuclear reactor in Jordan

South Korea signs deal to build nuclear reactor in Jordan

South Korea has agreed to build Jordan's first atomic research reactor, just two weeks after winning a landmark 20.4 billion dollar deal in the United Arab Emirates, officials said Thursday. The contract, estimated at 200 billion won (178 million dollars)
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Chavez calls off Caracas blackouts, sacks minister

Chavez calls off Caracas blackouts, sacks minister

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez called off drastic energy rationing in Caracas after a chaotic first day of staggered blackouts angered his supporters, but the measures will continue across the country. The socialist Chavez asked for the resignation of
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Euro Libor marks new low

Euro Libor marks new low

The interbank cost of borrowing euros marked a fresh low on Thursday as the European Central Bank, as widely expected, kept its key interest rate unchanged at a record low of 1.0 percent. The three-month euro London interbank offered rate was set at 0.631
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Indian rupee shads gains

Indian rupee shads gains

The Indian rupee gave up early gains on Thursday as the dollar strengthened against the yen, and demand for the US currency from refiners offset a second successive day of rise for local shares. The partially convertible rupee ended at 45.62/63 per dollar
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Euro eases in London

Euro eases in London

The euro eased against the dollar on Thursday but was broadly unmoved after the European Central Bank kept policy unchanged as expected, while the yen fell as risk sentiment was buoyed by a robust Australian jobs report. The ECB kept its main interest rat
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Wall Street lead lifts Asian shares

Wall Street lead lifts Asian shares

Renewed optimism over an improving global economic picture helped most Asian shares rise Thursday following a stronger lead from Wall Street, but fears lingered over China's monetary policy. Sentiment was boosted by strong Australian jobs data and Wall St
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Thursday's midday trade: Wall Street struggles after weak data

Thursday's midday trade: Wall Street struggles after weak data

Wall Street traded mixed Thursday as the market positioned for upcoming corporate earnings reports and looked past disappointing data on US retail sales. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 5.97 points (0.06 percent) to 10,686.74 at 1625 GMT, shaking of
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
European CDS indices rangebound

European CDS indices rangebound

European credit indexes retraced an early tightening to trade slightly wider late Thursday morning, ahead of the European Central Bank's latest interest rate decision. By 1113 GMT, the investment-grade Markit iTraxx Europe index was at 71.50 basis points,
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
European CDS indices rangebound

European CDS indices rangebound

European credit indexes retraced an early tightening to trade slightly wider late Thursday morning, ahead of the European Central Bank's latest interest rate decision. By 1113 GMT, the investment-grade Markit iTraxx Europe index was at 71.50 basis points,
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Indian shares stay higher

Indian shares stay higher

Indian shares rose for the second successive day to close 0.4 percent higher on Thursday, tracking gains in global markets, with Reliance Industries and Oil & Natural Gas Corp leading the gainers. Gains were capped as banks declined after India's wholesal
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
European stocks slightly firmer

European stocks slightly firmer

European stock markets closed slightly firmer on Thursday but showed little conviction as investors waited for quarterly results from US chip giant Intel to offer some cheer, dealers said. They said the focus remained on US company results in the hope the
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
FTSE up

FTSE up

Britain's leading share index rose 0.3 percent on Thursday as miners led a broad-based rally, on strong numbers from Rio Tinto, that outpaced weakness in oil and retail stocks. At 1153 GMT, the FTSE 100 was up 18.19 points at 5,491.67 after falling for tw
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
New York sugar hits 29-year peak

New York sugar hits 29-year peak

Raw sugar futures closed higher Wednesday on all-around buying as the market extended its rally, with bullish fundamentals enabling it to take aim at a 29-year hit last week, brokers said. The March raw sugar contract went up 0.68 cent or 2.48 percent to
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Copper rises; nickel stocks hit new record

Copper rises; nickel stocks hit new record

Copper rose on Thursday as concerns receded about potential monetary tightening in China, with investors regaining confidence demand would forge on in the world's top industrial metals consumer. Benchmark copper for three-months delivery on the London Met
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Oil rebounds to near $80 from 2010 low

Oil rebounds to near $80 from 2010 low

Oil rose to near $80 a barrel on Thursday after dipping to a 2010 low the previous day as expectations for rising demand growth in the world's top energy consumer the United States shored up prices. US economic activity was at a low level but is showing s
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Gold slips slightly in European trade

Gold slips slightly in European trade

Gold eased slightly in Europe on Thursday as the dollar firmed a touch against the euro ahead of a European Central Bank policy decision later in the session, denting interest in the metal as an alternative asset. Traders are eyeing a raft of US data due
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
US MIDDAY: sugar, cocoa up

US MIDDAY: sugar, cocoa up

Raw sugar futures on ICE rose early on Thursday and appeared poised to test 29-year peaks soon, while cocoa edged up after positive Q4 European grind data, a key measure of demand. ICE front-month March raw sugar futures rose 0.16 cent or 0.57 percent to
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
US MIDDAY: corn, wheat and soya down

US MIDDAY: corn, wheat and soya down

Chicago Board of Trade grains and soy complex preopening calls at 8:13 am CST (1413 GMT) on Thursday. January contracts to expire at noon CST (1800 GMT) Thursday. Wheat down 3 to 5 cents per bushel. Spillover pressure from the release early this week of b
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
US MIDDAY: gold down, copper rises

US MIDDAY: gold down, copper rises

New York metals futures were indicated on the electronic Globex platform by 8:00 am EST (1300 GMT). COMEX February gold down 40 cents to $1,136.40 an ounce. Range ran from $1,133 to $1,145.60. Spot gold quoted at $1,136.30 an ounce, down from Tuesday's la
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Rs 270 million being spent on livestock in Cholistan

Rs 270 million being spent on livestock in Cholistan

As many as 20 community sheds, 10 mobile dispensaries, 10 milk collection centres and a livestock market will be constructed here in Cholistan at a cost of Rs 270 million. Cholistan Development Authority's Deputy Project Director Ali Raza Abbasi said this
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
DCO takes action against unregistered pharmaceutical companies

DCO takes action against unregistered pharmaceutical companies

District co-ordination Officer (DCO) Saeed Wahlah has directed health officials to prepare a comprehensive list of unregistered pharmaceutical companies and medical stores involved in selling spurious, expired and unwarranted medicines within a week so th
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Agricultural decision making: need to empower rural women stressed

Agricultural decision making: need to empower rural women stressed

It is the need of the hour to establish government-NGO partnership to empower rural women in agricultural decision making and to ensure their participation in extension work, suggested a research. The research titled "women empowerment in agricultural dec
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
IUB supplementary exams

IUB supplementary exams

Supplem-entary Examinations 2009 for masters programme under Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB) will commence from February 11, APP learnt here on Thursday. According to the university spokesman, failed, regular and private students of the University wou
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Sialkot traders' team to call on Zardari today

Sialkot traders' team to call on Zardari today

A delegation of trade bodies, led by President of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Muhammad Ishaq Butt, will call on President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday (January 15) at the Governor House in Lahore. According a press release, issued here o
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
MPs concerned over water shortage in Southern Punjab

MPs concerned over water shortage in Southern Punjab

Members National Assembly and Senate from Southern Punjab have expressed their grave concern over the shortage of water in the area and closure of all canals. PML-N MNA Rana Mehmood-ul-Hassan, PPP MNAs Begum Nasim Chaudhry and Jamshed Khan Dasti and PML-Q
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Civil rights body names January 19 'Free Dr Aafia Day'

Civil rights body names January 19 'Free Dr Aafia Day'

A New York-based Pakistani civil rights organisation has designated January 19 as "Free Dr Aafia Siddiqui Day", and announced to hold a demonstration outside a federal court where the US-trained neuroscientist goes on trial. The Pakistan-USA Freedom Forum
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
BOI delegation's visit to further enhance Pak-Uzbek ties

BOI delegation's visit to further enhance Pak-Uzbek ties

The current visit of the Minister of State and Chairman Board of Investment (BOI) Saleem H. Mandviwalla to Uzbekistan would help further enhance the trade and economic ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. Saleem H. Mandviwalla is currently leading a dele
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
98 percent wheat sowing target achieved despite dry weather

98 percent wheat sowing target achieved despite dry weather

Despite the prevailing dry weather spell, about 98 percent wheat sowing target for the year 2009-10 has been achieved in the country. An official in the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Minfa) told APP here on Thursday that the total area under wheat cul
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Government, TDAP urged to ensure visit of foreign investors to Sialkot

Government, TDAP urged to ensure visit of foreign investors to Sialkot

The local exporter community has urged upon the federal government and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) that the visit of foreign investors and other trade delegations should be ensured to this export-oriented city and hub of cottage industr
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Work on grain market to start in February

Work on grain market to start in February

The construction of new grain market will start in February at a cost of Rs 140 million. District Co-ordination Officer (DCO) Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi said this while talking to newsmen here on Thursday. "The new market will have modern facilities and it will
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Demolition of Makro Saddar

Demolition of Makro Saddar

I have been reading a lot of letters and editorials on the topic of the demolition of Makro's Saddar outlet and it makes me sad to see people can't recognise something worthwhile that has been made available for their convenience. I have been a resident o
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Abandoning Afghanistan

Abandoning Afghanistan

Abandoning Afghanistan would be a big mistake by US and other western powers as has been happened in the past. The world was unintentionally silent when America, UK and Pakistan were providing assistance to the Afghan resistance in the 1980's to eliminate
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Earthquake dashed growing hopes for Haiti's future

Earthquake dashed growing hopes for Haiti's future

The earthquake that ravaged Haiti is the latest, perhaps darkest chapter in the Caribbean nation's long tale of anguish, dashing whatever glimmer of hope had existed that the impoverished country was finally on the right path. After decades of violence an
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Spectre of Afghan drought brings hunger, poppy fears

Spectre of Afghan drought brings hunger, poppy fears

Nearly half way through the Afghan winter, unusually warm and dry weather is raising fears of a drought that could cause food shortages, undermine efforts to slash poppy growing and worsen security problems. Snowfall has been far below historical averages
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Energy crisis deepens

Energy crisis deepens

There is severe load-shedding in the country due to less production of electricity. It seems that the situation is going from bad to worse as load-shedding is to continue for whole of the year. On the other side, there is severe gas load-management due to
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
The 'do more' mantra

The 'do more' mantra

Speaking to the CNN upon their return home from last week's visit to Pakistan, Senators Joe Lieberman and John McCain expressed satisfaction over Pakistan's commitment to the war against terrorists. Lieberman, who is also Chairman of the Senate Committee
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
The way SBP looks at country's economy

The way SBP looks at country's economy

State Bank is optimistic about the country's prospects of returning to macroeconomic stability, with most of the key indicators continuing to show positive trends in the recent months, but there are fault lines, which could hold back the recovery process
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Disqualification of parliamentarians: LHC dismisses petition

Disqualification of parliamentarians: LHC dismisses petition

The Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice here Thursday dismissed a petition seeking disqualification of parliamentarians under the articles 62 & 63 of the Constitution. These articles describe qualification and disqualification for membership of Majlis-e
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Forbes Magazine names Monsanto Company of the Year 2009

Forbes Magazine names Monsanto Company of the Year 2009

Forbes Magazine named Monsanto its Company of the Year for 2009 in its latest issue. The magazine praised Monsanto's economic success and innovative new products. Robert Langreth and Matthew Herper referred to the company as an economic winner in the Forb
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
NBP announces job opportunities

NBP announces job opportunities

The National Bank of Pakistan head office has announced to provide opportunity for employment in clerical and non-clerical cadres for all regular in service employees, retired GHS/VHS option and sons/daughters of the deceased employees who meet the criter
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Three Pakistanis among four killed in Abu Dhabi accident

Three Pakistanis among four killed in Abu Dhabi accident

Four people, at least three from Pakistan, were killed and nine injured when a truck crashed into a cafe at a rest stop near Abu Dhabi, newspapers reported on Thursday. The truck, which was carrying a load of iron bars, smashed into and destroyed the Al-M
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
Patient's death at Services Hospital: nine doctors suspended

Patient's death at Services Hospital: nine doctors suspended

The administration of Services Hospital, in view of the inquiry proceedings into the death of a patient Adnan Saghir who was operated on the night of 9th-10th January, has stopped nine doctors from working in their respective departments/units until the f
Published 15 Jan, 2010 12:00am
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