News Archives for Print - 2010-05-17

Aaj TV - Monday's schedule

All timings are in PST (Pakistan Standard Time).

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Better cities, better life with ICTs

Most of the decision makers during early nineties were valuating their options among Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and other potential solutions, however today it is nearly impossible to imagine life without ICT.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Use of Information: Communication Technologies in uplifting living standards

The International telecommunity celebrates 145th World Telecommunication Day on May 17th, which continues to play an invaluable role in forging partnerships amongst the governments and the private sector to advance the development of Information Communica

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Experts' assembly to help IT industry take a leap into mobile 2.0 World

Rita Wilson once said that awareness is empowering the un-served people; while they say that knowledge is power and power is knowledge. Awareness thus is the key to empowerment of the ignored, abused, unprivileged and poor segments of our society and mass

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

World Telecom Day: PTCL and its contribution to ICT's

While during early nineties most of the decision makers were evaluating their options among ICT and other potential solutions, today it is impossible to imagine life without ICTs.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Message from President and CEO, PTCL

On the occasion of World Telecom and Information Society day, technology driven companies and organisations look beyond their day to day businesses. They find a way to give back something positive to the people and society at large by highlighting issues

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Message from The Minister- In-Charge/Advisor to Prime Minister Of Pakistan On IT and Telecom

It is gratifying to note that the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is being celebrated, under the theme "Better Cities, Better Life with ICTs" in Pakistan as well as across the globe to mark the 145th anniversary of the establishment of

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Message from Secretary Ministry Information Technology

The World Telecommunication and Information Society (WTIS) Day, celebrated on 17th May, is indeed a landmark in the global community's efforts to address the issues related to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)/ Telecommunications world-wid

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Message from Chairman PTA

It is a gratifying fact that this year again Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has joined hands with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) by celebrating World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) in Pakistan. "Better city,

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Message from ITU Secretary-General

This year marks the 145th anniversary of the establishment of ITU. I am proud to be leading this dynamic organisation, the specialised United Nations agency which defines the cutting edge of information and communication technologies or ICTs and is steadf

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Message from Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

In the ecosystem of Information Society, Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) are playing its catalytic role. The importance of ICTs lies in its ability to create greater access to resources in time-critical situations.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Message from President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

The World Telecom and Information Society (WTIS) Day is being observed today on May 17th to mark the 145th anniversary of the establishment of International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

England 2018 World Cup bid rocked

England's hopes of hosting the 2018 World Cup were rocked on Sunday when bid chief David Triesman stood down following a newspaper report in which he appeared to make bribery allegations against rival bidders.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Khan overpowers Malignaggi in US debut

Former British Olympian Amir Khan fashioned a stunning American debut, easily stopping Paulie Malignaggi in the 11th round of a one-sided fight on Saturday. The 23-year-old Khan retained his World Boxing Association super lightweight title with a technica

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Inter Milan win fifth straight Serie A title

Inter Milan secured a fifth straight Serie A title after Diego Milito scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at Siena on Sunday as AS Roma finished second, two points behind, despite their 2-0 win at Chievo.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

India and South Korea share Sultan Azlan Shah Cup

India and South Korea were named joint champions of the 19th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup on Sunday after the final was abandoned because of heavy rain in northern Malaysia. The decider in Ipoh was only in its 12th minute when the match was suspended because of

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Rezai stuns Venus to win Madrid title

Unheralded Aravane Rezai thrust herself into contention as a Roland Garros threat on Sunday with a stunning 6-2, 7-5 victory over Venus Williams to win the Madrid Masters after a week-long, giant-killing run.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

FC Copenhagen crowned Danish champions

FC Copenhagen were crowned Danish champions for the eighth time on Sunday after they defeated Sonderjyske 3-1 in a party atmosphere at their final home fixture of the season. The club had made certain of their second successive Superliga title on May 5 wh

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

ICC chief promises 'vigilance' after Kaneria arrest

World cricket's top administrator has insisted officials are "extremely vigilant" when it comes to 'spot-fixing' after Pakistan's Danish Kaneria was arrested in a betting probe.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

China thrashes Indonesia to retain Thomas Cup

Badminton powerhouse China resumed normal service on Sunday by thrashing Indonesia 3-0 to retain the Thomas Cup and erase the disappointment of their women's shock final loss to South Korea in the Uber Cup. Olympic and world champion Lin Dan ensured there

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Tennis and squash competitions from today

The Annual Royal Palm Tennis and Squash competitions for 2010 will get underway here at Royal Palm Tennis and Squash courts from Monday (today). A total of 110 entries have been received from intending eligible participants while most of them possess suit

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

'AFC Football Festival': PFF announces national U-14 team

Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) opened the exit door for 3 players on Sunday when it announced 22 players for the national under-14 soccer team to appear in the AFC U-14 Festival of Football (South Asia Region), to be played in Iran from 19th-23rd May.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Spain, Portugal set tone as austerity sweeps Europe

Austerity measures in Spain and Portugal have spurred belt-tightening in Italy, France and Britain, countries that so far have been largely spared from the effects of Greece's crisis, analysts say. "There really is no choice: deficits are unsustainable in

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Geithner confident EU will resolve crisis, yuan will rise

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said he is confident Europe will resolve its debt crisis and that the US economy can withstand any fallout, Bloomberg reported.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Worst of euro crisis behind us: EU commissioner

The worst of the crisis affecting the euro is over, EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said Sunday, warning however that the struggle to clean up budget deficits had only just begun. In an interview with the Tagesspiegel newspaper, Oettinger said t

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Eurozone must tackle yawning economic gaps: Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday that a $1 trillion EU rescue plan had only bought the eurozone time to tackle its fundamental problem - a yawning gap between its strongest and weakest economies. Merkel denounced what she called speculation

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Kuwaiti bourse suspends 22 firms

The Kuwait Stock Exchange on Sunday suspended trading in stocks of 22 listed firms for failing to declare their first quarter results on time. A statement posted on the KSE website said the companies - 15 of which are investment firms hit by the global fi

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Germany slams Deutsche Bank boss for Greece remarks

Germany's economy minister has lashed out at the head of the country's top bank for saying that Greece would not be able to pay back loans made to it, calling his remarks "annoying." In comments in Singapore on Saturday reported on the website of the fina

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

UK to audit government spending amid budget concerns

Britain's new government will launch an independent audit of public spending next week, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Sunday, as several senior cabinet members expressed concern about budget 'black holes.' Tackling a record budget deficit running a

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

GE Capital plans another benchmark Islamic bond

GE Capital, a unit of General Electric Co, plans to issue its second Islamic bond in late 2010 or in 2011, a senior executive said on Sunday. Aris Kekedjian, chief executive of GE Capital Middle East and Africa, said the Islamic bond, or sukuk, would like

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

GE Capital plans another benchmark Islamic bond

GE Capital, a unit of General Electric Co, plans to issue its second Islamic bond in late 2010 or in 2011, a senior executive said on Sunday. Aris Kekedjian, chief executive of GE Capital Middle East and Africa, said the Islamic bond, or sukuk, would like

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Doha conclusion key to global recovery: Pascal Lamy

The conclusion of the stalled Doha Round of free trade talks is crucial to the recovery from the global financial crisis, World Trade Organisation chief Pascal Lamy said on Sunday. "The Doha Round, at this moment of the crisis exiting, is a vitally needed

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

US urges China to keep an open technology policy

US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke urged China on Sunday to remain open to US and other foreign technology as it ramps up investment in clean energy to fight global warming and secure its economy.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Spanish demonstrate against austerity

Thousands of Spaniards demonstrated Sunday in central Madrid against austerity measures that a new poll showed has dented the support for the Socialist government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Kuwait's Agility first quarter net drops 52 percent, shares fall

Net profit at Agility more than halved in the first quarter and the Gulf's biggest logistics provider said future earnings would suffer from legal costs and lost contracts following fraud charges. The firm, formerly Public Warehousing Co. K.S.C. (PWC), ha

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Kuwait's Agility first quarter net drops 52 percent, shares fall

Net profit at Agility more than halved in the first quarter and the Gulf's biggest logistics provider said future earnings would suffer from legal costs and lost contracts following fraud charges. The firm, formerly Public Warehousing Co. K.S.C. (PWC), ha

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Britain to bow to EU on hedge fund crackdown

Britain's new government is to admit defeat on proposed European Union rules for hedge funds, The Sunday Times reported. Sources close to Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne told the newspaper that although the government still disagreed with large

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Britain to bow to EU on hedge fund crackdown

Britain's new government is to admit defeat on proposed European Union rules for hedge funds, The Sunday Times reported. Sources close to Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne told the newspaper that although the government still disagreed with large

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Diet soda for preventing kidney stones?

Certain diet sodas may have the potential to prevent the most common type of kidney stone, if new lab research is correct. In the study, researchers found that the diet versions of several popular citrus-flavoured sodas - like 7Up, Sunkist and Sprite - co

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

'Overuse of heartburn drugs risky'

Although they are sometimes used to make spicy meals go down easier, common heartburn drugs can cause serious side effects and should be used with caution, a series of studies released on May 10 suggests. Well-known brands of the drugs - called proton pum

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Big belly raises pancreatic cancer risk

Where a person carries their extra weight may influence their risk of pancreatic cancer. People - especially women - with more fat around their waistline are at increased risk of the deadly disease, according to a study.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Folic acid doesn't cut risk of stroke

Studies have linked low blood levels of a chemical lowered by folic acid to lower rates of stroke. However, folic acid supplements don't seem to prevent strokes, according to a review of clinical trials involving more than 39,000 participants. "We do not

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Norway should limit Arctic soot to slow warming

Norway should limit soot from emerging Arctic industries such as oil or shipping that risk accelerating a thaw of ice around the North Pole caused by global warming, a report said on May 11.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Earth may be too hot for humans by 2300

Climate change could make much of the woarld too hot for human habitation within just three centuries, research released on May 11 showed. Scientists from Australia's University of New South Wales and Purdue University in the United States found that risi

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Sickle cell disease affects brain function

Adults with sickle cell disease scored worse on memory function tests than healthy adults, suggesting the blood disorder may affect brain function, US researchers said on May 11. The study is the first to look at brain function in adults with sickle cell

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Twitter co-founder launches new venture: Square

Square, a new venture from a co-founder of Twitter, launched on May 11 with a free application that allows anyone to accept credit card payments on a mobile device. The San Francisco-based Square, the brainchild of Twitter chairman Jack Dorsey, works with

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

'25 percent of US homes have mobile phone, no landline'

One in four US households had only mobile phones and no landline at the end of last year, as the number of "wireless families" in the United States continues to rise, data released on May 12 showed. Just under 25 percent of US households - 24.5 percent -

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Russia becomes first country with Cyrillic domain name: Internet running out of addresses

The world will soon run out of Internet addresses as the number of devices connected to the Web explodes unless organisations move to a new Internet Protocol version (Ipv), the head of the body that allocates IP addresses said on May 13.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Microsoft looks to 'cloud' with Office 2010

Microsoft released the latest update to its popular Office software on May 12 including a Web-hosted version aimed at countering competition from emerging "cloud" products offered by Google.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

GPS navigation software for mobile phone receives big boost

GPS navigation software for the mobile phone received a big boost with the advent of the smartphone but is this trend a gimmick or a real help?

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Nokia to create smartphone unit in reorganisation

The world's top cellphone maker Nokia announced changes to its business structure on May 11, creating a unit focused on smartphones, and said the head of its key mobile phones unit would step down.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Facebook adds security tools

Facebook has added new security tools to prevent hacking and held a staff meeting at its California headquarters amid a growing storm over privacy at the social network.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Google ends WiFi collection after personal data captured

Google said on May 14 it will no longer collect WiFi network information for its "Street View" mapping service after "mistakenly" gathering personal wireless data. "Maintaining people's trust is crucial to everything we do, and in this case we fell short,

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

YouTube expands 'unlisted videos' feature

YouTube on May 12 began allowing users to share "private" videos among an unlimited number of other people. The Google-owned video-sharing site, in a post on the YouTube blog, said only people who receive a link to an "unlisted video" could watch it and i

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Europe slams Facebook's privacy settings

Europe slammed as unacceptable the changes by social networking website Facebook to its privacy settings, that would allow the profiles of its users to be made available to third party websites.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Google working on tablet computer with Verizon

Watch out Apple, the iPad is about to get some serious competition. Verizon, the largest mobile carrier in the US, said on May 11 that it is working with technology giant Google on a new tablet computer.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Sharp develops 3D camera system for mobile phones

Sharp Corp said on May 12 it had developed a three-dimensional camera system for mobile phones and other portable devices, with plans to begin production by the end of the year. It will be the world's first 3D camera module for mobile devices capable of c

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Europe crisis boosts case for Asia investment

Greece's sovereign debt crisis has plagued Europe and shaken market confidence, but it has also strengthened the case for Asia as a long-term investment destination. That might be difficult to see now following a heavy sell-off in Asian stocks and bonds i

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Europe crisis boosts case for Asia investment

Greece's sovereign debt crisis has plagued Europe and shaken market confidence, but it has also strengthened the case for Asia as a long-term investment destination. That might be difficult to see now following a heavy sell-off in Asian stocks and bonds i

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Bharti sees India mobile recovery, shakeout

Top Indian mobile phone operator Bharti Airtel expects call prices to stabilise after sharp falls, and a recovery in usage sets an encouraging trend, the company's South Asia chief said on May 11.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

SingTel says net profit up 12 percent in fourth quarter

Singapore Telecom (SingTel) said on May 13 its net profit rose 12 percent in the fourth quarter to March from the year before on strong performances at home and regional associates. SingTel, which has a corporate footprint across the Asia Pacific market,

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

SingTel says net profit up 12 percent in fourth quarter

Singapore Telecom (SingTel) said on May 13 its net profit rose 12 percent in the fourth quarter to March from the year before on strong performances at home and regional associates. SingTel, which has a corporate footprint across the Asia Pacific market,

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Corporate banking, sukuk to boost Asian Finance growth

Malaysia-based Islamic lender Asian Finance Bank will boost its net profit by at least 30-40 percent this year as it beefs up its corporate banking and sukuk business, its chief executive said on May 11.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Corporate banking, sukuk to boost Asian Finance growth

Malaysia-based Islamic lender Asian Finance Bank will boost its net profit by at least 30-40 percent this year as it beefs up its corporate banking and sukuk business, its chief executive said on May 11.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Petronas signs major oil deal with Venezuela

Malaysia's national oil firm Petronas said on May 13 it has signed its first deal with Venezuela to develop oil projects in the country. Petronas signed a joint venture agreement with Petroleos De Venezuela S.A. for the development and production of hydro

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Ford, Mazda aim to break up three-way China joint venture

Ford Motor and its China venture partners, Mazda Motor Corp and Chongqing Changan Automobile Co, are seeking Chinese government approval to end their three-way tie up, two sources said on May 13.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Lack of standardisation hobbles Islamic finance

Wrangling among scholars and wiggle room in interpretation of Sharia principles threaten to derail any attempt to arrive at global standards in Islamic finance, holding back the $1-trillion industry. Analysts say that unified rules that could have fuelled

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Citi sees no systemic risk from euro debt

The euro zone's debt crisis will not become a systemic risk for the global banking industry, according to a senior executive of Citigroup, which plans to put more resources into Asia to capitalise on the region's growth.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

E Fund to launch new funds in Hong Kong expansion

E Fund Management Co, China's second biggest fund house, plans to launch a new hedge fund in Hong Kong this year and is also preparing to roll out a mutual fund there as mainland asset managers step up expansion overseas.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

E Fund to launch new funds in Hong Kong expansion

E Fund Management Co, China's second biggest fund house, plans to launch a new hedge fund in Hong Kong this year and is also preparing to roll out a mutual fund there as mainland asset managers step up expansion overseas.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

India plans $11 billion infrastructure fund this year

India will set up a $11 billion dollar fund to upgrade its creaking infrastructure, refinance high cost debt and develop the debt market by issuing more long-term paper, a planning commission adviser said. India has possibly grown 7.2 percent in the fisca

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

India plans $11 billion infrastructure fund this year

India will set up a $11 billion dollar fund to upgrade its creaking infrastructure, refinance high cost debt and develop the debt market by issuing more long-term paper, a planning commission adviser said. India has possibly grown 7.2 percent in the fisca

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

IOSCO Still not clear why US market plunged

IOSCO still has no clear idea what caused the stunning US market plunge on May 6, a senior executive from the group, which combines most of the world's securities regulators, said on Friday.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Eurozone troubles may keep stocks on edge

US stocks could face more volatility next week as growing doubts about whether Europe can solve its deepening debt crisis are likely to take centre stage again. A $1 trillion rescue package unveiled at the week's start gave only temporary relief to invest

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Mutual funds seek to shed 'rubber stamp' tag

Investor activists say they are finally getting some support from the $12 trillion mutual fund industry, huge shareholders long scorned as rubber stamps for the management of companies whose shares they own. Sensitive to the issue, mutual fund executives

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Mutual funds seek to shed 'rubber stamp' tag

Investor activists say they are finally getting some support from the $12 trillion mutual fund industry, huge shareholders long scorned as rubber stamps for the management of companies whose shares they own. Sensitive to the issue, mutual fund executives

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Europe, stocks keep bonds hostage

The US Treasury market will remain captive next week to nagging worries over Europe's debt struggle and head-spinning swings across global stock markets. These factors have weighed down sentiment and overshadowed data that signalled the US economic recove

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Europe, stocks keep bonds hostage

The US Treasury market will remain captive next week to nagging worries over Europe's debt struggle and head-spinning swings across global stock markets. These factors have weighed down sentiment and overshadowed data that signalled the US economic recove

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Canada consumers to gain from dollar's commodity link

Major beneficiaries of the US currency's high correlation with commodities will be consumers in Canada and Australia because their currencies have held up against the dollar, a fund manager told Reuters. A rising dollar makes metals more expensive for hol

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Business still keen on firm Czech euro entry date

The Czech government that emerges from this month's elections should adopt a clear euro entry target date to eliminate uncertainty for foreign investors in the country, the head of the Czech-German business chamber said.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Bargain hunting to buoy Tokyo shares

Japanese shares are likely to be supported by bargain hunting next week although worries over the eurozone will keep investors cautious, brokers said.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

London investors to track eurozone crisis in busy week

The British stock market is next week set to focus on local company earnings and economic data, as well as the latest on the eurozone financial crisis which has sparked recent heavy losses.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Bangladesh interbank forex, interest rates

Interbank buy/sell rates for the taka against the dollar on Sunday.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Polish zloty key for central bank's rates

The exchange rate should be key to the Polish central bank's policy moves and the zloty must not be allowed to firm towards 3.6 per euro because this would harm the economy, a member of the Monetary Policy Council (MPC) said.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Ireland confident on bond issue plans

Ireland will proceed with a bond auction next week as "normality" has returned to markets and it is reasonably confident it can keep its 20 billion euro issuance plan for the year, the head of the national debt agency said.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Ireland confident on bond issue plans

Ireland will proceed with a bond auction next week as "normality" has returned to markets and it is reasonably confident it can keep its 20 billion euro issuance plan for the year, the head of the national debt agency said.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Nato soldier killed in Afghanistan

A Nato soldier fighting in Afghanistan to quell a Taliban-led insurgency was killed in clashes with insurgents in the south of the country Sunday, the military announced. The soldier was killed in an "insurgent attack," Nato's International Security Assis

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Atlantis docks with space station on final mission

The space shuttle Atlantis linked up with the International Space Station (ISS) Sunday for its final rendezvous. NASA said Atlantis and its crew of six astronauts successfully docked with the orbiting space lab at 10:28 am (1428 GMT) about 220 miles (350

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

UK and Ireland shut some airspace due to ash cloud

Ireland shut several of its airports and Britain imposed a no-fly zone on parts of its airspace on Sunday as another cloud of ash from a volcano in Iceland looked set to disrupt European air travel again. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said three nort

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Japan urges China to stop building nuclear arsenal

Japan has urged China to cut its nuclear arsenal or at least to stop stockpiling more atomic weapons, prompting a strong reaction from Beijing at their foreign ministers' talks, officials said Sunday.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Turkish Prime Minister to Tehran in bid to seal nuclear swap

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan flew to Tehran on Sunday seeking to seal a deal with Iran on a nuclear fuel swap that could help end a stand-off with the West over its atomic programme.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Iran jails women activists, arrests top former MP

Iran has sentenced in absentia award-winning women's rights activist Shadi Sadr and another fellow activist to jail and lashes over a protest in 2007, their lawyer told ILNA news agency on Sunday. Former MP Mohsen Armin, who is a senior member of a reform

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Saudi paper chief resigns after clash with conservatives

Prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi resigned on Sunday from the helm of Al-Watan daily in a move believed linked to official displeasure with articles critical of the state's harsh Islamic rules. Al-Watan announced that Khashoggi, 52, was stepping

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Disease to cut Afghan opium by up to 70 percent

A mystery disease infecting opium poppies in Afghanistan could cut this year's illicit crop in some areas by up to 70 percent, an official said Sunday. The disease has led authorities to expect a "significant" reduction in opium production this year, with

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Thai protesters call for talks as clashes leave 31 dead

Thailand's "Red Shirt" protesters appealed in vain Sunday for UN-mediated talks with the government after three days of violent street battles in the capital left 31 people dead and 230 wounded. Loud explosions and volleys of gunshots rang out into the ni

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Iraqi Prime Minister fails to gain seats but still on track for power

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Sunday failed to grasp first place in Iraq's parliamentary election from his arch-rival Iyad Allawi after a recount confirmed there was no fraud in the March 7 ballot.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

European Muslims criticise veil ban plans

Muslims attending a conference in Austria's capital Sunday criticised European countries for considering the possibility of banning face-covering veils, saying it is counterproductive and regressive. Veil bans are being considered in Belgium and France, a

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

French researcher returns home after Iran trial

Young French academic Clotilde Reiss flew home from Iran on Sunday, 10 months after she was arrested and accused of spying, as France denied striking a secret deal with Tehran. A government jet brought the 24-year-old researcher to an airbase outside Pari

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Maldives offers to take two Guantanamo Bay prisoners

The Maldives has offered to take two detainees held by the United States at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp in Cuba, in what it described as a humanitarian gesture, the foreign minister said Sunday.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Three Chinese oil workers abducted in Yemen

Three Chinese oil company workers were kidnapped in Yemen on Sunday, in an apparent move by separatist militants to press government officials in a dispute, an official in the eastern province of Shabwa said.

Published 17 May, 2010 12:00am

Currency	Rate
USD PKR Interbank Selling / Dec 20	278.48
USD PKR Interbank Buying / Dec 20	278.28
USD to Japanese Yen / Dec 20	156.31
USD to Swiss Franc / Dec 20	0.89
Pound Sterling to USD / Dec 20	1.26
Euro to USD / Dec 20	1.04

Stock	Volume
S&P 500 / Dec 20	5,930.85
India Sensex / Dec 20	78,041.59
Tokyo Nikkei / Dec 20	38,701.90
Nasdaq / Dec 20	19,572.60
Hang Seng / Dec 20	19,720.70
FTSE 100 / Dec 20	8,084.36
Dow Jones / Dec 20	42,840.26
Germany DAX 30 / Dec 20	19,884.75

Item	Value
Crude Oil USD/Barrel / Dec 20	69.46
Gold 10 Grams PKR / Dec 20	234,311
Gold Spot USD/Ounce / Dec 20	2,622.91
Cotton US¢/pound / Dec 20	68.06
Karachi Cotton PKR/37.32 KG / Dec 21	17,585
Petrol/Litre / Dec 22	252.10

Stock	Price
Media Times Ltd / Dec 20 Media Times Limited(MDTL)	2.37 ▲ 0.37 (18.50%)
Pace (Pak) Ltd. / Dec 20 Pace (Pakistan) Limited(PACE)	7.23 ▲ 1.00 (16.05%)
Ist.Capital Sec / Dec 20 First Capital Securities Corporation(FCSC)	2.12 ▲ 0.26 (13.98%)
Khalid Siraj / Dec 20 Khalid Siraj Textile Mills Limited(KSTM)	9.60 ▲ 0.97 (11.24%)
Aruj Industries / Dec 20 Aruj Industries Limited(ARUJ)	9.90 ▲ 0.98 (10.99%)
Escorts Bank / Dec 20 Escorts Investment Bank Limited(ESBL)	4.79 ▲ 0.47 (10.88%)
Cresent Jute / Dec 20 Crescent Jute Products Limited(CJPL)	4.20 ▲ 0.40 (10.53%)
S.G.Power / Dec 20 S.G. Power Limited(SGPL)	11.19 ▲ 1.02 (10.03%)
P.T.C.L. / Dec 20 Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd(PTC)	25.80 ▲ 2.35 (10.02%)

Stock	Price
LSE Financial Serv. / Dec 20 LSE Financial Services Limited(LSEFSL)	16.25 ▼ -1.81 (-10.02%)
Dar-es-Salaam / Dec 20 Dar-es-Salaam Textile Mills Limited(DSML)	41.93 ▼ -4.66 (-10.00%)
Maqbool Tex. / Dec 20 Maqbool Textile Mills Limited(MQTM)	31.05 ▼ -3.45 (-10.00%)
Reliance Cotton / Dec 20 Reliance Cotton Spinning Mills Limited(RCML)	621 ▼ -69.00 (-10.00%)
Sanghar Sugar / Dec 20 Sanghar Sugar Mills Limited(SANSM)	27.72 ▼ -3.08 (-10.00%)
Olympia Mills / Dec 20 Olympia Mills Limited(OML)	34.58 ▼ -3.84 (-9.99%)
Nagina Cot. / Dec 20 Nagina Cotton Mills Limited(NAGC)	48.92 ▼ -5.41 (-9.96%)
Oilboy Energy / Dec 20 Oilboy Energy Limited(OBOY)	11.39 ▼ -1.26 (-9.96%)
Arpak Int. / Dec 20 Arpak International Investments Ltd.(ARPAK)	65.22 ▼ -7.19 (-9.93%)

Stock	Volume
WorldCall Telecom / Dec 20 Worldcall Telecom Limited(WTL)	177,645,248 ▲ 0.10
K-Electric Ltd. / Dec 20 K-Electric Limited(KEL)	81,901,542 ▲ 0.16
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Pak Elektron / Dec 20 Pak Elektron Limited(PAEL)	57,974,101 ▲ 1.47
Pak Refinery / Dec 20 Pakistan Refinery Limited(PRL)	45,251,944 ▲ 0.40
Pace (Pak) Ltd. / Dec 20 Pace (Pakistan) Limited(PACE)	43,240,462 ▲ 1.00
Sui South Gas / Dec 20 Sui Southern Gas Company Limited(SSGC)	40,539,001 ▼ -0.74
B.O.Punjab / Dec 20 The Bank of Punjab(BOP)	35,598,669 ▲ 0.24
Symmetry Group / Dec 20 Symmetry Group Limited(SYM)	34,869,613 ▼ -0.72

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