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Print - 2010-08-25
SingTel names chief executive

SingTel names chief executive

Singapore Telecommunications named Hui Weng Cheong, currently the Chief Operating Officer of its Thai associate Advanced Info Service, as CEO designate for its international operation. Hui, 55, will be in charge of SingTel's overseas investments which inc
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Greece to start monthly treasury bills sales in September

Greece to start monthly treasury bills sales in September

Greece will sell T-bills every month from September instead of just once per quarter, giving it more leeway in managing its short-term debt, a senior official from the country's debt agency (PDMA) told Reuters on Tuesday.
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Greece to start monthly treasury bills sales in September

Greece to start monthly treasury bills sales in September

Greece will sell T-bills every month from September instead of just once per quarter, giving it more leeway in managing its short-term debt, a senior official from the country's debt agency (PDMA) told Reuters on Tuesday.
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Obama economic team should resign

Obama economic team should resign

US House Republican leader John Boehner on Tuesday called for the resignation of President Barack Obama's embattled economic team, including Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and White House economic adviser Larry Summers. "It's time to put grown-ups in
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Japan sharpens rhetoric, but yen hits 15-year high

Japan sharpens rhetoric, but yen hits 15-year high

Japan's government voiced its increasing irritation with the yen's steep gains on Tuesday, but the sharpened rhetoric was not enough to stop traders from pushing the yen to new highs against the dollar and euro.
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Some choppers moved to relief operations

Some choppers moved to relief operations

Pakistan has moved some helicopters from the fight against the Taliban to rescue and relief operations in flooded regions. "The first priority of these helicopters is relief work," a security official said on condition of anonymity. Asked how could it imp
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Iraq central bank cuts banks' reserve requirement to 15 percent

Iraq central bank cuts banks' reserve requirement to 15 percent

Iraq's central bank has decided to cut commercial banks' reserve requirement to 15 percent from 20 percent to spur bank lending as core inflation continues to slow, a Central Bank of Iraq official said on Tuesday. Mudher Kasim, a senior advisor in the ban
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Some choppers moved to relief operations

Some choppers moved to relief operations

Pakistan has moved some helicopters from the fight against the Taliban to rescue and relief operations in flooded regions. "The first priority of these helicopters is relief work," a security official said on condition of anonymity. Asked how could it imp
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
McDonald's names chief brand officer

McDonald's names chief brand officer

McDonald's Corp named its first-ever chief brand officer on Tuesday to oversee marketing, menu innovation and consumer insights. The world's biggest fast-food chain said Steve Easterbrook, currently president and chief executive of its UK division and pre
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Crops losses estimated at $2.8 billion

Crops losses estimated at $2.8 billion

Total crop loss in Pakistan from the flood has been estimated at Rs 244.639 billion ($2.8 billion) by the Ministry for Food and Agriculture, says a document of the Ministry, completed on August 23. Cotton, a key crop in the country, suffered production lo
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
South Africa looks to China for infrastructure lift

South Africa looks to China for infrastructure lift

South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday urged China to invest more in infrastructure and manufacturing in his country, as his government seeks to broaden South Africa's economic appeal beyond mines and resources.
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Crops losses estimated at $2.8 billion

Crops losses estimated at $2.8 billion

Total crop loss in Pakistan from the flood has been estimated at Rs 244.639 billion ($2.8 billion) by the Ministry for Food and Agriculture, says a document of the Ministry, completed on August 23. Cotton, a key crop in the country, suffered production lo
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Burger King profit rises

Burger King profit rises

Burger King Holdings Inc reported higher-than-expected quarterly profit as it kept a tight rein on expenses, sending shares up 1.7 percent. Yet the fast-food chain, known as home of the Whopper, said its business would remain under pressure in the new yea
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Crops losses estimated at $2.8 billion

Crops losses estimated at $2.8 billion

Total crop loss in Pakistan from the flood has been estimated at Rs 244.639 billion ($2.8 billion) by the Ministry for Food and Agriculture, says a document of the Ministry, completed on August 23. Cotton, a key crop in the country, suffered production lo
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Burger King profit rises

Burger King profit rises

Burger King Holdings Inc reported higher-than-expected quarterly profit as it kept a tight rein on expenses, sending shares up 1.7 percent. Yet the fast-food chain, known as home of the Whopper, said its business would remain under pressure in the new yea
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
0.675 million tons of wheat stocks damaged by floods

0.675 million tons of wheat stocks damaged by floods

The floods have damaged up to 675,000 tons wheat lying under open sky, Agriculture Ministry officials said. They said that according to initial estimates Pakistan has sustained loss of $20.25 million by the flood. Sources said that the flood had damaged d
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
India backs tribes in mining ruling

India backs tribes in mining ruling

India struck down a controversial mining project Tuesday that threatened a tribal group whose fate had been compared with the plight of the endangered Na'vi aliens in the blockbuster Avatar.
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
0.675 million tons of wheat stocks damaged by floods

0.675 million tons of wheat stocks damaged by floods

The floods have damaged up to 675,000 tons wheat lying under open sky, Agriculture Ministry officials said. They said that according to initial estimates Pakistan has sustained loss of $20.25 million by the flood. Sources said that the flood had damaged d
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
German growth surges

German growth surges

Surging exports and a return to growth in consumer spending powered the German economy to record expansion in the second quarter, producing a broad-based recovery that put Europe's largest economy ahead of its peers. The 2.2 percent increase in gross dome
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
0.675 million tons of wheat stocks damaged by floods

0.675 million tons of wheat stocks damaged by floods

The floods have damaged up to 675,000 tons wheat lying under open sky, Agriculture Ministry officials said. They said that according to initial estimates Pakistan has sustained loss of $20.25 million by the flood. Sources said that the flood had damaged d
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Australian wheat grower AWB backs $1 billion Agrium bid

Australian wheat grower AWB backs $1 billion Agrium bid

Canadian fertiliser maker Agrium Inc moved closer to securing its $1.07 billion take-over of Australia's AWB Ltd after the nation's largest wheat exporter formally backed the offer. AWB dropped an earlier recommendation to support a lower bid by domestic
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Ahmadinejad to visit Pakistan

Ahmadinejad to visit Pakistan

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will soon travel to flood-hit Pakistan to witness first hand the impact of the natural disaster that has engulfed Iran's eastern neighbour, the interior minister said Tuesday. "The president has decided to personally visit th
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Russian drought to slow economic recovery

Russian drought to slow economic recovery

Russia's worst drought on record will take a substantial chunk out of growth and increase inflation risks just as the economy manages a fragile recovery after recession, an official said Tuesday.
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Ahmadinejad to visit Pakistan

Ahmadinejad to visit Pakistan

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will soon travel to flood-hit Pakistan to witness first hand the impact of the natural disaster that has engulfed Iran's eastern neighbour, the interior minister said Tuesday. "The president has decided to personally visit th
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
US home sales at multiyear lows, stoke recovery fears

US home sales at multiyear lows, stoke recovery fears

Sales of previously owned US homes took a record plunge in July to their slowest pace in 15 years as the wind went out of the housing sector's sails and underlined a struggling economy. Tuesday's report from the National Association of Realtors was the la
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Canola sowing to be encouraged in flood-hit areas

Canola sowing to be encouraged in flood-hit areas

A meeting in the Presidency on the impact of floods on food and agriculture, decided to encourage farmers to sow canola in the flood-affected areas early next month by assisting them with seed, inputs and land preparation to make optimal utilisation of th
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Asian debt spreads at one-month high

Asian debt spreads at one-month high

Asian debt spreads jumped to their highest in a month on Tuesday, tracking weak equities on worries about the global economy, but dealers said the outlook remained upbeat given continued strong investor demand for regional credits.
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Canola sowing to be encouraged in flood-hit areas

Canola sowing to be encouraged in flood-hit areas

A meeting in the Presidency on the impact of floods on food and agriculture, decided to encourage farmers to sow canola in the flood-affected areas early next month by assisting them with seed, inputs and land preparation to make optimal utilisation of th
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Asian debt spreads at one-month high

Asian debt spreads at one-month high

Asian debt spreads jumped to their highest in a month on Tuesday, tracking weak equities on worries about the global economy, but dealers said the outlook remained upbeat given continued strong investor demand for regional credits.
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Canola sowing to be encouraged in flood-hit areas

Canola sowing to be encouraged in flood-hit areas

A meeting in the Presidency on the impact of floods on food and agriculture, decided to encourage farmers to sow canola in the flood-affected areas early next month by assisting them with seed, inputs and land preparation to make optimal utilisation of th
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Taiwan stocks fall

Taiwan stocks fall

Taiwan stocks fell 0.44 percent on Tuesday as slides in US chipmakers sparked concerns about the health of their Taiwanese peers and suppliers like UMC. The main TAIEX closed down 35.29 points to 7,940.64, weighed by a 0.56 percent fall of electronics sha
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Pakistan faces hard choices amid budget constraints: IMF

Pakistan faces hard choices amid budget constraints: IMF

The Inter-national Monetary Fund (IMF) is exploring the possibility of providing financing to Pakistan through an emergency instrument for natural disasters, as the Fund already has a programme in place.
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Southeast Asian stocks pull back

Southeast Asian stocks pull back

Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Tuesday, with Indonesia's benchmark index coming off an all-time high, as investors cut positions in riskier assets ahead of US economic data. Late selling pulled markets off intraday highs. Singapore's main share ind
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Pakistan faces hard choices amid budget constraints: IMF

Pakistan faces hard choices amid budget constraints: IMF

The Inter-national Monetary Fund (IMF) is exploring the possibility of providing financing to Pakistan through an emergency instrument for natural disasters, as the Fund already has a programme in place.
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Tuesday's early afternoon trade: Wall Street slides

Tuesday's early afternoon trade: Wall Street slides

US stocks slid 1 percent on Tuesday as a fall in home sales last month that exceeded even the most pessimistic estimates confirmed investor fears the economic recovery is fragile. Home building and related stocks managed to pare losses after a steep decli
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Pakistan faces hard choices amid budget constraints: IMF

Pakistan faces hard choices amid budget constraints: IMF

The Inter-national Monetary Fund (IMF) is exploring the possibility of providing financing to Pakistan through an emergency instrument for natural disasters, as the Fund already has a programme in place.
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
US stocks post lightest volume sessions of a year

US stocks post lightest volume sessions of a year

US stocks slipped in one of the lightest volume sessions of the year on Monday as investors took refuge in defensive shares after the latest corporate M&A failed to soothe concerns the recovery is stalling. Technology shares weighed on the broad market an
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Trade Policy to open hopes for EU market access

Trade Policy to open hopes for EU market access

The much-delayed Trade Policy 2010-11 is premised on the hope that Pakistan would get better market access to the European Union (EU), and the US would soften its stance on Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs), sources in the Commerce Ministry told
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
European CDS widen

European CDS widen

European corporate credit default swap spreads were wider on Tuesday, partly in response to further evidence that the US economic recovery is losing steam, raising the chances that the global economy could be headed for a double-dip recession. Sales of pr
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Trade Policy to open hopes for EU market access

Trade Policy to open hopes for EU market access

The much-delayed Trade Policy 2010-11 is premised on the hope that Pakistan would get better market access to the European Union (EU), and the US would soften its stance on Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs), sources in the Commerce Ministry told
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
European CDS widen

European CDS widen

European corporate credit default swap spreads were wider on Tuesday, partly in response to further evidence that the US economic recovery is losing steam, raising the chances that the global economy could be headed for a double-dip recession. Sales of pr
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Trade Policy to open hopes for EU market access

Trade Policy to open hopes for EU market access

The much-delayed Trade Policy 2010-11 is premised on the hope that Pakistan would get better market access to the European Union (EU), and the US would soften its stance on Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs), sources in the Commerce Ministry told
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Treasuries rise

Treasuries rise

US Treasuries prices rose on Monday, driving yields near 16-month lows as traders banked on the Federal Reserve's plan to keep interest rates low. Bonds have been rallying powerfully, driven by fears that an unremarkable US economic recovery is all but ov
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Treasuries rise

Treasuries rise

US Treasuries prices rose on Monday, driving yields near 16-month lows as traders banked on the Federal Reserve's plan to keep interest rates low. Bonds have been rallying powerfully, driven by fears that an unremarkable US economic recovery is all but ov
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Indian shares lower

Indian shares lower

Indian shares shed 0.5 percent on Tuesday as an anaemic global economic recovery drove investors to dump stocks across world markets. Explorer Cairn India, the target of a $9.6 billion take-over offer by Vedanta Resources, bucked the trend and climbed as
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Hong Kong stocks fall, Shanghai up

Hong Kong stocks fall, Shanghai up

Hong Kong shares fell over 1 percent to one-month lows on Tuesday as worries about the global outlook fuelled a selloff in risky assets. Shanghai shares rose slightly, however, as strong corporate results prompted retail investors put money back into the
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Nikkei hits 15-month low

Nikkei hits 15-month low

Japan's Nikkei average hit a 15-month closing low below 9,000 points on Tuesday, with hedge funds and foreigners seen selling amid mounting concern about the authorities' inaction on a strong yen, which threatens a fragile economic recovery.
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Seoul shares slip

Seoul shares slip

Seoul shares closed lower after trading in a tight range on Tuesday amid persistent concerns the global economic recovery has tapered off, which weighed on tech issues such as Samung Electronics. Fluctuating between small gains and losses, the Korea Compo
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
European shares stay down

European shares stay down

European shares fell to a one-month closing low on Tuesday as disappointing US housing data underscored concern over the pace of recovery in the world's largest economy. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index of top shares closed down 1.6 percent at 1,01
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
UK's top share index falls

UK's top share index falls

Britain's top share index closed lower on Tuesday after weak US existing home sales data cast further doubt on the economic recovery story, with UK banks, miners and energy stocks bearing the brunt of the sell-off. The FTSE 100 ended down 78.89 points, or
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Yuan up versus dollar

Yuan up versus dollar

The yuan ended slightly up against the dollar on Tuesday, although the People's Bank of China set a lower mid-point, as the dollar hit a fresh one-month high versus a basket of currencies. Dealers said there were no signs that the Chinese central bank wou
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Sterling tumbles versus dollar

Sterling tumbles versus dollar

Sterling hit a one-month low against the dollar on Tuesday, stung by comments from a Bank of England policymaker that Britain faces the risk of sliding into recession. It recouped some of those losses after the dollar fell on gloomy US housing numbers.
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Won and peso lead Asian currencies lower

Won and peso lead Asian currencies lower

The South Korean won and the Philippine peso led Asian currencies lower on Tuesday as anaemic US and euro zone data highlighted worries about the global outlook, hitting the stock and bond markets. Most Asian currencies lost grounds against the dollar, wh
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Early trade: yen rises broadly

Early trade: yen rises broadly

The yen rose to a 15-year high against the dollar and a nine-year peak versus the euro on Tuesday amid fears the global economy is slowing, testing Japanese authorities' resolve to stem the currency's climb. The yen's rise accelerated as stop-loss sales w
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Euro slips broadly in New York

Euro slips broadly in New York

The euro slipped on Monday as eurozone data added to concerns over the economy and investors bet on prospects of loose monetary policy until year-end. Sentiment has begun to turn sour on the single currency after a rally in late July and early August. Inv
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Bangladesh's interbank forex, interest rates

Bangladesh's interbank forex, interest rates

Interbank buy/sell rates for the taka against the dollar on Tuesday. 69.56/69.59 (previous 69.54/69.5450). Call Money Rates: 5.25-7.00 percent (previous 4.50-7.25 percent).
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Indian rupee dips

Indian rupee dips

The Indian rupee was pushed to one-week lows on Tuesday on the back of a broad dollar rally and losses in domestic shares which raised expectations for sustained risk aversion in global markets. The partially convertible rupee closed at 46.91/92 per dolla
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Euro hits nine-year low versus yen in Asia

Euro hits nine-year low versus yen in Asia

The euro hit a nine-year low against the yen on Tuesday as the loss of key technical support led speculators to short the currency in the hope of forcing stop-loss sales against both the yen and the dollar. Falls in Japanese equities helped buoy the yen a
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Yen hits 15-year high versus dollar

Yen hits 15-year high versus dollar

The yen struck a 15-year high against the dollar and a nine-year peak against the euro on Tuesday as investors and speculators tested the resolve of Japanese authorities to stem the yen's steady rise. The yen rise accelerated as stop-loss sales were trigg
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Euro rates ease with ECB exit seen delayed

Euro rates ease with ECB exit seen delayed

Eurozone interbank lending rates eased further on Tuesday, helped by expectations the European Central Bank would refrain from withdrawing its remaining emergency liquidity support measures until next year. ECB Governing Council member Axel Weber said on
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Australian and New Zealand dollars slip

Australian and New Zealand dollars slip

The Australian dollar hit a five-week low on the yen on Tuesday after breaking a technical level that triggered some stop-loss selling, while investors waited for data on US home sales. The Aussie dollar was soft at 75.46 yen after falling as far as 75.19
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Napoli fans teach how to fake identity card

Napoli fans teach how to fake identity card

A website for a group of hardcore Napoli fans has published ways to fake a controversial fan's identity card aimed at tackling hooliganism. The card is a programme introduced by the Ministry of the Interior across Italy to allow authorities to keep tabs o
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Tevez on target as Man City beat Liverpool 3-0

Tevez on target as Man City beat Liverpool 3-0

Carlos Tevez claimed two second-half goals as a confident Manchester City overwhelmed Liverpool 3-0 to underline their Premier League title credentials on Monday. With Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour given a standing ovation by the fans on attending his first
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Tiger Woods ends marriage after sex scandal

Tiger Woods ends marriage after sex scandal

Tiger Woods and Swedish model wife Elin Nordegren have officially divorced, their marriage "irretrievably broken" by a blistering sex scandal that has left the world number one golfer's life in disarray. Woods, 34, and Nordegren, 30, issued a joint statem
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
AFC pledges support for flood relief

AFC pledges support for flood relief

Pledging continued support for Pakistan's flood recovery effort, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Mohamed bin Hammam has said the reconstruction phase following the current relief work will require more international aid overtime than committed to t
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Kiwi umpires to make Test history at Lord's

Kiwi umpires to make Test history at Lord's

A pair of New Zealanders will become the first neutral umpires from the same country to officiate a Test match together at Lord's when England concludes its series against Pakistan. Billy Bowden and Tony Hill, who are both from Auckland, will take charge
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
FIFA to be asked to help flood affectees

FIFA to be asked to help flood affectees

Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, who is going to meet FIFA President, Joseph Sepp Blatter in the last week of this month, will make a formal request to him for extending help to the flood affectees of Pakistan
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Australia keep faith in coach until 2013 Ashes

Australia keep faith in coach until 2013 Ashes

Australia Tuesday reappointed coach Tim Nielsen until the end of the 2013 Ashes series in England, backing him to reverse a recent slump in fortunes. Cricket Australia said Nielsen had been in charge during a "challenging" time since 2007 after a number o
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Pakistan and New Zealand to play more ODIs cut Tests

Pakistan and New Zealand to play more ODIs cut Tests

Pakistan's cricket tour of New Zealand will feature fewer Tests and more one-day matches to help the teams prepare for next year's World Cup, according to thhe itinerary released Tuesday. The number of Tests has been cut from three to two with the one-day
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Rogge wants fun factor back in Olympics

Rogge wants fun factor back in Olympics

IOC president Jacques Rogge wants to see the fun factor brought back to the Olympics, complaining Tuesday that they were often too serious and stressful. The International Olympic Committee chief was commenting at the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Pakistan players donate half of Oval win bonus

Pakistan players donate half of Oval win bonus

Pakistan's cricketers Tuesday donated to their flood-hit countrymen half of the 55,722-dollar bonus they received for winning their Test match against England at the weekend. The bonus was awarded by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the team's narrow,
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Catholic Church, UK government in bomb cover-up

Catholic Church, UK government in bomb cover-up

The UK government, the police and the Catholic Church colluded to protect a priest suspected of involvement in a 1972 bombing in Northern Ireland that killed 9 people, a report said on Tuesday. The Police Ombudsman's eight-year probe revealed a cardinal w
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Two Nato soldiers, eight civilians killed in Afghan violence

Two Nato soldiers, eight civilians killed in Afghan violence

Two foreign soldiers died Tuesday fighting insurgents in Afghanistan, the Nato alliance said, as Afghan authorities said international forces had killed eight civilians in a recent operation. Nato's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said it w
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
US court rules against Obama's stem cell policy

US court rules against Obama's stem cell policy

A US district court issued a preliminary injunction on Monday stopping federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research, in a slap to the Obama administration's new guidelines on the sensitive issue. US District Judge Royce Lamberth granted the injun
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
US troops in Iraq below 50,000 as combat ends

US troops in Iraq below 50,000 as combat ends

The US military said on Tuesday it had cut its troops in Iraq to below 50,000 before an August 31 deadline set by President Barack Obama to end its combat mission. The withdrawal of 90,000-plus soldiers, 40,000 vehicles and 1.5 million items from radios t
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
CIA station chief a key Afghanistan troubleshooter

CIA station chief a key Afghanistan troubleshooter

The CIA station chief in Afghanistan has assumed a key troubleshooting role in US dealings with President Hamid Karzai, including tasks normally reserved for diplomatic and military officials, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. "Karzai needs consta
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Israel Prime Minister snubs UN atomic watchdog chief

Israel Prime Minister snubs UN atomic watchdog chief

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has snubbed UN atomic watchdog chief Yukiya Amano who is on his first visit to Israel, the Haaretz nnewspaper reported on Tuesday Amano, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), had asked to meet with Netany
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Middle East talks will fail: Iran

Middle East talks will fail: Iran

Direct peace talks between Israel and Palestinians will fail as long as the "root" of the problem remained, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Tuesday. "We don't think (peace) talks are going to yield any results," Mehmanparast
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Hamas urges Jordan, Egypt to boycott Middle East talks launch

Hamas urges Jordan, Egypt to boycott Middle East talks launch

Exiled Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal urged the Egyptian and Jordanian leaders on Tuesday to boycott the resumption early next month of direct Israeli-Palestinian talks to be hosted by Washington. "I appeal to President Hosni Mubarak (of Egypt) and (Jordan's)
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Afghan Taliban say Petraeus's progress 'baffling'

Afghan Taliban say Petraeus's progress 'baffling'

The Afghan Taliban on Tuesday rejected comments by the commander of Nato and US forces that their progress had been reversed, saying attacks were increasing around the capital as well as in their heartland in the south. General David Petraeus told the BBC
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Chechen leader, rival make surprise peace deal

Chechen leader, rival make surprise peace deal

Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov has made peace with a long-time rival who had accused the Kremlin-backed leader of having two of his brothers killed. The unexpected reconciliation appears likely to silence Isa Yamadayev, one of the most vocal critics of
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Iraq unrest kills five

Iraq unrest kills five

A suicide bomber killed two policemen and a civilian at a checkpoint in central Iraq on Tuesday, while attacks elsewhere killed two other people, security officials said. The 6:10 pm (1510 GMT) bombing in the Diyala provincial capital of Baquba, north of
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
China warns India over Prime Minister talks with Dalai Lama

China warns India over Prime Minister talks with Dalai Lama

China on Tuesday voiced its opposition to a recent meeting between the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, warning New Delhi not to "disturb" overall ties. The exiled Buddhist monk made a "routine call" on S
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
British Prime Minister's wife gives birth to baby girl

British Prime Minister's wife gives birth to baby girl

Prime Minister David Cameron's wife Samantha has given birth to a baby girl, a spokesman said Tuesday, making the child only the second born to a serving British premier in more than 160 years. "The prime minister and Mrs Cameron are delighted to announce
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
14 die in Nepal tourist plane crash

14 die in Nepal tourist plane crash

A small plane headed for the Everest region crashed in bad weather near the Nepalese capital on Tuesday, killing all 14 people on board, including four Americans, a Japanese and a British national. The Agni Air plane was returning to Kathmandu after poor
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
New York cotton at four-month top

New York cotton at four-month top

Cotton futures ended on Tuesday at a 4-month top as trade/mill and fund buying swiftly erased losses from a commodity-wide selling spree triggered by fears of a weak global economic recovery, analysts said. ICE Futures US benchmark December cotton contrac
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
New York coffee retreats

New York coffee retreats

Arabica coffee retreated on profit-taking after touching a near 13-year high on Monday, but analysts said a shortage of high-quality beans and bullish technical charts indicated the potential for further gains. Sugar and cocoa futures held quietly steady.
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Malaysian palm oil at three-week low

Malaysian palm oil at three-week low

Malaysian crude palm oil futures fell to a three-week low on Tuesday on technical selling and a slowdown in demand thanks to a surge in cash prices. Palm oil has lost 5.7 percent so far this year thanks to expectations of bountiful supply of US soybeans a
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Liffe coffee tumbles

Liffe coffee tumbles

Liffe November robusta coffee settled $137 lower at $1,640 per tonne on Tuesday as fund selling, triggering a similar fall in ICE arabicas after arabica coffee hit a near 13-year high on Monday. Liffe October white sugar futures ended $7.90 lower at $569.
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
US soya futures mostly up

US soya futures mostly up

US soyabean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade closed mostly higher on Monday on brisk export demand and spillover from a rally in wheat, traders said. Additional support from concerns about dry weather; the eastern US Midwest had timely weekend rains
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Tokyo rubber futures lower

Tokyo rubber futures lower

Tokyo rubber futures ended lower on Tuesday, weighed by stronger Japanese yen, weak oil prices and uncertainty on rubber demand amid fragile auto industry outlook, dealers said. The benchmark rubber contract on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange for January del
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
US copper slightly up

US copper slightly up

US copper futures ended slightly higher on Monday, rebounding from last week's losses, helped by technical support. Copper for September delivery rose 0.05 cents to close at $3.2915 per lb on the COMEX metals division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Shanghai copper falls

Shanghai copper falls

Copper prices in Shanghai fell about half a percent on Tuesday, and a dearth of compelling data to support bullish or bearish positions will trap prices in ranges. Benchmark third-month Shanghai copper lost 270 yuan to 56,920 yuan at close, at a 507 yuan
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am
Copper tumbles

Copper tumbles

Copper tumbled to its lowest in nearly a month on Tuesday as weak housing market data from the world's largest economy, the United States, reinforced worries about growth and demand. Following copper's lead, aluminium hit its lowest in more than a month;
Published 25 Aug, 2010 12:00am