Maria Sharapova stormed into the French Open last 16 on Saturday, brushing aside China's Peng Shuai 6-2, 6-1, while semi-final rivals Li Na and Petra Kvitova laboured to reach the second week. Second seed Sharapova fired 27 winners past 28th seed Peng in

England wrapped up their pre-tournament preparations for Euro 2012 with a 1-0 win over Belgium at Wembley on Saturday courtesy of Danny Welbeck's maiden international goal. Manchester United youngster Welbeck struck on 37 minutes to make it two wins out o

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf has expressed optimism for the revival of cricket ties between India and Pakistan. Talking to reporters here at the Lahore Airport on return from New Delhi on Saturday, Zaka said they would soon a

Usain Bolt has promised to "wow" the world with his performances at the 2012 London Olympic Games. The Jamaica sprinter is the reigning Olympic 100 metres and 200 metres champion after some dazzling displays in Beijing four years ago, where he also helped

Pakistan on Saturday faced worst defeat in the Azlan Shah Cup after losing to Great Britain 2-1, Aaj News reported. Pakistan finished last for the first time in the history of the Cup. Abdul Hassem Khan scored as Pakistan took lead in the 15th minu

World champion Casey Stoner will start on pole in the Catalunya motorcycling Grand Prix Sunday after the Honda rider posted the quickest time in qualifying under the sun at the Montmelo circuit. The Australian picked up the 40th pole of his career Saturda

Investors snubbed sales of local Ukrainian bonds for a second time this year, offering no bids on Thursday at a regular weekly auction, the finance ministry said. The ministry was offering one-, three-, five- and seven-year hryvnia bonds for sale. Investo

Investors snubbed sales of local Ukrainian bonds for a second time this year, offering no bids on Thursday at a regular weekly auction, the finance ministry said. The ministry was offering one-, three-, five- and seven-year hryvnia bonds for sale. Investo

Sri Lanka's stock market rose more than 1 percent on Friday with retail and foreign investors buying shares in thin volumes in an overall skittish market concerned about a weak Sri Lankan rupee and the outlook for interest rates. The main index gained 1.1

US-listed shares of foreign companies fell on Friday, led by losses in Asian companies, and were on track for almost a 3 percent decline for the week. Bearish sentiment prevailed across the board after a much weaker-than-expected US May payrolls report. T

London luxury jeweller Graff Diamonds ditched its $1 billion initial public offering on Thursday, with volatile stock markets threatening to freeze an already moribund market for new listings from Hong Kong to New York. Globally, the amount raised from st

India's benchmark 10-year bond prices gained for a second consecutive session on Friday, pushing the yield at one point to a one-and-a-half month low, on hopes the central bank will cut interest rates to bolster sagging domestic growth. Traders say Thursd

India's benchmark 10-year bond prices gained for a second consecutive session on Friday, pushing the yield at one point to a one-and-a-half month low, on hopes the central bank will cut interest rates to bolster sagging domestic growth. Traders say Thursd

Canadian stocks tumbled on Friday, led by energy and financial issues as economic data on both sides of the Atlantic raised fears of a global slump and sent investors out of riskier assets into gold and other safe havens. After one of the worst Mays in re

US government debt yields dropped to record lows on Friday after a stunningly weak report on US job growth stoked worries of an economic slowdown and raised bets for a third round of bond purchases from the Federal Reserve. US Treasuries just finished the

US government debt yields dropped to record lows on Friday after a stunningly weak report on US job growth stoked worries of an economic slowdown and raised bets for a third round of bond purchases from the Federal Reserve. US Treasuries just finished the

Japanese government bonds extended gains, pushing benchmark yields to a 9-year low on Friday, on continuing unease about Europe's debt crisis and rekindled fears of a Chinese slowdown. Spain's borrowing costs have surged this week on worries it may need t

Japanese government bonds extended gains, pushing benchmark yields to a 9-year low on Friday, on continuing unease about Europe's debt crisis and rekindled fears of a Chinese slowdown. Spain's borrowing costs have surged this week on worries it may need t

Latin American stocks dropped on Friday after the United States posted its weakest monthly job growth in a year and data showed Brazil's economy grew slower than expected in the first quarter, dampening investor optimism over a global economic recovery.

US stocks fell more than 2 percent on Friday, dragging the Dow into negative territory for the year after a dismal US jobs report added to fears that Europe's spiralling debt crisis was dragging down the world economy. The S&P 500 closed at its lowest sin

International envoy Kofi Annan on Saturday criticised President Bashar al-Assad for failing to comply with a peace plan to end the Syria conflict and said his forces were carrying out atrocities, arbitrary arrests and other abuses regardless of the world

Queen Elizabeth II received a rapturous welcome from a flag-waving crowd of more than 100,000 at a British racecourse Saturday as she kicked off four days of national celebrations for her diamond jubilee. Gun salutes rang out across the country before the

European leaders tried Friday to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to support a harder course against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. But while German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Fancois Hollande said after meeting separately w

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton boarded a research ship on Saturday to tour the Arctic, where the world's big powers are vying for control of vast deposits of oil, gas and minerals that are becoming available as polar ice recedes. She visited Tromso

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday agreed that they needed to work together on Syria, a US official said. "They both agreed that we've got to work together," the official said, following a telephon

Hong Kong health authorities on Saturday urged the public not to panic after the southern Chinese city reported its first human case of bird flu in 18 months in a two-year-old boy. Authorities said the Chinese boy was in serious condition after testing po

A Nato rescue team dropped by helicopter in the remote mountains of northern Afghanistan early on Saturday freed four aid workers, including two foreigners, who had been seized by the Taliban last month, the alliance said. The aid workers, employed by Swi

A Saudi princess was caught trying to leave the Shangri-La hotel in Paris without settling a six million euro ($7.4 million) bill for her rooms, police said Saturday, confirming a report in the daily Le Parisien. Maha al-Sudani, the former wife of Saudi A

Florida, a key US electoral battleground where the 2000 presidential election was decided by a few hundred ballots, will defy the US Justice Department's warning to stop its effort to purge ineligible voters, a state spokesman said on Saturday. The warnin

Japan on Saturday expressed concern over what it called a lack of transparency in China's massive defence spending, saying the secrecy posed a "threat" to Tokyo. China's military budget jumped 11.2 percent year on year to $106 billion in 2012, a rise that

Central African Republic President Francois Bozize sacked former ally Finance Minister Sylvain Ndoutingai, state radio reported on Saturday, two months after he was accused by the government of plotting a coup d'etat. Ndoutingai had been a key adviser of

The defence ministers of Sudan and South Sudan are set to meet in the Ethiopian capital on Monday to discuss border security, a South Sudanese official said. "The extraordinary meeting will discuss the establishment of the various mechanism, including the

The United States and key Asian allies Japan and South Korea on Saturday agreed to bolster efforts to counter any threat from nuclear-armed North Korea, officials said. US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta met with his South Korean counterpart Kim Kwan Jin,

Thailand is forecast to produce 24 million tonnes of paddy from its main crop due to be harvested from October, up 20 percent from 20 million tonnes in the 2011/12 crop year, a senior Agriculture Ministry official said on Monday.Thailand is the world's bi

Demand from the Philippines failed to lift Asian rice prices which are already weighed down by the prospect of rising supplies from major exporting countries and record high stocks held by the Thai government, traders said on Wednesday.The Philippines's N

World cotton prices fell in recent weeks, mostly due to an expected 43 percent rise in global cotton stocks this year and a smaller anticipated boost in 2012/13, an international farm group said on Friday.The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC)

Thailand, the world's biggest rubber producer and exporter, said on Thursday it was seeking concerted action with fellow producers Indonesia and Malaysia to stabilise falling rubber prices. Slower growth in major economies and worry about Europe's debt cr

The US Agriculture Department set the prevailing world market price for upland cotton at 62.52 cents per lb, effective through June 7.The price is adjusted to US quality and location for Strict Low Middling, 1-1/16 inch upland cotton. The next announcemen

Chinese demand for copper scrap is likely to decline in the next few months with smelters' sales already weak and buyers wary about booking material with metal prices falling, an executive at recycler Uni-All Group said on Wednesday. "My projection is tha

The cocoa harvest is underway in Indonesia's island of Sulawesi, but daily arrivals began to slow down this week, suggesting the crop harvest could end earlier than usual, dealers said on Friday.In the product market, butter ratios held near their weakest

Brazilian agriculture consultancy Safras & Mercado estimates the world's top coffee producer will harvest 54.9 million 60-kg bags of beans in the 2012/13 crop, which endured overly dry weather through its development.Safras' second forecast for the crop w

Canada's wheat exports have bounced back strongly with bigger and better 2011/12 supplies from a year earlier and near-ideal weather for moving grains by rail from the Prairies to ports.A larger crop last autumn, with typical quantities of top-quality gra

Gold surged 4 percent on Friday, its biggest one-day rise in more than three years, as a surprisingly weak US payrolls report added to fears about a global economic slowdown and fuelled talk of further US monetary easing. The precious metal fell in early

Most global commodity prices tumbled last week amid a bloodbath on markets as traders fled to safety in the face of poor economic data and eurozone debt crisis developments that now threaten Spain. "Rising economic uncertainty in Europe and the lack of a

The Controller of Examinations University of Sindh has announced that last date for filling of examination forms for B.A (Regular/external), B.Sc, B.Com, B.Sc Home Economics (Regular) Part-I and Part-II and M.A previous and final (external) annual examina

Contrary to repeated pledge to provide necessary facilities to 25,000 students studying in both evening and morning shifts, the University of Karachi has regrettably failed to induct 10 new point buses in its existing fleet, reportedly due to its financia

The Budget FY13 has no major surprises for the capital markets as the newly amended capital gain tax ordinance is now part of Finance Bill, which will bring some certainty to the investors related to tax issues, analysts said. "We maintain our positive st

The Budget FY13 has no major surprises for the capital markets as the newly amended capital gain tax ordinance is now part of Finance Bill, which will bring some certainty to the investors related to tax issues, analysts said. "We maintain our positive st

The Budget FY13 has no major surprises for the capital markets as the newly amended capital gain tax ordinance is now part of Finance Bill, which will bring some certainty to the investors related to tax issues, analysts said. "We maintain our positive st

This is the first-ever budget that will stimulate industrial growth, President of Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Mian Anis A Sheikh said on Saturday. Talking to reporters here after the presentation of the budget, he said that the reductio

This is the first-ever budget that will stimulate industrial growth, President of Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Mian Anis A Sheikh said on Saturday. Talking to reporters here after the presentation of the budget, he said that the reductio

Government employees on Saturday rejected an ad hoc relief of 20 percent in their basic pays, describing the move too meagre. Khalid Mehmood Sanghera, the Divisional President of All-Pakistan Clerks Association, said that the government had promised to in

Hundreds of employees working in federal government departments and state-run corporations such as Utility Stores, Postal services, Banks, Oil and Gas Development Corporation (OGDC), Wapda and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) on Saturday staged a d

Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) has said that budget would hardly be doing any favour to the country's ailing economy, as government did not give any substantive plan to overcome ongoing electricity crisis. The PIAF Chairman Soha

Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) has said that budget would hardly be doing any favour to the country's ailing economy, as government did not give any substantive plan to overcome ongoing electricity crisis. The PIAF Chairman Soha

Punjab Agriculture Minister Malik Ahmad Ali alleged on Saturday that the federal government had neglected agriculture in the proposed budget 2012-13 and proved that it was an anti-grower government. He said fertiliser prices were already sky-high and furt

Punjab Agriculture Minister Malik Ahmad Ali alleged on Saturday that the federal government had neglected agriculture in the proposed budget 2012-13 and proved that it was an anti-grower government. He said fertiliser prices were already sky-high and furt

Senior Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab Senator Sirdar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa has said that Federal Government instead of providing relief to the people in the budget has promoted corruption and personal publicity which will harm the country. He said tha

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Mian Nawaz Sharif has expressed concern over current state of national economy and also sought suggestions from economic experts to steer the country out of present difficult situation. A delegation of trader

The city police have launched a crackdown against the persons running guesthouses in the residential areas of the city as they are allegedly involved in immoral activities. During the crackdown the Margalla and Golra Police have arrested 14 persons at var

The incidents of robberies have shown increasing trend last week as Capital police have registered 14 cases along with eight cases of car lifting and one each of murder and kidnapping. According to data gathered by Business Recorder, the Margalla Police S

The protestation against massive load-shedding of electricity was continued on second consecutive day, here on Saturday, while shutter down strike also observed at the call of Traders Alliance, resultantly business activities remained halted. Meanwhile, P

The budget for the next fiscal year is meaningless in view of the government's performance figures, Vice-Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Saturday. Terming the budget a jugglery of figures, he said that the govern

The budget is full of wrong allocation of funds and misplacement of priorities. Budget makers have failed to realise the importance of major irritations besetting the economy and evolving appropriate strategy for their solutions, Pakistan Textile Exporter

The budget is full of wrong allocation of funds and misplacement of priorities. Budget makers have failed to realise the importance of major irritations besetting the economy and evolving appropriate strategy for their solutions, Pakistan Textile Exporter

Provincial Minister for Zakat and Ushr Malik Nadeem Kamran has said that Peoples Party's government has presented a budget of deficit worth Rs 12 billion as federal government remained busy in looting national exchequer during last four years. Commenting

Punjab Prosecution and Police Department here on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with German authorities for establishing a training academy for prosecutors in the province. The MOU was signed by Prosecutor General Sadaqat Ali Khan, Ad

A most significant and critical public gathering on Sunday, the 13th May, was held in Korangi Township Karachi, under 'Mohajir Suba Tehreek', that was largely ignored by both the print and electronic media, except two private TV channels. The driving forc

For the first time in three-and-a-half years Somali farmers in the strategic Afgoye region outside Mogadishu say they can breath a sigh of relief, as the Islamist insurgent group al-Shabaab has been ousted from their lands. Farmer Hassan Arab says he is o

By all indications, the year 2011-12 has been very unsparing for Pakistan's economy. Apparently, a host of unfavourable factors like severe energy shortages, political uncertainty, fight against terrorism and increasing lawlessness had constrained the eco

As Pakistan's international isolation deepens and it looks around, China instantly comes into sight as one of the few who still stand steadfast in their friendship. Turkey's prime minister Erdogan was here about two weeks ago, and now comes China's For

Deposed Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, 84, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in killing protesters (about 850 people were killed in the 18-day anti-Mubarak revolt) after a trial. The ruling comes at a politically fraught time for

Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (Paapam) Chairman Syed Nabeel Hashmi has termed the federal budget 2012-13 normal, as under the circumstances it is not very bad. He said that changes in the income tax and sales tax r

Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (Paapam) Chairman Syed Nabeel Hashmi has termed the federal budget 2012-13 normal, as under the circumstances it is not very bad. He said that changes in the income tax and sales tax r

Minister for Education Punjab, Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman has said that provincial government is working hard to achieve 88 percent literacy rate till 2015 so that to fulfil the international commitment under millennium development goals. He said that 2

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting to review the law and order situation in the province here on Saturday at his tent office set up at Minar-e-Pakistan. Provincial Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah Khan, Members National a

Federal Minister for Regulations and Services, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Saturday said that the previous rulers were accountable for failing to produce electricity during their tenures resultantly gap between demand and supply widen. Speaking at ceremony s

The budget for the next fiscal year falls short of the industry's expectations, Chairman of the Site Association of Industry (SAI) Mohammad Irfan Moton said on Saturday. He saidm that the time was ripe for an aggressive budget but "unfortunately that hasn

The budget for the next fiscal year falls short of the industry's expectations, Chairman of the Site Association of Industry (SAI) Mohammad Irfan Moton said on Saturday. He saidm that the time was ripe for an aggressive budget but "unfortunately that hasn

In order to cope with fourth coming anticipated heavy rains minimise the losses a comprehensive plan was discussed in the meeting presided by Sindh Minister for Fisheries at ex-Zila Nazim Secretariat Hyderabad. Addressing the meeting, Sindh Minister direc

There was no let up in the ongoing spate of targeted killings on Saturday, as five more persons, including a former activists of the Pakistan Peoples Party, were killed in various parts of the Sindh metropolis here on Saturday. According to police and res

The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), held a rigorous retailers' conference here as part of its sustained national outreach for retailers and distributors. An official of the company said on Saturday that the conference was attended by a

State Bank of Pakistan Governor Yaseen Anwar has said that archival collections constitute an important part of society's cultural and intellectual heritage, thereby contributing to the formation of a nation's collective memory.

Unveiling the shadow provincial budget 2012-13, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a major partner in the Sindh government, has proposed Rs 484 billion surplus budget with a proposed allocation of Rs 160 billion for development projects. The MQM suggeste

Unveiling the shadow provincial budget 2012-13, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a major partner in the Sindh government, has proposed Rs 484 billion surplus budget with a proposed allocation of Rs 160 billion for development projects. The MQM suggeste

The Privatisation Commission has registered Trusts in 64 government owned entities to distribute certificates of Benazir Employees Stock Scheme (BESOS) till date, according to Economic Survey (2011-12). The government also initiated the programme for publ

The Federal Board of Revenue has increased sales tax rate on steel products to generate additional revenue in the upcoming fiscal year. Arshad Shehzad, a tax expert, while commenting on the special procedure for payment of sales tax on re-rollers, steel m

President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed heartfelt grief and sorrow on the sad demise of Ata Rabbani, father of Senator Mian Raza Rabbani. In his condolence message, the President prayed to Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and to give

Police on Saturday recovered the body of an underage girl, who had been missing for over a month from Gulshan-e-Iqbal, was found from an under-construction building located near Safoora Goth on Saturday. According to the SHO Sacchal police station, the bo

A Chinese company would invest in the development of Zulfiqarabad City and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be signed between Sindh government and the Chinese company's representatives during President Asif Ali Zardari's China visit.

Representatives of different farmers' organisations terming the federal budget 2012-13 as anti-agriculture and anti-farmers have said that there is no mention of steps for development of agriculture, which contributes over 23 per cent in the national gros

Representatives of different farmers' organisations terming the federal budget 2012-13 as anti-agriculture and anti-farmers have said that there is no mention of steps for development of agriculture, which contributes over 23 per cent in the national gros

Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Amir Haider Khan Hoti has requested the Federal Government to shift Dr Shakeel Afridi to any other place in the country, a private TV channel reported Saturday. Talking to the channel, he said that Dr Afridi's life is

Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Amir Haider Khan Hoti has requested the Federal Government to shift Dr Shakeel Afridi to any other place in the country, a private TV channel reported Saturday. Talking to the channel, he said that Dr Afridi's life is

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Saturday termed the federal budget 2012-13 disappointing and said that it lacked remedial measures to cope with the looming energy crisis or measures to recover written off loans amounting to Rs 300 billion, necessa

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Saturday termed the federal budget 2012-13 disappointing and said that it lacked remedial measures to cope with the looming energy crisis or measures to recover written off loans amounting to Rs 300 billion, necessa

Standard & Poor''s Ratings Services reaffirmed its ''BB-'' long-term and ''B'' short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Bangladesh with a stable outlook, a statement of the country''s central bank said on Saturday. The country got

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services reaffirmed its 'BB-' long-term and 'B' short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Bangladesh with a stable outlook, a statement of the country's central bank said on Saturday. The country got the s

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services reaffirmed its 'BB-' long-term and 'B' short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Bangladesh with a stable outlook, a statement of the country's central bank said on Saturday. The country got the s

India''s state-run oil refiners have agreed to a partial rollback of last month''s gasoline price increase, a move that was expected after a public outcry over the steepest rise in the country''s history. With effect from Sunday, retail gasoline prices wi