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Print - 2013-04-20
New York cotton

New York cotton

The fluctuations observed during the day:

Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Bulls rule the roost

Bulls rule the roost

Bulls again defeated bears at Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) on the last day of the trading week as the benchmark-100 index gained 16.85 points to close at 18,631.21 points against 18,614.36 points Thursday. Commenting on the market performance, Khalid Usma
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Bulls rule the roost

Bulls rule the roost

Bulls again defeated bears at Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) on the last day of the trading week as the benchmark-100 index gained 16.85 points to close at 18,631.21 points against 18,614.36 points Thursday. Commenting on the market performance, Khalid Usma
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
BRIDGE NOTES: The magic of squeeze

BRIDGE NOTES: The magic of squeeze

The squeeze play can be a fascinating affair and the most rewarding of all Bridge plays. Today's illustration is one such lesson in squeeze play.
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Rockets wound eight near election rally in SWA

Rockets wound eight near election rally in SWA

A rocket attack close to an election rally wounded at least eight people on Friday in a troubled tribal district on the Afghan border, officials said. The attack took place in Wana, the main town of South Waziristan. "At least eight people were wounded wh
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Do people like me?

Do people like me?

Poet, short-story writer, journalist, artist and columnist Abeda Iqbal Azad passed away on April 20, 2012. Abeda was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She was a graduate of medicine but toggled between multi lines of interest. She also translated many short stor
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Rockets wound eight near election rally in SWA

Rockets wound eight near election rally in SWA

A rocket attack close to an election rally wounded at least eight people on Friday in a troubled tribal district on the Afghan border, officials said. The attack took place in Wana, the main town of South Waziristan. "At least eight people were wounded wh
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
ART FACTS: The art of making, decorating pottery

ART FACTS: The art of making, decorating pottery

Many cultures have produced pottery which combines a function as a vessel. And clay is one of the oldest materials for pottery as well as clay being the medium originally modelled for casting. Hamir Soomro also got inspired by ceramics works about two yea
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
No complacency on security, Prime Minister tells three CMs, others

No complacency on security, Prime Minister tells three CMs, others

The caretaker government on Friday said that although the deteriorating law and order situation was a serious challenge ahead of the general elections, nothing could thwart the holding of free, fair and transparent elections. A meeting on law and order si
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
'The Face of Climate Change'

'The Face of Climate Change'

On Sunday, billions of people around the world will celebrate the International Earth Day. The main purpose of the day is to save our mother Earth from the challenges, which are threatening its existence. The global theme for Earth Day 2013 is "The Face o
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
No complacency on security, Prime Minister tells three CMs, others

No complacency on security, Prime Minister tells three CMs, others

The caretaker government on Friday said that although the deteriorating law and order situation was a serious challenge ahead of the general elections, nothing could thwart the holding of free, fair and transparent elections. A meeting on law and order si
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
KARACHI CHRONICLE: Child voters

KARACHI CHRONICLE: Child voters

Unfortunately, it is exam time, otherwise many leading Karachi schools in the public and private sectors, in poor and affluent institutions would be holding mock elections. This is a practice in the democratic developed countries, particularly our patron
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Noisemakers

Noisemakers

"The more interviews that an expert had done with the press, Tetlock found, the worse his predictions tended to be."? Nate Silver, The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail - But Some Don't.
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Indian sugar futures steady

Indian sugar futures steady

Indian sugar futures were treading water on Thursday as surplus supplies outweighed summer demand. The key May contract on India's National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange was down 0.17 percent at 2,950 rupees ($54.47)per 100 kg at 0905 GMT, after fall
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Corn, soya offers rise at US Gulf Coast

Corn, soya offers rise at US Gulf Coast

Corn export premiums at the US Gulf Coast rose on Thursday, despite minimal export demand, as flooding that was expected to halt barge shipments on Midwest rivers sent spot CIF barge basis values sharply higher, traders said. Soyabean export premiums were
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Brazil's cane zones dry out, sugar harvest seen quickening

Brazil's cane zones dry out, sugar harvest seen quickening

Brazil's center-south cane belt will stay dry for the next few weeks, forecaster Somar said on Thursday, speeding up the harvest of cane and output of sugar that was hampered by an unusually wet start to April. "The outlook for sugar cane is favourable be
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
HRW wheat bids flat

HRW wheat bids flat

Spot basis bids for hard red winter wheat were unchanged on Thursday in the southern US Plains and Gulf export markets, and country movement was hushed, dealers said. Another round of freezing temperatures in the southern Plains probably harmed more of th
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Ukraine exports 12.5 million tonnes of maize

Ukraine exports 12.5 million tonnes of maize

Ukraine's maize exports are unlikely to exceed 12.0-12.5 million tonnes in the 2012/13 season, compared to the previous year's 15 million tonnes, due to a smaller harvest and sluggish demand, traders said on Thursday. The former Soviet republic cut maize
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Indian soya futures extend gains

Indian soya futures extend gains

Indian soyabean futures extended the previous session's gains on Thursday due to an upside in overseas prices and thin supplies in the local spot market amid healthy demand from oil mills. Soyaoil rose, following gains in Malaysian palm oil, while rapesee
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
European wheat futures higher as US crop risks support

European wheat futures higher as US crop risks support

European wheat futures in Paris were flat to higher on Thursday as weather-fuelled gains in the US market lent support. But movements in Paris continued to be modest after mild weather in western Europe this week eased crop concerns and as operators await
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Activity at Karachi and Qasim ports

Activity at Karachi and Qasim ports

The Karachi Port handled 96,179 tonnes of cargo comprising 58,777 tonnes of import cargo and 37,402 tonnes of export cargo including 2,887 loaded and empty containers during the last 24 hours ended at 0700 hours on Friday. The total import cargo of 58,777
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
No change on grain market

No change on grain market

According to the Grain and Oilseed Merchant Group, no change was seen in the commodity rates on Friday.
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Improvement in power supply helps boost cotton market activity

Improvement in power supply helps boost cotton market activity

Trading activity improved on the cotton market on Friday on betterment in the electricity supply in Punjab, dealers said. The official spot rate resisted further decline at Rs 6,650, they said. Rates of seed cotton in Sindh were unchanged at Rs 1,800 and
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Cypress results beat estimates on improving China demand

Cypress results beat estimates on improving China demand

Cypress Semiconductor Corp, which makes touch sensing micro-controllers for cellphones, reported better-than-expected quarterly results on lower costs and an improvement in demand for its products in China. The company's shares rose 4 percent in premarket
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Cypress results beat estimates on improving China demand

Cypress results beat estimates on improving China demand

Cypress Semiconductor Corp, which makes touch sensing micro-controllers for cellphones, reported better-than-expected quarterly results on lower costs and an improvement in demand for its products in China. The company's shares rose 4 percent in premarket
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Puma names former Adidas man as new CEO

Puma names former Adidas man as new CEO

German sportswear giant Puma on Thursday named Bjoern Gulden, a former professional footballer and top manager at rival Adidas, as its new chief executive. "The administrative board of Puma today appointed Bjoern Gulden, 47, as the sports and lifestyle co
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Apec warns against currency devaluations, property bubble

Apec warns against currency devaluations, property bubble

Asia Pacific economies must refrain from competitive currency devaluations and are vulnerable to speculative buying in the housing market, the Apec grouping's research arm said. Massive inflows of funds from industrialised economies into the region where
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Russia rejects Abbott Laboratories' plan to buy Petrovax

Russia rejects Abbott Laboratories' plan to buy Petrovax

Russia's government commission on foreign investment has turned down US group Abbott Laboratories' request to buy Russian vaccine maker Petrovax, the head of Russia's competition regulator said on Friday. "The commission has reviewed the question about th
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
McDonald's sees no restaurant rebound in April

McDonald's sees no restaurant rebound in April

Almost a year after taking over at McDonald's Corp, Chief Executive Don Thompson is still looking for the right recipe to expand restaurant sales, which are being pinched by the weak global economy and stronger competition from revived rivals. The world's
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Microsoft multi-year licence growth softens pain of PC decline

Microsoft multi-year licence growth softens pain of PC decline

Microsoft Corp's strategy of selling more long-term software licences to big business customers is helping to cushion the blow from plummeting PC demand and a faltering start for its Windows 8 system. Personal computer sales fell 14 percent in the first t
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Microsoft multi-year licence growth softens pain of PC decline

Microsoft multi-year licence growth softens pain of PC decline

Microsoft Corp's strategy of selling more long-term software licences to big business customers is helping to cushion the blow from plummeting PC demand and a faltering start for its Windows 8 system. Personal computer sales fell 14 percent in the first t
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Google Internet business solid despite Motorola losses

Google Internet business solid despite Motorola losses

Google Inc's core Internet business grew net revenue 23 percent in the first quarter, softening the effect of a sharp decline in its Motorola mobile phone division. Shares of Google, which reached an all-time high of $844 in March, were up 1.5 percent to
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Google Internet business solid despite Motorola losses

Google Internet business solid despite Motorola losses

Google Inc's core Internet business grew net revenue 23 percent in the first quarter, softening the effect of a sharp decline in its Motorola mobile phone division. Shares of Google, which reached an all-time high of $844 in March, were up 1.5 percent to
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Switzerland among laggards in global hunt for tax cheats: OECD

Switzerland among laggards in global hunt for tax cheats: OECD

Fourteen countries, including Switzerland, were called out on Friday by the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for not meeting new global standards meant to crack down on tax dodgers. The standards - which call for a
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Blackstone ends pursuit of Dell

Blackstone ends pursuit of Dell

Blackstone Group LP has ended its pursuit of Dell Inc, easing the way for founder Michael Dell and his private equity partner Silver Lake to go ahead with a $24.4 billion deal to acquire the world's No 3 PC maker. New York-based Blackstone pulled out just
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
French budget minister resigns from parliament

French budget minister resigns from parliament

France's disgraced former budget minister Jerome Cahuzac has resigned from parliament, officials close to the speaker of France's National Assembly Claude Bartolone told AFP Thursday. Cahuzac, who is facing charges of tax fraud, tendered his resignation t
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Lloyds hires advisers on possible asset manager sale

Lloyds hires advisers on possible asset manager sale

British bank Lloyds has hired advisers for the possible sale of its Scottish Widows asset management arm, as it prepares for a likely regulatory demand to raise more capital, sources said. UK banks are having to consider further disposals after the Bank o
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Lloyds hires advisers on possible asset manager sale

Lloyds hires advisers on possible asset manager sale

British bank Lloyds has hired advisers for the possible sale of its Scottish Widows asset management arm, as it prepares for a likely regulatory demand to raise more capital, sources said. UK banks are having to consider further disposals after the Bank o
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
IBM misses estimates

IBM misses estimates

IBM Corp posted a rare quarterly earnings miss as the technology services company struggled with the depreciation of the Japanese yen and a failure to close a number of major deals, especially in Europe and the United States. Much like Oracle Corp last mo
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
IBM misses estimates

IBM misses estimates

IBM Corp posted a rare quarterly earnings miss as the technology services company struggled with the depreciation of the Japanese yen and a failure to close a number of major deals, especially in Europe and the United States. Much like Oracle Corp last mo
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
UK turns to court to fight eurozone transaction tax plan

UK turns to court to fight eurozone transaction tax plan

Britain has launched a legal challenge against a plan by 11 euro zone countries to set up a financial transaction tax, finance minister George Osborne said on Friday. Britain was concerned that the planned tax, drawn up by the European Commission, would h
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Boeing cuts production rate on 747-8 jumbos

Boeing cuts production rate on 747-8 jumbos

Boeing Co said it would cut the production rate for the latest version of the 747 jumbo jet from 2 aircraft per month to 1.75 aircraft citing lower demand for large passenger and cargo planes. The first delivery of the 747-8 aircraft at the new production
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Brazil blasts Europe, US for IMF reforms delay

Brazil blasts Europe, US for IMF reforms delay

Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega blasted the United States and Europe Friday for stalling reforms that would water down their role in the International Monetary Fund. In a statement as representative to the Fund of 11 member countries, Mantega sai
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Brazil blasts Europe, US for IMF reforms delay

Brazil blasts Europe, US for IMF reforms delay

Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega blasted the United States and Europe Friday for stalling reforms that would water down their role in the International Monetary Fund. In a statement as representative to the Fund of 11 member countries, Mantega sai
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Chinese shares have best day in a month, Hong Kong snaps losing streak

Chinese shares have best day in a month, Hong Kong snaps losing streak

Mainland China shares outshined Asia with their best day in a month on Friday, while Hong Kong markets snapped a five-day losing streak, as investors cheered local news reports pointing to increased foreign participation in the A-share market. Traders sai
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Wall Street falls, bearish signals mount

Wall Street falls, bearish signals mount

US stocks fell on Thursday and the S&P 500 closed below a key technical level after disappointing forecasts from eBay and other companies, casting doubt on the market's recent strength. The S&P 500 ended below its 50-day moving average of 1,543.04 for the
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Seoul shares soar

Seoul shares soar

Seoul shares rose on late Friday bargain-hunting, recovering from an earlier drop as auto shares led by Hyundai Motor plunged due to cost concerns over wage litigation. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed up 0.4 percent at 1,906.75 points
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
US bond prices rise after lukewarm data

US bond prices rise after lukewarm data

Prices for US Treasuries rose on Thursday as soft data pointed to a sluggish a recovery in the world's biggest economy, fuelling bids for safe-haven investments. The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose last week and factor
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
US bond prices rise after lukewarm data

US bond prices rise after lukewarm data

Prices for US Treasuries rose on Thursday as soft data pointed to a sluggish a recovery in the world's biggest economy, fuelling bids for safe-haven investments. The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose last week and factor
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Southeast Asian markets: Philippine at record high, Thailand up

Southeast Asian markets: Philippine at record high, Thailand up

The Philippine main index hit an all-time closing high while Thai benchmark index rose for a second session on Friday after banks such as BDO Unibank Inc and Siam Commercial Bank Pcl reported strong quarterly earnings. Philippine Composite Index climbed 1
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Nikkei average gains

Nikkei average gains

Japanese stocks rose on Friday in choppy trade after a downward trend in the yen helped offset negative sentiment from Wall Street and buoyed some exporters. Investors are keeping an eye on the meeting of officials from the Group of 20 leading economies a
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
European shares post worst weekly loss since November

European shares post worst weekly loss since November

European shares staged a small technical rebound on Friday, helped by merger activity in the mining sector, but a regional benchmark marked its worst weekly loss since November following weak economic data. Kazakh miner Eurasian Natural Resources Corporat
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Taiwan stocks rise

Taiwan stocks rise

Taiwan stocks rose 1.8 percent in their biggest one-day percentage gain in more than six months on Friday, lifted by TSMC after the world's top contract chip maker posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit and issued an upbeat outlook. The main TAIEX
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Australian shares up

Australian shares up

Australian shares ended 0.2 percent higher on Friday, as mining stocks rebounded after the recent sell-off in commodities eased, but the market still suffered its biggest weekly loss in almost a month as global growth concerns weighed on sentiment. Global
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
FTSE 100 recovers as investors hunt for bargains

FTSE 100 recovers as investors hunt for bargains

Britain's top share index edged higher on Friday, with some investors looking for bargains among mining and energy stocks after the recent steep sell off on global growth concerns. The biggest gainer though was Eurasian, which jumped 26.6 percent after it
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Yuan slightly up

Yuan slightly up

The Chinese yuan closed up slightly on Friday after the central bank pushed up the official midpoint amid speculation that authorities were preparing to widen its trading band. The central bank set the midpoint at 6.2395 on Friday morning, up slightly fro
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Yen sags in Asia

Yen sags in Asia

The yen fell on Friday after Japan said the Group of 20 has accepted Tokyo's stance that the Bank of Japan's sweeping monetary expansion is aimed at beating deflation and not at competitively weakening the yen. The comments by Japanese Finance Minister Ta
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Yen falls in London

Yen falls in London

The yen fell on Friday after Japan said the Group of 20 accepted its stance that its aggressive monetary expansion was aimed at beating deflation and not at competitive devaluation. Traders said the lack of objection from the G20 to Japan's policy encoura
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Early trade in New York: dollar, euro soar versus yen

Early trade in New York: dollar, euro soar versus yen

The US dollar and euro rallied more than 1 percent versus the yen on Friday after Japan said the Group of 20 countries did not oppose its aggressive monetary easing aimed at beating deflation rather than weakening the currency. The dollar rose 1.2 percent
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Euro gains versus dollar; yen drops in New York

Euro gains versus dollar; yen drops in New York

The euro edged higher against the dollar on Thursday as more signals of a weakening US economic recovery lifted it from its biggest daily drop in 10 months in the previous session. The yen slipped against the dollar and euro as investors believed Japan wa
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Swiss franc up versus yen

Swiss franc up versus yen

The Swiss franc on Friday rose against the yen that was down against a basket of currencies after Japan eased concerns its bold monetary stimulus could come under criticism at the Group of 20 meeting. The franc rose 0.9 percent against the yen, trading at
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Baht hits fresh 16-year high; peso up

Baht hits fresh 16-year high; peso up

The Philippine peso rose on Friday as investors covered short positions even as the central bank announced steps to curb the currency's upside, while continuing inflows lifted the Thai baht to a fresh 16-year high although some traders booked profits. The
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Sterling rises against dollar

Sterling rises against dollar

Sterling edged up against the dollar on Friday, supported by broad weakness in the yen and talk of corporate flows that could spur demand for the British currency. Analysts said sterling gains were likely to be short-lived however, given concerns the econ
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Australian and New Zealand dollars up

Australian and New Zealand dollars up

The Australian and New Zealand dollars nursed sharp losses on Friday and were on track to end the week down more than 1 percent against a host of currencies as worries over global growth further sapped investor appetites. The Aussie dollar was pinned at $
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Fed Cup powers eye final, USA in Williams boost

Fed Cup powers eye final, USA in Williams boost

Russia, Italy and defending champions Czech Republic, with 14 Fed Cup titles between them, take their powerful legacies into the semi-finals this weekend. But many eyes will be turned away from the all-European last-four ties to focus on the play-off betw
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Nadal dodges Dimitrov bullet in Monte Carlo

Nadal dodges Dimitrov bullet in Monte Carlo

Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov flirted with a massive upset before Rafael Nadal managed to restore normal service as the Spaniard earned a tight 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 win in the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters on Friday. Nadal, bidding for an unprecedented n
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Sui Northern complete double with President's Cup triumph

Sui Northern complete double with President's Cup triumph

Misbah-ul-Haq's Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) ended the 2012-13 domestic season on a high note when they completed the double, beating WAPDA by 32 runs in the final of President's Cup One-Day National Cricket Tournament at National Stadium on Fri
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
McCullum to sue over New Zealand captaincy row

McCullum to sue over New Zealand captaincy row

New Zealand cricket captain Brendon McCullum said Friday he plans to sue former player John Parker for defamation over allegations surrounding his appointment as skipper late last year. McCullum, 31, took over from Ross Taylor in controversial circumstanc
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Terry snubs FA chief Bernstein

Terry snubs FA chief Bernstein

John Terry has admitted he snubbed Football Association chairman David Bernstein's attempt to shake hands during the official Champions League trophy handover on Friday. Terry ignored Bernstein in a show of contempt for the man who stripped the Chelsea de
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
NTDC clinch WAPDA's TT competitions

NTDC clinch WAPDA's TT competitions

National Transmission and Despatch Company Limited (NTDCL) clinched first position in WAPDA annual Table Tennis competitions, held at Shahbaz Sharif Sports Complex. The event was organised by Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), where players from a
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
KCCA bans Sohail, Fawad and Khalid

KCCA bans Sohail, Fawad and Khalid

Karachi cricket chiefs on Friday banned three international players, Sohail Khan, Fawad Alam and Khalid Latif, for lack of discipline during a domestic Twenty20 tournament. Sohail, 29, is banned from playing for Karachi in any domestic match, and Alam and
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Fines, suspensions for Australian relay men

Fines, suspensions for Australian relay men

Six Australian swimmers who admitted taking banned sleeping pills and playing pranks at a pre-Olympics training camp last year were Friday fined and slapped with deferred suspensions. The sport's governing body Swimming Australia said the six-man 4x100m f
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Former England captain Denness dies

Former England captain Denness dies

Former England captain Mike Denness died aged 72 on Friday after a long battle with cancer. Denness was the only Scotsman ever to captain England, leading the team in 19 of his 28 Tests between 1969 and 1975. He also played 12 one-day internationals and w
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Zimbabwe pile on misery for hapless Bangladesh

Zimbabwe pile on misery for hapless Bangladesh

Zimbabwe will go into day four of the first Test against Bangladesh eyeing victory over their closest rivals after gaining the most from a wicket-filled Friday at Harare Sports Club. The hosts went to stumps on 187 for seven in their second innings, with
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Protesters rally in Bahrain before Grand Prix

Protesters rally in Bahrain before Grand Prix

About 10,000 opposition protesters took to the streets of Bahrain on Friday to push their demands for political change two days before the Formula One Grand Prix that puts the Gulf Arab kingdom in the international spotlight. The atmosphere was largely pe
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Russia sacks postal chief over delays

Russia sacks postal chief over delays

The Russian government announced Friday that it had sacked the head of the state postal company Russian Post owing to severe delays in international package delivery. Alexander Kiselyov, who has run the company since 2009, was replaced by telecoms executi
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
New legal strains in Kingfisher jet repossession row

New legal strains in Kingfisher jet repossession row

Indian airports have claimed international law must take a back seat to local courts in a row with foreign aircraft leasing firms over the future of grounded Kingfisher Airlines jets, according to government minutes seen by Reuters.
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Italy centre-left backs former PM Prodi for president

Italy centre-left backs former PM Prodi for president

Italy's main centre-left party chose former Prime Minister Romano Prodi as its presidential candidate on Friday, igniting a battle with Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right that increases the likelihood of a snap election in the summer. Berlusconi's camp imme
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
World's oldest ever man turns 116 in Japan

World's oldest ever man turns 116 in Japan

Jiroemon Kimura, the oldest man ever recorded, celebrated his 116th birthday Friday with a message from Japan's prime minister as health chiefs launched a study into why his home city boasts so many centenarians. It was a busy day for Kimura, who also gre
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Saudi Arabia opens luxury rehab centre for Qaeda militants

Saudi Arabia opens luxury rehab centre for Qaeda militants

Saudi Arabia is hoping to wean jailed al Qaeda militants off religious extremism with counselling, spa treatments and plenty of exercise at a luxury rehabilitation centre in Riyadh. In between sessions with counsellors and talks on religion, prisoners wil
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
German police destroy explosive mailed to president

German police destroy explosive mailed to president

A German police bomb squad Friday destroyed a letter containing an explosive substance that was sent to the Berlin residence of President Joachim Gauck, his office and security sources said. Gauck, whose post as head of state is largely ceremonial, was no
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Abbas pledges talks on new government 'in near future'

Abbas pledges talks on new government 'in near future'

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, under pressure to forge a national unity government, has pledged to launch talks "in the near future" on forming a new cabinet after the resignation of prime minister Salam Fayyad. Abbas made the remarks late Thursday a
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
EU brokers historic Kosovo deal, door opens to Serbia accession

EU brokers historic Kosovo deal, door opens to Serbia accession

Serbia agreed to cede its last remaining foothold in the country's former province of Kosovo on Friday, striking an historic accord to settle relations in exchange for talks on joining the European Union. The deal, brokered by the EU, capped six months of
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
At least 6 dead, 20 missing in shipwreck in Amazonian river

At least 6 dead, 20 missing in shipwreck in Amazonian river

At least six people are dead and more than 20 missing in a shipwreck near the river island of Marajo, in the Brazilian Amazonian state of Para, local authorities said Friday. The Governor's Office in Para said the accident happened late Thursday, when the
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Peacekeeper shot dead in attack on Darfur base

Peacekeeper shot dead in attack on Darfur base

A peacekeeper was shot dead Friday in an attack on an African Union-UN base in Sudan's Darfur, the mission said, two days after the government announced it regained control of the area from rebels. "In the early morning hours of 19 April, one peacekeeper
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Iraq ups security as attacks kill 37 ahead of vote

Iraq ups security as attacks kill 37 ahead of vote

Iraq ramped up security on Friday on the eve of its first election since US troops left, as attacks, including a bombing at a Baghdad cafe, killed 37 people in a spike in unrest before polling day. The deadly violence just before Saturday's provincial ele
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
France to negotiate UN text on Western Sahara

France to negotiate UN text on Western Sahara

France signalled on Friday it would push to modify a US proposal to the United Nations to allow UN peacekeepers to monitor human rights in the disputed Western Sahara before deciding which way it would vote. The dispute, dating back to 1975, pits Morocco,
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
US fears promise of Arab Spring may be lost

US fears promise of Arab Spring may be lost

Global hopes that democracy could replace dictatorships in Arab Spring nations risk being crushed by repressive regimes, the United States warned Friday in its annual human rights report. "The hope of the early days of the Arab Awakening has run up agains
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Polish minister sacked over Russian gas project

Polish minister sacked over Russian gas project

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk sacked Friday the treasury minister for failing to inform him of a key Russian gas pipeline project. "In order to reestablish the treasury ministry's full control over the state's key companies, I've decided to dismiss Mi
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
At least 12 dead in Texas factory blast

At least 12 dead in Texas factory blast

Rescuers in Texas sifting through the rubble of homes destroyed when a fertilizer factory exploded in a massive fireball have so far recovered 12 bodies, an official said Friday. Approximately 200 other people were injured in Wednesday's blast in this sma
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Malta rescues 84 boat migrants in dinghy

Malta rescues 84 boat migrants in dinghy

The Maltese navy rescued a group of 84 migrants on Friday, after the small dinghy they were sailing in got into difficulties while crossing the Mediterranean towards Europe. The group, which included 18 women and 32 children, was taken to Malta following
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Ukraine government beats off no confidence vote

Ukraine government beats off no confidence vote

Ukraine's government survived a no-confidence vote in parliament on Friday despite its unpopularity over pension reform and charges of corruption - an outcome that reaffirmed President Viktor Yanukovich's grip as he eyes a second term in office. Oppositio
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
'Four hit by buckshot' as Egypt Islamists, rivals clash

'Four hit by buckshot' as Egypt Islamists, rivals clash

Four persons were wounded by buckshot on Friday after opposition activists marched on thousands of Islamists rallying outside the Supreme Court in central Cairo demanding judicial reform, an official said. In the clashes, the two sides pelted each other w
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Maduro sworn in as Venezuelan president

Maduro sworn in as Venezuelan president

Nicolas Maduro was sworn in as president of Venezuela on Friday, taking the oath of office in the memory of the late Hugo Chavez to cheers in the National Assembly. "I swear it before the eternal memory of the supreme commander," he said after being read
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Hagel heads to Middle East, arms deal planned

Hagel heads to Middle East, arms deal planned

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel is set to leave Washington on Saturday for a five-nation tour of the Middle East. The trip comes as the United States is close to finalising a 10-billion-dollar arms deal with Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emira
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am
Cotton falls as China reserve sale offsets robust export sales

Cotton falls as China reserve sale offsets robust export sales

ICE cotton fell over 1 percent on Thursday with speculators liquidating long positions as news that China's state reserve will sell some of its massive reserve offset robust weekly export sales data. While a sale this month was expected, traders fear it m
Published 20 Apr, 2013 12:00am