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Print - 2015-03-21
Ministry allowed to supply LNG to fertilizer sector

Ministry allowed to supply LNG to fertilizer sector

Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has allowed Petroleum Ministry to supply imported LNG to fertilizer sector after fulfilling power sector's needs. Official documents available with Business Recorder reveal that the ECC was info
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Currency notes: exchange rates

Currency notes: exchange rates

Exchange rates for Currency Notes issued by the Treasury Management Division of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) here on Friday (March 20, 2015).

Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Conversion for foreign currency deposits

Conversion for foreign currency deposits

Conversion for foreign currency deposits, DBC/FCBC, special USD bond & profits thereon (excluding FE-25 deposits) on Friday (March 20, 2015).

Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Exchange rates: buying and selling

Exchange rates: buying and selling

Exchange rates issued by the Treasury Management Division of National Bank of Pakistan on Friday (March 20, 2015).

Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Barclays bid rates and maximum rates for payment of interest

Barclays bid rates and maximum rates for payment of interest

Barclays bid rates, maximum rates for payment of interest by authorised dealers on deposits (other than those brought under FE Circular No: 45 of 1985) and on deposits (brought under FE Circular No: 45 of 1985) - issued by the Foreign Exchange Rates Commi
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
State Bank of Pakistan conversion rates

State Bank of Pakistan conversion rates

Rates applicable for conversion into rupees of Foreign Currency Deposits, Dollar Bearer Certificates, Foreign Currency Bearer Certificates, Special US Dollar bonds and profits thereon by all banks and also for providing forward cover on foreign currency d
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
BRIDGE NOTES: Brain fatigue in defense

BRIDGE NOTES: Brain fatigue in defense

Defense in Bridge can be quite tough at times. In the heat of the moment at the table, defense can falter when the declarer cleverly conceals his distribution and intentions from his opponents. Of course most of the time the defense can judge what the dec
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
'Frozen 2' on the way

'Frozen 2' on the way

Do you wanna build a sequel? For Disney, the answer is an obvious yes. Disney Animation announced Thursday that a follow-up to the animated mega-hit "Frozen" - which raked in nearly $1.3 billion in global ticket sales - is in the works.
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Gowns steal the show in new 'Cinderella' movie

Gowns steal the show in new 'Cinderella' movie

The gowns almost steal the show in the new Disney live-action version of "Cinderella", actresses Lily James and Helena Bonham-Carter said on Friday at the film's world premiere, but neither would recommend their dresses for street wear. James, in the titl
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Space, the next frontier for 'Insurgent' author

Space, the next frontier for 'Insurgent' author

Cult US teen author Veronica Roth has come a long way in only a few years. And it seems her next step - at least, in a literary sense - will be into space. The 26-year-old published her debut novel "Divergent" in 2011, launching a dystopian trilogy that h
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
A Minute With: Sean Penn on 'Gunman,' Haiti and superheroes

A Minute With: Sean Penn on 'Gunman,' Haiti and superheroes

Sean Penn is not all gruff voice and intense gaze. He can have a good laugh too, like when he envisions himself as a superhero. For the thriller "The Gunman," opened in US theaters on March 20, the 54-year-old actor and activist talked to Reuters about w
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Scientist hopes vest will broaden range of human senses

Scientist hopes vest will broaden range of human senses

Neuroscientist David Eagleman hopes that one day a special piece of clothing he has designed will let the deaf "hear" and allow wearers to sense what is happening online without looking at a computer. Eagleman's so-called VEST, whose name comes from the f
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Gates calls for 'germ games' instead of war games

Gates calls for 'germ games' instead of war games

Bill Gates opened a mock Ebola field hospital at the prestigious TED Conference on Wednesday as part of a call to be battle-ready for a deadly global epidemic. The Microsoft software mogul and philanthropist called for "germ games not war games" to train
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Up, up and away: Flying cars may be heading your way soon

Up, up and away: Flying cars may be heading your way soon

Every time Paul Moller gets stuck in a traffic jam, his blood boils as he frets at the wasted time. Unlike most motorists resigned to their fate, Moller is doing something about what is an everyday bugbear in the world's increasingly gridlocked cities.
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Ada Jafri - a rare jewel in Urdu literature's crown

Ada Jafri - a rare jewel in Urdu literature's crown

"Ada Jafri is the first and only lady Poet who carries in her poetry the eternal colours of Ghalib, Iqbal and Jigar." (Jazib Qureshi). The sad day of the March 12 marked the end of the luminous chapter of Urdu literature. The first lady of the Urdu poetry
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
"Make-up glasses" help you see while applying cosmetics

"Make-up glasses" help you see while applying cosmetics

Women who wear glasses are familiar with the problem of putting on facial make-up without being able to see properly. If they want to apply make-up to eyelids and lashes, they have to take their glasses off. That means they often cannot see what they are
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
'World's most beautiful boulevard' turns 150

'World's most beautiful boulevard' turns 150

In 1857, bushy-whiskered Emperor Franz Joseph proclaimed that his rapidly growing imperial capital Vienna needed a radical makeover befitting Austro-Hungary's wealth, might and technological prowess. This year, the centrepiece of the mammoth urban enginee
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
ART FACTS: Embodying a paradox

ART FACTS: Embodying a paradox

I was always surprising while visiting an exhibition at Sanat Gallery, Karachi every time I was impressed by the artworks of the artist displaying his/her works at the gallery. The solo exhibitions as well as residencies at the gallery bring forth the tal
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
KARACHI CHRONICLE: The city of teeming millions will drown by 2060?

KARACHI CHRONICLE: The city of teeming millions will drown by 2060?

Badin and Thatta will drown by 2050 and Karachi by 2060 if immediate steps are not taken to check sea intrusion along the coastal area of Sindh. It is our nature to shrug off news of a disaster which will strike decades from now, about 45 years, into the
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Karachiites classified bookworms!

Karachiites classified bookworms!

Akin to the Founder of Pakistan, Right Honorable Mohammad Ali Jinnah, my father, the late HAJI BHAI ESMAIL DOSSA had a very close affinity with the Zoroastrian community of Bombay and subsequently, also had many a Parsi friend, like Ardeshir Cowasjee in K
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
General Manager Foods, CFO Fauji Fresh n Freeze

General Manager Foods, CFO Fauji Fresh n Freeze

It gives me immense pleasure to witness the launch of IQF technology in Pakistan. For this landmark initiative I thank the management & teams of FFC, who like always, have given Pakistan another reason to excel as a nation. At this auspicious occasion, I
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Message from Chief Executive & Managing Director

Message from Chief Executive & Managing Director

FFC from its core portfolio of fertilizer business has grown phenomenally over the years. The company's ascending performance and continuous growth has enabled us to confidently pursue diversification in other fields. We have ventured into multiple work d
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Message from Chairman and Non-Executive Director

Message from Chairman and Non-Executive Director

I am thankful to Almighty Allah who has enabled our national organizations to reach another pinnacle of excellence today. The launch of FFF means beginning of a new era, and opening of new vistas by jumping the curve from conventional agricultural product
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Wateen, TICI sign interconnect agreement

Wateen, TICI sign interconnect agreement

Wateen Telecom, Pakistan's largest long-haul fibre operator, and Telecommunication Infrastructure Company of Iran (TICI), the sole provider of telecommunication infrastructure services in Iran, have signed an interconnect agreement for provisioning of dat
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
South Korea considers Pakistan as main destination for investment: envoy

South Korea considers Pakistan as main destination for investment: envoy

Ambassador of Republic of Korea Dr Jong Song Hwan has said that Korea considers Pakistan as main destination for investment and businesses. While speaking at a meeting during his visit to Pakistan Textile Exporters Association here on Friday, the Korean e
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Professional cooking course: TEVTA trains 1,200 people

Professional cooking course: TEVTA trains 1,200 people

Technical And Vocational Training Authority Chairperson Irfan Qaiser Shaikh has said TEVTA trained 1,200 people in professional cooking course. This six-month course has successfully started at the Govt. Technical Training Institute Gulberg.
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
PTI's stand: there's zero tolerance towards militancy: Sarwar

PTI's stand: there's zero tolerance towards militancy: Sarwar

Member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Core Committee and Former Governor Punjab Mohammad Sarwar has emphasised that PTI has always stood for the eradication of militant wings and criminals by political parties because politics should only be practised for th
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Rally held in support of army and rangers

Rally held in support of army and rangers

The welfare organisation Sheikh Social Welfare Association on Friday held a rally in support of the Sindh Rangers and the Pakistan Army. According to the details, the rally was conducted from the Bunder Road to the Press Club. The rally was led by Abdul K
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Shahbaz reviews law & order

Shahbaz reviews law & order

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif presided over a high level meeting here on Friday which reviewed overall law and order situation and the tragic incidents that took place in Youhanabad. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the whole natio
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Cotton production increased by 10.59pc: PCGA

Cotton production increased by 10.59pc: PCGA

The Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) fortnightly report shows that around 1,47,85,795 cotton bales were sourced to the country's ginners by March 16, 2015, which shows an increase of 10.59 percent than last year when ginneries received 1,33,69,6
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Conference

Conference

The Lahore School of Economics will host its 11th annual conference on Management of the Pakistan Economy on March 25 and 26, 2015 at its main Burki campus. The theme of the conference is "Pakistan as a regional manufacturing Hub - prospects and challenge
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Growers to hold rally in Lahore on March 25

Growers to hold rally in Lahore on March 25

The Pakistan Mutthida Kissan Mahaz and the Pakistan Kissan Ittehad have announced that they will stage a big rally at Nasir Bagh in the provincial metropolis on March 25 to press the government to subsidise the agriculture which according to them has beco
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Pakistan crashed out in World Cup

Pakistan crashed out in World Cup

That Pakistan have lost to Australia in a quarter-final contest for the semi-final of the much coveted Cricket World Cup is a grim reality that has disappointed all Pakistanis at home and abroad. Not only did Pakistan bat miserably, they also squandered a
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
India's fast-growing cities face water crisis

India's fast-growing cities face water crisis

Ranbir Singh still remembers when the wells in his village on New Delhi's south-western edge were filled with sweet-tasting water and livestock drank from the small ponds that dotted the area.
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
The sound footings of an economy

The sound footings of an economy

Does truth pay? That was the question that one faced in an introspective manner. Is it worthwhile to have trust on one's side? As I look back I find that the character that is built in the personality is not only a function of education but also a functio
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Netanyahu's victory

Netanyahu's victory

Contrary to opinion polls that predicted centre-left Zionist Union's (Labour party) victory in Tuesday's Israeli elections, Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party has won again. The Zionist Union's emphasis on socio-economic issues appeared to be resonating wit
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Defending the Indefensible

Defending the Indefensible

Federal Minister for Water and Power, Khwaja Asif, vociferously defended his Ministry's' performance during a question-hour in the National Assembly and gave a shut-up call to his predecessor Naveed Qamar from the PPP by challenging the Ministry's perform
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
New York cotton

New York cotton

The following were the fluctuations observed during the day:

Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
New York cotton

New York cotton

The following were the fluctuations observed during the day:

Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Cotton dips after rally but posts largest weekly gain in six months

Cotton dips after rally but posts largest weekly gain in six months

Cotton futures fell from two-week highs in light volume on Friday as investors who had covered short positions in the prior sessions decided whether to re-enter with long positions. The front-month May cotton contract on ICE Futures US dipped 0.13 cent, o
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Shanghai copper climbs

Shanghai copper climbs

The most-traded May copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange climbed 1 percent to 42,020 yuan ($6,790) a tonne on Friday with losses curbed by supply concerns as a blockade of the Grasberg mine in Indonesia entered its fifth day. "Copper may have
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Copper hits two-month peak, aluminium inventories jump

Copper hits two-month peak, aluminium inventories jump

Copper prices jumped to a two-month high on Friday after Chinese inventories fell for the first time in two months, a signal that demand in the top metals consumer is slowly recovering after a holiday. Prices also gained support from a fall in the dollar
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Oil jumps on weaker dollar; US crude up 4pc

Oil jumps on weaker dollar; US crude up 4pc

Oil prices jumped on Friday with US crude up 4 percent after the dollar fell on interest-rate uncertainty, lifting demand for dollar-denominated commodities from holders of other currencies. Benchmark Brent oil snapped two straight weeks of losses while U
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Rubber down

Rubber down

Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures edged lower on Friday amid thin trade with no fresh news, finishing the week about 1 percent down as a slowing economy in China, the world's top buyer, weighs on demand for raw materials. The Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM)
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Soya and corn drop; wheat mixed

Soya and corn drop; wheat mixed

US corn and soyabean futures fell on Thursday, pressured by strength in the dollar that threatened to further chill already cool demand for US exports, traders said. "It was all about the US dollar today, as the night session gapped higher on big volume o
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Palm oil down

Palm oil down

Malaysian palm oil futures dropped on Friday as weak export figures worried traders, but the soft dollar helped to limit losses. Exports of Malaysian palm oil products for Mar. 1-20 fell 7.1 percent from the same period last month to 652,837 tonnes cargo
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Raw sugar rebounds from six-year low

Raw sugar rebounds from six-year low

Raw sugar futures on ICE turned higher on Friday as Brazil's real currency rallied against a sagging US dollar. The recent depreciation in the real had triggered selling by system funds with dollar-denominated sugar prices correlated with the currency of
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Gold up in New York

Gold up in New York

Gold pared gains Thursday from a two-week high, clinging to short-covering gains despite the US dollar's recovery after a more cautious than expected interest rate statement from the US Federal Reserve. Spot gold hit a peak of $1,177.46 an ounce earlier i
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Gold steady in Asia

Gold steady in Asia

Gold held recent gains to trade near a two-week high on Friday and was headed for its biggest weekly jump since January, after the Federal Reserve cautioned over its rate hike path and US economic growth. Spot gold was steady at $1,171.20 an ounce by 0730
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Gold and silver rise in European trade

Gold and silver rise in European trade

Gold hit two-week highs on Friday and stayed on track for its biggest weekly jump since January, after the US Federal Reserve sounded a cautious note on interest rates, arresting a dollar rally. The US currency fell 1 percent on Friday, heading for its wo
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
US MIDDAY: corn, soya and wheat up

US MIDDAY: corn, soya and wheat up

US corn, soyabeans and wheat futures rallied on Friday as investors used a sharp drop in the dollar as an excuse to cover short positions ahead of the weekend, traders said. Investment funds had built up short positions in all three commodities at the beg
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
US MIDDAY: gold and silver jump

US MIDDAY: gold and silver jump

Gold prices hit two-week highs early on Friday and were poised for their biggest weekly jump since mid-January, after the US Federal Reserve's cautious note on interest rates arrested a dollar rally and sparked broad-based buying of commodities. The US cu
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Daily trading report of PMEX

Daily trading report of PMEX

On Thursday at Pakistan Mercantile Exchange (PMEX) value traded was PKR 3.136 billion. The number of lots traded was 21.974. PMEX Commodity Index closed at 2,496. Major business was contributed by crude oil amounting to PKR 1.967 billion. This was followe
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
US natural gas futures fall 3.7 percent

US natural gas futures fall 3.7 percent

US natural gas futures lost 3.7 percent on Thursday after the government reported a slightly smaller-than-expected storage draw. Front-month gas futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange closed down 10.7 cents at $2.813 per million British thermal units
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Canadian canola futures rise

Canadian canola futures rise

ICE Canadian canola futures rose on Thursday on weakness in the Canadian dollar, and shrugged off a dip in soybean prices. May canola gained $2.10 to $465 per tonne. July canola added $1.60 to $461 per tonne. May-July spread traded 1,456 times. Chicago Bo
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
China buys 450,000 tonnes of high-protein wheat

China buys 450,000 tonnes of high-protein wheat

Chinese buyers purchased around 450,000 tonnes of high protein wheat over the last few days, with more imports expected due to a domestic shortage of high quality grades, traders and industry sources said. China bought around 300,000 tonnes of high protei
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Bangladesh tea prices fall

Bangladesh tea prices fall

Tea prices in Bangladesh fell sharply for a second straight week at the weekly auction on Wednesday on subdued demand from local buyers despite a drop in supplies amid political unrest. Bangladesh has been racked by political unrest since anti-government
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
EU wheat futures rise to seven-week high

EU wheat futures rise to seven-week high

European Union wheat futures rose on Monday to their highest in nearly seven weeks as a bounce in US prices encouraged buyers to take the market above a recent consolidation zone. The May milling wheat, the benchmark on Euronext's established No 2 wheat c
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Activities at Karachi and Qasim ports

Activities at Karachi and Qasim ports

The Karachi Port handled 140,393 tonnes of cargo comprising 117,322 tonnes of import cargo and 23,071 tonnes of export cargo including 5,099 loaded and empty containers during the last 24 hours ending at 0700 hours on Friday.
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Cotton market: mills lay hands on fine quality stuff

Cotton market: mills lay hands on fine quality stuff

A modest trading activity was again witnessed on the cotton market on Friday as mills and spinners cover immediate needs, dealers said. The official spot rate was inert at Rs 5050, dealers said. In the ready session, around 6,000 bales of cotton changed h
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
No change on grain market

No change on grain market

According to the Wholesale Grain Merchant Group, no change was seen on the local commodity market on Friday.
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
CBOT wheat futures mixed

CBOT wheat futures mixed

Chicago Board of Trade futures closed mixed on Thursday as fund short-covering offset pressure from a rebound in the dollar and beneficial showers in the southern US Plains, traders said. CBOT May wheat hits a one-month high at $5.20, near its 50-day movi
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
BNY Mellon to pay $714 million to settle foreign exchange cases

BNY Mellon to pay $714 million to settle foreign exchange cases

Bank of New York Mellon Corp has agreed to pay $714 million to settle allegations that the bank overcharged pension funds and other clients for foreign exchange services, US federal and state authorities said on Thursday.
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Ukraine expects bondholders to take haircut

Ukraine expects bondholders to take haircut

Ukraine Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko said Friday that restructuring the country's finances is going to require bondholders to write off some of the debt. "Given the amount of public sector sovereign debt that we have... this means that this restructur
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Ukraine expects bondholders to take haircut

Ukraine expects bondholders to take haircut

Ukraine Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko said Friday that restructuring the country's finances is going to require bondholders to write off some of the debt. "Given the amount of public sector sovereign debt that we have... this means that this restructur
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Strong dollar good for US: Lew

Strong dollar good for US: Lew

US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said Friday that the surge in the US dollar represents the gains made by the economy and is good for the country. "A strong dollar is good for America, it reflects a strong US economy," Lew said at a round-table discussion
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Violence cost Mexico $233 billion

Violence cost Mexico $233 billion

Violence in Mexico cost the country $233 billion last year, equivalent to 17.3 percent of gross domestic product, or three times the government's spending on health, according to a study. The Institute for Economics and Peace, a global think tank, said in
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
As Australia sheds mining jobs, professions enjoy a hiring frenzy

As Australia sheds mining jobs, professions enjoy a hiring frenzy

Employment in Australia's hard-pressed mining sector fell by almost a fifth in the past year as tumbling commodity prices ate into profits, leaving it at its lowest ebb since mid-2011. Yet twice as many new jobs have been created in professional, scientif
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Putin calls for currency union with former Soviet allies

Putin calls for currency union with former Soviet allies

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday called for a single currency with the Kremlin's closest ex-Soviet allies despite fraying ties in the region which is struggling with the fallout from Moscow's economic crisis.
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Philippine financial capital in chaos as two mayors stand off

Philippine financial capital in chaos as two mayors stand off

The Philippines' financial capital Makati has been plunged into chaos with two politicians claiming to be mayor, forcing courts to close and delaying government business during a bitter stand-off triggered by graft claims. Surrounded by hundreds of suppor
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Philippine financial capital in chaos as two mayors stand off

Philippine financial capital in chaos as two mayors stand off

The Philippines' financial capital Makati has been plunged into chaos with two politicians claiming to be mayor, forcing courts to close and delaying government business during a bitter stand-off triggered by graft claims. Surrounded by hundreds of suppor
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
China finally gets official PlayStations, minus some games

China finally gets official PlayStations, minus some games

Japanese electronics giant Sony on Friday launched its PlayStation gaming console in China, where authorities impose strict controls on content, but some popular titles including "Grand Theft Auto" and "Call of Duty" were not available. China last year au
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
New GMO potatoes, apples approved for US market

New GMO potatoes, apples approved for US market

Potatoes that are genetically engineered to withstand bruising and produce less of a harmful chemical when fried, along with two kinds of browning-resistant apples were approved for the US market Friday.
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Shell sells Nigerian oil field stake to local firm

Shell sells Nigerian oil field stake to local firm

Royal Dutch Shell's Nigerian unit has sold its stake in a Niger Delta oil field for $737 million (684 million euros) to a local company, the British energy group said Friday. Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited - a joint venture with th
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Lufthansa cancels half of long-haul, cargo flights Saturday

Lufthansa cancels half of long-haul, cargo flights Saturday

German airline Lufthansa said Friday it has cancelled around half of all long-haul and cargo flights on Saturday as its pilots stage a walkout for the fourth consecutive day. Lufthansa said in a statement that it had grounded 74 out of a total 160 inter-c
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
EU offers Greece funds but expects reforms

EU offers Greece funds but expects reforms

The European Union offered Greece funds Friday to deal with what it called a humanitarian crisis after the new prime minister Alexis Tsipras vowed to clarify bailout reform pledges demanded by creditors. After crisis talks between Tsipras and European lea
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
EU leaders to visit Tunis to bolster anti-terror fight

EU leaders to visit Tunis to bolster anti-terror fight

Top EU officials said Friday they would visit Tunisia this month to back the fight against a growing Islamist militant threat from north Africa after this week's deadly Tunis museum attack. European Council President Donald Tusk and EU diplomatic chief Fe
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Switzerland to take part in founding of AIIB bank

Switzerland to take part in founding of AIIB bank

Switzerland will participate in the establishment of a new international development bank backed by China, along with several other western European countries, the Swiss government said on Friday. The Alpine nation will become a prospective founding membe
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
US first lady in first Cambodia trip

US first lady in first Cambodia trip

Michelle Obama flew into Cambodia late Friday becoming the first wife of a sitting US president to visit the country, part of a two-nation trip to highlight the importance of girls' education. The First Lady travelled from Osaka to the city of Siem Reap w
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Rolex scandal minister rejects blame for Italy kickbacks

Rolex scandal minister rejects blame for Italy kickbacks

An Italian minister caught up in the country's biggest corruption scandal in two decades resigned Friday, admitting he had to take political responsibility for the rigging of public works tenders that cost taxpayers billions. But the outgoing Transport an
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
UKIP hit by suspensions, resignation ahead of May vote

UKIP hit by suspensions, resignation ahead of May vote

Britain's eurosceptic, anti-immigration UK Independence Party (UKIP) was in turmoil Friday after two candidates for May's general election were suspended and another quit. One of the party's members in the European Parliament, Janice Atkinson, was suspend
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Number of asylum applicants to EU jumps 44 percent

Number of asylum applicants to EU jumps 44 percent

The number of applicants for asylum to EU countries increased last year to 626,000, a surge of 44 percent fuelled by refugees from the civil war in Syria, the European Union's statistics agency said Friday. The overall figure for asylum applicants increas
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Bulgaria gives green light to Nato command centre

Bulgaria gives green light to Nato command centre

Bulgaria cleared the way Friday for a new Nato command centre in the former Warsaw Pact country to shore up the eastern flank of the alliance against Russian "aggression". The centre is one of six being set up over the next year by the alliance alongside
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
European police swoop on Chinese human traffickers

European police swoop on Chinese human traffickers

European police have arrested 26 suspects in a four-country swoop aimed at rooting out Chinese gangs involved in human trafficking, Europol said on Friday. Police in Austria, Cyprus, Slovenia and Switzerland pounced on 288 Chinese-owned businesses, checki
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Pope under fire as disgraced anti-gay cleric quits as cardinal

Pope under fire as disgraced anti-gay cleric quits as cardinal

Pope Francis came under fire on Friday after accepting the de facto resignation of a British cardinal disgraced in a sex scandal without any follow-up on the allegations against him. A statement from the Vatican said Francis had accepted British former ar
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Four UK journalists cleared over illegal payments

Four UK journalists cleared over illegal payments

Four senior journalists at Britain's top-selling The Sun tabloid were on Friday cleared of wrongdoing over the payment of public officials for stories, including about Princes William and Harry. Chief reporter John Kay and royal editor Duncan Larcombe wer
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Turkey moves to tighten control on Internet

Turkey moves to tighten control on Internet

Turkey's parliament has approved legislation to tighten the government's control over the Internet by allowing it to block websites without prior judicial authorisation, official media said Friday. The Internet legislation is the most controversial articl
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Lisicki ends Pennetta's Indian Wells repeat bid

Lisicki ends Pennetta's Indian Wells repeat bid

Sabine Lisicki was too much for defending champion Flavia Pennetta on Thursday, saving three match points in a three-set win over the Italian to book her Indian Wells semi-final berth. Pennetta had hoped to repeat her surprise victory of last year, and ma
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
PCB chief lauds Pakistan team's efforts

PCB chief lauds Pakistan team's efforts

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Mohammad Khan has commiserated with Team Pakistan on losing its quarterfinal against Australia at Adelaide on Friday.
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am
Misbah and Afridi bow out in frustration

Misbah and Afridi bow out in frustration

Misbah-ul-Haq and all-rounder Shahid Afridi bowed out of one-day international cricket with their dreams unfulfilled on Friday as Pakistan crashed out in the World Cup quarter-finals against Australia in Adelaide.
Published 21 Mar, 2015 12:00am