Three police officers were killed in a bomb blast during a vehicle search at a checkpoint outside the north-east Nigerian city of Damaturu on Monday, police and a witness said, Yobe state police spokesman Toyin Gbadegesin told AFP initially that two offic

Support for the government of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has plunged to an all-time low after it pushed unpopular defence bills through parliament despite public anger, according to a new poll. Public approval for the cabinet slumped to 35 percent

A section of a key Gulf Coast waterway was shut after two barges collided Monday, setting one afire and possibly spilling a gasoline additive near the entrance to the Houston Ship Channel, the US Coast Guard said. The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), which ru

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, tasked with steering UN talks towards a climate rescue pact by year's end, urged countries Monday to find "compromise" to boost the flagging process. Rank-and-file negotiators "are being stymied by political questio

Hackers breached the online adultery website Ashley Madison and threatened to expose data on users in an effort to shut down the service which claims millions of members world-wide. Avid Life Media, which owns Ashley Madison, said in a statement Monday an

Ministers from 10 countries gathered in Paris Monday to launch a common drive to introduce plain cigarette packaging with the aim of stubbing out high smoking rates among young people. Representatives from nations as far afield as New Zealand, Australia,

Ministers from 10 countries gathered in Paris Monday to launch a common drive to introduce plain cigarette packaging with the aim of stubbing out high smoking rates among young people. Representatives from nations as far afield as New Zealand, Australia,

Tennis star Roger Federer on Monday swapped his racket for a pair of scissors to cut the ribbon at a new childcare centre in Malawi funded by his foundation. About 10 kilometres (six miles) west of the capital Lilongwe, the windswept village of Lundu has

Hungary's tax office chief, whose US entry visa ban last year over alleged corruption soured relations between Washington and Budapest, has resigned, the country's economy ministry said Monday. Ildiko Vida's resignation took effect on Monday, although she

Four Italian citizens have been kidnapped Libya, the Italian foreign ministry said on Monday. The four employees of construction company Bonatti were kidnapped near a compound owned by Italian oil and gas group Eni in the Mellitah area, the ministry said

Sarfraz Ahmed scored 77 and Yasir Shah grabbed four wickets as Pakistan thrashed Sri Lanka by 135 runs in the violence-hit third one-day international in Colombo on Sunday. All-rounder Mohammad Hafeez made up for a year-long ban on bowling due to a suspec

Rioting crowds forced cricketers to retreat to their dressing rooms as projectiles reached the outer field of the Premadasa Stadium during the third one-day international between Pakistan and hosts Sri Lanka Sunday. Police deployed anti-riot squads to cle

Mitchell Johnson led Australia's attack as they thrashed England by 405 runs to win the second Ashes Test at Lord's on Sunday to level the five-match series at 1-1. England, set what would have been a new fourth-innings record of 509 for victory, collapse

The High Commission of Pakistan in Sri Lanka has hosted a reception for Pakistan and Sri Lankan cricket teams and their managements in Colombo. Speaking on the occasion, High Commissioner Major General (Retd) Syed Shakeel Hussain said the current series w

India's preparations for next year's Olympic field hockey were thrown into turmoil Monday after chief coach Paul van Ass said he had been sacked just five months after taking charge. Speculation over the Dutchman's future arose when he failed to report fo

Zimbabwe ended a run of disappointing defeats with a morale-boosting win over India by 10 runs in the second Twenty20 international at Harare Sports Club on Sunday to earn a share of the series. After Chamu Chibhabha hit a career-best 67 to steer Zimbabwe

FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Monday announced a reform taskforce to try to leave the troubled body in better shape when he finally stands down after a new leader of world football is elected in February. Blatter, 79, tried to look ahead at executive mee

Sterling inched lower on Monday after enjoying its best week in almost six years on a trade-weighted basis, as investors awaited minutes from the Bank of England later in the week for a steer on the timing of interest rate rises. Markets took comments las

Most emerging Asian currencies skidded on Monday as strong US consumer inflation and housing data added to expectations the Federal Reserve will raise interesst rates in the coming months The Thai baht fell to its weakest in more than six years as a deput

A weaker Thai baht will help the country's exports and provide more of a boost to the struggling economy than a rate cut, one of the country's deputy prime ministers said on Friday. Record household debt has blunted the impact of already-low rates on Sout

China's yuan barely moved on Monday after the central bank kept the official guidance rate near unchanged and some state-owned banks were suspected of selling dollars to support the yuan. The People's Bank of China (PBOC) set the midpoint at 6.1197 per do

The Sri Lankan rupee ended steady for a fifth straight session on Monday as a state-run bank kept the selling rate at 133.80 to the dollar amid demand for the greenback from importers, dealers said. The spot currency closed unchanged at 133.80 on Monday,

South Africa's rand weakened in cautious trade on Monday against a surging US dollar ahead of local consumer inflation data and interest rate decision this week. The greenback was lifted by expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate hike this year,

The dollar reached its highest in three months against a basket of currencies on Monday, with the New Zealand dollar the only major standout after comments by Prime Minister John Key gave investors pause for thought on the scale of its slide. Solid US inf

The dollar reached its highest in three months against a basket of currencies on Monday on a rise in US bond yields as traders built bets the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates later this year. A plummet in gold prices to five-year lows also incre

The dollar hit a three-month high against a basket of major currencies on Monday, after solid US inflation and housing data supported expectations for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates in coming months. The greenback is coming off its best weekl

The Australian and New Zealand dollars hovered near six-year lows on Monday, weighed down by weak commodity prices and a diverging interest rate outlook compared with the United States. The Australian dollar was down at $0.7358, having touched a low of $0

The Canadian dollar slipped modestly against its US counterpart in early trade on Monday as the greenback hit its highest level in three months against a basket of currencies, and with Canadian wholesale trade figures showing a slump in May. There was lit

Interbank buy/sell rates for the taka against the dollar on Monday. 77.80-77.80 (previous 77.80-77.80). Call Money Rates: 05.25-6.50 percent (* Previous 05.00-06.50 percent). (* revised).

Britain's top share index edged higher on Monday, boosted by the reopening of banks in Greece and positive broker comments about HSBC and Sports Direct. The bluechip FTSE 100 index closed up 0.2 percent at 6,788.69 points after falling in the previous ses

Indian shares ended marginally lower on Monday as investors shunned bluechips a day ahead of the monsoon session of parliament, where crucial reforms are expected to be presented. Foreign investors, key to Indian stocks hitting record high in March, have

Shares in Australian gold miners were hit hard as the international price of the precious metal sank to a five-year low on Monday, but banks and technology firms managed to offset commodity weakness, leaving the overall index little changed. The S&P/ASX 2

European shares backed away from six-week highs on Monday even as Greece began to return to normal after agreeing on terms for a new bailout package. A drop in gold prices hurt mining stocks. The FTSEurofirst 300 index closed 0.3 percent up at 1,613.95 po

China stocks erased early losses and ended Monday higher, after the country's securities regulator reaffirmed its support for the market, denying a media report that the government was studying how to end its bailout. The CSI300 index of the largest liste

Hong Kong stocks ended Monday mixed, as investors awaited fresh direction from mainland markets after they seemed to stabilise. The Hang Seng index was unchanged at 25,404.81, while the China Enterprises Index lost 0.6 percent, to 11,773.92 points. Financ

Property companies lifted Dubai's stock market on Monday and banks supported Abu Dhabi as expectations for positive second-quarter results boosted both sectors. Dubai's index jumped 2.0 percent to a four-week closing high of 4,184 points and the emirate's

South African shares rose on Monday as gains in industrial and financial stocks outweighed heavy losses among gold and platinum producers. AngloGold Ashanti plummeted 9.7 percent after the gold price hit a five year low. The company was the worst performe

US stocks were slightly higher in late morning trading on Monday as better-than-expected earnings from big companies overshadowed a fall in commodities. Shortly after trading began, the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite added to its gains from last week and tou

Tumbling share prices and trading suspensions have tempered any early enthusiasm for mainland Chinese equities among overseas funds, confirming the cautious approach evident in their limited exposure despite official attempts to lure them in. Three govern

Most Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Monday, with the Malaysian benchmark drifting into negative territory and the Philippine index ending a six-session rising streak, amid foreign-led selling as expectations of a hike in US interest rates kept mark

China's official gold reserves rose by almost 60 percent over the past six years, according to the first official data on the subject since 2009. The central People's Bank of China (PBoC) said bullion holdings rose to 1,658 tonnes as of the end of June, f

Taiwan's export orders fell for a third straight month in June on weak demand from China and other emerging markets in a worrying sign for global technology demand. Last year, strong demand for Apple's iPhone helped power Taiwan's exports, a factor that i

The International Monetary Fund named Maurice Obstfeld, one of US President Barack Obama's top economic advisers, as its new chief economist on Monday. Obstfeld, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, will replace outgoing IMF economist Ol

Lockheed Martin Corp said Monday it would buy Sikorsky Aircraft, the helicopter unit of United Technologies Corp, for $9 billion, and would review the possible sale or spin-off of $6 billion in other information technology and services businesses. The Pen

US employers are finding it increasingly difficult to find skilled workers, according to a survey published on Monday, suggesting upward pressure on wage growth down the road. The National Association for Business Economics' latest business conditions sur

Slovenia and Croatia agreed on Monday to extend the lifespan of a jointly-owned nuclear plant until 2043, overriding calls from green groups to close the facility. "We decided to extend Krsko nuclear plant's lifespan because it has good operational securi

Toshiba's top executives were involved in "systematically" inflating profits by $1.2 billion over several years, an independent panel said Monday, in a stinging indictment of one of Japan's best-known firms. Current President Hisao Tanaka and his predeces

Morgan Stanley reported a stronger-than-expected second-quarter profit as its bond and equities trading businesses handily outperformed those of its Wall Street rivals. The results capped a robust quarter for big US banks - Goldman Sachs Group Inc excepte

Morgan Stanley reported a stronger-than-expected second-quarter profit as its bond and equities trading businesses handily outperformed those of its Wall Street rivals. The results capped a robust quarter for big US banks - Goldman Sachs Group Inc excepte

A German delegation led a much anticipated international push for new business in Iran on Monday, but a top official visiting Tehran put Israel at the top of their differences. The remarks by Sigmar Gabriel, Germany's economy minister and Chancellor Angel

PayPal Holdings Inc shares jumped as much as 11 percent in their highly anticipated return to the Nasdaq after more than a decade in eBay Inc's fold, valuing the digital payment processor at about $52 billion. PayPal is a giant in the market it helped cre

The fluctuations observed during the day:

The fluctuations observed during the day:

Following currency fluctuations took place in foreign exchange rates during the last week. (July 13 to 16, 2015).

Comparative table of returns being given banks on their Profit and Loss Sharing Investment Accounts and Term Deposits.

The following were Friday official prices.

The following were Friday official prices.

The weather report on Monday (July 20, 2015) and the forecast for Tuesday (July 21, 2015).

MQM Leader Altaf Hussain has decided to fast unto death. In a statement he said, "I had promised the nation that I will not bow my head before tyrants. I will give my life, but I will never trade the interests of Mohajirs and all other oppressed and downt

MQM Leader Altaf Hussain has decided to fast unto death. In a statement he said, "I had promised the nation that I will not bow my head before tyrants. I will give my life, but I will never trade the interests of Mohajirs and all other oppressed and downt

The planet just set another monthly climate record with the hottest June in 135 years, US government scientists said Monday. The first six months of the year also set a record for warmth, according to the monthly report by the National Oceanic and Atmosph

The planet just set another monthly climate record with the hottest June in 135 years, US government scientists said Monday. The first six months of the year also set a record for warmth, according to the monthly report by the National Oceanic and Atmosph

Pakistan has expressed deep concern on the continued unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian troops at Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary, terming it against the sprit of understanding reached between the prime ministers of both the countries in

Pakistan has expressed deep concern on the continued unprovoked ceasefire violations by Indian troops at Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary, terming it against the sprit of understanding reached between the prime ministers of both the countries in

Army Chief General Raheel Sharif has said that apart from fighting terror, our equal focus will now remain on finding terror financing, choking all their sources and apprehending all financiers, abettors and sympathisers. Talking to troops during his visi

Army Chief General Raheel Sharif has said that apart from fighting terror, our equal focus will now remain on finding terror financing, choking all their sources and apprehending all financiers, abettors and sympathisers. Talking to troops during his visi

A US airstrike killed up to 10 Afghan soldiers Monday at an army checkpoint in a Taliban-infested province south of Kabul, one of the deadliest episodes of "friendly fire" from foreign forces in recent years. The early morning raid in Baraki Barak distric

A US airstrike killed up to 10 Afghan soldiers Monday at an army checkpoint in a Taliban-infested province south of Kabul, one of the deadliest episodes of "friendly fire" from foreign forces in recent years. The early morning raid in Baraki Barak distric

Greece's government hiked taxes and paid billions of euros to its creditors on Monday, as banks reopened just days after the debt-laden country reached a reforms-for-cash deal with its European partners. Greeks woke up to widespread tax rises - on everyth

Greece's government hiked taxes and paid billions of euros to its creditors on Monday, as banks reopened just days after the debt-laden country reached a reforms-for-cash deal with its European partners. Greeks woke up to widespread tax rises - on everyth

Greece''s government hiked taxes and paid billions of euros to its creditors on Monday, as banks reopened just days after the debt-laden country reached a reforms-for-cash deal with its European partners. Greeks woke up to widespread tax rises - on everyt

A suspected Islamic State suicide bomber killed at least 31 people Monday in an attack on a Turkish cultural centre where activists had gathered to prepare for an aid mission in the nearby Syrian town of Kobane. The blast ripped through the centre in Suru

A suspected Islamic State suicide bomber killed at least 31 people Monday in an attack on a Turkish cultural centre where activists had gathered to prepare for an aid mission in the nearby Syrian town of Kobane. The blast ripped through the centre in Suru

The Karachi share market witnessed a bullish trend during the last week that ended on July 16, 2015 on expectations of better corporate results, to be announced after Eid holidays. The benchmark KSE-100 index gained some 775 points (WoW) to reach all-time

The Karachi share market witnessed a bullish trend during the last week that ended on July 16, 2015 on expectations of better corporate results, to be announced after Eid holidays. The benchmark KSE-100 index gained some 775 points (WoW) to reach all-time

The Karachi share market witnessed a bullish trend during the last week that ended on July 16, 2015 on expectations of better corporate results, to be announced after Eid holidays. The benchmark KSE-100 index gained some 775 points (WoW) to reach all-time

The futures spread decreased by 459 basis points (WoW) to reach 8.23 percent during the outgoing week ended July 16, 2015. Trading activity on the futures counter also witnessed a downward trend and the average daily volume declined by 15.2 percent to 26.

The futures spread decreased by 459 basis points (WoW) to reach 8.23 percent during the outgoing week ended July 16, 2015. Trading activity on the futures counter also witnessed a downward trend and the average daily volume declined by 15.2 percent to 26.

The UN Security Council on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing the historic deal on Iran's nuclear program and cleared a path to lift sanctions crippling its economy. It marks formal UN approval for the hard-won, groundbreaking agreement rea

The UN Security Council on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution endorsing the historic deal on Iran's nuclear program and cleared a path to lift sanctions crippling its economy. It marks formal UN approval for the hard-won, groundbreaking agreement rea

Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Sunday said Pakistan had started construction work on 700-km pipeline to import LNG from China. Talking to Voice of America (VOA), he said the long-awaited Iran Pakistan Gas Pipeline pr

Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Sunday said Pakistan had started construction work on 700-km pipeline to import LNG from China. Talking to Voice of America (VOA), he said the long-awaited Iran Pakistan Gas Pipeline pr

Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Sunday said Pakistan had started construction work on 700-km pipeline to import LNG from China. Talking to Voice of America (VOA), he said the long-awaited Iran Pakistan Gas Pipeline pr

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in a phone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Mamnoon Hussain, has voiced Tehran's support for enhanced relations with Islamabad in all areas. Congratulating the Pakistani president on Eidul Fitr, the first day a

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in a phone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Mamnoon Hussain, has voiced Tehran's support for enhanced relations with Islamabad in all areas. Congratulating the Pakistani president on Eidul Fitr, the first day a

The six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council on Monday protested at what it termed "contradictory" signals coming from Iran since its nuclear accord struck with world powers last week. GCC chief Abdellatif Zayani said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was offe

The six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council on Monday protested at what it termed "contradictory" signals coming from Iran since its nuclear accord struck with world powers last week. GCC chief Abdellatif Zayani said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was offe

The Cuban flag proudly flew over Havana's newly restored embassy in Washington Monday for the first time in 54 years as the two nations relaunched diplomatic ties, turning the page on decades of hostility. In a historic ceremony attended by Cuban Foreign

The Cuban flag proudly flew over Havana's newly restored embassy in Washington Monday for the first time in 54 years as the two nations relaunched diplomatic ties, turning the page on decades of hostility. In a historic ceremony attended by Cuban Foreign

Flash floods played havoc in different parts of the far-flung district Chitral of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, causing extensive damages to infrastructure houses, mosques, bridges, roads, irrigation and water channels. The communication infrastructure has also bee

Flash floods played havoc in different parts of the far-flung district Chitral of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, causing extensive damages to infrastructure houses, mosques, bridges, roads, irrigation and water channels. The communication infrastructure has also bee

According to Flood Warning Division Lahore, River Indus is in medium flood at Chashma and Kalabagh and in low flood at Terbella and Taunsa. Similarly, River Chenab is in low flood at Balloki and Marala and low flood at Khanki, Qadirabad and Tarimon barrag

According to Flood Warning Division Lahore, River Indus is in medium flood at Chashma and Kalabagh and in low flood at Terbella and Taunsa. Similarly, River Chenab is in low flood at Balloki and Marala and low flood at Khanki, Qadirabad and Tarimon barrag

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui-Southern Gas Company (SSGC) have requested the government to approve increase in gas prices by at least 45 percent, saying that as a result of consumer gas price freeze the distribution companies' debt ha

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui-Southern Gas Company (SSGC) have requested the government to approve increase in gas prices by at least 45 percent, saying that as a result of consumer gas price freeze the distribution companies' debt ha

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui-Southern Gas Company (SSGC) have requested the government to approve increase in gas prices by at least 45 percent, saying that as a result of consumer gas price freeze the distribution companies'' debt h

The US Federal Reserve set Monday tough new capital surcharges for the country's eight largest banks in a new post-economic crisis effort to reel in "too-big-to-fail" institutions. But of the eight, only one is currently below the new capital threshold: J

The US Federal Reserve set Monday tough new capital surcharges for the country's eight largest banks in a new post-economic crisis effort to reel in "too-big-to-fail" institutions. But of the eight, only one is currently below the new capital threshold: J

The US Federal Reserve set Monday tough new capital surcharges for the country''s eight largest banks in a new post-economic crisis effort to reel in "too-big-to-fail" institutions. But of the eight, only one is currently below the new capital threshold:

A key recommendation by FTO is pending implementation despite dismissal of FBR's representation by President, on the issue of taxpayers' confidential data theft, which shall now be investigated by FIA, involving FBR/PRAL officials who illegally accessed c