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Nov 16, 2024 اردو ► PRINT EDITION ► BR MARKETS ► Dollar to PKR ►
Print - 2017-01-01
US natural gas futures slide from two-year highs

US natural gas futures slide from two-year highs

US natural gas futures on Thursday slid 2.5 percent to snap a three-session rally and drift away from over two-year highs touched the previous day, as forecasts for warmer than usual weather over the next few days offset bigger-than-expected storage drawd
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
CBOT wheat futures edge higher

CBOT wheat futures edge higher

Wheat futures on the Chicago Board of Trade edged higher on Thursday, supported by short-covering and a setback in the dollar, which tends to make US grains more attractive to those holding other currencies, traders said. CBOT March wheat settled up 3-1/4
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Argentina's 2016-17 wheat harvest seen at 15 million tones

Argentina's 2016-17 wheat harvest seen at 15 million tones

Argentina will harvest 15 million tonnes of wheat in the 2016/17 crop year, the Buenos Aires Grains Exchange said on Thursday, up from a prior estimate of 12.5 million tonnes as farmers plant the grain in some areas previously dedicated to soybeans.
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Asia's coffee export markets dull in year-end trade

Asia's coffee export markets dull in year-end trade

Asia's coffee export markets were dull this week in typical year-end trade with few orders clinched while Vietnamese farmers were reluctant to sell beans on fears of supply shortage. Heavy rains over the past few weeks in Vietnam's main coffee belt in Cen
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Paris wheat futures rise to one-week high

Paris wheat futures rise to one-week high

Paris wheat futures rose on Thursday to a one-week high as an increase in US prices lent support to a European market otherwise lacking direction during a year-end lull. March milling wheat, the most active contract on the Paris-based Euronext exchange, s
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Palm oil little changed on European vegoils market

Palm oil little changed on European vegoils market

Palm oil on the European vegetable oils market was little changed on Thursday in very thin trade as players were winding down business ahead of the new year. Palm oil was mostly offered unchanged from Wednesday after Malaysian palm oil futures closed betw
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Chinese steel prices fall over two percent

Chinese steel prices fall over two percent

Chinese steel rebar prices fell more than 2 percent, reversing the previous day's gains, while coke and coking coal remained under pressure on Thursday as concerns about weakening demand returned in volatile end-of-year trading. "The pullback shows trader
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
China's November net gold imports drop to 10-month low
Currency

China's November net gold imports drop to 10-month low

China's net gold imports via main conduit Hong Kong in November dropped 17.84 percent from October to its lowest in 10 months, data showed on Thursday. Net-gold imports fell to 50.178 tonnes in November from 61.075 tonnes in October, marking its lowest si
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
US scrambles to clear egg exports to bird flu-hit South Korea

US scrambles to clear egg exports to bird flu-hit South Korea

US officials are urgently seeking an agreement with South Korea that would allow imports of American eggs so farmers can cash in on a shortage caused by the Asian country's worst-ever outbreak of bird flu. The two sides are negotiating over terms of poten
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Iran and European planemaker ATR to sign contract next week

Iran and European planemaker ATR to sign contract next week

Iran and European planemaker ATR are due to sign a deal next week for the purchase of 20 short-haul passenger aircraft, an Iranian official said on Saturday, weeks after Tehran finalised deals with Boeing and Airbus. ATR, co-owned by Airbus and Italy's Le
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Tanzania says seeking $300 million loan from Credit Suisse

Tanzania says seeking $300 million loan from Credit Suisse

Tanzania is in talks with banking giant Credit Suisse for a $300 million loan that would go towards financing infrastructure projects, the country's finance minister said on Saturday. Philip Mpango said Tanzania was also in separate talks with other lende
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Hit by financial woes Lebanese newspaper closes after 42 years

Hit by financial woes Lebanese newspaper closes after 42 years

Lebanese daily newspaper As-Safir printed its final edition on Saturday, forced to close after 42 years because of financial problems as other news outlets in the country face similar difficulties. The front page led with an editorial entitled "The nation
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Cuba reports banner tourism year in 2016

Cuba reports banner tourism year in 2016

Cuba welcomed a record four million tourists in 2016, up 13 percent over last year, with much of the increase thanks to a crush of visitors from the US and Europe, officials said on Saturday. Havana's Ministry of Tourism said in a statement published in t
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Chinese firms ordered to pay Disney, Pixar $194,000 for copying 'Cars'

Chinese firms ordered to pay Disney, Pixar $194,000 for copying 'Cars'

A Shanghai court ordered two Chinese firms to pay Walt Disney Co and Pixar more than 1.35 million yuan ($194,440) compensation for copying parts of their hit movies "Cars" and "Cars 2", the official Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday. The ruling is t
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Mexicans furious over fuel price hike

Mexicans furious over fuel price hike

Mexicans are bracing to kickstart the New Year on a sour note, with protests planned against the government's huge hike in gasoline prices. President Enrique Pena Nieto has promised that fuel prices will fall thanks to his landmark 2014 energy reform, whi
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Rail strike, fog hit UK transport

Rail strike, fog hit UK transport

Rail services in southern England were hit by a fresh strike on Saturday and fog caused the cancellation of dozens of flights at London's main airport. The RMT union launched a three-day strike on Southern Rail, which runs commuter services from the south
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
China to ban ivory trade by end of 2017

China to ban ivory trade by end of 2017

China will ban all ivory trade and processing by the end of 2017, the government said, in a move hailed by conservationists as a "game changer" for African elephants. African ivory is highly sought after in China, where it is seen as a status symbol, with
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
China policymakers pledge stability for 'complex' year ahead
Currency

China policymakers pledge stability for 'complex' year ahead

China's economy is on a steady growth path as 2016 ends, supported by a housing boom and billions in government investment, but the mood of policymakers is more cautious than celebratory as they face "complexity" in the new year. Controlling risks has bee
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Some key events in 2016

Some key events in 2016

The shock election of Donald Trump to the White House, Britain's vote to leave the European Union, attacks in Europe and the deaths of Mohammed Ali and David Bowie: 2016 has been a momentous news year. Here are some of the main events that marked the past
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Some key events in 2016

Some key events in 2016

The shock election of Donald Trump to the White House, Britain's vote to leave the European Union, attacks in Europe and the deaths of Mohammed Ali and David Bowie: 2016 has been a momentous news year. Here are some of the main events that marked the past
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
SEC investigates banks that sold Mozambique's 'tuna bond'

SEC investigates banks that sold Mozambique's 'tuna bond'

The US Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating the sale of $850 million in bonds issued by Mozambique by Credit Suisse, Russia's VTB Group and BNP Paribas, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. The southern African nation in October s
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
SEC investigates banks that sold Mozambique's 'tuna bond'

SEC investigates banks that sold Mozambique's 'tuna bond'

The US Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating the sale of $850 million in bonds issued by Mozambique by Credit Suisse, Russia's VTB Group and BNP Paribas, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. The southern African nation in October s
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Hong Kong Exchange Fund assets HK$3.59 trillion end-November
Currency

Hong Kong Exchange Fund assets HK$3.59 trillion end-November

Assets at the Exchange Fund, which is used to back the Hong Kong dollar, totalled HK$3,589.9 billion ($462.9 billion) at the end of November, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) said on Friday. The figure was HK$3.5 billion lower than the total at the
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
TSX stumbles in year-end retreat, posts 2016 gains

TSX stumbles in year-end retreat, posts 2016 gains

Canada's main stock index fell broadly on the last trading day of the year on Friday, with volumes thin ahead of the New Year, but logged an overall robust annual gain. The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index rose 17.4 percent for the year, a
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
FTSE 100 seen defying risks to rise next year

FTSE 100 seen defying risks to rise next year

Britain's top share index is set to rise around 4 percent by the end of 2017, lagging this year's gains, analysts polled by Reuters said, while warning politics could upset predictions. Britain's bluechip FTSE 100 index closed 2016 at a record high level
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Treasury yields slip for third straight day

Treasury yields slip for third straight day

US Treasury debt yields closed lower on Friday in a shortened session, falling for the third straight day to end a weak fourth quarter with a modest consolidation and round out a year of surprises. Treasury bonds were the worst performing fixed-income ass
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Treasury yields slip for third straight day

Treasury yields slip for third straight day

US Treasury debt yields closed lower on Friday in a shortened session, falling for the third straight day to end a weak fourth quarter with a modest consolidation and round out a year of surprises. Treasury bonds were the worst performing fixed-income ass
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Tepco, investors discuss first bond sale since Fukushima

Tepco, investors discuss first bond sale since Fukushima

Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) is gauging demand for its first bond offering since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear calamity, with some market participants expecting a sale as early as February, people familiar with the plans said. Once-sceptical investors are no
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
India's NSE files for IPO, discloses potential trading violations

India's NSE files for IPO, discloses potential trading violations

India's National Stock Exchange said an independent agency had found potential instances that some brokers were given unfair access to its servers, as the country's largest bourse applied for its long-awaited initial public offering on Wednesday. The NSE
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Japanese stocks to rise in 2017

Japanese stocks to rise in 2017

Japan's Nikkei is set to end slightly lower this year but rise in 2017 as expectations US President-elect Donald Trump's policies will ratchet up interest rates buoyed the dollar against the yen, giving Japan Inc's earnings a boost, a Reuters poll found.
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
China to reopen 10-year bond issue on Wednesday

China to reopen 10-year bond issue on Wednesday

China's Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday it will reopen an issue of 10-year bonds, when it auctions an additional 20 billion yuan ($2.88 billion) of paper on January 4. The bonds will be issued from January 4 to 5, and begin secondary market trading on
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
China to reopen 10-year bond issue on Wednesday

China to reopen 10-year bond issue on Wednesday

China's Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday it will reopen an issue of 10-year bonds, when it auctions an additional 20 billion yuan ($2.88 billion) of paper on January 4. The bonds will be issued from January 4 to 5, and begin secondary market trading on
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
US fund investors cheer stocks at year's end

US fund investors cheer stocks at year's end

Investors' enthusiasm for equities and corporate bonds showed little sign of waning during the latest week, with funds in both categories scooping up more money, data from the Investment Company Institute showed on Wednesday. Stock mutual funds and exchan
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
US fund investors cheer stocks at year's end

US fund investors cheer stocks at year's end

Investors' enthusiasm for equities and corporate bonds showed little sign of waning during the latest week, with funds in both categories scooping up more money, data from the Investment Company Institute showed on Wednesday. Stock mutual funds and exchan
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Wall Street ends solid 2016 on dour note

Wall Street ends solid 2016 on dour note

US stocks slumped on the last trading day of the year on Friday, led down by Apple and other big tech stocks, but major indexes still posted solid gains in 2016. In subdued holiday trading, the S&P 500 declined for a third consecutive session. But the ben
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Canadian dollar strengthens, logs overall 2016 gain
Currency

Canadian dollar strengthens, logs overall 2016 gain

The Canadian dollar strengthened against a weaker greenback on Friday in thin pre-holiday market trading, and capped off an overall gain for 2016. The loonie saw an annual gain for the first time since 2012, firming nearly 3 percent for this year. The dol
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
US dollar share of global currency reserves slips in Q3
Currency

US dollar share of global currency reserves slips in Q3

The US dollar's share of currency reserves reported to the International Monetary Fund slipped in the third quarter of 2016 to its lowest level in two years, data from the IMF showed on Friday. The July-September period was the third consecutive decline i
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Dollar posts 2016 gain against basket of major currencies
Currency

Dollar posts 2016 gain against basket of major currencies

The US dollar slipped on Friday but notched its fourth straight year of gains against a basket of major currencies. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six major rivals, gained about 3.7 percent for the year. The index rose
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Norway raises crown purchases to NOK 1 billion per day
Currency

Norway raises crown purchases to NOK 1 billion per day

Norway's central bank will increase its daily sale of foreign currency in January, it said on Friday. The bank will sell foreign exchange equivalent to 1.0 billion Norwegian crowns per day, an increase from a level of 900 million crowns per day since Febr
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Speculators raise net long dollar bets
Currency

Speculators raise net long dollar bets

Speculators raised net long bets on the US dollar to $24.17 billion this week, increasing their positions from $22.45 billion last week, according to data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and calculations by Reuters. Net long bets on the doll
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Growth expected to help CEE currencies shake off Trump shock
Currency

Growth expected to help CEE currencies shake off Trump shock

Central Europe's economic growth is expected to strengthen its currencies next year, led by the zloty and the Czech crown, after they reached multi-month lows in November, according to a November 28-December 1 Reuters poll of 45 analysts. At around 3 perc
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Diverging central banks will power dollar in 2017
Currency

Diverging central banks will power dollar in 2017

Donald Trump is promising more US government spending. The coming year will also most likely see tightening Federal Reserve policy, too. That contrasts with continued weak growth and loose monetary conditions in the euro zone and Japan. This divergence be
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
My heart wasn't in it anymore, says Ivanovic

My heart wasn't in it anymore, says Ivanovic

Former women's tennis world number one Ana Ivanovic admitted Saturday she retired this week because she felt both physically and mentally unfit to carry on after years of battling injuries. The 29-year-old Serbian - whose sole Grand Slam success came in t
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Chelsea extend lead at the top, United leave it late

Chelsea extend lead at the top, United leave it late

Chelsea were given a stiff examination by Stoke City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday before extending their lead at the top of the Premier League to nine points ahead of the late game between Liverpool and Manchester City. Willian scored twice as a spirite
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Pakistan to sue India over bilateral Test deal

Pakistan to sue India over bilateral Test deal

Pakistan cricket chiefs have said they will sue India for failing to honour a 2014 deal to play a bilateral Test series. The Pakistan Cricket Board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India signed an agreement under which the South Asian rivals were d
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
ZTBL, Pebble Breakers in final of Suzuki Vitara Polo

ZTBL, Pebble Breakers in final of Suzuki Vitara Polo

ZTBL and Pebble Breakers fashioned thrilling victories to qualify for the Suzuki Vitara Polo Cup 2016 main final here at the Lahore Polo Club (LPC) ground on Friday. In the first match of the day match, ZTBL played well against Army Colts and defeated the
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Cricket great Imtiaz Ahmed dies at 88

Cricket great Imtiaz Ahmed dies at 88

Former Test cricketer Imtiaz Ahmed, a member of Pakistan's first-ever Test team, died in a Lahore hospital on Saturday due to protracted illness. He was 88 years old. His Namaz-e-Janaza was offered in Lahore which was attended by people hailing from diffe
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
India halts funding of NOC

India halts funding of NOC

The Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) move to honour two controversial administrators has infuriated the government with the sports ministry cutting off funding and the use of other facilities extended to the body. The IOA named its former presidents Sur
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Arise 'Sir Andy', 'Sir Mo' as Murray, Farah knighted

Arise 'Sir Andy', 'Sir Mo' as Murray, Farah knighted

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah will each receive a knighthood in the New Year Honours. Murray's knighthood caps a dream season for the Scot, who finished as the year-end world number one for the first time after ending
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Nadal wins fourth UAE title

Nadal wins fourth UAE title

Rafael Nadal ended an injury-plagued 2016 on a high by lifting the Mubadala World Tennis Championship title for a fourth time on Saturday. The 30-year-old Spaniard defeated 11th-ranked Belgian David Goffin 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) after world number one Andy Murray
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Shot put queen Adams now Dame Valerie

Shot put queen Adams now Dame Valerie

Shot put queen Valerie Adams received one of New Zealand's highest awards on Saturday, being made a dame in the New Year honours list. The four-time World champion, double Olympic gold medallist and one of New Zealand's most popular sports stars, has been
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Williamson, Broom sweep series for New Zealand

Williamson, Broom sweep series for New Zealand

Fill-in batsman Neil Broom and skipper Kane Williamson produced a match-winning 179-run stand for New Zealand to crush Bangladesh in their final one-day match in Nelson on Saturday. Williamson was left unbeaten on 95 while Broom fell just before the close
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
First Beatles manager Allan Williams dies

First Beatles manager Allan Williams dies

Allan Williams, the first manager of The Beatles who drove the band on their formative trip to Hamburg in 1960, has died at the age of 86, his old club announced. The Jacaranda Club in Liverpool, northwest England, posted the news late Friday on its Faceb
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
New hitches hold up DR Congo crisis deal

New hitches hold up DR Congo crisis deal

Fresh problems held up efforts by the Catholic Church to forge a deal on Saturday for ending the political crisis in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). "The agreement is ready, but this morning all the groups came with new demands for details to be inclu
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
South Koreans rally to demand 'Park-free' 2017

South Koreans rally to demand 'Park-free' 2017

More than half a million South Koreans marked New Year's Eve with a massive protest Saturday calling for the immediate arrest and ouster of impeached President Park Geun-Hye. Candle-carrying and banner-waving protestors marched towards key buildings in Se
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Iranian airliner returns to airport after engine failure

Iranian airliner returns to airport after engine failure

An Iranian passenger plane was forced to return to Tehran's Mehrabad airport on Saturday after one of its two engines failed, Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday, adding that all passengers were safe. Taban Airlines' public relations manager was quote
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Polish plane's emergency landing after bomb threat

Polish plane's emergency landing after bomb threat

A Boeing 707 operated by a Polish charter airline on Friday made an emergency landing in Prague after a bomb threat by a passenger who was then detained by police, Czech officials said. "A man who threatened to detonate a booby trap... is in the hands of
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
US says Islamic State chief alive, still leading

US says Islamic State chief alive, still leading

The Pentagon said Friday it believes that Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is indeed alive, despite repeated efforts by the US-led coalition to take out the jihadist group leader. Baghdadi has kept a low profile, despite having declared himself th
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
WSJ says Turkey detains reporter for three days

WSJ says Turkey detains reporter for three days

Turkey detained a staff journalist for The Wall Street Journal for almost three days without access to a lawyer, the newspaper reported Saturday, adding to growing concerns over press freedom in the country. Dion Nissenbaum was taken into custody on Tuesd
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Taiwan won't cave to Beijing threats, says president

Taiwan won't cave to Beijing threats, says president

Taiwan will not bend to pressure despite China returning to its "old ways" of intimidation, President Tsai Ing-wen said Saturday, following Beijing's protests over her call to US President-elect Donald Trump. China has stepped up military drills near Taiw
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Saudi Arabia executed 153 in 2016

Saudi Arabia executed 153 in 2016

Saudi Arabia carried out 153 executions in 2016, according to an AFP tally based on official announcements, slightly down from the year before. The ultra-conservative kingdom is one of the world's most prolific executioners and has a strict Islamic legal
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
No space for Hong Kong independence, says China

No space for Hong Kong independence, says China

There is no space for Hong Kong independence in the "one country, two systems" agreement under which Beijing governs the former British colony, but there can be tolerance for differences in their systems, a senior Chinese official said. Chinese leaders ar
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Merkel urges Germany to face down terror with cohesion, compassion

Merkel urges Germany to face down terror with cohesion, compassion

Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Germans Saturday to hold firm to democratic values in the face of jihadist terror, urging them to counter "murderers who are full of hate" with compassion and cohesion. In her New Year's address delivered less than two w
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Iceland's 'crazy' year ends without a government

Iceland's 'crazy' year ends without a government

Iceland is ending an eventful year in a political quagmire, left without a government for two months after the Panama Papers scandal and a snap election reflecting deep divisions in the island nation. "In recent years we thought we were seeing the crazies
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Japan eyes trilateral talks with China, South Korea in February

Japan eyes trilateral talks with China, South Korea in February

Japan has approached China and South Korea about holding a trilateral summit in Tokyo in February aimed at deepening cooperation on such issues as a free trade deal, the environment and counter-terrorism, Kyodo news agency reported on Saturday. Disagreeme
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Venezuela frees ex-presidential candidate, five other dissidents

Venezuela frees ex-presidential candidate, five other dissidents

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday released six dissidents, among them former presidential candidate Manuel Rosales, who had been under house arrest for more than two months, opposition leaders said. "I have been freed, along with other polit
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Elite Iraq units link up for Mosul assault

Elite Iraq units link up for Mosul assault

Two elite Iraqi units linked up in Mosul on Saturday and will form a joint front to advance westward against the Islamic State group, officers said. The Rapid Response Division reached the northern edge of Al-Intisar neighbourhood, while the Counter-Terro
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Egypt court backs government in Red Sea islands dispute

Egypt court backs government in Red Sea islands dispute

An Egyptian appeals court on Saturday upheld an agreement to give control of two islands in the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia, providing a boost for the government in a case that has prompted rare street protests. The territorial deal, announced in April, cause
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Creator of Kinder Surprise dies

Creator of Kinder Surprise dies

William Salice, who helped create the hugely popular Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs for children, died in Italy on Thursday aged 83, his foundation said. Salice had been undergoing treatment for a stroke in a hospital in the northern Italian town of Pavia
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Egypt begins handing over MS804 crash victims' remains

Egypt begins handing over MS804 crash victims' remains

Egyptian authorities on Saturday started handing the remains of those killed in the crash of EgyptAir flight 804 to their families, the airline said. The Airbus A320 had been flying from Paris to Cairo on May 19 when it crashed into the southeast Mediterr
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Greek ambassador to Brazil murdered by wife's cop lover: police

Greek ambassador to Brazil murdered by wife's cop lover: police

Greece's ambassador to Brazil was murdered in a plot hatched by his Brazilian wife and her police officer lover, who confessed to the crime, officials said Friday. The envoy, Kyriakos Amiridis, 59, was killed on Monday by the officer, Sergio Gomez Moreira
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Putin says 2016 was 'difficult' but full of accomplishments

Putin says 2016 was 'difficult' but full of accomplishments

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that the year 2016 was "difficult" but congratulated his country on its accomplishments and on believing in itself. The past year "was difficult, but the difficulties we came across united us," Putin said in
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Victoria Beckham, Mark Rylance receive UK honours

Victoria Beckham, Mark Rylance receive UK honours

Ex-Spice Girl turned fashion designer Victoria Beckham and Oscar-winning actor Mark Rylance were among the public figures to receive Britain's traditional New Year Honours on Friday but two recipients turned theirs down. Beckham, who rose to fame in the 1
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Goldman Sachs flips from copper super-bear to super-bull

Goldman Sachs flips from copper super-bear to super-bull

Wall Street heavyweight Goldman Sachs has been banging the bear drum on the copper price since the middle of last year. Its July 2015 research note was titled "Copper - lower for longer", which pretty much said it all. Copper, which was then trading in Lo
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Millions of Cambodian farmers receive land titles under state plan

Millions of Cambodian farmers receive land titles under state plan

Cambodia is moving fast to provide millions of land titles to farmers in an effort to reduce conflicts over territory in the Southeast Asian nation, a senior government official said. About 770,000 Cambodians - more than five percent of the population - h
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Zinc, nickel to spin wheels next year after sizzling rallies

Zinc, nickel to spin wheels next year after sizzling rallies

The average prices of zinc, tin and nickel, the three top-performing base metals this year after speculators piled into the market, are expected to hover around current levels in 2017, a Reuters poll showed. All three metals are due to have persistent mar
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Cuba sees 30 percent rise in sugar harvest in 2017

Cuba sees 30 percent rise in sugar harvest in 2017

Cuba sees its sugar industry as being the fastest-growing sector of the economy next year, expanding about 30 percent, Economy Minister Ricardo Cabrisas said in comments published on Wednesday. Cabrisas told the National Assembly on Tuesday that governmen
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Cotton inches higher, marks best year since 2013
Cotton

Cotton inches higher, marks best year since 2013

ICE cotton futures edged higher on Friday, helped by robust weekly US export sales data amid a weaker dollar, and ended 2016 by marking their best year since 2013. "I think it (export sales data) caused some short covering. .. Shipments picked up, which p
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Stampede to invest in lithium mines threatens price gains

Stampede to invest in lithium mines threatens price gains

A rush to invest in new and expanded mines for lithium, a key ingredient in batteries used in electric cars, means material will flood the market just as fresh demand kicks in, potentially curbing price gains. While demand for lithium batteries is due to
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Oil in 2017 seen capped below $60/barrel by strong dollar, US shale

Oil in 2017 seen capped below $60/barrel by strong dollar, US shale

Oil prices will gradually rise towards $60 per barrel by the end of 2017, a Reuters poll showed on Thursday, with further upside capped by a strong dollar, a likely recovery in US oil output and possible non-compliance by Opec with agreed cuts. Brent crud
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
World diamond business roiled as cash crunch hits Indian stone cutting

World diamond business roiled as cash crunch hits Indian stone cutting

The global diamond industry is facing disruption that could stretch through the first few months of next year, including Valentine's Day in February, as a result of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radical move to abolish most of the nation's cash ov
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
After Asia, palm oil faces backlash in Africa

After Asia, palm oil faces backlash in Africa

Its lower cost has made it popular in commercial food production, but after being blamed for deforestation in Asia, palm oil plantations are now getting a similar rap in Africa. The sheer scale of land required is having an impact in Gabon, Cameroon and t
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Baghdad blasts kill 29 as Mosul fighting intensifies

Baghdad blasts kill 29 as Mosul fighting intensifies

Three bombs killed 29 people in Baghdad on Saturday as fighting intensified in the northern city of Mosul, where Iraqi government forces are trying to rout Islamic State militants from their last major stronghold in the country. Blasts, including one suic
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Woman among three killed in violence

Woman among three killed in violence

A woman among three people died in separate incidents of violence here on Saturday. According to police, body of a woman was recovered in jurisdiction of Shabqadar police station jurisdiction in Ucchanwala stop, Charsadda. In Karkani Road area of Charsadd
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Prices of essential kitchen items show mixed trend

Prices of essential kitchen items show mixed trend

Prices of essential kitchen items witnessed a mixed trend during the past week as compared to the preceding week, reveals a survey carried out by Business Recorder here on Saturday. According to the survey, the price of tomatoes in the wholesale ma
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Pakistan's struggle to overcome energy woes

Pakistan's struggle to overcome energy woes

With the inauguration of CHASNUP III, the third unit of Chashma Nuclear Power Plant in Mianwali district, the total nuclear technology based power generation has reached the mark of 1040 megawatt, still much below 8000 Megawatt, the target set by Pakistan
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Business community felicitates UBG

Business community felicitates UBG

The business community of Southern Punjab has felicitated the United Business Group (UBG) on its landslide victory in FPCCI elections 2016-17 describing it an acknowledgement of its services for the cause of business community. President of Multan Chamber
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
ECP to ensure free & fair elections

ECP to ensure free & fair elections

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has taken a number of steps to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the country. According to official sources, Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms has finalized the draft Election Act 2016. It
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
Promotion of literature, writers' welfare on 'top priority'

Promotion of literature, writers' welfare on 'top priority'

Adviser to Prime Minister for National history and literary heritage Irfan Siddiqui on Saturday said welfare of writers besides establishing of a scholarly society in the country is top priority of the government. "Our goal is to encourage creativity and
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
ECP suspends memberships of 22 parliamentarians

ECP suspends memberships of 22 parliamentarians

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Saturday released names of 22 members of the national and provincial assemblies whose membership has been suspended upon their failure to file annual asset statements for the year 2015-16. The only member of Natio
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
ICCI congratulates UBG for landslide victory in FPCCI elections

ICCI congratulates UBG for landslide victory in FPCCI elections

Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Saturday congratulated S M Munir Patron-in-Chief, Iftikhar Ali Malik, Chairman, and all members of United Business Group (UBG) for sweeping the elections of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce a
Published 01 Jan, 2017 12:00am
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