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Print - 2010-03-23
Weather set to favour Brazil's soya producing states

Weather set to favour Brazil's soya producing states

Rains are due to pass over Brazil's main southern soyabean producing states on Monday but loading of ships at Paranagua port is not expected to see serious delays from the storms, forecaster Somar said. "The rain will be very welcome in the south where so
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Holiday notice

Holiday notice

The offices of Business Recorderwill remain closed today Tuesday (March 23) on account of Pakistan Day. Arrangements have, however, been made to bring out the paper and Internet Edition tomorrow, Wednesday (March 24) as usual.
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
New York Times quotes Business Recorder on Pak-US dialogue

New York Times quotes Business Recorder on Pak-US dialogue

A top US daily in its report on the US-Pakistan strategic dialogue quoted on Monday a passage from an editorial of Pakistan's Business Recorder. According to the New York Times, in a sign of the mounting power of the army over the civilian g
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Ivorian cocoa arrivals seen higher

Ivorian cocoa arrivals seen higher

Cocoa arrivals at ports in top grower Ivory Coast reached around 873,000 tonnes by March 21, exporters estimated on Monday, which is only about four thousand tonnes more than at the same stage in last year's poor season. Exporters estimated only 4,000 ton
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
New York Times quotes Business Recorder on Pak-US dialogue

New York Times quotes Business Recorder on Pak-US dialogue

A top US daily in its report on the US-Pakistan strategic dialogue quoted on Monday a passage from an editorial of Pakistan's Business Recorder. According to the New York Times, in a sign of the mounting power of the army over the civilian g
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Russian milling wheat exports rise

Russian milling wheat exports rise

Russian milling wheat exports rose to reflect a weaker US dollar last week, in contrast to a decline in domestic grain prices that followed the international market trend, analysts said on Monday. Analysts and traders expect Russian grain prices to decrea
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Amended review petitions in NRO case filed

Amended review petitions in NRO case filed

Though the federation claims that it did not defend the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in the Supreme Court, on Monday it went for protection of benefits derived from the legislation particularly closure of Swiss corruption cases, s
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Australia may abolish remaining wheat export rules

Australia may abolish remaining wheat export rules

Australia's wheat marketing regulations should be abolished by September next year, the country's Productivity Commission said in a draft report released Monday. It said the A$13.9 billion ($12.7 billion) industry, the world's fourth largest exporter of t
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Amended review petitions in NRO case filed

Amended review petitions in NRO case filed

Though the federation claims that it did not defend the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in the Supreme Court, on Monday it went for protection of benefits derived from the legislation particularly closure of Swiss corruption cases, s
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Shanghai copper tumbles

Shanghai copper tumbles

Shanghai copper fell more than 1 percent on Monday weighed down by a stronger dollar and as investors continued to worry about Greece's debt crisis. The US dollar was firmer in Asia on Monday as concerns over Greece weighed on the euro ahead of a euro zon
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Gold ends steady in Asia

Gold ends steady in Asia

Gold was steady on Monday as dollar strength that drove bullion 1.7 percent lower in the previous session, its biggest loss since early February, weighed on the market. The dollar was steady versus the euro on Monday, having jumped on Friday on speculatio
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Japanese market closed

Japanese market closed

Japanese domestic markets were closed for a national holiday on Monday, the trade will resume on Tuesday.
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Hong Kong gold closes lower

Hong Kong gold closes lower

Hong Kong gold closed lower on Monday at 1,107.00-1,108.00 US dollars an ounce, down from Friday's close of 1,124.00-1,125.00 dollars. It opened at 1,104.00-1,105.00 dollars.
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Oil drops to $80

Oil drops to $80

Oil fell towards $80 on Monday as a firmer dollar, nagging worries over Greece's debt and a surprise interest rate hike by India at the end of last week stoked concern over demand. However, fears of global oversupply are countered by a decline in China's
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Philippine poll leaders say will halt rice imports

Philippine poll leaders say will halt rice imports

The leading ticket in opinion polls for the Philippines' presidency will immediately stop rice imports and boost the local farm sector if voted in at the May elections, vice-presidential candidate Manuel Roxas said on Monday. The Philippines is the world'
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Japanese iron ore reached deal

Japanese iron ore reached deal

Japanese steelmakers and iron ore miners have reached a tentative deal to adopt short-term contracts linked to the spot market, ending the decades-old annual benchmark system, the Financial Times said on Monday. "There is an understanding on both sides to
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
US corn and soybeans flat

US corn and soybeans flat

US soybean and grain futures drifted in a narrow range on Monday as the dollar gained and traders showed caution ahead of a US plantings forecast due at the end of the month. Japanese traders were sidelined because of a public holiday while the rest of th
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
China copper, aluminium demand up

China copper, aluminium demand up

China's implied demand for copper and aluminium rose strongly in February compared to January, Reuters calculations based on official Chinese data showed on Monday. Implied demand for copper jumped 18.7 percent over the previous month while aluminium dema
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Chinese commercial crude stocks up 5.2 percent in February: OGP

Chinese commercial crude stocks up 5.2 percent in February: OGP

Chinese oil companies built up 1.4 million tonnes (10.2 million barrels) of crude oil stocks in February as they imported the second-highest level of crude to prepare for an expected rise in domestic demand. China's commercial crude oil inventory stood at
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Malaysian palm oil creeps down

Malaysian palm oil creeps down

Malaysian palm oil futures ended down on Monday as investors took profit on expectation of milder weather and due to easing crude oil prices. Benchmark June crude palm oil futures on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange closed down 5 ringgit or 0.19 pe
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Shell, Petrochina agree on $3.1 billion Arrow takeover

Shell, Petrochina agree on $3.1 billion Arrow takeover

Royal Dutch Shell and Petrochina convinced Arrow Energy to accept an increased $3.1 billion bid, giving resource-hungry China its first bite of Australia's burgeoning coal-seam gas industry. The offer, which needs approval from Australian regulators and A
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Greek budget deficit falls sharply

Greek budget deficit falls sharply

Greece's budget deficit in the first two months this year plunged more than 77 percent, the finance ministry said on Monday, as the debt-strapped country tries to put its public finances in order. Government receipts rose 13.2 percent to 8.75 billion euro
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
China to help Bangladesh in port expansion

China to help Bangladesh in port expansion

China has agreed to help finance a $8.7 billion deep-sea port in Bangladesh and set up road and rail links between the two countries, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said on Monday. "The details of the financing will be worked out in follow up meetings of the
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
EU and IMF can each help Greece: Juncker

EU and IMF can each help Greece: Juncker

Eurozone finance chief Jean-Claude Juncker said Monday that aid to overcome a Greek debt crisis could be jointly sourced from the European Union and the IMF but need not be firmly decided at this week's EU summit. "I am not in favour of going to the Inter
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Barroso presses: Merkel on Greek aid, Athens warns

Barroso presses: Merkel on Greek aid, Athens warns

The head of the European Commission challenged German Chancellor Angela Merkel to rise above domestic politics and agree on a financial safety net for debt-stricken Greece to help preserve European monetary union. Greece's deputy prime minister meanwhile
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
China pushes May meeting to ease strains with US

China pushes May meeting to ease strains with US

A top-level meeting between China and the United States in May will be "very important" for defusing strains between the two big economies, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in conciliatory comments on Monday. Wen made the remarks in a meeting with foreign
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Qatar to supply India additional LNG

Qatar to supply India additional LNG

Qatar has agreed to supply an additional 4 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to India by 2013 as the energy-deficient country expands its capacity to handle imports, Indian officials said on Monday. Qatar, which already supplies 7.5 million to
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Dubai restaurants banned from cooking with alcohol

Dubai restaurants banned from cooking with alcohol

Dubai restaurants will face stiff fines for cooking with alcohol following a municipality ban, a United Arab Emirates newspaper reported on Monday. The National daily reported that Dubai's municipality sent a notice to restaurants banning the sale of dish
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
German bank levy plan boosts chance of global deal

German bank levy plan boosts chance of global deal

Germany's coalition has agreed to place a levy on banks to raise billions of euros for future bailouts, boosting the chances of a global deal later this year. Berlin's move means it is no longer left pushing for a Tobin tax on financial transactions that
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
IMF calls for more Asian infrastructure, social spending

IMF calls for more Asian infrastructure, social spending

Asia's developing economies must invest more in infrastructure and social welfare to promote long-term growth in a region where millions fell back into poverty during the global economic crisis, an IMF official said Monday. John Lipsky also said that, des
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Tata Motors invests in Myanmar

Tata Motors invests in Myanmar

India's largest vehicle maker Tata Motors said on Monday it signed a contract with Myanmar Automobile and Diesel Industries to set up a heavy truck plant in the military-ruled country. The new plant would be set up at Magwe, nearly 480 kilometres (300 mil
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
British Airways cabin crew wants talks

British Airways cabin crew wants talks

Striking British Airways cabin crew offered on Monday to resume talks with the company to try to settle a dispute that could damage the ruling Labour Party in an election due within weeks. Cabin crew were due to return to work on Tuesday after a three-day
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Web can save Britain billions: Brown

Web can save Britain billions: Brown

Britain can save billions of pounds a year by embracing online technology in public services, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Monday, weeks before an election being partly fought over soaring government borrowing. Brown said the Labour government, whi
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
British recovery weak as stimulus ends: employers' group

British recovery weak as stimulus ends: employers' group

Britain's economic recovery will remain fragile until the middle of next year due to the withdrawal of stimulus measures, the Confederation of British Industry warned Monday. The end of emergency steps to combat the recession such as the reduction in Valu
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
US sees food security as next big Africa push

US sees food security as next big Africa push

The Obama administration will put food security at the heart of its Africa policy, as it seeks to enhance ongoing US efforts on trade, investment and HIV/AIDS on the continent, a top US diplomat said. "We want to see the food security initiative take on g
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Russia denies bid for US air tanker contract

Russia denies bid for US air tanker contract

Russia denied on Monday that its state-run United Aviation Corporation (UAC) planned to bid for a $50 billion contract to replace the US Air Force's fleet of air tankers, rivalling Boeing Co and Europe's EADS. John Kirkland, a Los Angeles-based attorney,
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
US firms feel increasingly unwelcome in China: survey

US firms feel increasingly unwelcome in China: survey

A growing number of American businesses feel unwelcome in China because of what they see as discriminatory government policies and inconsistent legal treatment, a survey released Monday said. The American Chamber of Commerce in China asked 203 member comp
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Chrysler to build electric Fiat 500 for US market

Chrysler to build electric Fiat 500 for US market

US auto giant Chrysler on Monday announced it would build an electric version of Fiat's compact 500 - or Cinquecento - for the US market. "Beginning in 2012, Chrysler Group will manufacture the Fiat 500EV for the United States market," the company said in
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Kuwait says Opec meet before October unlikely

Kuwait says Opec meet before October unlikely

Opec is unlikely to hold an extraordinary meeting in June ahead of its scheduled meeting in October as the producer group foresees little change in oil prices, Kuwait's oil minister was quoted as saying. Sheikh Ahmad al-Abdullah al-Sabah said Opec members
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Thailand plays down unrest impact on foreign investment

Thailand plays down unrest impact on foreign investment

Thailand's finance minister on Monday said anti-government protests had not deterred foreign investors in the country, but said its tumultuous politics were "impossible to understand". "Broadly speaking, we're not seeing any signs yet that investors are s
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Ukraine to send team to Moscow for gas talks

Ukraine to send team to Moscow for gas talks

A Ukrainian delegation will travel to Moscow on Tuesday to discuss a gas agreement between the two countries, the energy ministry and the state energy company Naftogaz said. The visit will be the first attempt by the new leadership of President Viktor Yan
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Argentina sees debt swap launch in three weeks

Argentina sees debt swap launch in three weeks

Argentina expects to launch within three weeks a swap to take up to $20 billion in defaulted bonds off the market and pave the way to issue new debt, Finance Secretary Hernan Lorenzino told Reuters on Sunday. Lorenzino said Argentina had received final ap
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Lufthansa pilots to go back on strike from April 13

Lufthansa pilots to go back on strike from April 13

Pilots at German flagship carrier Lufthansa plan a fresh four-day work stoppage from April 13 after failing again to reach an agreement over pay and job security, a union said on Monday. The pilots had already gone on strike last month, causing about 2,00
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Indonesia central bank signals no rate hike this year

Indonesia central bank signals no rate hike this year

Indonesia's central bank reiterated on Monday that interest rates were likely to be kept unchanged this year owing to benign inflationary pressures, a view far more dovish than most market analysts. "We expect inflation to be within its target range this
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
German official exports to China soar in 2009

German official exports to China soar in 2009

German exports to China rose by seven percent last year, official statistics showed on Monday, bucking the trend in a dismal year for Europe's top economy, where overall exports slumped by 18 percent Goods "made in Germany" exported to China - mainly mach
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Argentina sees debt swap launch in three weeks

Argentina sees debt swap launch in three weeks

Argentina expects to launch within three weeks a swap to take up to $20 billion in defaulted bonds off the market and pave the way to issue new debt, Finance Secretary Hernan Lorenzino told Reuters. Lorenzino said Argentina had received final approval fro
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Argentina sees debt swap launch in three weeks

Argentina sees debt swap launch in three weeks

Argentina expects to launch within three weeks a swap to take up to $20 billion in defaulted bonds off the market and pave the way to issue new debt, Finance Secretary Hernan Lorenzino told Reuters. Lorenzino said Argentina had received final approval fro
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Australian shares dip

Australian shares dip

Australian stocks snapped a four-day winning streak, dropping 0.9 percent on Monday, with miners losing ground as demand worries hurt commodity prices. Arrow Energy fell 3.6 percent to A$5.1, its sharpest daily fall in a month, after it said it had agreed
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Taiwan stocks lose steam

Taiwan stocks lose steam

Taiwan stocks fell 0.78 percent on Monday, edging away from a two-month closing high, as losses on Wall Street and fears over a parts shortage hurt technology shares including Acer. Analysts say both retail and foreign investors were waiting for US stocks
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Seoul shares fall

Seoul shares fall

Seoul shares fell 0.8 percent on Monday as steel issues including POSCO dragged on the market, with caution pervading on news of an India interest rate hike and the approval of US healthcare reform. Buying appetite dried up after a weak finish on Wall Str
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
South Korea bond yields fall

South Korea bond yields fall

South Korean treasury bond yields declined to a near 11-month low on renewed talk about the possible inclusion of the country's bonds in a global index and as concerns over Greece boosted risk appetite. Treasury yields have been on the decrease since the
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
South Korea bond yields fall

South Korea bond yields fall

South Korean treasury bond yields declined to a near 11-month low on renewed talk about the possible inclusion of the country's bonds in a global index and as concerns over Greece boosted risk appetite. Treasury yields have been on the decrease since the
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Philippine bonds consolidate gains

Philippine bonds consolidate gains

Philippine bond yields paused near four-month lows on Monday as investors waited for an 8.5 billion pesos ($186 million) treasury bill auction later in the day. With liquidity ample in domestic money markets and growing expectations that the central bank
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Philippine bonds consolidate gains

Philippine bonds consolidate gains

Philippine bond yields paused near four-month lows on Monday as investors waited for an 8.5 billion pesos ($186 million) treasury bill auction later in the day. With liquidity ample in domestic money markets and growing expectations that the central bank
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
China yields fall

China yields fall

Chinese bill and bond yields mostly eased on Monday after a senior government economist said over the weekend that China's 2010 inflation goal of 3 percent was achievable. Yao Jingyuan, chief economist of the National Bureau of Statistics, said ample grai
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
China yields fall

China yields fall

Chinese bill and bond yields mostly eased on Monday after a senior government economist said over the weekend that China's 2010 inflation goal of 3 percent was achievable. Yao Jingyuan, chief economist of the National Bureau of Statistics, said ample grai
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Thailand's $3 billion savings bond issue delayed

Thailand's $3 billion savings bond issue delayed

Thailand's planned issue of up to 100 billion baht ($3 billion) worth of government savings bonds has been delayed to late April due to political turmoil, a Finance Ministry official said on Monday. The six-year bonds, for refinancing loans borrowed for s
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Thailand's $3 billion savings bond issue delayed

Thailand's $3 billion savings bond issue delayed

Thailand's planned issue of up to 100 billion baht ($3 billion) worth of government savings bonds has been delayed to late April due to political turmoil, a Finance Ministry official said on Monday. The six-year bonds, for refinancing loans borrowed for s
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Baker Steel Resources gets positive response to IPO

Baker Steel Resources gets positive response to IPO

Baker Steel Resources Trust, set to float in London around the second half of April, said it had received a positive response from investors for its planned listing and 70 million pound ($106.4 million) share placing. "We have had a very good response so
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Baker Steel Resources gets positive response to IPO

Baker Steel Resources gets positive response to IPO

Baker Steel Resources Trust, set to float in London around the second half of April, said it had received a positive response from investors for its planned listing and 70 million pound ($106.4 million) share placing. "We have had a very good response so
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
China stocks rally; Hong Kong ends at two-week low

China stocks rally; Hong Kong ends at two-week low

China's key stock index closed up 0.22 percent on Monday, with banking stocks gaining as the market shrugged off a surprise rate hike in India that had pushed other major Asian markets lower. In Hong Kong, shares of rate-sensitive property and banking sha
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Swiss franc not far off historic high

Swiss franc not far off historic high

The Swiss franc edged closer to an all-time high against the euro on Monday and traders were watching closely to see just how much the Swiss National Bank will allow the Swissie to climb. The SNB has been intervening in the forex markets over the past yea
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Australian dollar edges back

Australian dollar edges back

The Australian dollar inched lower against its US counterpart on Monday, hobbled by rising interest rates in major trade partner India, and fresh concerns over sovereign debt in Europe. Still, the Aussie remained strong against the euro and sterling and c
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Euro stays under pressure

Euro stays under pressure

The euro hovered at its weakest levels in three weeks on Monday and the dollar remained firm as Europe remained divided over aid to debt-burdened Greece ahead of a summit later this week. The dollar index held near Friday's two-week high as uncertainty ov
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Bangladesh interbank forex, interest rates

Bangladesh interbank forex, interest rates

Interbank buy/sell rates for the taka against the dollar on Monday. 69.2425/69.2550 (previous 69.2480/69.2500) Call Money Rates: 2.50-3.80 percent (previous 2.50-3.60 percent).
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Most Asian currencies weaker

Most Asian currencies weaker

A strong dollar in the absence of progress of bailing out debt-ridden Greece weighed on most Asian currencies on Monday but Indonesia's rupiah rallied on verbal support from its central bank. The dollar index touched its highest since March 2, extending F
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Yuan slips in key NDFs

Yuan slips in key NDFs

The yuan fell as much as 0.4 percent against the dollar in intraday trading on Monday in key one-year offshore forwards, its biggest single-day fall in the NDFs since mid-November, after tough talk by a top Chinese trade official on China's stable yuan po
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
'Women's participation in football progressing'

'Women's participation in football progressing'

"Women's participation in football is progressing as the time goes on and the extended strength of clubs has pushed us in the position to organise two editions of National Women Club Championship in 2008 and 2009 and the third edition will be played in Ap
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Jankovic takes Indian Wells WTA title

Jankovic takes Indian Wells WTA title

Former world number one Jelena Jankovic jump-started her 2010 season Sunday with a straight-sets victory over Caroline Wozniacki for the Indian Wells WTA title. Jankovic didn't put a foot wrong as she downed her Danish opponent 6-2, 6-4 to claim her 12th
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Bell and Bresnan star in England fightback

Bell and Bresnan star in England fightback

Ian Bell cracked a superb 138 and Tim Bresnan an unbeaten 74 to lead England's recovery on the third day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh on Monday. England were in danger of conceding a first-innings lead before posting 440-8 in their firs
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Shoaib Malik vows to fight ban

Shoaib Malik vows to fight ban

Pakistan's former cricket captain Shoaib Malik vowed Monday to fight against a one-year ban from the game, saying he will lodge an appeal and try to revive his career. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on March 10 banned Malik from all forms of the game fo
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Premier League fine adds to Pompey's problems

Premier League fine adds to Pompey's problems

Cash-strapped crisis club Portsmouth were fined a reported seven figure sum by the English Premier League (EPL) on Monday for several rule breaches this season. Bottom of the Premier League, Portsmouth, were effectively condemned to relegation last week w
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
SPM Cricket League final today

SPM Cricket League final today

Sayid Paper Stags will take on Premier Insurance in the final (Professional Segment) of SPM Cricket League at Model Town Cricket Club Ground, opposite Model Town GPO, today (Tuesday). PVCA Chief Executive Officer Ashiq Hussain Qureshi will grace the occas
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Hat-trick star Messi hits new heights

Hat-trick star Messi hits new heights

Lionel Messi hit a second successive La Liga hat-trick, and his eighth goal in a week, as the magical Argentine inspired Barcelona to a 4-2 win at Real Zaragoza on Sunday. Messi has now scored eleven of Barcelona's last 14 goals, virtually single-handedly
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
PCB financial affairs to be probed by parliament

PCB financial affairs to be probed by parliament

A Pakistan parliamentary committee will investigate alleged financial irregularities and mismanagement amounting to millions of rupees in the accounts of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). An auditor-general's report has highlighted financial irregularitie
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Love cheat Woods says he was 'living a lie'

Love cheat Woods says he was 'living a lie'

Tiger Woods says he has been "living a lie" and admitted to "doing some ugly things" until a sex scandal shattered his image and made him the butt of jokes by American talk-show comedians. In the billionaire golfer's first interview since he smashed his c
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Ljubicic wins Indian Wells men's title

Ljubicic wins Indian Wells men's title

Ivan Ljubicic beat American Andy Roddick 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5) Sunday to win the Indian Wells men's title, the first elite Masters 1000 triumph of the Croatian veteran's career. Ljubicic, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Friday, became the oldest first-
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
'French Open could move out of Paris'

'French Open could move out of Paris'

The French Open could move out of Paris in the next few years because of infrastructure problems, the grand slam's tennis tournament director said on Monday. Organisers have been considering for years how to extend the current Roland Garros stadium, locat
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Russian skiing chief quits over Games fiasco

Russian skiing chief quits over Games fiasco

Vladimir Loginov quit as president of the Russian cross-country skiing federation (FLGR) on Monday following the country's dismal showing at last month's Winter Olympics in Vancouver. "Unfortunately, our Olympic performances could not be called satisfying
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Two Nato soldiers killed in Afghanistan

Two Nato soldiers killed in Afghanistan

Two Nato soldiers, one of them British, were killed by bombs in southern Afghanistan on Monday, the alliance said, bringing to 128 the number of foreign soldiers killed in the country this year. The fatalities occurred in two separate locations. Britain's
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
EU ministers agree to act on Iran satellite jamming

EU ministers agree to act on Iran satellite jamming

European Union foreign ministers urged Iran on Monday to stop jamming European satellite transmissions and said they were prepared to take action to end the interference. Iranian authorities have been jamming foreign satellite broadcasts into their territ
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Chinese media launches new attack on Google

Chinese media launches new attack on Google

China's state-run Xinhua news agency launched a new broadside against Google Inc on Monday, saying in an angry commentary that the company had reneged on promises to abide by Chinese law. Speculation is swirling that Google will soon announce a decision t
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
US to block Iran on nukes, sanctions will take time, says Hillary

US to block Iran on nukes, sanctions will take time, says Hillary

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday the United States will not "compromise its commitment" to prevent Iran getting a nuclear bomb, but sanctions that bite will take time. In excerpts of a speech she will deliver to the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
EU slams Israel over settlement building

EU slams Israel over settlement building

EU foreign ministers on Monday called for a total freeze on Jewish settlement building in the Palestinian territories, as Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman visited Brussels. "We asked for a total freeze of settlement activities and we will pursue
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
US and Israel dispute over settlements deepens

US and Israel dispute over settlements deepens

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday stressed US opposition to Israel's policy of expanding Jewish settlements as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived seeking common ground on the way forward for Mideast peace. Netanyahu was scheduled to meet
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Six die in light plane crash in Venezuela

Six die in light plane crash in Venezuela

A small plane crashed in a residential area in an eastern Venezuela city, leaving six people dead, according to local radio stations. The plane crashed in a densely populated poor neighbourhood near the international airport of Cumuna, 600 kilometres east
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Bahrain minister detained in money laundering case

Bahrain minister detained in money laundering case

Bahrain detained a government official, identified in the Gulf Arab kingdom's media as a state minister, for questioning on charges of domestic and international money laundering, police said on Monday. "An official has been detained on charges of committ
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
US scientist wins Stockholm Water Prize

US scientist wins Stockholm Water Prize

US scientist Rita Colwell has won the $150,000 Stockholm Water Prize for her research on the prevention of cholera and other waterborne diseases. The 76-year-old Colwell is a professor at the University of Maryland and at Johns Hopkins University, and a f
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Massive sandstorms choke cities across China

Massive sandstorms choke cities across China

Sandstorms whipping across China shrouded cities in an unhealthy cloud of sand and grit Monday, with winds carrying the pollution outside the mainland as far as Hong Kong and Taiwan. It was the latest sign of the effects of desertification: Overgrazing, d
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Four Rio employees plead guilty on China bribes

Four Rio employees plead guilty on China bribes

Four Rio Tinto executives on trial in China, including Australian Stern Hu, pleaded guilty to taking bribes, while contesting the amounts, lawyers at the hearing said on Monday. Hu and three Chinese employees of giant miner Rio - Liu Caikui, Ge Minqiang a
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
US warns of al Qaeda sea attacks near Yemen

US warns of al Qaeda sea attacks near Yemen

The United States has warned military and commercial vessels plying the coast of Yemen that they may be targeted by al Qaeda, citing the 2000 attack on the USS Cole. "Information suggests that al Qaeda remains interested in maritime attacks in the Bab-al-
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Bangladesh's top hospital bans burqa

Bangladesh's top hospital bans burqa

Bangladesh's largest state-run hospital has banned staff from wearing full-face burqas after an increase in thefts of mobile phones and wallets from wards, a hospital chief said Monday. Female staff have been ordered to wear standard uniforms, which do no
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Thousands march to press for US immigration reform

Thousands march to press for US immigration reform

Tens of thousands of people marched outside the White House Sunday to press Congress to move on a long-delayed immigration reform, which President Barack Obama told the protesters "won't happen overnight." Organisers hope the 100,000-strong "March for Ame
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Dollar Libor rises, euro at new low

Dollar Libor rises, euro at new low

The interbank cost of dollars rose to a five-month high on Monday as the market adjusted to baby steps taken by the US Federal Reserve to normalise the financial system in the wake of the two-year financial crisis. Benchmark dollar Libor rates hit their h
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Sterling rebounds

Sterling rebounds

Sterling rebounded on a broadly weaker euro, but the pound remained pressured by concerns about the UK outlook before this week's budget and a general election that looks set to be closely fought. Investors were eyeing Wednesday's budget to be delivered b
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Indian rupee drops

Indian rupee drops

The Indian rupee dropped to a one-week low late on Monday as share losses and the dollar's gains versus major currencies offset the positive sentiment post the Reserve Bank of India's surprise rate hike late on Friday. The partially convertible rupee clos
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Euro slips

Euro slips

The euro slipped to a three-week low against the dollar on Monday, pressured by uncertainty about whether Greece would be able to secure aid this week to help service its ballooning debts. Traders were jittery before the March 25-26 summit of European Uni
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Asian sovereigns outpace Europe

Asian sovereigns outpace Europe

Asian sovereign credit default swaps widened on Monday as worries about Greece's debt crisis raised the cost of insuring government debt and made investors averse to buying riskier assets. Risk appetite for emerging market assets soured amid uncertainty w
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am
Asian sovereigns outpace Europe

Asian sovereigns outpace Europe

Asian sovereign credit default swaps widened on Monday as worries about Greece's debt crisis raised the cost of insuring government debt and made investors averse to buying riskier assets. Risk appetite for emerging market assets soured amid uncertainty w
Published 23 Mar, 2010 12:00am