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Print - 2014-12-26
The Weather

The Weather

The weather report on Thursday (December 25, 2014) and the forecast for Friday (December 26, 2014).

Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
LME official prices

LME official prices

The following were Wednesday official prices.

Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
LME official prices

LME official prices

The following were Wednesday official prices.

Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
China iron ore futures inch up on bank liquidity easing reports

China iron ore futures inch up on bank liquidity easing reports

China's iron ore futures edged up on Thursday, snapping three straight sessions of losses as reports circulated that the central bank was moving to ease liquidity conditions for banks. Iron ore futures for May delivery on the Dalian Commodity Exchange ros
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
China says 2014 cotton output drops 2.2 percent on year

China says 2014 cotton output drops 2.2 percent on year

Cotton production in China, the world's top consumer of the fibre, dropped 2.2 percent in 2014 from the year before, the government said on Wednesday. The National Bureau of Statistics said output fell to 6.16 million tonnes as the amount of land used to
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Shanghai copper futures inch up on expectations of policy support

Shanghai copper futures inch up on expectations of policy support

Shanghai copper futures were mostly flat in early trading on Thursday, as hopes of more support policies to invigorate the economy helped boost prices, even as domestic demand for the metal continued to sag. In a sign of weak local demand, spot premiums f
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Corn eases after climbing to highest since early July

Corn eases after climbing to highest since early July

US wheat edged higher on Wednesday, rising for eight out 10 sessions with uncertainty over Russian supplies, while corn dipped after climbing to more than a five-month high in the previous session. Soybeans were little changed after closing almost flat on
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Argentine wheat crop seen big enough to meet Brazil demand

Argentine wheat crop seen big enough to meet Brazil demand

Brazil will have no need to import US wheat next year because the crop in its main supplier, Argentina, will be big enough to meet the neighbouring country's projected demand of 7 million tonnes, the head of Argentina's Rosario grains exchange said. Rosar
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Brazil's Abiove stands by more modest soy forecast

Brazil's Abiove stands by more modest soy forecast

Brazil's vegetable oil association Abiove stood by its more modest forecast for a 2014-15 soybean crop of 91 million tonnes on Tuesday, after the Brazilian government hiked its estimate to 95.8 million tonnes last week. "Productivity in Mato Grosso is goi
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
TOCOM rubber rebounds on the back of higher Shanghai market

TOCOM rubber rebounds on the back of higher Shanghai market

Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures hit a two-week low before rebounding to end higher on Thursday thanks to a strong Shanghai market and some investors looking for bargains, dealers said. The Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for June delivery finished
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
India raises edible oil import taxes to protect local farmers

India raises edible oil import taxes to protect local farmers

India has raised the import tax on crude edible oils and refined oils by 5 percentage points each to protect local farmers from rising imports from Malaysia and Indonesia. In an order made public on Thursday, New Delhi said the import tax on the crude var
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
India raises edible oil import taxes to protect local farmers

India raises edible oil import taxes to protect local farmers

India has raised the import tax on crude edible oils and refined oils by 5 percentage points each to protect local farmers from rising imports from Malaysia and Indonesia. In an order made public on Thursday, New Delhi said the import tax on the crude var
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Commodities stumble on strong dollar after bright GDP

Commodities stumble on strong dollar after bright GDP

Commodity markets mostly fell last week, taking a hit as the dollar soared following market-busting growth data in the United States, which is the world's biggest economy. US gross domestic product rose 5.0 percent in the third quarter, official data show
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Sony's Tokyo HQ taking greater role in Hollywood studio after furore

Sony's Tokyo HQ taking greater role in Hollywood studio after furore

Sony Corp's Tokyo headquarters is changing its usual arm's-length relationship with its US studio following a massive cyberattack and the controversy over the comedy "The Interview", with the group CEO being consulted on key decisions, company officials s
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
YouTube, Web channels show Sony's 'The Interview' a day before theatres

YouTube, Web channels show Sony's 'The Interview' a day before theatres

Sony Pictures made "The Interview" available online on Wednesday, a day before its theatrical release, after reversing a decision made a week ago to cancel the movie's release following a massive cyberattack. The film was available for rental on Google In
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Post-tsunami aid was not always on target in Asia

Post-tsunami aid was not always on target in Asia

The houses are not yet 10 years old but already walls and roofs are collapsing on a housing estate in Sirikandurawatte in Sri Lanka. Ajith Priyantha, 35, was one of the several hundred relocated to the newly built project after the tsunami of December 26,
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Russia offers support to North Korea amid Sony hack

Russia offers support to North Korea amid Sony hack

Russia on Thursday offered sympathy to North Korea amid the Sony hacking scandal, saying the movie that sparked the dispute was so scandalous that Pyongyang's anger was "quite understandable." Washington failed to offer any proof to back its claims of Pyo
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
US company to open tuna cannery in American Samoa

US company to open tuna cannery in American Samoa

A Washington state company is making a $70 million investment in a tuna cannery in the US territory of American Samoa. The canned tuna products from American Samoa will carry the "Made In USA" label, said officials with Tri Marine International. Based in
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Saudi Arabia issues 'final warning' on high-speed rail project

Saudi Arabia issues 'final warning' on high-speed rail project

Saudi Arabia has given a "final warning" to avoid delays on an $8.2 billion high-speed rail project which Spanish and Saudi firms are helping to build. The Haramain High Speed Rail system is to transport Muslim pilgrims, as well as regular travellers, 450
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Russia battles to contain Black Sea oil spill

Russia battles to contain Black Sea oil spill

A Russian Black Sea city declared a state of emergency Thursday after a burst pipeline spewed oil into the landlocked water body, with stormy weather hampering cleanup efforts. The pipeline near the city of Tuapse burst late Tuesday, according to Chernomo
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
UK productivity rises, giving some relief to Bank of England

UK productivity rises, giving some relief to Bank of England

British workers' productivity showed a long-awaited improvement in the third quarter of this year, official data showed on Wednesday, giving some encouragement to the Bank of England as it holds interest rates at a record low. Output per hour worked rose
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Cuba expats in America weigh return to island

Cuba expats in America weigh return to island

Cuban expatriates in America, including many who risked their lives to escape the communist island, are torn about whether to return after Havana and Washington formally re-establish ties next year. US President Barack Obama last week announced the normal
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Subaru scraps plan to shift Crosstrek production to US

Subaru scraps plan to shift Crosstrek production to US

Fuji Heavy Industries, the maker of Subaru brand cars and SUVs, has scrapped a plan to shift production of the new XV Crosstrek to its US plant in Indiana and will instead make the crossover SUV in Japan, a source familiar with the company's production pl
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Japan utilities likely to decommission five ageing reactors: Nikkei

Japan utilities likely to decommission five ageing reactors: Nikkei

Japanese power utilities are likely to decommission five ageing reactors that would be too costly to bring in line with tougher safety standards, the Nikkei business daily said on Thursday, as the country grapples with nuclear power's post-Fukushima futur
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
BOJ policymakers call for fiscal reform amid tax hike delay

BOJ policymakers call for fiscal reform amid tax hike delay

Bank of Japan board members made a rare call on the government to steadily promote measures to restore the country's tattered finances three weeks after expanding monetary stimulus, minutes of their November meeting showed. The November rate review was he
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
BOJ policymakers call for fiscal reform amid tax hike delay

BOJ policymakers call for fiscal reform amid tax hike delay

Bank of Japan board members made a rare call on the government to steadily promote measures to restore the country's tattered finances three weeks after expanding monetary stimulus, minutes of their November meeting showed. The November rate review was he
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Reliance signs shipping agreement for ethane imports

Reliance signs shipping agreement for ethane imports

India's Reliance Industries Ltd on Wednesday said it had signed a long-term shipping agreement with Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd (MOL) to transport liquefied ethane that Reliance will import from North America. MOL will supervise the construction of six v
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Sinopec starts pumping gas from Sichuan's Yuanba field

Sinopec starts pumping gas from Sichuan's Yuanba field

Sinopec Corp started this week a processing plant in China's south-west that treats high-sulphur natural gas pumping from a new field at Yuanba, Sinopec group reported on its website on Thursday. Yuanba, located in China's top gas producing province of Si
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Unions make push to recruit protected immigrants in US

Unions make push to recruit protected immigrants in US

Unions across the US are reaching out to immigrants affected by President Barack Obama's recent executive action, hoping to expand their dwindling ranks by recruiting millions of workers who entered the US illegally. Labour leaders say the president's act
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
China's bankers enjoy first pay hike since global financial crisis

China's bankers enjoy first pay hike since global financial crisis

Chinese investment banks have awarded pay rises to their staff for the first time since the 2008 global financial crisis, buoyed by a surge in China-related deals, but salaries and bonuses still trail far behind those paid by Western banks. Chinese invest
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Refugees drown in attempted Sudanese smuggling

Refugees drown in attempted Sudanese smuggling

At least eight asylum-seekers have drowned trying to cross a river in Sudan during an attempt to smuggle them out of a refugee camp, the UN refugee agency said Thursday. The accident happened as a group of from the Shegarab-1 camp in the eastern state of
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Who hacked Sony becomes Internet's new mystery

Who hacked Sony becomes Internet's new mystery

Everyone has a theory about who really hacked Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. Despite President Barack Obama's conclusion that North Korea was the culprit, the Internet's newest game of whodunit continues. Top theories include disgruntled Sony insiders,
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Gulf stock markets rise

Gulf stock markets rise

Gulf stock markets rose on Thursday as Saudi Arabia released a 2015 state budget that will keep spending high, reassuring the region that economic growth is unlikely to be hurt much by the plunge of oil prices. The Saudi budget envisions state spending at
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Nikkei snaps five-day winning streak on profit-taking, JAL drops

Nikkei snaps five-day winning streak on profit-taking, JAL drops

Japan's Nikkei share average slipped on Thursday in holiday-thinned trade as investors took profits after five straight sessions of gains. Airlines were the biggest losers in the Tokyo Stock Exchange's 33 industry subindexes as Japan Airlines fell 3.2 per
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
China stocks up on financial revival

China stocks up on financial revival

China stocks closed higher on Thursday as investors waded back into financial shares after selling off for three days. The CSI300 index of the largest listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen rose 3.3 percent, to 3,335.42, while the Shanghai Composite In
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Taiwan stocks decline; banks, semiconductors slip

Taiwan stocks decline; banks, semiconductors slip

Taiwan stocks on declined 0.18 percent on Thursday in light Christmas Day trading. As of 0217 GMT, the main TAIEX index had fallen 16.2 points to 9,169.98, after closing up 0.97 percent on Wednesday. The electronics subindex was down 0.13 percent, althoug
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Vietnam to keep dollar-dong rate moves within two percent in 2015

Vietnam to keep dollar-dong rate moves within two percent in 2015

Vietnam will keep the dollar/dong exchange rate within a 2-percent band in 2015, similar to this year, to ensure stability on the country's foreign exchange market, the central bank governor said on Wednesday. "The target for next year is that we will kee
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Yuan ends up, scores biggest single-day gain in seven months

Yuan ends up, scores biggest single-day gain in seven months

China's yuan posted its biggest daily gain in seven months on Thursday, closing 0.3 percent firmer at 6.1976 per dollar after the central bank strengthened its guidance rate. The People's Bank of China set the midpoint rate at 6.1213 per dollar prior to m
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
JGBs gain, two-year debt sold at negative yield

JGBs gain, two-year debt sold at negative yield

Japanese government bond prices rose on Thursday, with longer-dated maturities supported as investors moved down the curve in search of higher yields. The benchmark 10-year yield dropped to as low as 0.315 percent, lowest since April 2013. March 10-year J
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
JGBs gain, two-year debt sold at negative yield

JGBs gain, two-year debt sold at negative yield

Japanese government bond prices rose on Thursday, with longer-dated maturities supported as investors moved down the curve in search of higher yields. The benchmark 10-year yield dropped to as low as 0.315 percent, lowest since April 2013. March 10-year J
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Russian rouble strengthens in thin trade

Russian rouble strengthens in thin trade

Russia's rouble strengthened on Thursday as exporters sold foreign currency in response to government pressure and to meet tax payments, but trading volumes were thin as many Western markets were closed for the Christmas Day holidays. At 0825 GMT, the rou
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Poland welcomes "reasonably" weaker zloty currency

Poland welcomes "reasonably" weaker zloty currency

A "reasonable" weakening of the zloty currency may help Poland as it battles deflation and slowing exports, Finance Minister Mateusz Szczurek told Reuters. He also said in an interview that he saw a chance that Poland could exit European Union's excessive
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
BOJ deputy governor stresses weak-yen benefits, defends QQE

BOJ deputy governor stresses weak-yen benefits, defends QQE

Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Kikuo Iwata on Thursday defended the bank's massive stimulus programme, stressing that the subsequent weakening of the yen would benefit companies and households in the long run through higher profits and wages. The central b
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Yen gains versus dollar, euro in Christmas-thinned market

Yen gains versus dollar, euro in Christmas-thinned market

The Japanese yen rose on Thursday in extremely thin trade because of the Christmas holiday, but the dollar remained not far from the week's highs hit on diverging monetary policy outlooks. Tokyo markets were open for business as usual, giving Japanese exp
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
India sweat on Kumar for Boxing Day test

India sweat on Kumar for Boxing Day test

India may have to wait a little longer to see Bhuvneshwar Kumar in action in Australia as captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni indicated the seamer's injured ankle could keep him out of the third test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, starting on Friday. The 24-ye
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Debutant Burns to bat at six, Harris to play for Australia

Debutant Burns to bat at six, Harris to play for Australia

Debutant Joe Burns will bat at number six and paceman Ryan Harris returns for Australia in the third Boxing Day Test against India, skipper Steve Smith said on Thursday. Smith, who won his first Test as captain as a replacement for the injured Michael Cla
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Afghan women's cricket crushed by threats, bombs and tradition

Afghan women's cricket crushed by threats, bombs and tradition

The story of Afghan cricket is a rare bright spot in the troubled country's recent past, full of unlikely successes and glory that have helped unify a divided nation. Unless you're a woman player. A national women's cricket team formed in 2010 with some f
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
World is watching us, says Spurs' Pochettino

World is watching us, says Spurs' Pochettino

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino thinks the world will be watching the Premier League on Boxing Day, as he prepares to take his side to relegation-threatened Leicester City. The Argentinean got his first taste of England's hectic festive sche
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
SHC issues fresh notice to PWF official

SHC issues fresh notice to PWF official

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued fresh notice to the Pakistan Swimmers Federation Secretary, asking her to appear in court for flouting its order regarding submission of details of forthcoming domestic and foreign swimming events in court and making
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Dutch sports car maker Spyker runs out of money

Dutch sports car maker Spyker runs out of money

Dutch boutique sports-car maker Spyker, which once owned the struggling Saab marque, has declared bankruptcy after a financing deal fell through at the last minute. Spyker chief executive Victor Muller put a brave face on the crash, saying that the compan
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Last-minute gift idea: 'Miami Vice' Ferrari on eBay for $1.75 million

Last-minute gift idea: 'Miami Vice' Ferrari on eBay for $1.75 million

Procrastinating holiday shoppers can now grab one of Miami's most iconic two-seaters: the all-white 1986 Ferrari Testarossa driven by TV cops "Sonny" Crockett and Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs in the hit 1980s series "Miami Vice." The car is available on eBay thro
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Liverpool's Rodgers targets Burnley bounce

Liverpool's Rodgers targets Burnley bounce

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is confident his side can still go on to enjoy a successful season as they go in search of some Christmas cheer at Burnley on Friday. Liverpool are 10th in the Premier League and have no realistic chance of repeating last
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Wenger backs Mertesacker ahead of QPR visit

Wenger backs Mertesacker ahead of QPR visit

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has defended under-fire centre-back Per Mertesacker ahead of his side's Premier League home game with Queens Park Rangers on Friday. Mertesacker was criticised after apparently ducking beneath the ball to allow Martin Skrtel
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Cycling Trott and Kenny to become cycling's golden couple

Cycling Trott and Kenny to become cycling's golden couple

British cycling Olympic gold medallists Laura Trott and Jason Kenny are engaged to be married, she tweeted on Thursday. Trott, 22, who won team pursuit and omnium gold at the London Olympics, said Kenny had given her the perfect Christmas present. "Merry
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Premier League braced for bumper Boxing Day

Premier League braced for bumper Boxing Day

While professional footballers in the rest of Europe sleep off their Christmas hangovers, the Premier League ploughs on regardless on Friday with a bumper schedule of traditional Boxing Day fixtures. For the first time in the 2014-15 season, all 20 Englis
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Mauritania issues first apostasy death sentence

Mauritania issues first apostasy death sentence

Mauritania has delivered its first death sentence for apostasy since independence in 1960, ordering capital punishment for a Muslim man who wrote an article deemed blasphemous of Islam. Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mohamed, aged in his late 20s, fainted when the r
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Tunisia arrests blogger for 'defaming' army officers

Tunisia arrests blogger for 'defaming' army officers

Tunisian authorities have arrested a blogger who has been critical of the party of newly elected president Beji Caid Essebsi, as he returned home from France, his lawyer said Thursday. Yassine Ayari, 33, was detained overnight at Tunis-Carthage airport an
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Saudi women drivers sent to 'terrorism' court

Saudi women drivers sent to 'terrorism' court

Two women's rights campaigners detained in Saudi Arabia have been transferred to a special tribunal for "terrorism", activists said on Thursday after the women appeared in court. The ruling came at a hearing in Al-Ahsa, in the kingdom's Eastern Province,
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Swedish mosque: five injured after suspected arson attack

Swedish mosque: five injured after suspected arson attack

Five people were taken to the hospital Thursday after a suspected arson attack on a basement mosque in the Swedish city of Eskilstuna, police said. Two of the five were treated for smoke inhalation, two suffered cuts and one suffered a foot injury. None o
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Syrian peace talks set to take place in Moscow next month

Syrian peace talks set to take place in Moscow next month

Peace talks between the Syrian government and the opposition could be held in Moscow next month, Russia's Foreign Ministry said Thursday. The talks are set to take place sometime after January 20, ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said at a briefin
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Sierra Leone declares five-day Ebola lockdown in north

Sierra Leone declares five-day Ebola lockdown in north

Sierra Leone's government has declared a five-day lockdown in the country's north to step up efforts to contain the Ebola epidemic, while making an exception for Christmas. "Muslims and Christians are not allowed to hold services in mosques and churches t
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Nigerian girl says her father handed her over to Boko Haram

Nigerian girl says her father handed her over to Boko Haram

A 13-year-old Nigerian girl said her father handed her over to the radical Islamist group Boko Haram to become a suicide bomber, local media reported Thursday. The girl spoke at a press conference organized by police on Wednesday, two weeks after she was
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Fight in Iraq, Syria: Bosnia cleric accused of inciting followers

Fight in Iraq, Syria: Bosnia cleric accused of inciting followers

A Muslim cleric in Bosnia accused of encouraging his followers to fight with Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq was charged with terrorism on Thursday, prosecutors said. Husein Bosnic, from Buzim in the country's north-west, was arrested in Septemb
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Queen says fixing division in Scotland 'will take time'

Queen says fixing division in Scotland 'will take time'

Healing differences in Scotland after a divisive referendum that came close to splitting the United Kingdom this year will take time, Queen Elizabeth II said in her annual Christmas broadcast on Thursday. In a speech dedicated to the theme of reconciliati
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Russia hopes to host Syria talks in January

Russia hopes to host Syria talks in January

Russia plans to host delegations from the Syrian opposition in late January, possibly followed by a visit by regime representatives that could bring the two sides together for talks, the foreign ministry said Thursday. Members of the Syrian opposition are
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Police arrest officials in Israeli corruption probe

Police arrest officials in Israeli corruption probe

Israeli police have arrested more than two dozen current and former officials in a corruption probe, including several from the party of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, a police spokeswoman said Thursday. Local media reported that the investigation wa
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Russia says Kiev's move to join Nato dangerous for Europe

Russia says Kiev's move to join Nato dangerous for Europe

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine's pursuit of Nato membership posed a danger to European security and that the West was using Kiev's bid to join the Atlantic alliance as a way to fuel confrontation between Russia and Ukraine. The Kiev p
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Shebab militants attack African Union base in Somalia

Shebab militants attack African Union base in Somalia

Shebab militants mounted an attack against the headquarters of the African Union force in Somalia on Thursday, with explosions and gunfire rocking the area, officials said. The African Union force said all of its personnel as well as UN staff were unharme
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
China urges Japan to pursue peace under new defence chief

China urges Japan to pursue peace under new defence chief

China on Thursday called on Japan to pursue "peaceful development" under its new defence minister appointed this week after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's re-election, as tensions simmer over a territorial dispute and wartime history. Abe on Wednesday appoin
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Sudan orders senior UN officials to leave

Sudan orders senior UN officials to leave

Sudan has ordered two senior United Nations officials to leave, a UN staff member said Thursday, after a recent spike in tensions between Khartoum and the peacekeeping mission in Darfur. The UN resident co-ordinator and humanitarian coordinator Ali Zaatar
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Lebanon's Hezbollah detains 'Israeli spy' in its ranks

Lebanon's Hezbollah detains 'Israeli spy' in its ranks

Lebanon's Hezbollah has detained a senior party official it accused of spying for Israel and "sabotaging security operations" abroad, a source close to the movement said on Thursday. "Three months ago, Hezbollah's security apparatus detained a man named M
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
As world honours the dead, Indonesia begins tsunami memorials

As world honours the dead, Indonesia begins tsunami memorials

Thousands of people held a memorial Thursday in Indonesia's Aceh province, the epicentre of the Indian Ocean tsunami, as the world prepared to mark a decade since a disaster that took 220,00 lives and laid waste to coastal areas in 14 countries. On Decemb
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
India's military hunts rebels after deadly attacks in remote state

India's military hunts rebels after deadly attacks in remote state

India deployed military helicopters to hunt down tribal militants in the north-eastern state of Assam on Thursday after rebels killed 75 people this week, the deadliest in the remote area in years. Assam has a history of sectarian bloodshed and armed grou
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Dozens of jihadists killed fighting Syria Kurds

Dozens of jihadists killed fighting Syria Kurds

At least 44 members of the Islamic State group were killed in clashes with Kurdish troops in Syria on Thursday, a monitoring group said. Thirty of the jihadists were killed fighting against members of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in the vil
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Iran censors 'offensive' Instagram pictures

Iran censors 'offensive' Instagram pictures

Iran has started censoring images posted on photo sharing app Instagram, removing content deemed "offensive" as part of a government project to screen social networking accounts, local media reported Thursday. "The filtering of pages with immoral content
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
US cheers release of American in East Timor drugs case

US cheers release of American in East Timor drugs case

The United States welcomed Thursday the release of an American woman held in East Timor jail for nearly two months after drugs were discovered in a taxi she was sharing. A post on a Facebook page dedicated to advocating the release of veterinarian Stacey
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Taiwan leader sues radio host over illicit donations claim

Taiwan leader sues radio host over illicit donations claim

Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou will file a lawsuit against a radio host for alleging that he accepted political donations from a company implicated in food safety scandals, his office said Thursday. Clara Chou accused Ma of accepting under-the-table fund
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Steps being taken to expel illegal Afghan refugees immediately: Khattak

Steps being taken to expel illegal Afghan refugees immediately: Khattak

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said the government will take steps to immediately expel all illegal Afghan refugees. He said a mechanism would be evolved for honourable repatriation of legal Afghan refugees as soon as possible. "Simi
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Unity to help eradicate terrorism: National Assembly deputy Speaker

Unity to help eradicate terrorism: National Assembly deputy Speaker

Deputy Speaker, National Assembly, Murtaza Javed Abbasi, has said that coming on parliamentary parties and security agencies on the same page against terrorism would prove fruitful for the country and would bring maximum success in the eradication of terr
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Fazl criticises propaganda against Madaris

Fazl criticises propaganda against Madaris

JUI (F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has criticised propaganda against Deeni Madaris and said it was part of international agenda for character assassination of the religious institutions. He conceded that there is need for reforms in religious institution
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
'Develop apps and services to make a social difference'

'Develop apps and services to make a social difference'

Emrys Schoemaker is a communications expert in the consequences of technology adoption in societies and democracies, particularly communication technologies such as mobile phones and social media. He is the Director and co-founder of iMedia Associates, a
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
'Develop apps and services to make a social difference'

'Develop apps and services to make a social difference'

Emrys Schoemaker is a communications expert in the consequences of technology adoption in societies and democracies, particularly communication technologies such as mobile phones and social media. He is the Director and co-founder of iMedia Associates, a
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Balochistan leaders welcome speedy courts' set-up

Balochistan leaders welcome speedy courts' set-up

The leaders of different political parties working in Balochistan appreciated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's step to establish speedy trial courts to deal with the menace of terrorism. Talking to APP, here on Thursday, Senior Provincial Minister and Presid
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Minority's rights to be protected at any cost: President

Minority's rights to be protected at any cost: President

President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday said the government was determined to protect the rights of the minority community in line with the Constitution of Pakistan and no one would be allowed to commit injustice with them. "All citizens irrespective of the
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Seafood export stagnates as undersized fishing continues

Seafood export stagnates as undersized fishing continues

The Pakistan's seafood export has widely stagnated for the continuing unchecked undersized fishing, sending alarms of a complete derelict government that failed to regulate the fisheries sector, exporters said on Thursday. The country's seafood export sta
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Three more children die of famine in Thar

Three more children die of famine in Thar

Three more children died of drought in Thar on Thursday, taking the death toll to 248 in 85 days. A boy died in Para Village Colony due to the dearth of food whereas the Thar famine also claimed lives of one and half year old Abid and 20 days old Amina wh
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Sindh chief minister reviews Benazir's death anniversary arrangements

Sindh chief minister reviews Benazir's death anniversary arrangements

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah along with Speaker Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Khan Durrani, MNAs, MPAs and high officials on Thursday visited Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto and Bhutto House, Naudero to review the final arrangements in connection with th
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Security around US consulate beefed up

Security around US consulate beefed up

The adjoining roads leading to US Consulate in Karachi were blocked on Thursday in view of security threats on the Christmas Day. Stringent security arrangements were made as containers were placed on My Kolachi Road. The roads leading to churches in Gard
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
PJMA for replacing polypropylene bags with jute bags

PJMA for replacing polypropylene bags with jute bags

After obtaining GSP Plus status the government is bound to take steps to reduce the carbon footprints by replacing hazardous products with environment-friendly substitutes like immediately replacing polypropylene bags with jute bags in all food grains inc
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Sindh Governor inaugurates Dow University's IHM

Sindh Governor inaugurates Dow University's IHM

Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) has established Institute of Health Management (IHM) to promote advance health services management through programs and research that provides outstanding practical education to students, create and disseminate app
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
JUI-F to hold World Peace moot next month

JUI-F to hold World Peace moot next month

JUI-F Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has termed the Peshawar tragedy as worst terrorism and barbarism of the history and decided to hold World Peace and religious seminaries conference on January 15, 2015. A meeting of district Ameers, general secretaries and shura i
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Results of HSC-I announced

Results of HSC-I announced

The controller of Examination, Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Hyderabad announced the result of Higher Secondary Certificate Part-I (Class - XI) Science General, Pre-Medical and Pre-Engineering Groups of Annual Examination 2014. Acco
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
Rangers kill 9 militants, criminals in separate raids

Rangers kill 9 militants, criminals in separate raids

Rangers on Thursday stepped up its operation against terrorists and criminals and claimed to have killed nine militants in targeted raids in different parts of the metropolis. According to Rangers Spokesman, the paramilitary troops on the basis of intelli
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am
New Year Nights: Jamaat-i-Islami seeks ban on celebrations

New Year Nights: Jamaat-i-Islami seeks ban on celebrations

Deputy Secretary General, Jamaat-i-Islami, Dr Farid Ahmed Piracha, has said the New Year Nights celebrations after the Peshawar tragedy would be the height of callousness. In a statement here on Thursday, he appreciated the Sindh government's ban in that
Published 26 Dec, 2014 12:00am