AFP, ATHENS: Greece's public transport networks ground to a halt yesterday after trade unions called for a 48-hour strike to protest controversial government plans to overhaul pensions and increase taxes, as demanded by international creditors. No public transport service in Athens was working Friday…

AFP, SINGAPORE:  Crude prices dipped in Asia yesterday as traders await a closely watched US jobs report that could provide clues on the health of the world’s biggest economy and the direction of interest rates. The non-farm payroll report due for release later in the day could determine…

Xinhua, WELLINGTON: China is driving a boom in New Zealand seafood exports which hit a record 1.71 billion NZ dollars (1.17 billion U.S.  dollars) in the year to the end of March, the Seafood New Zealand industry group said Friday. Exports were up 11.4 percent year on year and the strong export…

AFP, TOKYO: The dollar held its gains yesterday as dealers await US jobs data, after Japan’s prime minister left open the door for a market intervention to tame the soaring yen. While the April US jobs report is expected to show a slowdown in new posts, pointing to a softening in the world’s…

AFP, HONG KONG:  Asian markets mostly fell yesterday as lingering worries over global growth sent traders running from higher-risk assets, while attention turns to the release of US jobs data later in the day. Confidence on trading floors has been sparse the past two weeks following disappointing…

Already the fastest growing major economy in the world, India can grow at an even faster pace this year if predictions of good monsoon hold up, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Thursday, reports PTI. Replying to a debate on the Finance Bill 2016 which was later passed in the Lok Sabha, Jaitley…

AFP, WASHINGTON: The smartphone revolutionized how people live and work, but the technology world is now struggling to see what comes next. As smartphone…

AFP, PARIS:  Top global steelmaker ArcelorMittal said yesterday it had narrowed its first-quarter losses and saw a more upbeat period ahead but warned…