Pakistan asks world to be "Realistic" about Taliban

Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmud Qureshi has asked the global community to be realistic about the Afghan Taliban and show patience and give time to them to settle down to take stock of the war torn country.

He was of the opinion that the world is rather too impatient to expect much more in just two over a month since withdrawal of NATO forces, leaving behind a shattered and tattered economy and basic infrastructure..

In an interview with the Associated Press, Qureshi asked the world to "Be realistic. Show patience. Engage. And above all, do not isolate. Those are the pillars of an approach emerging in Pakistan to deal with a fledgling Taliban government that is once again running Afghanistan next door.".

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Crude slips in Asia on US energy demand concerns

Oil fell in Asia on Thursday on demand concerns after US data showed a sharper-than-expected rise in crude inventories in the past week, analysts said.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in November shed 10 cents to $92.02 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for December delivery retreated two cents to $113.20.

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A larger-than-expected gain in US crude stockpiles raised demand concerns among traders, said Sanjeev Gupta, who heads the Asia-Pacific oil and gas practice at Ernst & Young.

Read more: Business Recorder

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Asia longest insurgency close to end

The leaders of the Philippines' biggest Muslim rebel group arrived in Manila on Sunday for a historic visit aimed at ending one of Asia's longest and deadliest insurgencies.

Flag MILF or MNLF [Flag fotw]

Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief Murad Ebrahim and other senior rebel figures emerged from their remote bases in the country's south to oversee the signing of an accord on Monday that outlines a road map for peace by 2016.

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The accord, announced by President Benigno Aquino a week ago, has won applause from foreign governments and the United Nations as a rare chance to end a rebellion that has killed an estimated 150,000 people since the 1970s.

Read more about it at Business Recorder

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New Pentagon strategy stresses Asia, cyber, drones

[ via Reuters ] 5 Jan

US President Barack Obama unveiled a defense strategy on Thursday that would expand the U.S. military presence in Asia but shrink the overall size of the force as the Pentagon seeks to reduce spending by nearly half a trillion dollars after a decade of war.

The strategy, if carried out, would significantly reshape the world's largest military from the one that executed President George W. Bush's "war on terrorism" in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Cyber warfare and unmanned drones would continue to grow in priority, as would countering attempts by China and Iran to block U.S. power projection capabilities in areas like the South China Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.

Read more: Reuters

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Discounted ' Apples' for ‘Red Friday’ This Week In Asia

[ via Chip Hazard ] 3 June

Just like Black Friday, in an event “Red Friday” being held in several countries in Asia will offer discounts on different Apple items like Macs, iPads, iPods and other accessories for one day only. 

The Red Friday deals will be offered via Apple’s onine store in countries including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Phillipines. However, in China and Hong Kong the deals will be also available in the company’s brick and mortar store.

Read more: Chip Hazard

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Asia's double-edged currency sword

[ via Reuters ] 2 Jan

The roller-coaster ride for Asian currencies, which saw only the yen and yuan post significant gains for the year against the U.S. dollar, is set to continue in 2012.

While Japan actively sought to stem the yen's rise - drawing U.S. criticism last week - China intervened to ensure the yuan ended the year at a new high. Both currencies appreciated roughly 5 percent in 2011 against the dollar.

The opposite approaches illustrate a dilemma facing Asian policymakers as they try to smooth out foreign exchange rate volatility, which shows no sign of abating in the new year. If the currency is too strong, exports get more expensive. Too weak, and imported inflation spikes and domestic buying power fades.

Read more:  Reuters

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Asia stocks end 2011 sharply lower, Europe in focus

[ via Reuters ] 30 Dec

 Asian stocks were poised to end their first losing year in three on Friday, having shed nearly a fifth of their value as Europe's debt crisis and financial turmoil took a toll on investors' risk appetite, driving them to safer assets such as the U.S. dollar and gold.

European stocks were set to edge higher on the last session of a dismal year that saw them tumble about 12 percent, while U.S. futures pointed to a weaker opening on Wall Street later in the day, with the S&P 500 looking set to end the year pretty close to where it began. .EU

Commodities such as crude oil and gold fared better this year. Brent crude is set to end the year up nearly 14 percent and at a record high annual average, as political tensions in OPEC member states help negate a global economic slowdown that has dampened oil demand growth.

The oil market will end 2011 the same way it started, with fears of a major oil supply disruption in the Middle East and North Africa supporting prices and the uncertainty is expected to continue into the new year as well.

Read more: Reuters

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Asian markets up

BBC Business 1 Dec

Asian stocks have gained after a group of the world's biggest central banks unveiled plans to support the global financial system. Analysts said that the move by the central banks was an indication that the policymakers were trying to find a solution to the problems.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 2.4%, South Korea's Kospi gained 3.7% and Australia's ASX 200 added 2.5%.

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