UN chief calls for urgent international efforts to end Western Sahara conflict due to fears Mali war will spill over into territory. Ban called on the UN Security Council to strengthen the UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara UN leader Ban Ki-Moon called Monday for urgent international efforts to end the ... Read More

Alcoa has retained its forecast of demand for aluminium to grow by 7% in 2013, but has changed its views on the demand-supply balance. Photo: Bloomberg Firm expects lower production due to slower capacity additions Alcoa Inc., the largest US aluminium producer, has not changed its forecasted growth in demand in ... Read More

The information underpinning Google’s services — Internet search requests, Gmail or YouTube — is processed in industrial-scale data centers such as the Belgian plant in St. Ghislain southwest of Brussels. Photo: Hemant Mishra/Mint The move aims to upgrade the facility in Belgium to meet growing demand for its online services Brussels: ... Read More

The EU is already investigating Google’s search business and the firm’s rivals have made nearly weekly entreaties to the EU to take some action. Photo: AFP Firms want EU to probe Google’s deceptive conduct to lockout competition in the mobile market Luxembourg: A group representing Microsoft Corp., Expedia Inc. and Nokia ... Read More

Yahoo shares rose 1.5% to $23.83 at the close in New York. Apple was little changed at $426.98. Photo: AFP Officials meet to explore ways Yahoo can be more deeply integrated into the software that runs on iPhone and iPad San Francisco: Apple Inc. and Yahoo! Inc. executives have discussed ways ... Read More

A file photo of Nokia headquarters in Espoo. Photo: AFP Priced at Rs1,249; offers everyday essentials like FM radio, a speaking clock and flashlight Hyderabad: Mobile phone maker Nokia on Tuesday announced the launch of its most affordable handset — Nokia 105 — in the Indian market aimed at first time ... Read More

Google Fiber debuted in Kansas City and in November began providing users there with Internet service that moves data at a blazing gigabyte per second, about 100 times faster than the speed provided by typical broadband connections. Photo: AFP Google Fiber should start connecting its so-called gigabit Internet to homes ... Read More

Opec expects world demand to reach 88.87 million barrels per day (mbpd) this year, slightly higher than its previous forecast in March of 88.83 mbpd. Photo: AFP For 2013, Opec forecast 89.66 mbpd, with slow growth at the beginning of the year picking up in the second half Vienna: Organisation of ... Read More

A file photo pf Malaysia’s prime minister Najib Razak. Photo: Goh Seng Chong/Bloomberg Nomination of candidates set for 20 April; polls suggest close race, Najib seeks to re-establish clear majority Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia will hold general elections on 5 May, the government said on Wednesday, in what could be the toughest ... Read More

Last week Pyongyang advised embassies there to consider pulling out in case of war Seoul: North Korea intensified threats of an imminent conflict against the United States and the South on Tuesday, warning foreigners to evacuate South Korea to avoid being dragged into “thermonuclear war”. The North’s latest message belied an atmosphere ... Read More