CHINA

Global miner BHP Billiton on Sunday played down any chance of raising its $39 billion (25 billion pound) bid for fertiliser maker Potash Corp , saying it had timed its move to catch out weakened rival bidders.

North Korea's ruling party holds its biggest meeting in 30 years early next month to pick a new leadership and likely anoint an heir to the dynasty as Kim Jong-il's health deteriorates.

China will continue to curb property speculation regardless of recent changes in housing prices, a senior government advisor said in remarks published in Sunday.

The European Union thinks China has made only limited progress in allowing its yuan currency to move more rapidly, and swifter action would help safeguard a fragile economic recovery, according to a draft G20 document obtained by Reuters on Saturday.

China is lobbying neighbours to sign up to a road map for renewed nuclear disarmament talks with North Korea, whose leader Kim Jong-il is visiting China amid conciliatory words and threats of holy war.

The European Union thinks China has made only limited progress in allowing its yuan currency to move more rapidly, and swifter action would help safeguard a fragile economic recovery, according to a draft G20 document obtained by Reuters on Saturday.

China says it is understandable for its workers to demand higher wages after foregoing pay increases during the worst of the economic crisis, a Japanese official said after talks with Chinese counterparts.

Japanese Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda said on Saturday he was ready to employ all possible measures to tackle the soaring yen, which was having a big impact on the country's export-led economy.

Japanese Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda said on Saturday he told Chinese officials that Tokyo wants to see further efforts to make the yuan more flexible.

South African President Jacob Zuma on Saturday accused striking state workers of abandoning the sick at hospitals and said he expected a deal to be reached soon to end the labour action by about 1.3 million.

- China is lobbying neighbours to sign up to a road map for renewed nuclear disarmament talks with North Korea, whose leader Kim Jong-il is apparently visiting China amid conciliatory words and threats of atomic holy war.

North Korea would answer any attack on it with a nuclear holy war, the country's ambassador to Cuba said, according to official Chinese media, while the North's leader Kim Jong-il appeared to be visiting China.

Two forms of laser vision correction sometimes used as an alternative to LASIK seem to have similar results for people with nearsightedness, a new research analysis finds.

Former President Jimmy Carter procured the release of 31-year-old American English teacher, Ajilon Gomes, from imprisonment in North Korea. Carter and Gomes left Pyongyang, North Korea, yesterday and Gomes is expected to be reunited with his mother and other family members in Boston today.

Tiffany & Co reported softer-than-expected quarterly sales as U.S. customers spent less on its selection of lower-priced jewelry, sending its shares down more than 5 percent.

China kept silent on Friday about a reported visit by North Korea's secretive leader, Kim Jong-il, that analysts say appears intended to line up Beijing behind his dynastic succession plans.

China kept silent on Friday about a reported visit by North Korea's secretive leader, Kim Jong-il, that analysts say appears intended to line up Beijing behind his dynastic succession plans.

Copper and other base metal prices rose up to 5 per kg in the non-ferrous metal market on Thursday on continued buying by stockists on industrial demand amid firming trend at the London Metal Exchange.

Australia, one of the world's largest wheat exporters, said its exports to China have already tripled this year. According to Australian Wheat Board (AWB), demand from the world's most populous nation in the nine months ended June 30 totalled 740,000 tonnes, of which 80 per cent was in bulk and 20 per cent in containers, or about 7 per cent of total wheat shipments.

North Korea's number two leader has told former U.S. President Jimmy Carter that the reclusive state is committed to denuclearising the peninsula and resuming six-way talks, the North's state news agency said on Friday.

North Korea's number two leader has told former U.S. President Jimmy Carter that the reclusive state is committed to denuclearising the peninsula and resuming six-way talks, the North's state news agency said on Friday.