CHINA

China's censors are targeting on-line spoofs of films, celebrities and Communist icons, a Chinese newspaper reported on Tuesday, in the government's latest campaign to regulate Internet content.

Worldwide sales of chip-making equipment in June posted the highest percentage growth in months, with demand expected to grow still further in the next quarter, an industry group said Monday.

It was only a matter of time: China is catching Blackberry fever. And like most other things in that burgeoning economy, it's likely to be at cut-rate prices.

It all started with Canadian mining company Inco Ltd. saying that it wanted to acquire nickel miner Falconbridge Ltd.

In the Darwinian evolution of electronic companions, first came the speaking doll, then the Tamagotchi virtual pet, then Sony's short-lived AIBO dog.

Nigeria is set to receive a $2.5-billion loan from the US Federal Government to assist government plans to rehabilitate and modernize the country's dilapidated railway system, President Olusegun Obasanjo said on Wednesday.

The profit-oriented market economy is seen working against Beijing's plan to reduce aluminum capacity in China.

When Chinese investors bought struggling copper producer Chambishi Mining Plc, miners in this Zambian town gave them a heroes' welcome for averting its closure and for creating more jobs.

China is all but certain to raise retail gasoline and diesel prices for a third time this year, but will not jack up rates by the more than 15 percent that would be necessary to close the gap with rallying crude costs.

Faced with the possibility of losing India's leading CDMA mobile operator, wireless technology company Qualcomm could soften its negotiating stance and reduce royalty rates it charges even as it hints that fresh negotiations with other providers around the world are in the offing.

Arcelor and Mittal Steel Company named its first CEO, Roland Junck to lead the company.

Africa's trade with China has grown considerably with exports rising by 72 percent in 2005. The figure surpassed exports to Europe which only amounted to 30 percent, said Standard Chartered Bank on Wednesday.

Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson's public support for a strong dollar on Tuesday failed to fully convince the foreign exchange market, which is now bracing for further weakness in the U.S. currency.

It has been tremendously successful abroad but now, Cyworld is trying to make a successful landing in Myspace territory.

Employees of retail giant Wal-Mart have set up their first trade union in China, a move analysts said on Monday could lead to more unionization in the sector.

Motorola Inc. on Friday launched its first online-game-playing mobile phone, picking China for the initiative in a bid to tap into one of the world's top game markets.

India's largest IT company this week received shareholder approval to extend its operations in the $30 billion Chinese software market.

Countries such as India, South Africa and South American Mercosur nations will continue trade negotiations following the indefinite suspension of global trade talks through the World Trade Organization.

Motorola Inc. said on Tuesday it would start selling the Motofone, its thinnest phone yet in high-growth emerging markets in a bid to compete better against bigger rival Nokia.

The collapse of yesterday's WTO trade talks in Geneva has resulted in mixed feelings for Africa as it faces an uncertain future of high tariffs, officials said on Tuesday.

After five years and very little to show for it, global trade talks meant to reduce poverty worldwide are at a crucial point.