INDIA

Asia is leading the global economy out of the deepest downturn in decades but the recovery will be marred by high unemployment and huge government debt across the industrialized countries, the OECD said on Thursday.

Gold demand fell 34 percent in the third quarter as high prices weighed on investment flows and led to a slump in jewelry buying in key markets like India and the Middle East, a World Gold Council report showed on Thursday.

Apple's popular iPhone is to make its South Korea debut next week after earning approval from the nation's telecommunications director, local media reported on Wednesday.

The mobile is potentially overtaking PCs as the device of choice for access to social network site (SNS) in Asia and Pacific, IDC said on Monday in a survey-based report. It also noted that the telecom carriers need to set the stage for mass adoption by lowering data tariffs and offering user-friendly mobile applications.

There are 3 types of travelers in the world. One that travels while on a business tour, the other with first-aid box and a map, while the third traveler is the one who packs the bag with a tooth brush and paste. said a friend.

Maxis Bhd, Malaysia's top mobile provider, looks set to rise on its debut on Thursday in Southeast Asia's biggest IPO.

A popular tactic used by Indian brokerages to raise money for rich clients is likely to be banned by the central bank's move to curb unregulated lending, potentially crimping funding for a long pipeline of planned IPOs.

Malaysian telecoms company Axiata said it will form a strategic partnership with world No. 2 telecommunications equipment maker Huawei to develop new technology and cut Axiata's equipment procurement costs.

The world may have already moved on, but quantitative finance guru Paul Wilmott is undaunted in his quest to save the global financial system from mindless mathematicians.

India's Suzlon Energy said on Wednesday its German unit REpower Systems has signed a contract to supply wind turbines with a total capacity of 18.45 megawatts to U.S. firm Heritage Sustainable Energy LLC.

India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp said steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal has pulled out of a project to jointly develop an oil block in Kazakhstan, but their partnerships in other blocks were intact.

Future supply shortages could drive up contracts for oil use in several years' time, as they mimic a market for near-term delivery that has more than doubled since the start of the year.

Gold hit a fresh record high near $1,150 an ounce on Wednesday, boosting precious metals across the board, as a dip in the dollar index added to momentum buying as prices broke through key technical resistance levels.

Coca-Cola Co said on Tuesday that international growth, cost savings, new marketing and innovation would be key as it plans to double its total system revenue by 2020.

Energy major Reliance Industries plans an aggressive exploration campaign, investments in petrochemicals and overseas acquisitions as India's top company prepares itself for the next phase of growth.

Ratan Tata, who bought the Land Rover and Jaguar brands, and Rupert Murdoch and Carlos Slim, who bought or invested in U.S. newspapers, said on Monday that they have no regrets with their purchases.

Coca-Cola Co unveiled goals on Monday that call for the revenue generated by the company and its bottlers to double to roughly $200 billion by 2020, with profit margins increasing.

Vodafone is seeking an extension to Monday's deadline for a tax claim issued by India over the British mobile phone operator's $11.2 billion purchase of Hutchison Telecom's Indian operations in 2007.

Samsung Life, South Korea's largest life insurer, said it was aiming to go public in the first half of next year and planning to pick lead managers in December.

India has put its nuclear power plants on alert and tightened security after intelligence about possible attacks, a report said on Monday.

Boeing , which expects airlines to return to profitability in 2011, said on Monday that Middle East carriers would need 1,710 new jets over the next 20 years, valued at about $300 billion.