INDIA

Australia and China struck their biggest trade deal on Tuesday, as the world's two most valuable listed oil companies, Exxon Mobil Corp and PetroChina , reached a $41 billion liquefied natural gas agreement.

India's Reliance Communications has started talks to buy Kuwaiti Zain's African operations, which media say are worth $10 billion, two banking sources said.

South Korea is counting down to its first space launch on Wednesday that will likely open the door to its nascent rocket program and rile neighbor North Korea, hit by U.N. sanctions after its own rocket launch in April.

Australia and China struck their biggest trade deal ever on Tuesday as the world's two most valuable listed oil companies, Exxon Mobil and PetroChina , agreed a $41 billion liquefied natural gas deal.

Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks Studios and Indian conglomerate Reliance ADA Group closed a financing deal on Monday, putting the final touch on a three-year, $825 million pact for up to six films a year.

Older adults in developing countries who regularly eat fish seem to have a lower risk of dementia, a new study suggests.

India's prime minister said on Monday there was credible information that Pakistan-based militant groups were planning fresh attacks on India.

Britain's Hardy Oil and Gas Plc (HAOG.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) posted an operating loss for the first half on lower crude oil prices and higher costs, and cut its 2009 production forecast as its only producing field was shut for repairs.

A successful Doha round trade deal could boost the global economy by $300-700 billion a year, a study by the Peterson Institute for International Economics said.

Indian Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan said he felt angry and humiliated after he was detained and questioned at a U.S. airport, sparking an uproar in India among his fans.

Myanmar's reduced sentence for opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi may be an indication the junta is becoming more sensitive to international pressure as it prepares a transition to civilian rule next year, analysts say.

U.S. monetary authorities did not intervene in foreign exchange markets in the second quarter as an improving global economic outlook pressured the U.S. dollar, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said on Thursday.

Large U.S. food companies have been pushing the Obama administration to ease sugar import curbs, citing forecasts for unprecedented sugar shortages that could result in higher retail prices and possible job losses.

Large U.S. food companies said the country could virtually run out of sugar unless the Obama administration eased import curbs, the Wall Street Journal said.

World sugar prices have surged to historic levels as India, the largest sugar consumer, turns to imports after a poor monsoon decimated its cane crop.

Ensuring justice in last November's Mumbai attack is a high priority for President Obama and the United States will keep pressing Pakistan for action against its planners, a top U.S. diplomat said on Wednesday.

Cameco Corp reported a higher and forecast-topping quarterly profit on Wednesday as stronger results from its electricity business offset the impact of higher uranium sales costs.

Facebook has begun tests on a new service that is designed for mobiles and at countries that have narrowband internet connections.

American International Group, seeking to raise cash to repay around $180 billion in bail-out loans, has agreed to sell its Hong Kong consumer finance and India-based IT services units.

China said on Wednesday the world should respect Myanmar's judicial sovereignty after the junta sent Aung San Suu Kyi back into detention, triggering Western outrage but only a measured response from its neighbors.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Wednesday as investors awaited the outcome of the Federal Reserve's two-day meeting.