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Singapore Business News

Iran accused Israel of assassinating its nuclear scientists as part of a "war game" while it denied any role in attacks on Israeli diplomatic targets in several countries.

Indonesian authorities said Thursday they would evacuate foreigners and women from a Bali island prison after rioting inmates retook control of the jail, sparking a tense standoff with security forces.

Indonesia said Thursday it would evacuate all 60 foreigners as well as female prisoners from a jail on Bali island currently under the control of rioting inmates.

A smiling ex-Philippine president Gloria Arroyo pleaded not guilty on Thursday to rigging an election, denouncing the charge that could see her jailed for life as part a vilification campaign against her.

MANILA (Reuters) - Former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo pleaded not guilty on Thursday to electoral fraud on the first day of a trial seen as a landmark test of the government's ability to tackle entrenched corruption in the Southeast Asian nation. Arroyo, a 64-year-old who ruled the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, sat quietly beside her husband and son during the court proceedings, only speaking out loud to confirm her widely expected plea. ...

Indonesia said Thursday it would evacuate all foreign and female prisoners from a jail on Bali island currently under control of rioting inmates.

Indonesian forces backed by water cannons and armoured vehicles were locked in a tense stand-off outside a prison on Bali island Thursday after rioting inmates took control for a second night.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard Co's earnings fell nearly 44 percent and the world's No. 1 computer maker forecast a second-quarter profit below Wall Street estimates as it struggles with weak sales of PCs and printers. The storied Silicon Valley company, which has been trying to move past the internal upheaval that marked 2011, posted quarterly sales declines in three of its key units: personal computers, printers and enterprise equipment. ...

A Pakistani held at Guantanamo Bay has reached a plea agreement with US prosecutors that could see him testifying at the trials of accused 9/11 plotters in return for a reduced sentence, The Washington Post reported, citing US officials.

East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta said Wednesday that many Timorese will waste their vote in a presidential election next month if they back one of the explosion of small parties in contention.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Hewlett-Packard Co's earnings fell nearly 44 percent and the world's No. 1 computer maker forecast a second-quarter profit below Wall Street estimates as it struggles with weak sales of PCs and printers. The storied Silicon Valley company, which has been trying to move past the internal upheaval that marked 2011, posted quarterly sales declines in three of its key units: personal computers, printers and enterprise equipment. ...

South Korea reached their seventh successive Olympic Games with a game to spare on Wednesday when they cruised past Oman 3-0 in Muscat.

Iran said Wednesday it is ready to help identify those behind a series of bomb blasts in Thailand this month in which several Iranians have been implicated.

South Sudan has expelled the Chinese head of the country's largest oil firm Petrodar on charges of colluding with former civil war foe Sudan to "steal" millions of barrels of its oil, a minister said Wednesday.

Philippine authorities confirmed Wednesday that top gaming officials accepted free luxury accommodation from a Japanese tycoon but denied these were bribes to ensure a new Manila casino was built.

As advance tickets go on sale February 22, it was announced that the stars of The Hunger Games will make appearances during an eight-city tour to shopping malls across the US in March to meet teen fans.

MANILA (Reuters) - Their canvas is a stretch of dingy concrete wall along Manila's main highway, where millions of vehicles stream past every day, belching exhaust that helps to create a noxious, unhealthy smog. But the murals now blooming under the hands of street artists along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) are not only there for art's sake -- they are created with paint that doubles as an air purifier. A new paint variant created by local paint manufacturer Boysen contains modified titanium dioxides, which are designed to break down toxic fumes into harmless substances. ...

Southeast Asia's largest budget carrier AirAsia on Wednesday reported a fall in net profit by almost half in 2011 on year as it struggled with high fuel prices, but posted a record revenue.

Asian shares were mostly higher on Wednesday as investors focused on domestic issues despite US and European markets giving Greece's crucial bailout only a lukewarm welcome.

Chinese automaker Geely said Wednesday it will begin assembling cars in Egypt this year with a local partner, marking its latest push overseas as domestic demand hits the brakes.

Standard & Poor's downgraded the rating of Japan's Panasonic Wednesday, blaming its deteriorating finances weeks after the electronics giant warned it would suffer a record loss for this fiscal year.

Japan's Mazda Motor said Wednesday it planned to raise $2.9 billion to boost its presence in emerging economies as it takes a double hit from the strong yen and falling demand in key developed markets.

Predominantly Muslim Malaysia on Wednesday banned the sale of a children's sex education book written by a British author, saying its contents "could threaten moral values".

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's constitutional court on Wednesday ruled in favour of two decrees that set up a 350 billion baht flood prevention fund and the transfer of certain debt service obligations to the central bank from the finance ministry. The judges said both decrees approved by cabinet on January 10 involved urgent matters and it was therefore within the constitution for the government to issue them without seeking prior parliamentary approval. ...

The owner of the Wynn Macau casino accused Japanese gambling tycoon Kazuo Okada of paying off Philippine regulators in his bid to build a rival gaming resort in Manila.

DENPASAR, Indonesia (Reuters) - Indonesian police stormed a prison on the resort island of Bali on Wednesday to regain control after inmates burned offices and seized weapons in a riot during which two prisoners were shot and wounded, officials said. Indonesian police said none of about 60 foreign prisoners at Kerobokan jail were among the casualties. The prison holds 1,200 inmates and is about 10 km (six miles) north of Kuta beach, one of the biggest holiday destinations on an island that attracts tourists from around the world. ...

Manny Pacquiao says the pieces were falling into place for a world title fight with Floyd Mayweather until the American boxer tried to low-ball him on the split of the pay-per-view revenue.

Australian carrier Qantas said that Vietnam Airlines will take a majority share in its Jetstar Pacific offshoot from the Vietnamese State Capital Investment Corporation.

The Philippine government said Tuesday it was aiming to boost passenger capacity at its congested Manila airport next year with the long-awaited completion of a controversial terminal.

The air is crisp and sunlight filters softly through foliage punctuated by pink and yellow flowers as birds and crickets supply the soundtrack for joggers, cyclists and nature lovers.

Japanese gambling tycoon Kazuo Okada was accused Tuesday in a US lawsuit of paying off Philippine regulators and cheating his powerful Las Vegas partner.

Taco Bell is launching a late night snack idea that's been bandied about for years by fast food junkies: the Doritos-shell taco.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Dell Inc forecast fiscal first-quarter revenue below Wall Street's expectations, stoking fears the PC industry has not fully emerged from its downturn and sending the company's shares more than 4 percent lower. The world's No. 3 personal computer maker projected sales would be down 7 percent this quarter from the previous quarter, when it posted revenue of $16 billion. That translates into about $14.9 billion, below the average forecast for roughly $15.2 billion. ...

The Philippine government said Tuesday it was aiming to boost passenger capacity at its congested Manila airport next year with the long-awaited completion of a controversial terminal.

Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat returns to the scene of his maiden Asian Tour victory, ready to defend his title at the SAIL-SBI Open which tees off on Wednesday.

Japan hope for a thumping win over Malaysia in their penultimate Olympic group qualifier to keep alive their hopes of reaching the London Games, the Blue Samurai coach said Tuesday.

China's central bank announced Tuesday that it had signed a 10 billion yuan ($1.59 billion) currency swap deal with Turkey, in its latest effort to promote international use of the Chinese currency.

A senior official of the Philippines' premier crime-fighting agency was shot in an ambush in a Manila street late Tuesday but survived the attack, police and hospital officials said.

Tests on a 19-year-old woman who died last week showed she had contracted the bird flu virus, Indonesia's third human death from the deadly disease this year, the health ministry said on Tuesday.