EU: Polling 'rather reliable'

The European Union's chief observer at the Myanmar election said polling on Sunday morning in the historic vote seemed "rather reliable" in Yangon, the largest city.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Nicaragua greenlights canal project

Nicaragua has given the green light to HKND Group, a privately held Chinese company, to start work on an ambitious $50 billion inter-ocean canal project.

UBS sets up $100m investment unit in Shanghai

UBS Asset Management, the investment arm of Swiss investment bank UBS Group AG, has established a fully owned foreign entity in the Shanghai free trade zone to raise onshore private funds.

Guangzhou Evergrande becomes first listed soccer club in China and Asia

Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao Football Club, a five-time Chinese Super League winner, took a significant step on Friday after listing its shares on the New Third Board.

Tongfang Guoxin to raise $12.6 billion via private placement

Tongfang Guoxin Electronics Co Ltd, a chip-making unit of State-backed Tsinghua Unigroup, plans to raise as much as 80 billion yuan ($12.6 billion) of additional funds through a private placement.

Alibaba said to be discussing investment in Boxed Wholesale

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd is said to be in talks to invest as much as $80 million in the grocery-ordering smartphone app Boxed Wholesale, according to people with knowledge of the matter, signaling that the Chinese Internet giant wants to expand its reach on Amazon.com Inc's home turf.

Dainty geishas go on secret fast-food raids

A craving for fast food presents few obstacles to most people, but for Japan's dainty, doll-like geishas, it calls for a daring undercover operation - and a cunning disguise.

Knife attack of rabbi a legacy of unchecked settler violence

Rabbi Arik Ascherman's right middle finger is still bandaged from a recent confrontation in the West Bank, when a suspected extremist Jewish settler lurched at him with a knife, punching and kicking him.

Rescuers search for survivors of collapse

Pakistani rescuers pulled 99 people out alive from the rubble of a collapsed factory and are searching for an unknown number of others believed still trapped in a disaster that has killed at least 18, officials said on Thursday.

Modigliani painting sold for $43m

An Asian collector paid nearly $43 million for an Amedeo Modigliani painting in New York during an otherwise lackluster evening sale at Sotheby's that began the autumn auction season.

Same-sex partners given certificates

Two Tokyo districts issued Japan's first certificates officially recognizing same-sex partnerships on Thursday, a major step forward for gay couples in a nation where being openly gay remains largely taboo.