Wellington  - New Zealand's economy shrank by 0.3 per cent in the first quarter, according to official figures released Friday, confirming analysts' fears that the country is heading into recession

Singapore  - Record petrol prices have hit budget car sales the hardest, with monthly pump prices beginning to match loan instalment payments for some models, published trade figures said Friday.

Kathmandu - A day-long general strike called by four fringe parties Thursday crippled normal life in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu.

New Delhi  - India is all set to sign an agreement on a 7.5-billion-dollar gas pipeline with Iran and Pakistan in the coming weeks, even as there are no signs of progress on its nuclear deal with U

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Nairobi/Abuja  - A militant group responsible for attacks on oil facilities that have disrupted oil production in Nigeria will observe a unilateral ceasefire from Tuesday midnight, the group said i