Paris  - The French economy grew by 2.2 per cent in 2007, the government's statistical office INSEE announced on Thursday, revising upward its original estimation of 1.9 per cent.

Manila  - Remittances from overseas Filipinos rose by 9.42 per cent in March despite troubles in the United States economy, the government said Thursday.

Tokyo  - Japan's core machinery orders hit a three-year low in March to 956.8 billion yen (9.11 billion dollars), compared to February, the government said Thursday.

Singapore - Singapore will help North Korea in economic matters, though the city-state is not a big player in north-east Asian politics, Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo said in published re

Tokyo  - Japan's current account surplus expanded 16.1 per cent in fiscal 2007 that ended in March to 24.55 trillion yen (236.01 billion dollars), the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.

The goods and services trade surplus rose 11 per cent to 9.09 trillion yen from the year before, the ministry's preliminary report said.

In goods trade, Japan's surplus rose 11.7 per cent to 11.71 trillion yen in the year through March 31, compared to the year before.

Exports grew 9.9 per cent to 80.95 trillion yen, and imports were also up 9.6 per cent to 69.24 trillion yen through March.

In March alone, the nation's current account surplus shrank 12.3 per cent to 2.88 trillion yen from the same month a year earlier, the ministry said.

Cork, Ireland  - The view upstream from the Tivoli shipping container terminal in the southern Irish city of Cork shows the River Lee cutting through the centre of the port city.