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Print - 2005-06-02
China says Dalai Lama out to destroy Tibet

China says Dalai Lama out to destroy Tibet

The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, is out to destroy the Himalayan region by derailing its development and is losing his popularity among its people, China's top official there was quoted as saying by state media. The Dalai Lama, who leads a Tibeta
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Market-based approaches: five-year agribusiness project in the offing

Market-based approaches: five-year agribusiness project in the offing

The Federal government has decided to launch a five-year comprehensive project in the country, which will establish market-based approaches to agribusiness development and enhance technical and managerial capacity in the sub-sector. The government has als
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
SECP sub-office set up at SCCI

SECP sub-office set up at SCCI

Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has set up its sub-office at Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). Inaugurating the SECP sub-office, which is first of its kind in the country here last evening, the Additional Registrar Com
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
NJLI Managed Fund prices

NJLI Managed Fund prices

New Jubilee Life Insurance Company has announced the offer and bid price per unit for the following funds effective from Thursday, June 02, 2005.

Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Law officers appointed

Law officers appointed

The Punjab government has appointed three additional advocates general and 12 assistant advocates general. According to a notification, Najeeb Faisal Chaudhry, Zafar Iqbal Awan and Chaudhry Muhammad Sadiq have been appointed additional advocates general P
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
NJLI Managed Fund prices

NJLI Managed Fund prices

New Jubilee Life Insurance Company has announced the offer and bid price per unit for the following funds effective from Thursday, June 02, 2005.

Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Notices issued

Notices issued

An accountability court on Wednesday issued notices to the witnesses for June 13, in a reference against former MPA Hakim Ali Chaudhry, and adjourned the proceedings till next date of hearing for recording their statements. The accused has been facing the
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
NJLI Managed Fund prices

NJLI Managed Fund prices

New Jubilee Life Insurance Company has announced the offer and bid price per unit for the following funds effective from Thursday, June 02, 2005.

Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Punjab to spend Rs 20 million to control AIDS

Punjab to spend Rs 20 million to control AIDS

With a view to checking the spread of AIDS and creating awareness among the people about the disease, the Punjab government is going to establish AIDS Screening Centres at all the districts of the province at an amount of Rs 20 million. This was revealed
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Cotton Spot Rates

Cotton Spot Rates

Official KCA spot rates for local dealings in Pakistan rupees on Wednesday (June 01, 2005).

Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Qazi asks government to increase allocations for education

Qazi asks government to increase allocations for education

Pakistan being a frontline state in war against terrorism failed to attract foreign investment and despite tall claims of the government, neither economy was strengthening nor people were getting any relief. Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal president, Qazi Hussain
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
'Education reforms key to socio-economic uplift'

'Education reforms key to socio-economic uplift'

Punjab Chief Minister, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said that strengthening of education sector is of fundamental importance for socio-economic development. He was addressing a briefing of the Higher Education Commission at Chief Minister's House here, on Wedne
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Budget 2005-06: maximum concessions to textile sector stressed

Budget 2005-06: maximum concessions to textile sector stressed

Punjab Governor, Lieutenant General Khalid Maqbool (Retd) has stressed the need for giving maximum concessions and facilities to textile sector in the upcoming budget, which constitutes 68 percent share in the Pakistan exports. He was addressing the pre-b
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Key stock market movements at 1700 GMT on June 01

Key stock market movements at 1700 GMT on June 01

The latest close of key indices on major world stock exchanges and the London closing values of the euro, the Japanese yen, the British pound and gold bullion (previous day's closes in brackets).
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
32 percent wheat purchase target achieved

32 percent wheat purchase target achieved

As many as 0.45million 100-kg wheat bags had so for been purchased amounting to Rs450 million from the wheat growers of Sialkot and Narowal districts. Official sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday that 32 percent wheat purchase target h
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
New York cotton

New York cotton

Wednesday's closing prices of New York cotton in US cents/lb.

Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Two students killed in road mishaps

Two students killed in road mishaps

Two students were killed in two various road accidents. First accident took place near Apprenticeship Training College Sargodha road, where a student Anwar-ul-Haq of Chak 274JB was crushed to death by a speedy bus 8839/Peshawar. In another accident, a stu
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
New York cotton

New York cotton

Wednesday's closing prices of New York cotton in US cents/lb.

Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
More colleges for Rawalpindi soon

More colleges for Rawalpindi soon

Director federal government educational institutions Cantts and garrisons, Brigadier Muhammad Arif, has said that new colleges would be built in the City for the promotion of quality education. He was talking to newsmen during his surprise visit to the F
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
The Weather

The Weather

The weather report on Wednesday (June 01) and the forecast for Thursday (June 02, 2005).
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
National Assembly meets today

National Assembly meets today

The National Assembly will meet here on Thursday in the Parliament House building. This will be the budget session of the Lower House. The Federal Budget 2005-06 would be presented, debated and approved in the House which would be presented on Monday, Jun
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Reforming OIC

Reforming OIC

Speaking at a meeting in Islamabad of the Organisation of Islamic Countries' (OIC) Commission of Eminent Persons last Sunday, President General Pervez Musharraf voiced a heartfelt public desire as he emphasised the need to reform the OIC to turn it into a
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Towards better water management

Towards better water management

Creditably for it, the government has started paying serious attention to the looming water scarcity problem. Awaiting cabinet approval is a draft of the National Water Policy that aims at putting in place a groundwater regulatory framework to stop excess
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Distributing benefits of growth to the majority

Distributing benefits of growth to the majority

The major recurring themes in the popular discussion on the economy have been shifting over the last six years. In the earlier years of the Musharraf period it was widely believed that the country was going to default on its external obligations. When thi
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Newspaper war in Mumbai as Indian print market grows

Newspaper war in Mumbai as Indian print market grows

Dozens of teenagers dressed in blue Hindustan Times T-shirts are the latest soldiers in a media war stirring on the streets of India's financial and entertainment capital. The youngsters, who stop Mumbai citizens to ascertain what they would like to read
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Are toddlers a security risk for USA?

Are toddlers a security risk for USA?

Police has put security barriers before the Rubicon montessori School located at 10 Fatima Jinnah road due to which school-going children, who are in between two to four years in age, have been denied access, to protect the residence of the United States
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Female workers at petrol pumps

Female workers at petrol pumps

It is a matter of deep concern to see female workers in a petrol pump at Shahra-e-Faisal filling gasoline in customers' vehicles. Presence of young girls at such a place, where 99.9% male customers visit daily is highly undesirable. It is indeed, in forei
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Fiscal year 2006 may see cut in mobile phone activation charges

Fiscal year 2006 may see cut in mobile phone activation charges

Telecom sector may receive an incentive in the shape of a cut in activation charges for mobile phone service in the 2005-06 budget, which may help in increasing the number of users in the country from the present approximately 10 million subscribers. In t
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Lashkar-i-Jhangvi activist remanded in blast case

Lashkar-i-Jhangvi activist remanded in blast case

Justice Amir Hani Muslim of the Sindh High Court, who is also administrative judge of the Anti Terrorism Courts (ATCs) in Karachi, on Wednesday remanded activist of banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi to police custody till June 8 in Madinatul Ilm mosque suicide bom
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Message from Consul General

Message from Consul General

I am sincerely happy to have once again the opportunity to address the readers of this newspaper on the auspicious occasion of the national day of Italy, a Republic as young as Pakistan, with a similar thousand-year long history of civilisation. I am espe
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Message from Ambassador of Italy

Message from Ambassador of Italy

Fifty nine years ago the Italians decided to come out from the ordeal of WWII by choosing, among other things, to change the form of their state from monarchy to republic. In so doing they decided to project the country in a new era of both domestic and i
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Economy of Italy

Economy of Italy

Italian Exports : With the deathknell of mercantilism and the fall of the European Empires, came the beginnings of globalisation and the economic idea that a country could not attain an autarchy, and as a result countries would from now on begin to specia
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
SAF International Group of Companies

SAF International Group of Companies

SAF International Since its inception in 1980 is working widely in the field of industrial activities to support the customers with its qualified way of management, knowledge of engineering, excellent methods for the marketing of industrial services & pro
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Gadoon Textile Mills Limited

Gadoon Textile Mills Limited

Incorporated in 1988, Gadoon Textile Mills Limited (GTML) is sponsored by Yunus Brothers Group, one of the largest business groups of Pakistan with interests in diverse industries including textiles and cement. The company is listed on Karachi and Islamab
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
NEW HOLLAND - Leading brand of equipment for agriculture

NEW HOLLAND - Leading brand of equipment for agriculture

New Holland is one of the brands of CNH, a world-leading manufacturer of agricultural and construction equipment. CNH brings together the knowledge and heritage of its historical brands and resources of its world-wide commercial, industrial, product suppo
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Cotton & Cotton

Cotton & Cotton

Cotton & Cotton is Pakistan's Leading Shirt maker. The name "Cotton & Cotton" has now become synonymous with Lifestyle. A lifestyle, above all, aimed at quality and esthetic refinement, a total look, a universe of elegance originating in Alam Najiullah's
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
THE YUNUS BROTHERS GROUP

THE YUNUS BROTHERS GROUP

Gadoon Textile Mills Limited has been sponsored by Yunus Brothers Group ("YB Group"), which is one of the largest business groups of the Country based Karachi and has grown up remarkably over the last 50 years. The YB Group is engaged in diversified manuf
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Italian textile machinery is quality, technology, creativity

Italian textile machinery is quality, technology, creativity

The second edition of ITMA Asia (Singapore, 17-21 October 2005) will show an even stronger and more significant participation of the Italian "team" than the first one. 135 companies will exhibit in Singapore the "top" of their technologies within the spin
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Raja Motor Company Limited

Raja Motor Company Limited

Italy, a young Nation in old land is a democratic republic and stands as a vital stone of the Western history. Italy unified since 1870, Italian National Day commemorates the country becoming a republic after June 2, 1946 referendum. Principal industries
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
US MIDDAY: gold futures sag on speculative buying

US MIDDAY: gold futures sag on speculative buying

US gold futures sagged early Wednesday and hovered close to a near-four-month low after a fresh leg down in the euro, while silver bolted to a new 2-1/2-month peak on speculative buying, trading sources said. The euro hit a 7-1/2-month low against the dol
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
US MIDDAY: soyabeans mixed on technical setback

US MIDDAY: soyabeans mixed on technical setback

Soyabean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade were choppy and range-bound by Wednesday's midsession as the market was poised for a technical setback but the firmness in corn gave beans underlying support, traders said. July soya was down 1/2 cent per bus
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
US MIDDAY: copper slides on trade buying

US MIDDAY: copper slides on trade buying

US copper futures declined in early Wednesday business following London copper prices lower as the dollar powered ahead of the euro, traders said. As fund buyers re-enter base metals trading, the dollar's gyrations move back onto the list of copper trader
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
US MIDDAY: corn higher on funds buying

US MIDDAY: corn higher on funds buying

Corn futures on the Chicago Board of Trade were higher at mid-day on Wednesday as outlooks for dry weather in the eastern US Corn Belt prompted buying by commodity funds, traders said. As of 12:05 pm (1705 GMT), July corn was up 2 cents at $2.24 per bushe
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
US MIDDAY: wheat choppy in choppy trade

US MIDDAY: wheat choppy in choppy trade

Wheat futures at the Chicago Board of Trade were mixed in choppy trade at midday on Wednesday, as pressure from beneficial moisture in the US Plains offset spillover strength from the corn market, traders said. As of 11:45 am CDT (1645 GMT), CBOT July whe
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
US MIDDAY: cocoa at 11-month low on speculative selling

US MIDDAY: cocoa at 11-month low on speculative selling

Heavy speculative selling depressed nearby US cocoa futures prices to their lowest in 11 months Wednesday, with a strong dollar and bearish technical factors sparking the sell-off, market sources said. "The specs sold quite a lot today," said one floor tr
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
US MIDDAY: coffee mixed on spread trading

US MIDDAY: coffee mixed on spread trading

US arabica coffee futures settled mixed, with market players fixated on spread trading between the nearest monthly contracts amid a dearth of directional signals, traders and analysts said. The bellwether July arabica contract eased 0.30 cent to settle at
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
European gold holds above 15-week low

European gold holds above 15-week low

Gold sat near a 15-week low on Wednesday in Europe as the euro extended its losses, while speculators moved silver towards its peak for 2005, dealers said. Spot gold stood at $415.80/416.50 per troy ounce by 1510 GMT from $416.50/417.20 late in New York o
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Metals creep lower

Metals creep lower

Base metals crept lower in London Metal Exchange (LME) midday trade on Wednesday, largely pressured by a firmer dollar but off the day's lows on reduced inventories for some metals, traders said. The June options expiry passed without feature in quiet tra
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
London sugar weaker

London sugar weaker

London white sugar futures closed down on Wednesday after producers sold ahead of Thursday's European Union export tender in a market weighed down by a weaker New York market, dealers said. "With the EU tender tomorrow, there's been a bit of (producer hed
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
New York cotton futures mixed

New York cotton futures mixed

Cotton futures ended mixed on Wednesday as speculative short-covering lifted prices from three-month lows and the market rebounded from a technically oversold condition, traders said. "We got into some trouble, technically, yesterday, but it looks like we
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
EU must pay former colonies well for sugar losses

EU must pay former colonies well for sugar losses

The European Union should pay at least 500 million euros a year to compensate a group of former colonies that will lose out heavily from its planned sugar reform, international aid agency Oxfam said on Wednesday. EU farm ministers are assessing a reform p
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Oil prices climb 5 percent tracking heat oil rally

Oil prices climb 5 percent tracking heat oil rally

Oil prices climbed 5 percent on Wednesday to their highest since late April, led by an unseasonal rally in heating oil as speculators bet on a looming crunch in distillate supplies. "Once refineries focus on gasoline production, distillate supplies may be
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Oil prices climb 5 percent tracking heat oil rally

Oil prices climb 5 percent tracking heat oil rally

Oil prices climbed 5 percent on Wednesday to their highest since late April, led by an unseasonal rally in heating oil as speculators bet on a looming crunch in distillate supplies. "Once refineries focus on gasoline production, distillate supplies may be
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Oil prices climb 5 percent tracking heat oil rally

Oil prices climb 5 percent tracking heat oil rally

Oil prices climbed 5 percent on Wednesday to their highest since late April, led by an unseasonal rally in heating oil as speculators bet on a looming crunch in distillate supplies. "Once refineries focus on gasoline production, distillate supplies may be
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Unapproved US biotech corn shows up in Japan

Unapproved US biotech corn shows up in Japan

A consignment of corn shipped from the United States to Japan was found to be tainted with the unapproved genetically modified Bt-10 variety, US and European trade sources said on Wednesday. A Japanese official in Washington subsequently confirmed the fin
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
France to boost organic food sales

France to boost organic food sales

France launched a national campaign to promote organic produce on Wednesday, kicking off 10 days of events to boost a sector that has struggled to make its mark in Europe's agricultural powerhouse. "We have to support this type of farming, which responds
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
FTSE storms through 5,000, Tate sweetens

FTSE storms through 5,000, Tate sweetens

Top British shares smashed through the 5,000 barrier to close higher on Wednesday after a two-day dip, with oil stocks and banks lending support while sugar firm Tate and Lyle was buoyed before expected strong year results. With little domestic corporate
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
US Stocks: Wednesday's unofficial close

US Stocks: Wednesday's unofficial close

US stocks rallied on Wednesday after a Federal Reserve official suggested the Fed may be near the end of its credit tightening cycle and an inflation index in a manufacturing report fell, further easing fears about inflation and interest rates. The Dow Jo
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Indian shares stay higher

Indian shares stay higher

Indian shares recorded a new 11-month closing peak on Wednesday, helped by gains in consumer goods stocks on hopes of a timely monsoon. The benchmark 30-share Mumbai index closed 0.22 percent higher at 6,729.90 points, recording its highest finish since M
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Corporate bonds rally on ISM data

Corporate bonds rally on ISM data

European corporate bonds rallied on Wednesday following a weaker-than-expected manufacturing report in the US that eased worries about inflation and faster interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. After a weaker start, the Institute of Supply Managemen
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Corporate bonds rally on ISM data

Corporate bonds rally on ISM data

European corporate bonds rallied on Wednesday following a weaker-than-expected manufacturing report in the US that eased worries about inflation and faster interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. After a weaker start, the Institute of Supply Managemen
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Euro plumbs 7-1/2-month low

Euro plumbs 7-1/2-month low

The euro hit a 7-1/2 month low against the dollar on Wednesday on reports that possible failure of the European Monetary Union (EMU) was discussed at a meeting attended by high-level German financial officials. The euro stayed under pressure even though a
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Sterling hits four-week high versus euro

Sterling hits four-week high versus euro

Sterling hit a fresh four-week high on Wednesday against the waning euro amid media reports that high-level German officials attended a meeting at which a possible demise of the European Monetary Union had been raised. The pound extended losses to a 7-1/2
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Indian rupee edges down

Indian rupee edges down

The Indian rupee failed to hang on to its early gains on Wednesday and ended at a new six-week closing low on dollar demand from importers eyeing the US currency's broad strength overseas. Dealers said however a dollar shortage that dogged the rupee in th
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Powder scare: Indonesia shuts Canberra embassy

Powder scare: Indonesia shuts Canberra embassy

Indonesia shut its embassy in Australia on Wednesday after receiving an envelope containing a "biological agent", as a public backlash rages against the conviction in Bali of an Australian on drug charges. Authorities said white powder in the envelope bel
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
New York Times Chinese researcher accused of fraud

New York Times Chinese researcher accused of fraud

Beijing police have levelled an accusation of fraud against a Chinese researcher for The New York Times who was arrested last year on a charge of leaking state secrets to foreigners, his lawyer said on Wednesday. The new accusation against Zhao Yan
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
French diplomat shot dead in Haiti

French diplomat shot dead in Haiti

A French diplomat has been shot dead in Haiti while driving through an area controlled by armed gangs outside the Caribbean nation's capital Port-au-Prince, the French Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. It said in a written statement that Honorary Consul
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
EU and US to host Iraq conference

EU and US to host Iraq conference

Iraq's transitional government will set out its priorities to representatives of over 80 countries and international organisations at a conference in Brussels on June 22, the European Union said on Wednesday. The United States and the 25-nation EU will co
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Russia and China agree to counter destabilisation

Russia and China agree to counter destabilisation

Russia and China will work together to counter destabilisation in Central Asia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday after meeting his Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing in Russia's Pacific port city of Vladivostok. Speaking after talks with
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Rival groups fight at Kyrgyz high court

Rival groups fight at Kyrgyz high court

Rival groups fought for an hour with sticks, stones and horsewhips at Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Court on Wednesday, as a crowd stormed the building to throw out protesters who had occupied it since late April. The incident underscored the volatility of the imp
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Rumsfeld warns countries against giving haven to Zarqawi

Rumsfeld warns countries against giving haven to Zarqawi

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld warned Wednesday that any country that takes in Abu Musab al-Zarqawi will be viewed by the United States as associating with al Qaeda. Zarqawi, the most wanted man in Iraq, is believed to have been wounded, but the sev
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Bush urges Mubarak lead Middle East to democracy

Bush urges Mubarak lead Middle East to democracy

President George W. Bush urged Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Wednesday to lead the Middle East toward democracy with free and fair presidential elections, the White House said. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the two leaders spoke by tele
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Sharon and Abbas set June 21 summit

Sharon and Abbas set June 21 summit

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on Wednesday he would hold a second summit with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on June 21. The two leaders last met on February 8 in Egypt where they called a halt to four and a half years of fighting in a dea
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
US pressures Saudi Arabia on nuclear monitoring

US pressures Saudi Arabia on nuclear monitoring

The United States is trying to persuade Saudi Arabia to drop its plan to sign an agreement that would severely curtail the United Nations' ability to monitor any Saudi atomic activity, diplomats said on Wednesday. The "small quantities protocol" is an acc
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Zimbabwe arrests 22,000 people

Zimbabwe arrests 22,000 people

Zimbabwe police have arrested more than 22,000 people as a fierce blitz on illegal stores and shantytowns gathered pace, sending homeless people fleeing for the countryside, the state Herald newspaper said on Wednesday. "We have so far arrested a total of
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Villepin vows to restore confidence in 100 days

Villepin vows to restore confidence in 100 days

France's new prime minister vowed on Wednesday to restore the confidence of the French people in 100 days as he and President Jacques Chirac forged a government to heal rifts opened by a poll on the EU constitution. Chirac also wrote to leaders of the Eur
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
India bans smoking scenes on screen

India bans smoking scenes on screen

India has banned all scenes showing smoking, cigarette packs or tobacco advertisements in movies and TV programmes, stepping up its war against tobacco use, a government official said Wednesday. "Film actors have a lasting impact on the minds of children
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
China floods leave 200 dead

China floods leave 200 dead

Heavy rain has triggered floods and mudslides in southern China, leaving about 200 people dead or missing, a resident and state media said on Wednesday. Torrential rain hit a mountainous region of Hunan province in the early hours and 17 people died in fl
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Peru's 'Little Mermaid' legs separated

Peru's 'Little Mermaid' legs separated

Doctors successfully separated on Wednesday the fused legs of a Peruvian baby girl known as the "Little Mermaid," in a risky operation they hope will help her to walk by her second birthday. Thirteen-month-old Milagros Cerron was born with a rare defect c
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Annan sacks top official

Annan sacks top official

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has sacked one of his senior staff members, Joseph Stephanides, for his role in the Iraq oil-for-food scandal, a UN spokesman said Wednesday. The spokesman said Stephanides, head of the UN Security Council affairs division,
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Madrid train blast suspect denies links to 9/11 attacks

Madrid train blast suspect denies links to 9/11 attacks

A Moroccan accused of being a lead bomber in last year's attacks on commuter trains in Madrid told a court Wednesday he was not an extremist and barely knew a top suspect in the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. "My only 'war' was to help m
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Most Hong Kong people dissatisfied with China's rule of law

Most Hong Kong people dissatisfied with China's rule of law

Most Hong Kong people are dissatisfied with the state of rule of law in mainland China and wish to see full direct elections in the territory as soon as possible, according to a government-commissioned survey. The Beijing-backed Hong Kong government commi
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Sudan's Umma party to boycott new government

Sudan's Umma party to boycott new government

Sudan's Umma party, considered its largest opposition party, will not join a new government to be formed in July because it was agreed by two only parties without an election, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday. "We are not interested in participating in thi
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
41 dead in west Ivory Coast clashes

41 dead in west Ivory Coast clashes

Armed men killed at least 41 people on the outskirts of Ivory Coast's western cocoa town of Duekoue, shooting, knifing and setting fire to their victims and torching their homes, the army said on Wednesday. Communal and ethnic violence is common in Duekou
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Russian anti-piracy group head attacked

Russian anti-piracy group head attacked

The head of an organisation fighting the proliferation of pirated CDs and DVDs was beaten up in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, the group's spokesman said Wednesday, linking his attack to the fight against counterfeiters. Dmitry Kobylkin, preside
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Unknown woman finds fame in China film world

Unknown woman finds fame in China film world

She doesn't follow politics, cares less for what the critics think and is a woman in the male-dominated world of directing. But Chinese filmmaker Xu Jinglei stands out in the industry only a generation beyond the grip of Communist Party dictates and still
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Japan kicks off 'Cool Biz' style to save energy

Japan kicks off 'Cool Biz' style to save energy

Persuading Japanese bureaucrats and businessmen to loosen their collars and shed their cravats may prove tough if the first day of a government "Cool Biz" campaign to save energy and fight global warming is anything to go by. Already known for his "no nec
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Mild earthquakes shake Tokyo, no injuries

Mild earthquakes shake Tokyo, no injuries

A series of mild earthquakes shook Tokyo on Wednesday, swaying buildings and raising fears of a long-anticipated major jolt, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage and no tsunami warning was issued. Three tremors were strong enough to b
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Britain orders extradition to Spain of 9/11 suspect

Britain orders extradition to Spain of 9/11 suspect

A British judge on Wednesday ordered the extradition to Spain of a Moroccan man, Farid Hilali, wanted for trial over alleged links to the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. Lawyers for Hilali had argued that the 36-year-old could face a leng
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Japan's birthrate hits another all-time low

Japan's birthrate hits another all-time low

Japan's birthrate dipped to a record low last year as fewer young couples had children, the government said Wednesday, fuelling fears of a shrinking workforce and a growing burden on the troubled pension system. The average number of children a Japanese w
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Replacement of ATTA proposed to curb smuggling

Replacement of ATTA proposed to curb smuggling

To curb the flow of smuggled goods, the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has proposed replacing of the Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA) with a bilateral convention. Simultaneously, legal changes in the Customs Act, 1969, Prevention of Smuggling Act, 19
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
Copper creeps lower in Asian markets

Copper creeps lower in Asian markets

Copper futures nudged lower on Wednesday, under pressure from a firm US dollar, but traders said that the tight supply of the industrial metal was limiting losses. While the dollar held near a 7-month best against the euro, copper for delivery in three mo
Published 02 Jun, 2005 12:00am
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