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Print - 2006-08-18
Cotton crop damage feared

Cotton crop damage feared

Initial reports regarding damage to the current crop (2006-07) in Pakistan are now being received from the cotton belt. Though the perceived loss to both output and quality is said to be more in Sindh which has more or less been receiving continuous rains
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Eight killed as rain lashes Karachi

Eight killed as rain lashes Karachi

As least eight people were killed including a woman in rain-related incidents here, on Thursday. The city received heavy rain coupled with thunderstorm, according to a meteorological report around 100mm rainfall was recorded.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
New York cocoa firmer

New York cocoa firmer

US cocoa futures ended on higher ground on Wednesday, boosted by a combination of currency-related activity, speculative buying and limited producer selling, traders said.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
29 projects worth Rs 46.4 billion approved

29 projects worth Rs 46.4 billion approved

Central Development Working Party (CDWP) meeting held here on Thursday approved 29 development projects involving expenditures of Rs 46.4 billion to improve the lot of life and step up pace of progress in the country.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
NYBoT coffee futures close firm

NYBoT coffee futures close firm

US benchmark arabica coffee futures rose to a six-day peak on Wednesday, fuelled by speculative buying amid concerns about tight robusta supplies and limited producer selling, traders said.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
29 projects worth Rs 46.4 billion approved

29 projects worth Rs 46.4 billion approved

Central Development Working Party (CDWP) meeting held here on Thursday approved 29 development projects involving expenditures of Rs 46.4 billion to improve the lot of life and step up pace of progress in the country.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
MGE wheat mixed

MGE wheat mixed

Spring wheat futures at the Minneapolis Grain Exchange settled mixed on Wednesday with nearby months hit by technical selling late in the session, traders said.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
29 projects worth Rs 46.4 billion approved

29 projects worth Rs 46.4 billion approved

Central Development Working Party (CDWP) meeting held here on Thursday approved 29 development projects involving expenditures of Rs 46.4 billion to improve the lot of life and step up pace of progress in the country.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
US copper ends near lows

US copper ends near lows

Copper futures in New York closed down and near session lows on Wednesday as the market sold off on speculation of an end to the 10-day work stoppage at Chile's Escondida copper mine, sources said.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Sugar mafia again active to jack prices

Sugar mafia again active to jack prices

Sugar mafia is again in action to jack prices through short supply to exploit the market ahead of holy month of Ramzan. Sources said industrialists, whole-sale dealers and middlemen''s representatives met in Lahore on August 15 to workout a strategy for s
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
New York gold futures strong

New York gold futures strong

US gold futures closed with healthy gains on Wednesday after three US economic reports strengthened the view that the Federal Reserve would not need to raise interest rates to contain inflation and undermined the dollar, traders said.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Sugar mafia again active to jack prices

Sugar mafia again active to jack prices

Sugar mafia is again in action to jack prices through short supply to exploit the market ahead of holy month of Ramzan. Sources said industrialists, whole-sale dealers and middlemen's representatives met in Lahore on August 15 to workout a strategy for sl
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Tokyo gold in tight range

Tokyo gold in tight range

Tokyo gold futures were locked in a tight range on Thursday with falls in oil prices blocking the topside, while silver and palladium jumped in thin trading on speculative buying given brighter technical trends.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Sugar mafia again active to jack prices

Sugar mafia again active to jack prices

Sugar mafia is again in action to jack prices through short supply to exploit the market ahead of holy month of Ramzan. Sources said industrialists, whole-sale dealers and middlemen's representatives met in Lahore on August 15 to workout a strategy for sl
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Gold rises on weak US dollar

Gold rises on weak US dollar

Gold rose on Thursday after the US dollar eased on expectations the Federal Reserve would hold interest rates steady, but declines in crude oil capped gains.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
CBR and FPCCI to exchange import data

CBR and FPCCI to exchange import data

The tax authorities and the business community would exchange import data to jointly combat the menace of under-invoicing and take timely action against the tax-evaders.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Malaysian tin

Malaysian tin

Malaysian tin closed flat on Thursday despite higher tin prices on the London Metals Exchange, dealers said.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
CBR and FPCCI to exchange import data

CBR and FPCCI to exchange import data

The tax authorities and the business community would exchange import data to jointly combat the menace of under-invoicing and take timely action against the tax-evaders.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Indian sugar up

Indian sugar up

Indian sugar futures rose on Thursday on short covering a day before the settlement of monthly contracts, while wheat climbed on tight supplies. Soyaoil futures fell as a rollback of an increase in base import prices weighed on market sentiment.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
CBR and FPCCI to exchange import data

CBR and FPCCI to exchange import data

The tax authorities and the business community would exchange import data to jointly combat the menace of under-invoicing and take timely action against the tax-evaders.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Oil deepens slide to near eight-week low

Oil deepens slide to near eight-week low

Oil prices fell for a fourth day on Thursday to their lowest in nearly eight weeks after US data reminded traders that crude stocks are relatively robust and the summer driving season is nearing its end.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Singh wants more links

Singh wants more links

India wants to increase transport links between the Indian and Pakistani zones of divided Kashmir, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told parliament on Thursday. "Our government is for expanding flows" between the two sides, Singh told the Indian parli
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
LME copper stable in Asia

LME copper stable in Asia

London Metal Exchange copper futures were little changed in Asian trade on Thursday as markets awaited an outcome to talks in Chile over a strike at the world's largest copper mine.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Singh wants more links

Singh wants more links

India wants to increase transport links between the Indian and Pakistani zones of divided Kashmir, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told parliament on Thursday. "Our government is for expanding flows" between the two sides, Singh told the Indian parli
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
New York sugar falters

New York sugar falters

Raw sugar prices buckled from late commodity fund sales to finish on Wednesday near session lows and the market may just consolidate near levels representing an 8-1/2 month low, brokers said.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Australian sugar hit by poor crop

Australian sugar hit by poor crop

Australia's A$2 billion ($1.5 billion) raw sugar export industry is reeling from a double whammy of a shrinking harvest caused by torrential rain and a government refusal to finance a fight against smut disease.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Soyabeans weaker

Soyabeans weaker

Soyabean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade closed weak on Wednesday, near the lows of the day, amid easing worries about this year's US soya crop as Midwest weather was favourable for pod filling, traders said.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
CBOT rice ends near unchanged

CBOT rice ends near unchanged

Chicago Board of Trade rough rice futures closed nearly unchanged on Wednesday as traders took profits after the market made contracts highs for the sixth straight session on speculative buying, brokers said.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Tokyo rubber loses ground

Tokyo rubber loses ground

Tokyo rubber futures fell for the second day in a row on Thursday, breaching a closely watched technical level, as easing concerns over supply tightness in producing countries induced additional speculative selling.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Malaysian palm oil down

Malaysian palm oil down

Malaysian crude palm oil futures closed sharply lower for the fourth straight day on Thursday due to technical selling and a decline in the prices of crude oil. "Fundamentals are all very good, but the market is now moving on technical grounds," said one
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Italy needs to fight tax evasion: Prodi

Italy needs to fight tax evasion: Prodi

It may take Italy up to eight years to overcome tax evasion, which will be the key point in the government program to cut back the state deficit, Prime Minister Romano Prodi told the Italian press Thursday.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Fitch upgrades Saudi Arabia credit rating to 'A+'

Fitch upgrades Saudi Arabia credit rating to 'A+'

Fitch Ratings upgraded Saudi Arabia's sovereign foreign and local currency credit rating to 'A+' from 'A' on Thursday, citing the strong finances of the world's largest oil exporter and its economic reform drive.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
US budget deficit to fall to $260 billion: CBO

US budget deficit to fall to $260 billion: CBO

The US budget deficit is forecast to surpass administration hopes by falling to 260 billion dollars this fiscal year, thanks to booming tax revenues, congressional experts said Thursday.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Iraq to supply Jordan with 10,000 bpd crude oil

Iraq to supply Jordan with 10,000 bpd crude oil

Iraq has agreed to supply Jordan with 10,000 barrels-per-day of crude oil under preferential terms set in an accord signed this week, officials said on Thursday.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Global oil prices could hit $100: Manmohan

Global oil prices could hit $100: Manmohan

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told parliament on Thursday global crude oil prices could hit the three digit mark in the near future. "We know that the price of hydrocarbons - oil and gas - can go in a very short period up to $100 a barrel and, ther
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Opec president sees no oil output cuts for 2006

Opec president sees no oil output cuts for 2006

Opec will not cut production or formally return to its quota system for at least the rest of 2006 as it works to stabilise oil prices, the group's president Edmund Daukoru said Thursday.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Russia threatens to end US meat import preferences

Russia threatens to end US meat import preferences

Moscow threatened on Thursday to cut trade preferences on US meat imports if a deal with Washington to let Russia join the World Trade Organisation was not struck by October.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Floods cripple India's diamond exports

Floods cripple India's diamond exports

Massive floods that engulfed India's diamond-producing hub of Surat have badly hit exports of the precious stones, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said Thursday.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Asean six to abolish most electronics tariffs: officials

Asean six to abolish most electronics tariffs: officials

Six Asean countries will abolish tariffs on most electronic products traded between them by next January, three years ahead of schedule, in a bid to claw back foreign investment from China and India, officials said.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Euro zone July inflation eases

Euro zone July inflation eases

Euro zone headline inflation came in below expectations in annual terms in July, but economists still expect the European Central Bank to raise interest rates twice more this year.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Japan proposes 16-nation Asian trade bloc

Japan proposes 16-nation Asian trade bloc

Japanese officials on Thursday proposed a sprawling 16-nation free-trade grouping with China, South Korea, Australia, India, New Zealand and the 10-nation Southeast Asian bloc, officials said. The 16 last year formed the East Asia Summit - seen as a precu
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
USTR Schwab off to Southeast Asia and China

USTR Schwab off to Southeast Asia and China

US Trade Representative Susan Schwab will travel to Southeast Asia and China beginning next week to discuss ways of boosting regional trade ties and reviving world trade talks after their recent collapse, US officials said on Wednesday.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Bangladesh sets $12.5 billion exports target for 2006-07

Bangladesh sets $12.5 billion exports target for 2006-07

Bangladesh has set a $12.5 billion exports target for the fiscal year to June 2007, up 18.75 percent from the previous year's export earning, the Commerce Ministry said on Thursday. Exports reached $10.526 billion in the 2005/06 fiscal year, an increase o
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Air Berlin buys rival DBA in challenge to Lufthansa

Air Berlin buys rival DBA in challenge to Lufthansa

German low-cost carrier Air Berlin announced Thursday it was buying smaller rival DBA in a bid to take on flag carrier Lufthansa in the fierce battle for domination in the skies above Germany.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Taiwan 2006 GDP forecast trimmed after second quarter data

Taiwan 2006 GDP forecast trimmed after second quarter data

Taiwan's economy grew 4.57 percent from a year earlier in the second quarter, just beating market expectations thanks to robust exports and despite weak domestic consumption. However, the government trimmed its full-year growth forecast to 4.28 percent fr
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Buyout firms make take-over approach to NTL

Buyout firms make take-over approach to NTL

A private equity consortium has approached UK cable company NTL about a potential 10 billion pound ($19 billion) take-over, but there are no serious talks underway, sources close to the deal said on Thursday.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Russia's GDP growth quickens, inflation slows: minister

Russia's GDP growth quickens, inflation slows: minister

Russia's gross domestic product (GDP) growth accelerated to 7.4 percent year on year in July, compared with a 6.4 percent rise in July last year, Economy Minister German Gref said on Thursday.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Asia's exports hold firm as signs of US slowdown emerge

Asia's exports hold firm as signs of US slowdown emerge

The prospect of a slowing US economy may not sit too well with Asia's exporters, but latest data from the region suggests they are in a stronger position to weather any cooling in demand from the world's largest economy.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Taiwan stocks at six-week high

Taiwan stocks at six-week high

Taiwan stocks closed at a fresh six-week high on Thursday, as a Wall Street rally spurred hopes about a better outlook for technology companies like TSMC that count the United States as their biggest market.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Malaysian shares up

Malaysian shares up

Malaysian share prices closed 0.44 percent higher on Thursday amid mixed sentiment after authorities warned of a crackdown on speculative stock trading, dealers said. They said sentiment was punished after Bursa Malaysia queried broadband operator Mobif a
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Hong Kong shares decline

Hong Kong shares decline

Hong Kong stocks fell 0.45 percent on Thursday with investors cautious before the earnings report by China Mobile Ltd, while oil stocks dropped on the lowest crude prices in nearly eight weeks.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
US stocks climb on mild inflation

US stocks climb on mild inflation

US stocks rallied on Wednesday with the S&P 500 reaching a three-month high as investors interpreted a tame increase in core consumer prices to mean the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged in the short term.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Indian shares rise

Indian shares rise

Indian share prices closed up 0.25 percent on Thursday, gaining for a seventh straight session, but trade was choppy due to profit taking, dealers said. They said investors locked in gains at higher levels to take advantage of a more than six percent rise
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
US Treasuries jump

US Treasuries jump

US Treasury debt prices jumped for a second straight day on Wednesday, after a tame reading of consumer prices bolstered views that the Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates next month.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
US Treasuries jump

US Treasuries jump

US Treasury debt prices jumped for a second straight day on Wednesday, after a tame reading of consumer prices bolstered views that the Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates next month.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Chinese shares slip

Chinese shares slip

Chinese shares ended 0.81 percent lower on Thursday as investors took profits in blue chips before flag carrier Air China's listing on Friday.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Singapore shares rally

Singapore shares rally

Singapore share prices closed 0.70 percent higher on Thursday on easing investor concerns over higher interest rates in the United States after the release of tame inflation data, dealers said. However, they said the market could face a period of consolid
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Thai shares tumble

Thai shares tumble

Thai share prices closed 0.43 percent lower on Thursday on profit-taking in energy stocks as global oil prices eased amid an improvement in Middle East tensions, dealers said. They said a sell-off in telecom shares also influenced the Thai market.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Philippines shares slightly up

Philippines shares slightly up

Philippines share prices closed 0.10 percent higher on Thursday in directionless trade, despite sharp gains elsewhere in the region on the back of tepid US inflation data, dealers said.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Nikkei inches down as defensive stocks fall

Nikkei inches down as defensive stocks fall

The Nikkei average inched down 0.31 percent on Thursday as investors grabbed profits in defensive stocks such as drug maker Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd and utility shares. Trend Micro Inc, a maker of computer anti-virus software, led the Nikkei's fall with a lo
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Swiss franc stable versus euro

Swiss franc stable versus euro

The Swiss franc was slightly stronger versus the dollar and the euro early on Thursday as it recovered from a four-month low against the euro hit in the previous session.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Chinese yuan posts biggest revaluation rise

Chinese yuan posts biggest revaluation rise

China's yuan posted its largest post-revaluation rise against the dollar on Thursday, boosted by a weaker dollar on overseas markets and renewed speculation that the central bank might allow a new round of yuan appreciation.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Dollar inches down

Dollar inches down

The dollar slipped on Thursday after tame US consumer price data fed speculation that inflation risks were subsiding, which could prompt the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates on hold next month.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Dollar falls for second day

Dollar falls for second day

The US dollar fell for a second straight day on Wednesday after a tame report on US inflation reinforced expectations the Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates further.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Hong Kong dollar rises

Hong Kong dollar rises

The Hong Kong dollar rose on Thursday as the US dollar suffered selling across Asia after tame inflation data reduced expectations for a US interest rate rise next month. "Some people are trying to reduce their long Hong Kong dollar positions because of t
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Asian currencies up after US data

Asian currencies up after US data

Asian currencies, with the exception of the Thai baht, extended gains on Thursday after a second US inflation report strengthened expectations the Federal Reserve would not raise interest rates further. The yen rose half a percent from levels in late Asia
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Boonen back on winning form at Benelux Tour

Boonen back on winning form at Benelux Tour

World champion Tom Boonen of Belgium showed he was back to his best with victory in stage one of the Benelux Tour on Thursday, to take the overall race lead.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Villeneuve criticises Schumacher over conduct

Villeneuve criticises Schumacher over conduct

Former Formula One driver Jacques Villeneuve has criticised seven-times champion Michael Schumacher for his on-track conduct over the years and said the German's legacy would quickly fade when he retired.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Woods and Mickelson share early honours

Woods and Mickelson share early honours

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson shared the early honours in their eagerly awaited grouping in the opening round of the 88th PGA Championship on Thursday.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Lehmann to quit Yorkshire

Lehmann to quit Yorkshire

Darren Lehmann will retire from Yorkshire and end his first-class career in England at the end of this season, the county announced Thursday. Former Australia batsman Lehmann arrived at Headingley in 1997 and his 172 on Wednesday in the County Championshi
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Federer stunned by Murray, unhappy at schedule

Federer stunned by Murray, unhappy at schedule

Roger Federer suffered his first defeat before a final for 14 months when he was stunned by rising Briton Andy Murray 7-5 6-4 in the second round of the Cincinnati Masters on Wednesday.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Seven seeds exit as Clijsters suffers injury

Seven seeds exit as Clijsters suffers injury

Seven seeds missed out on the chance to benefit from Kim Clijster's premature withdrawal from the Rogers Cup as unsung players hogged the limelight in second-round action Wednesday.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Four-wicket Asif wrecks England first innings

Four-wicket Asif wrecks England first innings

Mohammad Asif took four wickets to spark an England collapse on the opening day of the fourth and final test at The Oval on Thursday. The home side, having already clinched the series with emphatic wins at Old Trafford and Headingley, slumped from 54 for
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Australian parliament to review stem cell limits

Australian parliament to review stem cell limits

Australian politicians will push to overturn a ban on cloning stem cells for medical research after Australia's conservative Prime Minister John Howard said he would allow a conscience vote on the issue.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Germans snap up Grass book after SS confession

Germans snap up Grass book after SS confession

German bookshops are struggling to keep up with demand for Guenter Grass's autobiography after the Nobel prize-winning author's shock confession that he had served in Adolf Hitler's Waffen SS.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
60 missing after volcano erupts in Ecuador

60 missing after volcano erupts in Ecuador

About 60 people were missing and 13 others were injured after southern Ecuador's Tungurahua volcano spewed red-hot lava and ash, burying four villages Thursday a mayor said. "Red-hot rock, ash and lava mowed down four settlements," Penipe town mayor Juan
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Former Yukos security chief sentenced to 24 years

Former Yukos security chief sentenced to 24 years

A former Yukos security chief, who was convicted of a double murder last year, was convicted of two additional murders by a Moscow court Thursday and sentenced to 24 years in prison.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
UN warns against outside interference in Somalia

UN warns against outside interference in Somalia

The UN Security Council on Wednesday warned Somalia's neighbours against interfering in its affairs and threatened sanctions against violators of a UN arms embargo on the African country.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
New allegations of abuse by UN troops in DR Congo

New allegations of abuse by UN troops in DR Congo

The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) is investigating new allegations implicating UN peacekeepers in the "sexual exploitation of minors," it said Thursday.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Indian police charge Maneka Gandhi

Indian police charge Maneka Gandhi

A family feud in India's most famed dynasty spilled into the open Thursday when police slapped charges against Maneka Gandhi, a move she swiftly blamed on her estranged sister-in-law Sonia Gandhi.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
18 killed in Iraq car bomb attack

18 killed in Iraq car bomb attack

At least 18 people were killed around Iraq Thursday, including seven by a car bomb in Baghdad's most populous Shiite district of Sadr City, security officials said. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said the car bomb killed "seven people when an Opel car was
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Accused JonBenet killer says death was accident

Accused JonBenet killer says death was accident

An American school teacher accused of the grisly Christmas murder of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey in 1996 said Thursday he was with the child beauty queen at the time of her death, which he called an accident.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Arafat widow denies reports she remarried

Arafat widow denies reports she remarried

The widow of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Thursday denied Arab press reports that she had married a brother-in-law of Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
South Africa mercenary ban spurs security fears

South Africa mercenary ban spurs security fears

South Africa is pressing ahead with a law to ban mercenaries, clouding the prospects of thousands of South Africans now fighting for foreign armies or working for security companies in Iraq.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Congo heads for runoff as Kinshasa votes drip in

Congo heads for runoff as Kinshasa votes drip in

Democratic Republic of Congo looked set for a presidential runoff vote as early poll results from the capital on Thursday dragged President Joseph Kabila's tally below the 50 percent needed for a first-round win.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
'Fake' painting of Mary, Queen of Scots is rare original

'Fake' painting of Mary, Queen of Scots is rare original

A rare portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots, thought to have been painted in her lifetime, has gone on display at London's National Portrait Gallery - but the oval miniature nearly did not see the light of day.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Record year for poppy cultivation in Afghanistan

Record year for poppy cultivation in Afghanistan

The area of Afghanistan planted with poppies increased by more than 40 percent this year compared to last, suggesting there will be a strong rise in opium production, a Western source said Thursday.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Bangladesh police kill 11 robbers in shoot-out

Bangladesh police kill 11 robbers in shoot-out

At least 11 robbers were killed and one injured critically Thursday in a gun battle with police in western Bangladesh, police said. Police surrounded a village in Pabna district early on Thursday following a tip-off that a criminal group was planning raid
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Anger as Bali bomb convict freed for Indonesian holiday

Anger as Bali bomb convict freed for Indonesian holiday

An Islamic militant convicted over the 2002 Bali bombings walked free Thursday after his sentence was cut for Indonesia's Independence Day, sparking anger among grieving relatives in Australia.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Taslima hopes to become Indian citizen

Taslima hopes to become Indian citizen

Exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen said Thursday she had received permission to live in India for another six months but that she would like now to become an Indian citizen. Nasreen's residency permit expired on Wednesday but the writer said she ha
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Floods overwhelm Ethiopia, hundreds dead

Floods overwhelm Ethiopia, hundreds dead

Rescuers in helicopters tossed ropes and emergency aid to stranded Ethiopians on Thursday after many scrambled onto rooftops and trees to escape floods that have killed 900 and marooned tens of thousands.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
India warns US against changes in nuclear pact

India warns US against changes in nuclear pact

India said on Thursday it would not accept changes to an agreement with the US for use of fuel and equipment in its nuclear programmes. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rejected charges by lawmakers that his coalition was succumbing to US pressure to cap ato
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
Lebanese army moves south, Hizbollah lies low

Lebanese army moves south, Hizbollah lies low

Lebanese troops deployed in south Lebanon on Thursday, linking up with UN peacekeepers to take control of Hizbollah strongholds as Israeli forces pulled back after their 34-day war with the guerrillas.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am
UK denies its foreign policy is anti-Islamic

UK denies its foreign policy is anti-Islamic

Britain denied on Thursday that its foreign policy was "anti-Islamic" following accusations that its stance had heightened the threat from terrorism.
Published 18 Aug, 2006 12:00am