Image-conscious Indians have been flocking to cosmetic surgery clinics across the capital for new noses, tummy tucks and larger breasts in the run-up to the country's biggest Hindu festival, Diwali.
In a village in Indonesia's East Java province, a man is struggling to watch television with a volcano erupting in his living room. Risks from volcanoes that ooze mud rather than spew lava have long been underestimated world-wide, even with a cataclysmic
Turkish army engineers arrived by boat and plane in Beirut on Friday to join the enlarged UN peacekeeping operation policing a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Sudanese military declared UN special envoy Jan Pronk persona non grata Friday, accusing him of "waging war against the armed forces," in the latest escalation in a war of words between Khartoum and the international community.
The credibility of Christianity and Islam are at risk if believers do not make a stand against terrorism, a top Vatican cardinal said on Friday. In a greeting to Muslims at the end of their annual Ramazan, the Vatican's head of inter-religious dialogue sa
North Korea told a Chinese envoy it planned to conduct no further nuclear tests, South Korean media reported on Friday, raising hopes that China's diplomacy might force its neighbour back to talks.
Transforming the Shiite Hezbollah militia into a "solely political party" is the key to permanent peace in Lebanon and to full restoration of the country's sovereignty, according to a UN report released Thursday.
Unidentified gunmen opened fire on security vehicles escorting Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's convoy through Gaza on Friday, but the Hamas leader was unhurt, officials from the group said.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Friday any decisions by the UN Security Council, which is considering imposing sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme, were illegitimate.
At least six people were killed in a series of bomb and gun attacks in Thailand's rebellious Muslim south, despite a post-coup government promising a peaceful solution to the insurgency, police said on Friday.
The Indian rupee gave up early gains on Friday with oil companies buying dollars heavily as they braced for the first cut in output in more than two years, and banks covering short positions taken this week.
Sterling rallied to within sight of 15-month highs against the euro on Friday after stronger than forecast economic growth data hardened expectations of a UK rate rise next month.
The dollar was near a two-week low hit against a basket of currencies earlier on Friday, consolidating losses seen after a weak business activity survey cast doubt on whether the US economy will avoid a hard landing.
The Egyptian state's main wheat buyer said it bought 120,000 tonnes of French milling wheat at $204.75 a tonne and 60,000 tonnes of US soft white wheat at $188 a tonne on Friday.
Aluminium producers are champing at the bit to restart idled capacity after the sharp drop in raw material prices, but re-openings will be limited due to still high power costs, analysts said recently.
Oil on Friday fell more than 2 percent to a 2006 low below $57 a barrel on speculation that Opec members would not follow through on plans to make deep production cuts to stem a three-month price slide.
Deliveries of cocoa resumed slowly at Ivory Coast's ports on Friday, exporters in the world's top cocoa grower said, following a three-day strike this week by farmers demanding higher prices for their beans.
Cotton futures settled firmer Friday on buying by small speculators in quiet dealings and the subdued tone may well spill over into next week, brokers said. New York Board of Trade's December cotton contract added 0.46 cent to finish at 49.21 cents per lb
London white sugar futures finished slightly down but well above the day's lows as a late bout of short covering helped to trim losses, dealers said. December closed down $1.00 at $399.00 a tonne, near the top of the day's $400.00 to $394.80 range. Total
Nickel hit a new high on fresh threats to supply and tin regained $10,000, but copper was pushed to the sideline in London trading on Friday. "Copper has been sidelined and the focus has shifted elsewhere.
Gold spiked briefly above the key $600 level on an unexpectedly large cut in Opec oil production, but then fell back on Friday after oil failed to hold its gains, traders said.
US cocoa ended slightly lower in quiet trade Friday as speculators sold down in small volumes due to a lack of positive leads. The daily trading volume fell by more than half, to an estimated 4,768 lots from Thursday's official tally of 11,782.
Raw sugar prices settled with small gains Friday on modest trade and speculative buying but ample supplies are seen keeping the market on the defensive going into next week, brokers said.
Corn futures at the Chicago Board of Trade fell early on Friday, following the moves in the wheat market which remains volatile on outlooks for global supplies to shrink to 25-year lows, traders said.
Copper futures in New York traded on either side of unchanged in early business on Friday, with traders eyeing a short-term resistance point that could push the market higher if breached, they said.
Soybean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade were consolidating on Friday after climbing nearly 30 cents in the past week, traders said. November soyabeans were up 1/4 cent at $6.08-1/4 per bushel. November soya, which closed at $5.79-3/4 cents on Octobe
Gold futures rose to a 19-day high overnight, as crude oil gained more ground, but the rally fizzled in early floor action on Friday as traders, confronted with tough technical barriers, cashed in on gains.
Chinese shares closed down 0.11 percent on Friday after the benchmark index hit another five-year high during morning trade amid diverging expectations over Industrial and Commercial Bank of China's upcoming listing.
US stocks ended little changed on Friday as Caterpillar Inc's profit shortfall and its lowered outlook offset stronger-than-expected earnings from Web search leader Google Inc. But despite a jump in Google shares, the Nasdaq snapped a three-week winning s
Credit default swaps on Anglo-Dutch firm Corus yoyo-ed on Friday as the steelmaker clarified plans to refinance existing debt after it agreed to be bought by India's Tata Steel.
Credit default swaps on Anglo-Dutch firm Corus yoyo-ed on Friday as the steelmaker clarified plans to refinance existing debt after it agreed to be bought by India's Tata Steel.
Seoul shares added 0.75 percent on Friday as POSCO rose on speculation the steel maker had agreed to expand ties with Japan's Nippon Steel, while builders gained on potential government measures to support the construction sector.
Britain's FTSE 100 index ended flat on Friday, retreating from five-and-a-half year intraday highs as disappointing results from Caterpillar sapped confidence and prompted a soft start to Wall Street trade.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs, Zakat and Ushr has arranged residential accommodation in Makkah and Madina for 75,000 intending pilgrims who would perform Haj under the government scheme.
The National Assembly standing committee on railways on Friday directed the Pakistan Railways to carryout a survey to identify railways bridges, which need immediate repair and rehabilitation to avoid any untoward incident.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani has termed meeting between Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto here as the meeting between two failed Prime Ministers and said there was nothing new in the agenda.
The Pakistan Muslim League (PML) will emerge as largest party by getting overwhelming majority in the forthcoming general elections, said Federal Minister for Sports Mian Shamim Haider, while addressing an Iftar party here.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has allowed bail to two DSPs Nasir Ahmed and Malik Abdul Qayyum who were sent to jail for concealing facts of the case before the court.
The Hindu community in Pakistan would celebrate Diwali festival on Saturday. Since Diwali is the festival of lights, Hindus would celebrate it by illuminating their homes. Largely attended functions would be held in temples in major cities having Hindu po
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has called for a report from Chairman Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) in a petition filed by Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed MNA praying to the court to direct the respondents to provide electricity to the people of his co
General Ehsan Ul Haq, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee has said that the international and regional environment demand highest level of vigilance and military preparedness and that Pakistan is fully aware of these imperatives.
The commercialisation of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in Malaysia has triggered fierce criticism from clerics who deplore all the feasting, shopping and merriment. The fasting month, which ends next week with Eid al-Fitr celebrations, is supposed to
I have been reading in these columns the pain and risk many people had to bear while crossing Sharae Faisal at places where it became signal free last year. Many speeding vehicles give a close call to people who are crossing the road during peak hours.
This is high time for the local authorities to monitor the violations in building regulations. It is a fact that builders, during the booking period, say that the building would be of international standard.
On the first anniversary of the tragic quake in the northern areas of Pakistan, we read and heard several complaints and grievances of our brave affectees, still struggling to overcome their numerous difficulties.
Through these columns I would like to bring to the notice of the top brass of law enforcers that the general public does not get an inferiority complex only because of joblessness or other frustrating elements, but probably the biggest these days is the l
It's 2:45 in the morning, and Ulfa and Eko have already launched into another Ramazan working day with their comedy sketch team, entertaining millions of Indonesians tuning in to their pre-dawn show. When Indonesians wake up early for "Sehri," the meal be
Where the vires of a particular statute, notification or circular is challenged the only remedy is a writ petition under Article 199 or a suit before a Civil Court - 2002 PTD 679 (H.C.Kar.).
According to a Recorder Report, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority has revised the levelised upfront tariff of 11.9713 cents per unit for reciprocating engine technology for a period of 25 years, which is highest ever given to any ind
The 2006 Nobel Peace Prize conferred on Bangladeshi economist Mohammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank he founded is indeed an acknowledgement of his supreme achievement of lifting millions out of poverty. The way he worked to do this is no less than almost a
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has released Rs 25 million for electricity schemes in District Lakki Marwat under the electricity provision programme. According to a release issued here on Friday.
Necessary improvements are being introduced for making foolproof the collection system of Agriculture Income Tax (AIT). Punjab Revenue, Relief and Consolidation Minister Gul Hameed Khan Rokari said this here on Friday.
The government's move to introduce Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA) would bring Pakistan's pharmaceutical sector into a new pricing regime where drug prices would be controlled by the manufacturers instead of the regulators.
Pakistan Labour Party (PLP) held a protest demonstration against award of death penalty to British citizen Mirza Tahir Hussain in front of Lahore Press Club, here on Friday. The protesters raised slogans against the death penalty and said that this penalt
Naveed and Saima, two kids of one Muhammad Ishaq were killed and two others sustained injuries when a two-storey building here at Misri Shah area collapsed on Friday. Due to Friday's rain, the dilapidated building was caved in, as Naveed and Saima died on
A veteran of Pakistan Movement and biographer of Quaid-i-Azam, Rizwan Ahmed, has expressed, great pleasure that a campaign is to be launched under the name of 'Shariah Compliance Movement'.
On the orders of Punjab Ombudsman Abdur Rashid Khan special secretary schools, Education Department has initiated proceedings against a district education officer (DEO) and his deputy for flouting government policy by posting a teacher away from his schoo
Doctor Zawow Eugewio from Italy and Professor Dr Fritz Lampert from Germany have stressed the need for raising awareness among Pakistani people about cancer.
The amount of Sadqa-e-Fitr to be paid before Eid-ul-Fitr has been fixed at Rs 30 this year. According to market price of 2.25 kg of wheat, the amount for fitrana of for this year was calculated at Rs 30.
The Awami National Party (ANP) is planning to form a new alliance of nationalist parties of the four provinces to peacefully further the cause of provincial autonomy. In this connection, ANP President Asfandyar Wali will be visiting Sindh immediately afte
The intermittent rain that had started on Thursday night in Lahore and some other cities of the province also continued on Friday, making the weather cool and pleasant. Due to the rain, the low-lying areas in the city have submerged under rainwater causin
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the respondents to complete the process regarding promotion of Dr Muhammad Saeed of Sheikh Zayed Hospital. The court disposed of a petition with directions to the respondent to consider the promotion case of petiti
The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has asked the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to explore the possibility of allowing taxpayers to deposit tax through the "Kiosk project".
Professor Dr Mughees-ud-din Sheikh, Director, Institute of Communication Studies, Punjab University and Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, was conferred UN award in recognition of his meritorious services to the victims of last October's earthquake. Unit
A four-member delegation of the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA), led by its Chairman Zahid Aslam, has returned from Northern Areas after distributing cash packets worth Rs 0.6 million among the orphans, widows and disabled victims of the ear
The World Food Programme (WFP), under its Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) for 2006, will spend around $67 million to provide training to men and women from earthquake affected areas in different skills for their livelihood earners.
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui has claimed that due to IMEI jamming system introduced in collaboration with City Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) the incidents of mobile phone snatching had decreased up to 25 percent from last month
Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) of Capital City Police here on a tip off conducted raids and recovered 17 stolen vehicles including 10 cars and 7 motorbikes during past 24 hours.
The EDO Community Development Department (CDD) Hyderabad, Shafaat Hussain Uner who is also holding charge of EDO Finance has stressed upon the industrialists and organisations in private sector to spare some jobs or fix job quota in their organisations fo
The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has suggested that there should be only one National Labour Number (NLN) and National Labour Card (NLC) should be issued by Nadra.
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) is preparing National Business Agenda (NBA) of Pakistan aimed at achieving goals by year 2020. This was stated by FPCCI President Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed at a meeting of "Focus Group on
The Provincial Technical Expert of Women Political School (WPS) Sindh, a joint project of UNDP and Women Development Department Government of Sindh, which imparts training to women Councillors has announced the schedule of further training for women counc
Dengue infection does not spread from person to person. However, health workers should take contact precautions while taking care of the patients and must use gloves to avoid acquisition of any concomitant infection such as Hepatitis B and C," said Dr Afi
An ex-expatriate Pakistani, Qaim Shah Bukhari, has accused NWFP Minister for Forests & Environment, Shahraz Khan, of illegally transferring his (Qaim's) 248 kanal land to his brother, Dr Irshad Ali. Addressing a press conference here at Peshawar Press Clu
NWFP Senior Minister Siraj-ul-Haq has called upon the youth to take guidance from the Holy Quran in their routine life as he said Quran provided panacea for all problems and challenges faced by the people today.
MCB is the first Pakistani company to be listed on the London Stock Exchange for trading on the Professional Securities Market. The GDR issue attracted demand in excess of $700 million from over 50 investors globally.
MCB is the first Pakistani company to be listed on the London Stock Exchange for trading on the Professional Securities Market. The GDR issue attracted demand in excess of $700 million from over 50 investors globally.
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario James K. Bartlemen appreciated the role being played by the Pakistanis in the economic uplift of Canada and expressed the hope that more and more Pakistanis would come to Canada in the coming years and follow their fellow Pa
Business Support Fund (BSF), Ministry of Finance and Engineering Development Board (EDB), will cooperate to improve business plans of industry in the country. This was decided in a meeting between EDB Chief Executive Officer Imtiaz Rastgar and a senior of
Death sentence convict British national of Pakistani origin Mirza Tahir Hussain has once again appealed to President General Pervez Musharraf for his pardon. Talking to BBC on phone, he also thanked British Prince Charles and Prime Minister Tony Blair for
Thousands of faithful bow down before Almighty Allah and begged for forgiveness of their sins and seek Almighty's blessings, as Juma-tul-Wida was observed with traditional religious fervour, amid stringent security measures.
The central leader of MMA and Maib Ameer, Jamat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan, Liaqat Baloch has said the JI will finalise a strategy in its Supreme Council and Majlis-e-Shoora's meetings for launching country wide campaign in the light of situation arising afte
Prominent lawyer Abid Hassan Manto has said that the alliance of PPPP and PML-N could give tough time to the PML. Talking to a private TV channel, he said that PPP and PML-N were the two largest parties of the country and its unity or alliance would creat
In its tone and tenor the Benazir-Nawaz meeting in London on Thursday was too polite and too matter-of-fact to fit into the definition of a make-or-break development. Yet, it did two important things: one, it established Sheikh Rashid a confirmed misinfor
The UN has warned that pollution from Asia's cities, farms and industry is threatening the economically-vital coastal areas and called on governments to wake up and address the issue.
Expo Pakistan 2007, an annual extravaganza of the country's goods and services is being held at the Expo Centre, Karachi, next year from March 29 to April 1. More than 500 Pakistani companies, representing all major sectors of industry and services includ
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), All Pakistan Newspapers Employees Confederation (Apnec), Akhbar Farosh Federation, Hawkers Union, Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) and Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club have rejected unilateral d
The Punjab government has allocated Rs 250 million for extending soft loan facility to women entrepreneurs in the province. Official sources told Business Recorder here on Friday.
Samsung Electronics once again brings an exciting 'Samsung Chand Raat Special' started from the Ramazan 20 to the wee hours of Chand Raat, said a press release on Thursday.
Juma-tul-Wida and Youm Al Quds was observed in Karachi with religious zeal and fervour. After Friday prayers processions were taken out from different mosques which terminated at Regal chowk.
Organisers of the 2007 World Cup have altered the warm-up schedule ahead of next year's tournament in the Caribbean. The four teams competing in Group C of warm-up matches have agreed to a change in fixtures to rectify an anomaly in the format.
Prolific off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan ripped through New Zealand's batting to resurrect Sri Lanka's Champions Trophy campaign with a seven-wicket win here on Friday. Sri Lanka, who would have been knocked out of the eight-nation tournament had they lo
The Government of Sindh under a notification issued by Services, General Administration and Co-ordination Department, has posted Syed Ashfaque Hussain Musavi, an officer of PSS (BS-19) as Additional Secretary, Finance Department, against an existing vacan
The GulBahao Trust has succeeded in establishing Pakistan's first ever Research Centre in Waste Management at Gulshan-e-Iqbal. Ms Nargis Latif, founder of the organisation, delivering lecture to over 200 students at the auditorium of Muhammad Ali Jinnah U