Bangladesh's army said Wednesday it had finally reached most parts of its cyclone-hit southern coastline where millions of desperate survivors were at risk from starvation and disease.
Afghan police and US-led coalition forces killed more than 50 Taliban militants in fighting in southern Afghanistan, the government said Wednesday. The "terrorists" were killed in clashes in the volatile Charchino district of Uruzgan province over the pas
A car bomb killed at least six people, including women and children, in the Iraqi city of Ramadi on Wednesday in a rare attack on a region that has become one of the safest in the country. Major Mohammed Arak said a parked car exploded outside a courthous
Saboteurs staged a co-ordinated attack on France's high-speed rail network early on Wednesday, causing nation-wide delays to services already hit by an eight-day transport strike, the SNCF state railways said.
More than 300,000 Iraqis including 600 Shia tribal leaders have signed a petition accusing Iran of sowing "disorder" in southern Iraq, a group of sheikhs involved in the campaign said. The sheikhs showed Reuters two thick bundles of notes, which contained
President Vladimir Putin, using Cold War rhetoric, accused foreign governments on Wednesday of sponsoring his opponents in next month's election to weaken Russia and carry out "dirty tricks" against it.
Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan blames President George W. Bush in a book for his dissemination of false information about a CIA leak scandal that rocked the administration.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has decided to halt plans to scale back army troops in Europe and will keep more than 40,000 in Germany and Italy, The New York Times reported Wednesday.
Firefighters in north-western China have extinguished a fire that had burned in an underground coal seam for a half-century, state media reported on Wednesday. It took firefighters more than three years to put out the blaze by drilling into the burning co
Israel stepped up efforts on Wednesday to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbbas before next week's Middle East peace conference that is expected to launch formal negotiations on a Palestinian state.
Middle East peace envoy Tony Blair will hold talks in Riyadh with King Abdullah centred on a US drive to persuade Arabs to attend a conference next week on Israeli-Palestinian peace, government sources said on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown apologised on Wednesday for Britain's tax authority losing the personal details of nearly half the population in an error which has dealt a new blow to his Labour government.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday ruled out giving "the slightest concession" in Iran's atomic stand-off with the West, amid doubts over whether new talks with the European Union would go ahead. Ahmadinejad's remarks were the latest sign his gove
India and the UN nuclear watchdog formally launched consultations on Wednesday that are needed to secure a landmark nuclear deal between New Delhi and Washington. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei and the head of India's atomic en
Lebanon's main anti-Syrian Christian leader accused Syria and its allies on Wednesday of blocking a deal on a new president by threatening chaos if their preferred candidate was not elected. "Syria and its allies have shut the door on consensus despite al
India and China will hold their first wargames in December as part of a series of joint exercises between the two Asian neighbours who fought a war in 1962, an official announced Wednesday.
Israeli authorities plan to issue a new anti-hijack identification system to incoming aircraft which they say is foolproof, but some experts are not convinced it will plug all the security holes on the horizon.
Afghanistan is in "crisis" and risks becoming a divided state, as Taliban insurgents now control vast areas of unchallenged territory, a thinktank warned Wednesday. The Senlis Council called for the Nato-led force in the country to be doubled in size to 8
International health experts unveiled a master plan on Wednesday that they said could avert at least 36 million premature deaths worldwide from "lifestyle" diseases by 2015.
Veteran Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble says he will not be under pressure when he makes his captaincy debut in the opening Test against Pakistan here on Thursday. The 37-year-old was named skipper for a three-Test series against Pakistan, replacing Rahul
Banished Australian umpire Darrell Hair said on Wednesday he had correctly handled last year's abandoned cricket Test between England and Pakistan, which became the first in history to be won by forfeit.
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan said he would boycott India's cricket matches after he was accused of using cricket events to promote his films. Khan's comments followed reports in the Indian media quoting officials from the Board of Control for Cricke
Australia, Japan and South Korea booked their places at next year's Beijing Olympic football tournament after draws with North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain respectively on Wednesday.
Nigeria risks being blacklisted by the International Cocoa Organisation if traders continue to export beans in old jute sacks, a top official of the Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) said on Tuesday.
Raw sugar futures were flat in early business on Wednesday as players tweaked positions in front of the long holiday weekend, brokers said. ICE Futures electronic March sugar was flat at 9.75 cents per lb at 9:12 am EST (1412 GMT), trapped between 9.74 an
New York cocoa futures were lower early on Wednesday after a spike in prices during the previous session, and Arabica was slightly down, traders said. "We've seen some early weakness, I think because of the slightly stronger dollar. On the platform, it ap
Gold tested investor appetite above $800 an ounce on Wednesday, bringing recent 28-year highs back into view as oil topped $99 per barrel and the dollar hit record lows against the euro. With worries over the crisis in credit markets and slowing US growth
Concern about the fallout from credit losses and economic growth hit industrial metals prices on Wednesday, sending copper down 4 percent to an 8-month low. Zinc tumbled more than 6 percent and lead shed 4.4 percent while mining stocks in London such as B
Affluent urban dwellers in fast growing India and China are buying more gold jewellery, an international gold executive said on Tuesday. "Both countries are on the same page... both are labelled as growth regions (for gold)," said Albert L.H. Cheng, Manag
Cotton futures settled mixed on Wednesday in quiet pre-holiday business, with brokers saying the market will be looking at several factors next week to provide direction after the long holiday break. The market will be shut Thursday and Friday for Thanksg
Coffee berry disease will cut Kenya's coffee harvest in the 2007/08 crop year by 20 to 30 percent, based on internal forecasts, the Coffee Board of Kenya said on Tuesday. "So far I am looking at something between a 20 percent, 25 percent, 30 percent drop,
London cocoa futures ended lower on Wednesday as producer and speculative selling emerged after prices had earlier risen to the highest level in almost three weeks, dealers said. Robusta coffee ended mostly firm with the exception of the spot month which
Wheat futures on the Chicago Board of Trade were called to open 2 to 4 cents higher on Wednesday on concerns about dry weather in the southern US Plains, traders said. The overnight trend for CBOT wheat was up 4-3/4 cents to down 1-3/4 cents, with Decembe
Britain's top share index slid 2.5 percent on Wednesday, led by banks and miners, as concerns over credit market strife and its impact on the wider economy gnawed at sentiment though buoyant oil lifted energy stocks.
European credit spreads surged wider on Wednesday to levels not seen since August, after the late-July peak in the credit market turmoil, led by financials as fears mounted about further writedowns and illiquidity. The iTraxx senior financials index hit a
European credit spreads surged wider on Wednesday to levels not seen since August, after the late-July peak in the credit market turmoil, led by financials as fears mounted about further writedowns and illiquidity. The iTraxx senior financials index hit a
Singapore share prices closed 2.65 percent lower Wednesday, mirroring regional losses on fears soaring oil prices could slow the US economy, dealers said. The main Straits Times Index slumped 91.07 points to 3,347.20 on volume of 1.83 billion shares worth
US stocks tumbled on Wednesday, driving the benchmark S&P 500 briefly into negative territory for the year, on fears that the credit crisis and fallout from the housing slump will hurt economic growth, while a surge in fuel costs threatened to squeeze hol
Malaysian share prices closed down 0.9 percent Wednesday in line with regional markets as investors fretted over the health of the US economy and rising oil prices, dealers said. They said the loss was made worse by the steep fall of national carmaker Pro
The Indian rupee eased to its lowest in more than a week on Wednesday as oil prices stayed near record levels and a fifth successive fall in the stock market heightened concerns that foreigners were withdrawing funds.
The dollar hit a record low against the euro and a basket of major currencies on Wednesday and the yen rose sharply as concerns on the health of the US economy and global credit markets saw investors flee risky carry trades.
Sterling fell to 72 pence per euro for the first time in 4-1/2 years on Wednesday after Bank of England minutes backed expectations that interest rates will be cut before too long. Two of the nine policymakers voted for a cut this month, with the rest bac
India has tested an air defence missile at a site close to its tense border with Pakistan where it conducted a string of nuclear detonations in 1998, officials said on Wednesday.
Security forces killed the leader of a banned group blamed for a deadly insurgency in Balochistan, a spokesman for the group said on Wednesday. Balach Marri, identified by authorities as the leader of the Balochistan Liberation Army, was killed in a milit
Security forces killed the leader of a banned group blamed for a deadly insurgency in Balochistan, a spokesman for the group said on Wednesday. Balach Marri, identified by authorities as the leader of the Balochistan Liberation Army, was killed in a milit
The federal government has chalked out a five year comprehensive plan for the development of Mirani Dam command area in Makran region which at the cost of Rs 650 million.
US Consul-General Kay L Anske visited the offices of the ARY television network and Karachi Press Club on Wednesday and expressed US government's 'grave concern' over the orders of the Government of Pakistan to suppress the news media and arrests o
The unity of media as well as the civil society is essential at the present time to educate the people on the 'fraud' being perpetrated in the name of elections, which would allow the PML-Q party to win and president Musharraf would be able to show the wo
President General Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday telephoned Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, Chief Advisor of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and expressed his condolence on the loss of life and property by cyclone. The President said that the people of Pakistan s
Journalist community here Wednesday slammed emergency and curbs on media and vowed to resist the dictatorship bravely. The Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) organised a protest meeting at Karachi Press Club (KPC), here as a part of Pakistan Federal Union
After successful commissioning of modern 1000 lines digital exchange of at Athmuqaam, District Neelum, Special Communications Organisation (SCO) working on providing a these facilities to Northern Areas and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Integrated efforts are needed for poverty alleviation as micro-credit schemes alone cannot rid the country of this threat, Dr Ishrat Hussain, former Governor, State Bank of Pakistan and Chairman National Commission for Government Reforms said.
Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro has reiterated his administration's firm resolve to assist the Election Commission in every manner required to ensure the fairness and transparency of the forthcoming elections.
The trade bodies' elections 2007 will be of shortest span, as voters will elect the office-bearers for only 9 months. The election process for 2007 is being governed by the pervious law as the new rules 2008, could not be implemented in time.
Former Prime Minister and PML leader Shaukat Aziz Wednesday said the PML government has provided a solid base for national progress and it would continue its policies after winning the upcoming elections.
The Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop and Telenor Pakistan have joined hands to present Asia's biggest cultural festival, 'World Performing Arts Festival 2007'.
The newly introduced Voice Messaging Service (VMS) of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) would enable customers to get messages even when they are away from their landline.
Bazm-e-Nou (Pakistan) has been organised Mushairas for the last five decades on monthly basis on the third Sunday of every month. Mushtaq Shabnum, who is the founder, manages to continue his efforts to promote art and culture, introduce new talents for Ur
Police on Wednesday detained over 20 journalists after thrashing them with batons, who were protesting against curb on media and ban on independent TV channels. Journalists wanted to march toward the Governor's House from Press Club Quetta in protest agai
All permitted facilities are being provided to detained PML-N leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi in Central Jail Mianwali, said the jail superintendent. In a statement issued here on Wednesday he refuted a news item alleging mistreatment of the opposition leade
The Punjab government has released Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan from the Dera Ghazi Khan Prison on Wednesday, after being held under the anti-terror laws. Sources here said that the authorities freed him on medical ground since he has been on
Benazir Bhutto met Britain's top diplomat in the country on Wednesday and said she had shared her concerns about the prospects of free elections under emergency rule. British High Commissioner Robert Brinkley called on Benazir at her home in Karachi, two
Secretary General of Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) Qazi Abdul Qadeer Khamosh has said the announcement of the election schedule by the Election Commission under the emergency rule and PCO is unacceptable, adding that the detention of politic
Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) President Qazi Hussain Ahmad on Wednesday contacted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Makhdoom Ameen Fahim and discussed matter pertaining to the forthcoming elect
The Jamaat-e-Islami in Punjab has condemned arrests and torture of journalists in Karachi and told the government to lift restrictions imposed on the media.
Representatives of Anti-Jamiat Political Forum demanded closure of offices of Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) in Punjab University and ban on political activities in the varsity.
Child Protection Committee of the Children's Hospital is organising a special function in connection with the Universal Children's Day Celebrations at its Shaukat Raza Auditorium on Thursday (today) at 9.30am.