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Print - 2008-03-30
US copper futures follow crude oil to weaker close

US copper futures follow crude oil to weaker close

US copper futures erased gains to close lower on Friday, with quarter-end position adjustments and losses in the crude oil market leading the way down for the broader metals complex, analysts said.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
US gold futures ends with modest losses

US gold futures ends with modest losses

New York gold futures along with other precious metals ended with steep losses on Friday as heavy selling hit futures across the commodities spectrum on fund liquidation and a slide in oil hit gold, traders said.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
US rice soars on Asian export curbs

US rice soars on Asian export curbs

US rough rice futures on the Chicago Board of Trade soared on Friday, rising to a record high above $20 per hundredweight after major exporters Vietnam and India said they will further curb overseas sales, traders said. Hanoi confirmed it will cut rice ex
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Tokyo rubber takes breather

Tokyo rubber takes breather

Tokyo rubber futures were narrowly mixed on Friday, taking a breather from a 4 percent rally over the past three sessions as a halt in crude oil gains encouraged investors to lock in profits. Rubber prices often benefit from higher crude oil prices, as th
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
New York cocoa weaker

New York cocoa weaker

US cocoa futures settled down on Friday, pressured by the lower sterling relative to the dollar amid a general weakness in commodities, while continuing to move in the week-long sideways trading pattern, dealers said.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
US soya futures down

US soya futures down

US soya futures fell on Friday on profit taking before the release on Monday of USDA's March plantings report. Signs the Argentine farmers strike may end soon also weighed on prices. Some nervous liquidation as CME Group increases margins and trading limi
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
New York sugar settles at two-month low

New York sugar settles at two-month low

Raw sugar futures ended sharply lower on Friday from month-end investor liquidation and falls in the rest of the commodity complex and the weakness may persist into next week, brokers said. The ICE Futures May electronic sugar contract dropped 0.37 cent t
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Global commodity markets move higher

Global commodity markets move higher

Global commodity prices rose last week amid fresh concerns worries over tight supplies of raw materials, particularly for crude oil and metals. Oil and gold had slid the previous week after striking fresh historic highs.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Philippine company launches mini laptop

Philippine company launches mini laptop

Philippine PC manufacturer Neo and multinational computer processor maker Intel have jointly launched a new 16,999-peso (406-dollar) mini laptop, spokesmen said Saturday. The Neo Explore is a "ruggedized and shock-proof" laptop with a keyboard that will n
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Singapore halts Italian mozzarella sales on scare

Singapore halts Italian mozzarella sales on scare

Singapore has stopped sales of all Italian mozzarella cheese made from buffalo milk after Italy on Friday ordered a recall of the product that was potentially contaminated with cancer-causing dioxin. Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) sa
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
EU approves Syngenta biotech maize for import

EU approves Syngenta biotech maize for import

The European Union has authorised imports of a genetically modified (GM) maize type for sale across its 27 national markets for the next 10 years, European Commission officials said on Friday. The maize, known by its codename GA21, is marketed by Swiss ag
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
IMF board backs modest boost to developing nations' clout

IMF board backs modest boost to developing nations' clout

The International Monetary Fund's executive board approved late on Friday measures that slightly boost the voting power of developing countries within the multilateral institution, officials said.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
UAW membership lowest since World War Two

UAW membership lowest since World War Two

Membership in the United Auto Workers union has dropped below 500,000, hitting its lowest level since World War Two in a downturn that reflects the wrenching restructuring by US automakers. UAW membership dropped by 14 percent from the prior year to 464,9
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
India clears Tata Tele, Virgin tie-up

India clears Tata Tele, Virgin tie-up

India has given the green light to the tie-up between telecoms operator Tata Teleservices and UK's Virgin Mobile, after it was convinced the combination was legal, the Economic Times newspaper said on Saturday.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Global economy may cause policy shifts: China

Global economy may cause policy shifts: China

China will keep monetary policy tight for now but recognises it might need to adjust the strength and timing of policy in response to changes in the global economy, a vice governor of the central bank said.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Bush may expand help for struggling homeowners

Bush may expand help for struggling homeowners

President George W. Bush said on Saturday he is looking to expand US efforts to help struggling homeowners reduce their mortgage payments, as Democrats pressed for a more substantial federal role. Bush said some 130,000 homeowners have used a Federal Hous
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
China recalls milk supplies after children fall ill

China recalls milk supplies after children fall ill

Officials in southern China sealed more than 4,000 boxes of possibly contaminated milk and the manufacturer recalled another 2,700 boxes after children became sick on drinking the product, Xinhua news agency said on Saturday.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
China Shipping to spend $3.3 billion to buy 59 vessels

China Shipping to spend $3.3 billion to buy 59 vessels

China Shipping Development plans to spend 23 billion yuan ($3.3 billion) to buy 59 vessels over the next five years, more than doubling its capacity to ride an anticipated upswell in global trade, its top executive said.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
FOB Gulf corn and soya offers hold steady

FOB Gulf corn and soya offers hold steady

US FOB Gulf corn and soyabean offers held steady on Friday but were seeing increased export demand from a strike in Argentina disrupting shipments, traders said. Argentine farmers ended a 16-day strike late Friday against higher export taxes to negotiate
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Activity at Karachi and Qasim ports

Activity at Karachi and Qasim ports

The Karachi Port handled 151,898 tonnes cargo including 104,820 tonnes import, 47,078 tonnes export cargo and 5,534 containers (TEUs) during last 24 hours ending at 0700 hours on Saturday.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
US wheat futures lower

US wheat futures lower

US wheat futures closed lower on Friday on technical weakness and expectations of a rebound in global wheat output for 2008, traders said. Spillover weakness from soyabeans added pressure. Wheat joined a broad sell-off in commodities as large funds liquid
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
US Midwest corn and soyabean bids steady to firm

US Midwest corn and soyabean bids steady to firm

Spot basis bids for soyabeans and corn were steady to firm at locations around the US Midwest on Friday amid light farmer selling, grain dealers said. Most growers awaited the US Agriculture Department's prospective plantings report on Monday morning befo
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Oil cake market rates

Oil cake market rates

Slow trading was seen on the forward cottonseed oilcake market on Saturday due to less buying interest, dealers said. The May vaida opened at Rs 741.00 and that proved to be day's lowest at the same leve, they said. Later, it gained Rs 6.00 to be day's be
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Solo deal noted on cotton market

Solo deal noted on cotton market

Firmness prevailed on the cotton market on Saturday as mills remained still on the sidelines to see prices come at their psychological level, dealers said. The Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) official spot rate was unchanged at Rs 3300, they said. Phutti
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Raw rubber down on Jodia Bazaar

Raw rubber down on Jodia Bazaar

The trading on raw rubber closed down on Jodia Bazaar here on Saturday. The following variations were noted.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Sluggish trading on grain market

Sluggish trading on grain market

Sluggish trading was seen on the grain market on Saturday as prices turned higher due to rising demand by the retailers, dealers said. On the cereal side masoor Canada was sharply up by Rs 100 to Rs 6150. Wheat old and new (bardana) followed same print, g
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
S&P cuts FGIC insurance unit's rating to junk status

S&P cuts FGIC insurance unit's rating to junk status

Standard & Poor's on Friday cut its ratings on FGIC Corp and its bond insurance arm to junk status, saying the insurer has failed to come up with a plan to remain viable and write new business. "Our increased concerns over regulatory and managerial issues
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
S&P cuts FGIC insurance unit's rating to junk status

S&P cuts FGIC insurance unit's rating to junk status

Standard & Poor's on Friday cut its ratings on FGIC Corp and its bond insurance arm to junk status, saying the insurer has failed to come up with a plan to remain viable and write new business. "Our increased concerns over regulatory and managerial issues
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
IPO view: Penthouse's planned IPO may be a damp squib

IPO view: Penthouse's planned IPO may be a damp squib

A bearish market and investors looking for safe bets may dampen the planned public debut of Penthouse Media Group Inc, publisher of the racy men's magazine, as the company tries to win Wall Street's support of its switch of focus from print to online.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
US Treasury may unveil tighter financial rules soon

US Treasury may unveil tighter financial rules soon

The US Treasury Department may unveil on Monday fresh plans to tighten rules on financial market players to ward off a future credit market crisis like the one currently threatening to drag the economy into a deep recession.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
US Treasury may unveil tighter financial rules soon

US Treasury may unveil tighter financial rules soon

The US Treasury Department may unveil on Monday fresh plans to tighten rules on financial market players to ward off a future credit market crisis like the one currently threatening to drag the economy into a deep recession.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
After pause on Wall Street, a search for direction

After pause on Wall Street, a search for direction

As Wall Street appeared to settle down from a period of intense volatility, investors are debating whether the latest pause represents a "top" or a "bottom" for the market. Even as markets brace for a likely US recession, some argue that the bad news has
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Stocks drop on Wall Street on JC Penney's warning

Stocks drop on Wall Street on JC Penney's warning

US stocks fell on Friday as a profit warning from J.C. Penney raised concerns about slowing consumer spending while persistent worries about credit-related problems throttled financial stocks. J.C. Penney Co Inc shares fell 7.5 percent after dissapointing
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Indian bond yields climb

Indian bond yields climb

Indian federal bond yields jumped to a three-month high of 7.85 percent on Friday ahead of wholesale price data, with the market nervous the reading may be above 6 percent for the first time since April. Wholesale price inflation is forecast at an annual
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Indian bond yields climb

Indian bond yields climb

Indian federal bond yields jumped to a three-month high of 7.85 percent on Friday ahead of wholesale price data, with the market nervous the reading may be above 6 percent for the first time since April. Wholesale price inflation is forecast at an annual
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
JGB 10-year yield slips

JGB 10-year yield slips

The benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond yield slipped back towards three-year lows on Friday in thin trade ahead of Japan's fiscal year-end on March 31.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
JGB 10-year yield slips

JGB 10-year yield slips

The benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond yield slipped back towards three-year lows on Friday in thin trade ahead of Japan's fiscal year-end on March 31.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Treasuries: dip in Asia

Treasuries: dip in Asia

US Treasuries edged down in Asia on Friday, with gains in regional stocks spurring mild selling as many investors take a breather from a hectic month and with the approach of the quarter-end and Japan's fiscal year-end.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Treasuries: dip in Asia

Treasuries: dip in Asia

US Treasuries edged down in Asia on Friday, with gains in regional stocks spurring mild selling as many investors take a breather from a hectic month and with the approach of the quarter-end and Japan's fiscal year-end.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Toronto stocks sag

Toronto stocks sag

The Toronto Stock Exchange's main index closed more than 170 points lower on Friday as weakness in the key energy, financials and materials sectors dragged on the benchmark lower, despite gains by BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. The S&P/TSX compo
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Mexican stocks gain

Mexican stocks gain

Mexican stocks rose on Friday as new rules will take effect next week allowing the country's pension funds to invest a larger part of their portfolio in stocks. The benchmark IPC index ended up 0.34 percent in light trading to 30,089.90 points and the pes
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Brazil's stocks end flat

Brazil's stocks end flat

Brazil's stock market seesawed near the unchanged mark on Friday as concerns over the US economy weighed on banking shares, while take-over talks boosted the shares of phone companies Oi and Brasil Telecom. The Bovespa index of the Sao Paulo Stock Exchang
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Australia's CBA plans Samurai bond

Australia's CBA plans Samurai bond

Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd, Australia's second-biggest lender, has mandated Daiwa SMBC, Nikko Citi and Nomura for a Samurai bond offering, a source briefed on the deal said on Friday. The deal is expected to be priced in the near future subject to
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Australia's CBA plans Samurai bond

Australia's CBA plans Samurai bond

Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd, Australia's second-biggest lender, has mandated Daiwa SMBC, Nikko Citi and Nomura for a Samurai bond offering, a source briefed on the deal said on Friday. The deal is expected to be priced in the near future subject to
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Taiwan dollar weaker

Taiwan dollar weaker

The Taiwan dollar closed lower against the US dollar on Friday, a day after Taiwan's central bank cut reserve requirements on foreign deposits to curb investor appetite for the local currency. The Taiwan dollar opened at T$30.205 to the US dollar and weak
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Scope for dollar selling, investors still overweight

Scope for dollar selling, investors still overweight

The dollar has dropped sharply this year but many investors still hold overweight positions and could force the greenback to new depths against the euro as they scramble to sell. The dollar has tumbled 15 percent over the last 12 months to an all-time low
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
IMM speculators raise net short dollar position

IMM speculators raise net short dollar position

Currency speculators increased bets against the US dollar for the second straight week, weekly data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed on Friday. The value of the net short US dollar position rose to $23.86 billion in the week to March 2
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Forex outlook: dollar may fall

Forex outlook: dollar may fall

The US dollar is likely to remain under pressure next week as investors brace for another set of data that may confirm the US economy is sliding into recession.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Canadian dollar sags

Canadian dollar sags

The Canadian dollar ended lower against the US dollar on Friday as commodity prices fell and worries persisted about the health of the US economy and the potential for spillover effects on Canada. Canadian bond prices ended mixed, but mostly higher, as in
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Mourinho denies going to Milan

Mourinho denies going to Milan

Former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho said on Saturday he had not gone to Milan and was not close to signing a deal with Serie A leaders Inter. His personal adviser Eladio Parames said on Friday the Portuguese had gone for talks with Inter directors. Other m
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Derby triumph leaves Rangers on brink of title

Derby triumph leaves Rangers on brink of title

Kevin Thomson's first goal for Rangers was enough to earn a 1-0 win over Celtic that leaves the Ibrox giants on the brink of reclaiming the Scottish Premier League title from their arch rivals.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Djokovic suffers Miami upset, Henin and Nadal advance

Djokovic suffers Miami upset, Henin and Nadal advance

Men's defending champion Novak Djokovic was upset 7-6 3-6 6-4 by qualifier Kevin Anderson in the Sony Ericsson Open second round on Friday. Second seed Rafael Nadal came safely through, however, along with women's seeds Justine Henin and Williams sisters
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Owen relishing Tottenham return

Owen relishing Tottenham return

Michael Owen will return to White Hart Lane on Sunday for the first time since he suffered a broken metatarsal there on New Year's Eve 2005. It marked the start of a frustrating series of injuries, which have hampered the 28-year-old's career at Newcastle
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Pepsi to sponsor tennis champion Aisam

Pepsi to sponsor tennis champion Aisam

The Pepsi Company will sponsor Pakistani tennis champion Aisam Ul Haq Qureshi to promote the game. Company Managing Director Mariam Khan announcing the sponsorship, told a press conference on Saturday, "With several accolades in a short span of time, we b
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Late surge puts Baird ahead in New Orleans

Late surge puts Baird ahead in New Orleans

Briny Baird birdied the final two holes for a three-under-par 69 to seize the second-round lead at the New Orleans Classic on Friday. Baird sank a 20-foot putt at the last to finish eight under on 136, one stroke better than Australian Peter Lonard and fe
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
PCB relents on Rana Naved, Mushtaq county participation

PCB relents on Rana Naved, Mushtaq county participation

Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed Saturday it had cleared former Test players Rana Naved and Mushtaq Ahmed to play in English county cricket, despite them featuring in an unauthorised Indian league.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Podolski goal saves Bayern's blushes

Podolski goal saves Bayern's blushes

Super sub Lukas Podolski capped a superb personal week for the Germany striker to save Bayern Munich's blushes with a late equaliser at strugglers Nuremberg on a crazy day as none of the top five Bundesliga sides won.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Egypt's Al Hadari leaves for Switzerland

Egypt's Al Hadari leaves for Switzerland

Egypt goalkeeper Essam Al Hadari packed his bags and left for Switzerland on Saturday, saying he was going to join Swiss club FC Sion, two days after being booed by Egyptian fans during a friendly against Argentina.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Dravid joins 10,000-run club

Dravid joins 10,000-run club

Rahul Dravid of India on Saturday became the sixth batsman in history to score 10,000 Test runs when he reached 80 in the first Test against South Africa here. The 35-year-old former captain chalked up an innings of 111, his 25th Test century, before he w
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
South Africa keep India at bay in first Test

South Africa keep India at bay in first Test

A spirited fightback by South Africa after Virender Sehwag's brutal assault the previous day left the first cricket Test against India headed for a draw on Saturday. India, resuming at the overnight 468-1 in reply to South Africa's first innings total of
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
No signs North Korea preparing more missile tests: South

No signs North Korea preparing more missile tests: South

South Korea's military said on Saturday there were no signs North Korea would again test-fire missiles, a day after it launched a barrage of short-range rockets and threatened to attack the South Korean Navy.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Angola police base collapses; 100 pulled alive

Angola police base collapses; 100 pulled alive

Nearly 100 people have been pulled alive from the rubble after the seven-storey headquarters of the Angolan police's criminal investigation department collapsed in Luanda on Saturday, rescue workers said.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
EU ministers break ice with Serbia

EU ministers break ice with Serbia

European Union foreign ministers broke the ice with Serbia on Saturday, holding their first talks with Belgrade since most EU countries recognised Kosovo's declaration of independence. Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic met counterparts from all 27 EU s
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Iran urges end to fighting

Iran urges end to fighting

Iran called on Saturday for an end to fighting between Iraqi government forces and Shia Muslim militants to remove any "pretext" for US troops to stay in Iraq.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Sadr tells followers to keep arms

Sadr tells followers to keep arms

Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has told his followers not to lay down their arms, rejecting a demand by the Iraqi government which launched a crackdown against them this week, a top aide said on Saturday.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Sadrist foes 'worse than al Qaeda': Maliki

Sadrist foes 'worse than al Qaeda': Maliki

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki raised the stakes in his five-day-old crackdown on Shia militants on Saturday, describing his foes as "worse than al Qaeda".
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Turkish army kills 15 PKK in northern Iraq

Turkish army kills 15 PKK in northern Iraq

Turkey's armed forces killed 15 members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq on Thursday using long-range land weapons, and then followed up with air strikes, they said on Saturday.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Five killed in helicopter crash in Iran

Five killed in helicopter crash in Iran

An Iranian police helicopter crashed in the northwestern East Azerbaijan province killing five on board, the official IRNA news agency reported Saturday quoting the province's police chief. "A police helicopter crashed Friday afternoon in the mountains of
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Schengen passport-free travel arrives at newcomers' airports

Schengen passport-free travel arrives at newcomers' airports

Border checks at airports in nine Schengen area newcomers, mostly from the ex-communist bloc, will vanish Sunday, allowing 400 million people passport-free travel in the 24-country zone. "It's a very important day," Michal Marzec, director of Poland's PPL
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Two killed in Nepal mosque bombing

Two killed in Nepal mosque bombing

At least two people have been killed in a bomb attack on a mosque in southern Nepal, an official said Saturday. "Two people have been killed and two have been injured in a bomb explosion Saturday evening inside the mosque," senior local official Madhav Pr
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Zimbabweans vote, desperate to end economic misery

Zimbabweans vote, desperate to end economic misery

Zimbabweans voted on Saturday in the most crucial election since independence in 1980, many of them desperate to end the misery of economic collapse under veteran President Robert Mugabe. But the opposition said Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party planned to st
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Ma not considering pardon for outgoing Taiwan president

Ma not considering pardon for outgoing Taiwan president

Taiwan's president-elect Ma Ying-jeou is not mulling granting a pardon for the outgoing leader Chen Shui-bian if he is convicted of corruption, a newspaper said Saturday. Speaking in an interview with the United Daily News, Ma said he would not interfere
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Hillary walks tightrope on strength, emotion

Hillary walks tightrope on strength, emotion

Be strong or show some emotion? Stick to policy or share your private life? Democratic US presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton faces this challenge as she tries to become the first woman in the highest office in the land: how to appear human without appea
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Troops shell Somali market, killing 11

Troops shell Somali market, killing 11

At least 11 people were killed in Mogadishu on Saturday when troops at the Villa Somalia presidential palace returned fire against Islamist insurgents who attacked it with mortar bombs, witnesses said. President Abdullahi Yusuf was meeting Ethiopian Forei
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Japan completes missile defence system deployment

Japan completes missile defence system deployment

Japan completed deploying a ballistic missile defence system in the Tokyo area on Saturday, a day after North Korea reportedly fired short-range missiles off its west coast, news reports said. Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air intercept
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
PWF hails increase in minimum wages

PWF hails increase in minimum wages

Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF) has hailed the announcement by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani declaring the increase in minimum wages to Rs 6,000 per month and repeal of anti-labour legislation Industrial Relation Ordinance 2002.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Fish farmers' convention

Fish farmers' convention

Punjab Fisheries Department will hold a Fish Farmers' Convention on April 2 at the Fisheries Research and Training Institute, Manawan, said the Director General (DG), Punjab Fisheries, Dr Muhammad Ayub.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Withdrawal of army officials from civil departments ordered

Withdrawal of army officials from civil departments ordered

Orders have been issued to recall all the military officials rendering services in the country's civil departments, Aaj TV reported. The order came hours after the Prime Minister Makhdoom Yusuf Raza Gilani's announcement on Saturday in connection w
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
113 civil and military awards conferred

113 civil and military awards conferred

An investiture ceremony was held at the Army Auditorium to confer awards of "Sitara-i-Imtiaz" (Civil), "Sitara-i-Imtiaz" (Military), "Tamgha-i-Imtiaz" (Civil) and United Nations (UN) Medal. The Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani conferred t
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
World Bank team arrives to ensure work on Taunsa Barrage

World Bank team arrives to ensure work on Taunsa Barrage

A team of World Bank officials reached here to ensure repair and rehabilitation work on emergency basis on the Taunsa Barrage. Home Department has ordered the concerned quarters to ensure foolproof security arrangement for the WB during its assignment her
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Peshawar University to introduce DMS soon

Peshawar University to introduce DMS soon

The Department of Sociology, University of Peshawar, in collaboration with the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) organised a seminar on preparation for the establishment of Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and introduction of Disaster Management Studies
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Tuti is fruity for Khartoum investors

Tuti is fruity for Khartoum investors

An idyllic island carpeted in lush mango groves at the confluence of the Blue and White Niles is about to vanish forever as developers rush to connect this rural backwater to Sudan's booming capital. Tuti Island lies at the heart of Khartoum's most famous
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Sudan women join demining operation

Sudan women join demining operation

Seven months pregnant Opayi Mary stands half a metre away from a mine made expressly to blow anything over 3 kg to pieces. For her, it's just part of a day's work. Mary leads an all-female team of deminers working for Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) in one o
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Indo-Pak visa blues

Indo-Pak visa blues

This is how Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh responded to his new Pakistan counterpart Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani soon after Gilani was sworn in as Pakistan's prime minister: Excellency, Please accept my warm felicitations on your assumption of office
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
KESC's night load-shedding

KESC's night load-shedding

It is an enigma why KESC's load-shedding occurs during night. Granted that during the day demand for power is far in excess of generating capacity and resort to load-shedding is unavoidable. During night demand falls to as low as 40 - 45 percent of the da
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Increased fees of DMC

Increased fees of DMC

The new principal of the Dow Medical College has increased the fees of 4th year students to yearly Rs 15,550/-, this is too much. Initially in 1st year they took Rs 6000/-, later in 2nd year it rose to Rs 8,500/-, in third year it came down to Rs 2500/-.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Bush looking to resolve dispute over missile defence

Bush looking to resolve dispute over missile defence

President George W Bush departs Monday on a four-nation European tour including the Nato summit in Romania before heading to Russia for critical missile-defence talks with President Vladimir Putin.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Historic Marshall Plan marks 60th anniversary

Historic Marshall Plan marks 60th anniversary

Former US president Harry S Truman had no doubt about the gravity of the document that lay before him one spring day in 1948, nor any doubt that what it proposed would be a success. "Few presidents have had the opportunity to sign legislation of such impo
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
The need for a fresh approach

The need for a fresh approach

A report in The Washington Post says that the US has suddenly stepped up air strikes against what it claims are al Qaeda targets in Pakistan's tribal areas. The US is said to want to draw maximum benefit from a tacit understanding it had arrived at earlie
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Time to catch up with biotech farming

Time to catch up with biotech farming

Brooding over the grim realities behind the too low and poor quality of cotton produced this year, a meeting at the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock is reported to have conclude that the government is left with no option but to provide the grow
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Middle East-Pakistan agriculture and dairy investment forum held

Middle East-Pakistan agriculture and dairy investment forum held

The first ever Middle East Pakistan Agriculture and Dairy Investment Forum was held in Dubai on Saturday. An announcement here on Saturday said that the Investment Forum was organised by MAP Services Group and was duly supported by Al Rabi Saudi Arabia, T
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Tributes paid to Shan-ul-Haq Haqee

Tributes paid to Shan-ul-Haq Haqee

Former PTV managing director Aslam Azhar has praised Shan-ul-Haq Haqee as a great language scholar as well as a prominent literary critic of literature. Aslam Azhar also said in his presidential remarks at the Shanul Haq Haqee seminar arranged at the Paki
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
Cloudy weather forecast

Cloudy weather forecast

The city could remain cloudy in the next 24 hours. In the provincial capital, the weather remained dry and partly cloudy. The maximum temperature recorded was 32 Celsius degrees and the minimum was 16 Celsius degrees.
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
PIA shows improvement in punctuality

PIA shows improvement in punctuality

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has achieved an overall system punctuality of 100 percent for two consecutive days, ie, on March 26 and 27. The airline also attained an overall system punctuality of 88 percent for the entire network - domestic and i
Published 30 Mar, 2008 12:00am
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