AP, DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. says its August sales dropped more than 26 percent as U.S. economic woes and high gas prices continued to batter the auto industry.

RMG sector

Preparations needed for dealing with impending danger

Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska introduced herself to America before a roaring crowd at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night as "just your average hockey mom" who was as qualified as the Democratic nominee, Senator Barack Obama, to be president of the United States, reports NY Times.

REUTERS

Defiant Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej refused to quit as his opponents vowed today to keep up a street campaign to unseat him, setting the scene for more political uncertainty.

Speaking on national radio amid widespread speculation that he would resign, Samak also dismissed talk that he would call a snap election to defuse the protests.

US vice-president holds talks with Georgian president, raising 'grave doubts' about Russia's reliability as international partner

The Guardian Online

The US vice-president, Dick Cheney, today attacked Russia's invasion of Georgia, describing it as "an illegitimate, unilateral attempt" to change the country's borders, and saying that there were now "grave doubts" about Russia's reliability as an international partner.

REUTERS

Pakistani legislators are set to elect as president the late Benazir Bhutto's controversial widower Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday, making a choice many Pakistanis see leading to a fresh phase of political instability.

The presidential vote is a three-way contest, but Zardari's party and its allies have a clear majority among lawmakers in the two-chamber parliament and four provincial legislatures that make up the electoral college.

Violent clashes erupted in West Bengal today after India's top motor manufacturer announced it had ceased production of its revolutionary new 'Nano' car, report agencies.

The Nano, which is known in India as the 'One Lakh Car' (one hundred thousand rupees or £1250), is expected to be the cheapest mass market family car in the world when it goes on sale later this year.

REUTERS, WASHINGTON- As the world's oceans get warmer, the strongest tropical storms get stronger, climate scientists reported on Wednesday as the remnants of Hurricane Gustav spun out over the central United States.

REUTERS, BANGKOK- Asia will continue to deliver strong growth in the mobile phone market due to sustained demand from China and India, the world's two biggest markets of such services, industry officials said.

Khaleda Zia's release depends on the detained former prime minister securing bail in all cases against her, an adviser has said the day after her son Tarique Rahman was released on bail, reports bdnews24.com

Staff Correspondent

The government has extended the temporary release of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina from detention by another month to Oct 6.

The Awami League chief was released from detention on medical grounds on June 11. She flew to the USA the following day for medical treatment.

Desk Report

The Election Commission is looking to hold elections to those Upazila Parishad not affected by floods, an EC official said on Thursday.

ACC case

Staff Correspondent

Former fisheries minister in the BNP-led coalition government Abdullah Al Noman on Thursday surrendered to court in a case filed by the former Anticorruption Bureau in 1998 and was granted bail.

Desk Report

The flood situation in the country worsened on Wednesday with more areas of Bogra, Faridpur and Sirajganj districts going under water.

Bdnews24.com

In a new move to decentralise appointments to private secondary schools and colleges, educationists will have a say over who represents the government on appointment boards.

Former state minister for power, energy and mineral resources Rafiqul Islam was released on bail Thursday, reports bdnews24.com.

Staff Correspondent

Professor of Bangla and popular lyricist Mohammad Monirzzaman, died Wednesday of old age complications at the age of 73.

Bdnews24.com

Sylhet mayor-elect Badaruddin Ahmed Kamran has been released on bail in corruption cases from Sylhet jail, the jailer said on Thursday.

Desk Report

A medical board formed Thursday to treat the just bailed Tarique Rahman at BSMMU Hospital have advised him to take total bed rest for two days.