Floods may come a little early this year spreading miseries amongst an already harassed population. The extent of flooding may not be of 1955 or 1998 levels but in the given situation of today even a much lesser onslaught will result in widespread sufferings. Two major rivers are already flowing above the danger levels and others, numbering about 61, are about to cross the danger levels. Added to this is the extensive erosion that has already devoured many settlements across the country.

A Danish TV documentary broadcast in May 2008, revealed unacceptable working conditions, pollution and underage labour at the facilities of suppliers to Grameenphone in Bangladesh. Telenor has drawn up unambiguous guide lines to ensure our corporate responsibility and that operation is run in accordance with our ethical standards. After having been informed about the unacceptable conditions, Telenor immediately initiated measures to ensure that required standards are adhered to. Telenor has a 62 per cent stake in Grameenphone.

REUTERS, TOKYO- G8 leaders aim to present a united front against global inflation, driven by soaring oil and food prices, at a summit in Japan next week, but solving the problem requires more than just a strong message from rich nations.

REUTERS, YANGON- At least 38 people died when their ferry sank in a river in Myanmar's cyclone-hit Irrawaddy delta, official newspapers reported on Friday.

REUTERS, MINSK-About 50 people were wounded by a home-made bomb in Belarus's capital on Friday at an Independence Day concert attended by long-time ruler President Alexander Lukashenko, officials said.

REUTERS, PESHAWAR, Pakistan- Al Qaeda-linked militants have abducted two Pakistani journalists who the militants accused of snooping on their members and positions near the Afghan border.
 
The militants detained freelance reporter Pir Zubair Shah and photographer Akhtar Soomro in Ziarat village in the Mohmand region late on Thursday.

Nuclear Offer

REUTERS, TEHRAN - Iran will later on Friday give a response to a nuclear incentives offer made by six world powers last month, the country's chief nuclear negotiator was quoted as telling the European Union's top diplomat.

Pakistan blast

REUTERS, QUETTA, Pakistan- A bomb planted on a motorcycle exploded on Friday outside a bank in the Pakistani city of Quetta, capital of gas-rich Baluchistan province, killing a girl and wounding 10 people, police said.

REUTERS, NEW DELHI - The Samajwadi Party (SP) that could hold the balance of power in India said on Thursday it had to clear up doubts before supporting a nuclear deal with the United States, but hinted it may give crucial backing to the embattled government.
 
The ruling coalition is wooing the Samajwadi Party amid signs the communist parties that back the government in parliament will withdraw their support over the civilian nuclear deal. Many Indian politicians worry the deal will compromise India's sovereignty. The left says it makes India a U.S. pawn.

REUTERS, NEW DELHIT - India needs to be wary of a rapidly modernising Chinese military as it could affect the country's security in the long run, India's army chief said on Thursday.

Nuclear Deal

REUTERS, MEXICO CITY- Archeologists are opening a cave sealed for more than 30 years deep beneath a Mexican pyramid to look for clues about the mysterious collapse of one of ancient civilization's largest cities.

RE:UTERS, LOS ANGELES - California firefighters made a desperate stand as darkness fell on Thursday to save more than 4,000 homes and other structures from a pair of out-of-control wildfires burning about 170 miles apart along the California coast.
 
The most imminent danger was to homes around Goleta, near Santa Barbara, where flames were fast approaching 2,600 homes and transmission lines supplying power to 100,000 people on the central coast.

REUTERS, RIYADH - Saudi Arabia's top religious official warned on Thursday Saudis and foreigners living in the kingdom to not hide information about militants in the world's largest oil exporter.

Olympics unrest

REUTERS, BEIJING - A senior Chinese security official said the Beijing Olympics are threatened by sabotage and unrest, state media said on Friday, as authorities moved to sack officials blamed for a riot that torched a police headquarters.

Colombia

REUTERS, BOGOTA- Ingrid Betancourt began each day in captivity at 4 a.m. -- cold and depressed but awake in the dark waiting to hear her mother's words of encouragement over the radio.

Reuters, Taipei/Shanghai- Historic regular flights between Taiwan and China began on Friday, in a show of conciliation between the long-time rivals that could bring large numbers of mainland Chinese visitors to the island.
 
The first of the flights, a China Southern Airlines plane, landed at Taipei's Taoyuan airport after leaving Guangzhou in southern China early in the morning.

Reuters, Bangalore- Goldman Sachs said the European banks sector needs to raise about 60 billion to 90 billion euros, or withhold one year of dividends, to reach an aggregate Tier I ratio of 9 percent -- a level achieved by European banks that have recapitalized recently.

REUTERS, LONDON- Poverty-ridden countries reaping the benefits of soaring oil and commodity prices should be investing their wealth at home, not putting it in sovereign funds, a senior United Nations official says.
 
Record crude and other commodity prices have seen some countries such as Nigeria bank billions of surplus revenue in sovereign wealth funds which are then reinvested, often in the developed world with the aim of conserving and growing them.

Birth registration is one of the fundamental tights of the children. It may eliminate the problem in making a flawless voter list. It will also simplify the process of determination of a person's citizenship. Besides, it will stop early marriages. All these are of very great national interest. But, surprisingly enough, many people are not aware of the Birth and Death Registration Act of 2004.