REUTERS, PARIS - It is still possible to reach a deal on long-delayed world trade negotiations before the end of the year, the head of the World Trade Organisation said in an interview published on Tuesday.

"There are the political and technical conditions to wrap things up in 2008," the WTO's Pascal Lamy told the Les Echos newspaper, adding that the accord needed to be struck this month or next to give time for the final texts to be prepared.

REUTERS, TOKYO - Coca-Cola Co, the world's biggest drinks maker, is seeking more acquisition opportunities in the fast-growing soft drinks market to expand its revenue sources, the company's CEO-in-waiting said on Tuesday.

Sales of established soft drinks are declining in the United States as people opt for the likes of bottled water and tea, which they see as healthier.

REUTERS, MUMBAI - The rupee surrendered early gains on Tuesday, hitting fresh one-year lows as it extended the previous session's sharp fall as banks and companies bought dollars on concerns about a domestic slowdown.

At 9:36 am, the partially convertible rupee was at 42.14/42.15 per dollar, its lowest since mid-April 2007 and a 0.2 percent weaker than Monday's close of of 42.05/06.

REUTERS, TOKYO - Nissan Motor Co reported a 13.7 percent drop in fourth quarter operating profit on Tuesday and forecast a sharp fall in annual profits this year due to a weaker dollar, rising commodities prices and sinking US demand.

January-March operating profit at Nissan, Japan's No.3 automaker controlled by Renault SA, was 211.8 billion yen ($2.0 billion) ahead of an average estimate of 204.8 billion yen in a Reuters Estimates poll of 20 brokerages.

REUTERS, New York - The fight to buy Tribune Co's Newsday surprised many in the media world -- not because of its high-profile combatants, but because of the price they were willing to pay to buy a newspaper.

The bidding war, ended by Cablevision Systems Corp with a deal to buy Newsday for $650 million, is not indicative of where the newspaper industry is headed.

The decentralization of power to local government institutions and their representatives helps enables the state to serve the people at all levels throughout the country. The Adviser at a workshop recently held said that the government would very soon set up a local government commission in fulfillment of the need for devolution of power to serve the people and allow all public agencies to reach the people in all walks of life.

REUTERS, BEIJING - The most devastating earthquake to hit China in three decades has killed up to 5,000 people and left as many as 10,000 injured, toppling eight schools and at least one hospital, state media said.

United star aims higher for 2008-09 season

Sky Sports

Manchester United's player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo has vowed to try to score 50 goals next season after his amazing tally this year.

Ronaldo completed a clean awards sweep at United's end-of-season awards for the second successive season.

£16.2million fee for Portugal star

Sky Sports

Chelsea are set to win the race to sign Portuguese star Jose Bosingwa after agreeing a deal with Porto.

The Blues have struck a deal worth 20.5million euros (£16.2million) with Porto and the player has flown to London for talks and a medical.

The High Court Monday issued a rule nisi on a writ petition filed by Awami League president Sheikh Hasina challenging the proceedings of the barge-mounted power plant case against her as the trial was not completed in time, reports bdnews24.com.

Bdnews24.com

Bdnews24.com

A Dhaka court Monday fixed May 18 to decide if charges would be framed against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the barge-mounted power plant case, reports bdnews24.com.

Judge Firoz Alam of the Special Judge's Court-1 fixed the date after hearing the case against Hasina involving 'illegal contracts' for setting up three power plants during her term as prime minister.

The acting secretary general of a BNP faction, Hafizuddin Ahmed, said Sunday he would relinquish his position once the ongoing efforts for unification of the BNP factions succeeded, reports bdnews24.com.

"Issues related to unifying the party are being discussed with the pro-Delwar faction of the BNP. We hope the party will be consolidated through discussions by May 30," said Hafiz.

Bdnews24.com

Agency

Stocks ended lower Monday, driven by sell-offs.

Investors bet on insurers, non-bank financial institution and mutual fund majors but sold off the shares of pharmaceuticals and banks, according to an official with brokerage house IDLC Securities.

State-run oil entities and power shares were also at the heart of trading,

Chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda said Sunday data against war criminals and anti-liberation forces need to be gathered if they were to be stopped from running elections, reports bdnews24.com.

He made the remark at a meeting between the Election Commission and the Sector Commanders' Forum at the Election Commission Secretariat.

REUTERS, KATHMANDU - Nepal's King Gyanendra, facing imminent ouster from the throne, made perhaps his last royal public appearance at a shrine outside Kathmandu on Monday and offered annual prayers to Kali, the Hindu goddess of power.

The 60-year-old king was accompanied by Queen Komal to the temple of Dakshinkali perched by the side of a stream in a jungle-clad ravine 25 km (15 miles) south of Kathmandu.

REUTERS, ISLAMABAD - Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Monday his party members would resign their cabinet posts after the failure to break a deadlock with his main coalition partner over the reinstatement of deposed judges.

"Today is May 12. We were bound by this date," Sharif told a news conference referring to a Monday deadline he set with his main coalition partner, the party of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, for judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf to be reinstated.

Bdnews24.com

In a crucial address to the nation, chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed said Monday that the election to the ninth parliament would be held in the third week of December.

"I hope all voters will exercise their constitutional