China still aiding Pak nuke plan: CIA
China, despite vehement US protests, continues to help Pakistan and Iran develop nuclear weapons and is strategically expanding conventional and nuclear arsenals with the aim of becoming a major power, CIA Director George Tenet has said.

Philippines' death row list: 900 and counting
Philippine executioners are set to mete out death to the first of more than 900 condemned prisoners on Friday, buoyed by massive local public support running against international opinion.

Orbital `mirror' to light up Russia's deep, dark North
A futuristic Russian project to place a large sheet of aluminium foil in orbit to light up parts of the Earth out of reach of the sun's rays gathers pace Thursday when a prototype is launched from the Mir space station.

  Cricket to culture
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  Baker Hughes hit by drop in oil spending
  Thai miner Padaeng returning to profit
  Colonial eager to build Asian funds
  Volvo CEO says merger with Scania best - newspaper
  Baker Hughes hit by drop in oil spending
  Billiton, Pechiney in race to partner L&T alumina plan
  Asian chemical sector may bottom out in '99
  IMF says S Korean economy in full recovery
  Asian chemical sector to bottom end 1999
  Brazil, IMF draw plans for real stability
  Indonesian palm oil output may go up
  Miyazawa keeps his fingers crossed as Japanese interest rate
  Cash JGBs down, off lows, as selling spree over
  Japan rates up on rising levels of government debt
  NYCE cotton may firm up on strong orders
  Stocks mixed as Fed meets, dollar steadies