Pakistan rupee slides against dollar

Pakistan's currency slumped to a record low against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday as the country's mounting security and economic problems scare off investors.

The rupee has lost more than one-fifth of its value against the dollar this year, a barometer of the ills buffeting a nuclear-armed nation on the front line of the U.S.-led war on terror.

On Wednesday morning, the dollar rose to an all-time high of 80.10 rupees from Tuesday's close of 78.65 rupees and analysts were forecasting that the Pakistani currency would weaken further.

"There is a liquidity crunch all over the world. But what is special in Pakistan's case is that there is no …

S4C presenters get into mischief [Edition 2]

SCHOOL children in the Gwendraeth Valley have got up to fun andmischief. S4C's Stwnsh presenters took over at Cross Hands, Tumbleand Pontyberem schools as part of their …

Barry Weakens to a Tropical Depression

HOMOSASSA SPRINGS, Fla. - Tropical Storm Barry weakened into a tropical depression as it moved through Tampa Bay on Saturday, bringing nearly 7 inches of rain to parts of the drought-parched region.

Forecasters discontinued the tropical storm warnings and watches issued for stretches of the Gulf Coast. The depression's sustained winds had slowed to near 35 mph and it was moving north-northeast at about 23 mph.

The storm, which formed on the first day of the Atlantic hurricane season, made landfall in the Tampa Bay area in the morning and had moved across the state to Jacksonville by the evening, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

Dry conditions in …

Mexican genomes show wide diversity

The most detailed look yet at the genetics of Mexicans is showing significant diversity, a finding that could help point the way to customized drugs and identification of people prone to certain diseases.

Researchers led by Dr. Gerardo Jimenez-Sanchez studied the genes of 300 mestizos _ people of mixed Indian and European background _ from six states in Mexico, and one Indian population.

They found significant differences between the mestizos and such groups as Europeans, Africans and Asians, the researchers report in Tuesday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

A more detailed gene mapping could help doctors determine an …

Cabwaylingo lease called a 'windfall'

A lease that gives Vantage Mining Co. the right to mine 8,123acres of coal under Cabwaylingo State Forest is "a windfall attaxpayer expense" to the Massey Energy Co. subsidiary, thegovernor's lawyer said.

A review of the lease by professionals familiar with suchtransactions removed any doubt that it is a bad deal for the state,wrote Alex Macia, Gov. Bob Wise's general counsel.

"Certain fundamental provisions were so flawed that they fail toprovide the state with the most basic protections one would expectin a normal arms-length transaction..." Macia wrote in a July 31letter to Division of Natural Resources Director Ed Hamrick.

The lease was issued Aug. 11, …

Time of the Storytellers: Narrative and Distant Gaze in Post-Soviet Art

HELSINKI, FINLAND

KIASMA

June 21-September30

Curated by Viktor Misiano

When Misiano organized the Venice Biennale's first-ever Central Asian Pavilion in 2005, his exhibition was revelatory for works evincing a geopolitical context in which modernism's legacy was anything but consigned to the history hooks. Indeed, artists negotiated the doulilc jeopardy of a stolen indigenous past and a lost Soviet future, producing intense work …

Super 14: Force bounce back to beat Blues 27-17

The Western Force scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to beat the Auckland Blues 27-17 in Super 14 on Saturday.

Second half tries to Richard Brown and Tamaiti Horua and 12 points from the boot of Australia test flyhalf Matt Giteau gave the Force their first ever win in New Zealand and their third win in five matches this season.

"The second half performance from my guys was just fantastic," Force captain Nathan Sharpe said.

"It shows the commitment and courage this team has got.

"We were a little bit off our game in the first half _ I don't know what that was, travel or something _ but in the second half …