The Karachi Stock Exchange's (KSE) benchmark 100-share index ended 2.30 percent, or 255.01 points, higher at 11,338.05. Turnover rose sharply to 77.8 million shares from only 36.45million traded on Monday. Stocks gained sharply on Tuesday as investors accumulated shares at attractive levels after sharp falls in the index in recent days, dealers said. Despite gains, the KSE-100 index is still down about 2 percent this month. "I think with all the …

Twelve alleged Al-Qaeda militants plus two other inmates have tunnelled their way to freedom from a prison in the south Yemen city of Aden, a security official said on Monday. The prisoners fled through a six-metre (yard) tunnel they dug at the western end of Aden's central prison, the official said. None of the escapees was serving a jail sentence. Some were being tried over a 2009 robbery of a bank in Aden, while others were facing charges of …

The Pakistani rupee hit a record low for the fifth consecutive day on Friday due to increased import payments, the country's bleak economic outlook and an overall weakening of regional currencies. "The rupee was traded at 89.02 (to the dollar) and there are some (import) payments of about $50 million to $60 million today," said a bank dealer. The rupee was trading at 88.92/89.02 to the dollar at 11:21 a.m. (0621 GMT), compared with Thursday's close …

The University of Karachi has extended the last date for submission of admission forms for BS/Honours open merit programme. This was announced by the Director Admissions, University of Karachi, Prof. Dr Khalid Iraqi, on Thursday. He stated that the last date for submission of admission form for BS/Honours Programme (Open Merit) has been extended till December 3. However, forms can only be obtained and submitted from the UBL Bank Counter situated …

Three astronauts on Tuesday landed safely in the Kazakh steppe aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule after a stay of over five months aboard the International Space Station, Russian mission control said. American Mike Fossum, Japan's Satoshi Furukawa and Russia's Sergei Volkov touched down outside the remote settlement of Arkalyk in Kazakhstan just before sunrise after undocking from the ISS earlier in the day. "It has landed," said a message flashed …

Two Russians and an American Monday blasted off for the International Space Station (ISS) on a Russian rocket from Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Geo News reported. The initial stages of the lift-off went smoothly and a textbook launch would be a boost for Russia, whose space programme has been hit by the loss of half a dozen satellites over the last year due to faulty launches. "Everything is normal and we are feeling fine," the crew …

In the currency market, on Wednesday, the rupee weakened to 86.80/85 to the dollar, compared with Tuesday's close of 86.78/85, amid increased import payments. The rupee had firmed in the previous trading sessions on healthy remittances from Pakistanis living abroad, but dealers said a widening current account deficit means that the local currency could experience downward pressure in days ahead. Country's current account deficit surged to a provisional …

The world population will reach seven billion later this year, with increases in the number of people in Africa off-setting birth rate drops elsewhere, according to a new French study published Thursday. Looking much further ahead, the National Institute for Demographic Studies (INED) predicts a continuing rise in the overall population figures until the total stabilises somewhere between 9-10 billion worldwide by the end of the century. From six …

If you are an expert in computers and can decode a programme without much effort, give a thought to working with the Indian government or a multinational company to secure their websites from cyber attacks. As internet hacking has in recent years become a common occurrence, nervous government agencies and corporates are seeking ethical hackers in large numbers to secure their critical data, thus opening a lucrative career opportunity for youngsters …

musicmazaa.com wishes a very happy birthday to Vijay, who is celebrating his birthday today, June 22, 2011. The star currently has a couple of prestigious projects including Nanban, directed by Shankar, one of the ace directors in the country. Moreover, his Velayutham, directed by Jayam Raja is also scheduled to be released, most probably in the month of July. It may be mentioned here that Vijay had requested his fans not to celebrate his birthday …