London - The Bank of England (BoE) said in a report published Tuesday that losses suffered by global financial institutions since the credit crunch are estimated at 1.8 trillion pounds (2.8 trillion dollars).

Governments around the world have spent more than 750 billion pounds so far in coming to the aid of banks, the bank's biannual Financial Stability Report (FSR) said.

It warned that while pressure in money markets had eased slightly since the major government bail-outs, risks remained from highly borrowed hedge funds, which might have to sell assets quickly to meet rising costs, and insurers whose capital base could be eroded by falling share prices.

Islamabad - Dozens of cross-border strikes carried out by US forces from Afghanistan into Pakistan's lawless tribal region have killed 301 civilians and wounded more than 240 others so far in 2008, a media report said Tuesday.

Citing figures compiled by the Interior Ministry, the English-language daily The News said most of those killed in 32 recorded incidents of missile strikes, drone attacks and one ground raid by the US forces were civilians.

According to the report, only eight US strikes hit the targets, killing 36 al-Qaeda and Taliban militants, while the remaining 24 strikes killed 301 civilians and 18 Pakistani security personnel.

London, October 28 : Ace footballer David Beckham has rented a posh apartment that is five-minute walk away from an infamous red light district in Milan.

The soccer-star-turned-model booked the flat for his four-month break from LA Galaxy, where he is expected to reside alone.

The multi-million pound luxury pad is near to the city’s Viale Abruzzi known for its transvestite prostitutes, pimps, and drug dealers.

Its location is also considered to be a danger magnet area.

“Beckham’s choice is bizarre. His new place is a stone’s throw from where hordes of transvestites gather at night,” the Sun quoted ex-pat Michael Day as saying. 

Washington, Oct 28 (ANI): A new study has found that a diet rich in whole grains can significantly reduce heart failure risk, while egg and high-fat dairy 

consumption can increase it. 

Diet is among the prominent lifestyle factors that influence major HF risk factors: coronary artery disease, obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance and 

hypertension.

The researchers analysed the results of baseline exams of more than 14,000 White and African American adults conducted in 1987-89, with follow-up exams 

completed during 1990-92, 1993-95, and 1996-98.

Washington, Oct 28 : A previously unknown population of vampire moths has been found in Siberia by entomologists, who say that the bloodsuckers may have evolved from a purely fruit-eating species. 

Only slight variations in wing patterns distinguish the Russian population from a widely distributed moth species, Calyptra thalictri, in Central and Southern Europe known to feed only on fruit. 

According to a report in National Geographic News, when the Russian moths were experimentally offered human hands this summer, the insects drilled their hook-and-barb-lined tongues under the skin and sucked blood. 

Beijing - Chinese shares gained 2.81 per cent on Tuesday following a strong rebound in Hong Kong.