Cairo - The ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) begins its fifth annual conference on Saturday morning with a total of 2,700 delegates participating.

On the first day, NDP chairman President Hosny Mubarak is expected to address the 3-day gathering convened under the banner "A New Style of Thinking for the Future of Our Country," focusing on the challenges facing Egypt.

Mubarak's speech is to outline the party's vision and strategy in dealing with the global food and financial crisis.

A day would be devoted to the impact of global financial meltdown on Egypt, Gamal Essam el-Din, an Egyptian journalist specialized in parliamentary affairs told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Washington, Nov 1: Amid controversies regarding the alleged expenditure of 150,000 dollars on U. S. Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin''s campaign wardrobe, top designers have given her the thumbs up for it.

Designers have said that there was nothing excessive or inappropriate about the GOP funding as it enhances one''s image, and also plays a critical role where success is concerned.

"She is running for vice president, and both the President and vice president of the United States should be iconic. She should be someone we look up to on many levels, and her image is this country''s image," Fox News quoted Stacey Bendet, designer and owner of the world-famous Alice + Olivia, as saying.

Kathmandu - Visiting United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Saturday reiterated the need to resolve the issue of former Maoist combatants.

Speaking to the press at the end of his two day visit to Nepal, Ban described the issue to integrate former rebel combatants into the security agencies as one of the most important issues in the peace process.

America’s largest network, Alltel Wireless and Samsung telecommunications America (Samsung) have jointly launched the much-awaited ‘Samsung Delve’ in the US markets.

The stylish Samsung Delve comes up with a spontaneous interface and attractive touchscreen design. The phone boasts a virtual QWERTY keyboard with Samsung’s TouchWiz interface that comprises specially designed gadgets. With this unique feature, users can easily customize and personalize their handsets.

New Delhi, Nov 1 : Home Secretaries of India and Nepal discussed a wide range of issues relating to security, border management and cooperation to effectively combat terrorist activities during their two day talks which commenced yesterday.

Broad parameters of checking smuggling of arms, ammunition, drugs and fake currency were also discussed.

The meeting also deliberated on institutionalising the security-related mechanism between the two countries.

New Delhi has assured Kathmandu to help strengthen the Nepal Police and help in setting up of a Nepal Police Academy.

The delegations are led by Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and his Nepalese counterpart Govinda Kusum

An FDA advisory panel ruled yesterday that the Food and Drug Administration was wrong when it determined that a chemical used in baby bottles and infant formula packing is safe at current levels and the agency should redo its risk assessment.

The FDA Science Board consists of a group of scientists drawn from academia, government and industry that advises the FDA commissioner. Yesterday at a meeting in Gaithersburg, they voted unanimously to accept the report by a subcommittee which linked exposure to low doses of BPA to an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, hyperactivity and cancer in laboratory animals and that its margin of safety was "inadequate."