Tokyo - Japan's industrial output rose 1.2 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms in September, compared to the previous month, the government said Wednesday.

The September growth was supported by automobile, machinery and electronics device sectors, but the government downgraded its assessment, estimating overseas demand for Japanese products would slowdown amid the global financial crisis.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry expected the output to fall 2.3 per cent in October and 2.2 per cent in November.

Islamabad - A powerful earthquake rattled Pakistan's south-western Balochistan district on Wednesday, killing at least 21 people and injuring scores of others, media reports said.

The US Geological Survey on its website said a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck 60 kilometres north-east of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan at 5:10am (2310 GMT).

At least 17 people died in Balochistan's Ziarat district and many were feared trapped under rubble of several houses that collapsed during the strong shocks, DawnNews television channel reported quoting local authorities.

DawnNews said officials in Pishin district also confirmed four deaths.

Hamburg - A wind of change is blowing through the supermini segment and following hard on the heels of the new Mazda 2 and the Seat Ibiza is Ford's contribution, the revamped Fiesta, now in its seventh generation.

The Blue Oval badly needs to win back customers in this market which it once dominated. After all, the Fiesta was the best-selling car in its class for a decade. The latest Fiesta is a truly global vehicle to be sold in dozens of markets around the world, from Asia to Eastern Europe.

Washington - The US raid against a top al-Qaeda operative this week in Syria was the latest effort by the Bush administration to step up pressure on the terrorist network, even by striking in countries without the approval of their governments.

Syria strongly protested the helicopter-borne attack on Sunday, 8 kilometres beyond the Iraqi border, where the United States is believed to have killed an al-Qaeda lieutenant responsible for smuggling fighters, weapons and money into Iraq.

The White House has not publicly acknowledged the attack. Damascus says that only civilians were killed.

Paris - Only weeks after celebrating its world debut at the Paris Motor Show, the Renault Laguna Coupe goes on sale in Europe at a starting price of 30,300 euros (40,715 dollars).

Renault is offering the choice of three petrol and three diesel engines in the range 110 kW/150 hp to 175 kW/238 hp.

The 3.5-litre V6 petrol and 3.0 V6 turbo diesel engines equipped with six-speed automatic transmission are new and will in future also be available in other models, the manufacturer announced.

Marseille, France - Five models of the Nissan luxury brand, Infiniti, will be available in Europe from 2009 including the new G37 and the EX and FX Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs).

The G37 line-up will include the convertible which is scheduled for sale late in the year and celebrates its world debut at the upcoming Los Angeles Motor Show, featuring a retracting steel roof.

The G37 is powered by the same 320 hp V6 engine as the sedan and coupe versions. The basic model will sell for around 40,000 euros (53,876 dollars), according to the company.

The Crossover EX 37 will sell for 46,000 euros (62,000 dollars) with the longer FX costing an additional 9,000 euros (12,123 dollars).