Manila - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged African leaders to take "very decisive" steps to end a standoff between Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

The 15-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) has called for an urgent summit to end the deadlock between Mugabe and Tsvangirai over a unity government aimed at ending Zimbabwe's political crisis.

Washington, Oct 29 : A Dutch researcher has unravelled a genetic defence mechanism that combats the lethal bacteria Burkholderia pseudomalle—a bacterium suitable for bioweapons.

The research by Joost Wiersinga from AMC Medical Centre in Amsterdam paves the way for a vaccine against the attack by this bacterium.

It has now been found that B. Pseudomallei, can remain hidden in the human body for many years without being detected by the immune system. The bacteria can suddenly become activated and spread throughout the body, resulting in the patient dying from blood poisoning.

The researchers have now discovered which gene-protein combination makes the lethal bacteria B. pseudomallei harmless.

More lows overnight; but buyers show up. Hook reversal showing from the toolbox today suggests aggressive traders can buy the rate soon.

Rate possibly getting spillover effect from GBP. Overnight news shows inflation not as bad as expected also helping to lift the rate a bit. Support possibly from option trades; but those are cleared. Official interest noted traders say but rate continued to sell-off.

Rate is an absolute screaming buy in my view—I can't see further weakness being ignored by the buyers but conditions are not right I think; possibly overnight tonight into Wednesday.

Islamabad, Oct 29 : A British journalist has said that the situation in which Pakistani neuroscientist Dr Aafia Siddiqui was shot at and arrested by American military men could not have even been visualized by a Hollywood scriptwriter.

The journalist also deplored the circumstances in which Dr Aafia was arrested after she allegedly “attacked two armed US soldiers in Kabul”.

Volatility decreases a bit as today is another inside range day but trading higher. Traders note stops and unwinding of cross-spreads supporting the rate. Follow-on selling finds bids at prior low. Bounce off the lows yesterday and today leaves a healthy bid wick suggesting some upside coming soon but volatility is still high. Traders note liquidity is still thin. Rate at new support level but ranges appears wider.

Traders note quality bids on the dip suggesting a bottom is in here somewhere but buyers have been stepping up for 1000 points now; many likely sidelined.  Aggressive traders can buy anytime but expect more whippy action. Two-way action likely to continue.

The USD is two-way into the New York close as traders continue to fear global recession and potential intervention from our trading partners. Rumors that the BOJ was ready to sell Yen to stop the recent sharp rally against most major pairs helped the USD score gains against the Yen but the potential correction has likely run its course and sellers of the rate will return near-term once the US FOMC releases the latest interest rate policy tomorrow; traders feel that the recent volatility in the majors has likely run its course near term as volumes begin to show signs of improving.