Islamabad - Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday left for Beijing to garner economic and commercial assistance as the security situation along the Afghan border undermines the country's relations with the United States.

The four-day visit is Zardari's first official bilateral visit since his election to the presidency in September. However, he had already met US President George W Bush on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session last month.

Beijing - As house sales and prices tumble in China amid heightened uncertainty brought by the global financial turmoil, millions of would-be first-time buyers are locked in a standoff with giant, government-backed property developers.

"Developers expect the government to save the market and loosen the control of property loans," said Zhou Fan, chairman of the Zuoyou Real Estate Consultancy, based in the southern city of Guangzhou.

"Consumers expect the government not to take measures and think prices are still too high," Zhou told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Many buyers are waiting for an expected fall in property prices, depriving the developers of the advance cash they need to fund some larger projects.

New Delhi, Oct 14: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, who underwent a gall bladder surgery at a hospital here, will be discharged today.

The Nobel laureate underwent a laproscopic surgery to remove stones in the gallbladder. He was admitted to Sir Gangaram Hospital last Thursday.

In August, the 73-year-old Dalai Lama was admitted to a Mumbai hospital and underwent tests for abdominal discomfort.

Doctors advised him to cancel a planned trip to Europe and rest, saying he was suffering from exhaustion.

Beijing - China's main stock market index rebounded with a rise of 3.65 per cent on Monday following its worst-ever week.

The key Shanghai Composite Index, which tracks shares traded in local and foreign currencies, gained 73 points to finish at 2,073.57 after an initial slump of 3.44 per cent in morning trading.

Taipei - Taiwan's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Monday announced it will stage a large-scale march next weekend to protest against a planned visit by China's top negotiator Chen Yunlin.

"The theme of our protest includes opposition to a one-China market, opposition to hollowing out of our sovereignty to China and opposition to the impotent Ma Ying-jeou government," said DPP spokesman Cheng Wen-tsan.

He said any people, including former president Chen Shui-bian, who support the theme are welcomed to join the DPP's protest on October 25.

Beijing, Oct. 13 : Top managers of the country''s three leading dairy companies - Mengniu, Yili and Bright Dairy –have issued a first public apology for their companies'' involvement in the ongoing contaminated milk scandal.

During a talk show program, Dialogue, broadcast last night on the economic channel of China Central Television, executives of the three companies admitted to "the problems and mistakes" of their firms.