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MUMBAI (Reuters) - Shares of drugmaker Wockhardt Ltd fell 20 percent on Thursday to their lowest level in more than seven months after the U.S. drug regulator published an "import alert" on one of its manufacturing facilities. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration published the alert, dated May 22, on a Wockhardt facility in Aurangabad in Maharashtra, according to the regulator's website. An "import alert" results in detention without physical examination of drugs from firms that have not met so-called good manufacturing practices, according to the FDA site. ...

By Masayuki Kitano and Hideyuki Sano SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Hawkish comments by U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and weakness in China's factory activity rocked Asian markets on Thursday, took the dollar to three-year highs, sent share markets lower, and hit the Japanese government bond market as yields rose to their highest in a year. Stock and bond markets took their cue from the drop in U.S. equities and Treasuries after Bernanke's remarks at a Congressional hearing sparked worries of an earlier than expected reduction in U.S. monetary stimulus. ...

By Abdoulaye Massalatchi NIAMEY (Reuters) - Suicide bombers struck a military barracks and a mine run by French nuclear group Areva in Niger on Thursday, killing and wounding several people in separate attacks that showed the fight against Islamist militants was spreading across West Africa. Military sources said several soldiers were killed in a gun battle with Islamists following a car bomb attack at the barracks in Agadez, the largest town in northern Niger. ...

By Marcus George and Yeganeh Torbati DUBAI (Reuters) - Former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has accused Iran's leadership of incompetence and ignorance just days after he was barred from standing in an election next month, the opposition Kaleme website reported on Thursday. Rafsanjani's comments appeared to add to the political conflict between those loyal to the leadership and opposition groups who have been marginalised since post-election unrest in 2009. ...

By Maria Golovnina and Guy Faulconbridge LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron convened an emergency meeting of his intelligence chiefs on Thursday after two Islamists hacked a soldier to death with meat cleavers on a south London street. A dramatic clip filmed by an onlooker just minutes after Wednesday's killing showed a man with hands covered in blood shouting Islamic slogans and promising revenge on Britain for its participation in wars in the Muslim world. "We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you. ...

By Siva Sithraputhran KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian police arrested several opposition politicians and activists on Thursday, launching a crackdown on dissent three weeks after an election exposed deep divisions in the country and sparked a series of opposition protest rallies. Police also raided the offices of opposition newspapers and seized thousands of copies of their publications, according to online media reports. ...

YAOUNDE (Reuters) - Cameroon have appointed Volker Finke as head coach of the national team, the German tasked with ensuring the Indomitable Lions qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Finke takes over from caretaker coach Jean-Paul Akono, who was brought in to replace Denis Lavagne last September after the Frenchman failed to take Cameroon to the African Nations Cup finals in 2012 and 2013. ...

REUTERS - Flying fullback Yuto Nagatomo was recalled to the Japan squad on Thursday for the crunch 2014 World Cup qualifier against Australia next month, where victory would secure a berth in Brazil and damage the Socceroos' hopes of joining them. A knee injury forced Nagatomo to miss Japan's last qualifier in Jordan where the Asian champions needed only a point to claim an early place at the finals but lost 2-1 to the West Asians. ...

By Fredrik Dahl VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran is trying to accelerate its uranium enrichment programme, a U.N. nuclear report showed, but experts said it was unclear when Tehran's new machines could start operating and how efficiently they would work. The Islamic state's progress in introducing next-generation centrifuges is closely watched in the West and Israel as it would enable Tehran to speed up accumulation of material that could be used to build atomic bombs. Iran denies any such aim. ...

BEIJING (Reuters) - China warned blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng on Thursday to mind his language ahead of his trip next month to political rival Taiwan, on a visit which could infuriate Beijing if, as expected, Chen uses it to criticise Chinese rights abuses. China has been largely silent on the issue of Chen since he fled from house arrest and took refuge in the U.S. embassy in Beijing last year, straining Sino-U.S. relations, before he was allowed to leave for New York for study. Since then, Chen has taken his campaign to improve human rights in China to senior U.S. ...

TRIPOLI, Lebanon (Reuters) - Five people were killed and more than 50 wounded in overnight clashes in Tripoli between Lebanese gunmen backing rival factions in Syria's civil war, doctors and security sources said on Thursday. Tripoli has suffered sporadic sectarian violence since the Sunni Muslim-led uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad broke out in March 2011, but after a night of mortar, grenade and machinegun fire, residents said this was the fiercest so far. ...

LONDON (Reuters) - Sponsor Adidas has criticised Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia for a jibe directed at Tiger Woods that has drawn accusations of racism. A repentant Garcia said "sorry" 11 times and used the word "apology" on five occasions on Wednesday when he told reporters of his regret at saying he planned to invite Woods to dinner and serve him "fried chicken". Fried chicken has become a racial stereotype in the United States when referring to African-Americans - a reference to the days before the abolition of slavery when chicken was believed to be a staple part of the diet. ...

By Nick Macfie ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang praised the Sino-Pakistan relationship to the hilt on Thursday, urging the "all-weather friends" to boost cooperation in business, trade, energy and infrastructure and build a long-vaunted economic corridor. But not everyone is convinced China has Pakistan interests totally at heart. Li arrived in the Pakistani capital on Wednesday on the second leg of his first official trip since taking office in March and after a visit to Pakistan and China's arch rival, India. He leaves for Switzerland and Germany later on Thursday. ...

Mumbai, May 23 (IANS) India's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) Thursday said its net profit dropped by 18.54 percent to Rs.3,299.22 crore in the quarter ended March 31 owing to lower interest income and higher provisioning.

Mumbai, May 23 (IANS) A benchmark index of the Indian equities markets was trading 1.76 percent down around 2.30 p.m. trade Thursday, on the back of news emanating from the US that the stimulus programme could come to an end soon and weakness in other Asian bourses.

Chennai, May 23 (IANS) German automobile major Daimler AG will start exports of FUSO range of trucks - belonging to Japanese Mitsubishi FUSO Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) - to Sri Lanka out of its plant near here from June, said a senior official near here Thursday.

Hyderabad, May 23 (IANS) Former Andhra Pradesh minister Nagam Janardhana Reddy Thursday announced that he would merge his Telangana Nagara Samithi with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) next month.

New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) Shashi Kant Sharma, a Bihar cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, was Thursday sworn-in the new Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), the government's official auditor.

New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a den of gambling, BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said Thursday and pressed for a detailed inquiry into the spot fixing in the tournament.

Mumbai, May 23 (IANS) "ABCD" actor Punit Pathak will be seen dancing with international dancer Lauren Gottlieb in Colors' dance reality show "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6". He is looking forward to choreograph her as he would be able to think "out of the box" and "try new things".

New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) Ranbir Kapoor-starrer "Barfi!", which amassed critical and commercial acclaim in 2012, continues its international journey with an invitation from the Shanghai International Film Festival and an impending release in Taiwan and Hong Kong. The actor is excited.

Kolkata, May 23 (IANS) A bookie and nine of his associates were arrested in Kolkata, police Thursday said, adding that they were investigating if the culprits had links with the ongoing IPL spot fixing controversy.

Thiruvananthapuram, May 23 (IANS) Kerala Industries and Information Technology Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty Thursday said some invisible forces were trying to stall the state's progress on all fronts but refused to identify them.

Port-of-Spain, May 23 (IANS) The Indian Caribbean Museum, described as "a national treasure, a window to the past, and an opportunity to see history come alive", has been cited by a National Geographic publication that showcases 500 of the world's most powerful and spiritual places and guides travellers who wish to visit them.

Dubai, May 23 (IANS) The International Cricket Council (ICC) Thursday launched the official event website for the Champions Trophy, which will be held in England and Wales June 6-23.

New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) The government is committed to enacting the National Food Security Bill, which legally entitles poor families to five kilograms of subsidised grain per person per month, an official document said Thursday.