More than 600,000 coastal villagers took shelter inland today as a cyclone rapidly approached Bangladesh’s south-western shores, spawning cold drizzles, strong winds and high waves, a weather official said.

THE two Democratic contenders hoping to challenge George Bush for the presidency would beat him if an election were held now, according to a poll yesterday.

Democratic presidential front-runner John Kerry pressured Congress and the Pentagon to fund a missile system on behalf of a San Diego contractor who, years later, pleaded guilty to making illegal contributions to the senator and other politicians, according to the Los Angeles Times.