Japan earthquake : Hundreds dead after 8.9 quake

Hundreds are dead after the worst earthquake in generations struck off the northeast coast of Japan on Friday, setting off a devastating tsunami that swallowed swaths of coastal territory and fanned out across the Pacific Ocean, threatening everything in its path.

The 8.9-magnitude earthquake -- the world's fifth-largest since 1900 and the biggest in Japan in 140 years -- struck at 2:46 p.m. local time, shaking buildings violently in Tokyo for several minutes and sending millions fleeing for higher ground.

India test-fired nuclear capable ballistic missile Prithvi-II

Balasore : India’s nuclear-capable ballistic missilePrithvi-II was Friday test- fired from Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, about 15km from here off Orissa coast, in less than an hour of flight testing of "Dhanush" from a naval ship.

Seminar to build confidence, improve Pak-India relations

LAHORE : The speakers at a seminar declared thetrade as the best option to build confidence and improve relationsbetween Pakistan and India, besides creating new opportunities forpoverty alleviation from both the countries.
                 The seminar was organized by the Centre for Peace and Democracyin collaboration with the LCCI here on Friday.

Karachiites suffer as KESC further increases load shedding

KARACHI : Sending a wave of anger and unrest in Karachiites, the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has increased the duration of load shedding hours in residential and commercial areas due to ‘shortfall of gas’.
A KESC release here Friday said change of weather has further aggravated the situation, resulting in rapid increase in power demand. Industrial areas normally exempted will also undergo four-hour load shedding.

Sharif brothers are behind nomination of Musharraf in Bbibi murder, Mozam Butt

Peshawar - Terming the nomination of former President General Retd Musharraf in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto as against the basic principles of interrogation, provincial spokesmanof All Pakistan Muslim League, Moazzam Bhut advocate Friday said that the step was taken at the behestof Sharif brothers. 

Cricket World Cup 2011: India vs Pakistan: Cracker of a quarter in offing?

Imagine the charged atmosphere if India were to play Pakistan in Cricket World Cup quarterfinal match at Motera on March 24. Fans would be delirious, Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) authorities would be in overdrive to manage rush at ticket windows, and police wouldbe on tenterhooks after intelligence inputs of a possible terror strike during the match.

MQM chief Altaf Hussain sympathizes with the victims of violence

Karachi : Expressing sorrow over the recent wave of violence in Karachi, MQM’s Chief Altaf Hussain has urged the people to stay calm.

Cricket World Cup 2011: Umar Akmal suffers injury to right index finger

Kandy - Batsman Umar Akmal suffered an injury to his right index finger in a training session and was rested on Friday for team practice ahead of their Cricket World Cup Group A match Monday with Zimbabwe.
Akmal was rested while the rest of his team mates were practising in a simulated match.

Cricket World Cup 2011: Dropping Kamran Akmal will not be a good decision: Kaneria

Karachi - Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has urged the team management to persist with the out-of-form wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal in the ongoing World Cup.Kaneria, who has suffered the most at the hands of wicketkeeper Akmal as far as dropped catches and missed stumpings are concerned off his bowling in the last few years, still feels that Pakistan would make a big mistake if they try out Umar Akmal as a keeper by dropping Kamran.

Cricket World Cup 2011: Pakistan wants ‘fool-proof’ security for its cricketers in India

Karachi : Pakistan has called on India to make ‘fool-proof arrangements’ for the security of the cricket World Cup in the wake of media reports about possible terrorist attacks on thevenues of the tournament.Reacting to reports in the Indian media about ‘planned terrorist attacks on cricket World Cup venues’ that could be ‘launched from Pakistani soil’,

Cricket World Cup 2011: A single defeat shouldn’t be the criteria to criticize team: Intikhab Alam

Karachi - Pakistan cricket team manager Intikhab Alam said the criticism and ridicule heaped on the national team after their defeat to New Zealand in the World Cup was not fair."Other teams have also lost a match, we are not the first side to lose a match. But the way we have been criticised is unjustified. The players need the full backing of their people to come good in the tournament,"

Karachi : Two killed in firing incidents

KARACHI - Two men were killed in different incidents in Karachi on Saturday, Chippa ambulance sources said.They said a 25 years old man was shot dead by unidentified armed men in Kahada Market,

Pakistan successfully test-fires Hatf-II surface to surface ballistic missiles

Islamabad - Pakistan on Friday conducted successful test-fire of short range surface to surface ballistic missile HATF II (Abdali) with the range of 180 km. The missile can carry nuclear and conventional warheads.

PPP protest day: Partial strike in Karachi, six killed, 16 vehicles torched in violence incidents

KARACHI : Partial strike was witnessed in Karachi on Friday on the ‘protest day’ call of ruling Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) against the decisions of Supreme Court of Pakistan declaring appointment of Justice (retd) Deedar Shah as chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) null and void.
Various areas of the city echoed with aerial firing on Thursday evening and till Friday noon at least six people were killed in incidents of gunfire while 16 vehicles were torched.Tense situation was witnessed in various parts of city including Lyari, Orangi Town, Kharadar, Gulistan-e-Johar, Shanti Nagar, Sachal Goth, Malir, Gulshan-e-Hadeed and other Sindhi and Balochi speaking localities, where shops and markets remained closed and public transport off roads.