Cricket : Confident Pakistan face West Indies in lone Twenty20 match of series

Castries, St Lucia : The fever of Twenty20 cricket will be carried to the Caribbean, as Pakistan and West Indies go head to head on Thursday, April 21, for a lone Twenty20 match of bilateralseries, at Beausejour Stadium, St Lucia. They will later play five One Day Internationals and two Testmatches.

3 polio cases detected in Chaman

CHAMAN  :  Polio eradication campaign proved fruitless following detection of three more cases in Chaman.According to details, three more cases were detected in Chaman during the current year and Health Department has confirmed it.

Govt needs to turn tourism into a key driver for economic development

LAHORE : The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) saidthat the government needs to turn tourism into a key driver forsocio-economic development and poverty reduction, said by Dr.Murtaza Mughal, President Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW).

Pakistan, United States leaders recognize importance of strategic partnership: Admiral Mullen

Islamabad : Leaders in both Pakistan and the United States recognize the "importance of astrategic partnership with each other and will work through problems to ensure it remains strong," Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff said here Wednesday.Navy Admiral Mike Mullen acknowledged relations between the two countries "hit a rough patch after CIAcontractor Raymond Davis shot two men in Lahore. When we go through a crisis like this, the focus is to assess where we are, [determine whether there are] causal factors with respect to that, and assess that and move forward,” he told newsmen at the U.S. embassy.

Historic agreement signed between China-Punjab in Beijing

LAHORE : A historic agreement has been signedbetween China and Punjab in Beijing today for the generation of 120megawatt power from Taunsa Barrage. The project to be completed withthe cooperation of China in three years would cost Rs.26 billion.

FATA Students demand reopening of close schools

Peshawar : FATA Students Federation (FSF) on Wednesday demanded of the government to reopen all the closed educational institutions and reconstruct destroyed schools forthwith. Speaking at a news conference at press club on Wednesday,

India, Pakistan authorize a series of prisoner releases

London : As tensions appear to ease between India and Pakistan following a series of diplomatic "goodwill gestures" during cricket World Cup, both countries have authorized a series of prisoner releases. So what were conditions like for those incarcerated and is there any hope for thosestill detained?

Hockey: Shaukatullah wants Indo-Pak hockey revival

Karachi : Pakistan Sports Minister Shaukatullah has stressed on the need for the quick revival of bilateral hockey ties with India.

Pakistan, India Commerce Secretaries talks April 27-28 in Islamabad

Islamabad : Commerce Secretaries of Pakistan and India will hold talks on April 27-28 in Islamabad on trade related issues including ways to improve infrastructure facilities on both sides ofWagah border to facilitate business community of both countries.

Pakistan, Iran Interior Ministers meet in Tehran

Islamabad : Interior Minister Rehman Malik in talks Wednesday with his Iranian counterpart Mustafa Muhammad Nijar in Tehran reviewed security situation at border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, a message received here said.

Lack of India, Pakistan direct trade impeding economic ties

New Delhi : A week ahead of India and Pakistan Commerce Secretaries meeting in Islamabad,Indian industry chambers Wednesday said increasing trade through third nation and lack of investment promotion pacts are impeding the economic ties between the two neighbours.

President Zardari : Meeting on lining of Canals, power generation and small & medium Dams

Islamabad : President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday called upon WAPDA and Ministryof Water & Power to devise strategy for lining of canals, water channels including water courses in all parts of the country to permanently resolve the problem of heavy losses of water in the Irrigationsystem,

United States, Turkey, Japan, Britain have close ties with Pakistan

Karachi : Consul Generals of United States, Turkey, Japan and Britain in Karachi say their countries have "close and cordial" relations with Pakistan and extended fund and assistanceduring devastating floods in the country last year.

PM Gilani directs for early completion of communication projects

ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday directed Ministry of Communication and National Highway Authority (NHA) to prioritise projects according to strategic needsas well as availability of funds to ensure early completion of projects.

MQM would not become part of Cabinet: Haider Abbas Rizvi

ISLAMABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has once again excused to the PPP to become a part of the Cabinet.

Drone attacks unacceptable, President Zardari tells Munter

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday again made it clear that drone attacks are severely denting Pak-US relations urging it is creating hurdles in war against terrorism.

MQM set to rejoin cabinet, deal with PML-Q also finalized

ISLAMABAD : Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has given green signal to the PPP leadership for joining the federal cabinet; meanwhile the matters of the government have also been finalized with the leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q for joining the federal cabinet.

Parliamentary body for effective measures for stopping drone attacks

ISLAMABAD : Parliamentary Committee on National Security has asked the government to take effective measures for stopping the drone attacks in the country, adding that the Parliament would support the government efforts.

To stop drone attacks, target killings, violations of HR, judiciary be strengthened: IPS seminar

ISLAMABAD : To stop the drone attacks, target killings, violations of human rights and extra judicial murders in the country the judiciary of the country should be strengthened.

This was stated by the speakers during the seminar organized by Institute of Policy Studies titled “War of Terrorism in Pakistan” here in Islamabad.

Libyan TV says NATO targets telecoms, broadcasters

RABAT  - NATO warplanes have launched airstrikes on telecommunication and broadcasting infrastructure inseveral Libyan cities, state television reported on Wednesday.

Hundreds arrested after deadly riots in north Nigeria

KADUNA, Nigeria  - Police in northernNigeria have arrested hundreds of people after deadly protestsin opposition strongholds in the mostly Muslim north followingPresident Goodluck Jonathan's election victory. 

10 gunmen killed in shoot-out with Mexico police

XALAPA, Mexico : Mexican police killed 10 suspected gunmen after a high-speed chase and an intense shoot-out that saw a car full of armed men crash into a passenger bus, authorities said.  

Libya rebels plead for help; Kadhafi son defiant

MISRATA, Libya  - A rebel official in Libya's besieged city of Misrata pleaded for Britain and France to send troops to help fight Moamer Kadhafi's forces, while a son of the strongman said he was "very optimistic" his father's regime will prevail.  

British soldier killed clearing bombs in Afghanistan

LONDON - A British soldier died Tuesday following a blast while on a mission to clear hidden bombs from an alleyway in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence in London said.

India probes helicopter crash near China border

GUWAHATI, India - India on Wednesday began an investigation into a civilian helicopter crash near the Chinese border that killed 17 people, officials said. 

India launches three satellites on single rocket

BANGALORE, India  - India launched a rocket carrying three satellites into orbit on Wednesday in its latest effort to gain a share of the global commercial space market. 

Nigeria riots displace nearly 40,000; 410 wounded: Red Cross

ABUJA - The number of people displaced by deadly riots in Nigeria over President Goodluck Jonathan's election win has risen to nearly 40,000, with more than 400 wounded, the Red Cross said Wednesday. 

Heavy gunfire erupts in pro-Gbagbo district in Abidjan

ABIDJAN : Heavy gunfire erupted in a district of Abidjan Wednesday as Ivory Coast's new government forces tried to dislodge militia loyal to deposed president Laurent Gbagbo, residents said. 

I don't have temperament for Test cricket : Shahid Afridi

Karachi : Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has defended his decision to quit Test cricket, saying he does not have the temperament to play the traditional format of the game.

India hopes Pakistan will address its vital concerns

New Delhi : Having decided to resume dialogue process with Pakistan to "reduce the trust deficit", India today hoped that its "vital concerns" such as terrorism would be taken care of during the efforts to normalise bilateral relations.

NATO does not need US for Libya, says Joe Biden

Washington : US Vice President Joe Biden said in an interview published today that NATO can handle Libya without US help, saying Washington's efforts are better focused on places like Pakistan or Egypt.

850 killed in uprising, Hosni Mubarak ordered firing: Panel

Cairo : The noose around Egypt's ousted ailing President Hosni Mubarak appeared to be tightening with a government fact finding mission, in damning strictures holding him responsible for use of live ammunition to break up three week long popular uprising in which it said 850 people were killed.

Sri Lanka reject BCCI request on IPL players

Colombo : Sri Lanka today rejected the BCCI's request to allow its star cricketers to play in the ongoing IPL till May 15, a move which could have a bearing in the relationship between the two Cricket Boards.

Pentagon to transfer WikiLeaks suspect to new prison

Washington : Bradley Manning, a US serviceman suspected of passing classified information to the whistle-blower website WikiLeaks, is being transferred to a new prison, the Pentagon announced today.

China mulls harsher punishment for drunk drivers

Beijing : Drunk drivers in China could face harsher punishments in the future, including the revocation of their driving licenses, according to a draft amendment to the Road Traffic Safety Law to be discussed by the national legislature.

AIDS deaths peaking in China, crosses 68,000

Beijing : AIDS deaths are believed to be peaking in China, especially among the large number of people infected with HIV in the infamous "blood-selling" schemes in 1990s, a senior Chinese health official has said.

NASA unaware of royal conflict with shuttle launch

Cape Canaveral (Florida) : The US space agency was unaware that the shuttle Endeavour's final mission to the International Space Station was in conflict with the royal wedding, a NASA chief has said.

FARC rebels nab two Colombian military officers

Bogota : Marxist FARC rebels kidnapped two Colombian army officers who were unarmed and in civilian clothes, the army has said.

Kevin Pietersen wants second chance at England captaincy

London :  England batsman Kevin Pietersen has expressed desire to lead the national side once again if Andrew Strauss steps down as one-day skipper.

Indian HC grants visas to Pakistan team for 27th Asian Snooker championship 2011

Islamabad : The High Commission of India has granted visas to Pakistan Snooker Team for participation in the 27th Asian Snooker Championship 2011, being played from April 23-30 in Indore, India.Pakistan Billiards & Snooker Association said on Wednesday

Salaries of 200 teachers stopped due to non-verification of their degrees

SIALKOT : The Sialkot education department officials have stopped the salaries of as many as 200 male and female educator teachers. 

Five more gunned down in Karachi

Karachi :  At least five persons were killed in different firing incidents in the metropolis on Wednesday, police said.Three peoples were gunned down when unidentified armed men opened fire on a car,

Cricket series with Pakistan BCCI's call: Krishna

New Delhi : With India deciding to resume cricketing ties with Pakistan after a hiatus, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna says the plan for a series of matches between two neighbours was a call for the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) to take.

Earth Day on April 22: ‘A Billion Acts of Green Clean up your City’

Karachi : The World Wide Fund for Conservation of Nature WWF will observe Earth Day on Friday, April 22 with a theme ‘A Billion Acts of Green Clean up your City’

UAE funded Help Pakistan starts implementing its educational projects

Swat : In implementation of directives of United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, Ali Saif Sultan Al Awani, Wednesday laid down foundation stone of a primary and secondary school at Swat in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.