Taliban announce beginning of spring offensive

The Taliban announced the beginning of their spring military offensive against the U.S.-led coalition Saturday, a day after a new Pentagon report claimed that the militants' fighting spirit was low after sustaining heavy losses on the battlefield.

Hillary Clinton heading to Rome next week for Libya talks

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will travel to Italy next week to talk strategy with international partners on how to protect civilians in Libya and increase the pressure on Moammar Gadhafi to leave power.
Clinton departs Wednesday, with the Rome talks taking place the next day.

1.5 mn narcotic tablets seized in Dubai

Dubai  : A huge consignment of narcotics - 1.5 million tablets of a restricted medicine - has been seized by the customs department at the Dubai International Airport, officials said.

Suicide bomber kills 8, wounds 19 in Northern Iraq

MOSUL, Iraq  – Eight people were killed and 19 wounded on Saturday when a suicide bomber blew himself up at an Iraqi army checkpoint next to a market in the northern city of Mosul, police and hospital sources said.

Germany says al Qaeda suspects planned bomb attack

KARLSRUHE, Germany – Three suspected al Qaeda members had been planning a bomb attack in Germany for four months when they were arrested, federal prosecutors said.

Gaddafi ready for ceasefire but refuses to step down

Tripoli : Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said in a live TV address Saturday he was ready for peace talks with NATO but has no plans to step down.

UN body approves probe of Syrian crackdown

Nations agreed Friday to launch a U.N.-led investigation of Syria's bloody crackdown on its uprising, demanding that its government immediately stop the violence, release political prisoners and lift restrictions on the news media and access to the Internet.

Afghanistan first team to visit Pakistan in Two years

Lahore: Afghanistan's cricket team will become the first foreign national side to play in Pakistan, two years after internationals were suspended over security fears, an official said on Saturday.

Militants torch NATO tanker in Pakistan

Pro-Taliban militants in the violent Northwestern Pakistan have destroyed yet another NATO truck heading to neighboring Afghanistan, officials say.

Former British Foreign Secretary Miliband says situation in Pakistan is "challenging"

Washington : Former British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who will visit Pakistan in May, says situation in that country is "challenging."

Pak-China reaffirm to steer strong bonds of friendship to new heights: Salman Bashir

Islamabad : Pakistan and China have reiterated the importance of further deepening and enhancing their strategic cooperative partnership and determination to take all weather friendship to new heights.

Russian first plans to launch DTH technology in Pakistan

Karachi : The delegation of Russian ‘JSC General Satellite Company’ expressed its interest for launching ‘Direct to Home’ (DTH) technology in Pakistan in a meeting with officials of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Saturday.

Pakistan Cricket Board rules out Kaneria immediate return to Pakistan team

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board has ruled out an immediate comeback for Danish Kaneria in the national team, insisting that the leg-spinner first had to satisfy PCB's integrity committee before he can be cleared for selection.

6.1 quake hits off coast of Panama

MEXICO CITY – The U.S. Geological Survey says a moderate earthquake has struck off the coast of Panama, but there is no tsunami warning.

Syrian troops take key Daraa mosque, kill 4

BEIRUT – A witness says Syrian army troops backed by tanks and three helicopters conquered prominent mosque under control of residents, killing four people.

Protesters in Taiwan rally against nuclear plant

TAIPEI, Taiwan – About 2,000 protesters are demanding that Taiwan scrap plans to operate a newly built nuclear power plant and turn the facility into a museum to highlight the dangers of nuclear power.

India investigating burning of 7 in remote village

BHUBANESWAR, India – Police in eastern India are investigating reports that villagers protesting a stone crushing plant burned to death the plant's three owners and four employees, authorities said Saturday.

India PM Manmohan Singh tells police to act 'without fear or favour'

NEW DELHI  – India's prime minister Manmohan Singh, whose government has been roiled by a series of corruption scandals, on Saturday urged the country's top police agency to "act without fear or favour".

NA body calls for Pakistan Govt's strict talk with US to end drone campaign

Pakistan's Parliamentary Committee on National Security has urged the government to categorically talk to the United States for ending its drone campaign in the country's tribal region.

Bombs kill two rangers in Thailand's restive south

YALA, Thailand  – Two powerful bombs detonated by suspected Muslim insurgents killed two paramilitary rangers and wounded nine in separate attacks in southern Thailand on Saturday, police said, the latest unrest in the troubled region bordering Malaysia.

Cambodian, Thai soldiers again exchange gunfire on Saturday

The exchange of firing between Cambodian and Thai soldiers started again on early Saturday in the disputed border area near the 13th century Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province, marking the ninth straight day of border clash.

2 killed, six injured in landmine blast in northwest Pakistan

At least two people were killed and six others wounded in an explosion in Pakistan's Kurram tribal region on Saturday.

Royal family lucky to have Kate as daughter-in-law, says Prince Charles

The Prince of Wales has spoken highly of his new daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton, saying the royal family is "lucky to have her".

Af-Pak-US meeting slated for May 3 in Islamabad: Husain Haqqani

Trilateral talks between Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States will be held on May 3 in Islamabad, Pakistan's Ambassador to Washington, Husain Haqqani, has said.

US aid to Pakistan in America's own security interests: Husain Haqqani

The United States' financial assistance to Pakistan is ints own security interests, Pakistan's Ambassador to Washington, Husain Haqqani, has said.

PML-Q to get Deputy PM post, several ministries on joining PPP-led Pak Govt: Report

Pakistan is heading for wide-ranging political developments in a few days as the country's second largest opposition party- the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid- is set to join the Pakistan People's Party-led coalition government.

NATO halts Gaddafi boats laying mines outside Misurata

NATO warships have reportedly managed to halt several boats of Gaddafi forces laying anti-shipping mines outside the harbour of the Libyan city of Misurata.

Horse called Royal Wedding wins race just hours after Prince William wed

Bookies in Britain took a hammering of 10 million pounds after a horse called Royal Wedding raced to victory just hours after Prince William wed Kate Middleton.

Musharraf's party's 'people-friendly' manifesto to bring positive change in Pakistan: Naeem Tahir

The 'people-friendly' manifesto of the All Pakistan Muslim League will ensure a positive change in the country, APML Central Leader Naeem Tahir has said.

Cameron Munter participates in Pashtun tribal jirga in Quetta

US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter has participated in a Pashtun tribal jirga in Quetta during his first trip to Balochistan.

10,000 Chinese employees being probed for abusing power

Beijing : A total of 10,535 government employees or former officials were being investigated on suspicion of having abused their power in the first three months of this year, authorities said.

'Royal Wedding' sixth biggest online event in history

Prince William and Kate Middleton's Royal Wedding has become the sixth biggest online event in history, as millions watched the grand event on television and internet.

MQM's former lawmaker among five shot dead in Karachi during last 24 hours

At least five people, including a former lawmaker, were killed in suspected incidents of targeted killings during the past 24 hours in Karachi.

Americans want to stay busy, even if what they do is trivial

Americans don't really care so much about what they're doing, just as long as they are doing something, suggests a new research.

US Army declares Wikileaks suspect Manning mentally fit to stand trial

The US Army has declared that Bradley Manning, the prime suspect in the leaking of classified US documents to the WikiLeaks whistleblowing website, is mentally competent to stand trial on a number of charges over his alleged role in the controversy.

2,000-year-old ship found near Rome

Rome: The remains of a 2,000-year-old wooden ship, dating back to the Roman Empire, have been found near Rome's ancient port of Ostia.

Petraeus to commence third US 'war' in Pakistan as CIA chief: Report

General David H. Petraeus, who has served as commander in two wars launched by the United States after the 9/11 attacks, would effectively take command of a third- in Pakistan, a US newspaper has said.

Gadhafi offers truce as NATO strikes in Tripoli

NATO bombs struck a Libyan government complex before dawn Saturday, damaging two buildings, just as Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi called for a cease-fire and negotiations with NATO powers in a live speech on state TV.

Obama says tornado carnage unlike any he has ever seen

Tuscaloosa: Expressing amazement at the destruction around him, President Barack Obama on Friday stepped through the wreckage left by rampaging tornadoes and pledged help to those who survived but lost their homes in a terrifying flash. Said the president: "I've never seen devastation like this."

Iran's president asked to show obedience to Ayatollah

Tehran: A hard-line cleric warned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Friday to end an escalating power struggle with Iran's supreme leader, calling it a religious obligation to do so and accusing the country's enemies of trying to sow rifts among its leadership.

NASA delays shuttle Endeavour's launch

Cape Canaveral: NASA has postponed the launch of space shuttle Endeavour until Monday due to technical problems, Xinhua reported.

China to launch two space modules

Beijing: China will launch two unmanned space modules in the second half of this year, a media report said.

The modules, named Tiangong-1 and Shenzhou-8, will take part in the first space docking maneuver ever conducted by Chinese astronauts, said Yang Liwei, deputy head of China's Manned Space Engineering Office.

UN body approves probe of Syrian crackdown

Nations agreed Friday to launch a U.N.-led investigation of Syria's bloody crackdown on its uprising, demanding that its government immediately stop the violence, release political prisoners and lift restrictions on the news media and access to the Internet.

Cricket : Zulqarnain Haider wants to make a comeback

Lahore : His international career was just one Test old when Zulqarnain Haider retired while in hiding in London and the Pakistan wicketkeeper, who has received death threats from match-fixers, wants to return to the big stage now that he is back in his country.

Tornado deaths hit 324; third-deadliest in US history

Washington : The death toll from a slew of tornadoes rose to 324, making the terrible storms the third-deadliest outbreak of twisters in US history and the worst in nearly 80 years.

Mexican soldiers rescue 52 abducted migrants

Mexico City : Mexican soldiers rescued 52 migrants from Central America being held hostage at a home in the northeastern border state of Tamaulipas, defence secretariat said.

Two dead, hundreds arrested in Kampala riots

Kampala : Rioters set fire to roadblocks in Kampala and clashed with police firing tear gas and live rounds, leaving two dead, scores injured and several hundred people arrested.

Over 800 inmates escape Tunisian prisons

Tunis (Tunisia)  More than 800 inmates escaped today from two Tunisian prisons after fires were set in cells, the official news agency said.

Syrian protesters defy Assad government; 42 killed

BEIRUT – Thousands of defiant Syrians chanting "We are not afraid!" were met by security forces firing bullets and tear gas Friday in a crackdown on nationwide protests that left 42 people dead — many of them villagers trying to break an army blockade of the southern city where the six-week uprising began.

Four more killed in Karachi including Imam Masjid

KARACHI: Unknown men killed four persons including an Imam Mosque in various incidents of firing here on Friday, said Police sources.

Strong and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of entire South Asia: President Zardari

RAWALPINDI : President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday again made it clear that strong and stable Afghanistan is in the best interest of entire South Asia urging the need to eliminate the menace of terrorism and extremism tooth and nail.

War against terrorism is Pak- America’s combined war: Cameron Munter

QUEETA : American Ambassador in Pakistan Cameron Munter has said that terrorists attacked people of Pakistan and America and both countries together should face the terrorism challenge.