India, Pakistan ready to solve Kashmir issue in 1999: Nawaz Sharif

Lahore: Former Pakistan's prime minister and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said that India and Pakistan were ready to resolve the Kashmir issue in 1999.

Hillary Clinton's visit removes misconceptions: Pakistan

Pakistan said on Saturday that the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had removed misconceptions and misunderstandings between the two countries to a great extent.

Nawaz Sharif calls for revolt to regain 'tattered' Pak sovereignty

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that the US military operation to kill Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad and the terror attack on the naval-cum-air force base PNS Mehran have torn the country's sovereignty to shreds.

35 mn affected by drought in China

Nearly 35 million people in China have been affected by severe drought conditions due to low rainfall and insufficient flow of water from the upper reaches of the Yangtze river, the ministry of civil affairs has said.

Afghan police: Bomber attacks governor's compound

Afghan police say a suicide bomber has attacked a provincial governor's compound in northern Afghanistan and there are some casualties.

India second among 22 emerging economies in Asia: Bloomberg

India has been ranked second among 22 emerging Asian economies as the country most likely to maintain steady and rapid growth over the next five years.

Indian woman jailed for 7 yrs for trying to sell 11-month-old daughter in London

An Indian woman has been jailed for seven years after she was caught red handed at a London hotel, trying to sell her 11-month-old baby girl to a childless couple for 35,000 pounds.

India again denounces US military aid to Pakistan

NEW DELHI: India has again criticised US military aid to Pakistan which it says is being used by Islamabad against Indian interests, local media reported on Saturday.

7 Al Qaeda suspects held for Karachi naval base attack

Seven al Qaeda suspects have been arrested for attack at Pakistan's heavily guarded naval airbase- Mehran Base- in Karachi, reports said on Saturday.

Hillary Clinton concludes Pakistan's trip with mounting pressure

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has wrapped up her crucial visit to Islamabad, with mounting pressure on Pakistan for "taking decisive steps in the days ahead against al-Qaida and Taliban leaders."

Mistrust between Pakistan and U.S. reaches irreversible point

Following the U.S. operation that killed Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan, the hatred and mistrust between the two countries have reached an almost irreversible point, said Pakistani analysts, fearing it might take decades to normalize the ties.

Pak Nukes arsenal in safe hand: Dr. Samar Mubarakmand

Pakistan’s nuclear assets are in safe hands, Pakistani scientist Dr. Samar Mubarakmand said.

Pervez Musharraf stopped funds for Pak missile, asking AQ Khan: “You want to destroy Israel?”

Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf had stopped the funding for Pakistan's Ghauri-III missile over security concerns about Israel, according to a compilation of handwritten memoirs of disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan.

Pak Army Chief Kayani urges equality in information-sharing between CIA, ISI

Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said that the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) would co-operate with the Central Intelligence(CIA) agency on an equal terms.

Clinton gets cool reception in Pakistan: US media

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton received a cool welcome in Pakistan on her recent trip, mainstream American media reported on Saturday adding this is reflection of the low-ebb in relationship between the two countries.

Pakistan Taliban claims responsibility for Bajaur blast

Pakistan Taliban (TTP) has claimed the responsibility for a blast that killed eight people and injured 12 others in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of Bajaur Agency on Saturday morning,

Pakistan rejects US appeal against closing 'intelligence fusion' cells in country

Pakistan has rebuffed an appeal by visiting US officials not to shut down military intelligence liaison centres in the country, US and Pakistani officials have said.

US gives Pakistan 'most-wanted' list

The US has given Pakistan a list of terrorists - including Al Qaeda deputy Ayman al Zawahiri and HuJI chief Ilyas Kashmiri - saying it wants joint operations against them, a media report said Saturday.

Bomb kills 8 in northwest Pakistan

At least eight people were killed and 12 injured Saturday morning when Pakistani Taliban triggered a remote-controlled blast in the northwest tribal region bordering Afghanistan, a media report said.

Pakistani leader shot dead

A leader of Pakistan’s Awami National Party (ANP) was gunned down Saturday in Swat valley in the northwest tribal region, a media report said.

CIA team searches Osama bin Laden's Pakistan mansion

A team of officials from US spy agency CIA flew to Abbottabad near the Pakistani capital and searched the mansion where Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was killed in a secret mission earlier this month, a media report said Saturday.

2 arrested for betting on IPL match

Two persons were arrested on charges of indulging in betting on IPL match and seized valuables, including cash worth Rs 1.50 lakh from them, police said today.

China launches Tibet's geographical info database

China has launched geographical information database on Tibet to better assist rescue work in the wake of any natural disasters in the region.

Carl Hooper impressed with Windies talent pool

Impressed with the talent pool at Sagicor High Performance Centre (HPC), former West Indies captain Carl Hooper says the past champions can still make a big impact in world cricket.

Daniel Vettori praises openers for 43-run win

The 113-run opening partnership between Chris Gayle and Mayank Agarwal set the foundation for the team's 43-run victory over Mumbai Indians in the second play-off match of the IPL here, Royal Challengers Bangalore's captain Daniel Vettori said.

Prasanna Jayawardene century puts Sri Lanka in control

Cardiff: Prasanna Jayawarde's patient century lifted Sri Lanka to 400 all out and England lost their captain Andrew Strauss to end the second day of the first test on 47 for one on Friday.

Warne, Clarke playing big part in my development: Steve Smith

Australian all-rounder Steve Smith believes that Michael Clarke's close relationship with former leg-spinner Shane Warne has educated the new captain in the ways of attacking with spin bowling.

Pakistan in Ireland: O'Brien wants Ireland to move up in ODI rankings

Almost three months since he blasted his way to the fastest-ever World Cup hundred, Kevin O'Brien returns to international action as Ireland take on Pakistan in a two-match ODI series. Though looking back at Ireland's impressive World Cup campaign, during which they upset England, still puts a smile on his face, his focus now is helping Ireland rise up the ODI rankings starting with the Pakistan series.

Tendulkar, Yuvraj, Gambhir out of entire West Indies tour

India's already-depleted squad for the tour of the West Indies has suffered further setbacks: shoulder injuries to Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh's respiratory infection,

Blast at bus company kills 1 in central China

BEIJING – An explosion at a bus company killed an employee and injured at least two others in central China on Saturday, state media reported, days after a bombing spree in another city rattled the country.

Japan detects high radiation levels off coast: report

Japan has revealed radiation up to several hundred times normal levels has been detected on the seabed off the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, a report said Saturday.

The science ministry announced late Friday highly radioactive materials were detected in a 300-kilometre (190-mile) north-south stretch from Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture to Choshi in Chiba Prefecture, the Kyodo news agency reported.

The ministry warned that the contamination could affect the safety of seafood, the report said, without giving figures for the radiation levels detected.

The science ministry said it detected iodine and caesium on the seabed at 12 locations 15 to 50 kilometres from the coastline between May 9 and 14.

The news follows an announcement by environmental activist group Greenpeace on Thursday that marine life it had tested in waters more than 20 kilometres off the Fukushima nuclear plant showed radiation above legal limits.

North Korea freed American without aid promise, US says

BEIJING – North Korea freed an American it held for a half year for reportedly proselytizing, handing him Saturday to a U.S. envoy who said Washington had not promised to provide aid in exchange for the man's release.

Afghan president moves to stop NATO night raids

KABUL, Afghanistan – The Afghan president has ordered his defense minister to tell NATO that Afghan forces — and not the international troops — should be the one to carry out special operations and nighttime raids.

Endeavour astronauts complete final spacewalk

Two U.S. astronauts conducted the fourth and final scheduled spacewalks for space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission on Friday morning, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced.

Russian Soyuz space capsule returns to earth

The Russian Soyuz space capsule has returned to Kazakhstan safely. It's arrival on earth brings an end to the five month stay in orbit.

Five huge explosions heard in ceasefire area in Yemen's capital

Five huge explosions were heard late on Friday in the ceasefire area in downtown Sanaa, which were followed by heavy gunshots, a Xinhua correspondent at the scene said.

U.S. president starts two-day Poland visit

U.S. President Barack Obama arrived here late Friday for a two-day visit.

Russia sells 21 helicopters to U.S. forces in Afghanistan

Russian arms export corporation Rosoboronexport signed a contract with the U.S. Army Forces Command on supplying 21 Mi-17V5 multipurpose helicopters to Afghanistan, a spokesman for the Russian Federal Service of Military-Technical Cooperation said on Friday.

Al-Qaida takes over several government buildings in south Yemen: official

The Yemen-based al-Qaida branch on Friday took over several government buildings, including two state- run banks, in the southern province of Abyan,

Recycling of Alzheimer's proteins may hold key to new treatments

For years, scientists and doctors have believed that protein aggregates called amyloid fibrils found in the brain were the culprit behind Alzheimer's disease.

Warmer than usual days lead people to believe more in global warming

A study by Columbia Business School found that those who thought the current day was warmer than usual were more likely to believe in and feel concern about global warming than those who thought the day was unusually cold.

China police seal off restive Inner Mongolia towns

Paramilitary police sealed off parts of two county seats in China's Inner Mongolia for a second day Saturday in what residents described as a kind of martial law after a series of protests triggered by the death of a Mongolian herder run over by a Chinese truck driver.

29 dead after drug gangs battle in west Mexico

A gunbattle between rival drug gangs in western Mexico left 29 bodies in fake military uniforms heaped across a roadway and inside bullet-riddled vehicles in the Pacific coast state of Nayarit, the army said Thursday.

Egypt's Islamist group to boycott major rally

Egypt's protest movement is calling for a "second revolution" as it plans a huge rally Friday directed mainly against the country's military rulers. But the movement itself is now beset by divisions over Egypt's political future.

Missouri tornado toll rises to 132

The toll in the tornado that devastated Joplin city in the American state of Missouri has reached 132, while 156 people still remain unaccounted for, officials said.

Manmohan Singh concludes Africa visit

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday departed for home, wrapping up a successful six-day trip

Iran helping Syria crush anti-government demonstrations: US officials

Iran is dispatching increasing numbers of trainers and advisers, including members of its elite Quds Force, into Syria to help crush anti-government demonstrations, US officials have said.

New procedure makes brain surgery safer

The Fraunhofer MEVIS Institute for Medical Image Computing in Bremen, Germany has pioneered a new procedure that would help neurosurgeons intervene the brain safely and remove tumors without causing unnecessary damage.

UN to help improve prison system

Southern Sudan will face numerous challenges when it formally separates from the rest of Sudan on 9 July; one of them will be to strengthen its corrections system. The nascent state's prisons have been worn down by a lack of funding, badly dilapidated infrastructure and a military culture left over from the long-running civil war.

Yemen may push towards civil war: UN

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said it is trying to confirm reports it has received of dozens of civilian casualties, including women and children, in the fighting over the past few days, as well as reports of shelling by Government troops in residential areas.

White House unveils plans to curb regulations

 Oil spill prevention requirements will no longer apply to spilled milk. Gasoline pumps wouldn't need devices for trapping vapor pollutants, and there would be fewer bureaucratic hurdles for doctors who want to dispense medical advice to a distant patient.

More foreign tourists go missing in Nepal

As frequent general strikes and political unrest hit tourism in Nepal, the government's plan to attract one million air travellers this year received yet another setback with reports of two more missing foreign visitors.

Key molecule for stem cell pluripotency identified

Researchers of the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch have discovered a specific molecule that enables embryonic stem cells to differentiate into diverse cell types and thus to be pluripotent.

Age, gender and social advantage affect your chances of quitting smoking

A study has found that place where you live, your age and whether you're male or female all affect your chances of giving up smoking.

Pakistan air force kills 26 militants in northwest

At least 26 people have been killed in Pakistan's northwest after the country's air force bombarded tribal areas close to the border with Afghanistan.

US, Pakistan need to redouble efforts to counter terrorism: Hillary Clinton

Acknowledging Pakistan’s sacrifices the United States said on Friday that both the countries needed to “redouble efforts” to counter extremism and terrorism. Terming the “al-Qaida syndicate” still a threat after the killing of its leader Osama bin Laden, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said: “The United States and Pakistan have worked together to kill and capture many terrorists on the Pakistani soil.” She said it could not have been possible without the close cooperation between the two governments.

PM Gilani emphasizes US to respect Parliament’s resolution

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani during the meeting with US Secretary of State Ms. Hillary Clinton at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Friday categorically emphasized that the resolution passed by the Parliament on May 14,

Navy clarifies remarks attributed to Naval Chief

Spokesman of Pakistan Navy on Friday clarified that the remarks attributed to the Naval Chief that ‘there was no security lapse’,

National challenges require unity of politicians, people: PM Yousuf Raza Gilani

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday said the challenges confronting the country today require greater unity among the people and leaders across the political divide.

Beijing agrees to operate a key port: Pakistan

BEIJING (Wall Street Journal) —Pakistan's defense minister said China has agreed to take over operation of the strategically positioned but underused port of Gwadar, and that Islamabad would like the Chinese to build a base there for the Pakistani navy.

Pakistan’s nuclear assets under threat: MQM chief Altaf Hussain

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has warned that a few aircrafts will come and take Pakistan’s nuclear assets away, DawnNews reported on Friday.

No Proof That Pak Govt Knew About Osama bin Laden: Hillary Clinton

The US today asked Pakistan to take "decisive steps" to flush out al-Qaeda elements and to act against militants waging war in Afghanistan from Pakistani soil, as top leaders of the two countries held talks here aimed at easing tensions that have affected their ties.

Bopanna-Qureshi reach 3rd round, Sania-Elena win in Paris

India's Rohan Bopanna and Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi fought their way to the third round of French Open men's doubles after disposing off Argentine Maximo Gonzalez and Kei Nishikori of Japan in a thrilling three-setter here today. The fifth seeded Indo-Pak pair rallied from a set down to see of f Maximo and Nishikori 6-7 (4) 6-3 6-4 in a two-hour and 17 minutes second round clash.

Rulers have still not learnt any lessons from two vital issues: Nawaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD: PML-N head Mian Nawaz Sharif has expressed his great disappointment, that rulers had still not learnt any lessons from two very serious major issues of American incursion in Abbottabad and attack on PNS Mehran.

GHQ attack: Close aide of mastermind arrested in Karachi

ISLAMABAD: Security agencies have arrested Ahmad Shahzad – a close aide of the mastermind of GHQ attacks – Dr. Usman from Karachi.

DG FIA has violated SC orders in Hajj corruption, NICL corruption cases: CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has remarked DG FIA has violated Supreme Court (SC) orders in Hajj corruption and NICL corruption cases.

Taliban declare Pakistan enemy No 1 after killing of Osama: Rehman Malik

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said Independent Commission will soon be constituted to hold impartial investigation into Abbottabad operation.

National Assembly speaker approves to make open record of in-camera debate on Qadianis issue

ISLAMABAD: Speaker National Assembly (NA) has accorded approval to open the record of in-camera debate of parliament held during Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto regime over issue of declaring Qadianis non Muslim minority.

Cricket: Salman Butt finds it 'odd' to be banned

Karachi: He was indicted by the ICC for spot fixing and is also facing criminal charges for corruption but Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt still finds it `odd` to be barred from playing cricket.