Ijaz Butt has government support to act against Afridi: Sources

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board has privately got support from the corridors of power to proceed with their disciplinary action against Shahid Afridi despite the issue slowly being politicized with the growing involvement of politicians and government functionaries.

Pakistan coach bears no grudge against Shahid Afridi

Pakistan cricket coach Waqar Younis does not harbour a grudge against Shahid Afridi and said he was sad to hear the former captain had decided to retire.

Former Osama bin Laden associate captured : NATO

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — NATO says it has captured a senior al-Qaida facilitator and former Osama bin Laden associate in northern Afghanistan.

U.S. partnership with Pakistan on mend

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. and Pakistan are building a joint intelligence team to go after top militant targets inside Pakistan, U.S. and Pakistani officials said, a fledgling step to restoring trust blown on both sides by the killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. forces during a secret raid last month.

Chris Gayle's participation in India series still uncertain

Uncertainty still looms large over Chris Gayle's participation in the upcoming ODI series against India as the explosive opener is yet to respond to WICB's call to meet with it's top brass and sort out the differences in order to be eligible for selection.

'Mr Cricket' Hussey has an online doppelganger

After former AFL renegade Jason Akermanis went public this week with his bid to free jasonakermanis.com from the grip of an obstinate "domain parker", WAtoday.com.au can reveal that Australian cricketer Hussey also has an online doppelganger.

Shahid Afridi asks PCB to grant him NOC to play for Hampshire

Karachi: With Hampshire making it clear that a No Objection Certificate is a must to represent the team, sacked Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has requested his Cricket Board (PCB) to grant him special permission to play for the English county in their Twenty20 league.

Rehman Malik urges Shahid Afridi return

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's interior minister says he will urge Shahid Afridi to reverse his retirement decision.

Misbah-ul -Haq says he is not quitting Pakistan cricket captaincy

Pakistan cricket captain Misbah ul Haq has denied rumours that he has resigned from his post.

Osama Bin Laden's trusted confidante identified

 The courier who led U.S. intelligence to Osama bin Laden's hideout in Pakistan hailed from the Swat Valley, a one-time stronghold of militant Taliban fighters, Pakistani officials said on Wednesday.

41 killed in deadly Yemen street battles

 Street battles between Yemeni government forces and armed tribesmen killed dozens of people Wednesday in this country teetering on the brink of civil war, forcing residents to cower in basements or brave gunfire to fetch bread and water.

Egypt's Mubarak, sons to stand trial on Aug. 3

 Egypt: Egypt's state news agency says former President Hosni Mubarak and his two sons will go on trial Aug. 3.

Chinese hackers target US officials' Gmail accounts

In a phishing attack, hackers based in China broke into hundreds of Gmail accounts, including those belonging to senior US government officials and military personnel, Internet serach giant Google has said.

Iran's lawmakers vote to take Amhadinejad to court

Iran's parliament voted on Wednesday to take Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to court over his takeover of the country's vital oil ministry, escalating the power struggle between the president and the hard-line establishment that has turned against him.

Japan's PM under pressure to resign over crisis

 Prime Minister Naoto Kan, facing a no-confidence vote in parliament, said Thursday he will consider resigning once Japan's efforts to recover from its earthquake and tsunami disaster take firm hold.

China is an aggressive eco competitor in Africa: US

China is a strong and aggressive economic competitor for the US in Africa, a Obama Administration official has said.

Mexico charges 73 in Tamaulipas mass grave deaths

The Mexican government charged 73 suspects in the killings of 183 people whose bodies were recovered during April in mass graves near the US border, prosecutors said.

US tornado toll at 134, no more missing

Officials have located all the people reported missing in the wake of the deadliest single tornado to strike the United States and all 134 victims have been identified, Missouri's governor said.

Pakistan: 58 die in militant-security border clash

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – A daylong clash between militants from Afghanistan who crossed the border and attacked a Pakistani checkpoint left 23 troops and 35 insurgents dead, police said Thursday, underscoring the challenges facing Pakistan as it tries to stamp out insurgents in its northwest.

25 Pakistani troops die in border attack

Twenty-five Pakistani security forces have been killed in fighting in northwest Pakistan after about 200 militants crossed over from Afghanistan and attacked a security checkpost, a government official said on Thursday.

US military presence in Pakistan unlikely to be reduced to zero

Washington: Notwithstanding Pakistan's missive to reduce American "footprint" in the country, the US has said it does not anticipate its military strength there to be reduced to "zero".

Karachi: Target killings claim 6 more lives

At least six more persons were shot dead and four injured in fresh wave of violence in largest city of Pakistan on Wednesday.

Chaudhry Nisar expresses reservations on five-member commission

Leader of the opposition in National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, expressed his reservations on the much talked about constitution of a five-member Commission for the probe of Abbottabad raid because he was not consulted.