Director General ISI Zaheerul Islam has flown to US where his meeting is due with CIA chief. During his visit Pakistan and the United States will also sign a memorandum (MoU) regarding the restoration of Nato supplies through Pakistan.

Ties between both the countries were improving gradually. Pakistan and US are also improving their intelligence ties after Nato supply resumption. Besides CIA chief, Islam will also call on US officials.

It is expected that the tour will help improving intelligence cooperation between both the countries. The tour can also pave the way to reduce tension between Pakistan and the US.

KARACHI: The deadly viral disease called ‘Ranikhet’ could not be controlled, as it continues the killing spree taking the death toll of peacocks in the desert of Thar to 124 in 23 days. Despite all tall claims of the department of wildlife, the beautiful peacocks hit by the mysterious disease still dancing to death, as four more peacocks in Taluka Mitthi of Tharparkar died uncared overnight, taking the death toll to 124 in 23 days since the epidemic broke out.

Local people said that the disease originated from the hens and caught the peacocks also. Any measure to control the disease must also take notice of the root cause and a holistic approach needed in this regard.

Despite the seriousness of the situation in Syria the country’s athletes are determined to make an impact in the London Olympics.

In the last games they won 3 medals.

The Syrian committee says it knows its competitors are finding it difficult to be away from friends and family in the war-torn country but that they are still concentrating on the competition.

Ghfran Almouhamad will be racing in the 400m hurdles: “My feeling is of happiness because it is the dream of every athlete to be in such a sporting event. So yes, I’m very happy and hopefully I’ll do something for my country and raise the flag for my country.”

Syrian organisers say their athletes are in regular communication with their families back home to make sure they are safe.

Syria’s bantamweight boxer Wessam Slamana, said: “I came here to represent Syrian boxing and the Syrian people who’ll be pleased to watch me fight here. We are doing this to make them happy and ease the pain.”

RAWALPINDI: The accountability court no.4 in Rawalpindi heard the case pertaining to reopening of three alleged corruption references against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shahabaz Sharif on Saturday. During today’s proceedings, PML-N’s lawyer Akram Sheikh told that the High Court has given stay order against these references and requested the accountability court to adjourn the hearing for indefinite period.

Akram Sheikh argued that NAB should apologize over issuing notices. Replying to that, NAB’s lawyer said that the summon notices were sent by the court, therefore, they will not tender apology.

Earlier, the court had summoned records from the NAB over the references and issued notices to Shahbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif for today.

NAB chief Admiral Fasih Bokhari had submitted three applications in the accountability court seeking the reopening of three references against Sharif brothers and to contest the quashment petition which was filed by the Sharifs in the LHC in October 2011. He took this decision on the recommendation of a special committee, constituted by him under the supervision of the NAB prosecutor general.

The references include the alleged corruption cases of Hudaibia paper mills, Ittefaq Foundry and Raiwind farm.

While Bukhari sought revival of the cases, NAB continues to be indecisive about the fate of a reference submitted by Advisir to the Prime Minister on Interior, Rehman Malik, to it against the Sharif brothers in which he charged them with money laundering of $32 million. The special committee is still reviewing it.

(Curtsey by GEO NEWS)

SAN FRANCISCO: Google on Thursday unveiled an ultrafast Web service along with an Internet television subscription in Kansas City, Kansas, as part of a pilot project to boost broadband speeds. The Google Fiber superfast broadband network will be available starting in September, with one-gigabyte per second speeds -- about 100 times faster than most current Internet subscriptions.

The wired home project will allow people to replace cable television and Internet with a single subscription to be controlled by a Google tablet computer, which will be offered for free.

"Google Fiber is 100 times faster than today's average broadband," Google vice president Milo Medin said.

"No more buffering. No more loading. No more waiting. Gigabit speeds will get rid of these pesky, archaic problems and open up new opportunities for the web. Imagine: instantaneous sharing; truly global education; medical appointments with 3D imaging; even new industries that we haven't even dreamed of, powered by a gig."

The packages offered will include not only Internet but "regular TV, the kind you could only get from your cable provider," as well as on-demand programs, Medin told the kickoff event in Kansas City.

Google said it was offering a full ultrafast Internet and television package for $120 a month, with waived installation fees and a free tablet. It also will offer Internet only for $70 a month.

It will also offer free Internet at the current speed of five megabytes per second but will charge an installation fee.

It was not immediately clear when or if Google would expand the project to other US cities.

Google announced its plan to build an experimental high-speed Internet network two years ago, saying the United States had fallen behind other major nations in broadband speed and access.

"Fast is better than slow. On the web, nobody wants to wait for a video to buffer or a website to load," Medin said.

"Abundance is better than scarcity. There's a plethora of rich content available online -- and it's increasingly only available to people who have the speeds and means to access it." (AFP)

(Curtsey by GEO NEWS)

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N President Nawaz Sharif Thursday said the incumbent government has become a burden that is only getting heavier and heavier on the nation with every passing day. Speaking on the occasion of Multan's former nazims' joining of the PML-N here at Raiwind, Nawaz Sharif said stiff resistance will be put up if elections were subjected to an unnecessary delay by the government.

"The talks about extending the tenure of the parliament are self-betraying," he remarked, adding the nation wanted a democratic change and every passing day with the present government in place was only adding to the burden of the people.

He said only free and transparent elections constituted a real solution to the country's problems. The rulers cannot prolong their stay through a pretext and pretence, he ruled out.

TOKYO: A euro rally fizzled in Asian trade Thursday after the beleaguered unit briefly rose on cautious optimism over the latest steps to battle Europe's debt crisis amid signs of further US stimulus. The common currency bought $1.2140 and 94.87 yen in Tokyo morning trade, down from $1.2153 and 95.04 yen in New York late Wednesday.

The dollar changed hands at 78.14 yen against 78.10 yen in New York amid reports that the Federal Reserve may move on pumping more cash into the stuttering US economy.

The euro had won support Wednesday after Austrian central bank governor Ewald Nowotny, a member of the European Central Bank governing council, said an EU financial rescue fund might be granted a banking licence.

That would allow the fund, known as the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), to exchange bonds for ECB cash, bolstering its capacity without governments having to contribute additional funds.

"The bond markets have reacted quite buoyantly," HiFX senior trader Stuart Ive told Dow Jones Newswires.

The euro's gains lost steam in the absence of further details on the possible banking licence.

"We suspect the key for how FX behaves later today will be any follow-up comment from ECB officials on the question of a banking licence for the ESM," National Australia Bank said in a note.

The bank noted that ECB president Mario Draghi had earlier said the license would violate an EU treaty.

(Curtsey by GEO NEWS)

KABUL: NATO's military force in Afghanistan has condemned cross-border shelling from Pakistan, after Kabul warned that it could significantly harm relations between the strife-torn neighbours. Afghanistan's warning came on Sunday after officials said more than 300 heavy artillery shells and rockets were fired from Pakistan into Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province over two days, killing at least four people.

Last month, a barrage of cross-border fire from Pakistan into Kunar forced thousands of villagers to flee their homes after Islamabad accused Kabul of protecting militants who infiltrated to kill 13 Pakistani soldiers.

Afghanistan and Pakistan typically blame each other for violence by Taliban Islamic militants plaguing both sides of their border, known as the Durand Line.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force "condemns the indirect fire attacks from across the Durand Line", ISAF said in a statement late Wednesday.

"We continue to work with the Afghan ministry of defence, and the Pakistan government to ensure an end of these attacks."

ISAF welcomed the announcement by the Afghan foreign ministry that talks on the issue would be held soon between officials from both sides in Afghanistan's eastern city of Jalalabad.

Pakistan on Sunday denied Afghanistan's charge of cross-border shelling, calling it "incorrect".

"Pakistani troops only respond to and engage militants from where they are attacked/fired upon," said a senior military official in Islamabad.

Over the last year he said at least 15 cross-border attacks were carried out by militants against Pakistani check points and the civilian populations in northwestern towns of Dir and Chitral.

NATO has some 130,000 US-led troops in Afghanistan helping the government of President Hamid Karzai fight Taliban Islamist insurgents.

(Curtsey by GEO NEWS)

WASHINGTON: Big technology firms including Google, Facebook, eBay and Amazon have joined to create a new lobby group aimed at promoting "an open, innovative and free Internet." The Internet Association announced its formation in a statement on its website, indicating it will be headed by Michael Beckerman, a former congressional staffer.

The group, to be officially launched in September, did not name its member companies but sources familiar with the group told that Google, Facebook, eBay and Amazon are among them.

"The newly formed Internet Association is comprised of some of the world's most visible Internet companies and will be headquartered in Washington," the statement said.

"Beckerman will lead the Internet Association's efforts to advance public policy solutions that strengthen and protect an open, innovative and free Internet."

A Facebook spokesman declined to comment on its participation.

But a source familiar with the lobby said it "is going to be a permanent association here in Washington and will be advocating on behalf of the Internet industry and its vast community of users."

"The association will be advancing public policy solutions to strengthen America's global Internet leadership," the source told, adding that the group was "the first trade association representing the Internet and Internet companies as a whole."

Beckerman said: "I am honored to lead such an important undertaking. The Internet is the greatest engine for economic growth and prosperity the world has ever known. The Internet must have a voice in Washington."

He added: "The Internet isn't just Silicon Valley anymore, the Internet has moved to Main Street. Our top priority is to ensure that elected leaders in Washington understand the profound impacts of the Internet and Internet companies on jobs, economic growth and freedom."

Beckerman was deputy staff director to the US House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees telecommunications and Internet policy. He previously was an aide to Representative Fred Upton. (AFP)

(Curtsey by GEO NEWS)

KHAR: Eight persons were killed and twenty-one others injured in a blast that occurred at Pusht Bazaar in Salarzai Tehsil of Bajaur Agency Thursday. According to reports, a blast hit the Pusht Bazaar area which is the headquarter of Salarzai Tehsil. One person was killed on the spot while seven others succumbed to their injuries after reaching the hospital. Twenty-one others also sustained injuries as a result of explosion.

Five shops were also destroyed due to impact. Security forces cordoned off the area while the locals along with rescue teams are transferring the bodies and injured to the hospital.

(Curtsey by GEO NEWS)

Greenland's massive ice sheet has melted this month over an unusually large area, Nasa has said. Scientists said the "unprecedented" melting took place over a larger area than has been detected in three decades of satellite observation.

Melting even occurred at Greenland's coldest and highest place, Summit station.

The thawed ice area jumped from 40% of the ice sheet to 97% in just four days from 8 July.

Although about half of Greenland's ice sheet normally melts over the summer months, the speed and scale of this year's melting surprised scientists, Pakistan Breaking News  who described the phenomenon as "extraordinary".

Nasa said that nearly the entire ice cover of Greenland, from its thin, low-lying coastal edges to its centre, which is 3km (two miles) thick, experienced some degree of melting at its surface.

"When we see melt in places that we haven't seen before, at least in a long period of time, it makes you sit up and ask what's happening," Nasa chief scientist Waleed Abdalati said.

"It's a big signal, the meaning of which we're going to sort out for years to come."

He said that, because this Greenland-wide melting has happened before, Nasa is not yet able to determine whether this is a natural but rare event, or if it has been sparked by man-made global warming.

Scientists said they believed that much of Greenland's ice was already freezing again.

Until now, the most extensive melting seen by satellites in the past three decades was about 55% of the area.

Ice last melted at Summit station in 1889, ice core records show.

The news comes just days after Nasa satellite imagery revealed that a massive iceberg, twice the size of Manhattan, had broken off a glacier in Greenland.

"This event, combined with other natural but uncommon phenomena, such as the large calving event last week on Petermann Glacier, are part of a complex story," said Nasa's Tom Wagner.

(Curtsey by BBC NEWS)

BEIJING: Weekend floods in Beijing caused "significant losses" and casualty numbers are still being tallied, the head of the worst-hit district has said, as residents of China's capital question the official toll. Authorities in Beijing have still not updated a statement issued late Sunday that said 37 people had been killed in Saturday's freak rain, the heaviest since records began more than 60 years ago, with another seven still missing.

But many residents of the city believe the true figure may be much higher, after rivers burst their banks and flooded major highways, submerging large numbers of vehicles.

In the worst-hit area of Fangshan, on the city's mountainous southwestern outskirts, distraught residents spoke of cars being swept away and said many people were still missing.

"The casualties, which is what everyone cares about, have brought about significant losses, and we are currently coming closer to tallying them up," Fangshan leader Qi Hong said in a briefing broadcast late Tuesday on state television.

Beijing city spokeswoman Wang Hui, addressing concerns expressed on China's hugely popular microblogs, or weibos, insisted authorities would not cover up the true number of deaths.

The city government "will make an announcement as soon as possible", Wang said at a briefing Tuesday, acknowledging that the lack of official updates had given rise to public suspicion.

Saturday's storm is estimated to have caused losses of five billion yuan ($780 million) and destroyed 8,200 homes, Wang said.

The state-run Xinhua news agency said emergency workers had pulled 84 vehicles from waters submerging a major highway between Beijing and Hong Kong. Three bodies were found, it said.

Many microbloggers have said some of the death and destruction could have been avoided if the government had issued proper warnings and modernised ancient drainage systems.

Censors have deleted posts criticising the official response to the disaster in China's rapidly modernising capital, which came at a time of heightened political sensitivity ahead of a 10-yearly handover of power.

City propaganda chief Lu Wei told media outlets to stick to stories of "achievements worthy of praise and tears", the Beijing Times daily reported this week, as authorities tried to stem a tide of accusations that they had failed to do enough.

(Curtsey by GEO NEWS)

KARACHI: Security forces conducted targeted operation in several areas and arrested dozens of suspects while arms were also recovered from their possession. According to police, Special Investigation Cell (SIC) East conducted a targeted raid in Alfalah and Shah Faisal Colony and arrested six suspects who were shifted to undisclosed location for investigation.

Police took action after getting a tip off from Munawar aka Billo, a target killer who was arrested earlier.

Six gang war accused including Aijaz Commando, Aslam, Usman and Siraj were also arrested from Baldia. Police told that the culprits were involved in kidnapping, extortion and drug dealing.

Further investigations are underway.

(Curtsey by GEO NEWS)