Pakistan test fires Hatf VII missile

The missile, which is a terrain hugging missile with high maneuverability and pin point accuracy, has stealth capabilities and can carry strategic and conventional warheads.

Obama finally quits smoking

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has finally kicked his craving for the odd cigarette -- and his wife Michelle is "very proud" the former puffer-in-chief can look his kids in the eye and say he doesn't smoke. Obama's struggle to beat his addiction has been a subject of inordinate fascination for the US press, throughout his barnstorming 2008 campaign and in the first two years of his presidency. But First Lady Michelle Obama told reporters Tuesday that the president had not had a drag for about a year and said she was "very proud" he had succeeded in what had been a "personal challenge for him," USA Today reported.

Kate Middleton deemed top fashion buzzword

 LOS ANGELES: Prince William's bride-to-be, Kate Middleton, has de-throned Lady Gaga as the top fashion buzzword for the fashion season that starts in New York on Feb 10, according to a survey released on Tuesday.

Middleton, 29, who will marry the British prince on April 29 in London, soared as a fashion icon in November after the blue dress by designer Daniella Issa Helayel that she wore for the official engagement announcement sold out of stores within 24 hours.

Speculation is now rife in the fashion world over who will design Middleton's wedding dress, and what it will look like.

A survey by the Texas-based Global Language

Junaid to replace Tanveer in World Cup

KARACHI: Pakistan's already depleted bowling attack suffered a further blow on Wednesday when left-arm paceman Sohail Tanveer was ruled out of the World Cup because of a knee injury. "The medical panel thinks that though the recovery was good, it still thought Tanveer needs time to get fully fit before competing at international level," the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement. Pakistan will replace Tanveer with left-arm paceman Junaid Khan, 21, who started with the Under-19s alongside promising teenage quick Mohammad Aamer, who was this week handed a five year ban from cricket for spot-fixing. It is Khan's first call-up to the senior squad, earned with

ICC publishes edited version of spot-fixing ruling

DUBAI: The ICC has published on its website an edited and encrypted 102-page version of the final determination of the independent tribunal that handed out its verdict on February 5 after the spot-fixing hearings in Doha. However, in light of the Crown Prosecution Service's recent decision to pursue criminal charges against the three banned players - Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif - the judgement will not be available to readers in England and Wales. To others, the version available online is in a read-only format and will be available for a period of only seven days. "It is the ICC's intention to be as transparent an organisation as is feasible and to publish all its reports and findings for the

Ch.Nisar Ali Khan mother passes away

The mother of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Ch Nisar Ali Khan died here on Wednesday. She was 90 .
Her funeral will be held in Chakri Village, Chakri Intercha

Khosa longs for celebrating ‘Basant’ at Sharifs

Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khosa has expressed a cherished desire to celebrate Basant festival with PML-N Chief Muhammad Nawaz Shairf at his Raiwind residence, saying Basant is a healthy recreation.
“I wish to carry string and kites to the Sharifs and commemorate this lovely festival with all its festivities in a serene atmosphere”, he said while talking to the media men after the inauguration of a flower exhibition at Royal Palm Golf and Country Club here Wednesday.
Punjab Governor said that it should be

Shah Rukh Khan’s show in Muscat postponed until March

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s show in Muscat has been postponed until March and the final date will be confirmed soon.
The show was scheduled to take place on February 17 at the Qurum Amphitheatre as part of the Muscat Festival.
“Muscat Municipality and Alive Entertainment regret to announce that the award-winning, actor-producer Shah Rukh Khan and the Temptation Reloaded 2011 Tour Concert has been postponed due to delayed filming commitments,” Gulf News quoted a statement issued by Muscat