Afghan and foreign forces kill 60 near Pakistan border

KABUL: Afghan troops backed by Western air power killed at least 60 militants near the Pakistan border, Afghanistan's intelligence agency said on Wednesday, in one of the biggest single assaults against the Taliban-linked Haqqani network.

US officials say Washington has intensified its drive against the network in an attempt to deal a lasting blow to the militants in Afghanistan before foreign combat forces depart this year.

Mortar strike on Damascus school kills at least 14

Two mortar shells struck a school complex in central Damascus on Tuesday, killing at least 14 people and wounding dozens, state media and a monitoring group said.

The attack in the district of Shaghour came a day after President Bashar Al Assad nominated himself to stand for re-election, in defiance of calls for him to step aside and allow a political solution to Syria’s civil war.

Father of legendary cricketer Wasim Akram dies in Lahore

Lahore: Father of Pakistan cricket team former skipper Wasim Akram has been died due to illness here on Wednesday in Lahore

Chaudhry Muhammad Akram died of prolonged illness in Lahore.

The decision of burial would be taken with the permission of his son Wasim Akram who is in United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a bowling consultant of Indian Premier League (IPL 7) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

At least 40 Hindu pilgrims injured in a road accident near Badin

Badin: At least 40 people have been injured including women and children when a Hindu pilgrims bus overturned near Badin district of Sindh here on early morning of Wednesday.

According to police, the hindu pilgrims were comprised of women and children and there were going to Badin for worship.

The police said that the bus overturned due to over speeding when it was going from Karachi to Badin.

Muzaffarpur: Policemen suspended for letting jailed Bihar leader use phone in court

Patna: The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday ordered the suspension of six policemen for allowing a jailed former legislator to use a mobile phone in a court premises in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district.

Munna Shukla was brought to the court for a hearing in connection with a murder case, said additional chief electoral officer R Lakshmanan told media persons.

Blast kills five in South Waziristan

PESHAWAR: At least five people were killed on Wednesday in remote control blast in the Shaktoi area of South Waziristan, DawnNews reported.

The bomb was planted on a roadside near a parked car.

South Waziristan is one of the seven semi-autonomous regions in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) that are governed by tribal laws.

Govt punishes itself for not paying power bills

ISLAMABAD: In a bid to clear outstanding dues of billions of rupees, the capital’s electricity company disconnected power supply to most major government departments on Tuesday to demonstrate its commitment to cracking down on power thieves and defaulters.

The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) cut power to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, President House, Supreme Court and Pakistan Secretariat, including the offices of the Ministry of Water and Power.

Five security men killed in Mastung firing

MASTUNG: At least five security personnel and a robber were killed during exchange of fire with thieves in Balochistan's militancy-hit Mastung district on Tuesday, levies said.

A levies official, who declined to be named, told Dawn.com that armed robbers looted money from a private bank located in Mastung bazar.

"The robbers were fleeing when policemen retaliated," he said.

Police arrests more than 500 before elections in Kashmir

SRINAGAR éMore than 500 youth were arrested across Muslim majority areas of Indian-controlled Kashmir ahead of the fourth phase of Indian general elections, local police said.

The massive crackdown on youth has been taken as part of precautionary measures to ensure incident-free elections on Wednesday.

Russia assures U.S. it won't invade Ukraine: Pentagon

WASHINGTON é Russia has assured the United States that it will not invade Ukraine, said the U.S. Department of Defense Monday.

The assurance was given by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu, according to a statement released by the U.S. Defense Department.