London, Dec 9 : A team of scientists has devised a unique way of refueling aircraft, using a high-powered laser to recharge on-board batteries.

A fundamental problem with aircraft is the amount of fuel they have to carry. Designers are forced to make compromises to reduce fuel consumption and to squeeze the necessarily large fuel tanks into the craft.

All this drives up cost and reduces manoeuvrability.

One alternative is in-flight refuelling, but that can be logistically difficult as well as dangerous, requiring to aircraft to meet in mid-air and transfer liquid fuel via a flexible hose.

Lahore, Dec. 9 : Former Pakistan captain and wicket keeper Rashid Latif has said that cricket teams around the world tour India not because of the sound security provisions, but because of the lure of money offered to them.

“The money India is putting into cricket nowadays no one can dare to refuse that. It is greed and nothing else,” Latif said as reported by The International News.

“India remains safe in the eyes of international cricketers despite terror strikes in Mumbai not because of good security but the money-making opportunities it offers to them,”Latif claimed.

Islamabad, Dec. 9 : Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said even if allegations are proved against any so-called terrorist suspect, he or she will not be handed over to India.

"We are not oblivious to our responsibilities to defend our homeland. But it is our desire that there should be no war. Pakistan will not hand India any of the Lashkar-e-Taiba militants arrested on Sunday for they’re suspected role in the Mumbai terrorist attacks, but will try them under its own laws.”

Islamabad, Dec. 9 : Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said even if allegations are proved against any so-called terrorist suspect, he or she will not be handed over to India.

"We are not oblivious to our responsibilities to defend our homeland. But it is our desire that there should be no war. Pakistan will not hand India any of the Lashkar-e-Taiba militants arrested on Sunday for they’re suspected role in the Mumbai terrorist attacks, but will try them under its own laws.”

The holiday spirit of moviegoers, has pushed 'Four Christmases' to the top of the box-office chart, second weekend in a row. Despite unfavourable reviews, the Reese Witherspoon / Vince Vaughn romantic comedy, a hit with audiences, has racked up $18.2-million in ticket sales, taking its two-week total to $70.8-million.

A faltering economy, weak consumer spending and no major new movie opening, did not prevent it from being a solid weekend at the box office, with revenue up over 2007 for the fifth weekend in a row.

Kampala  - Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has agreed to meet directly with the head of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in a bid to salvage faltering talks aimed at bringing an end a long-running civil war, a government newspaper reported Tuesday.

Reclusive guerrilla commander Joseph Kony, who is currently holed up in the jungles of the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, declined to sign the draft peace agreement on November 29 and has now given other conditions including that he should have direct talks with the Ugandan leader.

"Museveni said he is willing to have direct talks with Kony anytime," The New Vision newspaper quoted the deputy leader of the government peace team, Henry Okello Oryem, as saying.