Lahore, Sept 23: Pakistani intelligence agencies claimed to have arrested a close aide of Al Qaeda’s number two Ayman al-Zawahiri from Gujranwala, in connection with Saturday’s Hotel Marriott suicide attack in which 60 people were killed.

The terror suspect was later shifted to Islamabad for further interrogation and investigation into the hotel attack.

Washington - The next US president could soon be headed on a tour of Asia, if advisors to major-party candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have their way.

At a debate between foreign policy aides to the candidates, sponsored by the National Bureau of Asian Research, advisors to both the Democrat and Republican nominees said they would encourage their candidates to travel to Asia on their first international trip after the November 4 elections.

Pipli (Orissa), Sept 22: Around 16 villages in Pipli district of Orissa continued to grapple with floods which have wreaked havoc in the state for the past few days.

Villages have been inundated and people could be seen wading through knee deep water, while many moved away with their belongings to safer places.

"We are living in deplorable conditions. We have not had anything to eat for past three days. We are waiting for some aid from the government but it is not paying any attention to our plight," said Chittanarayan, a local.

Islamabad, Sept 22: Both former and current Pakistani security officials have indicated that Saturday’s hotel blast in Islamabad was a joint handiwork of Al Qaeda and Taliban. They said that Waziristan was fast developing into a terror zone where tribals were giving refuge to terrorists, including Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and his deputy Az-Zawahiri.

Islamabad, Sept 21: In the aftermath of Saturday’s suicide attack on Marriott Hotel killing around 60 people, foreigners living in Pakistan fear for their lives and are said to be planning to leave for their respective home countries.

Many who had dismissed these smaller attacks are now considering leaving. “I’ll be speaking to my boss tomorrow,” said an unidentified Briton who has worked in Islamabad for a Pakistani firm for several years.

New Delhi, Sept 22: Officials from India and Pakistan will meet here today to discuss the modalities for launching cross Line-of-Control (LoC) trade and other Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) related to Jammu and Kashmir.

In an effort to ensure early start of new measures, the Joint Working Group on cross-LoC and CBMs, comprising senior officials, will seek to exchange ideas of the two sides.

Issue like the launch of commerce on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route will be discussed during the talks.