Vienna - The price for oil produced by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting

Washington, Feb. 16: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) orchestrated back-channel intelligence exchanges between India and Pakistan, allowing them to quietly share highly sensitive evidence.

According to the Washington Post, the Americans served as neutral arbiters in the arrangement.

Japanese Economy is facing tough times as GDP has witnessed decline of 12.7% during the last quarter. The GDP fell for third quarter as exports were lower by 13.9%. Japan’s Nikkei has fallen nearly 12% this year.

While crude oil prices are declining, the price of gasoline is rising in many US States. During year end, the prices of gas were at $1.61 and have climbed up to $1.97 this Sunday. As most refiners have reduced production, the average utilization is at its lowest in last 17 years.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain - More than 20 illegal North African immigrants were missing Sunday in a boat accident in the Canary Islands, Spanish officials said.

The immigrant boat, loaded with up to 28 people, foundered in the waters north of the Spanish tourist island of Lanzarote, about 125 kilometres off the coast of Africa.

Six of the passengers were rescued from Atlantic tidal waters. Later, the bodies of four immigrants were recovered.

Pyeongchang, South Korea  - Kati Wilhelm won the sprint gold from Simone Hauswald as Germany had a flying start into the biathlon world championships on Saturday.

Wilhelm, 32, hit all 10 targets in the shooting range and covered the 7.5-kilometres distance in 21 minutes 11.1 seconds.

Hauswald was also flawless in the shooting range and trailed by 9.9 seconds in second place. Third place went to Russian Olga Zaitseva with zero faults and a deficit of 27.1 seconds.

Islamabad, Feb. 11: Pakistan expects more from the United States in return for its cooperation against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, and this message was amply conveyed to President Obama's Special Envoy on Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke during his meetings with the leadership here.

Statements issued by both Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani after their respective meetings with Holbrooke, emphasized the need to "expedite" a new, multi-billion dollar U. S. aid package, and "the importance of enhanced cooperation in defense and intelligence sharing."

Holbrooke said only that he was there "to listen and learn the ground realities of this critically important country."