Peshawar, Apr. 18 : The United States based Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) (Hekmatyar) stalwart Daud Abidi has confirmed holding meetings with high-ranking American officials and handing over a letter of Engineer Hekmatyar addressed to US President Barack Obama.

"Yes, I held three meetings with high ranking US authorities," Daud Abidi remarked in a telephonic conversation with The Nation on Friday. He said that all such meetings were held on behalf of Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan headed by Engineer Gulbadin Hekmatyar.

Washington, Apr 18 : The human brain reacts quickly when encountering another person''s physical pain, but compassion for psychological pain takes longer to register, a new study has found.

In the study, lead researcher Mary Helen Immordino-Yang in the University of Southern California and colleagues used functional MRI to analyse the brains of 13 people as they responded to stories designed to provoke a range of emotions.

Here’s some shocking news!

A new study conducted by U.S. researchers disclosed that 10-minute exposure to smoke particulates from tobacco, cooking oil and wood fires can have a serious effect on cardiovascular function.

In a declaration, lead researcher Joyce Mcclendon Evans of the University of Kentucky in Lexington said, “I was surprised we got statistically significant results with this low level of exposure.”

Washington, April 18 : A new study has revealed that the Moon dust, which causes hazards like ruining scientific experiments and endangering astronauts'' health, is influenced by the Sun''s elevation.

Lunar dust has long been described as the No. 1 environmental hazard on the Moon.

It causes miscellaneous havoc: from destroying scientific equipment deployed on the lunar surface, to creating blinding dust clouds that interfere with lunar landings.

Washington, April 18 : A new study conducted by Stony Brook University researchers suggests that feeling bored in marriage leads to substantially less marital satisfaction even nine years later.

Research leaders Irene Tsapelas and Arthur Aron, who worked in collaboration with University of Michigan researcher Terri Orbuch, interviewed 123 U. S. married couples seven years into their marriage, and then again, nine years later, 16 years into their marriage.

According to the findings of the researchers of the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, mothers-to-be who exercise during their pregnancy term give birth to healthy babies, with their lungs and nervous system strengthened in the womb.

In addition, exercise during pregnancy also helps women reduce the chances of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or cot deaths. Researchers say that, if pregnant women remain physically active, the babies in their wombs not only have lower heart rates but also show improved breathing.