Washington, Mar. 27 : The new policy of Afghanistan and Pakistan may well see a surge in US troops in the region to facilitate the `war on terror', but President Barack Obama has also clarified that Pakistan would be made accountable for all the financial aid it receives from now on.

"The era of the blank cheque is over," Obama told Congressional leaders at a meeting here.

Washington, March 27: Scientists at Michigan State University have found that cholesterol crystals can disrupt plaque in a patient’s cardiovascular system, and thereby cause a heart attack or stroke.

George Abela, chief of the cardiology division in MSU’s College of Human Medicine, believes that the new finding may significantly change the way doctors and researchers approach cardiovascular attacks.

“Any time there is something completely new or unique in medical research, it is met with healthy skepticism. But we have found something that can help dramatically change how we treat heart disease,” said Abela, who has been working with cholesterol crystals since 2001.

Washington, Mar 27: The ongoing financial crisis seems to have hit the media industry in the United States hard. The New York Times Co. is cutting pay for most employees by five percent for a nine-month period and laying off 100 people.

The company’s flagship newspaper reported on its Web site on Thursday that the cuts will hit most non-union workers and run from April through December. Employees will receive 10 days off in return.

Washington, Mar. 27 : In a bid to strengthen Pakistan's civilian government, the chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee John Kerry has vowed to increase economic aid to Pakistan.

"Our strategy must also reflect the interconnectedness of the region's challenges. This requires redoubling our efforts to strengthen Pakistan's civilian government and support its activities against militants in the Tribal Areas," the Daily Times quoted Kerry, as saying.

Washington, March 27: In a new report, scientists have determined that nanoparticles in cosmetics, sunscreens, and hundreds of other personal care products may be harmful to the environment.

Their report was part of symposia that included almost two dozen papers at the 237th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society where scientists grappled to understand the environmental and human health effects of nanotechnology.

Islamabad, Mar. 27 : Pakistan has asked the United States to stop launching unilateral drone attacks in the country's tribal areas, as the strikes are damaging Islamabad's plan to defeat terrorism through popular support.

"We have raised the issue very forcefully with the US and conveyed the sentiments of the Pakistani people, and especially that these (drone attacks) are counter-productive," the Daily Times quoted Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit, as saying.