Washington, March 16: Space shuttle Discovery and its seven-member crew have lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on March 15th to deliver the final set of power-generating solar array wings and a new crew member to the International Space Station (ISS).

Discovery's STS-119 flight is carrying the space station''s fourth and final set of solar array wings, completing the station's truss, or backbone.

Washington, Mar. 16 : The Obama administration here has welcomed the Pakistan Government's decision to reinstate deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Washington gave its reaction after authorities in Islamabad informed it about its decision.

According to sources, Chaudhry will assume his responsibilities on March 22.

Washington - US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said in a television interview aired Sunday that the recession could end this year if the banking and financial systems can be stabilized.

"I do think that we will get it stabilized, and we'll see the recession coming to an end probably this year," he told news programme 60 Minutes. "We'll see recovery beginning next year. And it will pick up steam over time."

Indian Wells, California  - Marat Safin may be set to retire at the end of the season. But until he does, the two-time Grand Slam champion will continue to steal the limelight from fast-rising sister Dinara.

The Moscow woman advanced at the Indian Wells Masters on Sunday, 7-5 6-4 over China's Peng Shuai.

But despite the fact that the 22-year-old could take over the number 1 ranking with a solid performance next week, it's still all about Marat, 29.

Indian Wells, California  - Defending champion Novak Djokovic continued to rebuild his fragile confidence with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Argentine Marcel Vassallo Arguello to move into the third round of the Indian Wells Masters on Sunday.

"This year hasn't started maybe the way I thought I would, but now I've raised my confidence in a higher level," said the 2008 Australian Open champion who won his first title of this season a fortnight ago in Dubai.

"Winning there meant a lot for my confidence level and for my game overall."

Rome  - The Vatican and Washington are in the process of organizing a meeting of Pope Benedict XVI with US President Barack Obama, Italian media quoted US Vatican representative Thomas J Reese as saying.

It is possible that the two leaders would meet during Obama's first visit to Europe on the occasion of the G20 summit in London in April, Reese said in an interview on Italian television.

According to the Ansa news agency, the Holy See has unofficially confirmed the proposed meeting.