Washington, Mar 21 : Researchers at Uppsala University, together with colleagues at Karolinska Institute and Sanger Institute, have identified three genes that would help determine the optimal dose of blood-thinning drug warfarin.

The team led by Mia Wadelius have come across three genes VKORC1, CYP2C9, and CYP4F2 that would help determine adequate warfarin dosage.

"We have previously studied selected genes that can affect warfarin treatment," said Wadelius.

Washington, March 21 : A worldwide online star-counting program, which is part of the International Year of Astronomy, has begun, calling on public in 110 partner countries to participate, in order to measure the light pollution.

According to a report in National Geographic News, the two-week online campaign, known as `Globe at Night', would run from March 16 to March 28.

As part of the campaign, participating public would be expected to go outside at night and count the stars visible in and around the bright constellation Orion.

New York, Mar. 21: Pakistan Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani’s constant touch with the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen ensured that the ‘Long March’ crisis in the country did not go out of control.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, the ties between General Kayani and Admiral Mullen will now be the mainstay of the relationship between Washington and Islamabad as it has certainly helped stabilize Pakistan for the time being.

Washington, Mar. 21 : The Chairman of the US Armed Service Committee, Senator Carl Levin, has said the fates of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan are interlinked, while indicating that the improvement in Indo-Pak relations is the key to stability in South Asia.

The leading Democrat lawmaker also said India and Pakistan faced a common threat of terrorism.

Washington, March 21: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was honoured with the ‘Global Trailblazer’ award at the 2009 Global Leadership Awards, held at the Kennedy Center.

She was chosen for the award in recognition of "her passionate commitment to promoting women''s rights and securing justice for all people around the world."

Washington, Mar. 21 : In a bid to facilitate intense engagement in the economy and promote Pakistan's counterinsurgency policies, the Obama administration may triple development aid to Islamabad, while attaching some conditions to enhancement of military assistance.

US President Barack Obama is yet to unveil his fresh strategy on Afghanistan, a presidential source told The News that non-military aid to Pakistan could rise to three times of the current 450 million dollars a year, and guaranteeing it for at least five and potentially ten years.