Nawaz Sharif's PML-N has secured majority in Pakistan's National Assembly after 18 independent candidates joined the party, allowing it to form government at the centre without striking an alliance with any other party.

President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned a special session of the Senate on May 23 that will be addressed by visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

An aide to Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he will seek military aid from India during a three-day visit this week.

North Korea on Sunday test-fired a short-range missile off its east coast, its fourth in two days, despite pleas from South Korea and the UN Chief to halt the launches at a time of high tensions.

4G services, which provide mobile users with internet access up to 50 times faster than the current 3G network, will be launched in Shanghai next month when the China Mobile company begins large-scale trials.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday said he was concerned over North Korea's latest short-range missile launches and called on Pyongyang to return to the six-party talks on its controversial nuclear programme.

A one-man inquiry tribunal comprising Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi of Lahore High Court may visit India to complete the judicial inquiry into the death of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh.

Iran is tightening control of the Internet ahead of next month's presidential election, mindful of violent street protests that social networkers inspired last time around over claims of fraud, users and experts say.

A senior woman politician in Pakistan's port city of Karachi was gunned down by motorcycle-riding assailants outside her residence late on Saturday.

Pakistan Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Saturday met Prime Minister-designate Nawaz Sharif to exchange views on regional situation and the war on terror.