French envoy calls for substantial nuclear talks on NKorea

Alabama to unveil new statue of Helen Keller to be installed in US Capitol

WASHINGTON — Alabama installed the first statue honoring a disabled person in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, unveiling a bronze of a 7-year-old Helen Keller at her moment of epiphany when she solved “the mystery of language” without sight or hearing.

Bihar power plant runs into trouble

The ambitious 1000 MW power plant proposed to come up at Nabinagar in Bihar has run into rough weather as the state government has threatened not to supply water to this plant from Sone river.

Maoists getting special training to counter Centre’s offensive

Maoists have set up special camps in their “liberated zone” to impart specialised training to their cadres to counter Centre’s proposed offensive against them, atop rankingMaoist leadersaid today.

Circuit-board makers Merix Corp. and Viasystems Group to merge

BEAVERTON, Ore. — Circuit-board maker Merix Corp., of Beaverton, Ore., will merge with Viasystems Group Inc., a St. Louis-based competitor.

Art for the heart!

When heart patient SK Lawate was not physically fit for a second bypass, he met Dr Pratiksha Reegdeb, India’s first woman preventive cardiologist for treatment. Today, four months later a fit and fine Lawate is holding his dream art exhibition at Jahangir Art Gallery along with fellow artists C Ganacharya, Alok Sharma, Neena, Satish and DG Pujare to aid other heart patients by giving back part of the proceeds to the IPC Heartcare Foundation of Dr Pratiksha.

Obama extends condolences to Philippines storm victims, cites ongoing US relief efforts there

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is expressing his condolences for the loss of life and devastation caused by recent storms in the Philippines.

Obama assures Iraqi president that US remains committed to its efforts to improve country

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is assuring the president of Iraq that the U.S. remains committed to working with Iraq to promote its security, political progress and economic development.

$50 billion in high-speed rail applications submitted, money to be awarded this winter

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Tuesday it has received applications from 24 states seeking $50 billion for high-speed rail projects, more than six times the money designated in the economic stimulus plan.

Man walks from Texas to Washington hometown with 12-foot cross to redeem troubled life

ABERDEEN, Wash. — A man walking from Texas to his hometown in Washington state has had a cross to bear for months.

Attorney General Holder worried about objections to bringing Gitmo detainees to US prisons

WASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday he is worried that lawmakers’ opposition to bringing terrorist suspects held at the military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to U.S. prisons could hurt the effort to close the detention center.

Flame chandeliers? Burger King sets sights on Paneras of the world with restaurant overhaul

CHICAGO — Burger King Corp. plans to swap its generic fast-food feel and bland tiles and tabletops for a vibe that’s more sit-down than drive-through.

3 British men accused of participating in terrorist plot to blow up trans-Atlantic flights

LONDON — A British prosecutor accused three men Tuesday of conspiring with the mastermind of a plot to kill thousands of airline passengers by blowing up their trans-Atlantic flights using liquid explosives.

Obama administration says it will select high-speed rail projects for funds this winter

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration says it will begin divvying up $8 billion designated for high-speed and other passenger rail projects sometime this winter.

Eiffel Tower lit up with colors of Turkish flag

PARIS — The Eiffel Tower has been lit up in red and white, the colors of the Turkish flag, as part of festivities in a French cultural season celebrating Turkey.

Police: Marin County couple fearing more DUIs used 13-year-old boy as designated driver

SAN ANSELMO, Calif. — Police say a Marin County couple with several drunken-driving arrests between them let a 13-year-old boy drive them home to avoid another DUI.

Big airlines expand $10 surcharge for already-expensive travel around the holidays

MINNEAPOLIS — Several big airlines have added $10 surcharges for busy days around the holidays, making days that already tended to be expensive to fly a little more costly.

White House says decision to delay meeting between Obama, Dalai Lama mutual

WASHINGTON — The White House says the decision to delay a meeting between President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama was mutual.

VP Biden heading to visits with NATO allies Poland, Romania, Czech Republic in late October

WASHINGTON — Vice President Joe Biden is heading to Europe to meet with NATO allies.

Depleted uranium shipments from South Carolina to Utah disposal site to begin in Dec.

SALT LAKE CITY — An official with a U.S. Department of Energy site in South Carolina says shipments of nearly 15,000 drums of depleted uranium slated for disposal in Utah are set to start in December — two months later than originally estimated.

Airlines on-time more in August; Southwest, Continental, US Airways, United above average

MINNEAPOLIS — Arriving on-time was just a little bit easier for airline passenger traveling in August.

Defense official: Colorado-based troops among 8 killed in Afghanistan

FORT CARSON, Colo. — A defense official says at least some of the eight U.S. soldiers killed in a fierce battle in Afghanistan last weekend were from Fort Carson in Colorado.

New find near Stonehenge could show evidence of riverside funeral complex

LONDON — The discovery of a small prehistoric circle of stones near Stonehenge may confirm the theory that the mysterious monument in southwest England was part of a massive funeral complex built around a river, researchers said Tuesday.

Israel scrambles warplanes after aircraft enters restricted space over nuclear facility

JERUSALEM — Israel’s air force scrambled fighter jets Tuesday after a small civilian aircraft flew into restricted airspace near the country’s heavily guarded and secretive Dimona nuclear reactor, security officials said Tuesday.

William J. Kole named AP’s chief of bureau for New England

NEW YORK — William J. Kole, a veteran bureau chief and foreign correspondent for The Associated Press, has been named AP’s chief of bureau for New England.

List of endangered monuments from World Monuments Funds

Afghanistan: Old City of Herat

Argentina: Buenos Aires Historic Center, Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires

Russian governor gives final approval to skyscraper for St. Petersburg’s historic center

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — The governor of Russia’s second city of St. Petersburg has signed a decree allowing the construction of a hulking skyscraper for state energy giant Gazprom in the city’s czarist-era center.

Administration officials say Iran will be punished if it doesn’t cooperate

WASHINGTON — Administration officials told impatient lawmakers Tuesday that they are ready to take swift and substantial action against Iran if it disregards current diplomatic efforts to stop its alleged nuclear weapons program.

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe calls for fresh start in relations with West

HARARE, Zimbabwe — President Robert Mugabe called Tuesday for a new start to relations with those Western countries he has spent years insulting for their criticism of his leadership.

The long goodbye: 160 years after his death, Edgar Allan Poe to get proper funeral

BALTIMORE — It’s been a good 200th anniversary year for Edgar Allan Poe. The master of gothic horror has been celebrated at events in several cities to mark the bicentennial of his birth.