Head of Pakistani Taliban speaks to reporters, vows attacks on US, Pakistan

SARAROGHA, Pakistan — The Pakistani Taliban’s new leader met with reporters in the country’s tribal areas for the first time since winning control of the militants and vowed to retaliate against the U.S. and Pakistan for drone attacks along the Afghan border.

Reggae artist Major Mackerel says NY neighbor with 2-foot sword slashed him in head, arm, hand

NEW YORK — Jamaican reggae artist Major Mackerel says he’s been slashed in the head, arm and hand by a New York City man wielding a 2-foot sword.

Ill. treasure hunt halted after author of cryptic note turns out to be prolific prankster

ST. LOUIS — An Illinois woman who set out on a treasure hunt for buried gold coins after finding a cryptic note in an antique rocking chair may have been the victim of a prolific prankster who died more than 30 years ago.

10 miles of Mississippi River closes for 3 hours after tug hits bridge, causes barges to drift

GREENVILLE, Miss. — The Coast Guard says it closed 10 miles of the Mississippi River for three hours after a towboat hit a bridge and all six barges broke free from the vessel C.B. Ford.

Somalian president condemns terrorist recruiting of young men in Minn.’s huge Somali community

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The president of Somalia on Sunday denounced the recruiting of young men from Minnesota’s huge Somali community for terrorist activity in his war-ravaged homeland, and said he plans to work with the U.S. government to bring those still alive back home.

Out-of-control car slides under tractor-trailer on I-95 in Philly, killing 4 people

PHILADELPHIA — State police in Philadelphia say a car has gone out of control and has slid under a tractor-trailer on a major highway, killing four people.

Opposition Socialists easily winning Greek election according to initial results, exit polls

ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s opposition Socialists have claimed victory over the governing conservatives in Sunday’s parliamentary elections.

What’s that smell? 44 tons of bison meat in abandoned warehouse stink up South Dakota town

BRIDGEWATER, S.D. — A South Dakota town that had to remove 44 tons of rotting bison meat left in a warehouse wants to know if the owner plans to pay for the cleanup.

Fans feast on horror comedy as Woody Harrelson’s ‘Zombieland’ slays with $25 million debut

LOS ANGELES — The undead are livening up the box office. Woody Harrelson’s horror comedy “Zombieland” has opened as the No. 1 movie with $25 million.

Kim Jong Il offers Chinese premier lavish welcome amid signs he will commit to nuclear talks

PYONGYANG, North Korea — China’s premier was given a gala welcome to Pyongyang on Sunday by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, bolstering indications that the North is preparing to rejoin talks over its nuclear weapons programs.

Obama adviser hopes administration can meet Obama’s January deadline to close Guantanamo

WASHINGTON — The White House’s national security adviser says the Obama administration is hard at work on fulfilling President Barack Obama’s deadline to shut down the Guantanamo detention center for suspected terrorists.

Nigerian militant leader in Rivers state accepts government amnesty offer, surrenders arms

ABUJA, Nigeria — A rebel leader in Nigeria’s oil-rich Delta said he has accepted a government amnesty offer to disarm.

White House: Signs that Iran is moving in right direction on its disputed nuclear program

WASHINGTON — The U.S. is pleased by some positive signs of cooperation from Iran about its nuclear program.

Obama national security adviser says Afghanistan not in imminent danger of falling to Taliban

WASHINGTON — Afghanistan is not in imminent danger of falling to the Taliban, President Barack Obama’s national security adviser said Sunday as he downplayed worries that the insurgency could set up a renewed sanctuary for al-Qaida.

Maya Angelou Rushed To Hospital

Celebrity gossip website of TMZ.com has reported on its website that the celebrated author Maya Angelou had to be admitted to the hospital in Los Angeles on Saturday evening following a health emergency situation. This bit of information gave rise to a surge of rumors to flood the cyber world alleging that the Pulitzer Prize nominated author had passed away.

Shoichi Nakagawa: Former Finance Minister Of Japan Found Dead

According to the sources, the former Japanese Finance Minister, Shoichi Nakagawa who reportedly resigned from his post after he was forced to deny that he was allegedly drunk during a G7 news conference in February, has died. The former finance minister of Japan was reportedly found dead at his home in Tokyo. He was 56.

Report: Indian coast guard detains North Korean ship headed to Pakistan

NEW DELHI — India’s coast guard has detained a North Korean ship headed for Pakistan after it dropped anchor in Indian waters without permission, a news agency reported Sunday.

North Korea demands South Korea repatriate 11 defectors, Seoul declines

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea has demanded South Korea repatriate a group of 11 North Koreans who defected by sea last week, but the South does not intend to return them, the Unification Ministry said Sunday.

The Demand For Vikram Buddhi’s Release Intensifies

According to the sources, the demands regarding the release of the Indian post graduate student/guest lecturer Vikram Buddhi who has been languishing in the US Federal jail from the year 2006, has been an issue of national interest. Sources reveal that the IIT-ians have joined their hands in order to claim the release of the young scholar, Buddhi.

North Korea demands South Korea return 11 defectors, but Seoul says it won’t

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s Unification Ministry says North Korea has demanded Seoul return 11 people who defected to the South by sea last week.

UN nuclear watchdog chief sets Oct. 25 for new Iran nuclear site inspection

TEHRAN, Iran — The head of the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog on Sunday said inspectors would be examining Iran’s recently revealed nuclear facility on Oct. 25.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrives in North Korea on highly anticipated state visit

PYONGYANG, North Korea — Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived Sunday in North Korea on a highly anticipated state visit amid signs the North may be willing to restart dialogue over its nuclear programs following months of resistance.

Home away from home: Lakshmi Puja in an American city

KOLKATA - The full moon day after Dussehra, when Bengalis worship goddess of wealth Lakshmi in most homes, brings a whiff of nostalgia to those settled abroad. Bengalis in Nashville, Tennessee, like many other places in the US where the community is settled, got together Saturday to celebrate the occasion in a special way, community leaders said on phone.

Former Japanese finance minister found dead, cause under investigation

TOKYO — A former Japanese finance minister who stepped down after appearing to be drunk at an overseas news conference was found dead in his home Sunday, police said, ruling out foul play.

Texas golfer slips, falls over embankment, dies while trying to retrieve stray ball

RICHARDSON, Texas — A Texas golfer has died after he fell over an embankment while trying to retrieve his golf ball.

T. rex fails to attract minimum price at Vegas auction, officials hopeful deal is imminent

LAS VEGAS — A fossilized Tyrannosaurus rex is still looking for a home after bidders failed to meet the minimum price Saturday at a Las Vegas auction.

Official: Standard Chartered will not buy Royal Bank of Scotland’s Asian assets

LONDON — An attempt by Standard Chartered to buy Asian assets of the Royal Bank of Scotland has failed due to disagreements over how much it should pay for the deal, an official briefed on the negotiations said Saturday.

Archaeologists find ‘Bluehenge’ _ a prehistoric site near Britain’s Stonehenge

LONDON — Archaeologists have discovered a smaller prehistoric site near Britain’s famous circle of standing stones at Stonehenge.

Somalia’s president meets with members of Minnesota’s Somali community

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The president of Somalia met with members of Minnesota’s Somali community Saturday as part of a tour to build support for his tenuous government.

Greek designer Sophia Kokosalaki delivers elegant draping, gives traditional motifs cool twist

PARIS — Greek designer Sophia Kokosalaki served up on Saturday a spring-summer 2010 ready-to-wear collection of artfully draped cocktail dresses that would have done her ancestors proud.