Capital’s worst subway crash leads investigators to cast wide net in search of clues

WASHINGTON — The worst accident in 33-year history of Metrorail, Washington’s subway system, is under investigation by authorities trying to determine why a train plowed into the rear of another, killing at least nine people and injuring scores of others.

Former President Clinton says President Barack Obama doing what needs to be done

INDIANAPOLIS — Former President Bill Clinton rallied Democrats on Saturday with a vigorous defense of President Barack Obama, saying that Obama has done what was needed to spark the economy.

Obama on financial overhaul: ‘While I’m not spoiling for a fight, I’m ready for one’

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Saturday that current financial rules exploit consumers and he put critics of his proposed overhaul on notice: “While I’m not spoiling for a fight, I’m ready for one.”

Afghan gov’t: Report shows military not shielding civilians, welcomes US admission of error

KABUL — Afghanistan’s government welcomed Saturday a U.S. report accepting blame for a bombing run that killed dozens of villagers, saying it confirmed that international military forces were not doing enough to safeguard civilians.

Ensign made calls on behalf of mistress’s husband to help him secure 2 jobs

LAS VEGAS — Sen. John Ensign helped his mistress’s husband get two jobs during the time the rising Republican senator acknowledges carrying on an extramarital affair, an Ensign spokesman said Thursday.

Goldman Sachs set to repay $10 billion it received as part of government’s investment program

NEW YORK — Goldman Sachs says it is ready to repay a $10 billion government investment on Wednesday.

Seventh Vienna gurdwara shootout suspect arrested after firefight with police

VIENNA - Amritpal Singh, a 26-year-old Sikh man of Indian origin, was arrested after a firefight with commados of Australian police who raided his apartment while investigating the May 24 shootout at the Guru Ravidass Gurdwara here in which a sect leader was killed and 15 injured. He was the seventh person arrested for the crime, police said.

Ahmadinejad brushes off violence over Iran election dispute, challenger wants vote canceled

TEHRAN, Iran — Protesters set fires and smashed store windows Sunday in a second day of violence as groups challenging President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s re-election tried to keep pressure on authorities. Anti-riot police lashed back and the regime blocked Internet sites used to rally the pro-reform campaign.

Heaven then, hell now, says 1997 Kailash pilgrim

KATHMANDU - When she first went on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, joining the tour organised by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in 1997, Aruna Pratapsinh Rathore, an official with a state enterprise, was impressed by the order and care that characterised the trip.

Michigan, Tennessee, Wisconsin face big price tag if they want to nab GM small car factory

LANSING, Mich. — All three of the states competing to produce General Motors’ new small car have put together deals to lure the automaker, but budget deficits are raising questions over how much they can sweeten the pot.

ACLU sues in NYC for documents to link Bush administration directly to harsh interrogation

NEW YORK — The American Civil Liberties Union sued the U.S. government Thursday to try to prove there is a close link between the White House under President George W. Bush and a program of rough interrogation techniques used against suspected terrorists.

Some raindrops travel 10 times faster than previously believed

LONDON - Meteorologists may be miscalculating how much it rains, for a new study has found that many raindrops travel at “super-terminal” velocities, faster than was thought possible.

Toxicology test: Driver with Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart consumed alcohol before deadly crash

SANTA ANA, Calif. — Alcohol was found in the woman who was driving Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart before they were both killed in a collision in April, according to toxicology tests released Wednesday.

Iran’s election brings street parties and renewed hopes for reformers

TEHRAN, Iran — Persian hip-hop thumps from car speakers and young hipsters — men with spiked hair and women in spike heels — dance in the streets.

Search crews recover the vertical stabilizer from tail section of Air France jetliner

RECIFE, Brazil — Search crews recovered the vertical stabilizer from the tail section of an Air France airliner that went down in the Atlantic, Brazil’s air force said Monday — a key find that could help locate the black boxes and determine why the jet crashed.

Government reviewing transactions proposed by Virgin America involving US shareholders

ATLANTA — The Department of Transportation is reviewing transactions proposed earlier this year by Virgin America involving its U.S. shareholders, amid questions raised about whether the privately held carrier remains in compliance with U.S. citizenship rules.

Biden: White House to ‘ramp up’ economic recovery; tough jobs report includes signs of hope

WASHINGTON — Vice President Joe Biden said Friday the White House plans to “ramp up” the pace of its economic recovery efforts as the government reported the unemployment rate jumped to its highest level in over a quarter-century.

GOP senators: chances appear dim for bipartisan health deal after Obama endorses public plan

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s hopes for a bipartisan health deal seemed in jeopardy Thursday as GOP senators protested his renewed support for a new public health insurance plan, and a key Democratic chairman declared that such a plan would likely be in the Senate’s bill.

NATO says roadside bombs surge by 80 percent in Afghanistan, remain top killer of troops

WASHINGTON — Insurgent use of roadside bombs in Afghanistan has surged 80 percent this year, remaining the No. 1 killer of foreign troops, a NATO official said Thursday.

Oil hits new high for the year, near $70 a barrel on weak dollar and lower jobless numbers

NEW YORK — Oil prices on Thursday set a new high for the year, buoyed by a weaker dollar and the first drop in unemployment since January.

Agriculture could become big part of solution to global warming

WASHINGTON - A new report released by the Worldwatch Institute has said that agriculture could become a big part of the solution to global warming.

Air France crash leaves trail of broken hearts across 32 countries

DUBLIN — Three young Irish doctors — one a Riverdance performer — returning from a vacation to Brazil. An American geologist and his wife headed to Europe for work and some R&R. An 11-year-old boy traveling alone on his way back to an English boarding school.

Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan and American Express sell stock with eye toward repaying TARP funds

NEW YORK — Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and American Express Co. moved closer to repaying government bailout money, announcing a series of new stock sales.

Deep Dhillion making waves in acting world

AMRITSAR - Known for his robust acting performances in various films and serials Deep Dhillion is today a well known face. Though he has appeared in negative roles in reel life, he is actually a thorough gentleman in real life.

Brett Lee assures Indian students’ safety in Australia

NEW DELHI - Amid concerns over safety of Indian students in Australia after a series of racist attacks on some of them, an Australian university has fielded cricketer Brett Lee, who is very popular in India, to assure the Indian student community of a safe and secure environment to study in his country.

Tetris celebrates 25th birthday this week

LONDON - Tetris, the much-loved computer block game, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this week.

US transportation secretary praises Spain’s bullet train system as model to follow

MADRID — Spain’s bullet train system is a model to follow as America plans how to spend the money the government is injecting to stimulate the economy, the U.S. transportation secretary said Saturday.

Bristol Palin’s dad asked her to dump Levi Johnston and get a car: Mag

NEW YORK - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s husband Todd asked daughter Bristol to dump Levi Johnston and get a car, a magazine has claimed.

Baalu finds no support from DMK, Karunanidhi family for cabinet berth

NEW DELHI - DMK leader T.R. Baalu served as central minister for nearly a decade in two governments, but he is not likely to find a berth in the new central cabinet as no one in his party or party chief M. Karunanidhi’s family is backing him this time.

India readies for new government, knives out in opposition

NEW DELHI - India’s victorious ruling coalition Sunday prepared to usher in a new multi-party government under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as opposition parties, decimated by the electoral rout, began a familiar blame game.