NKorea threatens to harm US if attacked; Obama says US is prepared for any contingencies

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea reminded the U.S. on Monday that it has nuclear weapons and warned it will strike back if attacked, as a U.S. destroyer continued to trail a North Korean cargo ship suspected of carrying illicit weapons.

South Korea’s president says North Korea’s nuclear quest could spawn destabilizing arms race

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea’s quest for nuclear weapons could spawn a destabilizing arms race in Asia that would threaten world security, South Korea’s president warned Friday.

US boosts defense of Hawaii to counter reported threat of North Korean missile test

SEOUL, South Korea — The United States says it has deployed anti-missile defenses around Hawaii, following reports that North Korea is preparing to fire its most advanced ballistic missile in that direction to coincide with the U.S. Independence Day holiday next month.

Gates says the US has positioned more missile defense around Hawaii as a precaution

WASHINGTON — The United States has positioned more missile defenses around Hawaii as a precaution against a possible North Korean launch across the Pacific, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday. “We do have some concerns if they were to launch a missile to the west in the direction of Hawaii,” Gates said.

Gates says US concerned North Korean might fire missile toward Hawaii, defenses in place

WASHINGTON — The United States has positioned more missile defenses around Hawaii as a precaution against a possible North Korean launch across the Pacific, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday.

Analysts: NKorea’s chemical weapons as threatening as nuclear arsenal

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea’s massive stockpile of chemical weapons is as threatening as its nuclear program, analysts said Thursday, highlighting an aspect of the secretive regime’s pursuit of weapons of mass destruction that is rarely talked about.

Gunmen toss grenade at taco stand in central Mexico, killing 2

MORELIA, Mexico — Gunmen tossed a fragmentation grenade and fired on a crowded taco stand Thursday in the central Mexican city of Uruapan, killing a police officer and a 15-year-old boy. Four others were injured.

AP News in Brief

Obama says he’ll accept Nobel Peace Prize as ‘call to action’ toward peace and prosperity

US embassies to invite Iranian diplomats to July 4 festivities in new outreach

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras — In a new overture to Iran, the Obama administration has authorized U.S. embassies around the world to invite Iranian officials to Independence Day parties they host on or around July 4th.

Overseas Congress to press for NRI MPs

NEW DELHI - A significant section of Indians settled in Britain say they will contribute more to India’s development now that the Congress has won the elections to form a stable government, but is lobbying for two nominated NRI members in parliament.

AP Sources: White House tells industry it’s leaning toward Fed becoming financial supercop

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve could become the supercop for “too big to fail” companies capable of causing another financial meltdown under a proposal being seriously considered by the White House.

Israel marks Independence Day; leaders note absence of peace, persistent threats

JERUSALEM — In a jarring contrast, Israel switched moods Tuesday evening from a somber Memorial Day for fallen soldiers to a joyous Independence Day celebrating 61 years since the Jewish state was created, but the absence of Mideast peace weighed on the festivities.

Israel marks annual Memorial Day for fallen soldiers; leaders warn of threats to nation

JERUSALEM — Israel paused as air raid sirens wailed Monday evening, marking the beginning of the nation’s annual Memorial Day for fallen soldiers, and leaders warned that the Jewish state still faces threats to its existence.

A rape-cum-murder convict invites apex court’s wrath

NEW DELHI - A Tamil Nadu resident, sentenced to life in jail for raping his brother’s wife and then burning her alive along with her 13-month-old child to screen his horrendous crime, Friday ended up inviting the Supreme Court’s wrath for challenging his conviction.

Getting sharks to act in ‘Blue’ was not easy: Director

NEW DELHI - Even if directing three Bollywood macho men, two sizzling beauties and one Australian pop diva didn’t seem a tough bet for debut director Anthony D’Souza, wielding the megaphone for 40 sharks for an underwater action sequence for ‘Blue’ surely gave him jitters.

‘Blue’, ‘London Dreams’ set to clash Aug 14

MUMBAI - It will be a clash of the Titans. Two of the biggest films of the year, Vipul Shah’s ‘London Dreams’ and director Anthony D’Souza’s ‘Blue’, are set to release on the same day - Aug 14.

Post-mutiny Dhaka cancels Independence Day parade

DHAKA - The Bangladesh government Thursday cancelled the national parade to mark its 39th Independence Day as part of the security measures in the wake of last month’s mutiny by Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) troopers.

Canada calls for Sri Lanka truce as Tamils hold candlelight vigils

TORONTO - Tamil Canadians observed Sri Lanka’s Independence Day as a ‘protest day’ by holding candlelight vigils even as the nation’s parliament held an emergency debate on the situation.

Shutdown over Sri Lankan tangle remains largely peaceful

CHENNAI - A 12-hour shutdown called by some opposition parties in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Wednesday to protest civilian deaths in Sri Lanka ended peacefully though over 1,100 protestors were arrested amid sporadic incidents of violence.

Sri Lanka strike hits Puducherry, life normal in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI - More than 1,100 protestors were arrested in Tamil Nadu Wednesday to foil an opposition-sponsored strike against civilian deaths in Sri Lanka that seriously hit life in neighbouring Puducherry.

Sri Lanka strike hits Puducherry, life normal in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI - More than 500 protestors were arrested in Tamil Nadu Wednesday to foil an opposition-sponsored strike against civilian deaths in Sri Lanka that seriously hit life in neighbouring Puducherry.

Tamils to march on Canada’s parliament, stage candlelight vigils

TORONTO - Tamils in Canada will march on the nation’s parliament and take out candlelight vigils across cities to mark Sri Lanka’s Independence Day Wednesday in protest against “genocide” in the island nation.

Lawyers protest attacks on Sri Lankan Tamils

CHENNAI - More than 5,000 lawyers across Tamil Nadu Monday staged protests denouncing Sri Lanka’s war against the Tamil Tigers which they said had caused civilian deaths and suffering.

Watch out for India’s largest, tallest tricolour

NEW DELHI - Awestruck by the towering height of the Qutb Minar? Now get ready to crane your neck at a mammoth tricolour nearly as high.

Resume peace process with Pakistan, Kashmir government to PM

SRINAGAR - The Jammu and Kashmir government Monday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to resume the stalled peace process with Pakistan saying the reconciliation between the two countries has ‘direct bearing’ on the people of the state.

Kashmir government for resuming India-Pakistan peace process (State Roundup)

JAMMU/SRINAGAR - The Jammu and Kashmir government Monday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to restart the fractured peace process with Pakistan even as Governor N.N. Vohra asked militants ‘to recognise the futility’ of their violent separatist campaign.

Security alert in Northeast as rebels call for boycott of R-Day

GUWAHATI - A maximum security alert was sounded in three of the seven northeastern states with militant groups calling for a boycott of Monday’s Republic Day celebrations, officials said.

I would pattern my political career on Obama: Sanjay Dutt (Interview)

MUMBAI - After promising Gandhigiri, actor-turned-politician Sanjay Dutt has found new inspiration in Barack Obama and he wants to model his political career after the new US president.

Each police station in Delhi to have 10 commandos

NEW DELHI - The sight of slothful, pot-bellied policemen in the Indian capital hardly makes the public feel safe. But now at least 10 constables at each police station here will be turned into commandos and equipped with AK-47 assault rifles to counter terror strikes.

He had helped Indian Army track enemy footprints during two wars (Feature)

VAV - He could identify an enemy soldier by just seeing the footprints in the desert sand in Kutch and had played a crucial role in helping the Indian Army capture border areas during the 1965 and 1971 wars. Known as ‘The old war camel’, Ranchhod Pagi, now 108, is raring to go again.