With 4 American envoys en route, Netanyahu says Israel wants to end differences with US

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he hopes to work out key policy disagreements with the U.S. during a series of meetings this week with high-profile American envoys.

Iraqi Kurds look for change as they head to the polls in their disputed oil-rich region

SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq — Iraqis voting in Saturday’s election in the self-ruled Kurdish north expressed hope it would shake up the entrenched regional government and help reduce long-standing tension with Baghdad over oil and land disputes that threaten the country’s stability.

Chhattisgarh house adjourned for day amid uproar

RAIPUR - The Chhattisgarh assembly witnessed uproarious scenes on the first day of the monsoon session Monday and was later adjourned for the day as opposition Congress members demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Raman Singh over the July 12 Maoist attack.

Maoists kill two CPI-M activists in Lalgarh, trigger blast

LALGARH - Suspected Maoists killed two Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activists here Tuesday and triggered a landmine blast, raising questions over the effectiveness of the security operation to flush out the rebels from this area in West Bengal.

Make Babri panel report public, punish guilty: Mayawati

LUCKNOW - Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Tuesday asked the central government to make public the Liberhan Commission report on the demolition of the Babri Masjid and punish the guilty.

Money for statues should have been used for the poor: Congress

NEW DELHI - The Congress party on Monday said the money used for installing statues of Dalit icons by Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Mayawati could have been used for upliftment of the poor and backwards in the state.

10 Maoists held in Chhattisgarh for attack on police

RAIPUR - Ten suspected Maoists were arrested Friday in Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari district for their alleged role in an ambush on a police patrol early this month in which 13 people were killed.

Decision on fuel price deregulation soon: Deora (Lead)

NEW DELHI - The government is actively considering deregulation of auto fuel prices and a decision on this will be taken soon by the cabinet, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora said here Friday.

UPA is ‘Ulta Pulta’ Alliance: BJP

NEW DELHI - The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has turned into an ‘Ulta Pulta (topsy turvy) Alliance’, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Monday.

APNewsBreak: Source says community celebration planned in Vt. for hijacked captain

MONTPELIER, Vt. — A person familiar with the plans says a homecoming party is planned this weekend in Vermont for the ship captain who was taken hostage by pirates.

Jaswant arrives in Darjeeling to a rousing reception

SILIGURI - Petals were showered on and slogans of support raised for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader and Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat nominee Jaswant Singh who arrived here to a tumultuous welcome from around 2,000 Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) activists Tuesday.

BSP legislator faces charges of threatening people

LUCKNOW - A legislator of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has been booked for threatening people and a police officer during an election meeting in Uttar Pradesh, an official said Thursday.

Impostor shocks Goa Congress, media

PANAJI - Congress Goa’s unit Tuesday clarified a man, who interacted with the Goan media earlier in the day after introducing himself as the ‘political advisor’ to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, was an impostor.

Madonna’s toyboy insists he didn’t cheat on her with lingerie model

LONDON - Queen of Pop Madonna’s alleged toyboy lover Jesus Luz has claimed that he did not cheat on her with a lingerie model as his mother was close by.

Sadhu Yadav meets Sonia Gandhi in Delhi

NEW DELHI - Former leader of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Sadhu Yadav on Saturday met Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi here for first time, after his induction in the Congress party.

Central Govt. advises imposition of president’s rule in Meghalaya

NEW DELHI - A day after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance Government in Meghalaya narrowly survived a trust vote in the State Assembly, the Central Government on Wednesday recommended President’s rule in the state.

DYFI to eradicate anti-industrial lobby

KOLKATA/BHUBANESHWAR - The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), took to streets in their stronghold, Kolkata, extending support to the communist alliance, the Left Front, candidates in the forthcoming general elections.

Bangladesh to try mutineers in special court

DHAKA - The government of Bangladesh announced Saturday that it intends to prosecute members of a paramilitary border force that mutinied this week by special tribunal, as more graves of the mutineers’ victims were discovered.

14-year-old girl becomes Israel’s youngest divorcee

JERUSALEM - In what has been described as ‘the most unusual divorce on record’, the Jerusalem Rabbinic Court has expedited divorce proceedings for a 17-year-old groom and his 14-year-old bride who married recently in an unauthorised, makeshift ceremony.

Achuthanandan firm on stand against Vijayan’s march

THIRUVANANTHAPUAM - Kerala Chief Minister and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member V.S.Achuthanadan Tuesday said he has made his stand clear on his participation in the state wide march of his party arch-rival and state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.

Jammu and Kashmir high turnout due to change in people’s mindset: CEC

NEW DELHI - The high voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir’s over month-long staggered assembly elections was because of a ‘lessening of fear factor’ and a change in people’s mindset, Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami said here Sunday.

Jubilation in National Conference camp in Jammu and Kashmir

SRINAGAR - There was jubilation in the National Conference camp as the party emerged as the single largest party in another hung 87-member Jammu and Kashmir assembly.