Geithner meeting with Chinese comes at a vulnerable time for US and global economies

WASHINGTON — Timothy Geithner’s first trip to China as treasury secretary comes at a vulnerable time for the Obama administration.

Ore. certification agency orders basic training for veteran sheriff back from retirement

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon agency that certifies police officers says the sheriff of the state’s most populous county — a member of the force for nearly half his 70 years — has to go back to basic training.

After the crash, has the sun set on America’s ‘Sun Belt’?

ORLANDO, Fla. — We first heard the term decades ago: The “Sun Belt” was just starting a run of phenomenal growth — and no wonder. It conjured a sunny state of mind as well as a balmy place on the map.

Pakistani military says Taliban fled Swat’s main town; fighting has displaced about 3 million

ISLAMABAD — The Taliban have fled the Pakistani army’s advance on the main town in the Swat Valley, delivering the military a strategic prize in its offensive against militants in the country’s northwest, commanders said.

Protest against inefficient measures for cyclone Aila victims

KOLKATA - Congress Party supporters protested on Saturday against inefficient disaster management by the State authorities following cyclone Aila’s havoc in different parts of the state.

Global meltdown pushes India’s textile workers back into poverty, threatens future generation

COIMBATORE, India — The trouble began far away from the leaky concrete house and stand of banana trees that Sakunthala Radhakrishnan calls home.

Officials: North Korea appears to be preparing new long-range missile test

PANMUNJOM, Korea — Spy satellites have spotted signs that North Korea may be preparing to transport another long-range missile to a test launch site, South Korean officials said Saturday, as the U.S. defense secretary issued his harshest warning to the North since its recent nuclear test.

Analysis: North Korea nuclear test riles China, but instability fears will block tough action

BEIJING — North Korea’s nuclear test has soured relations with chief ally China, but Beijing isn’t about to take stern action that could push the North to the brink of collapse and threaten a crisis on its border.

Indian spiritual leaders go green (With Images)

NEW DELHI - Indian spiritual sects are using their wide reach to promote green causes, using the fact that preservation of natural elements is at the country’s spiritual core.

Gates warns North Korea that the U.S. will respond quickly if America is threatened

SINGAPORE — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned North Korea on Saturday that the United States would respond quickly if moves by the communist government threaten America or its Asian allies. “We will not stand idly by as North Korea builds the capability to wreak destruction on any target in Asia — or on us,” Gates said in prepared remarks to an annual international meeting of defense and security officials from Asia and the Pacific Rim.

‘Rockefeller’ friend says he duped her into being getaway driver for kidnapping

BOSTON — She knew him as Clark Rockefeller, a casual friend she met while they both took sailing lessons. They went to a couple of boat shows together, had lunch, and he introduced her to his 7-year-old daughter, Reigh.

Ahmadinejad says ‘ready’ to negotiate with US

TEHRAN - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Friday reiterated that Tehran was ready to negotiate with the US but stressed that the talks should be held under “equal conditions”.

Stocks waver after mixed economic data, but Dow on track for 3rd straight monthly gain

NEW YORK — A late day shot of adrenaline has sent stock prices soaring and given the big market indexes their third straight monthly gain.

Stock market mixed in early trading after government trims 1st-quarter GDP decline estimate

NEW YORK — Stocks are mixed after the government said the economy shrank in the first quarter at a slower pace than initially estimated.

UN commends Sri Lanka on human rights

GENEVA - The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted Wednesday a resolution which praised the government of Sri Lanka for its commitment to human rights, while condemning the Tamil Tiger rebels.

Mukherjee sets July 31 target to complete budget process

NEW DELHI - Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Wednesday said reviving India’s economic growth will be his top priority in the coming months and assured every step to complete the budget process for this fiscal by July 31.

Death, starvation haunt people marooned in Swat

PESHAWAR - For many in Pakistan’s war-torn Swat valley the choice is not between life and death, but between a death caused by bullets or bombs and a death by starvation or disease.

NASA robots may be destroying signs of life on Mars

LONDON - NASA’s robot explorers may have been destroying the signs of life on Mars, say researchers.

DMK shows the door to T.R. Baalu

CHENNAI - Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DravidaMunnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M Karunanidhi is said to have reached a compromise with senior party leaders individually at his residence here on Sunday over Cabinet portfolios.

Congress did not approach DMK on portfolios issue: Azhagiri

CHENNI/NEW DELHI - Senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader and eldest son of party supreme M. Karunanidhi, M. Azhagiri, created a political controversy of sorts on Sunday, when he said that the Congress leadership had not discussed portfolio allocation with the DMK during their meetings in New Delhi last week.

Talk as powerful neighbour, not hegemon: Dhaka media tells India

DHAKA - Congratulating Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Congress-led alliance on winning a second term in office, sections of Bangladesh media have said this is a good augury for development of positive relations within South Asia.

Michelle Obama still unchanged in her new role as First Lady

CHICAGO - US First Lady Michelle Obama says that she has not changed much from her days before she moved to the White House.

Hamilton admits he is not perfect

LONDON - Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has put his nightmare start to the season behind him, admitting that he is not perfect.

Shibu Soren’s elder son Durga dies in sleep

RANCHI - Durga Soren, the elder son of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren, died in his sleep in his Bokaro home Thursday. He was 39.

Prabhakaran surrounded by government troops, claims Lankan army

COLOMBO - The Sri Lankan Army on Monday claimed that Liberation of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, is alive and surrounded by government troops.

‘Modi magic’ fails to sweep Gujarat, again

GANDHINAGAR/NEW DELHI - Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, named by some as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) next prime ministerial candidate, failed to make a clean sweep in his state with the party adding only one seat to its 2004 tally.

An onion a day can help keep hay fever at bay

LONDON - Onion may hold the key to beating hay fever, says a new study.

Dutch researchers say onion skins contain quercetin, a potent natural anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory shown to help hay fever sufferers.

Finland calls for joint Nordic membership in G-20, more say in international affairs

HELSINKI — The five Nordic countries should have more say in international affairs, including a joint seat in the Group of 20, Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said Thursday.

Police: NY man accused of killing mom, who helped found mattress company, had argued with her

MINEOLA, N.Y. — The adult son of a national mattress retailer accused of murdering his mother had argued with her the night before she was found dead inside her Long Island home, a homicide detective said Thursday.

Calif. fire officials lift last remaining evacuation order for Santa Barbara County wildfire

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Fire officials have lifted the final evacuation order for a wildfire that destroyed dozens of homes in Southern California’s Santa Barbara County.