Red Cross confirms US bombing run killed Afghan civilians, reports dozens of bodies

KABUL — The international Red Cross confirmed Wednesday that civilians were found in graves and rubble where Afghan officials alleged U.S. bombs killed had dozens. The Afghan president said his first meeting with President Barack Obama would focus on the issue of civilian deaths.

Holbrooke says Pakistan not a failed state but facing enormous challenges

WASHINGTON — The U.S. needs to put the heaviest possible pressure on Pakistani allies to join U.S. efforts to counter Taliban forces, the Obama administration’s point man for the region said Tuesday.

Clinton: US seeks to restore Latin America ties to counter influence of Iran, Russia, China

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is working to improve deteriorating U.S. relations with a number of Latin American nations to counter growing Iranian, Chinese and Russian influence in the Western Hemisphere, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday.

US needs to make ‘gestures,’ not Cuba: Raul Castro

WASHINGTON - Cuban strongman Raul Castro has said that it is the United States that needs to come forward with gestures to show that it is keen on improving relations with Cuba.

Terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan rise sharply, government and analysts say

WASHINGTON — Terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan have risen sharply as extremists have consolidated and expanded operations, according to the government and independent analysts.

Russia: first full talks with US on START replacement to begin May 18 in Moscow

MOSCOW — The first full-format talks by Russia and the United States on devising a replacement for the START arms-reduction treaty will take place May 18-20 in Moscow.

White House to detail government’s response to swine flu outbreak; top officials to brief

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has received regular briefings from advisers on the swine flu outbreak and the White House readied guidance for Americans.

North Korea to try detained US journalists

SEOUL - North Korea Friday said it has concluded its investigation into the alleged illegal entry of two US journalists now detained by the Stalinist state and formally decided to put them on trial.

Fighting climate change is like losing weight: Hillary Clinton

LONDON - The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has compared the challenge of tackling climate change to her own fight to lose weight.

Sri Lanka’s army helps thousands flee war zone as president warns Tamil rebels to surrender

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The army breached one of the last Tamil Tiger rebel fortifications and freed thousands of trapped civilians, some fleeing through the neck-high water of a lagoon while bleeding or carrying wounded relatives.

Security Council to act on North Korea missile launch

NEW YORK - Held back from stronger steps by China and Russia, the UN Security Council was preparing later Monday to consider chastising North Korea for its rocket launch earlier this month.

US says elimination of extremists in FATA by Pak ‘critical’

WASHINGTON - The United States has expressed concern over reports of Taliban taking new areas under their grip in Pakistan, and has termed the issue of existence of extremist elements in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) as ‘critical’.

There will be fruitful days of cooperation with India: US

WASHINGTON - Calling India an important partner in its diplomatic agenda, the US says its looks forward to much more ‘fruitful days of cooperation’ in facing terrorism and other challenges together.

US did not ask India to pull back troops from border

WASHINGTON - The US has denied it asked or advised India to pull back its troops from the India-Pakistan border recently.

Obama to meet Chinese FM, to discuss South China Sea tensions

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is expected to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and discuss the latest confrontation between American and Chinese vessels in the South China Sea, the White House said on Wednesday. Fox News report said the announcement came just after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met Wednesday with Jiechi in a bid to ease tensions over the confrontation that occurred Sunday when Chinese vessels reportedly harassed a U.S. Navy mapping ship in international waters.

Menon holds talks with Hillary Clinton

WASHINGTON - Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Monday, beginning the first high level talks between the two countries under the Obama administration.

Russia ready for new arms reduction talks with US

MOSCOW - Russia was ready to hold talks with the new US administration on cuts in strategic offensive weapons, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

Pressured by US, Pakistan curbs A.Q. Khan’s movements

ISLAMABAD - Bowing to US pressure, Pakistan Tuesday placed fresh curbs on rogue scientist A.Q. Khan even as the man who mentored the country’s nuclear programme vowed to fight back.

US objects to release of Pakistani nuclear scientist

WASHINGTON - The release of Pakistan’s leading atomic scientist who confessed to running a nuclear smuggling network would be ‘extremely regrettable’, the US State Department said Friday.

‘Barack Obama could visit Russia in April’

MOSCOW - US President Barack Obama could pay a visit to Moscow in April, a Russian business daily said Thursday.

Bush counts ’strategic partnership with India’ as achievement

WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush counts opening ‘a new historic and strategic partnership with India’ and strengthening ties with China among major foreign policy achievements of his eight year rule.