SEC makes emergency rule targeting ‘naked’ short-selling permanent

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators on Monday made permanent an emergency rule put in at the height of last fall’s market turmoil that aims to reduce abusive short-selling.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin implicated in ethics investigation of legal defense fund

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Days before Gov. Sarah Palin is scheduled to leave office, the former vice presidential candidate is facing yet another legal distraction: An independent investigator found evidence she may have violated ethics laws by trading on her position as she sought money for lawyer fees.

States beleaguered by budget woes set to ring in Independence Day without fiscal game plan

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Several states are facing the prospect of government shutdowns and program cuts as they enter the first weekend of the fiscal year and July Fourth holiday without a budget in place.

Driver in 10-death Okla. wreck had clean record; investigation centers on why he didn’t stop

OKLAHOMA CITY — Truck driver Donald Creed had a clean record when the state of Missouri renewed his commercial driver’s license in April. Less than three months later, investigators are trying to figure out why Creed didn’t stop — and perhaps didn’t even hit the brakes — before his big rig slammed into a line of vehicles on an Oklahoma turnpike, a collision that killed 10 people.

Bill Clinton undertakes payback campaign tour

WASHINGTON - Bill Clinton’s headlong jump into the 2010 election cycle to support his family’s long term supporters might have gone unnoticed, but the former US president has deployed all his political star power to campaign for allies in eight states.

Australia to open help line for Indian victims of racist attacks

MELBOURNE - The Australian and Victorian governments have decided to open a help line to assist Indian students who are victims of crime.

Astros 12, Padres 5

E_C.Burke 2 (4), K.Matsui (1). DP_San Diego 1, Houston 4. LOB_San Diego 6, Houston 9. 2B_Hairston (8), Ca.Lee (10). 3B_Pence (1), I.Rodriguez (2). HR_Gerut (4), Ad.Gonzalez (10), Headley (3), Ca.Lee (6), Tejada (2), I.Rodriguez (4). SB_K.Matsui (5), Bourn (10).

Alfonso Soriano homers twice as Chicago Cubs beat Houston Astros 8-5

HOUSTON — Alfonso Soriano homered twice to lead the Chicago Cubs to an 8-5 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday night.

White Sox 4, Rangers 3

DP_Chicago 1, Texas 1. LOB_Chicago 6, Texas 6. 2B_Thome (2), M.Young (9), An.Jones (6). 3B_Getz (1), Andrus (2). HR_Kinsler (8). SF_Kinsler.

Pithy, popular Carol Ann Duffy chosen as Britain’s first female poet laureate

LONDON — The centuries-old post of British poet laureate, bard to kings and queens, has been held by William Wordsworth, Alfred Lord Tennyson and Ted Hughes — but never, until Friday, by a woman.

US raises questions over Pak military’s capability to counter extremism

LAHORE - The United States while expressing serious concerns over the Pakistan Government’s decision to implement Islamic law is Swat Valley has raised questions over Pakistan army’s capability to counter insurgency inside the country.