Pakistan public opinion turns against Taliban, giving army upper hand against militants

ISLAMABAD — The footage was chilling — a woman crying out in pain, held face-down on the ground, as a man with a long beard flogged her in front of a crowd.

US sends envoy to Nepal

KATHMANDU - The new Barack Obama government sent its first envoy to Nepal Friday with US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake arriving here for consultations with the republic’s key political players.

Indians and Chinese coming hard at US: Obama

WASHINGTON - Warning that the Chinese and the Indians were coming hard at the US in an increasingly competitive world, President Barack Obama has called for an improvement of the American education system to help US regain its pre-eminence.

Officials: 88-year-old white supremacist charged with murder in Holocaust museum shooting

WASHINGTON — An 88-year-old white supremacist has been charged with murder for killing the security guard who had opened the door to let him into the U.S. Holocaust Memorial and Museum, officials said Thursday.

Senate pauses Thurs. to mourn Holocaust museum guard slain in ‘horrifying tragedy’

WASHINGTON — The Senate has opened its session with a tribute to the Holocaust Museum guard slain at his post by a gunman. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called it a “terrible and horrifying tragedy.”

US Authorities: Suspected Holocaust Museum gunman to be charged with murder

WASHINGTON — An 88-year-old white supremacist has been charged with murder for killing the security guard who had opened the door to let him into the U.S. Holocaust Memorial and Museum, officials said Thursday.

Kenya files piracy charges against 17 Somali men handed over by US Navy

MOMBASA, Kenya — Kenya charged 17 Somali men with piracy on Thursday, a day after the U.S. Navy handed them over to authorities in this East African nation.

India unhappy with Bonn climate talks

BONN - The preparatory talks here on a global deal to tackle climate change are in an “unsatisfactory state”, Indian delegation leader Shyam Saran said Thursday on the penultimate day of the June 1-12 conclave.

World stocks get lift from improvement in US retail sales, jobless claims

LONDON — European and U.S. stock markets rose Thursday after more encouraging U.S. economic data and despite worries about the risks to recovery posed by a rise in government bond yields and oil prices.

Obama writes to ‘absolutely critical country’ India (Lead)

WASHINGTON - Underscoring the importance of working closely with India, “an absolutely critical country” in the region, US President Barack Obama has despatched a personal letter to New Delhi through a top envoy.

India to ban human habitation near tiger reserves

BANGALORE - Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh has said that human habitation near tiger reserves would be completely banned.

Mitchell: Peace includes Syria, Lebanon

JERUSALEM - The Obama administration has said that its Middle East peace plan will not be restricted to only about peace between Israel and the Palestinians, but will also include both Syria and Lebanon.

Obamas see West End performance of Lion King to celebrate Sasha’s 8th birthday

WASHINGTON - U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama celebrated her daughter Sasha’s 8th birthday by taking her family to see the West End performance of Disney’s The Lion King on Tuesday.

India wants good relations with Pakistan, says S M Krishna

NEW DELHI - India on Wednesday reiterated that it wanted “good neighbourly relations with Pakistan,” provided Islamabad took steps to stem militant attacks targeting India.

New US amendment asks Pak to reform its counter terrorism policies

WASHINGTON - A new US amendment moved in the Congress, asks Pakistan to reform its counter terrorism policies to thwart threats by the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

Women learn self defense in Bangalore

BANGALORE - Following a spurt in attacks on women in metros, self-defence training is being imparted to women in Bangalore.

India is an ‘absolutely critical country’ for US

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama has despatched a personal letter to New Delhi making it clear that India is “an absolutely critical country” with which Washington is keen to work, a top official has said.

Technology, bank shares boost Wall Street

NEW YORK - Technology and bank stocks led most shares up on Wall Street Tuesday.

Financial stocks were buoyed by news that 10 of the largest US banks which received emergency government bail-out funds at the height of the financial crisis last year have been authorised to repay the money.

41 bodies recovered from Air France crash site (Lead)

RIO DE JANEIRO/PARIS - Recovery teams have pulled an additional 17 bodies out of the Atlantic Ocean off Brazil, bringing the total number of bodies retrieved after last week’s Air France plane crash to 41.

Zimbabwe’s PM urges US to continue support as country transitions toward democracy

WASHINGTON — Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is urging the United States to support his government despite abuses by his coalition partner, President Robert Mugabe.

US secretary of state: Obama to put women, girls first in fight against AIDS

WINDHOEK, Namibia — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the Obama administration will put women and girls first in the fight against AIDS.

Rising oil prices and inflation concerns have investors selling

NEW YORK — Airline stocks dropped in Wednesday midday trading, as oil prices headed higher and investors grew wary of inflation waiting in the wings.a

Nets CEO defends decision to jettison design of architect Frank Gehry

NEW YORK — The chief executive of the Nets defended his team’s decision to jettison architect Frank Gehry’s design for a new arena in Brooklyn and replace it with a more conventional and less costly option.

India is a major foreign policy priority for the United States: Burns

NEW DELHI - US Under Secretary of State William Burns on Wednesday said that the United States of America considers India as a major foreign policy priority.

Searchers head back into NC Slim Jim plant after explosion to reach 2nd body, find worker

GARNER, N.C. — Crews in protective suits headed back into a collapsed Slim Jim factory through the roof Wednesday in an effort to reach a second body and find a missing worker after an unexplained blast ripped through the plant.

Obama invokes Jesus more than Bush

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama has mentioned Jesus Christ in a number of high-profile public speeches, something his predecessor George W. Bush rarely did, reports Politico.

Pink-winged moth identified as entirely new species by biologist

WASHINGTON - A biologist has discovered a pink-winged moth in the Chiracahua Mountains in the US, which is an entirely different species from an entirely different family.

Judge focuses on potential relocation fee as key to solving Coyotes bankruptcy case

PHOENIX — A relocation fee imposed by the NHL could ruin Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie’s bid to buy the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes and move them to Hamilton, Ontario.

Militant’s grenade explodes in crowd, but angry Afghans still blame US

ASADABAD, Afghanistan — A Russian-made grenade exploded in a crowd milling around a U.S. military vehicle crash in a busy town center in northeastern Afghanistan, killing two Afghans and wounding more than 50 people, including three U.S. troops, officials said Tuesday.

House panel divided on oversight for complex financial instruments; key lawmaker urges balance

WASHINGTON — Debate on new oversight for complex financial instruments moved to the House on Tuesday as lawmakers struggle to determine how tight the government reins on a massive global market should be.