Giant star may be used to measure distances up to 300 million light years and beyond

WASHINGTON - Scientists from Ohio State University have found a way to measure distances to objects three times farther away in outer space than previously possible, by discovering that a rare type of giant star could make an excellent signpost for distances up to 300 million light years and beyond.

Obama promises to quicken economic recovery this summer, create or save more than 600,000 jobs

WASHINGTON — Eager to show action on the ailing economy, President Barack Obama promised Monday to speed federal money into hundreds of public works projects this summer, vowing that 600,000 jobs would be created or saved.

Mexican emigration drops 13 percent in 1st quarter; more Mexicans coming home than leaving

MEXICO CITY — A government survey finds Mexican emigration dropped 13 percent in the first quarter of 2009 — an ongoing trend as the U.S. economic recession discourages Mexicans from crossing the border in search of work.

Oil surges to new high for the year, climbing above $68 a barrel as Asian stock markets gain

SINGAPORE — Oil prices blew past $68 a barrel Monday, rising to a new high for the year, helped by gains in Asian stock markets amid hopes that the global slump is easing.

AP group’s survey finds editors fretting about quality of coverage amid mass cutbacks

SAN FRANCISCO — Nearly three-quarters of U.S. newspaper executives responding to a recent survey said their ability to inform readers has diminished with their steadily shrinking staffs.

UK opposition leader orders party leader to pay back excessive expenses

LONDON — Britain’s primary opposition leader banned members of his party Tuesday from filing expense claims for food and household items amid public outrage after lawmakers sought reimbursements for items such as swimming pool construction and tennis court upkeep.

Japan’s beleaguered opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa resigns ahead of elections

TOKYO — Japan’s top opposition leader announced Monday that he will resign to keep a political funding scandal from pulling down his party in upcoming parliamentary elections.

‘Indian homes have more beds than mattresses’

NEW DELHI - Indians are gradually waking up to the joys of an affluent lifestyle with greater penetration of durable and consumer goods even though floor space at home is at a premium, says a new consumers’ primer.

Obama’s education secretary to seek input on No Child Left Behind law

WASHINGTON — Education Secretary Arne Duncan is a man on a mission: to hear what teachers, students and parents in at least 15 states think about No Child Left Behind, the controversial education law championed by former President George W. Bush.

Meltdown 101: What is the Conference Board, and why does its Consumer Confidence Index matter?

NEW YORK — The closely watched Consumer Confidence Index soared in April to the highest level seen since November, according to the Conference Board, which puts out this measure of public sentiment each month.

RBI paints grim picture ahead of policy review

MUMBAI - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has painted a bleak forecast for the economy in its macro-economic report released Monday, saying business expectations for the coming months were ‘less than optimistic’ and that economic growth would continue to be moderate on account of the global financial crisis.

My deal an acknowledgement to non-fiction: Ramchandra Guha

NEW DELHI - Author Ramchandra Guha, has who clinched a Rs.97 lakh deal with Penguin India for seven books, feels that the ‘amount paid by the publisher is an acknowledgement of the imbalance that exists between fiction and non-fiction’.

Civic agency to protect 44 more Delhi streets against sealing

NEW DELHI - In an attempt to safeguard interests of 10,000 shopkeepers of the capital, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Tuesday announced that 44 additional pedestrian, commercial and mixed use streets will be protected from sealing.

British interest rates cut to 315-year low

LONDON - The Bank of England Thursday cut the base rate of interest by half a percentage point to an all-time low of 1.5 percent in an effort to bring down inflation and kick-start moribund credit flows.

Kerala recreating Salim Ali’s famous bird survey

MUNNAR - Exactly this day 75 years ago, India’s best-known birdman Salim Ali started a survey that is still considered a benchmark in ornithology. A group of bird lovers is restarting the same survey from the same spot Saturday.