America's top General in Afghanistan has briefed President Barack Obama and his cabinet on "progress" made in the first big offensive there following a surge in the US forces, the White House said.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday delivered a stinging rebuke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his government's announcement this week of new Jewish housing in east Jerusalem, calling it "a deeply negative signal" for the Mideast peace process and ties with the US.

A resolution of Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan would no longer satisfy Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the terrorist outfit responsible for 26/11 and attack on Indian Parliament would continue to pose a serious threat to both India and the western world, top experts have told American lawmakers.

US today slammed China for its "poor" human rights record of repressing Tibetans and other ethnic minorities, prompting an angry reaction from Beijing, which accused Washington of hypocrisy and blamed it for the global economic crisis.

Tiger Woods intends to remain out of golf at least until the Masters, two people with knowledge of his plans told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The ISI continues to maintain links with Lashkar-e-Taiba, the terrorist outfit responsible for 26/11, and Islamabad is reluctant to take action against its leaders and its network, several eminent US scholars and experts of South Asia have categorically told US lawmakers.

A US court today again turned down the bail plea of terror suspect Tahawwur Rana, accused of plotting terror attacks in India at the behest of LeT.

Observing that the future of Afghanistan has a regional dimension, the Obama Administration has hoped that Iran would play a constructive role in bringing long-term peace and stability in the war-torn country.

Taking aim at the US, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today that it's the United States that is playing a "double game" in Afghanistan, fighting terrorists it once supported.

The U.S. government and an international human rights group called Tuesday for Nigeria to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the deaths of more than 200 unarmed people in renewed violence between Christians and Muslims.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates got a closer view of the Afghanistan war Tuesday, with a visit to troops fighting the Taliban in the country's rugged south.

World stock markets gained Monday as a better-than-expected report about the U.S. job market lifted confidence in the economic recovery.

Iraqis defied insurgents who lobbed hand grenades at voters and bombed a polling station on Sunday in an attempt to intimidate those taking part in elections that will determine whether their country can overcome deep sectarian divides as US forces prepare to leave.

China said on Sunday that it is up to the United States to improve relations that soured over US arms sales to Taiwan and a meeting between President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama.

The man who opened fire in front of the Pentagon had a history of mental illness and had become so erratic that his parents reached out to local authorities weeks ago with a warning that he was unstable and might have a gun, authorities said on Friday.

A new directive from NATO's top commander in Afghanistan orders coalition forces to avoid night raids when possible, but to bring Afghan troops with them if they must enter homes after dark.

GM executives said on Friday that the dealerships - more than half of those seeking to stay with the automaker - will receive letters giving them the option to remain open.

The Academy Awards have a tiresome habit of calling the annual Oscar telecast "Hollywood's biggest night." This year the Oscarcast could prove to be a pretty big night for television, too.

India has a significant role to play in all major global challenges, a top Obama Administration official has said.

Asian stock markets rose on Friday amid optimism ahead of a key US jobs report, and as China said it will target economic growth of 8 percent this year.

China's Premier Wen Jiabao promised strong growth this year, and said the government will combat inflation and risks to banks to keep the rebound in the world's third-largest economy on track.

A gunman coolly drew a weapon from his pocket and opened fire at the teeming subway entrance to the Pentagon complex on Thursday evening, wounding two police officers before being shot and critically wounded, officials said.

The Pakistani intelligence agency ISI knows the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden but is keeping his location a secret and wants to use the al Qaida chief as leverage over the US.

The US will partner public and private sectors to support and modernise the Indian aviation sector, American Ambassador to the country Timothy J Roemer said in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday witnessed an interesting passage of arms when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh intervened repeatedly and rejected BJP leader L K Advani's charge that US pressure was behind India's decision to talk to Pakistan.