Suicide bomber’s ploy to skip through security at UN office in Pakistan _ he needed a bathroom

ISLAMABAD — A suicide bomber who killed five staffers at the U.N. food agency’s headquarters in Pakistan on Monday was dressed as a security officer and allowed to enter the heavily guarded building after he asked to use the bathroom.

Krishna to meet PM Wednesday on more aid to flood-hit Karnataka

BANGALORE - External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said Monday he would prevail upon Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi to grant more relief to flood-hit Karnataka from the National Calamity Contingency Fund.

Karnataka, Andhra seek Rs.16,000 crore as floods wreak havoc (Roundup)

BANGALORE/HYDERABAD - Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh Monday sought immediate central assistance of Rs.16,000 crore for rehabilitation work as large parts of the states were hit by torrential rain and flash floods that killed over 240 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless.

Suicide bomber kills 5 at UN food program offices in Pakistani capital

Suicide bomber kills 5 at UN office in Pakistan

Flood situation easing in Karnataka, still grim in Andhra (Roundup)

BANGALORE/HYDERABAD - Respite from rains Sunday improved the situation in flood-hit north Karnataka but surging waters from an overflowing Krishna river threatened to inundate coastal districts of Vijayawada and Guntur in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, senior officials said.

Russians are world’s worst tourists, suggests poll

LONDON - The world’s worst holidaymaker poll suggests that Russians are the worst tourists in the world.

Taiwan’s president puts death toll at 500 as criticism of his typhoon response rises

CISHAN, Taiwan — Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou sharply raised the expected death toll from Typhoon Morakot on Friday to more than 500, amid mounting criticism of his handling of the worst storm to strike the island in over 50 years.

Small businesses anxious about costs of government’s new lead-safety rules to keep kids safe

WASHINGTON — Tighter limits on the amount of lead the government allows in children’s products and a requirement for new tracking labels are stirring fear among small business owners, already hurting in a tough economy.

Exchange operators Nasdaq, BATS to voluntarily eliminate flash order offering Sept. 1

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The operators of the Nasdaq and BATS stock exchanges said Thursday they will stop a practice that gives some brokerages a split-second advantage in buying or selling stocks.

Orissa flash floods toll 36, hundreds rescued

BHUBANESWAR - The flash floods that were triggered by heavy monsoon rains continued to play havoc in Orissa with the death toll climbing to 36 on Monday and officials rescuing hundreds of victims.

Astronaut Ed White, actor Jimmy Stewart to be inducted into National Aviation Hall of Fame

DAYTON, Ohio — Edward White, who made America’s first spacewalk and later died in a spacecraft fire, is among the latest aviation and space pioneers scheduled to be inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

India offers $2 mn to Bhutan flood victims

NEW DELHI - India Thursday pledged $2 million for the victims of flash floods in Bhutan and offered its full support to Thimphu to host the 16th Saarc summit in April next year.

Suicide blast destroys luxury Pakistan hotel, aid workers among at least 9 dead

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Investigators searched a wrecked luxury hotel in northwestern Pakistan for evidence Wednesday after a deadly suicide bombing the U.N. condemned as a “heinous terrorist attack.”

NZ police retrieve body of slain officer, as armed siege continues

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A loud explosion and gunshots rang out early Saturday as New Zealand police continued to surrounded the home of a man who has held authorities at bay for two days after allegedly killing a police officer.

Bhupathi and Knowles fail to stop Bryan twins in final

MELBOURNE - India’s Mahesh Bhupathi failed to add to his four men’s Grand Slam doubles title when he and Mark Knowles fizzled out after a great start to lose the Australian Open final to American twins Bob and Mike Bryan here Saturday.