WASHINGTON - The United States says it has stepped up anti-terror cooperation with India, Pakistan and Afghanistan as Pakistan based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), blamed for 26/11 Mumbai attacks, posed a threat to all four nations.

Maoists blow up mobile phone tower in Orissa

BHUBANESWAR - Maoists have blown up a mobile phone tower in Orissa’s Malkangiri district, police said Friday.

Pakistan blocks 10.2 million unverified mobile phones

ISLAMABAD - In a massive crackdown against the use of mobile phones in terrorist activities, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked 10.2 million SIM cards due to non-verification of the identity of their users.

Chile’s cardinal confirms church, prosecutor investigating priest accused of abusing young men

Three injured in car bomb blast in Northern Ireland

LONDON - Three people have been injured in a car bomb explosion outside a police station in Newtownhamilton in Northern Ireland, Xinhua reported Friday.

Court dismisses murder conviction of Marine serving 14 years for killing Iraqi man

Texas executes man convicted of killing El Paso high school senior in 2000 robbery, rape

California appeals court denies appeals by Roman Polanski, victim, to end decades-old sex case

Former Ohio pediatrician in prison for sex crimes involving ex-patients pleads to child porn

Lawsuit claims Vatican official got letter from victim on Wis. abuse earlier than known before

Social work contractor gets 7 years in Philly case linked to disabled teen’s starvation death

San Diego judge denies families’ request to keep their daughters’ murder cases sealed

SEC accuses former NFL player, others of committing fraud with Detroit-area pension money

NY rights group sues government to stop arrests of photographers outside public buildings

Media-savvy Mississippi white supremacist found dead; Authorities make an arrest

Police say DNA sample from DWI defendant matches 3 NY killings from ’80s and ’90s

Ohio’s highest court orders judge removed from trial of man accused of killing 11 women

Mexico church bars priest with 1989 Colorado sex conviction

Cardinal defends church on sex abuse, says then-Cardinal Ratzinger party to controversial note

Qwest, a scrappy little company with big ambitions, ends a Denver era with sale to CenturyTel

Man charged in slaying of 1 of 3 Hollywood family members killed since 2008

Irish bishop resigns as Vatican moves to get rid of prelates tainted by abuse scandal

Media-savvy Mississippi white supremacist found dead; Authorities investigating as homicide

Jury acquits murder suspect in 34-year-old killing on South Dakota Indian reservation

Jury finds man not guilty in 34-year-old slaying on South Dakota Indian reservation

Officials: 11 suspected pirates heading for Norfolk, Va., to stand trial in the United States

Man charged with murder in Los Angeles restaurant shooting that killed 4, injured 2

California appeals court denies petition by Roman Polanski’s victim to dismiss sex case

Ex-youth prison official convicted of sexually abusing teenage inmate at West Texas lockup

Officials: 11 pirate suspects heading for Norfolk, Va to stand trial in the United States

US attorney charges former protector of whistle-blowers for allegedly withholding information

Key events in the history of Qwest Communications

Vatican: Rome had no role in abuse of deaf children; new lawsuit is PR stunt without merit

Man arrested in slaying of 1 of 3 Hollywood family members killed since 2008

Mass. man convicted in 1983 rape he denies makes 4th parole request after 27 years in prison

Blagojevich asks judge to subpoena Obama to testify at ex-Ill. governor’s corruption trial

U.S. President Barack Obama joins Martha Coakley

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Jack Kevorkian honored by HBO film yet says it won’t spur much action on assisted suicide

Kevorkian: Assisted suicide ‘discussed to death’

Blagojevich wants to call Obama as witness at corruption trial

Lawsuit against pope, Vatican reveals more correspondence about accused Wisconsin priest

Suit against pope, Vatican details Wisconsin abuse

Trucker who fatally shot abortion protester, businessman in Michigan gets life prison sentence

Man who killed abortion protester gets life term

Watchdog accuses La. Sen. Vitter of taking illegal campaign donations from Calif. company

Watchdog: Senator took illegal campaign donations

Georgian president confirms uranium seizure, blames Russia; Moscow denies involvement

Official: Brother of suspected Calif cafe shooter also present during attack but did not fire

Official: Brothers both present in cafe shooting

Goldman Sachs exec at the center SEC fraud charges to appear before Senate probe next week

Goldman exec in alleged fraud to testify on Hill

New Hampshire teenager fends off would-be robbers after one hurls piggy bank at him

Would-be NH robbers use green piggy bank as weapon

Philadelphia firefighter, son charged with beating man to death after traffic dispute

Philly firefighter, son charged in road rage death

Mexico City area shootout leads to arrest of major alleged drug trafficker

Alleged top drug dealer caught near Mexico City

India reacts to terror alerts, says it’s vigilant (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI - In the wake of a string of terror alerts and travel advisories by the US, Britain, Australia and Canada, India Thursday said the government was taking all necessary precautions to safeguard the security of people.

Ill. man files lawsuit against pope, Vatican officials over alleged abuse by Wis. priest

Ill. man sues Vatican, pope over Wis. abuse case

US-based human rights group urges Saudi Arabia to release prisoners who have served sentences

HRW: Saudi should free prisoners who ended terms