Notwithstanding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s description of the Maoist insurgency as the gravest internal threat faced by India, the government seems unsure about how to proceed against the leftwing rebels. As a result, the Maoists seem to have gained the upper hand at present, carrying out their acts of depredation - killing security personnel and blowing up railway lines - with impunity while the government gives the impression of helplessness.

Another Pakistani arrested in Times Square bombing case

ISLAMABAD - Authorities in Pakistan have arrested the son of a prominent catering company owner in connection with the failed Times Square bombing case, US and Pakistani officials said.

Southern California parents get long sentences for death of neglected diabetic daughter

Bolivian general who caught ‘Che’ Guevara gets house arrest in alleged plot against president

Anti-government man, son identified as pair who killed Ark. officers during traffic stop

Obama administration picks Washington lawyer for second-in-command at Justice Department

Gunmen attack investigators’ car in Russia

Moscow, May 22 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Unidentified gunmen attacked a car carrying investigators in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia late Friday, police said.

Man found guilty in death of Vermont professor, fatally shot as he was sitting down to eat

Guilty verdict in death of Vermont professor

Calif. jury acquits man in fatal shooting of up-and-coming rapper at crowded Los Angeles mall

Calif. jury acquits man in killing of rapper

Ala. high court says attorney general can’t take reins of casino-fighting task force

Ala governor gets victory in fight against casinos

Gov. Quinn says Gitmo detainees in Ill. ‘less likely’ but still wants to sell prison to feds

Gov. Quinn: Gitmo detainees in Ill. ‘less likely’

Los Angeles Kings assistant coach Mark Hardy arrested in DC on sexual abuse charge

Kings assistant Hardy arrested on sex-abuse charge

Virginia man gets 3 months in prison for disrupting cross-country flight diverted to Colorado

Man gets 3 months in prison for disrupting flight

Grand jury dismisses charges in deadly NYC subway stabbing; man said he was defending himself

Grand jury dismisses charges in NY subway stabbing

Taliban denies reports on talks with Afghan government

KABUL - The Taliban has rejected media reports which said the militant outfit held talks with the Afghanistan government in the Maldives.

Driver toting school kids to Ohio amusement park crashes bus into ditch, charged with DUI

Bus driver toting kids to Ohio park accused of DUI

US warns of catering firm terror threat in Pakistan as 6 arrested over NY bombing plot

Embassy caterer among 6 arrested in NY bomb plot

18-year-old accused of having sex with 12-year-old girl who went missing, found dead this week

Police: 18-year-old had sex with 12-year-old girl

Spain hands down 1,000-year terms to bombers

Madrid, May 22 (IANS/EFE) Spain’s National Court has handed down sentences of more than 1,000 years each to three members of a terrorist group found responsible for a 2006 bombing that left two people dead.

Sheriff says he had warned officers about former Ohio man killed in Arkansas police shootout

Sheriff: Former Ohio man killed in Ark. shootout

911 transcript reveals work between police, Greyhound official to stem NH bomb scare

Police, bus cooperation revealed in NH bomb scare

27 killed, 71 hurt in Iraq attacks

BAGHDAD - A series of attacks across Iraq left at least 27 people dead and 71 wounded Friday, according to security and government sources.

Case of Mo. man who gave al-Qaida money shows the struggle in stemming cash flow to terrorists

Mo. case shows it’s hard stopping al-Qaida money

Medical marijuana is facing a backlash; civic leaders complain of an overdose of pot shops

Drug overdose: Medical marijuana facing a backlash

NC Gov. Beverly Perdue pardons former longtime prisoner who was absolved of murder conviction

NC governor pardons man absolved in murder case

Los Angeles Kings assistant coach Mark Hardy arrested in DC on sex-abuse charge

Kings assistant arrested on sex-abuse charge in DC

Police in Colorado comb through “mountain of evidence” in death of 12-year-old girl

Police in Colo comb through “mountain of evidence”

Judge orders 2 units of Johnson & Johnson to pay more than $81 million for Topamax violations

Pharmaceutical firms sentenced on Topamax

BOSTON — A federal judge in Boston has ordered two subsidiaries of pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson to pay more than $81 million after pleading guilty to illegally promoting the epilepsy drug Topamax for psychiatric uses.

Texas man pleads guilty in ND court to defrauding investors out of millions

Man pleads guilty to bilking investors

FARGO, N.D. — A Texas man accused of masterminding a scheme to defraud investors from North Dakota and elsewhere out of millions of dollars pleaded guilty to wire fraud Friday.

Gun taken from distraught JetBlue pilot after threatening harm ‘in spectacular fashion’

Gun taken from angry JetBlue pilot before flight

UN chief urges tough measures for countries and rebels that persistently use child soldiers

UN chief urges action against child soldiers

Ex-hedge fund boss in NYC sent to prison for more than 2 years in record inside trade case

NYC judge blasts Wall Street greed at sentencing

Former vice president at RI workers’ compensation insurer acquitted of insurance fraud

Former vice president at RI insurer acquitted

Convicted sex offender who fled Napa County held for San Diego-area knife attacks

Sex offender held for San Diego-area knife attacks

AP sources: James R. Clapper leading candidate for top intelligence post

President Barack Obama speaks briefly on Afghanistan

more images

Brazil judge orders arrest of Polish priest suspected of sexually abusing former alter boy

Brazil orders Polish priest arrested in abuse case

Woman sentenced to prison in state, federal courts in Elizabeth Smart kidnapping, related case

Woman sentenced in Smart abduction, related case

AP sources: Pentagon official seen as top candidate as intelligence director

President Barack Obama hosts a press conference

White House: Obama interviewing “well-qualified” candidates for top intelligence post

Mothers of 3 Americans jailed in Iran leave without immediate release of their children

Moms leave Iran, but jailed Americans not freed

Police don’t know why men who fatally shot 2 officers then died in shootout were in Arkansas

Little known about 2 men killed by police in Ark.

Investigators say no foul play in death of girl found in her bed after 9 day search

Autopsy: girl smothered in bed, found 9 days later

Judge rejects motion by ‘Bling ring’ suspect to suppress statements to police

‘Bling ring’ suspect loses motion

LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles judge has rejected a defense motion to suppress statements made to police by a suspect in a spate of celebrity burglaries.

Paris judge defers decision on whether to release Noriega before trial

Paris judge defers decision on Noriega release

Lindsay Lohan expected in court Monday after her return from Cannes

Lindsay Lohan expected in court Monday

LOS ANGELES — Lindsay Lohan is expected in court next week after missing a mandatory hearing on Thursday.

Five blasts rattle Lahore’s red light area (Second Lead)

ISLAMABAD - A militant organisation Friday claimed responsibility for a series of low-level blasts that rocked a red light area in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore and injured three people.

Mass. State Police take gun from JetBlue pilot after being told he made threat

Police take gun from JetBlue pilot

BOSTON — Massachusetts State Police said Friday that they took a gun off a JetBlue pilot at Logan International Airport after he allegedly told an acquaintance he might harm himself.

Federal judge sentences woman to 15 years in prison in Elizabeth Smart kidnapping case

Woman sentenced to prison in Elizabeth Smart case