Zardari, Manmohan meet; agree on foreign-secretary level talks

YEKATERINBURG ( June 16, 2009, 16:48 ) :The eight-month long Pakistan-India stalled peace process got a fresh lease of life as President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met here on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Analysis: The changing fight in Pakistan

What I am finding on this visit is as alarming as it is reassuring, CNN's Nic Robertson says. Checkpoints are becoming more common, but so are Taliban attacks. The government's commitment to defeating the Taliban appears as firm as it was when it began the Swat offensive during my last visit. But as the contours of the fight become clearer, the prospect of a swift victory looks ever more distant

Missing teen's family pushes on

The parents of a California teen who disappeared on her way to school in February have closed the center that was the staging ground for search efforts, citing a lack of volunteers and a shift in direction. But the parents of 14-year-old Amber DuBois say the search will continue with a small group of dedicated volunteers.

Anti-war campaigners slam 'secret' Iraq probe

Anti-war protesters have criticized a decision by the UK government to hold an investigation into Britain's involvement in the Iraq war behind closed doors.

Student attacks stoke India-Australia tensions

The Australian government says the nation is safe, but a recent spate of vicious attacks on Indian students has parents and hundreds of students shaken and angry.

State media: 7 killed in attack in Tehran

Seven people were killed after they attacked a military post in central Tehran, state television has said. The news came as Iranian presidential candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi told followers he would "pay any cost" to contest the country's election results. Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama said he was "deeply troubled" by the violence, but said it was "up to Iranians to decide" who Iran's leaders will be.

Oil prices below 70 dollars in Asian trade

SINGAPORE ( 2009-06-16 09:47:18 ) :Oil prices fell below 70 dollars in Asian trade Tuesday, mirroring a dive on Wall Street amid a strengthening US dollar, but traders were closely watching developments in Iran, analysts said.New York's main futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in July, shed 69 cents to 69.93 dollars a barrel.Brent North Sea crude for August delivery eased 66 cents to 69.58 dollars. The July contract expired on Monday.A strengthening greenback as well as losses on Wall Street sparked the pullback in oil, analysts said."The firmer tone of the US dollar and declines on US equity markets were negatives for the oil price," the Commonwealth Bank of Australia said in its daily commodities report.A stronger dollar makes crude more expensive for buyers holding weaker currencies and that in turn tends to dampen demand and push the market lower.The US currency particularly rose against the euro Monday following a spike in eurozone job losses and fresh concerns the credit crunch could stifle tentative signs of recovery there.Traders are also "likely monitoring political developments in Iran," which is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), the report added, referring to violent post-election protests in Tehran.Iran is traditionally a price hawk among Opec members and is usually the leading advocate of a cut in production."The unrest if it continues will attract the attention of oil traders," said Phil Flynn of Alaron Trading.