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Washington, August 14: Pakistani mistrust over U.S. intentions has “some legitimacy” since the United States has turned away from that country twice in the last three decades

and it will take time to win their confidence, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday.

His comments came in response to a new Pew Research Center survey that found 64 percent of Pakistanis see the United States as an enemy, but still 53 percent wanted improved relations.

United Nations, August 14: The UN Security Council on Thursday opted not to condemn the extended detention of Myanmar’s democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi but unanimously issued a fresh call to the military regime to free all political prisoners.

After two days of closed-door bargaining, the 15-member body could only agree on a watered-down statement expressing “serious concern at the conviction and sentencing of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and its political impact” and reiterating “the importance of the release of all political prisoners.”

Moscow, August 14: Three suspected guerrilla fighters were killed in a clash with police in Russia’s turbulent Dagestan region Friday, Russian news agencies reported.

“Police tried to stop a car near the village of Sabnava in the Derbent region, but those inside resisted and were killed in the clash,” local police were quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency as saying.

The shootout followed a Thursday attack on a police post and a local sauna in Dagestan’s town of Buinaksk, where 11 people were killed, including four policemen and seven sauna employees.

Yangon, August 14: US Senator Jim Webb is due to arrive in Myanmar on Friday, US and local officials said, planning to become the first senior American official to meet the country’s junta chief Than Shwe.

Democrat Webb is flying from Laos where he launched a two-week tour of the region on Thursday, and is expected to land in Myanmar’s administrative capital Naypyidaw at around noon (0530 GMT), US embassy spokesman Richard Mei said.

Seoul, August 14: A Seoul court has found former Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee guilty of breach of trust and handed him a suspended prison sentence.

The Seoul High Court made the ruling at a session Friday.

He was sentenced to three years in prison and fined. But he won’t go to jail if he stays out of trouble for five years.

The case centered on charges that Lee caused damage to a Samsung Group company by issuing a type of bond at below market prices.

Washington, August 14: The United States will resume a combat training mission in the republic of Georgia to prepare Georgian troops for counterinsurgency operations in Afghanistan, a U.S. Defense Department official said on Thursday.

“Georgia wants to be part of the international effort in Afghanistan. We want to help them get ready,” Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said.

The United States consulted with Russia about the training program to avoid any misunderstandings, Morrell said.

Liukuet, August 14: Taiwanese relief workers struggled to rescue 1,900 villagers still stranded Friday nearly a week after a devastating typhoon, and disaster officials said as many as 400 people may have been buried in mudslides in the worst-hit village.

Shiao Lin village was nearly wiped out when Typhoon Morakot unleashed deadly landslides in the southern mountainous region last weekend. The storm unleashed the worst floods Taiwan has seen in 50 years.

Washington, August 14: A boy journalist from south Florida finally landed his coveted interview with U.S. President Barack Obama, who fielded questions about his basketball skills, education funding, and whether students could have mangoes for lunch every day.

Damon Weaver became an Internet sensation during the 2008 presidential campaign and has long sought an interview with Obama. He even went to Washington for Obama’s inauguration in January, but was unable to get through security lines for the ceremony.

Dubai, August 13: Two more swine flu deaths have been reported in Saudi Arabia, taking the death toll by the deadly disease to 11, health officials have said.

The latest deaths were reported from Riyadh and Abha, Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Al-Mirghalani said, adding one of the deceased had heart problems while the other was old, an Arab News reported today.

Meanwhile, Kuwait has planned to identify a number of schools throughout the country for providing potential shelters in case of a swine flu outbreak.

Abuja, August 13: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton heads on Thursday to war-battered Liberia in a show of support for Africa’s only female leader, who has faced calls to step down over actions during brutal civil wars.

After a packed day of meetings and public events in regional power Nigeria, Hillary planned a less than 24-hour visit to Liberia for talks with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the second to last stop on a seven-nation tour.