Americans prefer Obama over Romney for White House: Poll

WASHINGTON, July 25: Almost 49 percent Americans prefer to vote for President Barack Obama in the White House race, according to a new poll.

According to The Wall Street Journal and NBC poll, Republican contender Mitt Romney is preferred by almost 43 percent Americans.

In the presidential race, Obama leads Romney by six percentage points among Americans, the Politico reports. In a smaller sample of registered voters living in 12 battleground states (Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin), the incumbent president’s lead over Romney by eight points, 49 to 41, which is essentially unchanged from June.

But among high-interest voters across the country, those indicating a “9” or “10” in interest on a 10-point scale, Romney edges Obama by two points, 48 percent to 46 percent. What remains remarkable about this presidential contest, according to the NBC/WSJ pollsters, is how stable it has been, despite everything that has occurred in the past month.

For example: The U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding Obama’s health care overhaul; the June jobs report, which showed that just 80,000 jobs were created last month; and the daily campaign attacks and counterattacks (including snipes over Obama’s business views, Romney’s unreleased tax returns, and the Republican’s time at Bain Capital).

The pollsters tell NBC and the Journal that the race is getting more polarized as the campaign turns more and more harshly negative. That's notable because of what it means for the playing field the candidates are competing on, but also may shed some light on the Obama campaign's move this week away from acid negative ads and toward direct-to-camera messages from the candidate himself.

US regrets Indian fisherman's killing, assures full probe

NEW DELHI, July 16: The US on Tuesday regretted the loss of life of an Indian fisherman in a US Navy ship firing incident in Dubai and assured India, which termed the killing as "unfortunate", that a full probe would be conducted.

India also noted that the UAE government has filed a case in the incident which was "proceeding according to the laws of that country."

Shortly after officially confirming that a US Navy vessel fired shots at a fishing vessel near the port of Jebel Ali in Dubai, US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell called Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai to convey her "regret for the loss of life and assured that the US Government would conduct full investigation".

Terming the killing as "unfortunate", External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, in New Delhi, said the ministry was in touch with its Ambassador in Dubai M K Lokesh, who has raised the issue with the UAE government.

"I learned from Ambassador that government of UAE has filed a case in this incident and they are proceeding according to the laws of that country," Krishna said and hoped that "necessary action" will be initiated by the US.

An Indian fisherman was killed and three others were wounded on Monday when a security team onboard a US Navy ship fired at their small boat off the Dubai coast.

The fishing boat had four Indians and two Emirate nationals on board when the incident took place at the docking point, according to an UAE official.

Meanwhile, the US embassy in New Delhi issued a brief statement claiming that the firing took place after "the vessel disregarded non-lethal warnings and rapidly approached the US ship."

However, Lokesh contradicted the US claim. "According to the survivors, there were no warnings given to them," the Indian Ambassador told.

He also said the three injured people are in hospital.

Hillary says Afghanistan 'major non-Nato ally'

KABUL, July 6: The United States has given Afghanistan the status of "major non-Nato ally". The designation, which includes countries such as Australia, Egypt and Israel, gives preferential access to US arms exports and defence co-operation.

The announcement was made by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on a surprise visit to Afghanistan.

It comes ahead of a major donors' conference in Japan, which is due to discuss aid to Kabul after most Nato-led troops leave the country in 2014.

Participants at Sunday's meeting in Tokyo are expected to commit almost $4bn (£2.6bn) in annual development assistance to Afghanistan.

The country's central back says it needs $6-7bn in aid each year, on top of $4bn for security forces.

Afghanistan is seeking firm commitments, but donors at the Tokyo conference are also seen as likely to demand guarantees from Kabul on good governance and transparency.

Ms Clinton said after talks with President Hamid Karzai that awarding Afghanistan the new status was a "powerful symbol of our commitment to Afghanistan's future".

She added: "We are not even imagining abandoning Afghanistan."

The change, which comes into effect immediately, makes it easier for Kabul to purchase US military equipment and simplifies arms export procedures.

The last country to be granted major non-Nato ally status was Pakistan in 2004.

Nato leaders meeting in Chicago in May endorsed plans to hand over combat command to Afghan forces by mid-2013. After the full Nato withdrawal in 2014, only training units will remain.

At the Chicago meeting, US President Barack Obama issued a pledge that the United States would not abandon Afghanistan.

Earlier in May, Mr Obama and Mr Karzai signed a 10-year strategic partnership agreement outlining military and civil ties between the countries after 2014.

There are fears the pullout could lead to Afghanistan sliding back into chaos, destroy its fragile economic recovery and reduce international donors' willingness to provide aid.

Taliban and other insurgents have stepped up attacks in recent months.

Krishna in Washington for third 'Strategic Dialogue'

WASHINGTON, June 12: External Affairs Min S M Krishna arrived in Washington to hold the third Strategic Dialogue with his counterpart Hillary Clinton, during which the two sides are expected to discuss a wide range of bilateral and regional issues.

Krishna, who would co-chair the meeting with Clinton on 13th June, is leading a high-powered delegation.

During the meet the two leaders are expected to deliberate on issues related to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Asia-Pacific region and their joint collaboration in third world countries.

Hours before Krishna arrived in Washington by a Acela train from New York, the Secretary of State set the tone for the Strategic Dialogue by saying that India has significantly reduced its dependence on Iranian oil and this would get waiver from the Iranian sanctions act of the US Congress. However, Krishna did not comment on the issue.

Krishna is accompanied by a number of top ministerial colleagues including the Minister for Science and Technology Vilasrao Deshmukh, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the Prime Minister's Public Information Infrastructure and Innovation Advisor Sam Pitroda, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath, Minister of State for Planning, S&T and Earth Sciences Ashwini Kumar.

Other members include Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai, Home Secretary R K Singh, the Director of Intelligence Bureau Nehchal Sandhu, Secretary for Higher Education Ashok Thakur and some senior officials.

On Tuesday, the External Affairs Minister is scheduled to address the annual gala of the US India Business Council (USIBC), the largest bilateral trade organisation based in Washington and the premier business advocacy organisation advancing the US-India commercial and trade ties.

"Krishna's participation will provide a boost into what has been a rewarding US-India commercial partnership these past 20 years, since India first opened its economy in 1991," USIBC president Ron Somers said in a statement.