Irene: Obama warns storm still dangerous

US President Barack Obama has warned that flooding and power cuts are still a risk as Tropical Storm Irene moves away north towards Canada.

The storm, downgraded from a hurricane, passed New York on Sunday but Mr Obama said the danger was not yet over as swollen rivers could burst their banks.

More than 300,000 people evacuated from low-lying areas in New York City are being allowed back home.

The storm has killed at least 18 people and caused extensive damage.

More than three million people have been left without power in New Jersey, Connecticut and New York.

Manhattan avoided major damage, despite some isolated flooding.

"Many Americans are still at serious risk of power outages and flooding

US accuses Iran of secret deal with Qaeda

The Obama administration accused Iran late Thursday of entering into a “secret deal” with an al-Qaeda offshoot that provides money and recruits for attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Treasury Department designated six members of the unit as terrorists subject to US sanctions.

The US intelligence community has in the past disagreed about the extent of direct links between the Iranian government and al-Qaeda. Thursday’s allegations

At Rs 20 crore, Taj Mahal remains a top draw

NEW DELHI: The government earned Rs 87.03 crore from entrance fee at 116 centrally-protected monuments in 2010-11, out of which Rs 19.89 crore - the highest - came from footfalls at the Taj Mahal. Eight monuments in the Agra circle contributed the maximum, Rs 37.85 crore, to the kitty.

The overall income is an improvement on 2009-10 figure of Rs 78.23 crore. Agra circle's income has also gone up by more than Rs 3 crore from 2009-10.

Searching for missing passengers in E China train crash

 BEIJING, July 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Around twenty four hours have passed since the rear-end collision between two bullet trains in China's eastern Wenzhou city. While the rescue effort is still underway, many people are anxiously trying to make contact with families and friends who were aboard the derailed trains.

Since the train derailment on Saturday night, Wen Zhou city's Number 23 Middle School has been transformed into a temporary evacuation center.

Most uninjured passengers have reached their final destinations with the local government's help. So the school now serves as an information center for families and friends of injured and missing passengers.

Major hospitals in the area have sent staff with updated information from the injured passengers to share with their families and friends. But some people are still missing.

Strong 6.5 quake hits Japan

A strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit northern Japan on Saturday, but there were no reports of damage and no danger of a major tsunami, geologists said.
  
The quake struck at 1:34 pm (0434 GMT) off the Pacific coast of Miyagi prefecture, around the same area as the giant March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the United States Geological Survey said.

  
The Japan Meteorological Agency estimated the magnitude at 6.5.
  
The epicentre was 125 kilometres (77 miles) northeast of Sendai city, Miyagi's capital, the USGS said, estimating its depth at 35.7 kilometres.