Two arrested for throwing objects at White House

Washington:  The US Secret Service Thursday arrested two men for throwing objects at the White House, the perimeter around which was locked down for an hour as a precaution.

The suspects were identified as Evan J. Graham and Vaughn Greenbrier Lerriche, according to NBC television.

Graham threw over the north fence of the presidential mansion an object that looked like a cassette tape and Lerriche threw various papers over the south fence.

Pak concerns over Indian role in Afghanistan not groundless: US

WASHINGTON: In an acknowledgement of Pakistan’s concerns over India’s presence in Afghanistan, US Special Representative James Dobbins has said Islamabad’s fears are “not groundless”.

The US diplomat, in an interview with the BBC Urdu Service in Washington, recognised the cross-border infiltration of hostile elements into Pakistan from the Afghan side.

China exported arms worth $11 billion in 5 years, Pakistan major buyer: Pentagon

WASHINGTON: Asserting that China has signed agreements for arms exports worth USD 11 billion from 2007 to 2011, the Pentagon has said that Pakistan remains Beijing's primary customer for conventional weapons.

China's cyber spying targets US government: Pentagon

WASHINGTON: China has engaged in widespread cyber espionage in a bid to extract information about the US government's foreign policy and military plans, said a Pentagon report issued Monday.

China kept up a steady campaign of hacking in 2012 that included attempts to target US government computer networks, which could provide Beijing a better insight into America's policy deliberations and military capabilities, according to the Pentagon's annual assessment of China's military.

Obama to contribute 5% of his salary to US Treasury

WASHINGTON: At a time when US is facing economic strain and automatic budgetary cuts is in place, US President Barack Obama will return five per cent of his salary amounting to USD 20,000 to the Department of Treasury.

The salary of the US President is USD 400,000 per annum (over Rs 2 crore) and in a show of solidarity he will return USD 20,000 (over Rs 10 lakh).

"Obama instructed his staff he wanted to do this when the sequester took effect," White House press secretary Jay Carney said yesterday.

Three Indian brothers get US award for combating violence against women

WASHINGTON: Three brothers from India have received the prestigious Vital Voices Global Leadership Award from US vice president Joe Biden for their humanitarian working to end violence against women.

The three, Ravi, Rishi and Nishi Kant, who started the nongovernmental organization Shakti Vahini to fight injustice against women in 2001, received a "Solidarity Award" for their work at the annual Kennedy Centre event on Tuesday.