Washington, August 5: U. S. technologists have revealed that the country’s military has plans to have about 30 per cent of the Army comprised of robotic forces by approximately 2020.

Doug Few and Bill Smart of Washington University in St. Louis say that robots are increasingly taking over more soldier duties in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that the U. S. Army wants to make further additions to its robotic fleet.

They, however, also point out that the machines still need the human touch.

Washington  - The United States Monday warned that Iran would face new Security Council sanctions if it did not accept an offer of fresh talks and incentives to end its nuclear activities.

The European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana was set to receive a response from Iran Tuesday to a July 19 proposal, which offered far-reaching economic cooperation with Iran in return for a pledge from Tehran to suspend its uranium enrichment programme.

Washington - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama called on the United States to end its dependence on oil from the Middle East and Venezuela within
10 years as part of a broad speech laying out his energy plans on Monday.

Obama, who celebrated his 47th birthday Monday, said he would direct the "full resources" of government towards promoting renewable energy sources, investing 150 billion dollars over the 10-year period.

Washington  - The International Monetary Fund on Monday warned against a change in interest rates in the euro area amid record inflationary pressures, an ongoing financial crisis and a possible second round of economic shocks in the region.

Core inflation - which excludes food and energy prices that have shot up in the past year - remained "well contained" and inflation is expected to ease by the end of next year, the IMF said in an annual evaluation of the region by its board of directors.

Washington  - US President George W Bush heads to Asia later Monday for a seven-day journey that will take him to South Korea, Thailand - where he is to deliver a major policy speech and liaise with Myanmar dissidents - and finally China for the opening ceremony of the summer Olympics.

Bush was to arrive Tuesday in Seoul, where he will meet with President Lee Myung Bak, who visited the US in March at the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland. The two men are marking the 55th anniversary of US-South Korean ties.

Washington  - Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama on Sunday urged the party's credentials committee to give a full vote to the defrocked state delegations from Florida and Michigan - a move that could heal the lingering, deep divisions with narrowly defeated rival Hillary Clinton.

In a letter to the panel released by his campaign, Obama said he believed "party unity calls for the delegates from Florida and Michigan to be able to participate fully alongside the delegates from the other states and territories."