Washington, Oct 2: US President George W Bush today hailed the Senate's approval of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal and said that it would strengthen global efforts to stall the spread of nuclear weapons.

In a statement Bush said, "This legislation will strengthen our global nuclear nonproliferation efforts, protect the environment, create jobs, and assist India in meeting its growing energy needs in a responsible manner."

He also said that he was looking forward to sign the bill into law and continue to strengthen the US-India strategic partnership.

Washington, Oct 2: The United States Senate approved the landmark Indo-US civil nuclear deal early on Thursday morning.

The 100-member US Senate approved the Indo-US nuclear deal paving the way for its operationalisation. While 86 Senators voted for the deal, 13 opposed it.

The US Senate approved the legislation on the deal four days after the US House of Representatives passed the agreement by a clear majority (298-117 votes).

The Berman Bill “H R 7081” is named after Howard Berman, a Democrat strongly opposed to the deal on non-proliferation grounds but who subsequently change his stance.

Washington - Lowering expectations before a political debate is an old trick to make the outcome seem more positive.

Ahead of Thursday's debate between the vice-presidential candidates, expectations are indeed very low.

Following the initial enthusiasm after they were picked a month back, Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Sarah Palin have seemed to compete for who can commit the worst mistakes - Palin for her poor oratory or Biden for his excessive oratory.

Washington - The US Senate overwhelmingly approved an agreement on Wednesday allowing the United States to sell civilian nuclear technology and material to India, green-lighting the landmark accord for President George W Bush's signature.

The Senate voted 86-13 on the nuclear sharing agreement, reversing more than 30 years of US policy in exchange for international inspections of India's civilian nuclear energy programme. The House of Representatives passed the measure in a 298-117 vote on Saturday.

San Francisco - A new search was launched Wednesday for missing and presumed-dead adventurer Steve Fossett after hikers in the Sierra Nevada Mountains discovered ID cards, clothes and some 1,000 dollars in cash that appeared to belong to him, authorities said.

Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration in Los Angeles, confirmed that the copy of a pilot's license he had received matched Fossett's details.

"The certificate number and date of issue on the document in the photo matches the information we have for Mr Fossett in our database," he said.

Washington - Barely a month after her spectacular entrance into national politics as the Republican vice-presidential candidate, Sarah Palin has gone from shaking up the campaign to being the preferred object of mockery of critics around the United States.

"Pathetic," one commentator called her on CNN.

"Governor, bow out," wrote another in Newsweek.

The histrionic TV satire Saturday Night Live is enjoying a second youth based on imitating the Alaska governor.