Washington, September 17 : A team of engineers and scientists at the University of Texas at Austin, US, have shown the usage of graphene as a new carbon-based material for storing large quantities of renewable electrical energy.

They have shown that the material can be used for storing electrical charge in ultracapacitor devices, perhaps paving the way for the massive installation of renewable energies such as wind and solar power.

Islamabad, Sept 17: Taking a strong exception to the highly unusual Sept. 3 ground attack by US commandos near the Angoor Ada town, the Pakistan Army has reportedly ordered its forces to open fire at US troops if they launch another air or ground raid from across the Afghan border.

According to a Pakistan Army spokesman, the orders are certain to “heighten tensions” between Washington and Islamabad as far as the fight against terrorism is concerned. Although the ground attack was rare, there have been repeated reports of US drone aircraft striking militant targets, the latest being on Sept. 12.

Washington - The US Federal Reserve Board late Tuesday announced that it would lend up to 85 billion dollars to embattled insurance giant American International Group (AIG).

In a move to calm financial markets fearing a possible second major Wall Street bankruptcy this week, the Fed engineered an AIG bailout through a two-year loan that gives the government a stake of 79.9 per cent in the conglomerate.

"The board determined that, in current circumstances, a disorderly failure of AIG could add to already significant levels of financial market fragility and lead to substantially higher borrowing costs, reduced household wealth, and materially weaker economic performance," the Federal Reserve said in a statement.

San Francisco - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger promised to veto a long-delayed state budget proposal Tuesday, setting the stage for a major showdown with legislators who said they will override his veto.

Schwarzenegger told a news conference that he objected to the failure of the budget to include his demand for spending limits in times of surplus, so that the state could invest in a "rainy day fund."

Washington - President George W Bush on Tuesday added Bolivia to a drugs blacklist after concluding that the South American country has failed to cooperate in stemming production and trafficking of illegal narcotics.

Bolivia joins Venezuela and Myanmar - also known as Burma - as failing to meet international obligations to curb drug trafficking, Bush said in a statement released by the White House.

"I hereby designate Bolivia, Burma, and Venezuela as countries that have failed demonstrably during the previous 12 months to adhere to their obligations under international counter-narcotics agreements," Bush said.

Washington - US Senators Barack Obama and John McCain took aim at Wall Street and each other's economic policies on Tuesday, a day after stocks plummeted on news of Lehman Bros bankruptcy and a Merrill Lynch buyout.

Republican McCain called for a commission to investigate Wall Street excesses.

"In short order, we are going to put an end to the reckless conduct, corruption and unbridled greed that have caused a crisis on Wall Street," McCain said at a campaign event in Florida.