Washington  - US President Barack Obama headed to a small manufacturing town in Indiana to build support for an unprecedented 800-billion-dollar economic recovery package that faced a key vote in the US Senate Monday.

Obama was to hold a townhall meeting with about 1,700 residents of Elkhart, Indiana, where unemployment has surged to more than 15 per cent in the last year as the wider economy suffers a serious recession.

Islamabad  - US Special Representative Richard Holbrooke arrived in Pakistan on Monday for talks on ways to tackle Taliban militancy in Afghanistan.

Holbrooke, who was recently named by US President Barack Obama as his envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, flew into Islamabad from Munich where he told a security conference that "new ideas and better coordination" were needed to fight the Taliban.

The diplomat was scheduled to met Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Army Chief of Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani during his four-day visit.

Washington/Islamabad, Feb. 9 : There has been considerable adverse reaction in the West to the Islamabad High Court's decision to free tainted Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan from five years of house arrest for selling nuclear secrets.

However, according to Pakistani officials, an agreement has been reached between Khan''s lawyers and the government to limit his movements and monitor his telephone calls, visitors and activities.

The ministry has also agreed to prohibit his travel abroad, but will provide him all security.

Washington, Feb. 9 : In a town where networking has been developed to a fine art, black Washington is clamoring for the Obamas.

According to the Washington Post, the election of the first black president is seen by many African Americans as their chance to finally sit at the table. And they want the seat right next to the Obamas.

Their invitations have been as straightforward as letters to the White House, as indirect as a carefully placed hint through a friend with connections to the first couple.

Washington, Feb. 9 : An Islamabad-based defense analyst, Ayesha Siddiqa, has said the United States has very few options in Pakistan.

Speaking ahead of the visit of Richard C. Holbrooke to Pakistan, the Washington Post quoted her as saying: "It (the United States) could increase economic aid rather than military aid to its ally, or resurrect George W. Bush''s ''with us or against us'' rhetoric and put greater pressure on Pakistan to deliver."

New York, Feb 9 : American R&B/pop singer songwriter Usher's wife Tameka is reportedly suffering plastic surgery complications in Brazil.