Washington  - A key gauge of US economic performance dropped 0.5 per cent in August, a larger fall than forecast, in another sign of a slowing US economy just weeks before the financial crisis that has struck Wall Street.

The New York-based Conference Board's index fell for the third time in the last four months amid an economic downturn in the world's largest economy. The index, which examines economic performance over the coming three to six months, fell 0.7 per cent in July, its sharpest drop in nearly a year.

Washington- US President George W Bush on Thursday defended the "extraordinary measures" taken by the government to address a growing financial crisis in the past week, but warned the danger was not yet over.

Speaking after an emergency White House meeting with his economic advisors, Bush promised the government would continue taking necessary actions "to strengthen and stabilize our financial markets and improve investor confidence."

Washington, Sep 18 : India will play a crucial role in America’s relations with Asia under Republican presidential candidate John McCain if he gets elected as the next US President, said Ashley Tellis, adviser on Asia Policy to McCain campaign.

Speaking to ANI in Washington, Tellis who is Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said that for McCain campaign, India becomes a crucial factor in ensuring an open Asia.

New York - Massive US insurance firm AIG is beginning to consider the sell-off of its assets following the Federal Reserve's 85-billion-dollar rescue loan, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

The Federal Reserve moved dramatically on Wednesday to rescue American International Group, taking on 80 per cent of the firm's shares in return for the loan. AIG is the world's largest insurance group.

The firm has received the loan in order to buy time for an orderly sale of assets, rather than dump them at fire sale prices, the newspaper said.

Nouakchott  - The al-Qaeda terrorist network on Wednesday claimed responsibility for an attack on a Mauritanian military unit three days ago.

In a letter published on Islamist websites, al-Qaeda claimed the "jihadist brigades of Yahya Dshawadi, Prince of the Desert" had assaulted the soldiers near Zouerat in northern Mauritania and taken two of them hostage, among them a captain.

Initially, 12 soldiers had been reported missing after the attack.

Tehran  - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday declared his readiness to have a televised debate with the two US presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain.

"I have no intention to officially meet American officials in New York, but I am ready for a televised debate with the two US presidential candidates at the UN," Ahmadinejad said at a press conference in Tehran.

"I had the same intention with [President George W] Bush," he said, referring to his two requests for such an encounter. They were rejected by the White House as propaganda.