WORLD NEWS
Mexico's TV channel cancels show after kidnappings
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's biggest television network canceled a popular news show to protest the kidnapping of four reporters, abductions that media advocates called an escalation of a campaign by drug gangs to control information. ...Read More
Kingpin's death could mean more violence in Mexico
MEXICO CITY (AP) — One of the world's most powerful drug cartels took a major hit when soldiers killed a top kingpin in a gunbattle, and his death will likely will mean more violence as factions fight for the cocaine and methamphetamine empire that he left behind. ...Read More
US casualties in Afghanistan soar to record highs
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — In a summer of suffering, America's military death toll in Afghanistan is rising, with back-to-back record months for U.S. losses in the grinding conflict. All signs point to more bloodshed in the months ahead, straining the already shaky international support for the war. ...Read More
US investigates threats against Mexican consulate
CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (AP) — The U.S. State Department said Friday it is evaluating threats surrounding the consulate in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez as hundreds with appointments for visa applications and other services stood outside the shuttered office wondering what to do. ...Read More
Philippines swimming in rice amid high imports
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The world's biggest rice importer, the Philippines, is now "swimming" in the staple grain because of massive imports by the previous government that drove world prices to record highs and possibly enriched corrupt officials. ...Read More
World stocks fall as data takes shine off earnings
LONDON (AP) — World markets fell Friday despite another batch of positive earnings statements in Asia and Europe as investors fretted about a key U.S. economic growth report due later. ...Read More
Saudi, Syrian leaders head to Lebanon amid tension
BEIRUT (AP) — The leaders of Syria and Saudi Arabia were heading to Beirut on Friday in an unprecedented effort to avert a crisis over expected indictments in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. ...Read More
July is deadliest month of Afghan war for US
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Three U.S. troops died in blasts in Afghanistan, bringing the death toll for July to at least 63 and surpassing the previous month's record as the deadliest for American forces in the nearly 9-year-old war. ...Read More
July the deadliest month of Afghan war for US
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — NATO announced Friday that six more U.S. troops have died in Afghanistan, bringing the death toll for July to at least 66 and surpassing the previous month's record as the deadliest for American forces in the nearly 9-year-old war. ...Read More
Top Mexican drug lord killed in clash with army
MEXICO CITY (AP) — One of the top three leaders of Mexico's most powerful drug cartel died in a gunfight with soldiers Thursday, ending the long run of a mysterious capo considered a founder of the country's massive methamphetamine trade. ...Read More
US Consulate in Ciudad Juarez closes for security
MEXICO CITY (AP) — The U.S. closed its consulate in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez on Thursday pending a security review, an unexpected decision that comes months after drug gangs killed three people tied to the consulate. ...Read More
Castro accuses US of torture in 'Cuban Five' case
HAVANA (AP) — Fidel Castro accused U.S. authorities of torturing a convicted Cuban spy, telling a meeting of communist youths that the agent had been placed in solitary confinement in California. ...Read More
Chavez: Venezuela has deployed troops amid spat
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Friday said he has deployed troops and air units in case of a conflict with neighboring Colombia. ...Read More
Settlers seize home in Jerusalem's Muslim Quarter
JERUSALEM (AP) — Jewish settlers on Thursday took over a building in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City and evicted dozens of Palestinian tenants, residents and police said, prompting a sharp protest by the top regional U.N. envoy. ...Read More
Raging Russian fires destroy homes, people flee
MOSCOW (AP) — Raging forest fires encircled a southern Russian city and tore through provincial villages Thursday, forcing mass evacuations as Moscow suffered through a record, weeks-long heat wave and smog cloud caused by peat-bog fires. ...Read More
Rain slows hunt for air crash bodies in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Anguished relatives sought the remains of loved ones killed in Pakistan's worst-ever plane crash, some grieving at a hospital collecting bodies Thursday and others joining the recovery effort at the hillside crash site laden by heavy rain and mud. ...Read More
US Embassy workers tested after suspicious letter
PARIS (AP) — Two men who work for the U.S. Embassy in Paris underwent medical tests after handling a suspicious letter Friday, but the embassy said preliminary analysis suggested it was not harmful. ...Read More
3 more US troops die in southern Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Three more U.S. troops have been killed in Afghanistan, bringing the U.S. death toll for July to at least 66 and making it the deadliest month for American forces in the nearly 9-year-war. ...Read More
Saudi, Syrian leaders make rare visit to Lebanon
BEIRUT (AP) — The leaders of Syria and Saudi Arabia launched an unprecedented effort Friday to defuse fears of violence over upcoming indictments in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. ...Read More
Mexican drug gunmen demand media run clips
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Gunmen who abducted four journalists in northern Mexico are demanding their media outlets broadcast videos apparently taped by a drug cartel that accuse officials of favoring a rival gang. ...Read More
Officials: Floods kill at least 267 in Pakistan
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — The death toll in three days of flooding in Pakistan reached at least 267 on Friday, rescue and government officials said, as rains bloated rivers, submerged villages, and triggered landslides. ...Read More
Police say 4 soldiers killed in landmine attack
GAUHATI, India (AP) — Suspected separatist rebels triggered a land mine explosion Friday that killed at least four paramilitary soldiers and injured 25 others in India's remote northeastern state of Assam, police said. ...Read More
Troops kill senior 'capo' of mighty Mexico cartel
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Soldiers killed a top leader of the Sinaloa cartel in a raid on his posh hideout, dealing the biggest blow yet to Mexico's most powerful drug gang since President Felipe Calderon launched a military offensive against organized crime in 2006. ...Read More
China criticizes Clinton comments on island chains
BEIJING (AP) — China's military on Friday criticized remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that Washington had a strong interest in seeing territorial disputes in the South China Sea resolved peacefully. ...Read More
Grenade explodes by Thai shopping mall; 1 wounded
BANGKOK (AP) — A grenade exploded near a Bangkok shopping mall early Friday, injuring one person and rattling the Thai capital less than a week after a similar blast left a bystander dead and several more hospitalized. ...Read More
Fed atty: Military secrets sold to pay for HI home
HONOLULU (AP) — A federal prosecutor said Thursday a former B-2 bomber engineer helped China design a stealth cruise missile to raise money to pay the $15,000-a-month mortgage on the mansion-like home he built on Maui's north shore. ...Read More
3 US troops die in deadliest month of Afghan war
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Three U.S. service members have been killed in Afghanistan, bringing the toll for July to at least 63 and making it the deadliest month for American forces in the nearly 9-year-war. ...Read More
Pair wanted in US woman's death deported to Panama
PANAMA CITY (AP) — A U.S. couple was deported in shackles Thursday from Nicaragua to Panama, where they face charges of killing two Americans and questioning in the disappearances of 5 other people. ...Read More
3 US troops die, deadliest month of Afghan war
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Three U.S. service members were killed in blasts in Afghanistan, bringing the toll for July to at least 63 and making it the deadliest month for American forces in the nearly 9-year-war. ...Read More
Officials: Floods kill at least 313 in Pakistan
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — The death toll in three days of flooding in Pakistan reached at least 313 on Friday, rescue and government officials said, as rains bloated rivers, submerged villages, and triggered landslides. ...Read More
Al-Qaida plants flag, burns bodies in Iraq attack
BAGHDAD (AP) — Militants flew an al-Qaida flag over a Baghdad neighborhood Thursday after killing 16 security officials and burning some of their bodies in a brazen afternoon attack that served as a grim reminder of continued insurgent strength in Iraq's capital. ...Read More
Body of 2nd Navy sailor recovered in Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The discovery of the body of a second U.S. sailor who vanished in Afghanistan last week only deepened the mystery of the men's disappearance nearly 60 miles from their base in a dangerous area controlled by the Taliban. ...Read More
US Senate hopes to quiz UK witnesses on Lockerbie
LONDON (AP) — A U.S. Senate committee wants to send members to Britain to question key witnesses on the release of the Lockerbie bomber. ...Read More
US expert: China oil spill far bigger than stated
BEIJING (AP) — China's worst known oil spill is dozens of times larger than the government has reported, and some of the oil was spilled deliberately to avoid an even larger disaster, an American expert said Friday. ...Read More
15 dead as forest fires rage south, east of Moscow
MOSCOW (AP) — Peat bog forest fires raged east and south of Moscow on Friday, destroying villages, surrounding one Russian city and killing 15 people, including three firefighters, officials said. ...Read More
Ex-students fined in SAfrica racist video case
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A South African court on Friday ordered four white former students to pay fines of nearly $3,000 each for a video they made that humiliated black university employees and drew global attention to entrenched racism on the campus. ...Read More
Saudi, Syrian leaders visit Lebanon amid tension
BEIRUT (AP) — The leaders of Syria and Saudi Arabia launched an unprecedented effort Friday to defuse fears of violence over upcoming indictments in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. ...Read More
Officials: Floods kill at least 430 in Pakistan
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — The death toll from three days of flooding in Pakistan reached at least 430 on Friday, as rains bloated rivers, submerged villages, and triggered landslides. ...Read More
25 dead as forest fires rage across Russia
MOSCOW (AP) — Forest fires raged across Russia on Friday, destroying villages, surrounding one southern city and killing at least 25 people, including three firefighters. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin consoled survivors at one smoldering village and urged officials to redouble their efforts against the blazes. ...Read More
US senator hopes to quiz UK witnesses on Lockerbie
LONDON (AP) — A U.S. senator wants to send investigators to Britain to question key witnesses on the release of the Lockerbie bomber. ...Read More
No end for Greek fuel protest, tourism slammed
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Defying an emergency government order, Greek truck drivers vowed Friday to press ahead with a strike that has halted fuel supplies across the country and is hurting tourism during the peak summer season. ...Read More
Paris police: Tear gas in letter for US Embassy
PARIS (AP) — Two men who work for the U.S. Embassy in Paris underwent medical tests after handling a suspicious letter Friday, the embassy said, and Paris police said it appeared they had been exposed to tear gas fumes. ...Read More
Floods ravage NW Pakistan, kill 430 people
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Boats and helicopters struggled to reach hundreds of thousands of villagers cut off by floods in northwest Pakistan on Friday as the government said 430 people had been killed in the deadliest such disaster to hit the region since 1929. ...Read More
Russia mobilizes army to fight fires that kill 25
MOSCOW (AP) — Vast sections of Russia were under a state of emergency Friday as more than 10,000 firefighters fought to save villages and forests from being reduced to ash and ember during the country's hottest summer on record. ...Read More
Liberia to require registration of new births
MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — Liberia's government, still recovering from a 14-year civil war and previous decades of poverty and illiteracy, said Friday it will now require all children to get birth certificates, a document most of them lack. ...Read More
Berlusconi ousts ally, says government stable
ROME (AP) — Silvio Berlusconi has split with his oldest political ally and co-founder of his party, a spectacular falling-out expected to make it harder for the premier to push disputed legislation through parliament. ...Read More
Greece turns to military to restore fuel supplies
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece said Friday it will use military trucks, navy vessels and commandeered fuel tankers to restore gasoline supplies cut by a strike that has hurt the country's industry and vital tourism trade at the height of vacation season. ...Read More
Argentine couples wed under new gay marriage law
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — After a 27-year courtship, two men on Friday became the first gay couple to wed under Argentina's historic same-sex marriage law — the first of its kind for a Latin American nation. ...Read More
Sarkozy threatens immigrants who target police
PARIS (AP) — President Nicolas Sarkozy said Friday that he wants to revoke the French citizenship of immigrants who put the lives of police officers in danger as part of a "national war" on delinquency. ...Read More
