Officials: Suicide bomber kills at least 2 soldiers in Pakistani part of Kashmir

ISLAMABAD — A suicide bomber blew himself up early Friday near an army vehicle, killing at least two soldiers in the first such assault in Pakistan’s part of divided Kashmir, the military said, marking a possible escalation in the militant campaign against security forces.

Hundreds gather in front of Michael Jackson’s childhood home in Gary, Ind.

GARY, Ind. — Fans formed a prayer circle on the front yard of Michael Jackson’s modest childhood home Thursday and hundreds more crowded the street after word spread that the “King of Pop” and Gary native had died.

MGM Mirage ex-CEO Lanni paid $5.8M in 2008, successor Murren paid $3.7M, mostly as COO

LAS VEGAS — Former MGM Mirage Chief Executive Terry Lanni received compensation valued by the company at $5.8 million in 2008, almost 40 percent less than in 2007, according to an Associated Press analysis of a regulatory filing made Thursday.

EPA says Monsanto mine discharges violate law even as co. wants new mine for Roundup supply

BOISE, Idaho — Federal regulators said Thursday an Idaho mine that Monsanto Co. depends on to make its Roundup weed killer has violated federal and state water quality laws almost since it opened, sending selenium and other heavy metals into the region’s waterways.

Disgraced South Carolina governor seeks to do damage control; politicians call for resignation

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford admits he used taxpayer money to see his mistress in Argentina and plans to repay the cash.

Feds probe 2 reported malfunctions involving same type plane as in Air France crash

WASHINGTON — Federal safety officials said Thursday they are investigating two incidents in which airspeed and altitude indications in the cockpits of Airbus A330 planes may have malfunctioned, including one that took place ten days before the same type of plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean killing all 228 aboard.

Senator declares $1 trillion, 10-year health bill achievable

WASHINGTON — Senators working to give President Barack Obama a comprehensive health care overhaul said Thursday they had figured out how to pare back the complex legislation to keep costs from crashing through a $1 trillion, 10-year ceiling.

Honduran president says he will not obey Supreme Court order to reinstate fired military chief

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — The Honduran president vowed Thursday to ignore a Supreme Court ruling ordering him to reinstate the military chief he fired, escalating a showdown that has threatened the leftist leader’s hold on power.

AP source: GM to build new subcompact at Orion Township, Mich., factory, bypassing Tenn., Wis.

DETROIT — Michigan has won the high-stakes competition with two other states to build General Motors Corp.’s next-generation subcompact car, a person briefed on the decision said Thursday.

Obama says he’s committed to working with Congress to overhaul immigration laws

WASHINGTON — Launching a fresh effort toward a comprehensive immigration overhaul, President Barack Obama said Thursday that a bipartisan bill on the “sensitive and volatile political issue” will be difficult but must get under way this year.

Italy hopes G8 ministers will rebuke Iran at Trieste; US and Moscow measure response

TRIESTE, Italy — Foreign ministers of Group of Eight countries are seeking to find a common position on Iran’s violent crackdown on protesters as they open a meeting in this northeastern Italian city.

Hackers post message supporting Iranian regime on Oregon University System home page

PORTLAND, Ore. — Hackers defaced the home page of the Oregon University System, posting a caustic message telling President Barack Obama to mind his own business and stop talking about the disputed Iranian election.

Conn. church creates stir by trying to cast out teen’s ‘homosexual demons,’ posting video

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — The video shows the 16-year-old boy lying on the floor, his body convulsing, as elders of a small Connecticut church cast a “homosexual demon” from his body.

Hyundai CEO: ‘Flexible’ gas tax that keeps pump prices stable would ease consumer uncertainty

NEW YORK — Consumers remain skittish about buying new cars not just because gas is getting more expensive, but because they have no idea which direction prices will go next, Hyundai’s top U.S. executive said, calling for a flexible gas tax designed to keep pump prices stable.

Russia, China join international pressure on North Korea to return to nuclear talks

MOSCOW — Russia and China expressed serious concern Wednesday about tension on the Korean peninsula and, in the face of North Korea’s rhetoric, joined international pressure for it to return to nuclear talks.

World markets fall as US manufacturing data knocks recovery confidence; Japan off 2.9 pct

BANGKOK — World stock markets fell Tuesday, with Japan’s benchmark tumbling nearly 3 percent, after weak U.S. manufacturing figures knocked confidence in a quick recovery from global recession.

Italy, US break up hacking group that may have financed terrorists in Southeast Asia

ROME — Italian and U.S. authorities have broken up an international group that hacked into long-distance phone lines and may have provided funds to terrorists in Southeast Asia, officials said Monday.

Judge: Accused Holocaust Museum shooter can’t appear in court for the next week

WASHINGTON — A white supremacist accused of fatally shooting a security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum is in no condition to appear in court, a federal judge ruled Monday.

Defense ministers discuss Afghanistan before NATO meeting

HOUTHEM-SINT GERLACH, Netherlands — Defense ministers from eight nations discussed their troops’ progress in battling the Taliban-led insurgency in southern Afghanistan before a NATO meeting Thursday.

Fiat closes deal for bulk of Chrysler assets, clears path for Chrysler to emerge from Chap. 11

DETROIT — Italy’s Fiat is the new owner of most of Chrysler’s assets, closing a deal Wednesday that saves the troubled U.S. automaker from liquidation and places a new company in the hands of Fiat’s CEO.

Procter & Gamble names McDonald to succeed CEO Lafley, who stays as chairman

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble Co. said Wednesday it chose 29-year company veteran Bob McDonald, citing his broad global experience, to lead the world’s largest consumer-products company.

UN: Situation in Somalia worsening, 100,000 forced to flee due to ‘daily’ atrocities

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalis are experiencing near-daily atrocities, including rape, the shelling of civilian areas and fighting that has forced more than 100,000 to flee their homes since May, the U.N. refugee agency said Tuesday.

Officials: Pakistanis in northwest kill 11 Taliban to avenge mosque blast

ISLAMABAD — Hundreds of Pakistani tribesmen furious over a deadly suicide bombing at a mosque laid siege to several Taliban strongholds in their troubled northwestern region, killing at least 11 militants, officials said Sunday.

Obama to pay tribute to D-Day’s heroes, discuss Iran and Mideast with French president

CAEN, France — President Barack Obama turns Saturday to the icons and heroes of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, paying tribute to a feat that cemented the trans-Atlantic alliance in a bid to shore up today’s U.S.-Europe relationship.

Charges dropped in dragging death of black man in Texas; prosecutor says evidence lacking

DALLAS — Murder charges were dropped at the prosecution’s request Thursday in the dragging death of a black man in east Texas, and the two white men who had been accused of killing him were released from jail.

AP News in Brief

Obama says he’ll accept Nobel Peace Prize as ‘call to action’ toward peace and prosperity

Delta Air Lines postpones flights to Kenya, Liberia; US needs more time to consider plans

ATLANTA — Delta Air Lines Inc. had to scrap its much-anticipated inaugural flight Tuesday from the U.S. to Kenya because the U.S. government says it won’t allow the world’s largest airline operator to serve that route until security concerns in and around Nairobi are resolved.

NKorea prepares at least 4 missiles at launch pads as Kim reportedly anoints successor

PANMUNJOM, Korea — North Korea is believed to have begun assembling a long-range missile capable of reaching Alaska, a news report said Wednesday, as the communist regime prepared to test-fire a barrage of missiles from both coasts.

Web pirates, motorcyclist and dancing prince hot candidates in European elections

Record low turnout is expected for the June 4-7 elections for the European Parliament, giving fringe candidates a better chance of winning seats. Here is a look at some of the most eye-catching and buzz-making candidates and parties around Europe.

Netanyahu rejects US calls for West Bank settlement freeze as ‘unreasonable’

HAVAT GILAD, West Bank — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday rejected President Barack Obama’s demand for a freeze on West Bank Jewish settlement construction, but his government’s move to dismantle some squatter camps set off a rampage by Jewish settlers against Palestinians.