Egyptian minister urges Israel to release 1,000 Palestinians in return for Israeli soldiersUNITED NATIONS — Egypt’s foreign minister urged Israel on Friday to release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for an Israeli soldier captured in 2006. Witness: Census worker’s body was naked, gagged, hands and feet bound with duct tapeBIG CREEK, Ky. — A part-time census worker found hanging in a rural Kentucky cemetery was naked, gagged and had his hands and feet bound with duct tape, said an Ohio man who discovered the body two weeks ago. Serbia seeks to host anniversary summit marking 50 years of Nonaligned MovementUNITED NATIONS — Serbia is proposing to host a summit of the 120-member Nonaligned Movement, which has angered the United States with its opposition to the invasion of Iraq and its support for Iran and Cuba. Ascension of G-20 trades 20th-century alignment for the priorities of a new centuryPITTSBURGH — For the world, apparently, eight is no longer enough. UN condemns ‘intimidation’ against Brazilian embassy in Honduras where ousted-pres is hidingUNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council on Friday condemned “acts of intimidation” against the Brazilian embassy in Honduras, where that country’s ousted president is holed up, but said nothing about restoring him to power. Pakistan’s president gives UN speech alongside portrait of slain wife BhuttoUNITED NATIONS — Pakistan is beginning to claw its way out of the clutches of terrorists and religious extremists after decades of violence, President Asif Ali Zardari said Friday, with a portrait of his assassinated wife, Benazir Bhutto, by his side. Iranian President Ahadinejad says new enrichment facility not operational for 18 monthsNEW YORK — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Friday his country has complied with U.N. rules that require it to inform the world body’s nuclear agency six months before a uranium enrichment facility becomes operational. Coroner: ‘Fed’ written in felt-tip pen on Ky. Census worker found hanging from treeBIG CREEK, Ky. — Authorities said a U.S. Census worker died by asphyxiation but were releasing few other details about the mysterious case nearly two weeks after Bill Sparkman’s body — with the word “fed” scrawled on the chest — was found hanging from a tree near a family cemetery secluded by Appalachian forest. Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe blames troubles on U.S.-led Western embargoUNITED NATIONS — Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe slammed the United States and Europe on Friday for what he called “filthy clandestine antics” for keeping economic sanctions clamped on his authoritarian nation, even though he now presides over a coalition government. Chavez, Gadhafi aim to boost ‘South-South’ ties at Africa-South America summitPORLAMAR, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Libyan ally Moammar Gadhafi on Saturday urged their counterparts from throughout Africa and South America to join them in forming a strong biregional union to counteract what they call a legacy of poverty left by the “empires of the North.” Asphyxiation ruled cause of death for Census taker found with ‘fed’ written on chestBIG CREEK, Ky. — Authorities said a U.S. Census worker died by asphyxiation but were releasing few other details about the mysterious case nearly two weeks after Bill Sparkman’s body — with the word “fed” scrawled on the chest — was found hanging from a tree near a family cemetery secluded by Appalachian forest. Japan’s new leader tests diplomatic skills on first trip abroad, gets mixed reviewsTOKYO — Before Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama took office, diplomacy was seen as his weakest point. Now, he can’t seem to get enough of it. Census taker turned up dead in region where government workers should tread cautiouslyBIG CREEK, Ky. — A census worker found hanged from a tree with the word “fed” scrawled on his chest met his end in a corner of Appalachia with an abundance of meth labs and marijuana fields — and a reputation for mistrusting government that dates back to the days of moonshiners and “revenuers.” Quartet of Mideast peacemakers lauds Obama’s initiativeUNITED NATIONS — The Quartet of Mideast peacemakers says President Barack Obama’s meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas represents an important step toward the resumption of peace talks. Gadhafi says he dropped weapons ambitions as he grew wiser, says Iran shouldn’t have bombNEW YORK — Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi said Thursday, in a rare appearance before a U.S. audience, that he evolved from a firebrand revolutionary into a seasoned ruler over four decades in power, contributing to his decision six years ago to dismantle his country’s weapons of mass destruction. Police: US Census worker found dead in Ky. forest died of asphyxiation; had rope around neckMANCHESTER, Ky. — Kentucky State Police say a U.S. Census worker found dead near an eastern Kentucky cemetery died of asphyxiation. After missing out in 2012, Madrid feels the time is right to host 2016 OlympicsMADRID — After losing out on the 2012 Olympics, Madrid believes it is now the perfect choice to host the games in 2016. Census: Hanging death first since 1998 in which employee may have been targeted based on jobWASHINGTON — Violence against census employees is rare, the Census Bureau said Thursday, but it nevertheless trains its canvassers in how to deal with angry or hostile citizens. Netanyahu, waving designs of Auschwitz, urges world alliance against Iranian nuclear threatUNITED NATIONS — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waved designs of the most infamous Nazi death camp from a U.N. podium on Thursday, exhorting the world to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. G-8: Iran has 3 months to stop uranium enrichment, avoid new sanctionsUNITED NATIONS — Pressure deepened against Iran on Thursday when the world’s eight top economic powers gave Tehran until year’s end to cease enriching uranium or face new sanctions, but resistance from China could undermine the effort. Netanyahu: Israel seeks peace with Palestinians, world alliance against Iranian nuclear threatUNITED NATIONS — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants to make peace with the Palestinians and hopes the world will rally against the Iranian nuclear threat. World leaders gather for economic checkup; Britain’s Brown calls for greater role for G-20PITTSBURGH — Turning from outright fear to cautious optimism, world leaders descended on the comeback city of Pittsburgh Thursday to debate how to nurture a recovering but still-wobbly global economy. UN agency helping Palestinian refugees marks 60th anniversaryUNITED NATIONS — In marking its 60th anniversary Thursday, the cash-strapped U.N. aid agency for Palestinian refugees asked the world for more generous funding and a renewed push to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. UN asks for $1.5 billion to fight swine flu, but experts wonder whether it’s worth itLONDON — United Nations health officials claim in a new report they need nearly $1.5 billion to prevent the swine flu epidemic from spiraling into a global catastrophe. World leaders seek global solutions to confront multiple crisesUNITED NATIONS — Global leaders on Thursday warned colleagues that coordinated international action to end the worldwide recession and reverse climate change must not fall victim to routine political divisions and pitfalls. Palestinian leaders say fundamental disagreements with Israel prevent return to negotiationsNEW YORK — The Palestinians cannot return to peace talks at this time because of “fundamental disagreements” with Israel on what should be on the agenda, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in an interview published Thursday. Copenhagen braces for arrival of world leaders, royalty for 2016 Olympic decisionCOPENHAGEN — For a city that has never held an Olympics, Copenhagen will become an Olympic capital of sorts next week when it hosts an international meeting to decide the site for the 2016 Summer Games. US-Russian unity on sanctions would put pressure on Iran to yield on nuclear programNEW YORK — A unified U.S.-Russian stance on sanctions against Iran would put added pressure on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to yield some ground on his nation’s nuclear program. Israel’s Netanyahu welcomes Obama call for Mideast talks without preconditionsJERUSALEM — Israel’s prime minister welcomed Thursday President Barack Obama’s call for the resumption of Mideast peace talks without preconditions despite Palestinian demands for a halt to new Jewish settlements in the West Bank before any new negotiations begin. FBI checks whether US Census worker hanging in Ky. tied to his door-to-door data collectionMANCHESTER, Ky. — When Bill Sparkman told retired trooper Gilbert Acciardo that he was going door-to-door collecting census data in rural Kentucky, the former police officer drew on years of experience for a warning: “Be careful.” |