US passport resolution may be near for citizens delivered by midwives on Texas-Mexico border

McALLEN, Texas — Citizens delivered by midwives along the U.S.-Mexico border will get to reapply for passports for free under a tentative settlement with the State Department over stalled applications.

SKorean defense chief says questions remain about successor to NKorean leader Kim

SEOUL, South Korea — The decision on who will become North Korea’s next leader may not be final despite reports that Kim Jong Il has tapped his youngest son to succeed him, South Korea’s defense chief said.

US seeks return to power of deposed Honduran leader, and safety of his family meantime

WASHINGTON — U.S. diplomats are working to ensure the safety of deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and his family as they press for restoration of constitutional law and his presidency.

Officials: US to bolster efforts to train Somali forces, provide arms to foil Islamic rebels

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has decided to bolster efforts to support Somalia’s embattled government by providing money for weapons and helping the military in neighboring Djibouti train Somali forces, U.S. officials said Thursday.

US takes back Independence Day celebration invitations to Iranians

WASHINGTON - The White House has announced that it has rescinded the invitations made to Iranian diplomats, which offered a chance to party down on July 4 with US officials at embassies around the world to celebrate America’s Independence Day.

Report: North Korea’s Kim puts youngest son in charge of spy agency

SEOUL, South Korea — The youngest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has taken charge at the country’s spy agency to prepare him to inherit the leadership of the communist nation from his father, a news report said Wednesday.

Calif. budget crisis forces schools to slash programs, fire teachers, expand class sizes

RICHMOND, Calif. — California’s historic budget crisis threatens to devastate a public education system that was once considered a national model but now ranks near the bottom in school funding and academic achievement.

Clinton urges countries to combat refugee crisis, says US committed to help

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the U.S. is committed to helping the world’s 34 million refugees build safe and fulfilling lives, calling their struggle a “humanitarian emergency.”

Miss. officials approve historical marker for infamous 1964 slayings of civil rights workers

PHILADELPHIA, Miss. — Mississippi officials say a historical marker can be placed on a state highway near where three civil rights workers were murdered in 1964.

US calls on Iran to transparently resolve election dispute

WASHINGTON - The US urged Iran Wednesday to transparently resolve the dispute over its presidential election, which has sparked days of massive protests and international criticism.

Obama administration, Israel still butting heads over Jewish settlements

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration and Israel gave no ground Wednesday in their opposing views over Jewish settlements in Palestinian territory despite speculation the two sides might be nearing compromise.

US asks Spain to take in 4 inmates from Guantanamo Bay prison camp

MADRID — The United States has asked Spain to accept four prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay prison for terrorism suspects, the foreign minister said Wednesday.

Lawyers for couple accused of spying for Cuba says they should be freed for home monitoring

WASHINGTON — A husband and wife charged with three decades of spying for Cuba want a judge to let them out of jail and confine them at home, without access to their sailboat and maps of Cuban waters that prosecutors said were evidence they planned to flee to the island nation.

Obama ‘deeply troubled’ about Iran post-poll uprising

Washington, June 16 (ANI): US President Barack Obama has said that he is “deeply troubled” by the latest violent developments taking place in Iran post-elections.

Protester fatally shot after huge rally in Tehran to press vote fraud claims defies crackdown

TEHRAN, Iran — Gunfire from a pro-government militia killed one man and wounded several others Monday after hundreds of thousands of chanting opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad marched in central Tehran to support their pro-reform leader in his first public appearance since disputed elections.

EU agrees to ‘turn the page’ with the US on Guantanamo and accept detainees

LUXEMBOURG — The European Union agreed on Monday to help the administration of President Barack Obama “turn the page” on Guantanamo, saying individual EU nations will take detainees from the American prison in Cuba.

Snow, wind on mountain hamper search for NM police helicopter that crashed with 3 aboard

SANTA FE, N.M. — Rescuers on foot battled snow and strong wind Wednesday to reach a New Mexico state police helicopter carrying three people after its pilot reported it hit the side of a mountain, officials said.

Investigators seek clues to luxury hotel blast in Pakistan whose victims include aid workers

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Investigators searched a wrecked luxury hotel in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday for clues after a bold suicide bombing that killed 11 people, including aid workers, in what the U.N. condemned as a “heinous terrorist attack.”

APNewsBreak: $30 million for construction project in Iraq symbolizes inefficient spending

WASHINGTON — This is one Christmas gift U.S. taxpayers don’t need.

Support for Cuban agreement at OAS wins Obama diplomatic clout at little cost, experts say

WASHINGTON — U.S. support for ending Cuba’s nearly 50-year-old suspension from the Organization of American States has given the Obama administration greater clout in the region at little cost, according to diplomats and experts.

Obama’s Mideast envoy to visit Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Palestinians and likely Syria next week

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration’s envoy for Mideast peace is leaving Sunday on a trip to the region, following President Barack Obama’s call in Cairo for renewed efforts to restart peace talks.

North Korea conducts second nuclear test (Lead)

SEOUL - North Korea said Monday it “successfully” conducted a nuclear test, following up on earlier threats issued after the UN Security Council criticised a rocket launch by the Stalinist state.

‘US trusts Pak’s ability to protect its nuke weapons’

WASHINGTON - The United States has expressed full faith in the Government of Pakistan after President Asif Ali Zardari assured Washington that Islamabad is fully capable of protecting its nuclear weapons. We were assured by President Zardari that they have complete command and control of the nuclear weapons in Pakistan. We have full faith and confidence in President Zardari,” US State Department spokesperson Ian Kelly said.

Investigators say Santa Barbara wildfire sparked by power tool used in brush clearance

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Investigators say the Santa Barbara County wildfire that has scorched 13 square miles and destroyed dozens of homes was apparently sparked by a power tool used to clear vegetation.

Afghan official: suicide bombing in south kills 12 civilians

KABUL — A suicide bomber on a motorcycle killed 12 civilians in southern Afghanistan, as police fired Thursday on a crowd of rock-throwing protesters in the west who were angry about civilian deaths they blame on American bombing runs.

Analysis: Obama seeks to accelerate lagging Mideast peace efforts

WASHINGTON — The impending arrival of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, will start an unpredictable engagement by President Barack Obama in trying to shift the Middle East from a tense standoff to Arab-Israeli peacemaking.

US to ensure Pak aid is not utilized against India

LAHORE - The United States has said it would ensure that the millions of dollars of aid, which it would be providing to Pakistan over a period of time, does not end up being used against India through cross-border terrorism.

‘30 percent’ chance of coup in Pakistan

WASHINGTON - A top private risk analysis firm gave embattled Pakistan a three-in-ten chance of a military coup even before the latest offensive by Taliban rebels, according to a noted US analyst.

Oregon police say father accused of using a dog shock collar on his children

SALEM, Ore. — A father was accused of using a dog shock collar on his four children. Salem Police Lt. Dave Okada said the 41-year-old man was jailed Tuesday on charges of criminal mistreatment. He said the father acknowledged putting the electronic dog collar on his four children and shocking all of them at least once.

Red Cross reports dozens killed in US bombing, including women and children

KABUL — Villagers dug dirt graves Wednesday to bury what the international Red Cross said were dozens of Afghans — including women and children — killed in American bombing runs. A former Afghan government official said up to 120 people may have died.