Israeli PM, top ministers convene for decisive meeting on prisoner swap

Israel holds crucial meeting on prisoner swap

Government adviser says Saudi imposing naval blockade on north Yemen to thwart Shiite rebels

Adviser: Saudi navy blockades north Yemen coast

UN: Israel must allow Gazans to repair homes damaged in January offensive before winter

UN: Gaza needs construction material before winter

Bolivia the standard-bearer as Latin American natives fight to protect lands, culture

Indian political awakening stirs Latin America

Poverty deepens in Honduras as crisis drags on, slamming already fragile economy

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — A woman caring for six grandchildren can no longer afford milk. A bricklayer who used to work six days a week now is lucky to get two. A shop manager has seen his earnings evaporate.

Hamas video shows captured Israeli soldier looking thin but saying he is well

JERUSALEM — In the first glimpse of him since his capture more than three years ago, a thin but healthy-looking Israeli soldier said in a video released Friday that he is being treated well by his Palestinian captors and appealed to Israel’s leader to bring him home.

Hamas hands over video of captured soldier in exchange for Palestinian prisoners

JERUSALEM — Hamas militants on Friday traded a two-minute video showing an apparently unharmed captured Israeli soldier for 19 Palestinian women held in Israeli jails — the first tangible step toward defusing a key flashpoint in Israeli-Palestinian hostilities.

Israeli official who saw videotape says captured soldier looks healthy, speaks lucidly

JERUSALEM — An Israeli official says a captured Israeli soldier looks healthy and speaks lucidly about his past in a two-minute video released by Gaza militants.

Israel releases 19 Palestinian women in exchange for video of captured soldier

JERUSALEM — Hamas militants handed over a two-minute video showing a healthy-looking Israeli soldier held captive since 2006, and in exchange Israel freed 19 Palestinian women prisoners on Friday — the first tangible step toward defusing a key flashpoint in Israeli-Palestinian hostilities.

Israel releases Palestinian prisoners after seeing videotape of captured Israeli soldier

JERUSALEM — Israel has freed 19 Palestinian women prisoners, after seeing a videotape offering a first glimpse of an Israeli soldier held by Gaza Strip militants for more than three years.

Israel, Palestinians taking step to swap captive Israeli soldier for Palestinian prisoners

JERUSALEM — Israeli prison vans began moving 19 Palestinian women on Friday toward border crossings with the West Bank and Gaza Strip, where they will be freed if Hamas militants release a promised videotape offering a first glimpse of a long-held Israeli soldier.

Shuar Indians man roadblock in dispute with Ecuador’s government over mining, water laws

MACAS, Ecuador — Several hundred Shuar Indians wearing black war paint and toting wooden spears on Thursday reinforced a highway blockade that police failed to break up earlier in a bloody melee that left one Indian dead and at least 40 police injured.

UN: number of Gazans classified as ‘abject poor’ triples this year

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The number of Gazans living in “abject” poverty has tripled this year to 300,000, or one in five residents, the Gaza head of the U.N. agency helping Palestinian refugees said Thursday.

Ecuadorean gov’t, Indians trade blame for deadly clash in protest over jungle development

QUITO, Ecuador — The government and Amazon Indians traded blame Thursday for a battle in Ecuador’s southeastern jungle that authorities said killed at least one Indian and wounded 40 police and nine Indians.

Ecuador president says 1 Indian killed, 40 police wounded in protest over water, mining laws

QUITO, Ecuador — Police on Wednesday battled Amazon Indians protesting laws they believe would encourage oil drilling and mining on their lands, leaving one Indian dead and 40 police and nine Indians wounded, officials said. Indians said two civilians were killed.

29 police, 9 Indians wounded in clash during protest over Ecuador water, oil and mining laws

LIMA, Peru — Police clashed with Amazon Indians protesting proposed water, oil and mining laws Wednesday, leaving at least 29 police officers and nine Indians wounded, Ecuadorean officials said. Indians said two civilians were killed.

Hamas, Israel to swap video of captured soldier for freedom for 20 women prisoners

JERUSALEM — In a surprise deal announced Wednesday, Hamas will give Israel a videotape providing a first glimpse of a captured Israeli soldier to prove he is alive in return for the release of 20 Palestinian women held in Israeli prisons.

Israel and Hamas agree to trade Palestinian prisoners for proof a captive soldier is alive

JERUSALEM — Israel will release 20 Palestinian women from prison this week in exchange for a videotape proving that an Israeli soldier held in the Gaza Strip is still alive, Israel and Hamas announced Wednesday, in the first tangible sign of movement in more than three years of talks over the captive soldier’s fate.

Israel to free Palestinian prisoners in possible step toward bringing captive soldier home

JERUSALEM — Israel and Hamas militants announced a deal Wednesday that will see Israel release 20 Palestinian women from prison this week in exchange for a videotape proving that a captive Israeli soldier held in the Gaza Strip is still alive.

Gaza’s Coke smugglers: Residents find creative solutions to mark Ramadan

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Gazans have been learning to adapt to Hamas rule and a stifling border blockade, both now in their third year. But their skills of improvisation are particularly challenged during the holy month of Ramadan, when devout Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.

UN urges Israel to ease Gaza blockade, enable repairs of sewage, water systems

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — U.N. agencies and international aid groups urged Israel on Thursday to immediately ease its Gaza Strip blockade to allow in spare parts and building materials to repair the territory’s dilapidated sewage and water networks.

Russia warns of violence if Georgia stops Abkhazia-bound ships in Black Sea

MOSCOW — A Russian official has warned Georgia that attempts to block ships from reaching a Moscow-aligned separatist region of Georgia could end in military intervention.

Peruvian prosecutor presents homicide charges against 17 police over Amazon violence

LIMA, Peru — A Peruvian government prosecutor presented homicide charges against two police generals and 15 other officers for a June government crackdown at an Amazon highway blockade manned by Indians protesting development on their ancestral lands.

Jail and trial await Peruvian Indians wounded in protests over economic development in Amazon

CHICLAYO, Peru — Santiago Manuin is lucky to be alive. On June 5, the Awajun Indian leader was hit by at least four bullets when police broke up a protest by Indians over government plans for large-scale economic development of their ancestral lands in the Amazon.

Nicaragua’s Ortega says Honduras may try to provoke neighbor as coup distraction

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega claimed Honduras’ coup-installed government might try to provoke a border military incident “to distract attention” from international efforts to restore ousted President Manuel Zelaya.

Nicaragua’s Ortega says Honduras may try to provoke neighbor as coup distraction

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega claimed Honduras’ coup-installed government might try to provoke a border military incident “to distract attention” from international efforts to restore ousted President Manuel Zelaya.

UN agencies urge Israel to allow building supplies into Gaza to repair damaged schools

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — U.N. agencies and two dozen international aid groups urged Israel on Tuesday to lift its blockade of Gaza or at least allow in construction materials to repair war-damaged schools.

Gaza aid boat passengers remain in jail 3 days after being intercepted by Israeli navy

JERUSALEM — Most members of a group of foreign peace activists seized at sea by the Israeli navy remained in custody Friday, three days after their failed attempt to run Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip, relatives and supporters said.