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AP International NewsBrief at 1:58 p.m. EDT
(AP Online Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sarkozy: Syria and Lebanon will open embassiesPARIS (AP) _ France's president says Syria and Lebanon will open embassies in each other's countries. The nations have not had full-fledged embassies in each other's countries since Lebanon became independent in 1943 and Syria in 1945.
Korea agrees in talks to disable nuclear reactorBEIJING (AP) _ North Korea agreed to disable its main reactor by the end of October and allow international inspections to verify its nuclear disarmament in a deal reached Saturday at the end of six-nation talks. In exchange, the United States, China, and three other countries promised to complete deliveries of fuel oil and other economic aid to Pyongyang.
NKorea blames SKorea for shooting death of touristSEOUL, South Korea (AP) _ A defiant North Korea blamed South Korea for the shooting death of a South Korean tourist in the communist nation and refused Saturday to cooperate in an investigation, jeopardizing a bid to improve relations between the countries. While expressing regret that a North Korean soldier shot the woman Friday, the North demanded Seoul apologize for its "intolerable insult" of suspending trips to a North Korean mountain resort _ and said it would not allow visitors until the South did so.
Iraq handing out cash to people on the streetsBAGHDAD (AP) _ It is a politician's dream: Handing out cold, hard cash to people on the street as they plead for help. Iraq's prime minister has been doing just that in recent weeks, doling out Iraqi dinars as an aide trails behind, keeping a tally. The handouts by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and a handful of other top officials are authorized _ as long as each goes no higher than about $8,000, and the same people don't get them twice. Aides say they are meant merely to ease the pain a bit, and are motivated by a belief that better conditions will lead to more security.
Hezbollah gains clout in Lebanon _ but at a costAITA AL-SHAAB, Lebanon (AP) _ In this dusty village on the front lines of Israel's 2006 war with Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed guerrilla group looks as strong as ever. But even as it reaches the zenith of its power in Lebanon, Hezbollah is generating new perils along the way. Tales of heroism by Hezbollah fighters still make the rounds in Aita al-Shaab, the streets are adorned with portraits of the group's "martyrs," and yellow Hezbollah flags fly from lampposts. Villagers, still rebuilding from the devastation of the war, profess unswerving devotion to the Shiite Muslim group and its charismatic leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
Italy's food detectives sniff out the fraud trailREGGIO-EMILIA, Italy (AP) _ Inspector Giorgio Capovani laid out his array of cheese impostors. A wedge of "Parmesansan" made in Lithuania, a container of "Parmazano Fiorentino" produced in Britain and labeled "dairy free," a chunk of German "Parmezano" sold in Mexico.
Police: Pakistan clash kills at least 9PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) _ A militant ambush and subsequent shootout Saturday killed at least six security forces and three insurgents in Pakistan's northwest, police said. Saturday's clash also came as Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited Pakistan on a surprise, one-day trip. U.S. Embassy officials confirmed the visit but said they had no details on Mullen's itinerary.
Pope expresses worry about climate changeABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) _ Pope Benedict XVI said Saturday he wants to wake up consciences on climate change during his pilgrimage in Australia. Benedict also told reporters while flying to Sydney to start a 10-day visit that he would work for "healing and reconciliation with the victims" of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy there "just as I did in the United States" earlier this year.
Gunmen kill 2 police, injure another in north IraqBAGHDAD (AP) _ Iraqi police say gunmen have killed two policemen and injured another in the northern city of Mosul. A provincial security official says the drive-by shooting happened on Saturday in the western part of the city. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media.
Focus now on South Africa's Zimbabwe effortsJOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) _ The failure of the U.S. campaign for international sanctions on Zimbabwe's leaders returns the focus to South African efforts to end the deadly political crisis and to questions about whether President Thabo Mbeki is the right mediator. South Africa made the link itself during deliberations at the United Nations that ended Friday with Russia and China vetoing the U.S.-proposed sanctions. The measures were meant to punish Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's authoritarian regime after a widely discredited presidential runoff election in which he was the sole candidate.
Copyright ? 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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