World/nation briefs

Last update: November 7, 2009 - 11:37 PM

LEBANON

Rival factions agree on unity government

Lebanon's Syrian-backed factions finally agreed on a unity government proposed by their pro-Western rivals, ending a four-month deadlock in the deeply divided country. The announcement by the opposition coalition dominated by the militant Hezbollah group came after a meeting late Friday between the groups' leaders including Hassan Nasrallah. Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri was informed the next day. The agreement would end a political deadlock that has threatened to send the fragile nation spiraling back into violence. Hariri has been trying to form a Cabinet since June, when his Western-backed coalition narrowly defeated Hezbollah and their allies and retained a slim majority in the 128-member legislature.

SCOTLAND

G-20 officials: Too early to end stimulus

Finance officials from rich and developing countries pledged to maintain emergency support for their economies until recovery is assured and committed themselves to urgent action on tackling climate change. U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the "process of growth is now beginning" but warned that ending stimulus measures too early would be damaging to the economy. The statement from Group of 20 finance ministers and central bankers at the end of their meeting in St. Andrews said economic and financial conditions have improved.

GUYANA

Leader: Mastermind in U.S. behind attacks

Recent arson attacks and shootings in the violence-racked South American nation are the work of a mastermind living in the United States, President Bharrat Jagdeo alleged. He made the allegation shortly after his administration submitted a request to the U.S. Embassy for assistance with the investigation.

YEMEN

Saudi bombardments hit rebel stronghold

Saudi warplanes and artillery bombarded a Shiite rebel stronghold in northern Yemen for a third straight day, according to the rebel fighters, and Yemen's president vowed to wipe out the insurrection. The sporadic five-year conflict between Yemen's weak central government and rebels in the north of the impoverished country escalated dramatically last week when Saudi military forces began shelling and bombing rebel positions.

WASHINGTON

One small step toward space elevator

A start-up from the Seattle area won $900,000 on Friday in a NASA contest to build a miniature prototype of a machine that could one day climb from Earth to outer space. The idea of a space elevator -- passengers and cargo traveling up and down a 60,000-mile cable -- has long been a fixture of science fiction. A real space elevator is still decades in the future, but NASA, along with the nonprofit organization Spaceward Foundation, sponsored the contest, known as Centennial Challenges, to encourage development of some of the technologies. Three teams built prototypes designed to climb a 1-kilometer cable held aloft by a helicopter. An 11-pound contraption built by LaserMotive of Kent made the climb in 4 minutes, 2 seconds, fast enough to qualify for a $900,000 second-place prize.

NEW YORK

Ship built with WTC steel goes into service

The USS New York, built with steel from the rubble of the World Trade Center, was put into service both as a symbol of healing and strength. "No matter how many times you attack us, we always come back," Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said in New York City at the amphibious assault ship's commissioning. "That's what this ship represents." Hundreds of Navy officers and sailors joined first responders and families of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks for the ceremony.

PENNSYLVANIA

Ground broken for Flight 93 memorial

With the words "Let's roll," U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and 39 victims' relatives and dignitaries turned shovels of dirt at a groundbreaking ceremony for a permanent national memorial. "Let's Roll" was the command issued by United Flight 93 passenger Todd Beamer who led a revolt to take over the plane from terrorists before it crashed into a field near rural Shanksville. The government intends to have the first phase of the memorial completed by Sept. 11, 2011 -- the terrorist attacks' 10th anniversary.

NEWS SERVICES