turkey

Prime minister orders end to all protests

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered his interior minister to end all anti-government protests within 24 hours, as thousands of protesters returned to Taksim Square after riot police officers dispersed crowds overnight with tear gas and water cannons. At a meeting in Ankara with members of a labor union, Erdogan dismissed international criticism of his handling of the protests and claimed that Turkish intelligence knew three months ago about efforts to inflict chaos in Turkey, a union official said.

Colorado

Thousands evacuated as heat fuels wildfires

A wildfire fueled by hot temperatures, gusty winds and thick, bone-dry forests has destroyed 92 homes, damaged five others and prompted more than 7,000 residents northeast of Colorado Springs to flee, a sheriff's official said. A separate Colorado wildfire to the south has destroyed 20 structures and prompted evacuations of about 250 residents and nearly 1,000 inmates at medium-security prison. To the north, another fire burned in Rocky Mountain National Park. Wildfires also were burning in New Mexico, Oregon and California, where a smokejumper was killed fighting one of dozens of lightning-sparked fires.

Ohio

Kidnapping suspect pleads not guilty

Attorneys for the man accused of kidnapping three Cleveland women and holding them for a decade are trying to fight off the death penalty, and in so doing, dropped hints about the possibility of a plea deal. Some of the charges against Ariel Castro, 52, "cannot be disputed," attorney Craig Weintraub said after a hearing in which Castro pleaded not guilty to a 329-count indictment for rape, kidnapping and murder. Prosecutors and Castro's attorney must decide whether to broach a deal that would spare Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight from having to testify.

Washington

Boehner says he'll vote for farm bill

The House farm bill received a major endorsement when Speaker John Boehner announced that he would support the agriculture and nutrition legislation that the chamber is to begin work on this month. "I'm going to vote for the farm bill," he said. The bill will cut about $20 billion from the food stamp program, a move that will likely be rejected by the Senate.

Dempsey: Libya unit not told to 'stand down'

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that four members of Army special forces in Tripoli were never told to stand down after last year's deadly assault on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, disputing a former top diplomat's claim. Army Gen. Martin Dempsey said, "They weren't told to stand down. A 'stand down' means don't do anything. They were told that the mission they were asked to perform was not in Benghazi, but was at Tripoli airport."

news services