World/nation briefs

Last update: July 2, 2009 - 7:40 PM

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AUSTRIA

New nuclear chief is hard-liner on Iran

A Japanese diplomat who favors a strict approach toward Iran was elected to lead the International Atomic Energy Agency. The decision to elect Yukiya Amano ended a tug of war on who should succeed Nobel Peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei.

MEXICO

World health officials tackle flu challenges

Swine flu is running wild in the Southern Hemisphere and is spreading rapidly through Europe, with Britain projected to reach 100,000 daily cases by the end of August. The virus is even showing signs of rebounding in Mexico, said World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan, who huddled with health ministers from around the globe in Cancun for a two-day summit to design strategies for battling the pandemic that has killed 332 and sickened more than 77,000.

ISRAEL

Amnesty accuses Israel and Hamas

Amnesty International accused Israel and Palestinian militants of war crimes in the most comprehensive report on the recent Gaza war. Israel used excessive force in violation of international laws of war, killing hundreds of Palestinian civilians and destroying thousands of Gaza homes, the human rights group claimed. Palestinian militants committed war crimes each time they fired a rocket at Israeli civilians, it said.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Highway deaths fall in 2009, lowest since '61

Fewer people died on the nation's highways during the first three months of 2009 as motor vehicle fatalities continued to fall to levels not seen in nearly a half-century. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said 7,689 motorists were killed in the months of January through March, a 9 percent decline from a year ago. The government said that 37,261 motorists died in 2008, the fewest since 1961.

NEW YORK

U.S. marshals seize Madoff penthouse

The U.S. Marshals Service took possession of disgraced financier Bernard Madoff's $7 million Manhattan penthouse in a move that forced his wife to move elsewhere.

NEW YORK

Bill Clinton to raise money for challenger

In a slap at President Obama, former President Bill Clinton will headline a fundraiser for a New York congresswoman challenging White House-backed Sen. Kristen Gillibrand in the state's Democratic primary. Clinton has not made an endorsement in the race, but his efforts to help Rep. Carolyn Maloney could be seen as a snub to Obama.

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Sri Lanka's defeated presidential candidate cut off from family after arrest, wife says - July 2, 2009

Sri Lanka's defeated presidential candidate cut off from family after arrest, wife says - Sri Lanka's defeated presidential candidate and former army chief has been cut off from family and friends after being arrested for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government while serving as army commander, his wife said Tuesday. More