WASHINGTON, D.C.
U.S., Russia agree to adoption dealThe United States and Russia ended an ugly dispute over the abuse of adopted Russian children, with Washington signing an agreement that will increase oversight of adopting families to curtail possible maltreatment. The deal stipulates that adoption agencies can operate in Russia only with the authorization of the country's government, except in cases where a child is being adopted by relatives. Once an adoption has been completed, U.S. agencies will be required to monitor the living conditions and upbringing of the child. Better social and medical histories of children also are to be provided under the deal.
CALIFORNIA
Betty Ford heads for burial in MichiganThousands of well-wishers saluted, held their hands over their hearts or simply lined the route as a motorcade carrying the body of former First Lady Betty Ford zigzagged from a church to the Palm Springs airport for a final flight to Grand Rapids, Mich., where she will be buried Thursday next to former President Gerald R. Ford. After a service Tuesday at the Palm Desert church, thousands filed passed her casket.
EGYPT
Hundreds of police are forced to retireEgypt's transitional military government announced the early retirement of more than 600 senior police officers in an effort to mollify thousands of protesters at a six-day-old sit-in in Cairo's Tahrir Square. The Interior Ministry said 18 police generals and nine other senior officers accused of killing protesters earlier this year were among those forced to retire.
VENEZUELA
Chavez may need more cancer therapyPresident Hugo Chavez, in a phone call to state TV, said he may need chemotherapy or radiation treatment after undergoing surgery last month in Cuba for an undisclosed form of malignant cancer.
IRELAND
Report: Church hid sex abuse 'til 2009The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland was covering up the sexual abuse of children by priests as recently as 2009, long after it issued guidelines meant to protect children, and the Vatican tacitly encouraged the cover-up by ignoring the guidelines, according to a report issued by the Irish government. The report found that the clergy in the Diocese of Cloyne did not act on complaints against 19 priests from 1996 to 2009.
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