Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
BRUSSELS (AP) — The head of NATO says the alliance is strengthening its military footprint in the Baltic region in response to Russia's aggression toward Ukraine. Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (AHN'-derz fohg RAHS'-moo-sihn) says NATO will immediately deploy more planes and ships to the region. Meanwhile, soldiers seen in armored vehicles flying Russian flags in the Ukraine city of Slovyansk say they are Ukrainian soldiers who have now joined the other side.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Divers off South Korea's southern coast are searching a submerged ferry for people inside after the vessel sank today with 459 on board, mostly high school students. The ferry was on an overnight trip to a tourist island when it started tilting. At least four people are confirmed dead, but nearly 300 people are still unaccounted for.
BOSTON (AP) — Authorities in Boston say a man will be charged with possession of a hoax device after he was stopped near the Boston Marathon finish line last night with a rice cooker in backpack. Police say the man was stopped after he was acting strangely. They say he dropped the backpack and told an officer what was inside. As a precaution, police destroyed the backpack and another one found nearby. The incident happened hours after ceremonies to mark last year's deadly Boston Marathon bombings.
MURRYSVILLE, Pa. (AP) — Students at a high school near Pittsburgh are gathering on their football field in prayer and support today, one week after a stabbing rampage allegedly carried out by another student. It was last Wednesday that 21 students and a school security guard were attacked just before classes began at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville. Sixteen-year-old Alex Hribal (RY'-bahl) is being held on charges of aggravated assault and attempted homicide.
HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — Attorneys for a convicted Texas killer scheduled to be executed tonight say they'll ask the U.S. Supreme Court to delay his lethal injection. The lawyers argue that 38-year-old Jose Villegas (vee-AY'-guhs) is mentally impaired. Villegas was convicted of the January 2001 slayings of his ex-girlfriend, her 3-year-old son and her mother. All were stabbed repeatedly.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
