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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is under increasing pressure in the wake of a land grab by insurgents. The country's top Shiite spiritual leader says the future government should open "new horizons toward a better future for all Iraqis." It was an obvious reference to al-Maliki, a Shiite who has faced criticism for discrimination against Iraq's Sunni and Kurd populations. He's blamed in part for the current Sunni insurgency, spearheaded by an al-Qaida offshoot.
NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. (AP) — The flood threat to communities along the Big Sioux River isn't as serious as forecasters had expected. It turns out the river, which passes communities in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota, crested earlier than predicted -- at around midnight. And the National Weather Service says the crest at Sioux City, Iowa, was a couple of feet below the previous record. Forecasters say the river should hold steady and eventually recede.
GWANGJU, South Korea (AP) — The CEO and four employees of the South Korean firm that operated the ferry that sank in April have gone to court today for a hearing on criminal charges. The disaster left more than 300 people dead or missing. The government charges that the ferry was overloaded, had improperly stowed cargo and that the crew received poor safety training.
PRAGUE (AP) — A senior university lecturer and Czech government adviser has been forced to resign for proposing to legalize euthanasia for children born with birth defects. The professor -- Miroslav Mitloehner -- wrote in a recent article that "it makes no sense to prolong the life of a baby born as a monster." He also called disabled children "freaks." The head of an organization for the disabled compared the comments to "Nazi thinking."
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — This Oscar can be claimed without artistic, technical or dramatic ability. A 1942 Oscar statuette will go on the auction block on Monday in Rhode Island. It's being sold by the nephew of the late art director Joseph C. Wright, who won it for color art direction on the film "My Gal Sal." Such sales are rare. Since 1950, Oscar winners or their heirs who want to sell the awards must first offer them to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for $1.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
