Israel - Palestinians: The armed wing of the Palestinian governing group Hamas says it fired rockets at Israel today (Saturday) for the first time in more than a year. Israeli military officials say it was not immediately clear if any of the rockets landed inside Israeli territory. There were no reports of injuries.
Militants from Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades vowed more attacks. The group announced an end to its unofficial ceasefire after Israeli strikes killed 10 Palestinians Friday.
Iran Nuclear: Iran's foreign minister says his country may make a counter-offer in response to an international package of incentives to limit sensitive nuclear work. Manouchehr Mottaki says (today/Saturday) Iran is studying the proposal and may also suggest amendments for European negotiators to study. The package was drawn up by the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany.
Iraq: The U.S. military says it is carrying out raids following the killing of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in hopes of dismantling his al-Qaida in Iraq network. U.S. military spokesman Major-General William Caldwell says nearly 40 raids were conducted across Iraq overnight Friday. He says some were directly related to information found in the house where Zarqawi was killed. General Caldwell says coalition troops have found suicide belts and military gear. Soldiers killed one person and detained 24 others during the raids.
US - Iraqi Victims: A leading U.S. newspaper says the U.S. military paid out nearly 20-million dollars in compensation for deaths of Iraqi civilians caught in the bloody fight against insurgent forces. The New York Times says more than nine million dollars of that money was paid by U.S. Marines fighting in Iraq's violent Anbar province.
G-8 Finance Ministers: The Group of Eight finance ministers says the world's economy is growing, but is threatened by "volatile" energy prices and global imbalances. In a statement released today (Saturday) from their meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, the ministers pledged to fight protectionism and promote free trade. They called for "urgent progress" to conclude the Doha Round of global trade talks. The ministers from the world's seven industrialized nations plus Russia renewed calls for increased cooperation between energy producing and importing nations, as well as greater market transparency. The also urged wealthy nations to take steps to help poor and developing nations increase access to energy supplies.
Burma: Burma's police chief has confirmed reports from opposition groups that pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been sick. Major General Khin Yi said today (Saturday) Aung San Suu Kyi is suffering stomach problems but denied she was hospitalized for treatment. Thaung Htun of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma in New York told VOA (Burmese service) Friday the pro-democracy leader had been hospitalized after complaining of diarrhea and weakness. The U.S. State Department has expressed concern about the reports and urged her immediate treatment and release from house arrest.
World Cup: German soccer fans erupted in jubilation as their team defeated Costa Rica, 4-2, in the opening match of the FIFA World Cup football (soccer) tournament in Munich. Tens of thousands of fans packed Munich's stadium Friday as Moroslav Klose led the host team to victory. In the day's other match, Ecuador scored a 2-0 win over Poland in Glesenkirchen. Three matches are on the schedule today (Saturday) - England plays Paraguay in Frankfurt, Trinidad and Tobago faces Sweden in Dortmund and Ivory Coast plays Argentina in Hamburg.
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