U.S. weather forecasters say Hurricane Rita is expected to hit the upper Texas and southwestern Louisiana coastline late today (Friday).
Other news: Thai authorities say a bomb blast in the country's violence-plagued south has killed two police officers and wounded another.
North Korea has asked the United Nations to end all humanitarian aid to the country by the end of the year.
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has demanded an apology from former prime minister Mahathir Mohamed, saying Mr. Mahathir had called him a homosexual.
Israel says government troops have shot dead three Palestinian gunmen during a raid in the West Bank.
Iraqi authorities say a suicide bomb attack in central Baghdad has killed at least five people.
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