GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip
Palestinians claim Israeli body taken
Palestinian militants who attacked an Israeli military post near the border early today said they had taken the body of an Israeli killed in the operation.
The army declined to comment on the claim. At least three Palestinian militants were killed in the operation, and four Israelis have been injured.
The army said there was an exchange of fire near the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is used to bring cargo from Egypt into Gaza.
Officials from the Popular Resistance Committees, a small Palestinian militant group, claimed responsibility for the attack and said members of Hamas’ military wing also participated.
BRASÍLIA, Brazil
President announces bid for re-election
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced his bid for a second term, pledging Saturday to continue a drive to end poverty in Latin America’s largest country if re-elected.
The country’s first elected leftist president, Silva was swept to power four years ago on a platform of improving life for Brazil’s tens of millions of poor, many of whom get by on less than $1 a day.
Silva, 60, is clearly favored to win October elections, despite criticism that he has failed to deliver on promises that include redistributing land.
KUFSTEIN, Austria
Brown bear, seen as danger, may be shot
Authorities in Germany and Austria said Saturday that they may allow hunters to shoot a marauding brown bear nicknamed “Bruno” after recent efforts to capture him alive failed.
Anton Steiner, forestry minister in the Austrian state of Tyrol, said the bear was a potential danger to humans.
“We see shooting it as the only possibility,” Steiner said.
The bear – a fugitive from Italy officially named JJ1 but dubbed Bruno by German media – ambled into Germany last month, becoming the first wild bear seen in the country since 1835. He is part of a program in northern Italy to reintroduce the animals in the Alps.
JAKARTA, Indonesia
Earthquake shakes residents of Sulawesi
A powerful earthquake struck Indonesia’s Sulawesi island early today and panicked residents but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The Hong Kong Observatory said the magnitude 6.2 quake struck at about 5:20 a.m. local time and was centered 180 miles southwest of the city of Manado on the island of Sulawesi. Many people in the city fled their homes when the quake struck.
On May 27, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake devastated a large swath of Java Island, killing more than 5,800 people.
ROME
Italians voting on stronger premier
Italians begin voting today on massive constitutional changes that proponents say would stop the revolving door of governments in one of Europe’s most chaotic political arenas.
The reforms include reducing the size of the legislature and strengthening the powers of the premier, whose authority was limited under a 1948 constitution reflecting the fear of dictatorship after Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime.
BERLIN
Iran, Germany discuss no-nuke incentives
Iran’s foreign minister said he had “constructive talks” with his German counterpart Saturday but gave no indication of when Tehran would respond to international incentives to halt its nuclear program.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after meeting with Manouchehr Mottaki that Iran and the international community “are at a decisive phase: Either the conflict goes on or we seize the chance and the way to comprehensive cooperation with Iran.”
