5 NATO service members killed in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Five NATO service members were killed Thursday in southern Afghanistan, the scene of heavy fighting as troops push into areas long controlled by the Taliban, the coalition said.

Three died when a homemade bomb exploded and two were killed separately — one following an insurgent attack and another in an explosion.

No other details or the nationalities of the troops was immediately disclosed.

Three Afghan civilians also died in the south in a suicide attack on a NATO convoy, a local official said. Nine other civilians were wounded in the bombing, which occurred near the airport in Kandahar, a Taliban stronghold. The suicide attacker detonated …

French police detain 14 in terror-linked plot

French police have detained 14 people, including a convicted terrorist fighting expulsion, on suspicion of plotting to free another terrorist from prison.

Judicial and police officials say the 14 were detained Tuesday morning in the Paris region and in Cantal, in central France, where Djamel Beghal, who was convicted in 2005 for a role in an alleged plot against …

Mourners celebrate King's life and legacy: President,\ first lady lead list of dignitaries expected to attend funeral

ATLANTA - After a rendition of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" stirredworshippers at the new Ebenezer Baptist Church, the congregationpaused to mourn the loss of Coretta Scott King - who remained afaithful member until her death.

Standing in the pulpit of the church's Horizon Sanctuary - acrossthe street from the original Ebenezer, where the Rev. Martin LutherKing Jr. was a pastor with his father from 1960 to 1968 - the Rev.Raphael Warnock thanked King for her courage and wisdom.

"Praise God for Coretta Scott King," Warnock said Sunday. "Let theheavens rejoice for the witness of our sister."

Later, in the original Ebenezer, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklinthanked …

Saturday's Major League Linescores

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Baltimore	003	000	000—3	4	0
Tampa Bay	000	510	01x—7	15	1

Matusz, Albers (5), Gabino (7), Simon (8) and Wieters; Sonnanstine, Cormier (6), Benoit (8), Choate (9) and Shoppach. W_Sonnanstine 3-1. L_Matusz 4-12. HRs_Baltimore, Ad.Jones (17). Tampa Bay, Shoppach 2 (3).

___

…

Seattle	100	152	000—9	13	0

China says door open to talks with Dalai Lama

A senior Chinese official said in comments broadcast Friday that Beijing is open to further discussions with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama following talks earlier this month.

Zhu Weiqun claimed in remarks to the BBC that "China has done everything it can to talk to the Dalai Lama." He added that "the door is still open."

Weiqun made the comments just days before a special meeting called by the Dalai Lama to discuss how the Tibetan exile communities and political organizations in Dharmsala, India, will deal with China in the future. The five day meeting begins Monday.

China insists Tibet is …

Fred Morgan Sr., one of city's first black district fire chiefs

Fred P. Morgan Sr., 67, a retired 38-year veteran of the ChicagoFire Department and one of its first black district chiefs, died ofcancer Monday at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Hospital.

Chief Morgan, of the South Side, was born April 29, 1919, inShelby, Miss. When he joined the fire department on Feb., 8, 1944, hewas one of 16 blacks on the force.

He was assigned to the Fire Prevention Bureau in 1959, promotedto lieutentant in 1963, became a captain in 1966 and was promoted tobattalion chief at headquarters in 1972.

After serving as battalion chief at the third and 10thbattalions, Chief Morgan was named fourth division marshal inJanuary, 1979.

…

Brown, Bush Reaffirm Shared Values

CAMP DAVID, Md. - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told President Bush Monday he shares the U.S. view that there are "duties to discharge and responsibilities to keep" in Iraq.

"Our aim, like the United States is, step-by-step, to move control to the Iraqi authorities," Brown said, joining Bush at a news conference at this mountaintop presidential retreat.

Brown hinted that a decision about British troop levels was coming soon, while assuring that such a determination would be based "on the military advice of our commanders on the ground," thus echoing language often heard from Bush.

Indeed, minutes later, in response to a question, Bush said: "The decisions …