Algeria
ALGIERS — Algeria's president, flanked by guards pushing back homeless survivors of Algeria's earthquake, promised a rapid reconstruction effort Friday as his government earmarked $1.9 billion for the effort.
Australia
CANBERRA — Prime Minister John Howard, a key U.S. ally who supported the war in Iraq, gave his strongest indication yet Friday that he would continue to lead Australia beyond his 64th birthday in July.
Bangladesh
DHAKA — Bangladesh has authorized police to shoot at will as part of its anti-crime campaign, an official said Friday after reporting more than 350 deaths to gang violence in the past two months.
Canada
TORONTO — Test results on three more cattle herds linked to a lone case of mad cow disease in Canada came back negative Friday, and a government inspector said the investigation into the infection could be over by the end of next week.
China
BEIJING — A top Chinese health official denied claims that Beijing tried to hide the seriousness of the SARS virus, saying Friday that the government warned about SARS as early as February and early efforts to fight it were slowed by poor information.
Congo
UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council on Friday unanimously authorized the deployment of a French-led international force in northeastern Congo, where ethnic fighting has killed more than 400 people.
India
NEW DELHI — India is moving 10,000 more soldiers to the Kashmir border with Pakistan and erecting electric fences, after discovering Islamic militant bases inside Indian territory, the army said Friday.
Iran
TEHRAN — Iran's foreign minister invited Western countries to join Russia in building new nuclear plants in Iran and pledged to sign extra nuclear nonproliferation treaties if Tehran gets access to the latest atomic technologies.
Lebanon
BEIRUT — The United States reopened its consulate Friday in Beirut, nearly 20 years after the office was closed following a bomb attack.
Lithuania
VILNIUS — The remains of some 3,000 soldiers who died during Napoleon Bonaparte's catastrophic invasion of Russia nearly two centuries ago will be laid to rest in a cemetery in Vilnius this weekend.
Nepal
KATMANDU — Nepal's prime minister resigned Friday following months of protests that his appointment was unconstitutional that have plunged the Himalayan kingdom deeper into a political crisis.
North Korea
SEOUL, South Korea — Six U.S. lawmakers hoping to ease tensions with North Korea arrived in Pyongyang on Friday, becoming the first American officials to visit since a standoff began over the secretive communist nation's nuclear program.
Peru
LIMA — Thousands of Peruvians marched in a highland state capital Friday, demanding the government lift a state of emergency. But officials said the measure would remain in effect until calm is restored to the strike-plagued nation.
Russia
VLADIKAVKAZ — A radio-controlled land mine exploded at a bus station Friday in the Chechen capital Grozny, killing at least three people, officials said.
Spain
MADRID — A car bomb allegedly placed by Basque separatists exploded in northern Spain on Friday, killing two police officers and prompting the prime minister to cancel plans to attend a summit in Russia.
Switzerland
GENEVA — Geneva's big-name banks and sleek stores, its swanky restaurants and luxury hotels, disappeared behind yellow wood boards Friday for G-8 protests that police fear will turn violent.
Vatican
VATICAN CITY — Secretary of State Colin Powell and Pope John Paul II are to meet Monday for the first high-level U.S.-Vatican talks since the pontiff criticized the U.S.-led war on Iraq.