Afghanistan
KABUL — NATO troops assumed command Monday of military operations in southern Afghanistan from the U.S.-led coalition, the coalition said. "Today's transfer of authority demonstrates to the Afghan people that there is a strong commitment on the part of the international community to further extend security into the southern region's provinces," Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, commander of U.S.-led coalition forces, said in a statement.
Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO — Top U.S. and Brazilian negotiators said a breakthrough was still possible for a global trade accord despite the collapse of World Trade Organization talks earlier this week. Many meetings will be required between trade ministers from the 149-nation WTO to regain momentum on negotiations, but a deal could be sealed within five to seven months, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab and Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said Saturday.
Britain
LONDON — A large fire seriously damaged the set of the latest James Bond movie Sunday, caving in the roof of a sound stage transformed into a replica of Venice for the production of "Casino Royale." Pinewood Shepperton, the studio complex where the fire erupted, said filming for the Bond production had been completed.
China
HONG KONG — Chinese actress Gong Li said Colin Farrell, her co-star in "Miami Vice," taught her how to drink beer but she introduced him to a stronger drink, a Hong Kong newspaper reported Sunday. Gong plays the Chinese-Cuban lover of a crime lord in "Miami Vice," and Farrell is an undercover detective who has a relationship with her. "Miami Vice" reprises the iconic 1984-89 TV cop show of the same name.
Iran
TEHRAN — Iran's Supreme Court has confirmed death sentences for five Iranian Arab separatists convicted for bombings near the Iraqi border, state-run Iranian television reported Saturday. The five men were originally indicted for the bombings in January this year and June and October 2005.
TEHRAN — The presidents of Iran and Venezuela, leading U.S. critics, pledged Saturday to support one another in disputes with Washington, with the Iranian calling Hugo Chavez "a brother and trench mate." As Chavez arrived for a two-day visit, Iran faced renewed international criticism for its nuclear program and for backing Hezbollah guerrillas in its war with Israel.
Iraq
BAGHDAD — Four U.S. Marines were killed in a Sunni Arab insurgent stronghold west of Baghdad, and pressure mounted in parliament Sunday to replace the interior minister because of the security crisis in the capital. Also Sunday, a U.S. F-16 jet dropped two precision-guided bombs on a building near Baghdad used by militants, U.S. officials said.
Somalia
MOGADISHU — The first commercial flight in a decade departed Mogadishu's newly reopened international airport Sunday, demonstrating how Islamic militants have pacified the once-anarchic capital and much of southern Somalia. Local airlines had been operating from private airstrips outside the capital. Now, Islamic militiamen are guarding the airport for commercial passengers, said the deputy defense chief for the Islamic group.
MOGADISHU — Twenty-five sailors who were taken hostage in April off Somalia's lawless coast were released Sunday after more than $800,000 in ransom was paid, a Somali militia commander said. The sailors were headed to the Seychelles islands off the coast of Africa, the commander, Abdi Mohamed, told The Associated Press. He did not say who paid the ransom.
South Africa
CAPE TOWN — Fresh from his acquittal on rape charges that made worldwide headlines, former Deputy President Jacob Zuma is back in the dock today in an arms-dealing case highlighting South Africa's struggle to clean up government corruption. On the same day, 29 lawmakers and travel agents go on trial, accused of defrauding Parliament of up to $3.4 million by using vouchers intended for official travel to pay for luxury holidays, meals and car rentals.