Iowa town still hoping to avoid inundation
HAMBURG, Iowa (AP) — Large sections of Hamburg, Iowa, sit empty as the Army Corps of Engineers scrambles to reinforce a levee and build a second barrier against the bulging Missouri River.
About half of the 1,100 residents were ordered to leave, and they were expected to be gone by last night. The levee protecting the town is faltering, and the Army Corps of Engineers has been working to raise it five feet. They're also erecting a secondary barrier in case the levee is breached.
Hamburg's fire chief doesn't sound optimistic. He says they're "working against the clock." If the levee is breached, parts of Hamburg could get up to 10 feet of water.
The last time the Missouri crested at levels predicted for this summer was in 1952.
ARIZONA WILDFIRES
Wildfire forces evacuation of another Arizona town
SPRINGERVILLE, Ariz. (AP) — A fire burning out of control in the mountains of eastern Arizona has grown to 360 square miles and officials say windy conditions and dry lightning are likely to make things worse.
The third largest wildfire in state history has forced the evacuation of a third resort town and cast a smoky haze over states as far away as Iowa.
Winds with gusts above 60 mph, blew heavy smoke from the fire into Greer, a picturesque town where most of the 200 full-time residents had already fled. Everyone else was ordered to leave yesterday afternoon.
Roughly 2,500 firefighters, including many from several western states and as far away as New York, are working to contain the Wallow fire and another big blaze in the south, which is Arizona's fifth largest. That one is burning over 163 square miles.
US-GERMANY-MERKEL
Obama, Merkel to talk policy before night of pomp
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama plans the grandest reception for Angela Merkel on Tuesday. But weighty matters of war and economic turmoil will linger in the background of the German chancellor's visit.
The two leaders were expected to deal with a wide range of issues in the White House meeting. They include NATO operations in Afghanistan and Libya, the Middle East peace process and the world economy.
Later, Obama plans to treat Merkel to a night of high pomp at the White House, awarding her the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a formal dinner. The gestures appear aimed at boosting a relationship that has seemed more cordial than close.
Tuesday will start with a bang for Merkel — a 19-gun salute during a formal White House welcome.
SYRIA
NEW: Residents fear army attack on north Syrian city
BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian activists say there are fears of a major military attack in a northern region where authorities said weekend clashes between armed men and government troops left 120 security forces dead.
The government has vowed to respond "decisively" to the violence in Jisr al-Shughour, triggering fears of an even more brutal crackdown by a regime known for ruthlessly crushing dissent.
One activist said on Tuesday there were reports from local residents that Syrian troops were preparing for an onslaught on the town of about 50,000 people near the border with Turkey. The activist spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
Syria is determined to crush an uprising against President Bashar Assad. Rights group say more than 1,300 have been killed since the revolt began in mid-March.
LIBYA
Rare daytime NATO airstrikes hit Libyan capital
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Low-flying NATO military craft have struck the Libyan capital Tripoli in nine successive attacks.
The strikes Tuesday morning were rare daytime attacks on the capital, stepping up pressure on Moammar Gadhafi's regime.
The strikes appeared to land close to Gadhafi's sprawling compound in Tripoli.
YEMEN
Officials: Clashes, shelling kill 19 in Yemen
SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Military and medical officials say clashes have killed a total of 19 people, including three children, in two Yemeni provinces.
They said dozens of unidentified gunmen attacked an army position in a southern last night. The ensuing gunfight left nine soldiers and six of the attackers dead.
In Yemen's second largest city, clashes erupted today between gunmen and army troops near the presidential palace. It was not immediately known whether there were casualties, but a shell fired by a tank near the palace landed at a nearby residential area, killing four people, including three children.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
JAPAN-EARTHQUAKE DEPRESSION
NEW: Shelter life takes mental toll on Japan evacuees
KORIYAMA, Japan (AP) — One Japanese health official says the psychological condition of those left homeless by Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami, is deteriorating.
Experts worry it could get worse as tens of thousands face the prospect of staying at least the rest of the year in temporary housing.
Though the suffering is spread out along Japan's ravaged northeast coast, the problem is particularly severe for Japan's "nuclear refugees." They have been told to expect to remain in limbo for the next nine months, at least.
Psychologists have been called in to check on evacuees and are now making regular rounds at most major shelters. Medical doctors are also treating evacuees who show symptoms of depression.
According to government tallies, 98,500 people remain homeless and live in about 2,000 shelters around the country.
UN-FOOD PRICES
NEW: Food prices slightly lower
ROME (AP) — A U.N. agency says global food prices fell slightly last month, but they remain "at stubbornly high levels."
The Food and Agriculture Organization said high and volatile prices can be expected the rest of this year and into 2012, citing a decline in food stockpiles and modest production increases for most of the crops.
The food prices dropped 1 percent in May compared to the previous month, but remain 37 percent above May 2010, according to a price index released Tuesday by FAO.
The agency said lower cereal and sugar prices led to the decrease in the May index, offsetting increases in meat and dairy prices.
In its Food Outlook report, the FAO says the next few months will be crucial in determining how the major crops fare this year.
CONTAMINATED VEGETABLES-EUROPE
EU health chief criticizes Germany over E. coli
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union health chief is warning Germany against premature — and inaccurate — conclusions on the source of contaminated food that have spread fear all over Europe and cost farmers in exports.
EU Health Commissioner John Dalli told the EU parliament in Strasbourg early Tuesday that such public information must be scientifically sound and foolproof before it becomes public.
Over the past days Germany first pointed a finger at Spanish cucumbers, then at local sprouts, before backtracking on both.
EU farm ministers are convening in an emergency meeting in Luxembourg later Tuesday amid demands from farmers that they be paid back for the losses caused by the E. coli outbreak in Europe that has killed 22 and sickened more than 2,330.
BLAGOJEVICH TRIAL
Blagojevich on stand for 7th day at retrial
CHICAGO (AP) — Ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich will testify for a seventh day at his corruption retrial.
Prosecutors resume their cross-examination Tuesday and are expected to try once again to discredit Blagojevich's testimony in jurors' eyes.
A sometimes feisty Blagojevich has tried to hold his own against often blistering cross-examination by prosecutor Reid Schar. Blagojevich has shown only occasional signs of fatigue.
Prosecutors haven't said how much more time they'll need to finish their cross-examination. On Monday, they asked Blagojevich about all the main allegations, so they could begin winding down soon.
Schar repeatedly tried to deploy Blagojevich's own words against him.
He would first ask the ex-governor to deny a specific allegation. Schar would then read from transcripts of FBI wiretaps in which Blagojevich's words seemed to contradict that testimony.
OPEC MEETING
OPEC split on raising output level
VIENNA (AP) — Influential OPEC member nations are split over whether to increase oil production levels or keep them on hold.
Iraqi oil minister Abdul-Karim Elaibi tells reporters ahead of a meeting that a price of between $100 and $120 a barrel is "reasonable."
That is at or above present prices and is considered too high by major oil-consuming countries struggling with their economies.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, is pushing for a decision to increase production levels. Such a move would likely push prices downward.
Elaibi spoke Tuesday, a day ahead of the OPEC ministerial meeting.
BUSH TAX CUTS-10 YEARS
Some millionaires want to end tax cuts that benefit them
WASHINGTON (AP) — Today marks the 10th anniversary that the Bush era tax cuts were signed into law, and millionaire Paul Egerman (EH'-guhr-man) is one of a group that says it's time to put an end to them for some people.
The wealthy businessman who founded the medical transcription company eScription is part of a group of millionaires who think Bush era tax cuts should stop benefiting the wealthy.
Egerman says putting an end to the tax breaks is one way to help trim the deficit. He says if the country is really broke then it can't afford to give tax cuts to millionaires.
Republicans have said that any move to raise taxes as part of the effort to trim the deficit is a nonstarter.
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