JERUSALEM -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has firmly aligned himself with the United States in seeking a two-state solution for Palestinians, observers say. Speaking at a meeting Wednesday, The Jerusalem Post reported Barak saying, "An Israeli plan for a regional solution is a central axis of Israel's policy in the coming years and a key to ensuring Israel's future in the region. Israel must cooperate with the (United States) in formulating the details of ... [full story]

PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- The Czech Republic's prime minister said the European Union and South Korea could conclude a free trade agreement by the end of June, Prague Radio reported. Outgoing Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said Czech President Vaclav Klaus will lead an EU delegation to Seoul for talks with South Korean leaders May 23, Prague Radio said Wednesday. Topolanek said the EU and South Korean leaders hope to seal the free trade agreement ... [full story]

OTTAWA -- Evidence is emerging the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.'s current financial shortfall was fueled by some lavish spending by executives three years ago. Documents obtained under Access to Information Act by Sun Media show the publicly funded broadcaster spent $61,500 on meetings at luxury resorts and hotels, limousines, expensive meals and sparkling wine in a six-month period. Some of the high-end hotel meetings between January and June 2006 were held just blocks from the CBC's ... [full story]

CAMBRIDGE, England -- British physicist Stephen Hawking, who has been "very ill," was hospitalized Monday, a Cambridge University statement said. A spokesman said Hawking, 67, a wheelchair-bound professor best-known as the author of "A Brief History of Time," was undergoing tests at the school's Addenbrooke's Hospital, the British tabloid The Daily Mail reported. The university did not provide details of Hawking's illness other than saying he was "very ill." "(Hawking) is undergoing tests. He has ... [full story]

BEIJING -- Seven fishermen whose boat capsized in the East China Sea were unaccounted for Monday, police said. Six other fishermen were saved after the Monday accident, China's state-run news agency Xinhua reported. The accident occurred in Nangtong in Jiangsu province, officials said. The boat was registered in Zhejiang province, the provincial border patrol said. "The rescued fishermen are on the way back to the land," border patrol officer Zhang Zhenyuan said. "Police will start investigating the cause ... [full story]

SEOUL -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak met with his security ministers Monday in advance of a security-related meeting with North Korean officials. The talks, the first Lee will have with North Korea, are scheduled for Tuesday in the North Korea border city of Kaesong, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported. "The president and the ministers reviewed preparations for tomorrow's talks and discussed other security-related issues," an official said. South Korea had been expected to announce ... [full story]

NEW DELHI -- A cargo truck carrying more than 30 people overturned Monday in western India, killing 19 passengers, police said. The truck had picked up passengers while traveling from Maharashtra to Karnataka in southern India before the accident occurred, CNN reported. Police said most of the dead were crushed by heavy metal slabs that fell on the passengers after the truck overturned. Seventeen people were injured, officials said. Authorities said the driver fled. Copyright © 2009, by United Press ... [full story]

MOSCOW -- A French businessman, his wife, who was strangled, and their baby daughter were found dead in their burning apartment in Moscow, detectives said Monday. Thierry Spinelli, his wife, Olga, and their 2-year-old daughter Elise were found in their home near the Mayakovskaya metro Moscow detective Anatoly Bagmet said. Olga Spinelli had been strangled, said Bagmet, who released no information on how Thierry and Elise Spinelli died. Police said the couple's black Mitsubishi Jeep Pajero was missing, ... [full story]

JERUSALEM -- This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day opening ceremony Monday in Israel honors the 1.5 million children killed during the Holocaust, organizers said. "Children of the Holocaust" is the main theme for opening events to be broadcast in Israel, The Jerusalem Post reported. Expected to attend the event were Israeli President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Tel Aviv Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, chairman of the Yad Vashem Council and a Holocaust survivor, as well ... [full story]

PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- Czech leaders expressed deep concern over a neo-Nazi demonstration and an assault on a family during the weekend, Prague Radio said. More than 500 far-right militants staged a rally Saturday in the northern Czech town of Usti nad Labem that some police officials suggested was aimed at marking the anniversary of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler's birthday, which falls on Monday, the radio said. Outgoing Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek and Czech President Vaclav ... [full story]

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- A man convicted in Sweden of killing eight people should be retried because he was mentally ill when he confessed to the crimes, his lawyer said Monday. Thomas Quick, who has recanted his confessions, wants the Svea Court of Appeal to order a new trial for the crimes for which he was convicted in 1997, lawyer Thomas Ollson said. Quick was mentally ill and taking narcotics prescribed by a doctor when he confessed to ... [full story]

MOGADISHU, Somalia -- Somali gunman shot and killed a Care International aid worker in Marka, about 56 miles from Mogadishu, witnesses said. Meanwhile, Somali gunmen attacked a convoy Sunday, taking several hostages, including two workers from the medical humanitarian group Doctors without borders, CNN reported. In the shooting, witnesses told Shabelle Media Network worker Omar Sharif was shot and killed near a mosque in Merca. The shooting and the reason behind it were being investigated by police. In ... [full story]

GAZA -- At least 32 Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel were killed and others tortured by Hamas militants in recent months, Human Rights Watch says. The killings have come in the wake of Israel's "Operation Cast Lead" military incursion into Gaza earlier this year, the group said in a report released Monday. Joe Stork, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Middle East and North Africa division, called on Hamas to end the killing and maiming ... [full story]