PRAGUE, Czech Republic - A Czech government minister said Prague might have to reimpose its obligatory draft if it rejects a U.S. plan to deploy a radar base. Czech European Affairs Minister Alexandr Vondra said NATO's support of the Czech government in case of an emergency might not be ready and unreserved if Prague refuses to accept the U.S. radar base on Czech soil, Radio Praha reported Monday. U.S. President George Bush will be in ... [full story]

TEL AVIV, Israel - The two leading candidates were both confident of victory heading into the Labor Party primary in Israel Monday. Knesset Member Ami Ayalon and former Prime Minister Ehud Barak both expressed confidence they would win the race to be the party's sixth leader in eight years, the Jerusalem Post reported. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was more interested in getting the vote over with so he could appoint new defense and finance ministers, ... [full story]

TOKYO - Japan's agriculture minister, who had faced a political funds scandal, was found dead in his Tokyo residence Monday from an apparent suicide. The death of Toshikatsu Matsuoka, who was found hanged, would be a blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who had supported him against those calling for his resignation over the scandal, the Kyodo news agency reported. Six suicide notes were found on a desk in the minister's room, Kyodo said. Abe ... [full story]

BAGHDAD - U.S. troops arrested three suspected terrorists and seized weapons in a raid aimed at rooting out militants in southern Baghdad, the military said. The operation, which involved 2,000 U.S. troops over two days, took place as Iraqi security forces said they would soon begin a large operation against militants in southern Baghdad's Al-Doura district, the Kuwait News Agency, KUNA reported. A plan to calm violence in Al-Doura included cordoning off the area, KUNA ... [full story]

TRIPOLI, Lebanon - Terrorists and their tactics from the Iraq war are moving to other countries, including Lebanon, where a confrontation with government troops killed dozens. "If any country says it is safe from this, they are putting their heads in the sand," Maj. Gen. Achraf Rifi, general director of the Internal Security Forces in Lebanon, told the New York Times of the threat posed by militants trained in Iraq. Fatah al-Islam, the group that ... [full story]

KABUL, Afghanistan - More than 20 Taliban fighters who ambushed a coalition of U.S.-backed troops and Afghan police were killed Monday in southern Afghanistan, authorities said. A coalition convoy called for air strikes to drive back the Taliban fighters after it was struck with two roadside bombs, rockets and gunfire in the Helmand province, the BBC reported. Another Taliban ambush killed six Afghan police officers. A government spokesman told the BBC that several bombs exploded ... [full story]

A wildland fire bolstered by abundant fuel and high winds grew to 120-acres in north Sisters just west of Wilt Road on Sunday, threatening four homes before fire crews were able to bring it under control. Fire crews from Sisters, Redmond, Cloverdale, the Oregon Department of Forestry and US Forest Service responded to the blaze near milepost 6 on Wilt Road about 2 p.m. May 27, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Cpl. Neil Mackey reported. Two bulldozers working the ... [full story]

Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend proved to be very busy for Deschutes County Search and Rescue (SAR) and local fire rescue crews. Two calls were received back-to-back on Saturday; and in less than an hour four calls were received on Sunday – sending crews out to injured horseback riders, bicyclists, rock climbers, and homeowners who were warned of possible evacuation due to wildfire. Saturday, May 26th:  About 1 p.m., SAR crews and Black Butte ... [full story]

A 19-year old Albany man was arrested early Saturday morning on multiple charges including drunk driving, assault, strangulation and the rape of a Redmond girl, police reported.  According to Redmond Police Captain Al Maich, officers responded to 3095 SW Obsidian Lane shortly before 2:30 a.m., May 26, to a report of an assault and a crash involving a drunk driver. During the investigation, officers determined that the driver, 19-year old Andrew Dale Baker of Albany, ... [full story]

A father and three children of a Nampa, Idaho family died Friday evening when their SUV collided head-on with a commercial truck and trailer on Highway 95, about 15 miles north of the Oregon-Nevada border. Both vehicles caught fire after the crash and were destroyed, Oregon State Police (OSP) reported.   An investigation into the cause of a head-on crash between an SUV and a commercial truck & trailer that killed four Nampa, ID family-members Friday ... [full story]