Fugitive bear eludes German authorities

Fugitive bear eludes German authorities

BERLIN -- Trackers briefly caught sight of a brown bear blamed for killing livestock in southern Germany and Austria, but the animal eluded capture Friday by slipping into the dark. It is the first bear seen in Germany since 1835. Authorities in the southern state of Bavaria have been trying for days to capture the bear alive, after a previous order to trap it and shoot it sparked an outcry from animal rights activists. The 220-pound bear -- affectionately known as Bruno -- came from northern Italy, where it was part of a program to reintroduce the animals to the Italian Alps. Bruno has been blamed in the killing of livestock and has approached homes, raising fears it could pose a danger to people.

Pro-whaling nations lose early votes at conference

FRIGATE BAY, St. Kitts -- Pro-whaling nations, led by Japan, lost two key votes Friday at the International Whaling Commission's annual meeting -- an indication they may not have the majority necessary to take control of the body and try to repeal its ban on commercial hunting. In the first vote, Japan sought to remove the issue of hunting dolphins and porpoises from the agenda of the 70-member IWC meeting on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. But it failed by a 32-30 vote. In the second vote, Japan lost its bid to introduce secret ballots, something the group has never done for major initiatives in its 60-year history, officials said. The resolution failed by a 33-30 vote, with the Solomon Islands -- a nation that usually sides with Japan -- abstaining. At the meeting, Japan and other pro-whaling nations have been expected to form a majority on the international body for the first time since a 1986 ban on commercial whaling.

Iran president: Incentive package a positive step

SHANGHAI, China -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Friday a U.S.-endorsed incentive package was a positive step toward resolving the standoff over Tehran's nuclear program. Ahmadinejad's remarks were the highest-level sign that Iran was preparing to negotiate over the package, which calls for talks with the United States and other incentives if Iran freezes its uranium enrichment program. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called the signals from Iran encouraging. Ahmadinejad also said Iran was not afraid of an Israeli attack to stop its nuclear program. He also repeated assertions that the Nazi Holocaust was unproven, saying it should be independently investigated.

Suspected shoe bomber strikes Shiite mosque

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A suspected shoe bomber targeting a Shiite imam who criticized Abu Musab al-Zarqawi blew himself up inside one of Baghdad's most prominent mosques during Friday prayers, killing 13 people and shattering a fragile calm imposed by a security crackdown in the capital. The bombing of the Buratha mosque, one of several attacks nationwide, was carried out despite a four-hour driving ban intended to prevent suicide car bombs during Friday prayers, the main religious service of the week. Buratha's imam, a leading Shiite politician, blamed al-Qaida in Iraq for the attack. He said the terror group was trying to reassert itself after the death of its leader in a U.S. airstrike last week.

Husband charged in fatal van plunge in N.Y.

STONY POINT, N.Y. -- A 34-year-old architect was charged Friday with helping his wife commit suicide by stepping aside as she drove the family minivan down a 300-foot cliff with their two daughters inside. Both children survived, but Victor Han's 35-year-old wife, Heijin, died in the crash Wednesday night at Bear Mountain State Park, 40 miles north of New York City. Han was charged with promoting a suicide attempt and reckless endangerment, both felonies, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. His bail was set at $75,000 cash or $100,000 bond, court clerk Diane Quinn said.

-- From wire reports