International

ATLANTA — Georgia’s top court on Monday struck down a state law designed to discourage assisted suicides after four members of a group that helped a cancer-stricken man die said the law also violated free speech rights.

PYONGYANG, North Korea — North Korea on Thursday backed away from earlier vows never to deal with rival South Korea’s leader but demanded several preconditions for resuming talks, including the cancellation of U.S.-South Korean military drills.

WASHINGTON — The National Archives is preparing to unveil its 715-year-old copy of the Magna Carta after a conservation effort removed old patches and repaired weak spots in the paper that holds the English declaration of human rights.

POMPANO BEACH, Fla.—Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich traded nasty accusations over character, consistency, and leadership as one day remained before Florida’s critical primary vote tomorrow and Romney held a strong lead.

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s top diplomat offered Monday to extend the current visit of U.N. nuclear inspectors and expressed optimism their findings would help ease tensions despite international claims that Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons.

BENGHAZI, Libya — An official and a commander say Moammar Gadhafi loyalists have seized control of a Libyan town and raised the ousted regime’s green flag.
The retaking of Bani Walid comes as Libya’s new leaders have struggled to stamp out lingering resistance from pro-Gadhafi forces and unify the country three months after Gadhafi was captured and killed.

ALMATY, Kazakhstan — Authorities in Uzbekistan are, apparently, unwilling to give love a chance.

DAVOS, Switzerland — Thousands of Swiss soldiers and police have been shovelling snow to erect a ’ring of steel’ against unwelcome demonstrators hoping to gatecrash the annual meeting of political and economic elites in the Swiss Alps.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — With 150 million registered users, about 50 million hits daily and endorsements from music superstars, Megaupload.com was among the world’s biggest file-sharing sites. Big enough, according to a U.S. indictment, that it earned founder Kim Dotcom $42 million last year alone.

LONDON—Palace officials yesterday announced details of a massive pageant on London’s River Thames to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year.
Plans call for roughly 1,000 boats of various sizes to gather June 3 for an unprecedented tribute to the Queen, who is marking the 60th year of her reign.