Originally published Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 12:00 AM
World Digest
North Korea blast shown on TV
International television crews were flown to reclusive North Korea on Friday to witness the destruction of the cooling tower at the country's...
International television crews were flown to reclusive North Korea on Friday to witness the destruction of the cooling tower at the country's main nuclear-weapons plant.
Televising the demolition of the conical, 60-foot-high tower had been suggested by North Korea, whose leader Kim Jong Il is a cinema buff famous for his flair for the theatrical.
The state news agency in North Korea, however, carried no information about the event on Friday, and let a full day pass before it let its people know that President Bush had removed it from the United States' list of countries that sponsor terrorism. It couched that development in propaganda, warning that Washington had not yet fully abandoned its "hostile policy" toward the North.
North Korea-watchers in neighboring South Korea and China say this week's deal appeared to have emerged from the shifting dynamics between North Korea's reform-oriented civilian officials and hard-line military leaders. If the civilian leadership keeps the upper hand, that could foreshadow a more robust pace of change in the country's deeply impoverished economy, they say.
Washington
U.S. nuclear arms pulled from U.K.
The United States has withdrawn its nuclear weapons from Britain more than 50 years after it first deployed atomic bombs there, a watchdog group says.
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS), a public-policy group based in Washington, said 110 nuclear bombs once deployed at the Royal Air Force's Lakenheath air base, 70 miles northeast of London, are now gone. It is unclear when they were removed.
FAS says the United States still has nuclear weapons at two U.S. bases abroad — Aviano in Italy and Incirlik in Turkey — as well as at bases controlled by the governments of Belgium, Germany, Holland and Italy.
Niamey, Niger
Uranium-rich area's rebels fight troops
Government troops clashed with ethnic Tuareg rebels in the northwest African nation of Niger Friday, leaving at least 17 people dead, according to statements by both sides.
![]()
The Tuareg rebel group, the Niger Movement for Justice, accuses the government of reneging on promises to improve economic opportunities for the nomadic Tuareg people and of trying to push the blue-robed nomads off uranium-rich lands so the state can profit.
Bucharest, Romania
Rape victim, 11, to get abortion
An 11-year-old pregnant girl allegedly raped by her uncle will travel to Britain for an abortion despite a government ruling that the procedure can take place in Romania.
Ignoring pressure from a number of religious groups, a government committee ruled Friday that the girl could have an abortion in Romania even though her 21-week pregnancy is beyond the 14-week limit set by law. Abortions can only be carried out later than 14 weeks in Romania to save the life of the mother.
Also
Storm off Mexico: Tropical Storm Boris has formed off Mexico's Pacific Coast, but was 645 miles south of Baja California late Friday and not threatening land.
Indian Ocean quake: A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck off India's Andaman Islands on Friday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, officials and police said.
Hail damage: Hail the size of pingpong balls damaged some 30,000 new vehicles at a Volkswagen plant in northern Germany, a company spokesman said Friday.
Seattle Times news services
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Hundreds of bodies dug up in Chicago grave reselling scheme
Close-up: Protesters, security clash again in Iran
Repression has a familiar face
Close-up: Bombings in Iraq raise fears of resurging ethnic violence
Nations pledge to curb climate change at G-8 summit

Gen. David Petraeus: Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
Watch highlights of General David Petraeus discussing the Iraq and Afghanistan War at the Global Leadership Series sponsored by the World Affairs Council.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
- Seattle-area homebuilder losing projects to foreclosure
- Health-plan costs soar for individuals
- Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
- World's largest solar plant may be built in Cle Elum
- Driver killed, deputy and prisoner injured in head-on crash near Monroe
- House Democrats likely to alter intel bill
- Drunken man shocks Spain with his generosity
- Movie review | "Brüno" struts his stuff to hilariously expose intolerance
- Chase will no longer sponsor Lake Union fireworks
- 4 Ill. cemetery workers accused in grisly plot
- Mass. files lawsuit against federal marriage law
913 - Health-plan costs soar for individuals
523 - Texas Rangers at Seattle Mariners: 07/09 game thread
243 - Seattle Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik again declines to quell Yuniesky Betancourt trade rumors
145 - World's largest solar plant may be built in Cle Elum
126 - Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
91 - Wednesday night notes
86 - Pay parking in West Seattle?
76 - Franklin Gutierrez bails Mariners out in a 3-1 win
75 - House Dems want to expand secret briefings
63
- Seattle-area homebuilder losing projects to foreclosure
- Health-plan costs soar for individuals
- World's largest solar plant may be built in Cle Elum
- Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
- Grab the kids and hop on Amtrak for a stress-free getaway to Portland
- During financial crisis, the business of college sports is complicated by Title IX
- Local Smith & Hawken garden stores to close
- Green River Valley plans ahead for possible flooding
- Pay parking in West Seattle?
- Jerry Large | Issues of aging affect all




