AP - Thailand's prime minister was forced out of office Tuesday after a court ruled that he had broken a conflict-of-interest law by hosting TV cooking shows.

AP - There was no sign of Kim Jong Il at a closely watched parade Tuesday marking the 60th anniversary of North Korea's founding, and Western officials said the all powerful leader — who has not appeared publicly for a month — may be gravely ill.

AP - North Korea marked the 60th anniversary of its founding Tuesday amid international doubts over its commitment to denuclearization, speculation about the health of its leader and a worsening food crisis.

AP - Russia's plan to deploy ships and warplanes to the Caribbean for joint military exercises with Venezuela is allowing President Hugo Chavez to capitalize on tensions between Moscow and the U.S. and showcase a growing military alliance.

AFP - Anglo-Dutch energy giant Royal Dutch Shell has agreed to a joint venture deal worth up to four billion dollars (2.8 billion euros) to capture gas in Iraq, the Financial Times said Tuesday.

AP - Nine people died in shelters in this marooned city desperate for relief supplies, even as waters from Hurricane Ike receded and a U.S. Navy ship dispatched amphibious boats to deliver food.

AP - Tamil Tiger rebels launched an air and ground assault on a military complex in northern Sri Lanka early Tuesday, the military said. Eleven troops, one civilian and 10 rebels were killed.

AP - The widower of assassinated former Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto took office as the country's new president Tuesday, facing immediate pressure to crack down on Islamic militants and address daunting economic problems.

AP - Hurricane Ike roared toward Cuba's densely populated capital of fragile historic buildings after forcing 1.2 million people to evacuate, killing at least four and ravaging homes elsewhere on the island nation.

Reuters - Missiles fired by U.S. drones killed 23 people, mostly relatives of a Taliban commander close to Osama bin Laden, in a region of Pakistan near the Afghan border on Monday, witnesses and intelligence officials said.

Reuters - South African President Thabo Mbeki met with Zimbabwe's rival parties on Monday, amid growing doubts over his chances of securing a power-sharing deal to end the political crisis.

AP - Al-Qaida marked the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks with an hour and a half video message Monday summarizing the state of jihad, or holy war, around the world and slamming Iran for collaborating with the United States.