Fighting between rival factions in north Lebanon kills 4 more people

Heavy fighting between pro- and anti-government supporters in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli raged for a second day Monday and officials said four more people had died overnight.

By afternoon, Lebanese troops and policemen began deploying in the tense areas.

The deaths brought to eight the number of those killed since violence broke out Sunday in this city, 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the capital. Also, 42 have been wounded.

The latest clashes began overnight, when Sunni Muslim government supporters from the Bab el-Tabaneh district and the Alawite opposition supporters in neighboring Jabal Mohsen neighborhood exchanged machinegun …

Second IMF stint won't figure into economist's plans

The International Monetary Fund's chief economist since 2003announced on Tuesday that he will step down and return to theUniversity of Chicago early next year.

Raghuram Rajan said he was asked by the lending institution tostay for a second, three-year term, but the university, where he hadworked as a professor, indicated that it wouldn't be able to extendhis leave of absence.

"It is with regret, therefore, that I have told the [IMF's]managing director that I would like to return to the University ofChicago by early next year. I don't use the

word 'regret' lightly because I have enjoyed every minute that Ihave spent here," Rajan said.

The IMF's …

Weary travellers Sing the Journey

The first thing 140 travellers did July 4 after journeying to Charlotte 2005 was celebrate Sing the Journey, a new companion to Hymnal: A Worship Book.

Pre-convention seminar planners led participants through 31 songs and other worship resources from Sing the Journey, which has 118 songs and about 70 prayers and litanies. It was the official songbook for the adult assembly of the two denominations.

The pre-convention worship experience helped bring people into God's restful presence after harried travelling and hectic schedules, said Marlene Kropf, minister of worship for Mennonite Church USA and a member of the committee that compiled the new resource.

"A story in …

EU divided over sending troops to Congo

European Union nations are divided over whether to send an EU peacekeeping force to eastern Congo after U.N. officials appealed for more troops.

Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht says the 27-nation bloc should send a "bridging force" to aid the stretched 17,000-strong U.N. force in Congo amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.

De Gucht …

Utah takes over abandoned planned community

The state agency that oversees trust lands is taking over a half-built resort community near fast-growing St. George after the developer ran into trouble because of the declining real estate market.

Utah's School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration is taking back finished lots, infrastructure, office buildings and other lands from SunCor Development Co. of Tempe, Ariz.

The agency paid $3.4 million to buy out its one-time partner, marking the first time it took over a housing development, said Kevin Carter, director of the trust-lands administration. SunCor couldn't find another buyer offering acceptable terms.

"It looked like there …

Giants' Alou, Cubs' Baker looking for new positions

SAN FRANCISCO - Nobody in the Giants' front office is blamingFelipe Alou for San Francisco's failures the past two seasons. OwnerPeter Magowan is willing to take the heat for that.

The club cut ties with Alou on Monday, a day after the teamfinished its second straight losing season. San Francisco iscommitted to moving forward with a younger roster, and likely ayounger manager.

"He's every way a victim of circumstances," General Manager BrianSabean said. "He knows he had four good years here. The last two wererugged."

The change had been expected for some time, with the 71-year-oldAlou's contract expiring. He said he would like to stay in baseballin 2007, …

NATO disappointed by Ukraine's Tymoshenko verdict

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO said Thursday it was disappointed by the sentence handed down to Ukraine's former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko for abuse of office over a gas deal with Russia.

Tymoshenko, who once symbolized Western hopes for a democratic Ukraine, was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison. She has launched an appeal against the sentence.

The verdict was condemned by the U.S. and European Union as politically motivated.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said the alliance was disappointed by the outcome of the trial and hoped a solution could be found "on the basis of the rule of …