World News Briefs -- June 2, 2009

Brazil Confirms Air France Jet Crashed In Ocean -- Yahoo News/AP

FERNANDO DE NORONHA, Brazil – Brazilian military planes found a 3-mile (5-kilometer) path of wreckage in the Atlantic Ocean, confirming that an Air France jet carrying 228 people crashed in the sea, Defense Minister Nelson Jobim said Tuesday. Jobim told reporters in Rio de Janeiro that the discovery "confirms that the plane went down in that area," hundreds of miles (kilometers) from the Brazilian archipelago of Fernando de Noronha.

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MIDDLE EAST

US combat troops on pace to leave Iraqi cities by June 30. U.S. combat troops to leave all Iraqi cities.

Iran fire kills at least 5 during sectarian clashes in Zahedan.

Israel and U.S. can’t close split on settlements.

Turkey's PKK extends ceasefire by six weeks.

ASIA

North Korea's Kim moves to anoint youngest son as heir.

China, US to resume high-level, annual discussions.

China rounds up dissidents, blocks Twitter.

Philippines says wants ceasefire with Muslim rebels.

S Asia hunger 'at 40-year high'.

AFRICA

Zimbabwe crisis a problem for South Africa.

Scientific study confirms Darfur rape epidemic.

No winner seen in Somalia’s battle with chaos.

SA 'denies care to Zimbabweans'.

AFRICA-US: Growing drug trade linked to terror groups.

EUROPE

Prince Charles to attend D-Day ceremony.

Greenland votes in landmark polls.

U.K. Home Secretary Smith to step down.

Sarkozy to meet Iran's foreign minister Wednesday.

Eurozone jobless rate hits 10-year high.

AMERICAS

25 Mexican Police officers are accused of links to drug traffickers.

El Salvador: Mauricio Funes takes office, ending years of conservative rule.

Chile reports 1st swine flu death in South America.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Guantanamo court resumes with squabbling lawyers.

U.S. judge: Guantanamo evidence must be made public.

Al-Qaida criticizes Obama's upcoming Cairo speech.

Guantánamo terrorism trial moved to New York.

Military: Gitmo detainee dies of apparent suicide.

China lashes out over Gitmo prisoner request.

ECONOMIC/FINANCIAL CRISIS

Dollar declines as slump prompts nations to mull alternative.

OPEC's price aspirations edge higher.

Geithner in China describes mutual confidence.

Travelers and Cisco replace G.M. and Citi in Dow Index.