World News Briefs -- July 20, 2009

Former Apollo astronauts Walt Cunningham (Apollo 7), James Lovell (Apollo 8 and 13), David Scott (Apollo 15), Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11), Charles Duke (Apollo 16), Thomas Stafford (Apollo 10) and Eugene Cernan (Apollo 10 and 17) pose at the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission and the walk on the moon at the NASA Headquarters in Washington July 20, 2009. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES SCI TECH IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Apollo 11 Crew: Moon Less Interesting Than Mars -- Yahoo News/AP

WASHINGTON – The first astronauts to walk on the moon want President Barack Obama to aim for a new destination: Mars.

On Monday, the Apollo 11 crewmen, fresh from a Washington lecture Sunday in which two of them expressed concerns about NASA getting bogged down on the moon, are meeting with Obama at the White House.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Iraqis restrict US operations in Baghdad. Tensions rise over US Iraq role.

Ali Khamenei warns of 'collapse' after Iran referendum calls.

Israel backs East Jerusalem housing construction despite U.S. opposition.

Israel condemns Iran-PA meeting.

56 go on trial in Turkey over 'coup plot'.

ASIA

July becomes deadliest month for US in Afghanistan.

20 dead in clashes in troubled northwest Pakistan.

Tajiks say 5 foreign terrorists killed in clash.

China's Uighurs lose ground economically.

US and India agree defence pact. More news here.

India tells Clinton: No carbon cuts. More news here.

US, SKorea seeking new way of disarming NKorea.

AFRICA

More pirate attacks feared off Somalia.

Somali insurgents loot U.N. compounds.

Somali Islamists ban UN agencies.

Aziz wins Mauritanian election, opposition leaders denounce 'electoral charade'.

SAfrica stops funding for AIDS vaccine research.

EUROPE

US vice president in Ukraine to pledge support.

Germany remembers Hitler plotters.

"Escort tapes" put Berlusconi back in spotlight.

Cypriots divided on anniversary.

Georgian president proposes reforms, foes scoff.

Swine flu threatens British economy: study.

AMERICAS

Pressure grows on Honduras as violence feared.

Thousands flee western Canadian wildfires.

Support for Obama on healthcare slips: poll.

Peru's Fujimori convicted of corruption.

Chavez rips US report linking Venezuela to drug-running.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Terrorism interrogation unit considered.

Surviving Mumbai gunman pleads guilty. More news here.

Minister denies al Qaeda figures move to Yemen.

Al-Qaeda’s next front – China.

Britain lowers al Qaeda threat level.

Mali announces joint operations against Al-Qaeda.

ECONOMIC/FINANCIAL CRISIS

Bailouts could cost U.S. $23 trillion.

White House putting off release of budget update.

Treasury secretary has tough task of marketing US debt amid soaring deficits.

U.K. economy could shrink 4.5% 'and the banks are to blame'.