Chicago Inquirer

Evacuations start as US braces for Hurricane Earl

by Rick Mercier

RALEIGH, North Carolina-Thousands of people evacuated North Carolina's barrier islands on Wednesday as a strengthened Hurricane Earl threatened to pound large areas of the US east coast with heavy winds and rough seas.

Netanyahu told Clinton no change on settlement issue

WASHINGTON-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there is no change in Israel's position to end a moratorium on settlement construction later this month, but urged Palestinians not to abandon fresh peace talks over the issue.

Sweden to reopen rape probe of WikiLeaks founder

by Rita Devlin Marier

STOCKHOLM-A top Swedish prosecutor said Wednesday she would reopen a rape investigation against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, overturning a previous ruling to quash a probe of the Australian.

Miners' morale leaps as NASA aids rescue

by Moises Avila Roldan

COPIAPO, Chile-The morale of 33 miners trapped in Chile soared Wednesday after music and hot meals were supplied, and NASA added its experience to keeping them healthy while a rescue drill inched closer.

SPORTS

US Open top seeds Nadal, Wozniacki capture openers

NEW YORK-US Open top seeds Rafael Nadal and Caroline Wozniacki moved into the second round on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts while Serbian stars Novak Djokovic and Jelena Jankovic struggled to advance on Day 2.

POLITICS

'Tea Party' beats Alaska Republican senator

WASHINGTON-In a new blow to US incumbents, a political novice backed by 2008 vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin and the "Tea Party" movement has upset a sitting senator in Alaska's Republican primary.

EDUCATION

Olympic culture, education programs set for Rio

SINGAPORE-IOC president Jacques Rogge said Thursday he plans to expand future Youth Olympic Games and introduce a Culture and Education Program into the traditional Olympics as early as Rio in 2016.

EDITORIAL

Nigerian leader may run for president -- unless he doesn't

LAGOS-Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan's office wanted to make one thing clear about his potential candidacy in upcoming elections -- but they may have succeeded in clarifying nothing at all.