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SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea put two U.S. journalists on trial on Thursday on charges of illegally entering the state with "hostile intent," in a case that could worsen tension with Washington after Pyongyang's nuclear test last week.

The journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling of the U.S. media outlet Current TV, were arrested in March near the border between China and North Korea while working on a story. The TV network was co-founded by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore.

North Korea's KCNA n… Continue

President Barack Obama arrived in Cairo this morning, greeted by a ceremonial playing of the Egyptian and American national anthems outside the Quba Palace, immediately followed by a one-on-one meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Both men reported that they had discussed a range of issues of concern in the Middle East. Mr. Mubarak said the discussion had included "the situation and everything related to Iran and to the region."
"We discussed everything candidly and frankly without an… Continue

CANBERRA (Reuters) - A student who fell with a noose around his neck during a mock class hanging that was arranged by teachers has enraged Australian authorities.

The high school student fell from a table while fellow students, under the supervision of a teacher, were photographing a staged hanging as part of an English class project.

"It beggars belief that such an incident could take place," Queensland state Education Minister Geoff Wilson told local radio on Wednesday.

"I'm a parent. The l… Continue

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - NASA, which has tiptoed into the new world of social media with Twittering astronauts and Facebooking rovers, is taking the next step with an invitation-only outreach to "the twedia" to cover a space shuttle launch.

There are so many details to work out that the so-called TweetUp, originally planned for next week's launch of space shuttle Endeavour, has been rescheduled for the August flight of shuttle Discovery, said Michael Cabbage, a spokesman for the U.S.… Continue

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health officials have confirmed 20 deaths from the new strain of H1N1 flu, with more than 11,000 confirmed or probable cases.

Three U.S. deaths were reported on Wednesday -- two in New York and one in Connecticut.

Officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 11,054 confirmed and probable cases with 17 deaths on Wednesday -- before the three new deaths were reported. But CDC officials have said the confirmed cases represent only a tiny pr… Continue