AP - Rescuers pulled survivors from the rubble Friday who had been buried for four days as a strong aftershock sparked landslides near the epicenter of this week’s powerful earthquake.

AP - The cyclone’s official death toll has nearly doubled to almost 78,000 and another 56,000 people remain missing two weeks after the devastating storm, state television reported Friday.

AP - Saudi Arabian leaders made clear Friday they see no reason to increase oil production until their customers demand it, apparently rebuffing President Bush amid soaring U.S. gasoline prices.

AP - Osama bin Laden said in a new audio recording released Friday that al-Qaida will continue its holy war against Israel and its allies until it liberates Palestine.

AP - Myanmar’s military rulers have thrown a tightening ring of security around Yangon, blocking aid workers, foreign diplomats and journalists from reaching cyclone-battered regions where millions need food and medicine.

AFP - Nuclear power operator British Energy said Friday that it has received several offers from parties interested in the company as Britain prepares major new atomic energy investment.

AP - Leaders of Lebanon’s U.S.-backed government and the Hezbollah-led opposition have left for the highest level talks since the country’s political crisis began 18 months ago.

AP - President Leonel Fernandez was favored to win a third term on Friday, despite concerns over long-serving politicians in this Caribbean nation with a painful history of rule by strongmen.

Reuters - Zimbabwe said on Friday it would hold a delayed presidential election run-off on June 27, when the opposition hopes to oust veteran leader Robert Mugabe after nearly three decades in power.

AFP - The Philippines, one of the world’s largest rice importers, said Friday prices are softening after Japan offered to sell rice to Manila amid news of bumper world harvests for 2008.

AFP - Protesting pensioners brought traffic to a stand still in Australia’s second largest city on Friday when some stripped to demand more money from the government.