Honduras rejects OAS appeal to restore president (AP)

AP - Honduras rebuffed a personal appeal from the Americas' top international diplomat Friday, refusing to reinstate President Manuel Zelaya and setting the stage for a dramatic showdown if the ousted leader returns to reclaim power this weekend.

U.S. sounds out Arabs on Israel gestures: diplomats (Reuters)
Reuters - The United States and its Western allies are sounding out Arab governments to see if they might ease sanctions on Israel if it stopped building Jewish settlements on Palestinian territory, diplomats said on Friday.

Putin rejects Obama criticism before meeting (Reuters)

Reuters - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Friday rejected U.S. President Barack Obama's charge that he was mired in Cold War thinking, setting the scene for a stormy first meeting at a Moscow summit next week.

Group Sotomayor belonged to sued over job tests (AP)

AP - A civil rights group advised by Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor in the 1980s brought several discrimination lawsuits that sought to scrap the results of job tests because too few Hispanics scored well, according to new documents that are fueling GOP criticism of the judge.

Marines in 'hell of a fight' in Afghanistan: commander (AFP)

AFP - US Marines are in a "hell of a fight" as they storm into Taliban strongholds during a major assault in Afghanistan, their commanding officer said Friday.

U.S. drone kills 10 in Pakistan, copter crash kills 26 (Reuters)

Reuters - A U.S. drone aircraft fired missiles on Friday into Pakistan's South Waziristan region, killing 10 militants, officials said, ahead of an expected Pakistani military offensive in the area.

Iranian cleric says UK embassy staff face trial (Reuters)

Reuters - A senior Iranian cleric warned on Friday that detained British embassy staff would face trial for their alleged role in post-election unrest, and EU countries summoned Iranian envoys to protest against the detentions.

NKorea test-fires three missiles: SKorea ministry (AFP)

AFP - North Korea test-fired three missiles on the eve of American Independence Day celebrations, South Korea's defence ministry said, further stoking tensions amid an international nuclear standoff.

MOUNTAIN OF DEBT: Rising debt may be next crisis (AP)
AP - The Founding Fathers left one legacy not celebrated on Independence Day but which affects us all. It's the national debt.

Medici lawyer says Kohn didn't get Madoff payments (Reuters)
Reuters - Austrian fund manager Sonja Kohn did not receive any kickbacks from Bernard Madoff to steer Bank Medici customer funds to the swindler's investment business, a Medici lawyer said on Friday.