Moscow

Nuclear-powered sub sinks

A Russian nuclear-powered submarine sank this morning in the Barents Sea, killing at least two of the 10-member crew, the Defense Ministry said.

The K-159 submarine’s nuclear reactor was shut down at the time the vessel sank about 3 1/2 miles northwest of Kildin Island, the Defense Ministry said. No weapons were aboard the sub, the ministry said.

One sailor was rescued, the bodies of two dead crew members were found and the fate of seven others were unknown, the ministry said.

Russia’s last major submarine accident was the sinking of the Kursk on Aug. 12, 2000, also in the Barents Sea. All 118 men on board were killed.

Beijing

N. Korea talks will continue

The six nations that met this week for talks on North Korea’s nuclear weapons program agreed to avoid steps that would increase tensions and plan to meet again within two months, officials said Friday.

The head of the host Chinese delegation, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi, said the delegations had agreed on a basic framework to continue the talks and had “agreed not to take any actions that will escalate tension as long as dialogue moves along.”

Other delegates at the talks, which brought together officials from the United States, North Korea, South Korea, Russia, Japan and China, said they would meet again in China within two months.

Jerusalem

Sharon seeks U.S. economic pressure on Palestinians

Palestinian gunmen killed an Israeli settler and exchanged fire with troops Friday in the West Bank, while Israel’s prime minister suggested that Washington link U.S. aid to Palestinians with a crackdown on armed groups.

Israeli soldiers kept up their hunt for militants, smashing through the walls of houses in Nablus and uprooting orchards in the Gaza Strip apparently used to launch rockets at the Israeli city of Ashkelon.

Hours earlier, an Israeli helicopter in southern Gaza killed a Hamas fugitive driving a donkey cart, the fourth missile strike against members of the Islamic militant group in eight days.

Liberia

Peacekeepers, U.S. official enter second cut-off city

West African peacekeepers and American diplomats rolled into Liberia’s cut-off second city Friday for the first time since the war ended, greeted by ragged, skinny refugees who lined the road to cheer.

With Harrier attack jets and helicopter gunships clattering overhead, U.S. Ambassador John Blaney presented insurgents still firmly in control of Buchanan with a dog-eared copy of the Aug. 18 peace deal.

The air support deployed from three American warships off Monrovia’s coast in a pointed show of military might.

Buchanan, Liberia’s second-largest city after the capital, fell to rebels July 28 and remains isolated behind front lines, even after West African peacekeepers helped bring calm to Monrovia. Rebels holding the city 60 miles southeast of Monrovia belong to the smaller group Movement for Democracy in Liberia.