Egypt may consider making nuclear arms if Iran obtains atomic weapons
CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s president would consider making the country a nuclear power if Iran acquired atomic weapons, leaked U.S. diplomatic cables revealed.
A report from May 2008, one of hundreds of secret documents released by the WikiLeaks website over the past week, described how President Hosni Mubarak told a U.S. delegation that the region is “terrified” of a nuclear Iran.
“Egypt might be forced to begin its own nuclear weapons program,” the cable said, citing a meeting between Mubarak and the delegation.
Iran’s growing nuclear program, which the country insists is for peaceful energy production, has sent chills throughout the region.
Omar Suleiman, head of Egyptian intelligence, cautioned against military strikes. He said such an attack would unite people against the U.S. and instead recommended sanctions, according to the cable.
 
Largest forest fire in Israeli history kills dozens, forces mass evaluation
MEGADIM, Israel (AP) — The worst forest fire in Israel’s history on Thursday devastated one of the country’s few forested areas, killing at least 36 guards on their way to rescue inmates at a prison in the fire zone, destroying homes and forcing the evacuation of thousands.
The fire ripped through the Carmel forest in Israel’s Galilee, reaching the coastal city of Haifa, jumping from place to place in the forest left tinder-dry by a lack of rain and unseasonably hot weather.
Israel appealed for international assistance, a measure of the severity of the disaster, and Turkey put aside recent tensions to pledge aid.
Investigators speculated that the fire could have been set accidentally, or it might have been a criminal act, but ruled out attack by a Palestinian group.
“This is a disaster of unprecedented proportions,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
 
Jobless Alabama woman charged with theft of 222 library books
ANNISTON, Ala. (AP) — Librarians in Anniston, Ala., said an unemployed woman has stolen thousands of dollars worth of books.
Police say 42-year-old Regina M. Smith, who has a library card, was arrested Wednesday on a felony theft charge.
Officials determined Smith had taken 222 books valued at $5,432 — mainly crime novels, mysteries and vampire stories.
 
Man sought in LA publicist’s death kills himself to avoid questioning
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man wanted in the slaying of a Hollywood publicist killed himself in a Los Angeles hotel as police closed in.
The slaying of Ronni Chasen, shot in her Mercedes as she left the premiere of an Oscar contender, remains under investigation.
Witnesses said the man bragged about the killing and an expected $10,000 payment.
 
Man dies in Baton Rouge house fire after running into burning building
(AP) — Firefighters say a 53-year-old Baton Rouge man was killed when he ran back into his burning home and was overcome by smoke.
Barry Mounce, fire department spokesman, says Richard Green, his mother and his infant nephew were in the living room of the home about 7 p.m. Wednesday when they noticed smoke coming from a back bedroom.
Mounce said the other three residents escaped the flames unharmed.
 
Police investigate shooting near a New Orleans high school Wednesday
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans police are investigating a double shooting near O.P. Walker High School at 8 p.m. Wednesday that left one man dead and another wounded.
Police say two victims were shot inside a vehicle. A victim shot in the arm was taken to the hospital while another died on scene. Neither victim has been identified.
 
National home foreclosure rates at 25 percent, Louisiana at 10 percent
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Foreclosure homes accounted for 10 percent of all Louisiana home sales during the third quarter of 2010, a national tracking firm said Thursday.
RealtyTrac said 534 homes in a stage of foreclosure — ranging from an initial notice of default to outright lender repossession — were sold in Louisiana during the July-through-September period, garnering an average price of $135,784.
Homes repossessed by lenders were sold at an average discount of 33.9 percent, RealtyTrac said.
Homes in default or scheduled for sale went for an average discount of 16.4 percent.
RealtyTrac said the drop — as in many states — likely is due to a dip in the foreclosure market rather than an overall improvement in the national home loan crisis.
Nationally, foreclosure homes accounted for 25 percent of all residential sales during the third quarter.
 
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