Tornado clean-up in Virginia...28 Iraq militants dead...Torch in Vietnam

SUFFOLK, Va. (AP) Some southern Virginia residents are getting a look at what's left of their homes this morning after three tornadoes tore through the region yesterday. Virginia Governor Tim Kaine has declared a state of emergency and will tour some of the hardest-hit areas today.

BERN, Switzerland (AP) The U.N. is putting together a task force to tackle the global food crisis in an effort to avoid "social unrest on an unprecedented scale." U.N. Secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon (bahn kee-moon) will lead the panel.

BAGHDAD (AP) The U.S. military says soldiers have killed 28 militants in a four-hour firefight in Baghdad's Shiite militia stronghold of Sadr City. A military spokesman says six American soldiers were hurt in the fighting, but the injuries aren't life-threatening.

Washington (AP) Another interest rate cut could be on the way from the Fed. The central bank is opening two days of meetings today. It's expected to lower interest rates by a quarter percentage point to two percent.

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (AP) The Olympic torch has been paraded through Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City as part of the international relay that has been dogged by demonstrations against China. Police detained several people in the capital city of Hanoi today for anti-China protests.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 04-29-08 0750CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list