More for Afghanistan...Bush's meeting...Staten Island fires

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) President-elect Barack Obama says he'll increase assistance to Afghanistan both economically and militarily. That's according to one of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's aides. Karzai and Obama spoke to each other by phone yesterday.

LIMA, Peru (AP) President Bush is getting set for a one-on-one meeting with the President of Peru this morning. Bush is expected to tout free trade and the benefits he sees in it. A free trade deal between Peru and the U.S. is about to take effect.

TUKWILA, Wash. (AP) What may have been a gang-related shooting at a mall near Seattle has left one person dead and another in critical condition. Despite a six-hour lockdown of the mall the gunman got away, but police say they expect to identify him soon and make an arrest.

NEW YORK (AP) A fire in a Staten Island home has taken the life of a New York City firefighter. It happened this morning and not much else is known yet. Also this morning, firefighters putting out a different fire in Staten Island found the body of a 43-year-old woman. She was apparently stabbed to death.

HOUSTON (AP) Astronauts on the international space station hope the way a centrifuge is mounted can explain why a water recycling system hasn't been working. For three days in a row the new machine hasn't quite worked right. It's essential for expanding the size of the crew next year.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-23-08 0541CST | save this article / add to your favorites list