U.S. offers $5 million in agents' shooting

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration offered up to a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture of the suspected drug traffickers who shot and killed a U.S. immigration agent and wounded another in Mexico last month. The State Department said its Narcotics Rewards Program would pay the amount to anyone coming forward with information that results in the arrest of those responsible for the Feb. 15 attack that killed Jaime Zapata and wounded Victor Avila. Both men were agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.


Carter leaves Havana, couldn't free American

HAVANA — Former President Jimmy Carter left Cuba without gaining the release of a jailed U.S. government contractor, a deflating end to what was otherwise a groundbreaking visit. The 86-year-old ex-president did get to meet with Alan Gross, 61, who is serving a 15-year sentence after being convicted earlier this month of bringing communications equipment into Cuba illegally. "He still seems to be in good spirits, professing his innocence," Carter said.


Junta nominally hands over power to civilians

A nominally civilian government took office in Myanmar, but the change was mostly one of political structure as the military, which has ruled for a half-century, maintained its grip on power. Thein Sein, 65, a retired military officer who leads the military-backed majority party in a newly elected Parliament, was sworn in as president. He formally replaced the military junta that has been led by Gen. Than Shwe for the past two decades.


Israeli airstrike hits Gaza, killing 1 militant

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — An Israeli aircraft attacked a pair of Palestinian militants riding on a motorcycle in the Gaza Strip, killing one and wounding the other, the Islamic Jihad group said. The Israeli military said it had "targeted and hit a terrorist squad" that had launched rockets toward southern Israel on Tuesday.


13 die in suicide blast at police checkpoint

PESHAWAR — A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle attacked a police checkpoint in northwestern Pakistan, striking amid a crowd gathered along the road to greet a prominent pro-Taliban politician and killing 13 people, police said. It was unclear if the bomber targeted the supporters of politician Maulana Fazlur Rehman or if they just happened to be there when he attacked.