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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Hurricane Rick hits Category 2

From Wire Reports

Acapulco, Mexico – Hurricane Rick swiftly strengthened Friday off Mexico’s Pacific coast with winds near 100 mph, and forecasters warned it could soon become a major hurricane.

Rick, a Category 2 hurricane, was centered about 260 miles south-southwest of Acapulco on Friday night.

Rick could become a Category 3 storm sometime today.

The storm posed no immediate threat to land, although its course could bring it closer to the Baja California peninsula by mid-next week.

Zelaya says talks are at a stalemate

Tegucigalpa, Honduras – Talks to resolve the Honduran political crisis deadlocked Friday over conflicting proposals for restoring ousted President Manuel Zelaya to office, dampening hopes for a resolution in internationally backed negotiations.

“The dialogue is in suspense … until the other side adopts a reasonable stance,” Zelaya told the Associated Press.

A Zelaya spokesman said the deposed leader would give negotiations two more days to break an impasse over his return to power.

N. Korea official plans to visit U.S.

Washington – A senior North Korean nuclear negotiator plans to visit the United States this month at a time when the two countries are trying to resume stalled disarmament talks.

A U.S. official said Ri Gun, the director general of American affairs at North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, would likely discuss nuclear matters with a senior U.S. diplomat while he was in the United States.