In brief: Federal police take control of 13 towns

MEXICO CITY – Security officials say federal police have taken control of 13 municipalities in southern Mexico where local police are suspected of links to organized crime and the case of 43 missing students.

The locales all are within a 125-mile radius of Iguala, where students from a rural teachers college disappeared after a confrontation with police. The mayor and police chief of Iguala are fugitives, accused of links to the drug cartel Guerrero Unidos, believed to have worked with police in disappearing the students.

Japanese ministers

quitting amid scandal

TOKYO – Japan’s trade minister resigned today and reports said the justice minister would also quit amid allegations of misuse of campaign funds.

Yuko Obuchi said the investigation into the allegations would interfere with her duties as minister of the economy.

Japanese media said Justice Minister Midori Matsushima also planned to quit after the opposition Democratic Party of Japan filed a criminal complaint against her.

Sweden: foreign undersea activity

HELSINKI – The Swedish military said Sunday it had made three credible sightings of foreign undersea activity in its waters during the past few days amid reports of a suspected Russian intrusion in the area.

Rear Adm. Anders Grenstad said the military had observed the activity in the Stockholm archipelago and nearby coastal area, but declined to give details.

North, South Korea exchange gunfire

SEOUL, South Korea – Troops from the rival Koreas exchanged gunfire Sunday in the second such shooting in 10 days, South Korean officials said.

The first exchange of gunfire came after North Korea opened fire at balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets floating across the border from the South.

Sunday’s shootout began after North Korea sent soldiers close to the border line.