McCain uncertain about his vote on Sotomayor

McCain uncertain about his vote on Sotomayor

WASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain says he is still on the fence when it comes to voting for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.

McCain says he is examining Sotomayor’s record as an appeals court judge to decide whether she understands the limits to judicial power. He voted against her when she was nominated to the appeals court.

A Senate vote is expected this week.

The Arizona Republican says the prospect of Sotomayor’s becoming the first Hispanic on the high court is part of the discussion and calls her a great American success story.

Pakistan begins case against negotiator

ISLAMABAD — Pakistani authorities lodged a criminal case Sunday against a cleric who helped negotiate a failed peace deal with the Swat Valley Taliban, suggesting the government is determined not to negotiate again with the militants.

Sufi Muhammad, father-in-law of Swat’s notorious Taliban leader Maulana Fazlullah, is accused of aiding terrorism, sedition and conspiring against the government, Swat police Chief Sajid Mohmand said. The charges carry a minimum penalty of life imprisonment and a maximum of death.

The case suggests Pakistan is moving away from its past willingness to negotiate with militants, but could also be a way to pressure Muhammad to reveal any information he has about the location of the Swat Valley Taliban’s leaders, who have evaded capture despite a three-month military offensive.

1 dead, 75 injured in stage collapse

CAMROSE, Alberta — Organizers on Sunday canceled the closing day of a country music festival in central Alberta a day after a fierce thunderstorm caused an outdoor stage to collapse, killing one person and injuring about 75 others.

Thousands of fans were camped out at the Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, 60 miles southeast of Edmonton, when strong winds and heavy rain struck about 6 p.m. Saturday, sending people screaming and running for cover. Actor Kevin Costner who was about to perform with his band narrowly escaped serious injury.

The event is billed as Canada’s largest country music festival with attendance estimated at 15,000.

Clinton visiting Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya — Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this week visits Africa, where she’s expected to show support for the government of Somalia, renew political pressure on Zimbabwe and raise awareness of sexual violence in Congo.

Clinton’s 11-day, seven-country tour reflects the range of U.S. strategic interests in Africa — from humanitarian relief to trade agreements — and follows President Barack Obama’s brief visit to Ghana last month, when he urged Africans to take greater responsibility for lifting themselves up from poverty, conflict and corruption.

Swiss to seek answers about missing hikers

BERN, Switzerland — Swiss diplomats are trying to find out what happened to three American hikers reportedly captured in Iran, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday.

The Swiss Embassy in Tehran is working to learn more about the Americans’ fate through its contacts with the Iranian Foreign Ministry, spokeswoman Nadine Olivieri said.

Iranian guards detained the three American tourists Friday after they allegedly crossed the border from northern Iraq, Iran state TV said.

‘Funny People’ isn’t funny at box office

HOLLYWOOD — “Funny People” needs a jolt of box-office testosterone.

The somber comedy starring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen opened to a mediocre $23.4 million this weekend, according to studio estimates. That’s just enough to avoid being a bust if it experiences modest declines over the next few weeks.

It contributed to an overall soft weekend at the box office that drove summer ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada below 2008’s total for the first time, according to data from Hollywood.com.

The box office is expected to start recovering next weekend, however, with Paramount Pictures’ “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,” which may exceed $50 million in its first week, according to pre-release audience polling.

Combined Dispatches