Husband: Giffords will be at launch

Husband: Giffords will be at launch

HOUSTON

The astronaut husband of wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords said his wife would be “very comfortable” with his decision to go back into space, and he expects her to be at his launch in April. Space-shuttle commander Mark Kelly wouldn’t go into details about her condition during a news conference Friday and deflected questions about how he knows she supports his choice to fly.

US warns of night driving in Mexico

MEXICO CITY

Officials are warning U.S. citizens not to drive at night in parts of the western Mexican city of Guadalajara after suspected drug-gang members burned vehicles and blocked streets. A separate U.S. alert Friday said the northern city of Monterrey has seen a significant increase in armed robberies at restaurants and convenience stores. Some of the blockades in Guadalajara took place on a highway leading to the city’s airport and to Lake Chapala, a popular retirement and vacation spot for U.S. and Canadian citizens.

Alaska lawmakers: Ditch pipeline plan

JUNEAU, Alaska

Alaska lawmakers introduced legislation Friday to abandon a centerpiece of former Gov. Sarah Palin’s administration: a state- sanctioned effort to advance a major natural-gas pipeline.

The measure sponsored by at least five Republican representatives underscored the impatience and skepticism that many lawmakers have expressed about the current process and a belief the state is no closer than it was several years ago to realizing the long-hoped-for line.

It sets up a potential political battle with House Democrats and Palin’s successor, Republican Gov. Sean Parnell. Both have expressed support for seeing the process now under way through.

If the legislation succeeds, it was not clear how Alaska would commercialize its prodigious North Slope gas.

Cuba seeks 20-year term for American

HAVANA

Prosecutors are charging a jailed American contractor with “acts against the integrity and independence” of Cuba and requesting a 20-year jail term, state news media reported Friday, dimming hopes the 60-year-old Maryland native would be allowed to go home soon.

Alan Gross has been jailed without charge since December 2009 on suspicion of spying.

The U.S. government and his family say he was distributing communications equipment to the island’s Jewish community.

Verizon: Record sales for iPhone

NEW YORK

Verizon Wireless on Friday said its first day of taking online orders for the iPhone produced record sales, and it’s stopped taking orders until Wednesday.

The cell-phone carrier said that in just two hours Thursday morning, between 3 and 5 a.m., more customers had ordered the phone than in the full day of any previous phone launch.

The company didn’t specify how many iPhones had been ordered. It halted orders at 8:10 p.m. Thursday and said it will resume taking orders at 3 a.m. Wednesday.

Cambodian, Thai troops resume fight

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia

Cambodian and Thai troops resumed an artillery duel along their border this morning, ignoring a cease-fire the two sides reached a day earlier after two people were killed in fighting near a historic 11th-century temple.

Cambodia said today’s shelling, which it accused Thailand of instigating, ended within an hour. Thai authorities were not immediately available to comment.

Associated Press