Bill Chappell

Nearly two years after her husband died, a Massachusetts woman received a letter saying that a Veterans Affairs hospital was ready to see him. Suzanne Chase's husband, Doug, was a Vietnam veteran who died of a brain tumor; the agency is apologizing over the mistake.

The story comes to us ...

The annual July 1 march for greater autonomy in Hong Kong has brought a large turnout, as tens of thousands of demonstrators demand democratic elections. Activists are threatening to blockade the city's financial district unless China allows a free and fair vote to choose Hong Kong's leader.

The march comes ...

Just two years after leaving the presidency, former French leader Nicolas Sarkozy turned himself in to police this morning as part of an inquiry into a cover-up of suspected illegal campaign fundraising. Sarkozy, 59, is reportedly France's first former president to be taken into formal custody.

From Paris, NPR's Eleanor ...

Israel says its military killed a Palestinian man from the Hamas militant group during an arrest raid. The operation was part of the search for two Palestinians suspected in the deaths of three Israeli teens whose bodies were found Monday.

The man killed in the raid has been identified ...

American forward Jozy Altidore, who missed the U.S. team's last two World Cup games with a strained hamstring, is "ready and available" to play against Belgium tomorrow, U.S. Soccer has announced.

The elimination game will start at 4 p.m. EDT. Tuesday; it'll be on ESPN and Univision.

Altidore is hoping ...

A fund established by GM to pay claims related to defective ignition switches won't limit claim amounts and will include people who have already settled a case with the carmaker. Those and other details about the long-awaited compensation plan were announced by plan administrator Kenneth Feinberg on Monday.

"GM basically ...

A United Airlines flight was disrupted last night after an inflatable emergency slide deployed, popping open in the aircraft's cabin. While the jet's emergency's door remained closed, pilots of the Boeing 737 quickly made an emergency landing in Wichita, Kansas.

The flight's passengers included former University of Nebraska quarterback Taylor ...

Two Americans who entered North Korea this spring could be headed for trial there, as they're accused of "hostile acts against the country," according to state media. A trial date for the two, who were traveling separately, hasn't been announced.

From Shanghai, NPR's Frank Langfitt reports:

"Matthew Miller, 24, ...

Extremist Sunni group ISIS has announced a plan to rule the territory it has carved out of Iraq and Syria in recent months, in a declaration that touches on public services, salaries and compensation for damages from the violence.

The plan was unveiled as Iraq's central Shiite government tries to ...

The Americans have the spunk, the vigor and a willingness to try anything. The Belgians have the art, the creativity and the tradition of world-class success. We're not just talking about their looming World Cup matchup here. We're also talking about beer.

The topic of beer and the World Cup ...

Saying it wants to join an international treaty banning anti-personnel land mines, the U.S. announced today that it will no longer make "or otherwise acquire" them. The new policy was announced at a conference on the Ottawa Convention, a 1999 treaty that outlaws the mines.

The country's stronger stance on ...

Giorgio Chiellini, the Italian defender whose shoulder bore teeth marks after a clash with Uruguay's Luis Suarez during a World Cup match Tuesday, says FIFA's four-month ban of Suarez is too harsh. Chiellini released a statement on his website saying his thoughts are with the star striker and his ...

A free-trade zone between Ukraine and the European Union takes another step toward reality today, as the nation that's under pressure from pro-Russian separatists signs an economic agreement with the EU. The deal also includes two other former Soviet states, Moldova and Georgia.

The trade pact comes as a tense ...

The U.S. men's soccer team has finished second in its World Cup group, after a 1-0 loss to Germany on Thursday. The Americans will advance after Portugal beat Ghana 2-1.

"This is a huge, huge step, and now we can't wait until round of 16," U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said ...

The Supreme Court has struck down a Massachusetts law mandating a 35-foot buffer zone around clinics that provide abortion services.

Backers of the legislation have said the law treats groups equally, requiring both supporters and opponents of abortion rights to maintain their distance from the clinics. But in a unanimous ...

"I'm not going to lie to you — I'm not in the best shape," Will Ferrell told American soccer fans in Brazil last night, after being announced as a mock World Cup replacement by U.S. Soccer.

The comedian paid a surprise visit to a rally for fans on the eve ...

With both Iraq and Syria facing threats from the extremist group ISIS, a recent attack by Syrian warplanes along the countries' border was a welcome development, says Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. He says that he didn't ask for the airstrikes — but he doesn't have a problem with them, ...

An exchange of mortar fire has been reported in eastern Ukraine, where government troops and pro-Russian separatist forces had been observing an uneasy cease-fire in the past week. The news comes as Secretary of State John Kerry says Russia could face sanctions if it doesn't help end the violence.

Russian ...