UNITED STATES - American state rejects Madoff settlement offer
BOSTON (AP): Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin's office has rejected a proposed settlement by an investment firm to repay nearly $6 million to state investors who lost money in Bernard Madoff's fraudulent investment scheme...

Compromise sought on prayer dispute at US plant
OMAHA, Nebraska (AP):Officials at a Grand Island meat-packing plant say they're taking steps to prevent a repeat of last year when a Muslim prayer dispute set off protests that led to mass firings...

French academic released from Iran prison
PARIS (AP):The French academic who is part of a mass trial in Iran has been freed from prison and turned over to the French Embassy, but still faces charges, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said yesterday....