Swine flu cases fall in U.S., but what will Thanksgiving bring?

Atlanta

Officials see drop in swine flu cases in U.S.

Health officials say swine flu cases appear to declining throughout most of the U.S., but the specter of Thanksgiving gatherings next week makes it hard to predict what will happen next. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that reports of swine flu illnesses were widespread in 43 states last week, down from 46 the week before. CDC officials said it is hard to know whether the epidemic has peaked or not, and many people will be gathering — and spreading germs — next week at Thanksgiving.

Los Angeles

U.S. leads world in Nazi convictions

The United States has secured more legal victories against suspected Nazi war criminals than any other country over the last eight years, says the Simon Wiesenthal Center. The center said U.S. authorities have been responsible for 37 of 82 legal actions against suspected Nazis worldwide since 2001. It also recognized Germany and Italy for stepping up prosecutions. Norway and Sweden did not act because of statutes of limitations. Countries that failed to investigate cases included Australia, Austria, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania and Ukraine.

Washington

Cuba's spies are sentenced

A retired State Department employee will spend life in prison without parole after he and his wife pleaded guilty Friday to serving as covert agents for Cuba for three decades. Walter Kendall Myers, 72 — known to his Cuban handlers as "Agent 202" — agreed to a life sentence and to cooperate with the government. His wife, Gwendolyn Steingraber Myers, 71 — known as "Agent 123" and "Agent E-634" — agreed to a sentence of six to 7 ½ years in prison, and also will continue to cooperate with the government.

Elsewhere

Blackwater shooting: The Justice Department intends to drop manslaughter and weapons charges against Nicholas Slatten of Sparta, Tenn., one of the Blackwater Worldwide security guards involved in a deadly 2007 Baghdad shooting, prosecutors said in court documents Friday in Washington.

Impeachment debate: South Carolina lawmakers will begin hearings Tuesday on whether to impeach South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, including interviewing Sanford's staff about what they knew of the governor's secret five-day trip to Argentina in June.

Marine charged: Former Marine David Allen Tyner was charged Friday with six counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of four people whose bodies were found in a burning home, including prostitute Brooke Phillips, who was featured on the HBO reality series Cathouse.

Iran rebuked: The U.N. General Assembly's human rights committee approved a resolution Friday urging Iran to halt the persecution of political opponents following the disputed June 12 presidential election.

Deserter wins stay: Bethany Smith, a lesbian who deserted the U.S. military and fled to Canada, must be given another chance to plead her case for refugee status, Canada's Federal Court ruled Friday.

62nd anniversary: Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, celebrated their anniversary quietly on Friday, Buckingham Palace said. Princess Elizabeth married Lt. Philip Mountbatten in London's Westminster Abbey on Nov. 20, 1947.

Times wires