WORLD BRIEFS

VIETNAM: U.S. begins dioxin cleanup

Vo Duoc fights back tears while sharing the news that broke his heart: A few days ago he received test results confirming he and 11 family members have elevated levels of dioxin lingering in their blood. The family lives near a former U.S. military base in Danang where the defoliant Agent Orange was stored during the Vietnam War, which ended nearly four decades ago. Duoc, 58, has diabetes, his wife battles breast cancer and their daughter has remained childless after repeated miscarriages. Duoc now suspects his family unwittingly ingested dioxin from contaminated fish, vegetables and well water. On Thursday, in a $43 million project, the United States for the first time begins cleaning up dioxin from Agent Orange that was stored at the former military base, now part of Danang's airport. Washington still disputes a claim by Hanoi that between 3 million to 4 million Vietnamese were affected by toxic chemicals sprayed by U.S. planes, arguing that the actual number is far lower and blaming other environmental factors. The Vietnamese say the United States maintains a double standard in acknowledging the consequences of Agent Orange.

CHINA: Political scandal trial begins

The closely orchestrated murder trial of Gu Kailai, the wife of disgraced politician Bo Xilai, began Thursday in the eastern city of Hefei. Gu Kailai and a household aide are accused of poisoning British businessman Neil Heywood in November in the southwestern Chongqing, where Bo was party chief until his ouster this spring. Trial in the scandal comes as the government is preparing for a once-a-decade political transition that will install a new generation of leaders. Until his fall, Bo was considered a contender for a top job.

IRAQ: Bomb kills 11 worshippers

A car bomb killed 11 people Wednesday, exploding near a gathering of Shia Muslims in a tent. Police and hospital officials said people were gathered in the tent for a religious ceremony near Suwayrah, 25 miles south of Baghdad. Forty people were injured.