International News Briefs

Oil companies once viewed drilling in the deep waters off Florida as cost-prohibitive. Politicians feared even the slightest sign of support would be career suicide.

No more. Record crude oil prices are fueling support for oil and natural gas exploration off the nation’s shores. In Florida, movement was under way even before President Bush called on Congress last month to lift a federal moratorium that’s barred new offshore drilling since 1981.

With gas topping $4 a gallon, recent polls show Americans, Floridians included, more supportive of drilling in protected areas. Some politicians — including Gov. Charlie Crist — have switched sides.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

Pakistan denies nuke claim

Pakistan’s army under President Pervez Musharraf supervised a shipment of uranium centrifuges — which enrich uranium for nuclear warheads — to North Korea in 2000, the disgraced architect of Pakistan’s atomic weapons program said Friday.

The claim is the most controversial leveled by Abdul Qadeer Khan, who in recent months has been agitating for an end to house arrest and backing off his 2004 confession that he was solely responsible for spreading Pakistan’s nuclear arms technology to Iran, North Korea and Libya.

A spokesman for Musharraf rejected Khan’s claims, calling them “all lies.”

SAPPORO, Japan

G-8 to face economic woes

Between surging oil prices, food inflation and a credit crunch that’s depressed global growth, leaders from the Group of Eight economic powers face the gravest combination of economic woes in at least a decade when they gather next week.

The outlook has darkened dramatically since last year’s summit in Germany, when the leaders declared the global economy was in “good condition” and oil cost $70 a barrel — which seemed high at the time.

Since then, the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis has erupted, roiling markets and battering major financial firms. Oil has doubled to above $140 and food prices have jumped.

HIGHLAND, Ind.

‘Runaway’ tortoise is home

A 60-pound tortoise that escaped from a family’s garage last month is back home after a 2 1/2 -week adventure that took him through three northwestern Indiana towns.

Tank, an 8-year-old African spur thigh tortoise, was returned Wednesday to owners Mark and Kim Hirchak after they called Munster police to report him missing.

The couple had earlier called Highland and Hammond police, but Munster officers knew all about the missing reptile, which had turned up at a gas station not long after his escape.

During his absence, Tank was shuttled between various homeowners, including a couple whose backyard strawberry patch and flowers became his dinner.

Fourteen-year-old Kylie Hirchak said Tank, who escaped when someone left open a garage door, is like a member of the family. He’s one of two tortoises the family owns.

Tank’s freedom wasn’t his first. He escaped during a Fourth of July party last year and was found three days later at a post office about three miles away.

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