Washington, D.C.

Postal Service posts $1.9 billion loss

The financially troubled Postal Service posted a net loss of $1.9 billion in the second quarter, the same amount the agency lost over the same period in 2013, postal officials said. But the agency did report operating revenue of $16.7 billion, a $379 million increase over the same period last year. It was the third straight quarter the agency had posted an increase in revenue. Postal officials acknowledged, however, that the increase in revenue as well as efforts to trim costs — such as cutting back the hours at many post offices, reducing staff through attrition and consolidating about half of the service's processing plants — were not enough to offset the agency's massive debt.

Yemen

Americans killed two in abduction attempt

Two officers at the U.S. Embassy in Yemen shot and killed a pair of armed Yemeni civilians during an attempted abduction of the Americans at a Sanaa business last month, the State Department said. Within days of the April 24 shooting both officers left Yemen with the approval of the Yemeni government, said Marie Harf, a spokeswoman for the State Department. Citing unidentified U.S. officials, the New York Times reported that the Americans were a CIA officer and a lieutenant colonel with the elite Joint Special Operations Command who were visiting a barber shop in an upscale district in Yemen's capital.

South Korea

Ferry victims' parents seek presidential talks

Parents of high school students killed in the South Korean ferry disaster marched on the office of President Park Geun-hye in Seoul, as prosecutors tightened their investigative noose around an enigmatic family that controls the operator of the doomed ferry. Holding photos of their children, the parents said they came to ask for a meeting with Park to demand an inquiry into allegations that a bumbling response by her government increased the number of deaths in the country's worst disaster in decades.

South Africa

ANC appears headed for election victory

With counting virtually complete after South Africa's fifth all-race elections, results showed the African National Congress securing another big victory, even though the party fell short of its goal of a two-thirds majority. The outcome seemed to show that, whatever misgivings South Africans might have about the President Jacob Zuma, many were still prepared to display their loyalty to the 102-year-old party that claimed victory over apartheid 20 years ago.

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