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Iraq
Sixteen American soldiers were killed when their helicopter was shot down in Iraq. The attack was the deadliest single strike since the start of the U.S.-led invasion to remove Saddam Hussein from power. The transport helicopter was carrying troops to a rest break from combat. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the helicopter was likely hit by a shoulder-fired missile. It was the third U.S. helicopter to be shot down since President Bush declared major combat over on May 1. At least 138 U.S. troops have been killed in combat since that declaration.

Germany
About 100,000 people protested in the streets of Berlin against Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's plans to cut back on Germany's generous welfare system. It was the biggest demonstration so far against the controversial cuts. Mr. Schroeder has said he might resign from office if Germany's parliament does not pass his plan into law. His plan includes putting more pressure on the unemployed to take available jobs. Germany has an unemployment rate of about 10 percent. Critics of Mr. Schroeder's plan say Germany's tax system is hardest on the unemployed, sick, and elderly.

Ranulph Fiennes
British explorer Ranulph Fiennes completed a record-making accomplishment when he finished the New York Marathon recently. Mr. Fiennes ran seven marathons in one week, on six different continents. He ran all the races with his friend and medical adviser, Michael Stroud. Mr. Fiennes had heart surgery four months ago after a heart attack. The pair completed marathons in Sydney, Singapore, Chile, the Falkland Islands, London, and Egypt before running the New York City race.

Madame Chiang Kai-shek
Madame Chiang Kai-shek the former first lady of Taiwan, died recently in New York at age 105. Madame Chiang was born Soong May-ling, but she became known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek when she married Taiwan's president. Her husband, Chiang Kai-shek, was president of the government that ruled China until losing a civil war with the Communists in 1949 and retreating to Taiwan. He died in 1975, and Madame Chiang Kai-shek moved to New York City and spent the rest of her life there. Her final years were spent in seclusion in her Manhattan apartment building.

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