(Continued from page 48)

earth complicated rescue efforts.
• Figures on the number of people killed in the disaster varied as officials try to gather precise information from the village of Hobo Barak.
• Abdullah Homayun Dehqan, the director of Badakshan province's National Disaster Department, said he did not have an exact number of how many people were killed. The United Nations on Friday said at least 350 people died, and the provincial governor said as many as 2,000 people were feared missing.
• Afghanistan deputy director of the Natural Disaster Management Authority, Mohammad Aslam Seyas, said Saturday that 255 people had died. He said villagers believe the number is higher, but said judging by previous experiences that the 255 figure seems more realistic.
• "Search and rescue operations are going on very slowly," Seyas said, adding that fear of new landslides had slowed the operation.
• ___

• ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) -- America's top diplomat said Saturday the U.S. is ready to help increase its ties with Africa, but nations across the continent need to take stronger steps to ensure security and democracy for its people.
• In an Africa policy address to members of the Addis Ababa diplomatic corps and the Young Africa leader network, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry highlighted crises in Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and the Central African Republic and urged Africans to demand stability and financial development.
• He called for an expansion of American investment in Africa and noted that U.S. companies IBM, Microsoft and Google already have spent more than $100 million on projects across the continent.
• "So this is clearly a moment of opportunity for all Africans," Kerry told about 100 Ethiopians at an environmentally-friendly auditorium on a mountaintop. "It is also a moment of decision."
• Africa has the natural resources, capacity and the know-how for economic development, Kerry said, adding that the U.S. is the continent's "natural partner."
• ___

• SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- A California jury awarded Apple $119 million -- far

(Continued on page 50)