UPI NewsTrack TopNews - September 30, 2007 : General

Sept. 29
Melissa latest tropical storm
MIAMI, Sept. 29 Melissa became the latest tropical storm Saturday to pop up in the eastern Atlantic and begin churning westward.

While it was producing sustained winds near 40 miles per hour, Melissa was no threat to land, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said. The storm's center was located about 365 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands and was moving west-northwest at about 13 mph.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Lorenzo had deteriorated into a tropical depression after hitting Mexico, where it left at least four people dead, and tropical depression Karen had degenerated into a broad area of low pressure with a few squalls and winds near 35 mph, hurricane forecasters said. It was located about 495 miles east of the Leeward Islands, moving toward the northwest at about 9 mph.

Gingrich says 'pass' to presidential bid
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich won't be joining the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

A spokesman for the conservative leader told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution the decision was largely due to the fact Gingrich would have to choose between running an exploratory committee or his non-profit American Solutions organization.

Gingrich's name began circulating in political circles as former Sen. Fred Thompson gave what some analysts saw as a lackluster performance as conservative standard-bearer.

Way clear for female Aussie bishops
SYDNEY, Sept. 29 There's nothing in the Anglican church's constitution precluding female bishops in Australia and one could be named within the year, it was reported Saturday.

The Rev. Phillip Aspinall, primate of the Australian church, said, however, that while the Anglican Appellate Tribunal has found no impediments to the ordination of female bishops there are no current vacancies. It's been 16 years since Anglican leaders allowed women to be ordained as priests.

The topic of female bishops is sure to dominate discussion when the church's General Synod meets next month and the nation's 23 bishops will take up the matter when they meet in April, The Australian reported.

Aspinall acknowledges the ruling might provoke some parishioners to leave the church much as like happened in 1991 when the decision was made to ordain women. He said arrangements would be made for parishioners who oppose having a female Bishop in their diocese.

Sydney Archbishop Peter Jensen warned the ruling could mean "difficulties around the church for decades to come".

"I trust that in their understandable enthusiasm they will give consideration to the needs of those who find themselves still in opposition," Jensen said.

3 slain on Macedonia street
SKOPJE, Macedonia, Sept. 29 Three ethnic Albanians were shot to death on a busy street in Skopje, Macedonia, it was reported.

There was no information available on the killer, the Sofia News Agency said Saturday. Bulgarian national radio said the victims were between 20 and 30 years old.

The shootings Friday followed a run-in earlier this week between Macedonian police and supporters of an ethnic Albanian party outside Parliament while rival members of Parliament fought inside the building over electoral reforms.

At least five people were arrested and three were hurt Tuesday's incident.

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