WASHINGTON (AFP) - Senior US diplomat Robert Einhorn told lawmakers Thursday that he and a top US Treasury official would travel to China in late August to press Beijing on implementing sanctions against Iran.

MOSCOW (AFP) - An attempted hijacking of a plane coming from the Caucasus was foiled on Thursday at Moscow's Domodedovo airport, Russian news agencies quoted an airport official as saying.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The body of a second US sailor who had gone missing in Afghanistan has been recovered, a US military official told AFP on Thursday.

PARIS (AFP) - French police questioned a cabinet minister for eight hours on Thursday as they probed claims France's richest woman bankrolled President Nicolas Sarkozy's election campaign, officials said.

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel's premier said on Thursday he is ready to start direct Middle East talks within days after Arab officials agreed to such negotiations but left the timing up to the Palestinians.