Nation & World Briefly

Bacteria fear forces green onion recall

SALINAS, Calif. (AP) - Two California produce shippers have recalled thousands of cases of green onions supplied by an onion farm in Mexicali, Mexico, over fears the onions could be contaminated with salmonella.

U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors found salmonella in a routine test taken in New York last month. No illnesses have been reported.

Officials notified the shipper, Salinas-based Steinbeck Country Produce. The company issued a voluntary recall Aug. 28 for 3,360 cartons.

Steinbeck's produce was distributed in California, Massachusetts, Texas, Indiana, New York, Michigan, Missouri, Kansas and Arizona.

Castroville-based shipper Ocean Mist Farms recalled 1,746 cases as well, after realizing they came from the same lot. Ocean Mist wouldn't say where it's onions were distributed.

U.N. orders recount in Afghanistan election

KABUL (AP) - A U.N.-backed commission found "convincing evidence" of fraud Tuesday in Afghanistan's presidential election and ordered a recount of suspect ballots in at least three provinces, a process that could take months.

At the same time, Afghan officials released new returns that give President Hamid Karzai 54 percent of the vote with nearly all ballots tallied, enough to avoid a run-off unless large numbers of tainted ballots are ultimately thrown out.

The separate announcements from the complaints commission, which is dominated by U.N.-appointed Westerners, and the election commission, which is filled with Karzai appointees, could set the stage for a showdown.

Sotomayor takes her seat on high court

WASHINGTON (AP) - Justice Sonia Sotomayor has taken her seat at the Supreme Court in front of a packed courtroom that included President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

The ceremony Tuesday was just for show. Sotomayor and the rest of the court will return today for the argument in a key case about campaign finance law.

Sotomayor, 55, last month became the first Hispanic and third woman to be a justice. She took the oath again Tuesday in a ceremony by which the court formally welcomes its newest member.

Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office, after which Sotomayor took her seat at the end of the bench to Roberts' left, next to Justice Stephen Breyer. All her colleagues were in attendance.