World in brief

Muslim killed in Germany mourned

Thousands of Egyptian mourners marched behind the coffin of the “martyr of the head scarf” on Monday —- a pregnant Muslim woman who was stabbed to death in a German courtroom as her young son watched. Many in her homeland were outraged by the attack and saw the low key response in Germany as an example of racism and anti-Muslim sentiment. Her husband was critically wounded in the attack Wednesday in Dresden when he tried to intervene and was stabbed by the attacker and accidentally shot by court security. Marwa al-Sherbini, who was about four months pregnant and wore the Islamic head scarf, was involved in a court case against her neighbor for calling her a terrorist and was set to testify against him when he stabbed her 18 times inside the courtroom.

Clinton to meet with Honduran leader

U.S. officials say Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton plans to meet ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya this week. It would be the highest-level contact the Obama administration has had with Zelaya since he was deposed last week. Zelaya is expected in Washington today following an unsuccessful attempt to return to Honduras over the weekend that deepened the country’s political crisis. The State Department says the administration remains committed to seeing a restoration of democratic order in Honduras and deplored the use of force against Zelaya’s supporters.

Temple’s possible quarry found

Israeli archaeologists have uncovered an ancient quarry where they believe King Herod extracted stones for the construction of the Jewish Temple 2,000 years ago, the Israel Antiquities Authority said Monday. The biggest stones extracted from the quarry would have measured three yards long, two yards across and two yards high. The archaeologists said the size of the stones indicates they could have been used in the construction of the Temple compound, including the Western Wall, a retaining wall that remains intact and is a Jewish shrine.

Brazil to talk to U.S. about climate

Brazil says it will meet with U.S. officials in September on environmental issues ahead of the U.N. climate change conference in Denmark. The Brazilian government said Monday that Environment Minister Carlos Minc will meet with U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern in Brazil to fine-tune positions ahead of the U.N. conference in December. The discussions will include forest protection and reduction of carbon emissions.

UN needs $1 billion against swine flu

The United Nations may need more than $1 billion this year to help poor countries fight the global swine flu epidemic, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Monday. Ban said the money is needed to ensure that poor countries get some vaccine doses and antivirals if the global epidemic continues to spread. Swine flu is mild now, and most people recover without treatment, but it could have a more devastating impact in countries where populations are fighting other health problems.