World Briefs

NAPLES, Italy - Thousands of Neapolitans crowded into the city's cathedral on Friday to witness the miracle of Saint Gennaro -- whose dried blood is said to liquefy twice a year, 17 centuries after his death.

Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, archbishop of Naples, announced the blood turned to liquid at 9:45 a.m. (8:45 a.m.) and the glass phial was paraded to crowds outside, who set off fireworks in celebration.

"It (the saint's blood) is the seed of hope for all of us," Sepe said.

Legend has it that when Gennaro was beheaded by pagan Romans in 305 A.D., a Neapolitan woman soaked up his blood with a sponge and preserved it in a glass phial.

The substance turns to liquid.

WASHINGTON - The United States says North Korea must make a choice about whether it wants to have a better relationship with the world or "keep themselves isolated."

The comments Friday came as North Korea said that it was making "thorough preparations" to restart its nuclear reactor.

Asked why the North should deal with the Bush administration in its final months in office, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said that Pyongyang is unlikely to get a different disarmament deal from the next administration in January.

McCormack said that North Korea has been "getting closer and closer" to the point where it will restart the reactor but has not gotten there yet. He urged the country "not to get to that point."

CARACAS, Venezuela - Human Rights Watch said Venezuela's record on human rights has worsened under President Hugo Chavez, particularly with regard to government critics.

Venezuela responded by expelling the group's Americas director, Jose Miguel Vivanco, on Thursday night, saying that he made unacceptable remarks against the country's institutions.

"We aren't going to tolerate any foreigner coming here to try to sully the dignity" of Venezuela and its institutions, Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro told state television.

He said Vivanco was driven to the airport and forced to leave the country immediately on a flight.

Vivanco,violated the laws.

LONDON - Here's a primer for the modern British politician: Smile a lot, give short, punchy answers to questions, mingle easily with the public, and always pretend to be enjoying it.

Or you can try it the Gordon Brown way.

The rumpled British prime minister rarely smiles, even though his handlers have tried to teach him how. He fills his speeches with obscure policy proposals, often appears uncomfortable with voters, and rarely seems happy.

And that was in the good old days, during his brief political honeymoon, before he had to deal with a global financial crisis and a simultaneous rebellion in LP.