Russia: Putin receives tiger

MOSCOW — There's no doubt what Vladimir Putin's favorite birthday present is this year — a rare Ussuri tiger cub.

State television showed the Russian prime minister tenderly petting the 2-month-old female cub Friday at his residence outside Moscow. The cub, weighing about 20 pounds, was curled up in a wicker basket with a tiger-print cushion.

Putin said a good home will be found for the tiger, presumably in a zoo or wildlife preserve. Putin refused to say who gave him the cub for his 56th birthday, which was Tuesday.

Kenya: Pirates' ultimatum

NAIROBI — The pirates who hijacked an arms-laden Ukrainian tanker off Somalia issued an ultimatum Friday and threatened to destroy the ship if no ransom is paid, a spokesman for the bandits said.

The MV Faina is surrounded by U.S. warships, and a Russian frigate is heading toward the scene, raising the stakes for a possible commando-style raid on the ship. Pirates have seized more than two dozen ships this year off the Horn of Africa, but the hijacking of the Faina has drawn the most international concern because of its dangerous cargo of 33 tanks and other heavy weapons.

Mexico: 12 killed in 2 attacks

CIUDAD JUAREZ — Gunmen opened fire in a northern city bar, killing 11 people, and the body of a newspaper editor was found shot dead on the side of a highway in two separate criminal attacks, police said Friday.

Police had not uncovered a motive or detained suspects in either shooting.

The body of 40-year-old Miguel Angel Villagomez, owner and editor of La Noticia newspaper in the western state of Michoacan, was found late Thursday near a highway in the neighboring state of Guerrero, police said. He had been shot three times, including once in the head.

Mexico: Hurricane Norbert

LA PAZ — Fishermen pulled in their boats and hotels warned tourists away from beaches Friday as Category 2 Hurricane Norbert bore down on Mexico's southern Baja California peninsula.

Norbert, with winds of near 105 mph, was expected to hit land early today along a relatively unpopulated stretch north of the resort of Cabo San Lucas. A hurricane warning was issued for the west coast of Baja California from Puerto San Andresito to Agua Blanca. Forecasters said it would weaken somewhat before hitting land.