World datelines

England: No H1N1 peak yet

LONDON — The World Health Organization says the swine flu pandemic still has not peaked.

The agency's emergency committee met Tuesday and suggested it was "premature" to recommend downgrading the global flu outbreak. Swine flu cases have dropped dramatically in recent weeks in Western countries, but the virus has only recently hit Africa. The Southern Hemisphere is also bracing for another wave of illness in the next few months.

Sudan: Truce is signed

CAIRO — Darfur's most powerful rebel group and the Sudanese government on Tuesday signed a truce after a year of internationally sponsored negotiations, raising hopes the bloody, seven-year conflict could draw to a close.

Rebel leader Khalil Ibrahim of the Justice and Equality Movement announced the cease-fire would begin that night as the international sponsors of the talks announced a $1 billion development fund for the war ravaged region.

The once-bitter enemies, Ibrahim and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, shook hands and embraced after the signing. The ceremony, hosted by Qatar's Emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, was attended by U.S., U.N., African and Arab representatives among others.

Previous cease-fires and partial peace deals have been short-lived.

Indonesia: Slide kills 6

CIWIDEY — Rescuers used heavy digging equipment Wednesday to clear a muddy landslide that killed at least six people and left 66 buried on Indonesia's main island of Java, an official said.

Days of heavy rain prompted the landslide Tuesday afternoon at a mountainous tea plantation near the village of Tenjoljaya in Ciwidey district of West Java province, destroying scores of homes.

Villagers using farm tools and their bare hands recovered six bodies from the mud by late Tuesday and two excavators arrived Wednesday to assist in the efforts, National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Priyadi Kardono said.

Turkey: Mine explosion

ANKARA — A methane gas explosion caused an underground chamber in a coal mine in northwestern Turkey to collapse Tuesday, killing 17 workers, the governor said — the second deadly explosion at the mine in four years.