KABUL (AP) — It's been the deadliest day for the U.S. mission in Afghanistan in more than four years. Fourteen Americans, including three civilians, have been killed in helicopter crashes. The deaths come as President Barack Obama prepares to meet with his national security team for a sixth conference on the future of the war.

BAGHDAD (AP) — In the Iraqi capital today, security forces are blocking streets and conducting searches at checkpoints. Authorities, meanwhile, are looking into the security failure that allowed two truck bombs to go off yesterday in what was supposed to be one of Baghdad's safest areas. The bombs killed 155 people.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — There's no word yet on just what the pilot and co-pilot of a Northwest Airlines plane told federal investigators who interviewed them yesterday. The investigators are trying to find out why the plane flew 150 miles past its destination of Minneapolis on Wednesday, as air traffic controllers tried for more than an hour to contact the crew. The co-pilot has said he and the pilot weren't sleeping and weren't arguing.

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are moderately higher in the opening moments of trading. Earlier today, overseas markets rose, bolstered by new signs that economies in Asia are well on their way to recovery.

ORANGE PARK, Fla. (AP) — A Florida community is mourning the death of 7-year-old Somer Thompson, with a viewing scheduled tonight and a funeral tomorrow morning. The girl will then be laid to rest in a private burial and graveside service. Authorities have investigated some 1,200 leads in the hunt for the killer of the girl, who disappeared while walking home from school. Her body was found in a Georgia landfill.