Gen. Chiarelli denies claims that the Army is drugging troops to cope with combat. And, North Korea fired about 110 rounds of artillery Monday near its disputed sea border with South Korea.

NKorea fires artillery off west coast

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired about 110 rounds of artillery Monday near its disputed sea border with South Korea, the South’s military said, amid high tension over the deadly sinking of a South Korean warship blamed on North Korea.

Chiarelli Rejects ‘Medicated’ Army Claim

The Army is not drugging its troops to cope with combat, Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli said during an Aug. 8 interview on ABC’s “This Week with Christiane Amanpour.”

Pakistan floods now worse than 2005 earthquake, say officials

Pakistan floods have already affected as many as 12 million people and destroyed or damaged more than 600,000 homes, say Pakistani officials. That’s already worse than the 2005 earthquake, but monsoon season is only half over.

Karzai: Shutter Private Security Firms

KABUL, Afghanistan — President Hamid Karzai called Saturday for the international community to stop supporting private security companies in Afghanistan, which he said have created parallel security forces in competition with police and army.

Trial to Begin in Pregnant Marine Death

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Investigators said Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean had an obvious motive to kill his pregnant Marine colleague: She accused him of raping her and fathering her unborn baby.

Al-Qaida in Iraq gives cash to lure allies

BAGHDAD — Al-Qaida in Iraq has begun offering cash to lure back former Sunni allies angry over the government’s failure to give them jobs and pay their salaries on time, according to Sunni tribesmen and Iraqi officials.

CNN Video: Barbara Starr follows critically wounded troops

CNN’s Barbara Starr follows critically wounded troops on their journey out of the war zone and back to the States

Senate approves Clapper for intel chief post

WASHINGTON — The Senate late Thursday confirmed retired Air Force Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper as the next director of national intelligence, voting him oversight of the nation’s 16 spy agencies.

Karzai May Impede Anti-Corruption Work

KABUL, Afghanistan — U.S. officials are waiting to see if the Afghan government will attempt to impede corruption probes of high-ranking officials — concern that comes as a new report issued in Washington questioned the Afghan administration’s ability to fight graft and bribery that are undermining the war against the Taliban.

Stop-loss now down to 4,000 soldiers, Army says

The number of soldiers forced to serve beyond their commitment has been cut in half in the past year and is on track to be eliminated by March, Pentagon records and interviews show.