Nation/World briefs

Nation

Swine flu vaccine hard to find for about 40 percent of parents

Washington -- About 40 percent of American parents have tried to get their children vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus, but only 1 in 3 have been successful, according to a survey by the Harvard School of Public Health released Friday. High-risk adults seeking the vaccine for themselves were just as unlucky finding it. At the same time, about half of adults continue to express little interest in the vaccine.

In other headlines

• Exhaust cone falls off jet onto N.Y. home's lawn: An engine tailcone fell off a Delta Air Lines jet shortly after takeoff Thursday and plummeted thousands of feet before landing harmlessly on a lawn in a Long Island residential neighborhood. Apparently, neither the pilots nor anyone on the ground immediately noticed the mishap when it happened.

World

Spain refuses to free Somali pirates

Madrid-- Spain ruled out freeing two captured pirates as demanded by fellow brigands holding a Spanish trawler and 33 crew members off Somalia and reportedly threatening to start killing hostages. Deputy Defense Minister Constantino Mendez said Friday the two Somali men were captured and brought to Madrid because of their alleged role in the hijacking of a Spanish-flagged vessel on Oct. 2 in the Indian Ocean.

In other headlines

• France hunts for security driver in big bank heist : French police conducted a nationwide search Friday for a security driver who vanished with $7.4 million in cash from a bank in the central city of Lyon, authorities said.

From Detroit News wire services