world

State relief on gasoline prices unlikely for now

By Alyson Brodsy and Mike Smith · Friday, Sept. 2,2005 2:31 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS - Motorists in Indiana could save at least 13 cents per gallon of gasoline if the state suspends sales tax on the fuel. At least one state lawmaker is advocating the suspension, but Gov. Mitch Daniels has been cool to the idea.

Week in review

By Alyson Brodsy · Friday, Sept. 2,2005 1:36 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- A federal commission hunting for ways to slow increases in Medicaid's price tag on Thursday recommended letting states increase co-payments on some expensive drugs as well as several accounting changes in the program.

Palestinians agree to Israeli inspection of goods entering Gaza

By Alyson Brodsy and Mohammed Daraghmeh · Friday, Sept. 2,2005 12:50 a.m.

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- The Palestinians agreed Thursday that Israel can retain control over goods coming into Gaza to safeguard against arms smuggling, yielding a key point on border arrangements after Israel completes its Gaza pullout this month. Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasser Al Kidwa said Israel could exercise some control over goods but not over people entering Gaza, while Israel insists it must also have the power to keep militants out. Even so, the Palestinian gesture was the first sign of progress toward solving the issue of border crossings -- vital for Palestinians, who would otherwise be penned into the seaside territory.

Al-Qaida linked to U.K. bombings

By Alyson Brodsy and Sally Buzbee · Friday, Sept. 2,2005 12:50 a.m.

CAIRO, Egypt -- Al-Qaida's No. 2, Ayman al-Zawahri, claimed responsibility for the July 7 London bombings in a video aired Thursday on Al-Jazeera that included a farewell statement by a man identified as one of the four suicide attackers. It was the first explicit claim of responsibility for the blasts by the terrorist group headed by Osama bin Laden.

Gas prices soar in wake of hurricane

By David A. Nosko · Thursday, Sept. 1,2005 2:32 a.m.

Hurricane Katrina blasted through the Gulf of Mexico and battered the coast of Louisiana and Mississippi, but the economic ripple has drifted across the nation and the Hoosier heartland from Bloomington to South Bend.

Assessing Aftermath

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Sept. 1,2005 2:32 a.m.

NEW ORLEANS -- With thousands feared drowned in what could be America's deadliest natural disaster in a century, New Orleans' leaders all but surrendered the streets to floodwaters Wednesday and began turning out the lights on the ruined city -- perhaps for months.

Legislators halt impeachment case against Philippine president

By Alyson Brodsy and Paul Alexander · Thursday, Sept. 1,2005 12:51 a.m.

MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's congressional allies dealt a major blow Wednesday to efforts to oust her, using their dominating majority -- and the opposition's absence -- to toss out all three impeachment complaints against her.

4 arrested in L.A. terrorism plot

By Alyson Brodsy and Jeremiah Marquez · Thursday, Sept. 1,2005 12:49 a.m.

LOS ANGELES -- The head of a militant Islamic prison gang and three others were indicted Wednesday on federal charges of planning terrorist attacks against National Guard facilities, the Israeli Consulate and other Los Angeles-area targets.

Stampede in Baghdad kills more than 700

By Alyson Brodsy and Sameer N. Yacoub · Thursday, Sept. 1,2005 12:48 a.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Panicked by rumors of a suicide bomber, thousands of Shiite pilgrims broke into a stampede on a bridge during a religious procession Wednesday, crushing one another or plunging 30 feet into the muddy Tigris river. About 800 died, mostly women and children, officials said.

Bush says recovery from Katrina will take years

By Alyson Brodsy and David Espo · Wednesday, Aug. 31,2005 6:53 p.m.

With a vast federal relief effort grinding into operation, Bush also cautioned that the effects of the storm will be felt far beyond Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. He said he had ordered steps to cushion the impact on the storm on the nation's oil industry. At the same time, he conceded: "This will help take some pressure off of gas price, but our citizens must understand this storm has disrupted the capacity to make gasoline and distribute gasoline."

'Why did you do this to us?' Tragedy, triumph in Katrina's aftermath

By Alyson Brodsy and Allen G. Breed · Wednesday, Aug. 31,2005 6:51 p.m.

NEW ORLEANS - Set down on dry land for the first time in three days, 83-year-old Camille Fletcher stumbled a few feet to a brick wall and collapsed. She and two of her children had made it through Hurricane Katrina alive, but her Glendalyn with the long, beautiful black hair was gone. "My precious daughter," she sobbed Wednesday. "I prayed to God to keep us safe in his loving care."

New Orleans mayor says thousands are probably dead, urges rest to flee flooded city

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Aug. 31,2005 6:50 p.m.

NEW ORLEANS - Authorities all but surrendered the streets of New Orleans to floodwaters, looting and other lawlessness Wednesday as the mayor called for a total evacuation and warned the death toll from Hurricane Katrina could reach into the thousands. The frightening estimate came as desperation deepened in the city, with gunfire crackling sporadically and looters by the hundreds roaming the streets and ransacking tiny shops and big-box stores alike with seeming impunity.

COPING WITH KATRINA

By Nick O'Neill · Wednesday, Aug. 31,2005 2:53 a.m.

New Orleans residents have become accustomed to hurricane warnings. Once or twice each year, the city is threatened by a possible direct hit. For 40 years, since Hurricane Camille hit in the 1960s, the city has been fortunate enough to steer clear of serious harm. Monday, however, the Big Easy fell victim to the wrath of Hurricane Katrina.

Netanyahu seeks Sharon's job as head of Likud Party

By Alyson Brodsy and Ravi Nessman · Wednesday, Aug. 31,2005 2:06 a.m.

JERUSALEM -- Benjamin Netanyahu announced Tuesday that he would challenge Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for leadership of the ruling Likud Party and replace him as premier, setting off a bitter fight that could shake up Israeli politics and paralyze Mideast peacemaking.

India, Pakistan to release prisoners next month

By Alyson Brodsy and Ashok Sharma · Wednesday, Aug. 31,2005 12:43 a.m.

NEW DELHI -- India and Pakistan agreed Tuesday to release hundreds of fishermen and other civilians in each other's jails -- a goodwill measure that comes as part of a peace process between the two countries. Both sides also agreed to provide better consular access to prisoners, notify each other of arrests and join forces to stamp out terrorism, according to a joint statement. The announcements came after two-day talks between home secretaries from both sides.

U.S. poverty rate increases 12.7 percent

By Alyson Brodsy and Jennifer C. Kerr · Wednesday, Aug. 31,2005 12:43 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Even with a robust economy that was adding jobs last year, the number of Americans who fell into poverty rose to 37 million -- up 1.1 million from 2003 -- according to Census Bureau figures released Tuesday. It marks the fourth straight increase in the government's annual poverty measure.

Zimbabwe approves constitutional overhaul

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Aug. 31,2005 12:42 a.m.

HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Dancing and cheering, lawmakers approved sweeping constitutional changes Tuesday that prominent lawyers have called the greatest challenge yet to Zimbabwean civil liberties. Ruling party representatives erupted into celebration after Parliament voted 103-29 to endorse the constitutional overhaul that sharply restricts private property rights and allows the government to deny passports to its critics. The 22-clause Constitutional Amendment Bill now goes to President Robert Mugabe to sign into law.

General Motors recalling 800,000 pickups, SUVs

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Aug. 31,2005 12:41 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- General Motors Corp. said Tuesday it was recalling about 800,000 sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks in Illinois and 13 other states because corrosion was affecting the antilock brake system, leading to more than 200 low--speed crashes. GM, the world's largest automaker, said the recall involved the 1999--2002 model years of the Chevrolet Avalanche, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL.

Russia apologizes to senators after delay at airport

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 1:12 a.m.

KIEV, Ukraine -- Russia apologized Monday for keeping two U.S. senators waiting for three hours in a Russian airport after border guards expressed concerns about letting the U.S. military flight depart without an inspection of the plane.

Official warns of terror attack in Philippine city

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Aug. 30,2005 12:48 a.m.

MANILA, Philippines -- Police installed more closed-circuit cameras in Manila malls, sent out guards with dogs and set up checkpoints on roads Monday as a senior official warned of a possible major attack in the capital following a ferry bombing that injured 30 people. The military said an initial investigation concluded that Abu Sayyaf, an al-Qaida linked terror group, was behind Sunday's attack. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo promised to hunt down "and cripple, if not decimate," those responsible.