world

Iraq car bomb kills 30; mass grave contains 1,500 victims

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, May 2,2005 1:01 a.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A car bomb exploded at the funeral of a Kurdish official in northern Iraq on Sunday, killing about 30 Iraqis and wounding more than 50, the U.S. military, as the death toll in a wave of violence against Iraq's new government rose to at least 120.

Former missing Georgia bride could face charges for reporting nonexistant crime

By Alyson Brodsy and Charles Odum · Monday, May 2,2005 12:28 a.m.

DULUTH, Ga. -- On what was to be her wedding day, Jennifer Wilbanks wore not a white veil but an orange towel over her head to prevent the media from taking her picture. Instead of being led down the aisle by her father, she was led by police to an airplane that flew the runaway bride home.

U.S. claims no military wrongdoing in Italian official's death

By Alyson Brodsy and Frances D'Emilio · Monday, May 2,2005 12:26 a.m.

ROME -- The Italian government said Sunday it was preparing to release its report on the killing of an Italian intelligence agent by U.S. soldiers in Baghdad which would shed light on problems of coordination with American authorities in Iraq and with U.S. rules of engagement at checkpoints.

North Korea launches test missles into Sea of Japan Sunday

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, May 2,2005 12:24 a.m.

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea apparently test fired a missile into the Sea of Japan on Sunday, raising new fears about Pyongyang's nuclear intentions just days after a U.S. intelligence official said the secretive Stalinist state had the ability in theory to arm a missile with a nuclear warhead.

Iran to resume uranium program if talks fail

By Alyson Brodsy · Friday, April 29,2005 1:11 a.m.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Iran threatened on Thursday to resume its uranium enrichment program if talks with European nations this week fail. The comments put pressure on European negotiators before Iran's talks in London on Friday with political leaders from France, Germany and Britain. Speaking after a meeting with his Dutch counterpart, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said Friday's talks were critical.

Palestinian leader threatens action against militants

By Alyson Brodsy and Josef Federman · Friday, April 29,2005 1:09 a.m.

JERUSALEM -- Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas threatened to use "an iron fist" against anyone who violates a cease--fire with Israel, his toughest warning against militants since taking office in January. In a speech to Palestinian police, Abbas also pledged to maintain quiet during the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip planned this summer.

Police open fire on crowd in Haiti, at least 5 killed in peaceful protest

By Alyson Brodsy and Michael Weissenstein · Friday, April 29,2005 1:07 a.m.

PORT--AU--PRINCE, Haiti -- Police opened fire on a crowd of apparently peaceful protesters demanding the release of detainees loyal to ousted President Jean--Bertrand Aristide, and at least five people were killed, U.N. officials and witnesses said.

Putin defends weapon sales on his first trip to Israel

By Alyson Brodsy and Steve Gutterman · Friday, April 29,2005 12:30 a.m.

JERUSALEM -- Russian President Vladimir Putin faced down Israeli criticism Thursday, saying that Russia's planned sale of anti-aircraft missiles to Syria and supply of nuclear components to Iran does not threaten Israel's security.

GOP tries to end ethics deadlock

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, April 28,2005 1:07 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- The House prepared to end an ethics committee stalemate Wednesday night as Republicans backed House Speaker Dennis Hastert's abandonment of new rules that brought the GOP months of political grief.

Iraqi Cabinet nominees named

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, April 28,2005 1:05 a.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq's new prime minister said Wednesday he submitted a complete list of 36 Cabinet members, including seven women, a critical step before the National Assembly votes on a new government drawing in the main ethnic and religious groups and ending a three-month stalemate.

Bush calls for more nuclear power plants

By Alyson Brodsy and H. Josef Hebert · Thursday, April 28,2005 1:05 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- President Bush called for construction of more nuclear power plants and urged Congress on Wednesday to give tax breaks for fuel-efficient hybrid and clean-diesel cars. He also said he was powerless to bring down high gasoline costs.

False alarm sends Bush, Cheney to bunker

By Alyson Brodsy and Jennifer Loven · Thursday, April 28,2005 1:04 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- President Bush was rushed to a secure underground White House bunker and Vice President Dick Cheney was whisked outside the compound Wednesday because of a "radar anomaly" -- perhaps a flock of birds or pocket of rain -- that was mistaken for a plane flying in restricted airspace.

2 missing Georgia toddlers drowned in pool near home

By Alyson Brodsy and Errin Haines · Wednesday, April 27,2005 1:31 a.m.

Autopsies confirmed Tuesday that two toddlers found dead in a sewage pond after disappearing from their home drowned, and the coroner said there appeared to be no sign of foul play. Jonah Payne, 3, and his 2-year-old sister, Nicole, were reported missing Saturday by their mother, who said they vanished after she went into another room. She said she found the front door open and the children gone.

Media struggles in legal battle to protect confidential sources

By Alyson Brodsy and Pete Yost · Wednesday, April 27,2005 1:30 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Unfavorable court rulings have the news media facing their most serious challenge in more than three decades over protecting the identities of confidential sources. The latest defeat came last week when a federal appeals court in Washington declined to reconsider a three-judge panel's ruling compelling Time magazine's Matthew Cooper and The New York Times' Judith Miller to testify before a federal grand jury about their sources or go to jail for up to 18 months.

Bush gives embattled DeLay strong show of support during public discussion in Texas

By Alyson Brodsy and Jennifer Loven · Wednesday, April 27,2005 1:29 a.m.

GALVESTON, Texas -- President Bush gave embattled House Majority Leader Tom DeLay a high-profile, in-person show of support Tuesday, warmly thanking the Texas Republican, who is facing allegations of ethical improprieties, for his leadership in Congress. Bush traveled to Galveston to pitch his proposal to add private investment accounts to Social Security. DeLay didn't participate in the public discussion and sat several rows back in the audience.

Official: Leading terrorist suspect eluded capture by U.S. military

By Alyson Brodsy and John J. Lumpkin · Wednesday, April 27,2005 1:27 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- U.S. forces in Iraq believe they just missed capturing most-wanted terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in a February raid that netted two of his associates, a senior U.S. military official said Tuesday. The official, who discussed the operation on the condition of anonymity, could provide no details regarding how Zarqawi escaped. U.S. forces recovered a computer belonging to Zarqawi, the official said, although he did not say how it was obtained.

Particles

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, April 26,2005 12:47 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- It sounds like science fiction, yet an experiment in which mice were forced into hibernation and then revived with no apparent ill effects might ultimately lead to new ways to treat the critically ill.

YEAR OF EINSTEIN

By Rebecca Glasgow · Tuesday, April 26,2005 12:46 a.m.

Exactly 100 years ago, 26-year-old physicist and mathematician Albert Einstein published three papers that changed scientists' perspectives forever. The year 2005 also marks 50th anniversary of the death of the German genius on April 18, 1955. Thinking back on his accomplishments and contributions, scientists all over the world have joined together celebrate the YEAR OF EINSTEIN.

Majority leader calls to end judicial filibustering

By Alyson Brodsy and David Espo · Tuesday, April 26,2005 12:36 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Majority Leader Bill Frist said Sunday it was not "radical" to ask senators to vote on judicial nominees as he hardened his effort to strip Democrats of their power to stall President Bush's picks for the federal court.

Commuter train derails in Japan, killing 57

By Ayesha Awan and Mari Yamaguchi · Tuesday, April 26,2005 12:35 a.m.

AMAGASAKI, Japan -- A packed commuter train that was behind schedule and may have been speeding jumped the tracks Monday and hurtled into an apartment complex, killing 57 people and injuring 440.