world

U.N. discovers Iran nuclear secrets

By Alyson Brodsy and George Jahn · Friday, Feb. 13,2004 12:21 a.m.

VIENNA, Austria -- U.N. inspectors sifting through Iran's nuclear files have discovered drawings of high-tech equipment that can be used to make weapons-grade uranium -- a new link to the black market headed by the father of Pakistan's atomic bomb -- diplomats said Thursday.

Heat rises on mercury issue

By Dallas Moorhead · Friday, Feb. 13,2004 12:19 a.m.

The Indiana Student Public Interest Research Group organized a postcard drive Thursday at the Wright Quad formal lounge to advocate mercury awareness. The informational event was part of their Mercury Awareness Week. Wendy Freeman, a graduate student with the School of Public Affairs and Environmental Sciences, was on-hand to inform students of the dangers of mercury pollution and to gain support for their cause.

Georgian, Russian presidents meet

By Alyson Brodsy and Jim Heintz · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 11:28 p.m.

MOSCOW -- Russia and Georgia have agreed to renew discussions on Abkhazia, a Georgian separatist region bordering Russia, Georgia's president said Wednesday after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Abkhazia broke away from Georgia in a war in the 1990s and has been de-facto independent since then, under pro-Russian leadership. Ethnic Georgians fled the fighting en masse, and the region's status is among the biggest problems confronting Georgia, which is wracked by poverty and corruption.

15 Palestinians die in Israeli raid

By Alyson Brodsy and Ibrahim Barzak · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 11:26 p.m.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Israel sent troops and tanks into a densely populated neighborhood and a refugee camp Wednesday to search for Palestinian militants, setting off the bloodiest day of fighting in the Gaza Strip in 16 months. Fifteen Palestinians were killed and more than 50 were wounded. Hamas, the militant Islamic group, responded with an ominous vow of retaliation, urging all its cells throughout Gaza and the West Bank to attack. Similar calls in the past have been followed within days -- sometimes hours -- by suicide bombings in Israel.

Bush appeals for tighter WMD control

By Alyson Brodsy and Jennifer Loven · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 11:18 p.m.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Bush, pointing to a black market weapons network led by the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb, said Wednesday no new countries should have the ability to enrich or process nuclear material. He argued international efforts to combat the spread of weapons of mass destruction have been neither broad nor effective enough and require tougher action from all nations. "The greatest threat before humanity today is the possibility of secret and sudden attack with chemical or biological or radiological or nuclear weapons," Bush said.

Shooting injures boy, crossing guard

By Alyson Brodsy and Joann Loviglio · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 11:17 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA -- An 8-year-old boy was shot in the face on a school playground Wednesday, and a crossing guard was wounded, caught apparently in the crossfire between two groups of men, police said. Children were arriving for class and some were playing in the schoolyard when dozens of shots rang out about 8:30 a.m., police said. Youngsters ran screaming toward the building as teachers and parents frantically tried to pull them inside to safety. Police searched for the gunmen and a gray Lincoln Continental.

Two day death toll reaches 100

By Alyson Brodsy and Mariam Fam · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 11:16 p.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A second suicide bombing killed up to 47 people Wednesday -- 53 died in Tuesday's attack -- pushing the toll to 100. The U.S. military posted a $10 million bounty on a Jordanian militant suspected of organizing violence by foreign fighters and plotting an acceleration in attacks aimed at sparking a Sunni-Shiite civil war in Iraq.

Kerry wins Virginia, Tennessee

By Alyson Brodsy and Ron Fournier · Wednesday, Feb. 11,2004 12:46 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Kerry vanquished his Dixie-bred rivals in Virginia and Tennessee on Tuesday, marching toward the Democratic nomination with a Southern sweep that extended his dominance to every region of the country.

Armed Haitian loyalists challenge rebels

By Alyson Brodsy and Ian James · Tuesday, Feb. 10,2004 11:36 p.m.

CAP-HAITIEN, Haiti -- Armed loyalists of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide set up blazing barricades Tuesday, vowing to attack rebels leading a bloody uprising that has spread to at least 11 towns and cost 42 lives.

Tests confirm Bird Flu on second farm

Tuesday, Feb. 10,2004 11:27 p.m.

DOVER, Del. -- Tests confirmed avian flu on a second central Delaware farm, a surprise creating a "serious situation" for the region's poultry industry, state agriculture officials announced Tuesday.

43 people killed as Iranian plane crashes in UAE

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Feb. 10,2004 11:24 p.m.

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates -- An Iranian plane carrying migrant workers back from a visa-renewing journey to a Gulf island crashed Tuesday while approaching the airport, killing 43 of the 46 people aboard and narrowly missing nearby homes.

Lawmakers OK French religious apparel ban

By Alyson Brodsy and Elaine Ganley · Tuesday, Feb. 10,2004 11:22 p.m.

PARIS -- France took a decisive step Tuesday toward banning Islamic head scarves in public schools, with lawmakers overwhelmingly backing the government's drive to preserve French secular traditions from Muslim fundamentalism.

Dozens killed in Iraq suicide bomb

By Alyson Brodsy and Mariam Fam · Tuesday, Feb. 10,2004 11:11 p.m.

ISKANDARIYAH, Iraq -- A suicide bomber blew up a truckload of explosives Tuesday outside a police station south of Baghdad, killing up to 53 people and wounding scores -- including would-be Iraqi recruits lined up to apply for jobs.

Operative sought al Qaeda's help in causing unrest in Iraq

By Alyson Brodsy and Robert H. Reid · Monday, Feb. 9,2004 11:52 p.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- An anti-American operative in Iraq appealed for help from al Qaeda leaders to help spark a sectarian war between Shiite and Sunni Muslims in an effort to "tear the country apart," U.S. officials said Monday.

Bush declares economy recovering in report

By Alyson Brodsy and Martin Crutsinger · Monday, Feb. 9,2004 11:50 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Declaring that "America's economy is strong and getting stronger," President Bush told Congress Monday in his annual economic report that last year's tax cut was doing the job in reviving business growth.

President discusses Iraq war, WMD commission in interview

By Alyson Brodsy and Deb Riechmann · Sunday, Feb. 8,2004 11:38 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- President Bush denied he marched America into war under false pretenses and said Sunday the U.S.-led invasion was necessary because Saddam Hussein could have developed a nuclear weapon.

Turkish teen rescued from rubble

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, Feb. 8,2004 11:29 p.m.

ISTANBUL, Turkey -- A 16-year-old buried in a collapsed apartment building in central Turkey was pulled alive from the wreckage Sunday -- six days after the disaster.

More countries ban U.S. poultry

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, Feb. 8,2004 11:28 p.m.

BEIJING -- China confirmed Sunday poultry in six provinces was infected with bird flu, while Japan, Malaysia and Singapore banned U.S. poultry imports following an outbreak in Delaware.

Dean faces must-win in Wisc.

By Alyson Brodsy and Nedra Pickler · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 10:46 p.m.

Howard Dean told supporters Thursday he will be out of the race for the Democratic nomination for president if he fails to win the Wisconsin primary, declaring "all that you have worked for these past months is on the line on a single day, in a single state."

Around The World

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Feb. 5,2004 10:37 p.m.

Iraqi militant group confesses to Irbil suicide bombings TIKRIT, Iraq -- An Iraqi militant group claimed responsibility for the suicide bombings in Irbil, and a senior U.S. commander blamed recent attacks on insurgents seeking to sabotage a future independent Iraqi government.