world

U.S. forces to train Afghan army more

By Alyson Brodsy and Susanne M. Schafer · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- U.S. troops will begin training Afghan army soldiers to bolster security and guard borders in that still-unstable nation, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Monday. The training will begin in four to six weeks and be led by 125 to 150 members of the U.S. Army's special forces teams. In a statement, the Pentagon said the training will start with 10-week courses emphasizing "basic soldier skills." More complex training involving a range of units -- from small groups to battalions comprising several hundred soldiers -- will follow.

Rumsfeld doubts value of more force

By Alyson Brodsy and Robert Burns · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld defended his decision Tuesday not to send a large U.S. ground force to hunt down Osama bin Laden as al Qaeda fighters made a final stand in eastern Afghanistan last month.

Bush beefs up war budget

By Alyson Brodsy and Alan Fram · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- President Bush called Wednesday for nearly $50 billion in additional military spending for the war on terrorism, the largest increase for the Pentagon in two decades. Privately, he assured Republican and Democratic leaders that he has "no ambition whatsoever" to exploit the war on terrorism for political gain in this election year.

Fighting rages at Kandahar airport

By Alyson Brodsy and Kathy Gannon · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

KABUL, Afghanistan — Tribal fighters battled the Taliban at Kandahar airport Monday, and U.S. warplanes pounded the city and suspected terrorist hideouts along the Pakistan border. Afghan factions meeting in Germany adopted a framework for ruling the country.

Reward offered in Pearl case

By Alyson Brodsy and George Gedda · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- The State Department said Wednesday it is offering a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of those responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. "We were outraged by the senseless murder of Daniel Pearl," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said. "We've condemned it in the strongest terms. And today we're announcing a $5 million reward."

Unemployment expected to rise

By U Jae Kang · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

Many economists and investors agree the economy's lowest point was the last year's fourth quarter and expect some recovery over the new year. But many argue that the pattern of the recovery will be somewhat different from business cycle recoveries since World War II. The assumption is based on the unprecedented economic boom of the 1990's, which was partly caused by over-heated investments.

Powell presses Sharon for Israeli pullback

By Alyson Brodsy and Barry Schweid · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat rebuffed Secretary of State Colin Powell's demand Sunday for a halt to violence, saying Israel first must withdraw its troops from the West Bank.

'Unborn children' may qualify for government health care

By Alyson Brodsy and Laura Meckler · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- States may classify a developing fetus as an "unborn child" eligible for government health care, the Bush administration said Thursday, giving low-income women access to prenatal care and bolstering the arguments of abortion opponents.

U.S. suffers massive attack

By Alyson Brodsy and Ron Fournier · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

NEW YORK (AP) -- In a horrific sequence of destruction, terrorists hijacked two airliners and crashed them into the World Trade Center in a coordinated series of attacks Tuesday morning that brought down the twin 110-story towers. A plane also slammed into the Pentagon, raising fears that the seat of government itself was under attack. "I have a sense it's a horrendous number of lives lost," Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said. "Right now we have to focus on saving as many lives as possible."

Indiana on heightened alert; governor urges calm

By Alyson Brodsy and Rick Callahan · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The state of Indiana went on alert after Tuesday's apparent terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, tightening security at courts and government offices as residents watched in disbelief the surreal television coverage of the disasters. Gov. Frank O'Bannon urged calm. "As we await more information on what has transpired, it's important that our citizens remain calm and avoid panic," he said.

Conflict devastates Middle East economy

By Takashi Nakamichi · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

Since the latest violence began 20 months ago, Palestinians and Israelis have seen their death toll rise, military costs soar and economies sink.

4 U.S. troops killed in accident

By Alyson Brodsy and Christopher Torchia · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- At least four U.S. soldiers were killed Monday and a fifth was injured when rockets they were trying to destroy accidentally blew up. The casualty toll could rise because some soldiers were missing after the noontime explosion, U.S. officials said.

Helicopter crashes in the Philippines

By Alyson Brodsy and Robert Burns · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- A U.S. Army helicopter crashed at sea in the Philippines Thursday with 12 Americans aboard. A search by another U.S. helicopter and other American military aircraft found no survivors, but the search was continuing, said Navy Cmdr. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman. There were no initial indications that the helicopter was brought down by hostile fire, Davis said.

Powell arrives; India strikes in Kashmir

By George Gedda · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Secretary of State Colin's Powell's South Asia visit got off to a rocky start Monday as Indian troops opened fire on Pakistani positions in the Kashmir region just hours after Powell appealed for restraint.

United Nations reports executions in Mazar-e-Sharif

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- There have been reports of summary executions and abductions of civilians in Mazar-e-Sharif since opposition fighters seized the northern city from the Taliban, U.N. officials said Monday.

Critics skeptic of Bush oil plan

By Alyson Brodsy and Liz Cole · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

Electricity shortages in California have raised awareness of energy supply and conservation, and inflated gas prices are raising public concern over crude oil supplies. But some experts say that the real energy supply situation in America is hardly worthy of the title of an energy 'crisis', and that compared to the oil embargoes, supply cutoffs and long fuel lines of the '70s, this summer's perceived supply shortages are minor and short term. "(There is) no comparison between what happened in the '70s and what is going on today," said IU business professor Bruce Jaffee. "The concerns raised about energy are similar, but the policy and the causes are different. The '70s issue was perceived supply shortages. Price caps were implemented. Most importantly, there was an Arab oil embargo.Today there are no broad shortages. The Bush administration will not tolerate price controls or supply cutoffs from third parties. Most importantly, there is no embargo by a third party."

Taliban planning comeback

By Kathy Gannon · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan -- Protected by sympathetic clerics, up to 1,000 Taliban and al Qaeda leaders are hiding in Pakistan and planning a Taliban comeback in Afghanistan, according to Taliban members and others familiar with the Islamic movement.

Anthrax letter reaches Congress

By Alan Fram · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle tested positive for anthrax on Monday as the bioterrorism scare rattling the nation reached the halls of Congress. The discovery of anthrax in Washington followed earlier instances in Florida, New York and Nevada in which at least 12 people were exposed to spores of the potentially deadly bacteria.

Around The World

Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

Democrats take control of Senate Israel begins to ease restrictions Nepal arrests editor, publishers Bush dedicates D-Day Memorial

2,500 turn out for first gay pride parade in the holy city of Jerusalem

By Alyson Brodsy and Celean Jacobson · Thursday, July 25,2002 4:23 p.m.

JERUSALEM -- Under heavy police guard, about 2,500 people marched Friday in the first gay pride parade in this holy city, despite fierce opposition from Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox Jewish leaders.