world

The fight for Israel

By Alyson Brodsy and Greg Myre · Thursday, April 11,2002 2:29 a.m.

ENIN, West Bank -- From a West Bank army base overlooking the scene of the deadliest fighting in Israel's 13-day-old offensive, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Wednesday delivered a blunt message: Israel will not pull back until Palestinian militias are crushed. Despite his pledge to continue the offensive in the face of intense U.S. and international pressure to call it off, Sharon's defense ministry announced late Wednesday troops were pulling out of West Bank villages of Yatta, Qabatya and Samua.

Prison population growth slows

By Alyson Brodsy and Genaro C. Armas · Wednesday, April 10,2002 11:56 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- The number of people in prison grew last year at the slowest rate in three decades, the Justice Department reported Wednesday. The total population in all prisons and jails rose a bit more than 1 percent, nearing 2 million, according to the annual report. As of June 30, 2001, one of every 145 U.S. residents was behind bars.

Powell undeterred by Israel's refusal to halt military action

By Alyson Brodsy and Barry Schweid · Wednesday, April 10,2002 11:56 p.m.

MADRID, Spain -- Secretary of State Colin Powell said Wednesday he would push ahead with his peacekeeping mission in the Middle East despite Israel's refusal to halt military incursions and its objections to his meeting Yasser Arafat.

Poppy eradication plan begins

By Alyson Brodsy and Christopher Torchia · Wednesday, April 10,2002 11:56 p.m.

MARJAH, Afghanistan -- Armed with assault rifles and fistfuls of American dollars, government agents drove deep into Afghanistan's biggest poppy-growing region Wednesday to begin enforcing a plan to eradicate the opium-bearing crop.

OPEC won't replace Iraqi oil shortfall

By Alyson Brodsy and Bruce Stanley · Wednesday, April 10,2002 11:55 p.m.

LONDON -- OPEC has no plans to pump more oil to replace the crude Iraq is withholding from the market, reasoning that the recent spike in oil prices will ease once violence between Israel and the Palestinians abates, the group's top official said Wednesday. OPEC Secretary-General Ali Rodriguez defended the decision to keep output steady until at least late June by insisting that global supplies were "normal" in relation to the physical demand for crude.

Bush presses for human cloning ban

By Alyson Brodsy and Scott Lindlaw · Wednesday, April 10,2002 11:55 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- President Bush called on the Senate Wednesday to pass legislation banning all human cloning, including the cloning of embryos for research and treatment of diseases. "Life is creation, not a commodity," Bush said in a speech to 175 doctors, scientists, lawmakers, religious activists and disabled people. "Advances in new biotechnology must never come at the expense of human conscience," he said. "As we seek what is possible, we must always ask what is right, and we must not forget that even the most noble ends do not justify any means."

More deaths in West Bank

By Greg Myre · Wednesday, April 10,2002 1:41 a.m.

JENIN, West Bank -- Palestinians ambushed Israeli troops in the cramped quarters of a West Bank refugee camp Tuesday, setting off a suicide bomb trap in a narrow alley and firing on soldiers in a courtyard, the military said. Thirteen Israelis were killed, the biggest blow to the army in its West Bank offensive.

Andersen auditor pleads guilty

By Kristen Hays · Wednesday, April 10,2002 12:45 a.m.

HOUSTON -- The Arthur Andersen auditor who oversaw Enron's books pleaded guilty Tuesday to ordering the shredding of Enron documents and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in a deal that could break the scandal wide open.

Troops begin to leave West Bank

By Laura King · Tuesday, April 9,2002 2:08 a.m.

NABLUS, West Bank -- After yet another stern warning from President Bush and under increasing world pressure, Israel began withdrawing early Tuesday from two of the West Bank cities it occupied, Palestinian security sources said. Tanks were rumbling out of Tulkarem and Qalqiliya as troops left buildings and schools after about a week's occupation, Palestinian security sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Bush urges Israel to end incursion

By Alyson Brodsy and Ron Fournier · Thursday, April 4,2002 11:52 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Under pressure to curb Middle East violence, President Bush urged Israel Thursday to pull its troops back from Palestinian cities and dismissed Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat as a failed leader who "betrayed the hopes of his people." He ordered Secretary of State Colin Powell to the region next week seeking a cease-fire. With Powell standing at his side in the Rose Garden, Bush pressed Arab leaders to do more to end terrorism and emulate the peacemaking traditions begun by the late President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and King Hussein of Jordan and carried forward by their successors, Hosni Mubarak and King Abdullah.

More reparations lawsuits expected

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, April 4,2002 11:03 p.m.

Lawsuits charging that three companies profited from the slave trade are just the beginning of a larger legal effort to seek reparations for American blacks who are descendants of slaves.

Koreas discuss U.S. dialogue

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, April 4,2002 11:02 p.m.

SEOUL, South Korea -- A South Korean presidential envoy met North Korean leader Kim Jong Il on Thursday to urge the communist country to ease tensions on the divided Korean peninsula by resuming dialogue with the United States and South Korea.

Company to make ID chips

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, April 4,2002 11:02 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- A company plans to begin selling a computer ID chip that can be embedded beneath people's skin, now that the Food and Drug Administration has said it will not regulate the implant as long as it contains no medical data.

Overthrow plot foiled

By Alyson Brodsy and Paul Haven · Thursday, April 4,2002 11:02 p.m.

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghan authorities said Thursday they have uncovered a plot against the fledgling government, arresting hundreds for allegedly planning "terrorism, abductions and sabotage," and seizing weapons and documents in sweeps throughout the capital.

Israeli tanks enter West Bank city

By Ibrahim Hazboun · Thursday, April 4,2002 12:34 a.m.

BETHLEHEM, West Bank -- Israeli tanks rolled into the West Bank's largest city, Nablus, on Wednesday and elsewhere laid siege to a refugee camp, battling Palestinians who barricaded entrances and fought back with bombs and guns. Troops also encircled Palestinian gunmen holed up in the church marking Jesus' birthplace.

Israel widens offensive against Palestine

By Alyson Brodsy and Laura King · Wednesday, April 3,2002 12:59 a.m.

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Widening its offensive, Israel seized control of Bethlehem and another West Bank town Tuesday in a day of wild fighting that left at least 13 Palestinians dead. Palestinian gunmen forced their way into the Church of the Nativity, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, in Bethlehem and Israeli tanks and helicopters pounded the headquarters of a Palestinian security chief.

Israel not safe for Americans

By Alyson Brodsy and Barry Schweid · Tuesday, April 2,2002 11:32 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- The State Department, citing a "deteriorating security situation," urged Americans who live in Jerusalem to leave the city Tuesday and encouraged dependents of American diplomats to return to the United States.

Bush's education initiative

By Alyson Brodsy and Sonya Ross · Tuesday, April 2,2002 11:32 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA -- President Bush unveiled a new initiative to expand the nation's early childhood education system Tuesday, saying teachers of pre-kindergarten youngsters need more training and higher salaries. "Every child must have an equal place at the starting line," Bush told an audience of educators, parents and students.

U.S. says Iran gives al Qaeda safe passage

By Alyson Brodsy and Pauline Jelinek · Tuesday, April 2,2002 11:31 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Al Qaeda terrorists fleeing Afghanistan have been allowed safe passage through Iran, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Tuesday, criticizing Tehran for a second straight day as a supporter of global terrorists.

Queen Mother dies at age 101

By Alyson Brodsy and Audrey Woods · Sunday, March 31,2002 11:58 p.m.

LONDON -- The great State Bell of St. Paul's Cathedral tolled Sunday in remembrance of the Queen Mother as people across Britain prayed for her at Easter services and admirers lined up at royal palaces to sign books of condolence.