News In Brief
THE US
The Supreme Court refused to revive a lawsuit by Exxon Shipping Company. Exxon's own negligence caused the tanker to run aground in Hawaii after it broke away from its mooring in 1989 and hit a coral reef, the court ruled. Exxon sued two companies for the loss of the tanker, cargo, and costs of cleaning up an oil spill. The court also allowed Washington state authorities to continue to ban doctor-assisted suicide while they challenge a ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that says the law is unconstitutional.
A 13-year-old white girl was arrested for setting the fire that destroyed a black church in Charlotte, N.C. Police said the fire wasn't connected with 30 other fires at southern black churches over the last 18 months. And two men were detained in connection with a fire that badly damaged a black church in Greenville, Texas. Pastors from the 30 churches struck by fire met with Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin and Attorney General Janet Reno in Washington, who both reiterated President Clinton's promise to devote necessary resources to solve the crimes.
On the campaign trail in California, Clinton planned to highlight several crime-fighting measures while visiting a San Diego police station to counter GOP criticism that he's soft on crime. In San Francisco, about 200 demonstrators protesting his opposition to same-sex marriages greeted him outside Senator Dianne Feinstein's home, where he attended a private fund-raiser. Above, Clinton talked about protecting the national park system from the Presidio - site of a proposed national park.
American Airlines and British Airways are set to announce a deal today to share marketing, sell seats on each others' planes, and link frequent-flier programs, The New York Times reported.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the military trial of a sergeant accused of gunning down 19 comrades and killing one at Fort Bragg Army base in North Carolina. William Kreutzer claims the Army repeatedly ignored his pleas for psychological help.
Jury selection was expected to begin in Philadelphia for the trial of Rep. Joseph McDade. The 17-term Pennsylvania Republican was indicted on charges of racketeering, conspiracy, and accepting gratuities. He is accused of accepting plane flights, golfing accessories, and $7,500 in scholarships for his son in exchange for helping secure $68 million in government contracts.
Massachusetts Senator Kennedy says Congress is so close to agreement on a health-reform bill that Senator Dole should stay in the Senate until it's passed. Dole is set to resign today to campaign full time for the presidency. Clinton is opposed to a provision attached by the House Republicans for medical savings accounts he says could drive up costs for those in greatest need of coverage.
Some 51 economists surveyed by the newsletter Blue Chip Economic Indicators agree the economy is expanding vigorously, but differ sharply over where it will be at year's end. The economy will grow at a 3.3 percent annual rate from April through June, 2.2 percent for 1996, and 2.1 percent in 1997, according to their averaged predictions. And gasoline prices dropped for the first time this year - down more than a penny a gallon last week.
Residents in a suburb north of Anchorage began packing for their trek home after firefighters announced they expected to have the 37,000-acre blaze contained by last night. People have been allowed to visit their property for brief intervals, but hot spots have prohibited them from returning permanently. Also, an earthquake with a 7.7 magnitude rocked Alaska's Aleutian Islands and prompted a tidal-wave watch along the Pacific coast.
Minority student enrollment at US colleges rose 5 percent in 1994, according to a report by the American Council on Education. That's nearly double the increase of the previous year. But progress is still needed. About 23 percent of the nation's high school students are black, Hispanic, or American Indian. But they make up only 16 percent of the enrollment at four-year colleges. The cost of tuition was cited frequently as prohibitive.
THE WORLD
Hizbullah guerrillas killed at least five Israeli soldiers in south Lebanon in the worst flareup of violence since the April 27 cease-fire. A Lebanese man was also killed when his car overturned in the attack. Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres was to meet with Prime Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu on the incident.
Israeli soldiers closed shops and searched cars in the West Bank town of Hebron after a Jewish settler couple was slain by suspected Palestinian militants. The couple's baby son was found unharmed in the back seat of their car. Tensions have mounted in Hebron, the last Israeli-occupied West Bank city, since the Netanyahu's election as prime minister. He has not said if he will honor Israel's promise to withdraw from Hebron.
Northern Ireland's peace forum opened in Belfast - with Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA, locked out of talks because the IRA refused to call a cease-fire. Sinn Fein national chairman Mitchel McLaughlin said in New York that his party would reject any agreement reached during the talks. Also, former US Sen. George Mitchell chaired talks. It is the first time an American has led negotiations in Northern Ireland.
Russia reached a preliminary accord with Chechen rebels on the withdrawal of troops from Chechnya and the disarmament of the rebels, Russian news agencies said. Russian forces must withdraw from villages by July 7, and guerrillas must turn in their weapons by Aug. 7. Also, Russian President Boris Yeltsin says he expects to win June 16 presidential elections in the first round, despite most polls' predictions. Analysts expect a run-off between Yeltsin, who is likely to receive one-third of the vote, and Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov, who is expected to win one quarter.
Britain dropped its demand for a definite date to end the EU's worldwide ban on British beef exports, French officials said. Instead, British ministers talked about setting up a phased strategy for removing restrictions with no set timetable. Meanwhile, in Luxembourg EU ministers attacked Britain for its "beef war" tactics of blocking EU business, despite Britain's easing of the disruptive policy to allow some sensitive matters through.
More than 1 in 8 children ages 10 to 14 work for a living, according to a new UN report. About 73 million children are known to be employed, but the UN says the number is much higher, once younger children and girls working as domestic servants are taken into account.
An Italian commuter hydrofoil overturned in Bay of Naples, killing at least four people and spilling scores of passengers into the sea. The boat apparently capsized when it hit a reef.
About 72 people were killed when a ship caught fire off the coast of Eritrea last week, Eritrean state radio said. Most of the passengers were Ethiopians trying to cross illegally to Saudi Arabia. The cause of the accident was not known.
India's government, led by Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, seemed poised to win tomorrow's vote of confidence.
Slovenia applied for EU membership - the first republic from the former Yugoslavia to do so.
Iraq's oil minister met French government and oil industry officials in Paris to discuss oil exports in exchange for food and medicines after the UN relaxed a 1990 trade embargo.
Japan's trade surplus was cut by almost half in April. The current account - the broadest measure of trade in goods and services - plunged 45 percent from a year earlier to $5.09 billion. Economists say the reduction reflects Japan's shift away from an export-driven economy to a more open market.
ETCETERAS
"I think it smells to high heaven."
-- Sen. Bob Dole, calling for congressional hearings after it was discovered that the White House obtained FBI files on 341 people, including prominent Republicans. The White House called the incident a bureaucratic blunder.
Thais celebrated the 50th anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulayej's coronation. Adulayej is the world's longest-reigning living monarch.
Australian Susie Maroney swam into US waters and decided she'd accomplished enough - 12 miles short of her goal to become the first person to swim the Florida Straits. She called it quits after swimming 39 hours and 89 miles in chop-py, shark-infested waters.
THE DAY'S LIST
US Movers and Shakers
Time Magazine's choices for the 25 "most influential" people are based on their ability to educate, entertain, and "change the ways we think about ourselves and others."
Conservative William Bennett
Internet entrepreneur Jim Clark
Human-potential guru Stephen Covey
Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan
Architect Frank Gehry
Psychologist Carol Gilligan
Vice President Al Gore
Management consultant Michael Hammer
Fashion designer Calvin Klein
Nike head Phil Knight
TV executive Geraldine Laybourne
Rock star Courtney Love
Jazz musician Wynton Marsalis
Political consultant Dick Morris
Novelist Toni Morrison
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
Director/actor Robert Redford
Hospital company executive Richard Scott
Actor/comedian Jerry Seinfeld
Author/chef Martha Stewart
Microsoft's Patty Stonesifer
Biologist E.O. Wilson
Sociologist William J. Wilson
Talk show host Oprah Winfrey
Physicist Ed Witten
- Associated Press
