News In Brief
Authorities in Cincinnati were considering whether to lift a nighttime curfew that has been in place since Thursday, barring further signs of rioting and looting that has ravaged the city since the shooting of an unarmed black teen by police April 7. At least 200 people have been arrested for curfew violations, and property damages have mounted into the millions of dollars. Meanwhile, hundreds of mourners packed a Baptist church for the funeral of Timothy Thomas. He was shot as he ran, apparently to escape arrest for misdemeanors. A grand jury is to review evidence today.
A Navy court of inquiry unanimously recommended that the commander of the USS Greene-ville submarine that collided with and sank a Japanese fishing trawler two months ago not court martialed, The New York Times reported. Scott Waddle is likely to face a lesser punishment for the collision that occurred near Hawaii, such as a letter of reprimand that would effectively end his military career but would not threaten him with a jail sentence, officials said. Investigators presented their findings to Adm. Thomas Fargo, who will make the final decision. As the sub attempted to surface, 16 civilian guests were in the control room.
The Bush administration has proposed new efficiency standards for home central air conditioners and heat pumps that aim to conserve energy. The standards would require new devices to use 20 percent less energy than most current models and would take effect in 2006. The rules are less stringent than the 30 percent reduction proposed by Clinton. But Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said Clinton's rule would have placed too high a cost burden on consumers. He called the 20 percent reduction a "realistic standard."
The US version of the air collision and emergency landing that led to the 11-day detention of surveillance plane crew members in China emerged in greater detail, following their return to their home base in Washington State. Pentagon officials revealed a videotape showing previous close encounters between US and Chinese planes over the South China Sea. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld also said the Chinese fighter jet in the April 1 incident was "maneuvering aggressively" while the US plane flew on autopilot. In addition, crew members said they destroyed most classified material after landing at a Chinese military airfield.
In talks scheduled for Wednesday in Beijing, Pentagon officials intend to accuse China of dangerous interception and to ask for the immediate return of the $80 million EP-3 aircraft still held on Hainan Island. They also will address the future of surveillance flights along China's coast, which the US plans to continue.
Democratic donor Denise Rich struck an immunity deal with prosecutors investigating the pardon of her fugitive ex-husband, Marc Rich, Time magazine reported. Investigators hope to learn whether Rich was pardoned in exchange for contributions from Denise Rich to the ex-President Clinton's library in Arkansas, to the Democratic Party, or to other political causes. Clinton's half-brother, Roger Clinton, also has been subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury this week to discuss his role in an alleged pardon swindle.
(c) Copyright 2001. The Christian Science Monitor
