World News

Critical Victory War On Terror

Vicky Hunter - May 4, 2005 / 10:35 am | Story: 9079

The alleged number three man in al Qaeda -- believed responsible for the terror group's global operations -- has been captured in Pakistan's frontier province with Afghanistan, Pakistani and U.S. officials have confirmed. U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday immediately hailed the arrest of Abu Faraj al-Libbi, and that of 10 other suspected al Qaeda members, as a "critical victory in the war on terror." Full story
A suicide bomber on Wednesday attacked a crowd of recruits seeking jobs with the Kurdish police force in Erbil, killing at least 47 people and wounding about 100 others, officials said. More than 300 people were at the recruitment center when the attack occurred, said Karim Zingari, Erbil's Interior Minister. Full story
Beijing's Tiananmen Square was closed to the public on Wednesday for a government-organized coming-of-age ceremony for 18 year olds, state media reported, an apparent attempt to thwart any anti-Japanese protests. China has been nervous about a possible resurgence of anti-Japanese sentiment after three weekends of nationwide protests last month. Full story
President Bush's attendance, by the side of Russian President Vladimir Putin, at next week's Red Square parade celebrating the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe is meant to recall the great wartime alliance that defeated Nazi Germany. It's a coup for Putin. But Bush is making stops on the way to Moscow and back that are much less pleasing to the Russian leader. The president starts and ends his trip in ex-Soviet republics, Latvia and Georgia, that will be the backdrops for rhetoric on the power of democracy. Full story
Britain's politicians are making one final campaign push, a day before an election which appears increasingly likely to hand Prime Minister Tony Blair a third straight term in office. Blair was expected to make his government's handling of the buoyant British economy during its eight years in power the centerpiece of his final push ahead of the polling booths opening on Thursday morning. Full story
Actor Macaulay Culkin and two other witnesses whom prosecutors say were molested by Michael Jackson will be among the first to testify in the pop star's defense, according to a source familiar with the case. Those witnesses will be used to attack the key element of the prosecution's case that Jackson had a history of grooming boys for sexual abuse. Full story
Russian nuclear energy minister Yevgeny Adamov has been arrested in Switzerland at Washington's request, Swiss officials said. Adamov was detained in the Swiss capital Bern on Monday, Swiss Justice Ministry spokesman Folco Galli said Wednesday. The U.S. Justice Department is seeking Adamov's extradition for alleged involvement in fraud and money laundering, Galli said. Full story
Pope Benedict, appearing more comfortable by the day in his new role, urged believers on Wednesday to shun the temptations of power, wealth and prestige, calling them false promises that do not lead to God. Benedict, addressing tens of thousands of people in St Peter's Square, departed from his prepared text during his weekly general audience, the second since his election on April 19. Full story
A German court convicted a leading neo-Nazi of belonging to a terrorist organization on Wednesday and sentenced him to seven years in prison for planning a foiled attack on a Jewish center in Munich. Martin Weise, a high-profile right winger, was found guilty of planning a bomb attack at a foundation-laying ceremony for a Jewish center on November 9, 2003, the 65th anniversary of "Kristallnacht" when Nazis attacked Jewish shops and synagogues. Full story
The Pentagon will investigate the U.S. Air Force Academy after cadets complained that they were ordered to pray and told they'd go to hell if they didn't preach the word of God. Michael L. Dominguez, acting secretary of the U.S. air force, announced Tuesday that a task force will visit the Colorado Springs, Colo., campus of the academy after 55 cases of religious intolerance were uncovered through internal surveys. Full story
A key defendant in a massive pedophilia trial in France took the stand on Tuesday, testifying he believes he will be convicted. Frank V. faces 20 years in jail if he's found guilty of raping three of his children and forcing them into prostitution. His last name cannot be used because of French laws to protect the anonymity of child victims. Full story