  
| 
| ||||||||||||
 Saturday, January 14
Editor's Note: CNN News Update is a running log of the latest news from CNN World Headquarters, reported by CNN's correspondents, producers and Wires.CNN editors. Israeli Cabinet approves plan to allow East Jerusalem Palestinians to vote in elections JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israel's Cabinet on Sunday gave its unanimous approval to a proposal allowing Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem to vote in the upcoming Palestinian legislative elections, a senior source in the prime minister's office told CNN. Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has assumed the post following the massive stroke and hospitalization of Ariel Sharon, presented the plan to the Cabinet. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom had been among those opposing the plan, saying the vote should not be allowed because the radical Palestinian group Hamas -- which publicly supports the destruction of the state of Israel -- is participating in the elections. But Olmert had said the proposal should go forward because Hamas candidates had not entered East Jerusalem and were not campaigning there. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas had threatened to cancel the Jan. 25 elections if Israel blocked East Jerusalem Palestinian residents from participating. -- From CNN Producer Shira Medding (Posted 4:26 a.m.) Israeli AG: Sharon not declared permanently incapacitated at this time JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israel's attorney general has decided not to declare Prime Minister Ariel Sharon permanently incapacitated at this time, and Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will retain his "acting" status, possibly until after planned March elections, Justice Department sources told CNN Sunday. Attorney General Meni Mazuz was to meet with Olmert later Sunday to convey that decision, the sources said. Sharon remained in critical but stable condition in Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital, where he was taken Jan. 4 after suffering what doctors determined to be a massive stroke that resulted in brain hemorrhaging. He has undergone 13 hours of surgery to reduce bleeding in his brain, and doctors earlier this week began the process of slowly lowering his dosage of anesthesia to bring him out of a medically-induced coma. During Sharon's hospitalization, his powers as prime minister were transferred to Olmert, his long-time loyalist and a former Jerusalem mayor. -- From CNN Producer Shira Medding (Posted 3:44 a.m.) IDF: Palestinian woman, son killed in Nablus firefight JERUSALEM (CNN) -- A 50-year-old Palestinian woman and her 20-year-old son were killed Sunday in a firefight that ensued after the man pointed a rifle at Israeli troops, according to an Israel Defense Forces spokesman. The IDF said it was conducting operations in Nablus in the West Bank and identified a number of armed men in a house. One of the men was pointing a gun at the Israeli troops, prompting a soldier to fire a bullet towards him, the IDF said. A firefight resulted, and the armed man and his mother were shot and killed. Three Palestinians were wounded, the Israeli military said. Soldiers searched the home where the firefight took place, and found an M16 assault rifle along with a pistol and bullets, the IDF said. --From CNN Producer Shira Medding (Posted 3:24 a.m.) Thousands gather across Pakistan to protest U.S. air strike LAHORE, Pakistan (CNN) -- Thousands of people turned out in cities across the country Sunday to demonstrate against Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and the United States in the wake of a U.S. air strike that killed 18 people on Friday, as Pakistani parties called for more demonstrations. Pakistan's religious party alliance, MMA, called for protests. They were joined by MQM (Mutihada Qaumi Movement), a key alliance party in Musharraf's government which has several federal ministers in the Cabinet. Many of the protesters are angry at Musharraf because they feel he is not doing enough to keep the U.S. from such actions as the air strike. Gatherings were taking place in cities including Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Karachi, and were set to continue all day on Sunday. On Saturday, Pakistan's Foreign Office said it had lodged a protest with the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan over the strike in a remote Pakistani village near the Afghan border, and said the incident was being "thoroughly investigated" and will be addressed in the next meeting of the Tripartite Commission -- a group made up of senior military and diplomatic representatives from coalition forces, Pakistan and Afghanistan. -- CNN Producer Syed Mohsin Naqvi contributed to this report. (Posted 2:54 a.m.) Kuwait's Emir dies at 77 (CNN) -- Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, a key U.S. ally in the war against Iraq and a notable supporter of women's rights in the tiny Gulf country, died Sunday, according to a government statement. He was 77. The emir had led the nation since 1977, but had been treated for heart problems and other health issues in recent years. The government statement did not mention who would succeed him. Under the constitution, it would be the Crown Prince, Sheikh Saad Al-Abdallah Al-Sabah, but he has also suffered from health problems recently. The official mourning period for the emir will be 40 days, and the government will shut down for three days in his honor, the statement said. The emir survived a 1985 assassination attempt that stemmed from his support of Iraq in the country's war with Iran. -- From CNNArabic.com editor Caroline Faraj. (Posted 12:03 a.m.) Lawyer: Student shot by SWAT team "clinically brain dead." LONGWOOD, Fla. (CNN) - The 15-year-old boy shot by police Friday morning after aiming what appeared to be a lethal weapon at a SWAT team member was "clinically brain dead" Saturday evening and was being kept on life support Saturday so his organs could be harvested for transplants, according to a lawyer and family friend. The boy's father wanted "to save other children elsewhere" with the organ donations, said Jennings "Bucky" Hurt, a long time friend of the family. The father, Ralph Penley, was "extremely angry" that police ignored his plea to speak with his son, Christopher, during the standoff even after he told them his son had a black pellet gun that resembled a real weapon, family lawyer Mark Nation said. Seminole County Police said Penley had threatened classmates at Millwee Middle School in Longwood, Fla.before the confrontation with police, who later discovered the pistol he was wielding was a toy pellet gun painted to resemble a 9-mm handgun. (Updated 12:02 a.m.) FBI arrest in Chicago mob case: 'The Clown' looks like Saddam CHICAGO (CNN) -- After months of searching, the FBI said it finally nabbed Joseph Lombardo, the reputed Chicago mobster, and just couldn't avoid making allusions to another high-profile arrest -- the capture of Saddam Hussein. Robert Grant -- Chicago's FBI special agent in charge -- said Lombardo was captured outside a mob "spider hole" and the fugitive had an appearance not unlike Hussein's at the time of his capture two years ago. Lombardo -- also known as the "The Clown," "Lumpy," and "Lumbo" -- was arrested nine months after federal prosecutors charged him and 13 other alleged organized crime figures with plotting murders, part of a probe into Chicago mob killings and crime called Operation Family Secrets. The killings involve "18 previously unsolved murders and one attempted murder -- all between 1970 and 1986 in the Chicago area, except one slaying in Arizona." They "form the core of a racketeering conspiracy indictment spanning four decades," according to a Justice Department press release. (Posted, 1:55 p.m.) CDC announces two flu treatments are ineffective this season ATLANTA (CNN) -- At the height of flu season, the Centers for Disease Control Saturday announced that two antiviral drugs commonly prescribed by doctors treat flu symptoms are ineffective for this year's flu season and should not be prescribed. The CDC tested amantadine and rimantadine and found the antivirals ineffective against nearly 91 percent of the H3N2 influenza, which is the dominant strain this season. The CDC said two other commonly used antivirals, Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir), are still effective against the strain and can be prescribed in place of amantadine and rimantadine. The flu is currently widespread in seven states, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, California, Oregon, and Colorado. The season, which can begin as early as October and last as late as May, reaches its height in December, January and February. (Posted, 2 p.m.) Stardust spacecraft to return dust from a comet's tail to Earth (CNN) -- It's been a long trip for Stardust -- seven years and nearly 3 billion miles through the solar system. But if all goes as planned, the NASA spacecraft on Sunday will deliver to Earth a "sample return" canister filled with interstellar dust particles collected from the tail of a comet. "Our mission is called Stardust, in part because we believe some of the particles from the comet are in fact older than the sun and planets," said principal investigator Don Brownlee of the University of Washington. "It formed around other stars." Just before 1 a.m.. ET Sunday morning, the spacecraft will fly by Earth and release the 100 pound capsule containing the samples. It will enter the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean, traveling almost 29,000 miles per hour. It will cross over Oregon and Nevada on its way to its landing zone at the Air Force Utah Test and Training Range southwest of Salt Lake City. Weather permitting, skywatchers under the flight path may be able to see it streak across the sky. (Posted, 1:55 p.m.) Dems say MLK would be troubled by GOP policies, 'culture of corruption' WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In the Democratic Party's weekly radio address on the weekend honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., Senate Minority Whip Richard Durbin blasted the Republican leadership for policies he said would disappoint the slain civil rights leader if he were alive today. "I'm sure he would be pleased with the progress we have made on racial justice," the Illinois senator said, noting that fellow Democrat and African-American Barack Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate by one of the largest margins in Illinois' history. But he also said "There are a lot of other changes in America that would trouble Dr. King." Although he admitted that "neither Democrats nor Republicans have a monopoly on virtue," he said the GOP's "unprecedented concentration of power" is to blame for "preventing government from dealing with the real needs of our nation." (Posted, 1:55 p.m.) Sharon still in coma; signs of brain activity JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Saturday remains comatose, but tests show activity in both sides of his brain, 10 days after he suffered a massive stroke, a hospital spokeswoman said. Sharon, 77, is in serious condition at Hadassah Hospital, and all his vital signs are stable, including his breathing, pulse, blood pressure and body temperature, Yael Bosen Levy told CNN. Earlier this week, doctors lowered the sedatives and are waiting for Sharon to emerge from the coma. Sharon has been hospitalized since Jan. 4, when he suffered a massive stroke that resulted in brain hemorrhaging. (Posted, 1:55 p.m.) Presiding judge in Saddam trial wants to step down from post BAGHDAD (CNN) -- The chief judge of the court trying Saddam Hussein for war crimes will attempt to step down as the presiding judge, a high-ranking Iraqi High Tribunal official told CNN. But the official -- who spoke to Rizgar Amin -- said Amin wants to remain a judge with the tribunal. Amin told the IHT that he wrote the resignation and plans to hand it in to the tribunal Sunday morning, the official said. The tribunal, which has the power to reject the request, plans to study the letter and make a decision. Amin apparently said the letter includes an offer to stay on as chief judge through Jan. 24, the first day of the next session, to fill any vacuums. The official gave no reason as to why this letter is being submitted. (Posted, 1:55 p.m.) Belgian Health Ministry: Sick person who returned from Turkey does not have bird flu (CNN) -- A person who was admitted to a Brussels hospital with flu symptoms after returning from areas in Turkey affected by bird flu has tested negative for the virus, a Belgian government official said Saturday. Inge Jorris, Belgium Health Ministry spokeswoman, said the patient's initial lab tests at the Scientific Institute of Public Health in Brussels excluded the possibility of H5 bird flu. More test results are expected on Sunday. On Thursday, the Turkish Health Ministry said laboratory tests had detected two more patients infected with the H5 subtype of bird flu, bringing the total to 18. Three of those cases have been fatal. (Posted, 1:55 p.m.) Pakistan lodges protest with U.S. over strike near Afghan border (CNN) -- Pakistan's Foreign Office said it lodged a protest with the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan over the strike near the Afghan border that killed 18 people and said the issue is being "thoroughly investigated." U.S. sources said al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's right-hand man, Ayman al-Zawahiri, was the target of a CIA airstrike Friday in a remote Pakistani village and may have been among the 18 people killed. But later, a Pakistani intelligence official said he was not among the dead and it is not known whether he was in the area. There has been no confirmation that al-Zawahiri was killed in the attack, which took place in the village of Damadola, near the Afghan border. However, the U.S. sources said there was intelligence suggesting he was in one of the buildings hit during the strike. Both the Pentagon and the White House declined to comment on the reports. (Updated, 1:55 p.m.) Former Taliban government official gunned down (CNN) -- A former Taliban government official who has been supportive of the U.S.-backed Afghan government of Hamid Karzai has been assassinated, according to his relatives and a Taliban spokesman. The victim is Mullah Abdul Samad Khaksar, shot dead in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar about 4 p.m. Saturday. A relative said he was walking to a market with his children near their house when two gunmen on a motorbike shot him in the head and the chest. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. A spokesman, Qari Yousef, told CNN that anyone from the Taliban regime who were supportive of U.S. policies would be killed. The Taliban regime, which harbored the al Qaeda network responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001 terror strikes in the United States, was ousted by a U.S.-led invasion not long after the attacks. (Posted 9:37 a.m.) Iran's Ahmadinejad to West: 'You're not going to stop our research' (CNN) -- Amid increasing international tension stemming from his country's nuclear program, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Saturday insisted the nation has the right to conduct nuclear research, and painted the United States and other Western nations as bullies who "have a medieval view of the world." "A few Western states that have nuclear arsenals, they have chemical weapons, they have microbiological weapons, and every year they establish tens of new nuclear power plants -- now they are criticizing the Iranian nation ... because they think that they are powerful," Ahmadinejad said, apparently referring to nations including the United States and the so-called EU3 -- Britain, France and Germany. The EU is the European Union. He sent out a clear message, presumably to the leaders of those nations: "We won't be intimidated ... you don't even want us to do some research. That's not fair. Even if you bring in the international community, we're still not going to listen to you the way you want. You are just tricking us and this is not fair. You're not going to stop our research." Later, he said to the same nations: "You might do something you regret. And once you regret, it might be too late." (Posted 7:52 a.m.) Marine killed in Iraq combat BAGHDAD (CNN) -- A Marine died in combat on Friday in the Iraqi city of Ramadi, the U.S. military said Saturday. The Marine, assigned to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), "died of wounds received from small-arms fire while conducting combat operations against the enemy." This brings the number of U.S troop deaths in the Iraq war to 2,215. (Posted 7:40 a.m.) 7 terror suspects remanded to jail; 12 others face arraignment MADRID (CNN) -- A Spanish judge has ordered seven Islamic terrorist suspects who were arrested last Tuesday to remain in jail on charges of recruiting an Algerian suicide bomber who later killed 19 Italians in Iraq, a National Court spokeswoman told CNN Saturday. A decision on 12 other suspects, out of the total of 20 arrested Tuesday, should be made by Sunday after their arraignments are held, the spokeswoman said. The suspects were being arraigned before two judges at the National Court, which handles cases of terrorism. Starting late Friday, eight suspects were arraigned before Judge Fernando Andreu. He remanded seven of them to jail and released the eighth, who still faces charges in the case, said the spokeswoman. The eight are accused of formed a terrorist cell linked to al Qaeda, based near Barcelona in the town of Vilanova y la Geltru, the spokeswoman said. The group allegedly recruited an Algerian man, Belgacem Bellil, who allegedly carried out the suicide bombing Nov. 12, 2003, against an Italian military base in Nasiriya, Iraq. -- From CNN Madrid Bureau Chief Al Goodman. (Posted 5:50 a.m.) Firefighters letting lower 9th Ward scrapyard fire burn itself out NEW ORLEANS (CNN) -- Firefighters are letting a scrapyard fire in New Orleans' lower 9th Ward burn itself out, despite the risk that it could be releasing chemicals into the air. The fire, which started late Thursday night, has burned through heaps of appliances and debris, the rubble left by the massive flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina. It is not clear what caused the fire, which is burning about 40 yards. As of early Saturday, the fire was still smoldering, a New Orleans Fire Department dispatcher said. At one point Friday, the fire covered about 200 yards, fire officials said. The Environmental Protection Agency told New Orleans firefighters to let the blaze burn itself out because the smoke may contain dangerous chemicals. -- CNN's Susan Roesgen contributed to this report (Updated 5:13 a.m.) At least 9 injured, 4 critically, in suspected SC tornado; damage in NC (CNN) -- At least nine people were injured, four of them critically, in a possible tornado that wreaked havoc in an east-central South Carolina mobile home park Friday, an emergency official said. A second possible twister damaged homes in North Carolina, but there were no reports of injuries. In Clarendon County, S.C., an initial count showed nine mobile homes were destroyed and another 18 damaged in the park about 3 miles west of Manning, S.C., said Anthony Mack, emergency services coordinator. Four people were flown to a hospital in Columbia with what Mack described as critical injuries. Another five people were transported to a local hospital, and others drove themselves there for treatment after the possible tornado struck about 9:35 p.m., he said. Across the border in North Carolina, possible tornado damage was reported in Gastonia, just west of Charlotte. No one was injured. About 18 homes in a subdivision were damaged, including one home still under construction when the storm struck about 8:15 p.m. said Woody Thomas, a battalion chief for the Gastonia Fire Department. (Updated 4:53 a.m.) 
|
| ||||||||||||
| © 2007 Cable News Network. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map. |
 |
|
External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
Pay service with live and archived video. 
