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YellowBrix story NEWSBRIEF from AP
AP Top News at 5:41 a.m. EST
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press (via ClariNet) / Tue, 3 Feb 2004 5:50:21 EST
Bush to Name Iraq Intelligence Commission
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats say they're worried an inquiry
into intelligence failures planned by President Bush won't be truly
independent. Some Republicans worry the inquiry -- at least the fifth
now underway -- will distract the CIA from key tasks. With discontent
growing on both sides, the White House was leaning toward announcing
the commission and its members Wednesday when Bush is expected to
give a speech on terrorism at Library of Congress, a senior
administration official said, speaking on the condition of
anonymity.
Turkey Building Collapse Kills 12 People
KONYA, Turkey (AP) -- Rescuers used drills and their bare
hands to search for survivors Tuesday, a day after the collapse of
an 11-story apartment building in central Turkey that killed at
least 12 people and injured 28 others. Officials at the site said
between 40 and 100 people were feared to be buried in the debris.
Kerry Looks to Win S.C., 6 Other States
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) -- After back-to-back wins in Iowa and
New Hampshire, Sen. John Kerry was hoping for a sweep in the biggest
test yet for Democratic hopefuls, seven states holding primaries or
caucuses. But the race's two Southerners were angling to slow the
Massachusetts Democrat's gathering momentum. Sen. John Edwards of
North Carolina was counting on a victory in South Carolina's
first-in-the-South primary on Tuesday to keep his own campaign
alive. And retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark of Arkansas hoped for a
win in Oklahoma and a respectable showing in both Arizona and New
Mexico to propel his campaign into the next round of contests.
Ricin Incident Closes 3 Senate Buildings
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Three Senate office buildings were closed
Tuesday after a suspicious white powder, apparently delivered
through the mail system, was found in the Senate majority leader's
office. Officials said several preliminary tests -- but not all of
them -- were positive for ricin, a deadly poison. More definitive
test results were expected later Tuesday.
Britain to Hold Iraq Intelligence Inquiry
LONDON (AP) -- The British government will hold an inquiry
into the intelligence used in deciding to go to war with Iraq, Prime
Minister Tony Blair said Tuesday. Blair told a parliamentary
committee that Foreign Secretary Jack Straw would announce details
later Tuesday.
North Korea Agrees to Hold Nuclear Talks
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korea said Tuesday that it
has agreed to six-way nuclear talks starting Feb. 25, prompting
expectations the countries will discuss the communist nation's offer
to freeze its atomic programs in exchange for concessions from
Washington. The announcement was a breakthrough after months of
trying to restart negotiations among the United States, China,
Russia, Japan and the two Koreas. An earlier round, aimed at
persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear programs, ended in
August without much progress.
Rosie O'Donnell Gives Support to Stewart
NEW YORK (AP) -- Rosie O'Donnell briefly turned a federal
courtroom into a pro-Martha Stewart press conference -- and even
jokingly tried to bribe a prosecutor with M&M's to drop the case
against the lifestyle maven. O'Donnell, just three months removed
from her own trial, sat in the front row Monday for the third day of
testimony at Stewart's obstruction-of-justice trial, holding forth
during breaks on her opinion of the charges.
NASA Twin Rovers Analyze Mars Surface
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- NASA's twin rovers reached out to
scoop and analyze the martian surface some 6,600 miles apart, both
machines using their robotic arms as intended following a software
glitch. "We have two operational rovers on Mars," mission manager
Jennifer Trosper told a Monday news conference at NASA's Jet
Propulsion Laboratory.
Gest: Article Ended Marriage to Minnelli
HONOLULU (AP) -- Liza Minnelli's breakup with David Gest was
caused by a tabloid article, not alleged physical abuse, the
producer said in an interview to be broadcast Friday. Gest, who has
been staying in Hawaii since the split, told "Dateline's" Stone
Phillips that Minnelli "beat me and hit me everywhere," but it was a
National Enquirer article portraying his estranged wife as an
alcoholic that led to the relationship's end.
Bryant Investigators Called to Testify
EAGLE, Colo. (AP) -- Investigators who questioned Kobe Bryant
after he allegedly assaulted a 19-year-old hotel worker are being
put on the defensive as the NBA star's lawyers seek to have key
evidence thrown out. The sheriff's investigators were scheduled to
testify in court Tuesday about the circumstances surrounding a
75-minute interview they conducted with Bryant at the Lodge & Spa at
Cordillera.