News In Brief
THE US
With his adroit political skills, President Clinton will be hard to beat in 1996, GOP leaders warned at their annual summer meeting in Philadelphia this weekend. Presidential hopefuls also attacked the party's front- runner for the nomination, Senator Dole. Senator Gramm challenged Dole to produce a tougher welfare-reform package. And former Governor Alexander said it is time for a new generation to lead the country - implying that Dole is too old for the White House. Dole said the US needs strong leadership, and he is the one who can provide it.
*
Clinton attacked the GOP approach to regulatory reform, and said it "poses a real danger" to Americans. He said his administration is already cutting red tape, and that the Republican reform bill, which could come to a final Senate vote this week, is unnecessary. Republicans said they are injecting "common sense" into the regulatory realm.
*
Some in Congress applauded the removal of Larry Potts, the FBI's deputy director, on Friday. The move is likely to defuse some controversy as subcommittee hearings begin Wednesday on a 1993 Idaho raid in which white separatist Randy Weaver's unarmed wife was killed. Potts may have approved "shoot on sight" orders for the raid. The hearings will also cover the FBI's role in the raid on Branch Davidian headquarters in Waco, Texas.
*
Some relief from the heat wave that stretched from Chicago to Washington, D.C., may be in sight, forecasters said yesterday. The heat closed the capital's Washington Monument last weekend, but it didn't deter Clinton, who ran and golfed in the 100-degree heat. Thunderstorms, which cooled off some regions, were expected to continue.
*
In the longest of long-distance phone calls, the skipper of the orbiting shuttle Discovery spoke with World War II veteran Harland Claussen in Milwaukee. "I'm glad I don't have to pay for this," Claussen said. The ceremonial call celebrated the efforts of Claussen's generation to protect freedom. Astronauts launched a communications satellite and tested a high-tech video camera that shows the location on the earth's surface that it is filming.
*
The $42 billion B-2 stealth bomber loses its stealthiness in the rain, and its radars are unable to distinguish a thundercloud from a mountain, according to a draft report by the US General Accounting Office. Rain distorts the B-2's skin, causing it to show up on enemy radar, said the New York Times, which obtained a draft copy of the report.
*
As House Speaker Gingrich rose in visibility this year, so did contributions to the political-action committee he founded to help Republican candidates. In the first six months of 1995, more than 2,500 people gave nearly $1.1 million. Meanwhile, Gingrich is scheduled to testify July 27 as the House ethics committee looks into his book deal with one of media mogul Rupert Murdoch's publishing houses.
*
New York Metro-North railroad workers extended their strike deadline to enable more negotiations. Talks resumed yesterday morning. The original deadline was 12:01 a.m. Sunday. A strike would affect 100,000 New York commuters.
*
Microsoft begins manufacture of its long-awaited Windows 95 software. Delayed for nearly a year to work out bugs, the basic program for most personal computers will arrive in stores next month. The Justice Department has not decided if it will file an antitrust suit against the software giant over its plan to include access to its new on-line network with the Windows 95 program.
*
Former NAACP chairman Gibson said he can account for nearly all the $111,930 of his spending that last week's audit of the civil rights organization questioned.
THE WORLD
Bosnian Serb forces were within 500 yards yesterday afternoon of Zepa, an eastern Bosnian Muslim enclave of about 16,000 that is a UN "safe area." In an attempt to protect the area, Bosnian government defenders overran four Ukrainian posts and seized the peacekeepers' weapons. The Ukrainians withdrew into the village. Bosnian Prime Minister Silajdzic asked the international community to lift the arms embargo, and allied military chiefs planned to gather in London yesterday to consider bolstering the UN peacekeeping mission. The US, Britain, and France planned to discuss a French proposal yesterday to send a joint military force to protect the safe areas of Gorazde and Sarajevo. The Serb troops released 55 Dutch soldiers detained last week during the siege on Srebrenica.
*
Two Americans imprisoned in Iraq for straying across the border from Kuwait last March were freed yesterday. The release happened shortly after US Congressman Richardson met with Iraqi President Hussein yesterday in Baghdad and made a humanitarian appeal. The two are expected to arrive in the US today.
*
A rebel group holding Western tourists in the Himalayas on Saturday gave India two more days to free jailed guerrillas before killing the hostages. India announced yesterday it is unlikely to bow to the group's demands and said the captors are believed to be Afghan guerrillas fighting against Indian rule in the Himalayan region.
*
Israeli Foreign Minister Peres said Saturday that peace talks with Damascus had reached a crisis point. He said the fault lay entirely with the Syrians. Israel and the PLO started round-the clock negotiations yesterday to hammer out a West Bank deal. Three Sudanese diplomats, meanwhile, were assaulted by club-wielding men. The assaults follow weeks of tension between Egypt and Sudan after Egyptian President Mubarak accused Sudan of plotting the June 26 attempt on his life during a visit to Ethiopia.
*
Trade talks between the US and Japan ended Saturday without an agreement. The biggest bone of contention was airline landing rights. The dispute surfaced when Japan refused to grant Federal Express seven new routes through Japan to other Asian destinations. The Japanese government wants to renegotiate a 1952 air treaty.
*
About 500 German and foreign scientists appealed to French President Chirac to bypass French nuclear bomb tests in the South Pacific. The open letter echoed a 1957 Goettingen letter from German scientists who pledged to never work on an atom bomb. An Australian delegation left Saturday to urge speedier talks on a nuclear test-ban treaty.
*
The EU and Russia expect to finalize a key trade pact today. The pact was tabled after Moscow's crackdown in Chechnya. Russian and Chechen rebel negotiators broke off peace talks yesterday for three days to consult with their leaders on "issues of great principle." Meanwhile, aides said Russian President Yeltsin will remain hospitalized until the end of the week, raising speculation about his political future.
*
Tens of thousands of Hutus fled Burundi's capital after clashes erupted Saturday night, shortly before a Sunday visit by United Nations Secretary General Boutros-Ghali. A government Army officer blamed the uprising on the Hutu guerrillas.
ETCETERA
My clothes are all sticky and it's just yucky."
- 8-year-old Sharon Perry, pulling unhappily at her halter top, on Philadelphia's 103-degree temperatures Saturday
Chris Evert, winner of 157 tournament titles, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame yesterday. Evert is the 44th woman and the 163rd person to enter the hall, but only the sixth chosen unanimously.
*
There were many who wanted New York Newsday saved, but management said it was too late. After 10 years of publishing and $100 million in losses, yesterday's edition was the last for the award-winning tabloid.
*
California ranks No. 1 in several areas it would just as soon forget. A state Senate research department report said the state is the leader among states in its deficit, unemployment, alcohol-related traffic fatalities, and sex offenders. But it has more scientists and engineers than any two states combined.
*
After 21 movies in which Godzilla is slain only to rise again, the makers of his next film say it will definitely, positively, absolutely be the creature's last screen rampage.
Signal to the Candidates
A sampling of New Hampshire residents were asked what they thought were the most important problems facing the US and their state. Here are their responses.
US N.H.
Economy 18% 14%
Crime/gangs 10 3
Unemployment/jobs 7 16
Morality/ethics 7 1
Health care 6 2
Education 4 12
Federal deficit 4 0
Welfare 3 2
Family/family values 3 1
Drugs/alcohol 3 1
Taxes 2 25
Poverty 2 1
AIDS 2 0
Environment 1 2
Abortion 1 1
Terrorism 1 0
Gun control 1 0
State spending 0 2
Transportation 0 1
Other 17 6
None mentioned 8 10
- Voters' Voice
