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Budget cuts cancel key NASA upgrades
WASHINGTON — After relentless pressure to cut costs since 1990, NASA scrapped hundred of millions of dollars in safety upgrades for the space shuttle program.
The cuts canceled efforts to modernize equipment and laid off thousands of workers performing maintenance or safety inspections.
The loss of Columbia nearly two weeks ago followed years of warnings from outside advisers, aerospace executives, lawmakers and NASA officials that the program was underfunded. However, the budget cuts have not been blamed for the tragedy of Columbia.
Among the upgrades that were never carried out were a safer replacement for three auxiliary power units, a replacement for the giant rocket booster that caused the Challenger explosion, and a replacement for the 1970s-vintage computer system used to launch shuttles at the Kennedy Space Center.
Rumsfeld criticizes German-French plans
MUNICH, Germany — Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld criticized German and French plans to disarm Iraq.
Rumsfeld challenged Europe Saturday to join the United States to meet the threats Iraq poses, while French and German officials previewed a proposal to boost the authority of weapons inspectors and use United Nations troops to enforce it.
Rumsfeld also warned the unwillingness of some European nations to confront Iraq is making the North Atlantic Treaty Organization increasingly irrelevant. He indicated that the views of NATO will not affect the United States’ decision on whether to go to war.
The German-French proposal will be formally introduced as soon as today and calls for the open-ended deployment of U.S. troops to maintain pressure on the Iraqi regime. However, it would introduce a permanent U.N. coordinator to disarm Iraq and take control away from Washington, French sources said.
China convicts U.S. dissident of spying
BEIJING — A U.S.-based dissident was convicted by a Chinese court on spying and terrorism charges Monday and sentenced to life in prison, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Wang Bingzhang, 55, was arrested after police said they found him tied up in a temple July 3. Pro-democracy activists suggest he was abducted in Vietnam by Chinese agents after meeting with Chinese labor leaders in Hanoi.
A court in the southern city of Shenzhen convicted Wang, but no details of the case or evidence were given against him.
Wang, a Chinese citizen, has permanent residency status in the United States.
The U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the Chinese Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment regarding Wang.
Arafat welcomes Israeli peace talks
JERUSALEM — Although not invited, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said he welcomed the resumption of talks with Israel on Saturday.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had met two days earlier with Ahmed Korei, the speaker of the Palestinian parliament, Israeli sources disclosed. Though senior Palestinian officials played down the significance of the talks, news of the discussions is the first sign of any possible reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinians in nine months.
Arafat spoke to reporters at his compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where he has been confined for more than a year.
“We are ready for any talks as long as this might lead us to peace,” he said.
Israel refuses to have contact with Arafat, blaming him for causing violence. Sharon said there are no prospects for peace unless Arafat is removed from power.
Russian musical reopens after terror
MOSCOW — The Dubrovka Theater reopened Saturday night, three months after Chechen terrorists took the audience and cast hostage. Ticket-holders arrived in anticipation of the re-opening of the musical “Nord-Ost.”
The terrorist takeover resulted in the death of 129 captives when Russian security forces pumped gas into the theater.
To expunge the aura of death, the Dubrovka was renovated and remodeled by the Moscow government with a $2.5 million bill.
Security was tight before the opening performance.
Survivors of the events in October are suing the Moscow government for more than $60 million in compensation for suffering.
Colombians struggle with guerilla war
BOGOTA, Colombia — An increasingly violent guerilla war has left Colombians struggling to confront the reality of the country’s worst urban bombing in decades.
Six children were killed and more than 160 people were wounded from Friday’s car bombing of Colombia’s most exclusive private club. The club was a symbol of the wealthy ruling class in the country.
“This is terrifying, something without precedent in Colombia,” said Antonio Navarro Wolf, a senator and former leftist guerilla. “Here we have lived through all types of violence, but never anything like this.”
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia, known by its Spanish initials, FARC, was blamed for the bombing by United States and Colombian authorities.
FARC has also been blamed for the launching of mortars near the U.S. Embassy in November and for a suitcase bomb at an upscale hotel in December.
Indian-Pakistani diplomats expelled
NEW DELHI — Ties worsened between India and Pakistan last Saturday when 10 diplomats were ordered out of the countries.
Pakistan’s top diplomat, Jalil Abbas Jilani, was expelled from New Delhi after he was accused of funneling money to Muslim separatists in the 
Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir. Four other Pakistani diplomats were also expelled.
Jilani had personally given about $6,000 to an activist for the main separatist organizations in Kashmir, police said.
In response to the allegation, Pakistan denied the charges and ordered the expulsion of five Indian diplomats within 48 hours.
Lawmakers propose anti-missile system
NEW YORK — Two New York legislators outlined a plan for missile protection technology to be installed on all commercial planes Sunday.
Democrats Sen. Charles Schumer and Rep. Steve Israel called for the provision of $7-$10 billion to airlines to cover the cost of the technology.
The anti-missile systems can steer ground-fired missiles away from planes by jamming their guiding systems. The cost would be between $1 million and $1.5 million per plane.
At a Manhattan press conference, the lawmakers outlined the bill and were joined by Rafi Ron, who is the former head of security for the Israeli Airport Authority.
— Compiled from news sources
Submitted February 13, 2003
MALIBU, CA
