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02-16-2006

U.N. Report Equates Gitmo to Torture

In this image reviewed by the U.S. Military, an unidentified detainee is escorted by two military guards at Camp Delta, in this June 25, 2005 file photo, at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, in Cuba. The United States should shut down the prison for terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay and either release all detainees being held there or bring them to trial, the United Nations said in a report released Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006. (AP Photo/Haraz Ghanbari, File)

GENEVA (AP) _ The United States should shut down the prison for terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay and either release the detainees or put them on trial, the United Nations said in a report released Thursday. The world body also called on the United States to refrain from practices that "amount to torture."

Patriot Act Moves Closer to Renewal

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Senate pushed the Patriot Act a step closer to renewal Thursday, overwhelmingly rejecting an effort to block it. Passage is expected next month for extending the law that was passed weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks as a weapon to help the government track terror suspects.

Russian Biathlete Expelled, Loses Medal

Russia's Olga Pyleva races to win the bronze medal during the women's mass start competition at the biathlon World Championships in Hochfilzen, Austria, in this Sunday, March 13, 2005 file photo. Pyleva was suspended Thursday Feb. 16, 2006 for failing a doping test, becoming the first athlete to test positive at the Turin 2006 Winter Olympic Games.(AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)

CESANA, Italy (AP) _ Russian biathlon star Olga Pyleva was thrown out of the Turin Games and stripped of her silver medal Thursday for doping, the first athlete caught in the tightest drug net in Winter Olympics history. Pyleva was favored heading into Thursday's 7.5km sprint to win her second medal of the games. As athletes were walking up to the starting line, an announcer told the crowd that Pyleva was scratched because she had fallen ill.

President Satisfied With Cheney's Account

Vice President Dick Cheney, center, arrives at the White House, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006, for early morning security briefings with President Bush. Cheney rejected Wednesday any notion that his victim bears any responsibility for the shooting accident that turned a weekend hunting trip into trauma. "I'm the guy who pulled the trigger and shot my friend," he said. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

WASHINGTON (AP) _ President Bush was satisfied with Vice President Dick Cheney's account of his Texas hunting accident, but Bush's spokesman declined to say Thursday whether the president felt it should have been revealed earlier. "I think that the vice president clearly explained the rationale behind that," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said, avoiding a direct response to questions about whether Bush felt the shooting accident was publicly disclosed in a timely manner.

China Defends Right to Police Internet

Chinese youths work at their computer stations in an Internet cafe in Beijing, China, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006. Four U.S. technology giants are defending themselves against charges they collaborated with China to crush dissents in return for access to a booming Internet market. Representatives from Microsoft Corp., Yahoo Inc., Cisco Systems Inc. and Google Inc. faced harsh questioning from lawmakers from both parties at a hearing of a House of Representatives International Relations subcommittee. China says its aims are benign - to protect its citizens, and especially children, from "the immoral and harmful content" of the Internet. Critics say the limits China imposes go further and are aided by U.S. companies. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Dalziel)

BEIJING (AP) _ China on Thursday defended its right to police the Internet, one day after four American technology giants appeared before Congress on charges they collaborated with Beijing to crush free speech online in return for market access. "It is normal for countries to manage the Internet in accordance with law and to guide its development in a healthy and orderly fashion," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said. "China has also borrowed and learned from the United States and other countries in the world."

XM Radio Reports Loss, Key Director Quits

NEW YORK (AP) _ XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. posted a much wider loss in the fourth quarter on higher costs for marketing and acquiring subscribers. At the same time, a key director quit over disagreements about the company's direction, warning of a looming "crisis." Its shares sank $2.16, or 8.6 percent, to $23.09 in morning trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market, after briefly trading as low as $22.94. Their previous 52-week low was $23.01.

Some Smokers Pay More for Health Benefits

CINCINNATI (AP) _ Smokers squeezed by soaring cigarette costs and workplace smoking bans are increasingly being hit with another cost increase _ this time for health insurance. A growing number of private and public employers are requiring employees who use tobacco to pay higher premiums, hoping that will motivate more of them to stop smoking and lower health care costs for the companies and their workers.

Elton John Accepts Libel Settlement

Sir Elton John poses during a stage photocall in London on June 22, 2004. John accepted an undisclosed financial settlement Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006, of a libel lawsuit against London's Sunday Times. His lawyer said in court that the newspaper had repeated a false rumor that the rocker acted in a self-important, arrogant and rude manner by telling guests at a fundraising ball not to address him unless spoken to.(AP Photo/Max Nash)

LONDON (AP) _ Elton John accepted an undisclosed financial settlement Thursday of a libel lawsuit against the Sunday Times. His lawyer, Hanna Basha, said in court that the newspaper had repeated a false rumor that the rocker acted in a self-important, arrogant and rude manner by telling guests at a fundraising ball not to address him unless spoken to.

Powerball Jackpot Hits New Record

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) _ Another record lottery jackpot is up for grabs. With no winner Wednesday, the multistate Powerball jackpot jumped to $365 million for Saturday's drawing, the largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history.

Pedersen Blows by Rivals for Skeleton Gold

Gold medallist Maya Pedersen of Switzerland celebrates as she slides in following her final run in skeleton competition at the Olympic Games in Cesana Pariol, Italy on Thursday February 16, 2006. (AP Photo/Frank Gunn, CP)

CESANA, Italy (AP) _ Mama Maya, she's fast! Switzerland's Maya Pedersen, who parked her sled to become a mother two years ago, is now an Olympic champion after winning her country's first gold medal of the Turin Games in women's skeleton on Thursday. Showing zero fear in a headfirst, freezing freefall down one of the world's fastest sliding tracks, Pedersen completed her two runs in 1 minute, 59.83 seconds, an astonishing 1.23 seconds ahead of Shelley Rudman of Britain _ the first medal of these games for the Brits.

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