Bush hears tough Saudi message
CRAWFORD, Texas, April 25 (UPI) -- The diplomatic adviser to Saudi Arabia's crown prince said Thursday his government was delivering a frank message to President Bush but the issue of barring U.S. forces from Saudi bases or raising oil prices was never on the table. Abdel Jabeir, diplomatic adviser to Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud, said the prince would tell Bush if Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was "left to his own devices, he will drag the region over a cliff." He also denied that the Saudis would cut off oil supplies to the United States in retaliation for Washington's support of Israel.
N. Korea vows 'military-first' policy
SEOUL, South Korea, April 25 (UPI) -- North Korea has launched a nationwide campaign to make its 1.1 million-strong army stronger to cope with military threats from the United States, official Korean media said Thursday. In a show of civilian support for the military, tens of thousands of students, workers and farmers joined a large-scale military parade staged in central Pyongyang to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the country's armed forces.
NYC explosion injures 50
NEW YORK, April 25 (UPI) -- Some 50 people were injured in an explosion in a Lower Manhattan building, a blast that police said was apparently an industrial accident. Six of those injured were listed in critical condition, police said. "The explosion occurred in the basement of the building but the origin of the explosion is undetermined," Sgt. Kevin Hayes, a New York Police Department spokesman said. "An investigation is under way but it's not believed terrorism had anything to do with it." Police said plumbers were working on a boiler in the building and that may have been the cause of the blast.
Yucca veto override reaches full House
WASHINGTON, April 25 (UPI) -- The full U.S. House will have the chance to override Nevada's objections to the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository following Thursday's 41-6 vote by the House Energy and Commerce Committee approving such action. Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., the committee chairman, said he intends to report House Joint Resolution 87 to the full chamber on May 1. The House is expected to take up the measure the week of May 6, he said. Nevada's veto of the Yucca project must be overruled by Congress for the site licensing phase to begin. Yucca is vital to continuing the nation's use of nuclear power, which provides about 20 percent of U.S.-generated electricity, Tauzin said.
Infinite cycle of big bangs make universe
PRINCETON, N.J., April 25 (UPI) -- A new, radical model of the cosmos proposed by scientists in the United States and Britain suggests there is no beginning or end of time, only an infinite cycle of Big Bangs that remake the universe endlessly. "We may have misunderstood the nature of time," said co-researcher Paul Steinhardt, a cosmologist at Princeton University. "The Big Bang may not be the beginning of space and time, as conventionally assumed. Instead, time may exist forever." The new theory also provides a role for the mysterious antigravity force known as "dark energy," which seems to be expanding the universe faster and faster over time.
Parts failures cause bike recalls
WASHINGTON, April 25 (UPI) -- Two bicycle makers Thursday recalled 6,500 bicycles because of parts failures that could cause riders to lose control and crash. InSTEP LLC of Mendota Heights, Minn., recalled 4,300 Hitchhiker III trailer bikes, because the universal joint system can fail. Specialized Bicycle Components Inc. of Morgan Hill, Calif., recalled 2,200 bicycles, because the tube that connects the rear axle to the rear shock can break. InSTEP and the Consumer Product Safety Commission said 10 incidents have been reported, resulting in three injuries, including contusions and abrasions.
Stocks post slight gains
NEW YORK, April 25 (UPI) -- Lackluster earnings and a surprise $1.9 billion quarter loss by conglomerate Tyco International Inc. suppressed stocks Thursday and shares eked out only marginal gains. The blue-chip Dow Jones industrial average rose 4.60 points to 10,035.06 on volume of 1.5 billion shares. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index was up 0.37 points to 1,713.71.
Chrysler turnaround shows profit
DETROIT, April 25 (UPI) -- Chrysler Group returned to profitability in the first quarter, earning an operating profit of $111 million in the first six months of 2002 to end six straight quarters of losses, DaimlerChrysler AG reported Thursday. Chrysler's revenues rose 17 percent to $13.9 billion enough to put all of the world's fifth largest automaker in the black with consolidated net income of $2.32 billion, compared to $2.1 billion in the same quarter last year. The U.S. division's operating profit of $111 million excluded restructuring costs. The three-year restructuring plan unveiled last year called for Chrysler to reach breakeven in 2002 and to turn a profit in 2003.
Garcia challenges at Open de Espana
LAS PALMAS, Spain, April 25 (UPI) -- Sergio Garcia returned to the European Tour Thursday and carded a 5-under-par 67 to get within a stroke of the lead after the first round of the Open de Espana. Garcia, the fifth-ranked player in the world from Spain, attracted the biggest gallery at El Cortijo Club de Campo and finished the day a stroke behind co-leaders David Gilford of England and Soren Hansen of Denmark. In action for the first time since he finished eighth at The Masters, Garcia birdied the second and third holes and Nos. 11, 12 and 16 en route to what he called a "very comfortable 67."
