Israel retaliates after militants bomb bus
TEL AVIV, Israel, June 5 (UPI) -- Israel Defense Forces staged an offensive Wednesday afternoon in the Palestinian refugee town of Jenin after militants bombed a crowded Israeli bus during the morning rush hour, leaving at least 18 people dead and 30 wounded. Palestinian security sources and residents of Jenin -- scene of the deadliest fighting during Israel's West Bank operations in April -- told United Press International they spotted two helicopter gunships and several tanks and armored vehicles. Several factories were destroyed, they said, adding that no injuries were reported.
Report: Two WTC attacks linked
NEW YORK, June 5 (UPI) -- A man believed to be a relative of convicted World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Ahmed Yousef is thought to have played a key part in the planning of the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States, U.S. intelligence officials told The New York Times. Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, a Kuwaiti national, is suspected of being a leading figure in the al Qaida network of Osama bin Laden, the Times reported in its Wednesday editions, citing unnamed sources. U.S. officials have said that bin Laden has been the mastermind behind several actions against U.S. interests, including the Sept. 11 hijackings and attacks in which some 3,000 people died. The revelation marks the first solid link between the two attacks on the World Trade Center. In 1993, a truck bomb parked in the garage under the towers exploded.
Lawsuits cite post Sept. 11 discrimination
WASHINGTON, June 5 (UPI) -- Five men who said they were removed from airline flights simply because they are of Arab descent have filed suits against four U.S. airlines, saying that since Sept. 11 some passengers have been victims of discrimination. The suits, filed in three states Tuesday, follow reactions by airlines and passengers following the hijackings of Sept. 11, in which three U.S. jetliners were used purposely flown into buildings in New York and Washington. A fourth jetliner crashed in Pennsylvania, apparently when passengers tried to retake control of the plane. U.S. officials have since said it was to have been crashed into the White House.
India favors joint patrol of border
NEW DELHI, June 5 (UPI) -- India has offered to collaborate with Pakistan to monitor the border in Kashmir to check the infiltration of Islamic militants. Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee proposed a joint patrol of the line of control that divides the Kashmir region. "If Pakistan wants to check infiltration, arrangements can be made for joint patrolling," Star TV news quoted Vajpayee as saying. The Indian premier, who is in Almaty, Kazakhstan, for a 16-nation security conference, has rejected Islamabad's demand for international observers to monitor the border.
Big spender to run for U.S. Senate in N.J.
TRENTON, N.J., June 5 (UPI) -- A successful entrepreneur who spent several millions of dollars of his own money has become the Republican nominee in the effort to unseat U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli, D-N.J. Doug Forrester won about 47 percent of the vote Tuesday in a race against two state senators and will go against Torricelli in November's general election. The New Jersey race was one of the key campaigns this week in which several states had primary elections, setting up contests for the Nov. 5 general election. New Jersey is a key battleground as the Democrats and Republicans struggle for control of the Senate, where the Democrats own a 50-49 edge with one independent determining control of the body.
Stocks inch higher in Tokyo
TOKYO, June 5 (UPI) -- Stocks ended slightly higher on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, supported by some mild bouts of bargain hunting in the technology sector. Stocks also rose in Hong Kong, Taipei, Taiwan, Seoul, South Korea, and in Sydney, Australia. Japan's blue-chip Nikkei Stock Average of 225 selective issues, which fell 248.32 points Tuesday, added 10.80 points to 11,663.87. The broader Topix Index slipped 1.67 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,116.27, weighed down by a fall in banking stocks.
United States 3, Portugal 2
SUWON, South Korea, June 5 (UPI) -- John O'Brien and Brian McBride scored Wednesday as the United States shocked Group D favorite Portugal, 3-2, and recorded its first World Cup victory in eight years. The Americans bounced back after being humiliated in France fours years ago, when they lost their three matches during group play. Almost inconceivably, the United States seized a 3-0 lead after just 36 minutes. The Americans had not scored three goals in a World Cup match since the very first World Cup in 1930, when the Americans did so against Paraguay.
Brazilian star fined for faking injury
SEOUL, South Korea, June 5 (UPI) -- Brazilian soccer star Rivaldo was fined $7,350 by FIFA Wednesday for faking an injury in what turned out to be a successful attempt to have a foul called on an opponent in a World Cup match Monday. Rivaldo escaped being banned from the competition, however, which came as a huge relief to the team and its legions of fans. Near the end of Monday's 2-1 win over Turkey, Rivaldo won a corner kick and as he was waiting to take it, the ball was kicked toward him in a disgusted manner by Turkish defender Hakan Unsal. The ball struck Rivaldo in the legs and he immediately went down in apparent agony, holding his face. After the match, Rivaldo admitted he had not been hurt but had merely been trying to draw a yellow card on Unsal, who had been given another one earlier. The second card brought about Unsal's automatic expulsion from the match.
