No injuries in dramatic Vegas casino blaze
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- No injuries were reported Friday after a dramatic fire broke out on the roof of the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
The 32-story hotel on the Las Vegas Strip appeared to suffer serious damage to the roof and upper floors. An investigation into the cause of the three-alarm blaze and extent of loss was underway.
The fire broke out on the roof late Friday morning and forced the evacuation of the hotel as a huge crowd gathered to watch smoke and flames billowing from windows and the casino's facade.
Clark County Fire Chief Steven Smith told reporters it took firefighters more than an hour to contain the blaze.
Smith said the flames blackened the exterior of the building, which may have limited interior damage, but made the fire tougher to knock down. "Our firefighters had to hang out of the windows," Smith said. "It wasn't an easy fire at all."
It was not known how long the Monte Carlo would be closed. Guests were beingrebooked at other hotels owned by MGM Mirage.
Las Vegas was the scene of one of the worst hotel fires in the United States when the MGM Grand burned in 1980, killing 84 people and injuring 679.
U.S. willing to send troops to Pakistan
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the United States is willing to help Pakistan fight Islamic militants if such a request is received, it was reported.
"We remain ready, willing and able to assist the Pakistanis and to partner with them to provide additional training, to conduct joint operations, should they desire to do so," Gates said.
Gates said Pakistan had not asked for such assistance but that discussions are being held on ways Washington can help the Pakistan military deal with growing internal threat from groups affiliated with al-Qaida, the Financial Times reported Friday.
He said Pakistan would need to evaluate how U.S. help would be received among the people, the report said.
"And I think we would take very seriously and clearly defer to their judgment about what works for them," Gates said. He added the United States is only considering a small number of troops for any such operation, the report said.
The Washington Post reported the United States has started building coordination centers along the Afghan-Pakistan border to be staffed by officers from the three countries. Maj. Gen. David Rodriguez, the top U.S. commander for eastern Afghanistan, said the countries would share intelligence and conduct combat operations more closely.
Iraqi PM announces Mosul offensive
MOSUL, Iraq, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- The prime minister of Iraq said Friday the country's military is beginning a major offensive in the city of Mosul.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced the offensive after two days of bombings in the northern city resulted in the deaths of nearly 40 people, Alalam Satellite TV reported Friday.
"Today, the troops have moved to Mosul ... and the fight there will be decisive," Maliki said.
Maliki did not specify how many troops are involved in the operation or give further information on the operation.
Bush: Passage of FISA, stimulus paramount
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va., Jan. 25 (UPI) -- The economic stimulus package and intelligence-gathering legislation require Congress' immediate attention, U.S. President George Bush said Friday.
Speaking at the Congress of Tomorrow luncheon at The Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., Bush said he is confident about the long-term strength of the economy.
"We have a flexible, we have a resilient, and we have a dynamic economy," Bush told the GOP audience.
The economic stimulus package -- which includes tax rebates, child tax credits, small-business tax breaks and mortgage assistance -- is the appropriate solution to the sluggish economy, he said.
"It's needed, and you need to pass it as quickly as possible," he said.
Intelligence professionals must have "the tools they need to protect" the United States, he said.
The Protect America Act, which updates a 30-year-old intelligence gathering law but expires Feb.1, "has aided our efforts to monitor the communications of terrorists and foreign intelligence targets."
He said the administration supports a bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee measure because it would "maintain the vital flow of intelligence on terrorist threats" and would provide immunity to telecommunications firms that provide information to the government.
S. Africa power shortage apology offered
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- South Africa's deputy president apologized on behalf of the government for power outages plaguing the country.
Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka told a candlelit awards ceremony in Johannesburg rain-soaked wet coal was limiting power production, forcing the Eskom power company to shed load at frequent intervals.
At the same time, Capetown's Cap Argus reported, Mlambo-Ngcuka conceded that the government had underestimated the nation's economic growth, which has caused electricity demand to outstrip supply in recent years.
Medical marijuana takes a hit
SACRAMENTO, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- The California Supreme Court in a 5-2 ruling said employers can fire workers who are legally prescribed marijuana for illness.
The decision by the state's highest court means that legal protection afforded by California's Compassionate Use Act is not absolute, CNN reported Friday.
The act conflicts with federal anti-drug laws as well as certain state employment regulations.
"Under California law, an employer may require pre-employment drug tests, and take illegal drug use into consideration in making employment decisions," wrote Justice Kathryn Mickle in the decision handed down Thursday.
The case involved the termination of Gary Ross by RagingWire Telecommunications, a Sacramento company. The firm contended it had the right to fire Ross because any marijuana use is illegal under separate U.S. law.
It also said the company's no-tolerance policy must apply to all workers.
Ross received a physician's recommendation to use marijuana in 1999 because of a back injury he sustained while serving in the U.S. Air Force.
