POPE TELLS POLES HE'LL FURTHER JOHN PAUL'S GOALS

Pope tells Poles he'llfurther John Paul's goals
WARSAW, Poland -- Poles gave Pope Benedict XVI a warm greeting Thursday -- if not the rapturous reception reserved for native son Pope John Paul II -- as the German-born pontiff pledged to strive to heal painful wounds from the "tragic tyranny" of the Nazis. Benedict made clear his trip was "no mere sentimental journey" but was intended to keep alive the goals of his friend and mentor, John Paul -- German-Polish reconciliation, strengthening relations with Jews and keeping Poland a beacon of Catholicism in secular Europe. He drew a roar of applause at the airport as he launched into his welcoming speech -- in Polish, later switching to Italian.
Deal to recognize Israel
RAMALLAH, West Bank -- A deal hammered out by Palestinian militants in an Israeli prison yard could provide the way out of a deadlock that has paralyzed the Palestinian government and frozen its relations with Israel and much of the world. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that he will call a national referendum on the prisoners' plan, which would accept the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, if his rivals in the militant Hamas movement do not agree to it within 10 days.
Phone tax drop, refund
WASHINGTON -- Telephone callers will see one tax drop off their bills this summer and can look forward next year to a refund of federal taxes paid on long-distance and bundled services. Beginning July 31, consumers will stop paying a 3 percent federal excise tax on long-distance calls and bundled services. Next year consumers can also obtain a refund of taxes paid since March 2003, with interest, by asking for the money back through their 2006 tax returns. Snow said the Treasury Department expects to send $13 billion back to consumers, but he had no estimate of how much the average individual might receive.
Outage stops trains
NEWARK, N.J. -- A massive power outage on Amtrak's busiest corridor Thursday stranded tens of thousands of passengers for hours in hot, smelly cars -- some in tunnels under the Hudson River -- in the latest of several recent embarrassments for the perpetually money-losing railroad. The cause of the outage, which created widespread disruptions from Washington to Boston, had not been determined by midafternoon Thursday. Power was out for nearly three hours, affecting not only the nation's federally subsidized passenger railroad but also commuter lines in New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Many passengers simply got out of stuck rail cars and walked to the next station.
Documents sealed
WASHINGTON -- President Bush stepped into the Justice Department's constitutional confrontation with Congress on Thursday and ordered that documents seized in an FBI raid on a lawmaker's office be sealed for 45 days. The president directed that no one involved in the investigation have access to the documents taken last weekend from the office of Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., and that they remain in the custody of the Justice Department's solicitor general. Bush's move was described as an attempt to cool off a heated confrontation between his administration and House leaders of both parties, particularly Speaker Dennis Hastert.
Keeping Marines in line
WASHINGTON -- The top Marine general flew to Iraq on Thursday to caution troops on the danger of becoming "indifferent to the loss of a human life," after allegations that Marines in Iraq murdered civilians. "We do not employ force just for the sake of employing force. We use lethal force only when justified, proportional and, most importantly, lawful," Gen. Michael W. Hagee wrote in a statement issued by his office. Aides said it was the basis of remarks he intended to make to Marines in Iraq this week.
Texas in the fast lane
AUSTIN, Texas -- Yeehaw! Texans who brag they do things bigger and better now can go faster too. State transportation officials boosted speed limits on two stretches of rural highway Thursday from 75 mph to 80 -- the nation's highest posted speed limit.
Associated Press
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