OFFICER INJURED WHILE ESCORTING BUSH DIES

Officer injured whileescorting Bush dies
HONOLULU -- A motorcycle officer injured last week while escorting President Bush in the islands died Sunday, police said. Steve Favela, 30, and two other officers crashed their cycles as the presidential motorcade was traveling across Hickam Air Force Base to meet troops for breakfast early Tuesday. The other officers were treated at The Queen's Medical Center and released. Favela, an eight-year veteran of the Honolulu Police Department and father of four, had suffered internal injuries and had been in critical condition at the medical center. Bush said in a statement that he and the first lady were "deeply saddened" by the death, and sent their condolences. "Officer Favela risked his life every day to protect the people of his community," Bush said in the statement. "In this time of great sadness, we give thanks for his life of service."
British official criticizesPutin after spy's death
LONDON -- A British Cabinet minister accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "attacks on individual liberty and on democracy" and said Sunday that relations with Moscow were strained after a former KGB agent was poisoned to death in London. Peter Hain, the government's Northern Ireland Secretary, said Putin's tenure had been clouded by incidents "including an extremely murky murder of the senior Russian journalist" Anna Politkovskaya. They were the strongest comments leveled at Moscow since Alexander Litvinenko died Thursday from poisoning by the radioactive element polonium-210. In a dramatic statement dictated from his hospital bed and read outside the hospital after his death, the Kremlin critic accused the "barbaric and ruthless" Putin of ordering his poisoning.
Teens charged with settingoff bombs inside Wal-Mart
SKOWHEGAN, Maine -- Two teenage boys have been charged with setting off two homemade bombs inside a Wal-Mart filled with holiday shoppers, authorities said. Hundreds of customers were evacuated from the store when the acid bombs detonated Saturday afternoon. At least eight people were treated for irritation to their eyes and throat or ringing in their ears, said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety. The boys, both 15, were taken into custody after photos from the store's security cameras where shown on television newscasts. Investigators said they had identified the boys after showing the photos to teenagers at a McDonald's.
Report: Concert for Dianaplanned by her two sons
LONDON -- Britain's Princes William and Harry plan to stage a concert with performers including Elton John next year to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales, a newspaper reported Sunday. The Sunday Mirror reported that the brothers would arrange the event, scheduled to be held July 1, 2007, at London's renovated Wembley Stadium, which can hold about 90,000 spectators. Proceeds would be donated to British homeless charity Centrepoint and other causes supported by Diana, the newspaper reported. It was expected to be screened live on television. Paddy Harverson, spokesman for Prince Charles, who divorced Diana in 1996, could not immediately confirm the report. "We're considering a number of options on how best to commemorate next year. William and Harry will make a decision in due course," Harverson said. Britain's Mail on Sunday newspaper reported that the princes planned to approach Madonna, Beyonc & eacute; and Kylie Minogue to perform at the event.
Supreme Court to hearcase on global warming
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court hears arguments this week in a case that could determine whether the Bush administration must change course in how it deals with the threat of global warming. A dozen states as well as environmental groups and large cities are trying to convince the court that the Environmental Protection Agency must regulate, as a matter of public health, the amount of carbon dioxide that comes from vehicles. Carbon dioxide is produced when fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas are burned. It is the principal "greenhouse" gas that many scientists believe is flowing into the atmosphere at an unprecedented rate, leading to a warming of the earth and widespread ecological changes. One way to reduce those emissions is to have cleaner-burning cars. The Bush administration intends to argue before the court Wednesday that the EPA lacks the power under the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant. The agency contends that even if it did have such authority, it would have discretion under the law on how to address the problem without imposing emissions controls.
Associated Press