Plane Turns Back
A British Airways flight from London to New York turned back three hours into its trip Wednesday after U.S. officials found that he was a "positive match" with a person on the no-fly list maintained by the U.S. government to keep people viewed as terrorism threats off passenger aircraft.
And United Nations nuclear inspectors are in Iran to assess a military site which the U.S. says may be linked to a secret nuclear weapons program, the BBC reports today.
INVESTIGATIONS
U.K.
U.S. Alert Prompts British Plane to Turn Back
Passenger carrying French passport is questioned in London and released. (Washington Post)
Iran
U.N. Monitors to Inspect Iran Site
U.N. inspectors are assessing a military base in Iran that the U.S. claims may be linked to a nuclear weapons programme. (BBC)
Kuwait
Kuwait Questions Terror Suspects Linked to Shootout
Kuwait said yesterday it was questioning 30 suspects in connection with a deadly shootout between militants and police, as liberals accused the government of promoting terror by supporting Islamists. (AFP)
Germany
22 Jailed in Germany After Raids on Islamic Network
German police arrested 22 people Wednesday during nationwide raids on a network of Islamic extremists that turned up militant propaganda and forged passports, investigators said. (AP)
Pakistan
Pakistan Troops Guard Main Gas Facility
And tribesmen kidnap 10 utility workers, despite Musharraf's threat that 'they won't know what hit them.' (CS Monitor)
U.S.
White House Fought New Curbs on Interrogations, Officials Say
Congressional leaders scrapped a measure that would have imposed new restrictions on interrogations by intelligence officers. (NY Times)
New FBI Software May Be Unusable
A central feature of the agency's $581-million computer overhaul aimed at warding off terrorist attacks is reportedly inadequate. (LA Times)
Pilots to Be Warned of Lasers
31 Beams Pointed at Aircraft in 3 Weeks, FAA Says. (Washington Post)
LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS
Lebanon
Trial of Three Terror Suspects Proceeds
The trial of three suspects believed associated with al Qaeda organization continues at a military court in Lebanon. The suspects, including Saleh Al Jamal, an Australian from Jordanian origin, are accused of planning for attacks in Lebanon and for being involved in the attacks in Syria last year. Al Jamal is also accused of having relations with Abu Musaab Al Zarqawi and the Saudi Abu Abdullah al Harethi. (Asharq Al Awsat)
IRAQ NEWS
Witness: Graner Ordered to Beat Prisoners
A former inmate at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison testified Wednesday that Army Spec. Charles A. Graner Jr., a former guard and the alleged ringleader of the abuse there, was ordered by military intelligence officers to beat and torture inmates. (Washington Post)
Several Die as Car Bombs Rock Mosul
Several civilians and two Iraqi soldiers were killed as twin car bombs rocked Mosul yesterday while US troops detained six men suspected of killing Baghdad's governor. (Arab News)
Iraq Aide Quits Over U.S. Conduct
The Iraqi politician managing interim leader Iyad Allawi's election campaign has resigned from the government in protest at the conduct of U.S. troops. (BBC)
Falluja Insurgents Fought Under Influence of Drugs, Marines Say
Troops note the caches found and rebels' ability to keep going even after being severely wounded. (LA Times)
G.I.'s Arrest 6 in the Killing of Governor of Baghdad
