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Regulators rule ABC
special not too racy for television
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal regulators
have ruled that a racy Victoria’s Secret fashion special aired
last fall did not violate indecency regulations.
ABC, which aired the prime-time show during November sweeps, had
defended the program. The network has said its standards division
carefully went over the show, that camera shots showing more skin
were edited out, and that the hour was clearly identified as being
intended only for mature viewers.
The
show featuring supermodels strutting in underwear attracted more
than 12 million viewers, finishing third in its time slot.
The
Federal Communications Commission informed about 20 concerned viewers
in e-mails sent March 21 that the program did not meet the strict
criteria in the agency’s indecency rule.
Though
perhaps as many as several hundred people expressed their concerns
about the show, only the 20 were counted as formal complaints that
needed a response, FCC spokesman David Fiske said. Groups such as
the National Organization for Women and the Parents Television Council
were among those that publicly criticized ABC for airing the special.
Pakistan
orders students to get visas or leave country
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani
religious schools have sent home hundreds of foreign students this
month under a government order aimed at curbing the number of young
men who might be recruited by al Qaeda, school officials said Wednesday.
The
Jan. 12 order from Pakistan’s military-led government told
students at the religious schools, known as madrassas, to leave
the country if they did not have student visas and other documents
in order by March 23.
About
700,000 Islamic militants, mostly Afghans, are believed to be studying
in Pakistan’s 7,000 to 8,000 madrassas. Thousands of madrassa
students crossed into Afghanistan last year to fight against the
United States and its allies.
The
Interior Ministry said Wednesday that, in general, the madrassas
were cooperating with the government order and that it had no immediate
plans to search schools for lawbreakers.
Ship
makes patriotic return after 6-month mission
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The aircraft
carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, one of the first ships sent abroad
in the U.S. war on terror, docked Wednesday after a six-month mission,
sending crew members streaming ashore into the tearful embraces
of family members.
Rain
and a blustery wind failed to wash out the festive atmosphere at
Norfolk Naval Station’s Pier 14 where thousands hailed the
return of the warship from a 189-day cruise.
“USA!
USA! USA!” the throng chanted as the first carrier to deploy
after Sept. 11 was nudged into the pier by tugboats. Many waved
and wept openly
before the crew left the ship.
Sailors
waiving American flags waved back from the deck of the 1,092-foot
carrier.
The
ship flew the flag of New York City as it pulled alongside the pier.
A banner, fashioned from a bedsheet, proclaimed: “Freedom Endures.”
The
Roosevelt launched 60 to 80 combat flights a day into Afghanistan,
and the ship’s aviators routinely flew 14 hours a day.
British
judge rules against 36 people in hot drink case
LONDON (AP) — McDonald’s customers
should know that coffee and tea are served hot and can burn them
if spilled, a British judge said Wednesday in a ruling against 36
people who claimed they were scalded by drinks bought at the fast
food chain.
High
Court Justice Richard Field said McDonald’s has no obligation
to warn customers about the risk of scalding.
Timothy
Horlock, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, had argued that McDonald’s
served drinks that were too hot, used inadequate cups and did not
warn customers of the risks. At least 16 of the plaintiffs were
under 5 years old when
they were injured, he said.
Field
said that McDonald’s customers would not accept coffee and
other drinks if they were served at temperatures low enough to prevent
scalding. He said the safety of hot drinks sold by McDonald’s
met the general expectations of the public.
Pope
says he feels better, to conduct weekend services
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope John Paul
II climbed some steps with the help of aides at his general audience
Wednesday, indicating he was feeling better after knee troubles
kept him from leading Palm Sunday Mass.
John
Paul, who will be 82 in May and has been increasingly frail, spoke
in a clear voice as he expressed hope that the Easter season “be
a time of peace for the whole world.”
The
next few days of Holy Week will further test his strength.
On
Palm Sunday, John Paul took the exceptional step of ceding his place
at the altar during Mass. He sat in an armchair near the altar on
the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica, letting an Italian cardinal
take his place.
During
the general audience, he greeted pilgrims in seven languages and
kissed three babies held up by their parents as John Paul entered
the auditorium.
John
Paul’s schedule includes Good Friday prayers at the Colosseum,
a Saturday night Easter Vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica
and Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square.
Aftershocks
jolt villages, block relief efforts
NAHRIN, Afghanistan (AP) — Strong
aftershocks jolted mountain villages Wednesday, setting off landslides
that blocked relief convoys trying to reach earthquake survivors
who were burying their dead and searching the rubble for survivors.
The United Nations said the death toll appeared less than first
feared.
The
Wednesday tremors, one aftershock measuring magnitude-5.4, rumbled
through villages at the base of the snowcapped Hindu Kush mountains.
A 6.1 quake Monday devastated Nahrin and many surrounding villages
105 miles north of Kabul.
Interim
Afghan leader Hamid Karzai flew to the stricken region and said
about 1,000 people died. U.N. disaster relief officials said the
final count probably would be somewhat lower.
Reena
Ghelani of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs said an onsite investigation of 42 villages indicated the
death toll was probably under 800. No foreigners were believed among
the dead.
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