Former DeLay aide pleads guilty in fraud probe

WASHINGTON -- The most ominous note struck by a former aide to Rep. Tom DeLay in his agreement to plead guilty Friday was not about what he confessed but what hasn't yet been said in court. Calling his detailed, nine-page account of his crimes a summary, Tony Rudy said, "It does not include all of the facts known to me concerning criminal activity in which I or others engaged." Rudy admitted that he conspired with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and others to corrupt public officials.

Rep. McKinney blames scuffle on Capitol police

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Cynthia McKinney, the Georgia congresswoman who had an altercation with a Capitol Police officer, said Friday the officer started the incident. "Let me be clear. This whole incident was instigated by the inappropriate touching and stopping of me, a female black congresswoman," McKinney said. The incident occurred after she entered a House office building this week unrecognized and did not stop when asked. Several Capitol Police officials have said the officer involved asked McKinney three times to stop. When she did not, he placed a hand on her and she hit him, they said.

Mumps epidemic hits Iowa; 245 cases reported

DES MOINES, Iowa -- A mumps epidemic is sweeping across Iowa in the nation's biggest outbreak in at least 17 years, baffling health officials and worrying parents. As of Thursday, 245 confirmed, probable or suspected cases of mumps had been reported to the Iowa Department of Public Health since mid-January. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is the nation's only outbreak. "We are calling this an epidemic," said Iowa state epidemiologist Dr. Patricia Quinlisk.

Students stage new immigration protests

SAN DIEGO -- Waving Mexican flags and signs saying "We are not criminals," thousands of students protesting tough immigration bills marched in California, Texas, Nevada and other states Friday. Students distributed leaflets explaining a bill approved in the House that calls for a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration. Its prospects for becoming law are uncertain.

Capsizing of ship caught dancers off guard

MANAMA, Bahrain -- Some passengers crowded the dance floor on the upper deck when the cruise boat, the Al-Dana, began a sharp turn and suddenly swayed. The dancers lost their balance and fell overboard as the craft turned over in the inky waters of the Persian Gulf. "I fell to the floor, and then I slid into the sea," said Indian survivor Jaikumar George. George said the pleasure boat wasn't equipped for an emergency. There were no lifejackets, other flotation devices or lifeboats. Of the 126 people aboard, 57 drowned, 67 were rescued and two remain missing.

Palestinian militant killed in car explosion

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- A Palestinian militant with ties to Hamas was killed in a car bomb Friday, unleashing factional unrest that left three others dead and 35 wounded, in the first direct threat to the Islamic group's new government. The militant, Abu Yousef Abu Quka, was a senior commander of the Popular Resistance Committees.

Chirac bows but doesn't surrender to protesters

PARIS -- President Jacques Chirac offered to soften a labor law that makes it easier to fire young workers, but the student and labor leaders who have organized nationwide strikes rejected his compromise on Friday and repeated calls for the measure's repeal. Having brought more than 1 million demonstrators onto French streets this week, they renewed strike-calls for next Tuesday. The contract was among a series of measures drawn up after rioting in depressed suburbs last fall that laid bare the chronic problem of youth unemployment. Nearly one French youth in four is unemployed, the highest rate in Western Europe and more than double the national average.

-- From wire reports