Nation/world briefs 9/25/04

Space station needs food, oxygen by Christmas

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Oxygen and food will be worrisomely low on the international space station by Christmas, and it's crucial that a Russian supply ship get there by then, a top NASA official said Friday. Complicating matters is the breakdown of the station's primary oxygen generator. The unit has barely worked this month despite intensive repair efforts by the two astronauts on board, and the men have had to tap into backup oxygen supplies.

More SEALs charged in Iraq prisoner abuse

WASHINGTON -- The Navy said Friday it has filed assault and other criminal charges against three more of its elite SEAL commandos in connection with probes of prisoner abuse in Iraq. The three, whose names were not released, are in addition to four SEALs charged Sept. 2 with assault and other alleged offenses in connection with the death of a prisoner last November.

Goss sworn in at White House as new CIA chief

WASHINGTON -- Porter Goss was sworn in Friday to head the CIA and lead an intelligence community that has faced intense criticism for faulty information -- and failing to share good information it did gather -- before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the war in Iraq. Goss, 65, has said his priorities will be improving the agency's network of people able to recruit spies and gain information -- so-called human intelligence versus high-tech information gleaned by satellites.

Three charged in Russia twin plane bombings

MOSCOW -- Prosecutors charged three people Friday in connection with last month's bombings of two Russian airliners, the Interfax news agency reported. The two planes blew up almost simultaneously on the night of Aug. 24, killing 90 people. One of those charged, police Capt. Mikhail Artamonov, arrested earlier this month, was charged with negligence that led to fatalities, Interfax said, quoting prosecutors. Artamonov is accused of releasing the two women suspected of carrying bombs onto the planes without inspecting their belongings.

California approves toughest smog rules

LOS ANGELES -- California air regulators Friday unanimously approved the world's most stringent rules to reduce auto emissions that contribute to global warming -- a move that could affect car and truck buyers from coast to coast. Under the regulations, the auto industry must cut exhaust from cars and light trucks by 25 percent and from larger trucks and sport utility vehicles by 18 percent. The industry will have until 2009 to begin introducing cleaner technology, and will have until 2016 to meet the new exhaust standards.

Malvo to plead guilty to second sniper killing

McLEAN, Va. -- Teenage sniper Lee Boyd Malvo plans to drop all appeals of his conviction and life sentence for one of 10 killings in October 2002, and will admit guilt in a second slaying, his attorney said Friday. A plea hearing is scheduled for Oct. 26 in Spotsylvania County Circuit Court, where Malvo is charged with capital murder in the Oct. 11, 2002, killing of Kenneth Bridges.

Haitian flood death toll rises to 1,160; food sparse

GONAIVES, Haiti -- U.N. troops fired smoke grenades Friday as crowds of Haitian flood victims tried to break into a food distribution site, increasingly desperate over the slow pace of relief after Tropical Storm Jeanne devastated the city. At least 1,160 people were killed in last weekend's storm and crews are continuing to find bodies in the mud and debris. Another 1,250 people remained missing.

-- From wire reports