Nation/world digest 04/17/04

Missing soldier shown captive on videotape

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Videotape broadcast Friday showed a U.S. soldier held captive by masked gunmen who said they want to trade him for comrades imprisoned by the U.S.-led occupation. Pfc. Keith Maupin, 20, of Batavia, Ohio, was the first U.S. serviceman and second American confirmed kidnapped in a recent wave of abductions in Iraq. Wearing a floppy desert hat, he sat on the floor and appeared unharmed in the footage aired on the Arab TV station Al-Jazeera. Thomas Hamill, a 43-year-old truck driver from Mississippi, is the only other American known to have been captured.

Bush, British leader unified on Iraq resolve

WASHINGTON -- President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, standing united on two turbulent fronts, endorsed giving the United Nations broad control over Iraq's political future Friday. The two said any retreat from the planned June 30 transfer of power from the U.S.-led occupation authority to Iraqis would be unthinkable -- despite the recent violence. The leaders, hoping to put a more international face on the U.S.- and British-dominated coalition, warmly welcomed a work-in-progress proposal from U.N. Iraq envoy Lakhdar Brahimi on transferring sovereignty. "We're actually trying to work with the U.N. now, because everybody understands the importance of fulfilling that objective," Blair said.

Troops using rock music as weapon in FallujahFALLUJAH, Iraq -- In Fallujah's darkened, empty streets, U.S. troops blast AC/DC's "Hell's Bells" and other rock music full volume from a huge speaker, hoping to grate on the nerves of this Sunni Muslim city's gunmen and give a laugh to Marines along the front line. Unable to advance farther into the city, an Army psychological operations team hopes a mix of heavy metal and insults shouted in Arabic -- including, "You shoot like a goat herder" -- will draw gunmen to step forward and attack. But no luck Thursday night. The psychological operations came as U.S. negotiators were pressing Fallujah representatives to get gunmen in the city to abide by a cease-fire.

California lawmakers OK workers' comp overhaul

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Handing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger one of the biggest victories of his new political career, the state legislature approved an overhaul of California's workers' compensation program, the most expensive in the nation. Schwarzenegger is expected to sign it quickly. The bill aims to save billions of dollars by imposing stricter limits on medical benefits, setting a higher standard of proof for workers claiming to be injured, and requiring employees to use doctors approved by their employers and their insurance companies.

National Rifle Association starting news company

WASHINGTON -- The National Rifle Association is creating a news corporation, starting an Internet talk show and preparing to buy a radio station to speak about candidates and gun rights at election time despite new political ad limits. The 4 million-member gun lobby, looking for the same legal recognition as mainstream news organizations, says it has already hired its first reporter. NRANews.com was to start online broadcasts Friday.

France on 'war footing' against summer heat

PARIS -- As spring arrives in Paris, the warmer weather has raised questions about whether France is ready for another heat wave like last summer's sizzler that killed 15,000 in this country. Retirement homes are trying to equip themselves with fans and air conditioners, but the costs are out of reach for some. In recent days, French media have reported almost daily on subjects such as the summer forecast, a surge in purchases of air conditioners, and heat-wave preparations at retirement homes. "Everybody is on a war footing," said Luc Broussy, who heads Synerpa, an association of private retirement homes. "There will be extreme vigilance."

-- From wire reports