U.S., Vietnamese trade moves to normalization

WASHINGTON -- U.S.-Vietnamese relations moved to a new level Wednesday with Senate approval of an agreement normalizing trade between the two former enemies.

The Senate's 88-12 vote "represents an important step in the healing process," said the Senate Finance Committee chairman, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., "a step that has been a long time in coming."

The House last month endorsed the measure, which now goes to President Bush. The administration strongly backs the trade agreement that was negotiated by the Clinton White House last year.

Under the agreement, Vietnam would benefit from the same low tariffs the United States sets for its other trading partners. In return, Vietnam is to reduce its tariffs, eliminate nontariff barriers, protect intellectual property rights and open its markets to American service and investment companies.

European Union, Putin talk of better security

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- The European Union promised Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that it would accelerate efforts to bring Russia into the World Trade Organization and boost security cooperation with Moscow to help stamp out international terrorism.

EU and NATO leaders expressed delight with Putin's support for the anti-terror campaign that is emerging in response to last month's attacks on the United States. NATO's chief said Russia and the alliance have turned a corner in their often testy relations.

Putin and EU officials announced their security cooperation would include action to block terrorist finances and exchanges of intelligence on terrorist suspects, movements of chemical, biological and nuclear material, the use of false documents and other terrorist activity.

One dead after van with military recruits crashes

LEXINGTON, N.C. -- A van carrying military recruits ran off a highway and flipped over, killing one man and seriously injuring the driver and another passenger.

The accident occurred Tuesday when the driver of the van attempted to pass a tractor-trailer, state trooper R.T. Simmons said. The van flipped over several times before crashing into a tree.

The van had left Asheboro, N.C., with 12 new Army and Air Force recruits. It was heading to Charlotte, where two more recruits were to be picked up, Simmons said.

Oliver McDougall, 27, was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The driver, Janet Rights, 47, and one of the recruits were airlifted to a hospital in Winston-Salem. Rights was listed in serious condition and the recruit, who name was not released, was in critical condition.

The other 10 passengers were treated for minor injuries and released.

The van belonged to Highland Express, a Raleigh-based shuttle service for the military, Simmons said.

New birth control shows greater effectiveness

WASHINGTON -- The government approved a new type of contraceptive Wednesday, a vaginal ring that a woman wears three weeks a month to prevent pregnancy.

The ring, called Nuvaring, contains medications similar to those found in birth control pills and provides a continuous low dose of hormones to prevent pregnancy, as long as the ring is in place.

The Food and Drug Administration, which approved the ring, said that for every 100 women who use it according to the instructions, one or two would become pregnant each year, a rate similar to other leading contraceptives.

The woman inserts the ring and it stays in place for three weeks. In the fourth week she removes it for her menstrual period.

If the ring slips out of place for more than three hours, however, the woman must use additional birth control until the ring has been reinserted for seven days, giving the medications time to rise to protective levels again.

--From wire reports