a Houston, Texas-based company which was headed by Vice President Richard Cheney until 2000, when
he joined George W. Bush's election campaign.
■ United States
Amnesty protests trial ban
Amnesty International and two other leading human rights organizations are protesting to the Pentagon about its decision not to
let them attend the planned trials of al-Qaeda suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The US Defense Department refused
to allow them to send representatives, citing a
lack of courtroom space and other logistical problems. Journalists will be able
to attend, as will the International Committee
of the Red Cross. Lesley Warner, a spokeswoman for Amnesty International, said yesterday: "Allowing media coverage while pleading insufficient space for human rights groups smacks of fear of informed criticism, and will only fuel the perception that tribunals will be show trials."
■ United States
Osama tops pay-per-kill list
One in five Americans would pay to watch a televised execution of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden if he were found guilty and sentenced to death, but more than a third say executions should not be televised, a poll released on Monday said. The poll for TRIO cable network by Harris Interactive asked respondents who they would most likely pay to watch executed if executions were shown on pay-per-view
TV. Bin Laden, accused of masterminding the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the US, was named by 21 percent of those polled. Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was named by 11 percent. However,
37 percent of those polled
said they did not think
that executions should be televised.
■ United States
Topless cafe gets the nod
Facing stiff competition from nationwide coffee
shop chains, one Maine businessman wants to offer more than just a regular cup of cappuccino to perk up his customers -- so he's hiring topless waitresses. Normand St Michel submitted an application with the town of Madison, Maine, to open a topless coffee bar named
the Heavenly Angels Coffee Shop. "He has the go-
ahead as far as the town
is concerned," said Robert Dunphy, the town's code enforcement officer, adding that the project does not violate Madison's obscenity ordinance.
■ United States
Couples vie for custody
A judge began hearing evidence to decide whether
a 5-year-old Chinese girl should remain with her US foster family or be returned to her immigrant parents. Shaoqiang He and Qin Luo say they were out of work and unable to care for their daughter when they signed juvenile-court papers in
1999 giving custody of the newborn to the couple. Jerry and Louise Baker have cared for Anna Mae since then and are trying to adopt her.
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