■ Israel
Prisoners start hunger strike
Thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails began a hunger strike for better conditions yesterday, but Israel's security minister said he didn't care if they starved to death. The pri-soners want wardens to
stop strip searches, allow more frequent visits from their families, improve sanitary conditions and install public telephones, supporters said. More than 7,500 Palestinians, including 4,000 jailed over violence against Israelis, refused breakfast at four prisons
and declared they would live only on fluids until their demands were met, the Prisons Authority said. Internal Security Minister Tzahi Hanegbi, however, said Israel would not bow to the prisoners' demands.
■ United States
Archdiocese wins a round
Seventeen adults who sued the Philadelphia archdiocese for alleged child sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy waited too long to file suit, a judge ruled. In dis-missing the lawsuits, Judge Arnold New rejected claims that a cover-up by the arch-diocese helped hide the abuse from the victims' families, preventing them from suing within the two-year time limit. The alleged abuse dates from 1957 to 1983. Until 1984, child sexual assault victims had two years to file suit; a 2002 law extended the deadline to an alleged victim's 30th birth-day. The new law is not retroactive. Attorneys for the plaintiffs said they would appeal.
■ United States
Sheriff's motion released
The Santa Barbara, Califor-nia sheriff has asked a judge's permission to release the results of a state probe into allegations that Michael Jackson was "manhandled" by authorities after his arrest for investigation of child molestation. Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville ordered Sheriff Jim Ander-son's request be sealed, according to court docu-ments released on Friday. Yet Anderson's motion was released with significant portions blacked out. It was unclear whether the release was made in error. Ander-
son asked for an investi-gation last year after Jackson claimed he was mistreated while in custody.
■ United States
Woman remembered
Family and friends gathered for a memorial service in Orem, Utah, to remember the woman whom authori-ties believe was slain by her husband while she slept. About 600 people attended the service Saturday for Lori Hacking, including the parents of both the victim and her husband, Mark, who has been charged with her murder. Lori Hacking, 27, has been missing since Mark Hacking, 28, reported his wife missing July 19.
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