■ United States
Karr's computer probed
The FBI is comparing information found on computer equipment belonging to the man once suspected in the slaying of former child beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey, to data on a national database of child porn victims, a country attorney said on Monday. The digital files found on John Mark Karr's computer are unrelated to the current child porn possession case against the defendant, but contain pornographic images of teenagers, Deputy Sonoma County Counsel Anne Keck said. The FBI is trying to determine whether child porn victims from the database appear in the photos, she said.
■ United States
Health program launched
Massachusetts began signing up its poorest residents for low-cost health insurance, the first step in the state's goal to be the first in the US to require all citizens to have health insurance. "This is a historic day for us," said Governor Mitt Romney on Monday. "It's real today," he said. Romney signed the state's new health care law in April. This summer, the federal government gave the state its approval for a first-in-the-nation program that will require everyone 18 and older to carry health insurance. The state's universal health insurance program will use a combination of subsidies and penalties to make coverage more affordable and to encourage people to buy it.
■ Venezuela
Minister denies ETA link
The justice minister on Monday denied that the government of President Hugo Chavez is employing members of the Basque separatist group ETA. Jesse Chacon's comments came after opposition candidate Manuel Rosales accused Chavez of flirting with terrorist groups, citing Spain's announcement last week that it was investigating reports that Arturo Cubillas -- an alleged former ETA militant -- has been working at Venezuela's agriculture ministry since October last year. "No member of ETA exists in the government," Chacon said on Monday. The justice minister told reporters that Cubillas has lived in the country since 1989 with his Venezuelan-born wife, who works for the government.
■ United States
Man threatened Bush
An engineer at a nuclear power plant has been charged with sending threatening letters containing a powdery substance to a country club where US President George W. Bush was scheduled to appear yesterday for a Republican campaign event. Michael Braun, 51, appeared in court on Monday on two federal charges of sending threats through the mail. The FBI said he is also a suspect in the distribution of dozens of similar threats shortly after the 2001 terrorist attacks. The charges are connected to two letters prosecutors said Braun mailed to a country club. Bush was scheduled to visit.
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