WASHINGTON – Evidence indicates that Russia, Iran, North Korea and Syria all continue to maintain biological weapons programs, according to the State Department.
In a report released Tuesday, the department said China maintains “some elements” of an offensive biological weapons program. As for Cuba, the study said U.S. government experts were divided as to whether Cuba is trying to develop such capability.
All six countries had been linked previously in varying degrees to biological weapons programs.
The study, mandated by Congress, assesses compliance by foreign countries with arms control, nonproliferation and disarmament agreements. It covers developments over a two-year period ending in December 2004.
U.S. leads worlds in weapons sales
The United States is the largest supplier of weapons to developing nations, delivering more than $9.6 billion in arms to Near East and Asian countries last year. U.S. sales to the developing countries helped boost worldwide weapons sales to the highest level since 2000, a congressional study says. The total worldwide value of all agreements to sell arms last year was close to $37 billion, and nearly 59 percent of the agreements were to sell weapons to developing nations, according to the Congressional Research Service report.
Probe fails to find mad cow source
The government closed its investigation into the nation’s first domestic case of mad cow disease Tuesday, saying it could not pin down how a Texas cow was infected with the brain-wasting ailment. The Texas-born cow tested positive in June.
Liberal coalition denounces Roberts
The Alliance for Justice, a coalition of 71 women’s rights, environmental and other liberal advocacy groups, Tuesday issued a 103-page report attacking John Roberts Jr.’s record and announced formal opposition to his Supreme Court nomination. Five other liberal groups are expected to join the Alliance today: the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the NAACP, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the National Partnership for Women &Families and the National Women’s Law Center.
Minnesota: Life for school shooting
A 17-year-old who gunned down two classmates at a Cold Spring school was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison, with no possibility of parole until he’s well over 50. Jason McLaughlin was convicted of first-degree murder in the September 2003 shooting death of 14-year-old Seth Bartell, and second-degree murder for killing Aaron Rollins, 17.
California: Medical pot concession
The California Highway Patrol has stopped confiscating all medical marijuana during traffic stops, following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June that left intact a state law allowing the drug to bee used for medicinal purposes The Oakland-based Americans for Safe Access sued the patrol and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger earlier this year to have the practice stopped.
Three states sue over forest rules
California, New Mexico and Oregon sued the Bush administration Tuesday over the government’s decision to allow road building, logging and other commercial ventures on more than 90,000 square miles of untouched forests. In the lawsuit, attorneys general for the three states challenged the U.S. Forest Service’s repeal of the Clinton administration’s “roadless rule” that banned development on 58.5 million acres of national forest, mostly in western states.
North Carolina: Lottery legalized
North Carolina is set to become the final state on the East Coast to start a lottery after the lieutenant governor broke a Senate tie Tuesday, when two opponents were absent. Gov. Mike Easley is expected to sign the legislation creating the lottery, a cause he’s championed since his election in 2001, at a ceremony today.
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