USA
A major review of Iraq policy that could result in massive military action is being conducted by the Bush administration and should be complete before next month's Middle East trip by Vice President Cheney, the Los Angeles Times reported. Secretary of State Powell recently said the US might act on its own to bring about a "regime change" in Iraq, which President Bush has called part of an "axis of evil." According to the Times, policymakers also are considering sanctions through the UN, and coercive actions by Iraq's neighbors as well as the international community to increase pressure on Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Finland's Samppa Lajunen won the men's nordic combined skiing gold medal. Another Finn, Jaakko Tallus, won the silver and Felix Gottwald of Austria took bronze. On Saturday, Dutch speedskater Jochem Uytdehaage set a world record in the men's 5,000-meter event. Derek Parra of the US won silver. American Shannon Bahrke also took silver in the women's freestyle moguls, with the gold going to Norway's Kari Traa. (Related story, page 1.)
Embarassed by $750 million in losses racked up by a rogue trader at its US subsidiary, Allied Irish Bank named Eugene Ludwig to head an internal investigation. Ludwig, managing partner of Washington-based Promontory Financial Group and a former comptroller of the US currency, will report in 30 days. Among key questions are how trader John Rusnak could have incurred the vast losses at a unit that earned less than $10 million a year without setting off alarms at the company. The FBI also is investigating the case.
An investment broker suspected of bilking clients out of $300 million is due to appear today before a court in Cleveland after surrendering to the FBI. Frank Gruttadauria, a former manager of the Cleveland office of Lehman Brothers, had been missing since Jan. 11.
Police in Missoula, Mont., were looking for the arsonist who set fire to a lesbian couple's home. A church rally for Carla Grayson and Adrianne Neff drew 700 supporters Saturday. They and another couple received threatening letters after joining a lawsuit over same-sex benefits against the University of Montana, where Grayson is a professor.
New York's Madison Square Garden was preparing for today's opening of the 126th Westminster Kennel Club show, with 2,500 dogs competing for top honors. Above, Selena, a dalmatian, takes a stroll with owner Pam Parsons of Beckley, W. Va.
