Nation briefs 6/4/05

Kentucky diocese to pay $120 million in abuse case

COVINGTON, Ky. -- The Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington agreed Friday to set up a $120 million fund to compensate victims of child-molesting priests and other employees. It would be the nation's biggest settlement in the scandal that has staggered the church. The settlement in the class-action case is subject to court approval. The lawsuit accuses the diocese of a 50-year cover-up of sexual abuse by priests and other workers.

Homeland Security probes show $18 million misspent

WASHINGTON -- Investigations by the Homeland Security Department's internal watchdog yielded the arrests of 146 workers and grant recipients and identified $18.5 million in unsupported costs during a six-month period that began last fall. The semiannual report to Congress, issued by Homeland Security's inspector general, details findings of 325 internal investigations, audits and inspections between October 2004 and March 2005. Of $27.6 million in costs questioned by investigators, $18.5 million were found to be unsupported. Of the 146 arrests, 65 employees, contractors or grant recipients were indicted and 43 convicted.

Reservist death toll in Iraq for May highest of war

WASHINGTON -- May was the deadliest month of the Iraq war for part-time American servicemen. Thirty-one of them died. The overall U.S. death toll in Iraq last month -- counting active-duty as well as mobilized reserve forces -- was 80. That is the highest for any month since January, when 107 died as insurgent attacks rose sharply prior to the Iraqi election. Fifty-two died in April and 36 in March, when it appeared the insurgency was waning.

Several countries found lax on human trafficking

WASHINGTON -- The United States accused 14 nations Friday of failing to do enough to stop the modern-day slave trade in prostitutes, child sex workers and forced laborers. The State Department said the 14 countries could be subject to sanctions if they do not crack down. As many as 800,000 people are bought and sold across national borders annually or lured to other countries with false promises of work, the State Department said. Most are women and children. The other countries listed as poor performers in stopping trafficking are: Bolivia, Cambodia, Cuba, Ecuador, Jamaica, Myanmar, North Korea, Sudan, Togo and Venezuela.

Sporadic insurgent attacks in Iraq kill eight

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- An influential Sunni association called for an end to a weeklong counterinsurgency offensive in Baghdad, saying it overwhemingly targets members of their religious minority and has led to the detention of hundreds of people. Eight people died from insurgent attacks around the country, bringing to at least 830 the number killed since the Shiite-led government took office April 28. In the past 18 months, 12,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed, Interior Minister Bayan Jabr said, citing data from a research center.

Palestinian leader Abbas wants to appoint deputy

JERUSALEM -- After a sudden health scare, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said Friday he planned to name a deputy, raising the touchy issue of succession just five months into his tenure. The announcement by the 70-year-old leader, who has a history of health troubles, appeared to be aimed at grooming an heir. But some speculated Abbas may simply be trying to neutralize his political rivals by creating a symbolic post.

Rumsfeld questions China's military buildup

SINGAPORE -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld issued a blunt challenge to China at a regional security conference Saturday, saying Beijing must provide more political freedom to its citizens and questioning its recent military buildup. Rumsfeld said the Pentagon's annual assessment of China's military capabilities shows China is spending more than its leaders acknowledge, expanding its missile capabilities and developing advanced military technology. China now has the world's third-largest military budget, he said, behind the United States and Russia.