NEW YORK — A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that Saudi Arabia and four of its princes cannot be held liable in the Sept. 11 attacks even if they were aware that charitable donations to Muslim groups would be funneled to al-Qaida. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the defendants were protected by sovereign immunity and the plaintiffs would need to prove that the princes engaged in intentional actions aimed at U.S. residents. “Even if the four princes were reckless in monitoring how their donations were spent, or could and did foresee that recipients of their donations would attack targets in the United States, that would be insufficient,” the three-judge panel said.
Alabama: Court prayer complaint
An Alabama judge who once wore the Ten Commandments embroidered on his robe has been accused of violating judicial ethics for ordering a group in his courtroom to hold hands and pray. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint with the Judicial Inquiry Commission against Covington County Circuit Judge Ashley McKathan of Andalusia, the executive director of the ACLU of Alabama said. The complaint said McKathan violated ethics rules and the U.S. Constitution by ordering the group to pray.
California: Disney-protest arrests
More than 30 picketers have been arrested outside Disneyland as they protested in a labor dispute between Disney and its hotel workers. The protesters were taken away in handcuffs Thursday after sitting in a busy intersection outside the park, many of them dressed as Disney characters such as Cinderella and Peter Pan. The arrests followed a march by hundreds of maids, cooks and dishwashers from three Disney hotels who are complaining about a contract dispute.
Tennessee: Drag racer enters plea
A professional drag racer whose out-of-control car killed six spectators at a parade pleaded guilty in Selmer Thursday to reduced charges, avoiding jail time and fines. Troy Critchley, 38, an Australian now living in Texas, was sentenced to 18 months probation after pleading guilty to 28 misdemeanor charges of reckless assault in the accident that also injured 22 people. He was originally charged with vehicular homicide and aggravated assault, felony charges that could have sent him to prison and brought thousands of dollars in fines.
New York: Mother dies; baby saved
A pregnant New York City traffic agent has been struck by a van and killed on the job, but doctors have saved her baby. Thirty-three-year-old Donnette Sanz was seven months pregnant when she was run over Thursday afternoon in the Bronx. Doctors at a nearby hospital saved her son by emergency Caesarean section. Police say they’ve arrested the 72-year-old driver who struck her and charges are pending against him. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he hopes as the child grows up he comes to understand that his mother gave her life in service to the city.
Pakistan: Musharraf resignation
Indications grew stronger Thursday that President Pervez Musharraf, whose allegiance has been a linchpin of the U.S. fight against the Taliban and al-Qaida, will be pushed into resignation in the next few days rather than face a humiliating impeachment saga. In recent days, longtime allies of the Pakistani president have fallen by the wayside. Close associates and Western diplomats have signaled that the former general’s camp has entered talks to ensure that if he does step aside, he will be allowed to head into self-imposed exile.
Afghanistan: Blast kills soldiers
An explosion targeting international troops on a foot patrol in southern Afghanistan killed three members of the U.S.-led coalition Thursday, the coalition said. Southern Afghanistan is the center of the Taliban-led insurgency. The last three months have been the deadliest for international troops in Afghanistan since the 2001 U.S. led invasion.
Iraq: Sailors charged with abuse
The Navy says six sailors have been charged with abusing detainees at U.S. detention center in Iraq and they will face court-martials. A statement issued Thursday said two detainees suffered minor abrasions in the alleged assaults and eight others were sealed in a cell that had been sprayed with a riot control agent. The alleged assaults occurred at the Camp Bucca detention center in southern Iraq on May 14 and a formal investigation began four days later.
India: 11 dead, 7 missing in plunge
At least nine schoolchildren and two adults are dead after a speeding school bus plunged into a river in southern India. Police said they rescued 14 children and were searching for seven others believed to be missing after Thursday’s incident. Police said the driver lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a sharp bend on the outskirts of Mangalore, a city nearly 1,185 miles southwest of New Delhi.
From Herald news services
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