Around the world
PEACE SNAG: The Sinn Fein, a legal political party which backs the outlawed Irish Republican Army, signals that peace will have to wait while it seeks clarification on a British-Irish initiative. The IRA, which is fighting British rule in Northern Ireland, has not yet responded to the "framework for peace."TOSHIBA: Japan barred Toshiba Corp. from doing business in 27 nations for a month after the Japanese maker of computer chips admitted today to selling advanced technology to East Germany seven years ago.
CRASH: Two U.S. Marine Corps FA-18 jet fighters collided today and crashed into the Pacific Ocean off Okinawa in southwestern Japan, military officials said. One pilot was rescued, but another was missing. Efforts to find the pilot were suspended Friday night because of darkness.
POLAND: Polish President Lech Walesa said Friday Poland would never resort to obtaining nuclear weapons to protect itself, even if it is denied eventual membership in NATO. During a national radio call-in show, Walesa said the problem of nuclear weapons in neighboring Ukraine must be resolved, but not by a nuclear alliance of Poland and Ukraine against Russia.
Across the nation
SLAYINGS: A geologist locked in a legal dispute with his brother over mining claims pulled a pistol in a conference room in Boise and shot and killed him and another man, then committed suicide. Paul de Renne, 47, of Reno, Nev., opened fire Thursday at a stenographic service, where depositions were scheduled in the lawsuit. Don de Renne, 52, of Bonny Doon, Calif., and Pat Latta, 55, of Soquel, Calif., were killed when each was hit by seven or eight bullets.
TEACHER: A high school teacher in Chelsea, Mich., allegedly shot and killed his superintendent and wounded two colleagues during a grievance meeting, then returned to his classroom and quietly graded papers until police came. "I found him sitting in a chair in the classroom by himself. He said `Hi,' and he was taken into custody," Police Chief Lenard McDougall said.
GAME: Toys `R' Us, the nation's No. 1 chain of toy stores, will no longer sell a video game that challenges players to save scantily clad sorority sisters from a gang of hooded killers wielding a neck-drilling device.
SETTLEMENT: Fleet Finance Inc., a mortgage lending company accused of preying on poor black people, has agreed to set aside $70 million for low-cost home loans and pay $164 to each of more than 18,000 borrowers. The settlement ends a yearlong investigation of the company in Atlanta.