Around the world
AMBUSH: Palestinian gunmen hiding in an orange grove ambushed an army jeep today in the Gaza Strip, killing an Israeli lieutenant colonel and wounding two soldiers, Israeli and Arab reports said. Only one other Israeli officer of such senior rank has been killed since the uprising against Israeli occupation began six years ago.
ARRESTS: Pakistan claims it has arrested a "large number" of Indian spies who were waging a sabotage campaign. The charges come as the two archrivals prepare for a new round of talks to discuss the disputed territory of Kashmir and other longstanding disagreements.
REWARD: Fearing a return of the violence that characterized Lebanon's civil war, the government posted a $300,000 reward for information leading to arrests in a car bombing that killed three people and wounded 130. The blast Monday in east Beirut devastated the headquarters of the right-wing Phalange, the nation's largest Christian political party.
Across the nation
RECESS: The twin juries deliberating the fate of Erik and Lyle Menendez in the slayings of their parents broke early for the Christmas weekend. The Los Angeles jury weighing the murder case against Erik listened to a court reporter read back testimony for six hours before interrupting deliberations Thursday.
SUSPECTS: Three alleged gang members were arrested in Pasadena, Calif., in the Halloween slayings of three young trick-or-treaters who police say were innocent victims of a revenge attack. Three boys, 13 and 14 years old, were ambushed with semiautomatic weapons fire and killed as they walked home from a Halloween party.
In Washington
RADIATION: The Energy Department is trying to find out what happened to people who were used for secret radiation experiments, sometimes without their knowledge. The department unveiled a toll-free "human experimentation hot line" Thursday. Anyone who has information about medical or scientific radiation experiments conducted on humans is being urged to call. The number is 1-800-493-2998, and the DOE says the phone will be answered 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.
ROSTENKOWSKI: The investigation of Rep. Dan Rostenkowski over possible misuse of payroll, office accounts and campaign funds has become so wide that it may be weeks or months before prosecutors decide their next step, a published report said Friday. Authorities are contemplating a broad indictment in which they would assert that Rostenkowski's actions added up to a continuing pattern to defraud the government, The Washington Post reported in Friday's editions.
TUBERCULOSIS: A government agency has rejected a plea from the World Health Organization to help fight the global tuberculosis epidemic, despite warnings that a TB resurgence here is fueled by its rampage in developing countries. The U.S. Agency for International Development doesn't have $3 million to spare, says health chief Dr. Ann Van Dusen.