Afghanistan

Rival Afghan warlords trade fire again despite truce

A day after rival warlords agreed to a cease-fire, skirmishes broke out between their soldiers Friday, threatening the shaky truce that followed the bloodiest fighting in months in northern Afghanistan.

The skirmishes, coming two days after fighting that reportedly killed more than 60 troops, exposed the fragility of President Hamid Karzai’s U.S.-backed government, which has controlled Afghanistan since an American-led coalition ousted the Taliban regime in late 2001.

Washington, D.C.

Administration eyes changes on endangered animal policy

The Bush administration is proposing far-reaching changes to conservation policies that would allow hunters, circuses and the pet industry to kill, capture and import animals on the brink of extinction in other countries.

Giving Americans access to endangered animals, officials said, would feed the gigantic U.S. demand for live animals, skins, parts and trophies and generate profits that would allow poor nations to pay for conservation of the remaining animals and their habitats.

The latest proposal involves an interpretation of the Endangered Species Act that deviates radically from the course followed by Republican and Democratic administrations since President Nixon signed the act in 1973. The law established broad protection for endangered species, most of which are not native to America, and effectively prohibited trade in them.

Texas

House members walk out, jeopardize redistricting vote

Attempts to approve a new congressional map of Texas were thwarted yet again Friday, but this time both Democrats and Republicans were absent when it came time to vote.

Although the House passed a compromise bill on the redistricting plan earlier in the day, Senate Republicans refused to vote on it until the House passed an unrelated bill.

By the time that government reorganization bill came up for a vote, House Democrats and a few Republicans were missing.

Lacking a quorum to conduct business, Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick ordered that the missing lawmakers return to the Capitol, but the House ultimately adjourned until Sunday afternoon.

Republicans have been trying for six months to pass a new congressional redistricting plan, an issue that sparked three special legislative sessions, two walkouts by Democrats and infighting among Republicans.

Washington, D.C.

Bush energy bill sputters over gas additive dispute

Forty-two senators on Friday urged that product liability protection for makers of the gasoline additive MTBE be kept out of a comprehensive energy bill, although key House Republicans have insisted on the industry protection.

The MTBE waiver issue is one of a handful of disputes that have stalled agreement between the Senate and House over a final energy bill that President Bush has urged lawmakers to complete before Congress adjourns for the year.