Washington, D.C.

Information uncovers plans for more al-Qaida attacks

Some of the al-Qaida operatives whose activities led to a U.S. security warning last month have been captured, while others remain at large, U.S. counterterrorism authorities say.

“We have received a lot of good information from these detainees over the past several weeks and corroborated the fact there were active plans, ongoing, to conduct another attack in the United States,” said William Parrish, a top intelligence official with the Homeland Security Department, during an interview with The Associated Press.

“This attack as they indicated was probably going to be multiple attacks, simultaneous,” he said.

The al-Qaida members include some lieutenants operating in Saudi Arabia. Their leader, Abu Bakr al-Azdi, turned himself in in June; his deputy was killed in a recent shootout with Saudi forces.

“We also know there were also other members involved with this planning that are still loose,” Parrish said.

Washington, D.C.

Lobbyists spend millions against drug imports bill

The pharmaceutical industry’s trade group spent $8.5 million in lobbying this year as it worked against a bill to allow importation of government-approved drugs.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America spent the money lobbying Congress and federal agencies in the first half of this year, the most the group has ever spent in a reporting period, according to federal reports reviewed by The Associated Press. Lobbying totals cover expenses such as salaries and mailings but not campaign contributions.

Despite the group’s effort, the House passed the importation plan in July as part of legislation to provide a Medicare prescription drug benefit. The Senate passed a watered-down version of the importation proposal, and congressional negotiators are trying to reconcile the differences.