European Union considers ban on arsenic-treated wood
The European Union is considering banning arsenic-treated wood in its 15 member countries after concluding that "the risks to human health might be greater than previously thought."

Arafat calls for further talks with Israel
JERUSALEM -- Against a backdrop of ongoing violence, senior Israeli and Palestinian leaders have quietly held top-level talks in recent days, and Yasser Arafat issued a call Saturday for further discussions.

Okla. governor: Racial profiling has role in terror war
PHILADELPHIA -- Some kinds of racial profiling are just what the country needs to track potential terrorists inside American borders and keep out those who have "mischief on their minds," one governor told the country's top terrorism prosecutor Saturday.

Militant group linked to attacks
Asian law enforcement officials investigating an alleged plot by Muslim extremists to blow up Western embassies and U.S. naval vessels in Singapore have uncovered a sophisticated underground group affiliated with the al-Qaida terrorist network in Southeast Asia that aided participants in the Sept. 11 attacks.

General: Detainees not being tortured
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba -- Detainees from the war in Afghanistan are being interrogated in compliance with U.S. laws and are not being drugged or tortured, the general in charge of detention said Saturday.

Heroes' day in the sun
TAMPA -- On the way to Gasparilla, a blue Nissan pulled up beside the yellow school bus. "Hey, are you guys real New York firefighters?"' called a 20-something man, leaning out of the passenger window.

Protests peaceful, U.S. protectionist policies criticized
NEW YORK -- Inside the World Economic Forum, foreign economic leaders criticized the United States on Saturday for protectionist policies they say hurt developing countries. Outside, thousands of protesters demonstrated loudly but peacefully against global capitalism.