Nation in brief

2 held in subway bomb plot

NEW YORK - A U.S. citizen and a Pakistani national were arrested in an alleged plot to bomb a subway station in midtown Manhattan and possibly other locations around the city, police said Saturday.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the men were not thought to be connected to al-Qaida or any other international terrorist organization, although he said they expressed hatred for America.

The arrests came two days before the start of the Republican National Convention, which is drawing tens of thousands of visitors to the city.

Though there was no clear tie to the convention, authorities moved to arrest the two men before it began.

The men had been under police surveillance and had discussed placing explosives at the Herald Square subway station and stations at 42nd and 59th streets, Kelly said. The men never obtained explosives, he said.

"It was clear that they had the intention to cause damage, to kill people," Kelly said. "They did not immediately have the means to do it."

He identified the men as Shahawar Matin Siraj, 21, a Pakistani living in Queens, and James El Shafay, 19, a U.S. citizen living on Staten Island.

Kelly said the men visited the Herald Square 34th Street station - one block from the site of the convention - on Aug. 21.

PRESCOTT, Ariz. - Two stunt planes collided Saturday during a practice session in central Arizona, killing both pilots, authorities said.

"They were out practicing stunts, and it looks like one plane clipped the wing of the other plane," said Lt. Steve Francis of the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.

Mike Corradi, 55, and Robert Sweginnis, 65, who both taught at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, were practicing aerobatic maneuvers for an upcoming air show in Prescott, said Gwen Raubolt, a spokeswoman for the four-year school.

Corradi was the chief flight instructor, and Sweginnis was the chair of the aeronautical science department, Raubolt said.

"These were both very experienced pilots with thousands of hours under their belts," she said. "They both loved what they did and loved to share their knowledge with the students."

BANQUET FROZEN CHICKEN BREAST STRIPS: 28-oz. packages labeled "new, Banquet chicken breast strips, breaded chicken breast patties with rib meat, original" with "best if used by" dates of either July 20 or July 27, 2005. The UPC code is 3100010491. Also, 28-oz. packages labeled "made with chicken breast with rib meat, Banquet chicken breast strips, original" with "best if used by" dates of either July 20 or July 21, 2005. The UPC code is 3100010467. All packages bear the code P-107. Cause: ConAgra Foods is recalling 85,600 pounds of its chicken breast strips because they may contain pieces of metal. Injuries/deaths: None. Action: Call company for instructions. Call: toll-free 1-800-414-7500.

DANDEE FOODS CLUB SANDWICHES: About 200 5.15-ounce club sandwiches were sold in convenience stores in Florida and Georgia. The sandwich is sealed in a plastic wedge-shaped container and is marked with a "Sell By" date of Sept. 3. Cause: A lab test found a sandwich had been contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, a potentially deadly bacteria. Injuries/deaths: None. Action: Consumers who have purchased this product are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Call: toll-free 1-800-394-6258.

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