Europe shivers; Russia, Ukraine bicker over gas
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KIEV, Ukraine : Russian and Ukrainian officials bickered into the night yesterday over a deal on resuming Russian natural gas supplies, squelching hope for an end to a dispute that has left parts of Europe in the cold and dark. European Union representatives started work in Ukraine's capital, Kiev, to monitor the flow of gas, offering an independent assessment that was critical to sealing a bargain. But Russia said it would restart pumping gas to Europe via Ukraine only after a written deal is signed. Russia wants monitors in place to prevent what it described as Ukraine's theft of supplies meant for Europe - a charge that Kiev hotly denies.
High court to review law on minority poll access
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WASHINGTON: The Supreme Court agreed yesterday to consider overturning a key feature of the federal law that ensures access to the polls by minorities. The justices said they will review a lower court ruling upholding a provision of the Voting Rights Act that requires all or parts of 16 states with a history of racial discrimination, most in the South, to get approval before implementing any changes in the way elections are held. In 2006, Congress voted to extend the measure for 25 years. The 1965 law was designed to prevent governments from making it harder for minorities to vote. The high court has upheld earlier extensions of the provision that calls for either the U.S. attorney general or a court to sign off on changes in the conduct of elections.
Five injured in shooting at Chicago high school
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CHICAGO: Authorities said five people were sent to hospitals after a shooting yesterday at a high school on the city's South Side. Chicago Fire Department spokeswoman Eve Rodriguez said that three people were in serious condition and two were in critical condition. She said the five male victims had been in the Paul Laurence Dunbar Vocational Career Academy. The Chicago Tribune reported that the victims had been shot. Police had no comment.
