Nation and world in brief Dec. 11

New Mexican wire services |

12/10/2008 -

Workers OK deal to end sit-in

CHICAGO — Workers have approved a $1.75 million agreement, ending a sit-in that lasted six days at a Chicago window and door factory.

U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, a Democrat, says Wednesday that each former Republic Windows & Door employee will get eight weeks' salary, all accrued vacation pay and two months' paid health care. He says it works out to about $7,000 for each worker.

The plant's owners, union leaders and Bank of America forged the agreement Wednesday.

Gutierrez says $1.75 million will go into an escrow account for the workers.

Bank of America spokeswoman Julie Westermann says the company loaned $1.35 million. Gutierrez says JPMorgan Chase & Co. added $400,000.

Workers began their sit-in after the plant gave them three days' notice it was closing.

Pakistan says militant detained

NEW DELHI — Pakistan said Wednesday that it had detained a second suspected plotter of last month's terrorism rampage in Mumbai, India, stepping up its bid to mollify that country and the United States over the alleged involvement of Pakistani militants.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yusaf Raza Gillani told reporters that security forces had taken Zarar Shah, a member of the outlawed Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group, into custody. Shah is reportedly the communications chief for Lashkar-e-Taiba, or "Army of the Pure," and is suspected of having worked out communication methods for the 10 armed gunmen who stormed luxury hotels and other bustling venues in Mumbai in a 2 1/2-day siege in which more than 170 people were killed.

U.S. floats plan to sink pirates

UNITED NATIONS — The United States sought international authorization Wednesday to hunt Somali pirates on land with the cooperation of Somalia's weak U.N.-backed government in one of the Bush administration's last major foreign policy initiatives.

The U.S. circulated a draft United Nations Security Council resolution proposing that all nations and regional groups cooperating with Somalia's government in the fight against piracy and armed robbery "may take all necessary measures ashore in Somalia," including its airspace.

GOP's Jindal denies presidential plans

RICHMOND, Va. — Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said Wednesday that he's not interested in a 2012 Republican presidential bid and will seek a second term as governor in 2011.

Jindal said Americans are weary after the longest, most expensive election cycle in U.S. history.

Scientists link gene to overeating

NEW YORK — Scientists may have figured out one reason some people reach for the french fries instead of an apple. It could be a gene that's been linked to an increased risk of obesity.

A study of children found those with a common variation of the gene tend to overeat high-calorie foods. They ate 100 extra calories per meal, which over the long term can put on weight, said Colin Palmer, who led the study at the University of Dundee in Scotland.

The findings don't mean that everyone with that version of the gene will eat too much and become obese, he said. They just might have a tendency to eat more fattening foods.

Severe storms batter southeast

JACKSON, Miss. — A night of unseasonably warm weather generated torrential rains and tornadoes that damaged two schools and dozens of homes in the South, where snow began to fall in some areas Wednesday after temperatures dropped.

At least one person was injured in south Mississippi when a car on Interstate 59 struck a tree downed by the wave of storms that raked the region starting Tuesday night, authorities said.

At least 39 houses and mobile homes were damaged in Mississippi as well as three businesses.