2 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 19, 2001 NATION/WORLD Cease-fire called in Middle East NEWS IN BRIEF HEADLIES FRO ARUDTH 'OL Israel witkdraws tanks rom areas recentlyseiz edn:.: JERUSALEM (AP) - In steps toward a truce, Israel promised yesterday not to launch strikes on the Palestinians after Yasser Arafat said he ordered his forces to prevent attacks on Israelis and to hold back even from responding to fire. Israel also withdrew dozens of tanks from Palestin- ian areas it has recently seized. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who has been prodding both sides to work out a cease-fire, said he was encouraged by the mutual gestures. "We see some promise," he said. Continued Mideast fighting would disrupt Wash- ington's efforts to bring Arab and Muslim countries into an international anti-terror coalition being formed in response to the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Previous truce deals have collapsed quickly, and there were no assurances that the latest effort would succeed. Hours after the twb sides' announcements, there were exchanges of fire yesterday evening in two locations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, the terror attacks on the United States and U.S. preparations to respond may have forced Israel and the Palestinians to review their positions. A senior Palestinian official, speaking privately, said the Palestinian leadership hoped to start a new chapter with Israel. The U.N. envoy to the Middle East, Terje Roed- Larsen, also said he sensed a shift. WASHINGTON Bush signs $40 billion recovery package President Bush signed into law yesterday a $40 billion package to rebuild after last week's terrorist attacks. He also put his signature to the congressional reso- lution authorizing him to use military force against those responsible. "Our whole nation is unalterably committed to a direct, forceful and compre- hensive response to these terrorist attacks and the scourge of terrorism.directed against the United States," Bush said in a statement. Congress passed the legislation last week with unprecedented speed and near unanimity. Bush also signed legislation expediting benefit payments to injured firefighters and police, or to the survivors of public safety officers killed when hijackers slammed jets into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon one week ago. Hundreds of firefighters and scores of police officers were killed trying to res- cue workers inside Trade Center towers before they collapsed. . Most of the S40 billion will go to recovery and other efforts in New York; Vir- ginia, where the Pentagon is located; and Pennsylvania, where a fourth hijacked plane crashed, reportedly en route to Washington. Bush will be able to spend about half the package with virtually no congressional restriction. WASHINGTON New virus could be worse than 'Code Red' A new virus-like attack struck large companies yesterday, and its rapid spread threatened to slow down the Internet. Attorney General John Ashcroft warned the computer outbreak could become worse than the "Code Red" worm earlier this summer. The malicious software program, known as W32-Nimda, is complex and designed to spread to people who open infected e-mail or visit an infected Web site. The program generated more traffic on the Web, slowing down many users. Security experts said it had already infected tens of thousands of computers, including those at several large companies. Experts monitored the outbreak and tried to figure out how it worked as it created pockets of Internet congestion and forced some companies offline. "There is so much traffic (caused by the worm) that it ... makes you think the Internet is down," explained Alan Paller, director of research at the SANS Insti- tute, a computer security think tank. The Internet as a whole is functioning normally with no widespread slow- downs, according to Internet monitoring firm Keynote Systems. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat speaks in Gaza City surrounded by, from right, E.U Special Middle East envoy Miguel Moratinos, an unidentified Arafat adviser, United Nations Mideast envoy Terje Roed-Larsen and Palestinian Planning Minister Nabil Shaath yesterday. Arafat announced he is unilaterally enforcing a cease-fire. "I think there's a strong belief on the Palestinian side that power is no longer in the barrel of a gun, that power now is based on diplomatic instruments to be used at the negotiating table," said Roed-Larsen, who keeps in close contact with Arafat. Arafat told foreign diplomats in a meeting at his Gaza office yesterday that he was committed to a truce and had ordered his security forces "to act intensively in securing a cease-fire on all our fronts." Even if his men came under fire, the Palestinian leader said, they were to show "maximum restraint." Later yesterday, Arafat met with Palestinian secu- rity commanders in Gaza to discuss the truce. He briefed West Bank commanders by phone, aides said. Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer ordered a halt to all military strikes against the Pales- tinians. Such strikes in the past have included incur- sions into Palestinian territory and targeted killings of suspected Palestinian militants. "If Arafat really wants to calm the area, we want to help, to give Arafat a chance," said Defense Ministry spokesman Yarden Vatikay, adding that Israel remained skeptical about Arafat's intentions. Boeing to lay off 31,000 ei WASHINGTON (AP) - Boeing is planning to lay off 20 to 30 percent of its commercial airline work force - roughly 31,000 people - as a result of the terrorists attacks, a congressional source said yesterday. The aircraft maker will make an announcement today, said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymi- ty. The company would not be announc- ing specific locations for the layoffs, but was telling lawmakers they are expected to be implemented by early 2002. A Boeing spokesman would not com- ment last night. Roughly 93,000 people work for Boe- ing's commercial airline sector, much of which is centered around the company's former headquarters in Seattle. The White House and Congress are considering a federal aid package for the airline industry to help them recover from last week's attacks. The industry has asked for $24 bil- lion. The House floated a S15 billion relief plan last Friday that could include n1Ploy ees S2.5 billion in immediate grants anc S 12.5 billion in loans and credits. Though the White House and con- gressional leaders suggested a multibil- lion-dollar package was on the way, they weren't offering a final dollar figure o timetable for debate. The Bush administration could pro- pose an aid package next week, Trans- portation Secretary Norman Mineta said. The House may move forward this week, when it returns from a recess for the Jewish holiday. Boeing's stock has plunged since markets reopened this week. On Mon- day, the first regular day of trading the price fell S7.60. The price was down S2.66, to $33.14, when trading closed yesterday. Major carriers had promised layoffs of at least 26,000 people - a numbe that could grow to 100,000. Many. including American, Continental, Delta. Northwest and United, have also scalec back their schedules by about 20 per- cent. Changes coming for China in WTO BEIJING (AP) - They've had years to prepare, but China's companies, farmers and industrial workers face wrenching changes once they enter the free-market World Trade Organization, letting loose a flood of imports and for- eign competition. Foreign companies were exultant yes- terday after a WTO panel cleared the way for China to join after 15 years of negotiations. Its membership terms require Beijing to ease barriers to imports and foreign investment in Chi- nese firms. China's manufacturers fill store shelves worldwide with appliances, sporting goods and other low-cost prod- ucts. But two-thirds of its 1.26 billion people live in the countryside, where the impact of cheaper farm goods from abroad could be devastating. Millions of people working on ineffi- cient, labor-intensive farms are expected to be thrown out of work. Beijing has kept prices paid for their crops artificial- ly high to shift money to the countryside and reduce unrest over rural poverty. "Even at present prices, farmers in China can hardly survive. I can't imag- ine how far the prices will fall" after WTO entry, said Zhou Jianming, presi- dent of the Henan Jinxiang Wheat Group, a flour processor in the central city of Zhengzhou with 400 employees. After recent subsidy cuts, Zhou said, Chinese wheat prices have plunged to $135 per ton - equal to the current price of Canadian wheat, but an all-time low for China. Food processing companies in the SEOUL, South Korea Korean talks have 'special meaning' President Kim Dae-jung said agree- ments reached yesterday by South and North Korean negotiators had "special meaning" because of the terrorist attacks in the United States. The' first talks between the two Kore- as after six months of suspended con- tacts yielded plans for another reunion of separated family members, many of whom have not seen each other since the 1950-53 Korean War. The deal marked the revival of recon- ciliation efforts that offer the best hope yet for peace after a half-century of con- flict. The fragile process had come to a virtual standstill because of tension between North Korea and the United States. South Korea, where 37,000 American troops are deployed as a deterrent against North Korea, has pledged sup- port for any U.S. plans to retaliate against suspected terrorists. HUNTSVILLETexas Texas executes 13th prisoner this year A paroled robber from Alabama was executed last night for gunning down a pharmacist who refused to surrender drugs during a holdup at his store near- ly 19 years ago. James Roy Knox, 50, was the 13th condemned prisoner to die by injec- tion this year in Texas, where a record 40 inmates were executed last year. Asked if he had a final statement, he replied, "No, I'm ready. I'm ready." Knox nodded and smiled to five friends he selected as witnesses. He was pronounced dead at 6:28 p.m. Knox was condemned for the 1982 shooting death of Joe Sanchez, 39. He was arrested two years after the slay- ing and was tried twice for capital murder after his initial conviction was thrown out on appeal because of an improper jury instruction from a judge. CAMBRIDGE, Ohio Amish man pleads guilty on sex charge An Amish man charged with raping two girls pleaded guilty to sexual bat- tery in a plea bargain that would require him to receive five years of treatment at a center for sex offenders. Norman Byler, 69, of Birmingham initially was charged with I1 counts of rape and gross sexual imposition involving two girls in his extended family. They were 3 and 5 at the time. He had been scheduled to go on trial this week but instead pleaded guilty Monday to lesser charges, five counts of sexual battery. The case marked a rare example of Amish crimes being prosecuted in sec- ular courts, county prosecutor Keith Plummer said. "Part of the difficulty of the case was that the Amish community felt like they should be able to deal with that within their church," Plummer said. - Compiled from Daily wire reports. The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the University of Michigan. Subscriptions for fall term, starting in September, via U.S. mail are $100. Winter term (January through April) is $105. yearlong (September through April) is $180. On-campus subscriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be prepaid. The Michigan Daily is a member of The Associated Press and The Associated Collegiate Press. ADDRESS: The Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1327. PHONE NUMBERS (All area code 734): News 76-DAILY; Arts 763-0379; Sports 647-3336; Opinion 764-0552; circulation 764-0558: Classified advertising 764-0557; Display advertising 764-0554; Billing 764-0550. E-mail letters to the editor to daily.letters@umich.edu. World.Wide Web: www.michigandaily.com. ,i 1RVA',,mr,1 ke...n-t.I..k :rm3.x-A I- r.wiau imL aimrr %xwulirCy %masuviy &ulwg ne vnic1 A NEWS Nick Bunkley, Managing Editor EDITORS: David Enders, Lisa Koivu, Caitlin Nish, Jeremy W. Peters STAFF: David Baybik, Kristen Beaumont, Kay Bhagat, Ted Borden. Anna Clark, Lizzie Ehrle, Rachel Green, Lisa Hoffman, Elizabeth Kassab, Shabina Khatri, Louie Meizlish, Jacquelyn Nixon, Shannon Pettypiece, James Restivo, Stephanie Schonholz, Karen Schwartz, Sarah Scott, Maria Sprow, Kelly Trahan, Kara Wenzel CALENDAR: Lisa Koivu GRAPHICS Amanda Christianson, Scott Gordon. EDITORIAL Michael Grass, Nicholas Woomer, Editors ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Johanna Hanink, Aubrey Henretty, Manish Raiji, Josh Wickerham STAFF: Howard Chung, Sumon Dantiki, Rachel Fisher. Catherine Groat. Henry Hyatt. Kevin Clune. Ar Paul. Jess Piskor. Rahul Saksena. Jim Secreto. Lauren Strayer. CARTOONISTS: Chip Cullen, Thomas Kulgurgis, David Plastrik COLUMNISTS: Peter Cunniffe, David Horn. Rebecca Isenberg. Steve Kyritz, Dustin J. Seibert. Waj Syed. Amer G. Zahr SPORTS Jon Schwartz, Managing Editor SENIOR EDITORS: Raphael Goodstein, Jeff Phillips, Benjamin Singer, Joe Smith NIGHT EDITORS: Arun Gopal, David Horn, Steve Jackson, Seth Klempner, J. Brady McCollough, Naweed Sikora STAFF: Rohit Bhave, Michael Bloom, Chris Burke. Kareem Copeland, Brian Druchniak, Rhonda Gilmer, Richard Haddad. Shawn Kemp, Albert Kim. Courtney Lewis, Adam McQueen, James Mercier, David Mosse, Swapnil Patel, David Roth, Jeb Singer. Allison Topp. Jim Weber ARTS Jennifer Fogel, Managing Editor EDITORS: Robyn Melamed, Lyle Henretty WEEKEND, ETC. EDITORS: Matt Grandstaff, Jane Krull SUB-EDITORS: Lisa Rajt (Books), Andy Taylor-Fabe (Film), Jim Schiff (Fine/Performing Artsf, Luke Smith (Music), Jeff Dickerson (TV/New Media) STAFF: Charity Atchison, Gautam Baksi, Marie Bernard, Ryan Blay, Leslie Boxer, Rob Brode, Autumn Brown, Japiya Burns, Laura Deneau. Kiran Divvela. Melissa Gollob, Joshua Gross, Erik Johnson, Meredith Keller, Jenny Jeltes, Laura LoGerfo, Willhelmina Mauritz. Sheila McClear, Rosemary Metz. Michael Osinski, Shannon O'Sullivan, Ben Oxenburg, Jeremy J. Peters, Darren Ringel, Dustin Seitert, Christian Smith, Rohith Thumati PHOTO Jessica Johnson, Marjorie Marshall, Editors ASSOCIATE EDITORS: David Katz, David Rochkind ARTS EDITOR: Abby Rosenbaum STAFF: Lakeisha Avery, Joyce Lee, Danny Moloshog, Brett Mountain, Brendan O'Donnell, Brandon Sedloff, Alyssa Wood ONLINE Paul Wong, Managing Editor STAFF: Sommy Ko, Mark McKinstry, Vince Sust 14 s r Back School... It's Your Web GoLive*5 and LiveMotioi" together for a discounted price .. ' < Now you can create and manage dynamic, media-rich Web sites BUSINESS STAFF Courtney Morales, Business Manager DISPLAY SALES Micah Winter, Manager ASSOCIATE MANAGER: Carrie Wozniak STAFF: Ayalla Barkai, Jessica Cordero, Brad Davies. Laura Frank. Ellen Gagnet, Jennifer Kaczmarek. Julie Lee. Kristin Nahhat. Leslie Olinek. Glenn Powlas, Amit Rapoor. Natalie Rowe. Anne Sause, Tarah Saxon, Nicole Siegel. Debbie Shapiro, David Soberman CLASSIFIED SALESE Esther Choi, Manager 1 -i