GM recalls millions of autos, some with seat-belt problem
Washington – General Motors Corp. is recalling more than 2 million vehicles, including nearly 1.5 million sport utility vehicles and pickups that have problems with their seat belts.
The company said Monday that a few minor injuries were associated with the six separate recalls and that owners would be notified of the problems by mail.
Among the vehicles affected are 1.48 million SUVs and pickups from the 2003-05 model years, including the Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab, Suburban, Tahoe and Avalanche; the Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT; the GMC Sierra Crew Cab, Yukon XL and Yukon; and the Hummer H2.
Spokesman Alan Adler said the center safety belt in the second row of the SUVs and pickups, typically used for child seats, was riding high on the occupant’s stomach or abdomen.
Although no injuries have been connected to the problem, Adler said, there could be reduced protection in that portion of the body in the event of a crash.
Bob Lange, GM’s executive director of structure and safety integration, said fixing the seat belts in the SUVs and trucks was “an important precautionary measure.”
Suitcases of bologna nabbed near border
The Homeland Security Department has a major beef with 845 pounds of bologna that a Mexican immigrant tried to smuggle into the country.
Border agents found the pork-based meat in suitcases on a bus stopped at a checkpoint north of Las Cruces, N.M.
Though the U.S. Agriculture Department has approved some Mexican bologna imports, the meat nabbed in New Mexico was not refrigerated and was vulnerable to health risks such as classic swine fever.
A 30-year-old Mexican man claimed that the bologna, which was packaged in more than 80 rolls, was headed for sale at a swap meet or flea market.
Vote counting begins amid demonstrations
Security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades at crowds of angry opposition supporters in Togo’s capital Monday, as vote counting got underway a day after a tense presidential election in the West African nation.
Key electoral rivals meeting in Nigeria in a bid to avert the mounting violence agreed Monday to abide by the outcome of Sunday’s ballot and form a national unity government, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo said.
Togolese ruling-party candidate Faure Gnassingbe and Gilchrist Olympio, the main backer of opposition candidate Bob Akitani, were invited to the talks.
No bail for reputed Afghan drug lord
A reputed Afghan drug lord who authorities say operated with the protection of the Taliban has been captured and faces charges that he tried to smuggle more than $50 million worth of heroin into the United States, authorities said.
Bashir Noorzai, who is on the U.S. list of most-wanted drug kingpins, was ordered held without bail at his initial court appearance in Manhattan. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
2 nations’ EU entry linked to reforms
Bulgaria and Romania signed accession treaties with the European Union on Monday, setting the stage for their entry into the bloc in 2007 if they complete the necessary political and economic reforms on time.
The EU insisted on a clause in the treaties allowing the bloc to delay the entry of either country by a year if needed reforms are not enacted. The unusual provision reflects lingering doubts about the readiness of the two relatively poor Balkan nations, officials said.
Bill would let citizens abroad vote by mail
Mexico’s former ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party announced Monday that it would introduce a bill allowing registered Mexicans living abroad to vote by mail, a measure that officials said could be implemented by next year’s presidential election.
The bill, a modification of a more sweeping proposal approved earlier by the lower House of Congress, will be sent to various committees immediately and could be ready for a vote by the full Senate as early as today, Sen. Silvia Hernandez said at a news conference.
