National briefs

Alzheimer's study raises warning flag

WASHINGTON - Scientists injected a sticky goo from Alzheimer'svictims into the brains of mice and watched it take over, provocativeresearch that promises to help shed new light on the earliest stagesof the memory-robbing disease.

No one knows if this sticky protein, called beta-amyloid, actuallycauses Alzheimer's, but it is the chief suspect, and the studyreported Thursday adds to the evidence.

The German-led study found a tiny clump of bad beta-amyloidtriggers a buildup that results in Alzheimer's hallmark brain-crusting plaques - by physically pushing nearby healthy proteins intorotten shapes.

"It's a very exciting paper," said Dr. Sam Gandy, a neuroscientistand amyloid expert at Philadelphia's Thomas Jefferson University whoassessed the study on behalf of the Alzheimer's Association.

"This may give us a novel way to try and understand the wayamyloid changes its shape to become toxic, become poisonous," heexplained.

Bush, GOP rebels agree on detainee bill

WASHINGTON - The White House and rebellious Senate Republicansannounced agreement Thursday on rules for the interrogation and trialof suspects in the war on terror.

President Bush urged Congress to put it into law before adjourningfor the midterm elections.

"I'm pleased to say that this agreement preserves the single mostpotent tool we have in protecting America and foiling terroristattacks," the president said, shortly after administration officialsand key lawmakers announced agreement following a week of high-profile intraparty disagreement.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona, one of three GOP lawmakers who toldBush he couldn't have the legislation the way he initially asked forit, said, "The agreement that we've entered into gives the presidentthe tools he needs to continue to fight the war on terror and bringthese evil people to justice."

Details of the agreement were sketchy.

Compiled from wire reports

World briefs

Iran doesnt need bomb, Ahmadinejad insists UNITED NATIONS IranianPresident Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insisted Thursday that Tehran doesntneed atomic weapons and he is at a loss about what more he can do toprove that. Ahmadinejad said his country has not hidden anything andwas working within the framework of the Nuclear Non-ProliferationTreaty. The bottom line is we do not need a bomb, he said at a newsconference on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. The nationsseeking to halt Irans disputed nuclear activities are working out anew deadline for the Islamic republic and have authorized theEuropean Unions foreign policy chief to go anywhere at any time tomeet Tehrans top nuclear negotiator. Despite the possible newaccommodations, diplomats said theyre not willing to wait much longerfor Iran to respond more definitively to their package of incentivesto stop uranium enrichment. Ahmadinejad said he believed negotiationson the issue were on the right track. Pakistan leader alleges U.S.threats WASHINGTON President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan says theUnited States threatened to bomb his country back to the Stone Ageafter the 9/11 attacks if he did not help Americas war on terror.Musharraf says the threat was delivered by Richard Armitage, then thedeputy secretary of state, to Musharrafs intelligence director, thePakistani leader told CBS-TVs 60 Minutes. The intelligence directortold me that [Armitage] said, Be prepared to be bombed. Be preparedto go back to the Stone Age, Musharraf said in the interview to beshown Sunday on the CBS television network. It was insulting,Musharraf said. I think it was a very rude remark, he told reporterSteve Kroft. But, Musharraf said he reacted responsibly. One has tothink and take actions in the interests of the nation and that iswhat I did, he said.

National briefs

Alzheimer's study raises warning flag

WASHINGTON - Scientists injected a sticky goo from Alzheimer'svictims into the brains of mice and watched it take over, provocativeresearch that promises to help shed new light on the earliest stagesof the memory-robbing disease.

No one knows if this sticky protein, called beta-amyloid, actuallycauses Alzheimer's, but it is the chief suspect, and the studyreported Thursday adds to the evidence.

The German-led study found a tiny clump of bad beta-amyloidtriggers a buildup that results in Alzheimer's hallmark brain-crusting plaques - by physically pushing nearby healthy proteins intorotten shapes.

"It's a very exciting paper," said Dr. Sam Gandy, a neuroscientistand amyloid expert at Philadelphia's Thomas Jefferson University whoassessed the study on behalf of the Alzheimer's Association.

"This may give us a novel way to try and understand the wayamyloid changes its shape to become toxic, become poisonous," heexplained.

Bush, GOP rebels agree on detainee bill

WASHINGTON - The White House and rebellious Senate Republicansannounced agreement Thursday on rules for the interrogation and trialof suspects in the war on terror.

President Bush urged Congress to put it into law before adjourningfor the midterm elections.

"I'm pleased to say that this agreement preserves the single mostpotent tool we have in protecting America and foiling terroristattacks," the president said, shortly after administration officialsand key lawmakers announced agreement following a week of high-profile intraparty disagreement.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona, one of three GOP lawmakers who toldBush he couldn't have the legislation the way he initially asked forit, said, "The agreement that we've entered into gives the presidentthe tools he needs to continue to fight the war on terror and bringthese evil people to justice."

Details of the agreement were sketchy.

Compiled from wire reports

World briefs

Iran doesnt need bomb, Ahmadinejad insists UNITED NATIONS IranianPresident Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insisted Thursday that Tehran doesntneed atomic weapons and he is at a loss about what more he can do toprove that. Ahmadinejad said his country has not hidden anything andwas working within the framework of the Nuclear Non-ProliferationTreaty. The bottom line is we do not need a bomb, he said at a newsconference on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. The nationsseeking to halt Irans disputed nuclear activities are working out anew deadline for the Islamic republic and have authorized theEuropean Unions foreign policy chief to go anywhere at any time tomeet Tehrans top nuclear negotiator. Despite the possible newaccommodations, diplomats said theyre not willing to wait much longerfor Iran to respond more definitively to their package of incentivesto stop uranium enrichment. Ahmadinejad said he believed negotiationson the issue were on the right track. Pakistan leader alleges U.S.threats WASHINGTON President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan says theUnited States threatened to bomb his country back to the Stone Ageafter the 9/11 attacks if he did not help Americas war on terror.Musharraf says the threat was delivered by Richard Armitage, then thedeputy secretary of state, to Musharrafs intelligence director, thePakistani leader told CBS-TVs 60 Minutes. The intelligence directortold me that [Armitage] said, Be prepared to be bombed. Be preparedto go back to the Stone Age, Musharraf said in the interview to beshown Sunday on the CBS television network. It was insulting,Musharraf said. I think it was a very rude remark, he told reporterSteve Kroft. But, Musharraf said he reacted responsibly. One has tothink and take actions in the interests of the nation and that iswhat I did, he said.