BUSTED: Ex-WorldCom execs cuffed, charged

NEW YORK--Two former WorldCom executives were arrested Thursdayand charged with hiding billions in expenses and lying to investorsand regulators in a desperate bid to keep the company afloat.

Former WorldCom Chief Financial Officer Scott Sullivan, 40, andformer Controller David Myers, 44, surrendered to the FBI in thelatest blow to the now bankrupt telecommunications giant andcorporate America.

It was the second time in two weeks top executives of largecorporations were arrested after their companies filed for bankruptcyprotection amid accounting scandals that have sent investors fleeingthe stock market.

"With each arrest, indictment and prosecution, we send …

Vanguards for change

Vanguards for change

Race Relations

Minister Louis Farrakhan begins a new evoulution as peace maker after a spiritual awakening during a recent life threatning illness

Col. Eugene Scott's extensive military experience in diversity training and in managing the only Black daily newspaper in the country led to his appointment to the Governor's Commission on Hate Crimes and Discrimination

Business

Don Jackson, Central City Productions is building a multimillion dollar televison and film studio in the economically distressed Austin community.

Josette Wright is the new head of the multimillion dollar corporation Ameritech whose committment to inner city …

Analysis: NKorea nuke deal falling apart

A rare foreign policy success for the Bush administration is imploding as North Korea backs away from pledges to abandon nuclear weapons, pretty much as the president's critics on the right had warned.

Distracted by an economic crisis at home and a series of diplomatic setbacks abroad, President Bush and his top aides are watching the collapse of a painstakingly negotiated process that just months ago seemed on track to produce a major international success and perhaps bring a final end to the Korean War before they leave office.

With time running out on the administration and questions about the health of dictator Kim Jong Il, North Korea has stopped …

Council accused of overcharging taxis ; Cab firm bosses go to the audit commission

judicial review, should the need arise, while another Pounds20,000 was earmarked to pay for a new licensing software system.

The final Pounds 10,000 has been ring-fenced to pay for"backscanning" historical documents, a memo to the transport companyrevealed. But according to council accounts it was a surplus overand above expenditure during that period.

Mr Smith has described the council's behaviour as a "disgrace"and is demanding the money be returned to the taxi companies.

"I am actually shocked. We have not had answers to the questionsthat we have asked," he said.

"This all came up after the council announced another increase inlicence fees, …

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CIA marks death of spy with rare request

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a rare request, CIA officers are asking people to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of the first American killed in the Afghan war by donating to help the children of other intelligence officers killed.

Since the death in 2001 of CIA officer Mike Spann, 23 stars have been added to the wall at the CIA's headquarters that honors CIA operatives lost. Many were killed in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The clandestine world rarely breaks its silence, especially when it comes to family, but the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation notes about 56 children of those killed in the line of duty will need educational support over the …

Goldman to pay $550M to settle civil fraud charges

Goldman Sachs & Co. has agreed to pay $550 million to settle civil fraud charges that the Wall Street giant misled buyers of mortgage-related investments.

The settlement was announced Thursday by the Securities and Exchange Commission hours after Congress gave final approval to the stiffest restrictions on banks and Wall Street since the Great Depression.

The deal calls for Goldman to pay a $535 million fine and $15 million in restitution of fees it collected. Of the total $550 million, $300 million will go to the government and $250 million goes to compensate two banks that lost money on their investments.

The penalty was the largest against a …