Twenty thousand predicted dead in 7.9 earthquake

A 7.9 magnitude earthquake centered in western India which shook portions of four nations last Friday, has already claimed more than 11,000 lives and is expected to claim upwards of 20,000, according to Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes. While visiting the ancient costal city of Bhuj-the hardest hit area, only 20 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake-Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee spoke critically of the relief effort, saying that the "relief work needs to be speeded up." Despite Vajpayee's criticism, "a spate of overnight rescues lifted the hopes of searchers," according to the Associated Press. At least eight people have been pulled alive from rubble after four days trapped under debris by a Swiss rescue team. The team arrived in Bhuj with nearly 10 tons of rescue equipment. One witness described the city as having "nothing between the earth and the sky," according to the Associated Press. With at least 32,000 injured and thousands missing, the 20,000 deaths may be a low estimate, according to experts.

Washington, DC

Ashcroft draws prominent opposition in Senate

John Ashcroft, President George W. Bush's nominee for attorney general, is drawing high levels of opposition in the Senate, but is "all but certain to win confirmation anyhow," according to The New York Times. Senator Patrick Leahy, ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Monday that he would vote against Ashcroft, citing his unyielding stances on controversial issues such as race, abortion and gun control, as well as skepticism about Ashcroft's ability to uphold the oath he would take as attorney general. Leahy's sentiments were echoed by New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, who sees Ashcroft as standing "on the distant shores of American jurisprudence," according to The Times. Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy said he was considering a filibuster against Ashcroft, but Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota said that he, along with other Democrats, would not support that tactic. Senate rules require 60 votes to end a filibuster. Ashcroft has served in the Senate and as governor and attorney general of Missouri.

University of Massachusetts

UMass director takes university to court for discrimination

After five years of fighting minority discrimination in the University of Massachusetts pay system, Nelson Acosta, director of the school's minority affairs office, says he is taking UMass to federal court. Acosta initially filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) alleging that UMass "is using its salary classification system to give better pay to Caucasian employees on campus with similar jobs and many years less experience, by keeping employees of color who service students of color at lower salary classifications," according to the Daily Hampshire Gazette. Last February MCAD ruled that the case had probable cause to proceed with a formal hearing. Acosta said he withdrew the case because it had been lingering for so long in MCAD's files. His attorney believes that UMass would appeal any unfavorable decision by MCAD in civil court anyway. The withdrawal prohibits Acosta from ever reopening the case with MCAD, according to the Gazette.