Bush order shifts intelligence roles

President Bush's new executive order revising rules for intelligence agencies expands the national intelligence director's powers and may further erode the CIA's autonomy. The order, revised in secret and signed Wednesday, drew criticism from civil liberties groups and lawmakers. House Republicans on the Intelligence Committee walked out of a briefing on the order yesterday to protest what they consider to be White House disrespect for congressional oversight. (AP)

Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska pleaded not guilty in federal court yesterday to charges that he lied about accepting more than $250,000 in gifts. He asked for a trial before he stands for reelection in November. Lawyers for the Senate's longest-serving Republican maintained his innocence at the arraignment. US District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan said Stevens's trial could begin as soon as Sept. 24, depending on other court cases. A hearing will be held on whether Stevens can move his trial to his home state. (AP)

Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York yesterday urged House leaders to advance a bill creating a long-term program to treat Ground Zero workers and residents made sick by toxic debris. Cost estimates range from $8 billion to $13 billion over 10 years. Representative Joe Barton, Republican of Texas, said he was concerned that the bill was too generous and benefited people who just happened to be in the vicinity of the 2001 attacks. (AP)

US military prosecutors finished presenting evidence against Osama bin Laden's driver yesterday in the first trial at the war crimes court at the Guantanamo Bay naval base. The final government witness against defendant Salim Hamdan was a US naval investigator who testified that the Yemeni prisoner admitted swearing an oath of allegiance to the Al Qaeda leader. Defense attorneys, who fought unsuccessfully to keep out that testimony, will now begin presenting their case. (Reuters)