New in 2 Minutes

From The Associated Press

Phoenix Mars Lander may have found ice

TUCSON — Scientists overseeing the Phoenix Mars Lander say they believe the spacecraft’s thrusters uncovered a large patch of ice on the Martian surface.

The potential discovery announced Saturday was made by looking at an image taken under the lander. The image shows one of the craft’s three legs sitting on course dirt and a large patch of what appears to be ice, apparently uncovered by rockets as the craft descended on May 25.

Although scientists can’t yet be completely certain, the fact that ice is apparently very close to the surface left scientists elated. That’s because the main mission of the mission to Mars’ northern regions is to dig up ice and test it for evidence of organic compounds that are the chemical building blocks of life.

Chief project investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona says it appears the ice is only several inches below the surface and should be easy to reach with the craft’s robotic arm.

Fish and Wildlife to begin review of tiny owl’s status

TUCSON — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has decided to conduct a yearlong status review of the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl in a move that could restore it to threatened or endangered species protection, the agency said.

The action comes in response to a petition from Defenders of Wildlife, the Center for Biological Diversity and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.

The groups contended that new information was not available or within the scope of analysis when Fish and Wildlife delisted the Arizona population of pygmy owls in 2006 after first listing them in 1997.

“Recently published genetic and taxonomic information, together with updated data on the threats to the pygmy owl and its habitat, are substantial,” said Benjamin Tuggle, the wildlife service’s southwest director.

“Our initial examination of the information in the petition has prompted us to initiate an assessment of the entire subspecies.”

Officials say Fla., Mich. delegates will get half-votes

WASHINGTON—Democratic Party officials agreed Saturday to seat Michigan and Florida delegates with half-votes, ruling on a long-running dispute that has threatened the party's chances in November and maintaining Barack Obama's front-runner status as he moves closer to the nomination.

The decision was a blow to Hillary Rodham Clinton as she was on the verge of watching Obama make history as the first black Democratic presidential nominee. It prompted an irate reaction from boisterous Clinton supporters in the audience and her chief delegate counter, Harold Ickes.

Ickes angrily informed the party's Rules Committee that Clinton had instructed him to reserve her right to appeal the matter to the Democrats' credentials committee, which could potentially drag the matter to the party's convention in August.

"There's been a lot of talk about party unity — let's all come together, and put our arms around each other," said Ickes, who is also a member of the Rules Committee that approved the deal. "I submit to you ladies and gentlemen, hijacking four delegates ... is not a good way to start down the path of party unity."

The resolution increased the number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination to 2,118, leaving Obama 66 delegates short but still within striking distance after the three final primaries are held in the next three days. that marked an “extraordinary concession, in order to promote reconciliation with Florida’s voters.

Al-Qaida’s stance on women sparks extremist debate

CAIRO, Egypt — Muslim extremist women are challenging al-Qaida’s refusal to include — or at least acknowledge — women in its ranks, in an emotional debate that gives rare insight into the gender conflicts lurking beneath one of the strictest strains of Islam.

In response to a female questioner, al-Qaida No. 2 leader Ayman Al-Zawahri said in April that the terrorist group does not have women. A woman’s role, he said on the Internet audio recording, is limited to caring for the homes and children of al-Qaida fighters.

His remarks have since prompted an outcry from fundamentalist women, who are fighting or pleading for the right to be terrorists. The statements have also created some confusion, because in fact suicide bombings by women seem to be on the rise, at least within the Iraq branch of al-Qaida.

A’eeda Dahsheh is a Palestinian mother of four in Lebanon who said she supports al-Zawahri and has chosen to raise children at home as her form of jihad. However, she said, she also supports any woman who chooses instead to take part in terror attacks.

Another woman signed a more than 2,000-word essay of protest online as Rabeebat al-Silah, Arabic for “Companion of Weapons.”