rammed
an explosive-laden boat into the USS Cole off the coast of Yemen in 2000.
The United Nations Security Council has taken its first official step in considering the Palestinians' application for membership. It could be weeks before the issue is brought to a vote in the Security Council, where the United States has already promised to use its veto. From the UN, Barbara Plett reports.
In a session that lasted barely two minutes, the Palestinian application was formally sent to the Security Council's membership committee. Despite American opposition and European unease, no one opposed the move. The committee will hold its first meeting on Friday. But diplomats say it will probably be at least a month before it reports back to the council. During that time, international mediators will redouble efforts to resume peace talks based on a timetable they proposed last week. It's expected that America will also pressure Palestinian allies on the council not to back the move, hoping to avoid the embarrassment of a veto. The Palestinians need majority support to bring their bid to a vote.
Cuba says it's allowing people to sell cars privately for the first time in 50 years. Private property has always been severely restricted in the communist-run island, and until now Cubans could only trade in cars built before the revolution in 1959. The sale of new cars will still be restricted to those holding dollars or
convertible
pesos. But ordinary Cubans will be able to buy post-1959 cars from foreigners and those whose jobs allowed them to import Soviet-made cars.