(Continued from page 21)

decades-old Uniform Code of Military Justice.
• Congress repeatedly has challenged the military's lack of resolve in fighting sexual assault in its ranks, an offense considered far more prevalent than the reported cases of 3,192 in 2011, the most recent figure available. Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said that because so few victims report the crime, the real number is closer to 19,000 assaults.
• Hagel acknowledged the problem earlier this month in announcing his proposal to eliminate the discretion of a commanding officer to reverse a court martial ruling, except for minor offenses, and to require a commanding officer to explain in writing any changes that are made.
• The crime of sexual assault in the ranks "is damaging this institution. There are thousands of victims in the department, male and female, whose lives and careers have been upended, and that is unacceptable," the secretary said.
• ___

• SAVAR, Bangladesh (AP) -- A top court in Bangladesh asked the government Tuesday to "immediately" confiscate the property of the owner of a building that collapsed last week.
• A two-judge panel of the High Court also asked the central bank to freeze the assets of the owners of the five garment factories in the building. They said the money should be used to pay the salaries and other benefits of the workers.
• The order came after police produced the building owner, Mohammed Sohel Rana, and the factory owners in court.
• At least 386 people were killed when the illegally constructed 8-story Rana Plaza collapsed on April 24. A total of 3,122 people were employed in the garment factories there.
• Meanwhile, emergency workers hauling large concrete slabs from the collapsed building said said they expect to find many dead bodies when they reach the ground floor, indicating the death toll will be far more than the official 386. One estimate said it could be as high as 1,400.
• ___