DeLay indicted, quits
AUSTIN, TX — US House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay, the second-ranking House Republican, resigned his post yesterday after being indicted for his part in a Texas campaign-finance conspiracy. The powerful Texan, nicknamed "The Hammer" for his reputation as a tough party enforcer, could face up to two years in prison if convicted. DeLay (photo) denied any wrongdoing and said he was being persecuted because of his political successes by "an unabashed partisan zealot," Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, a Demo-crat, in Austin. "This is one of the weakest, most baseless indictments in American history. It’s a sham and Mr. Earle knows it. It’s a charge that cannot hold up even under the most glancing scrutiny," DeLay said in Washington. "The attacks are what I would expect," Earle said of DeLay’s comments. "I don’t know what else they would say." DeLay was indicted by a Travis County grand jury for criminal conspiracy in a scheme with two alleged co-conspirators, John Colyandro and Jim Ellis, to launder 190,000 dollars in corporate donations through the Republican National Committee for distribution to Republican candidates for the Texas Legislature. Texas law does not permit the use of corporate money in political campaigns. House Speaker Dennis Hastert said Republicans chose Roy Blunt of Missouri to replace DeLay, who was first elected as majority leader in November 2002. The indictment is the latest in a recent spate of ethical questions involving high-ranking Republicans or Bush administration officials. Last week, it was disclosed that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist was under federal investigation for a stock sale.
http://www.buenosairesherald.com/the_world/note.jsp?idContent=210322&hideIntro=true
Argentina ‘acutely’ corrupt, a bit more competitive
Clearly the government must still take on some major challenges, including reducing public debt to more sustainable levels, fighting poverty and income inequalities and acute corruption," said Augusto López Claros, the director of the Forum’s global competitiveness programme.He added that steps should be taken to restore the business community’s confidence and boost the role of the public sector in generating sound policy and intelligent and transparent regulations."The local private sector remains deeply sceptical about the strength of the However, the Forum’s report showed that Argentina had risen slightly in its global competitiveness rankings — from 74 to 72 in the field of " institutional framework," the economist said.
117 world economies. But it lagged in fifth place in Latin America, trailing Chile, Uruguay, Mexico and Brazil.
http://www.buenosairesherald.com/business/note.jsp?idContent=210332&hideIntro=true
Underground still overgrown
As with poverty last week, the latest figures on informal unemployment reflect a positive trend but (just like poverty) they are ultimately disappointing. Just as reducing the percentage of the population below the poverty line from 40.2 to 38.5 seems almost feeble when measured against double-digit economic growth in the second quarter, so a reduction of the informally employed from 48.3 to 47.2 percent seems almost discouraging given that 430,000 jobs have been created thus far this year (around 90 percent of them legal) — especially considering that the informally employed were only a third of the workforce as little as a decade ago.The percentage of those informally employed is the most important of the latest data on the subject but also possibly the least interesting — that the underground economy reaches almost half the workforce has long been widely known. One of the most interesting conclusions from the new data is that the evident reindustrialization of the country (fostered by exchange rate policies favouring import substitution) has not done more to replenish the ranks of organized labour — a disturbing thought indeed for the trade unions in their rivalry with the picket movement for the leadership of the underprivileged. While industry has definitely recovered, it has no chance of regaining its former status as the country’s chief employer from the tertiary sector. Everything works in favour of the services. While technology streamlines industry by mechanizing production, it multiplies the range of services on offer and hence the potential for employment. Even a devaluation specifically designed to favour manufacturing industry has probably done more to create jobs in the labour-intensive tourist sector.Dare we suggest that the dearth of labour law reform could be part of the reason for the failure to make a bigger dent in the ranks of the informally unemployed? The government can be rightly proud of creating 430,000 jobs and even prouder that such a high percentage of this employment is legal but the achievement pales when measured against the almost four million people who are jobless or underemployed (a quarter of the workforce who are evolving from being a cyclically to structurally unemployed underclass). Employers might shy away from hiring people under the table but while policies like double severance persist, they are also going to be discouraged from hiring them at all.
http://www.buenosairesherald.com/editorial/editorial_english.jsp?idContent=210277
Times – Picayune
Nagin forced Compass out
Chief fired after heated confrontation'He had tears in his eyes. He didn't want to go.'By Trymaine D. LeeAnd Walt PhilbinStaff writersAfter announcing his retirement Tuesday, New Orleans Police Superintendent Eddie Compass told several high-ranking officers that he had been forced out by Mayor Ray Nagin, the officers said Wednesday.They said Compass told them the decision came on the heels of a heated confrontation with the mayor. The officers spoke only on condition that they not be named.Reached Wednesday by e-mail, Nagin said that those accounts were "inaccurate." Compass could not be reached for comment. At a hastily called news conference Tuesday with Nagin in attendance, Compass announced that he was retiring. When asked by a reporter whether Compass was being forced out, Nagin said no.
http://www.nola.com/newslogs/tporleans/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_tporleans/archives/2005_09_29.html#083577
City expands re-entry ZIP codes
More ZIP codes will be opened for re-entry for business owners on Thursday, and to residents on Friday, the New Orleans mayor's office announced late Thursday.Mayor Ray Nagin's office announced the expanded ZIP code openings in targeted areas of 70112, 70113, 70114, 70115, 70116, 70118, 70130 and 70131. Those areas include Algiers, the Central Business District, the French Quarter and Uptown.Business owners will be allowed to re-enter Thursday . . . on Friday, residents will be allowed back. The mayor's office offered extended cautions about the lack of basic city services and health hazards, and said that anyone entering would do so at their own risk.
http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breaking/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_localbreakingnews/archives/2005_09.html#083498
City report on zip code status
http://www.nola.com/cityofno/
Tips for cleaning mildew
One Cleaners of Metairie advises on how to salvage fabrics exposed to moldDocument damage- If damage to clothing is extensive, document for insurance purposes before attempting garment recovery.Identify damage- Mildew can range in color from black or gray to orange and red in addition to white. It can look like a powder on the surface of fabric and its appearance often takes on an irregularly shaped stain or small splatter-like spots.- Mildew damage can occur when clothing is exposed to any combination of the following: high temperatures, moisture, unsanitary soils or water, a dark environment absent of sunlight with little or no air circulation.How to prevent mildew in the future- Keep garments clean and dry. Soil on the surface of clothing may create an environment for mildew to start growing. - Expose garments to circulating air and sun, being careful of sun fading. It can be helpful to open all closet doors when traveling. Keep the air as cool as possible.- Do not overcrowd closets.- Maximize the amount of sun that strikes the roof of the house by keeping trees trimmed.- Check that sprinklers are not hitting the side of your house.- Keep shrubs trimmed at least 12 inches from the exterior wall to increase
http://www.nola.com/newslogs/hurricanehelp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_hurricanehelpcenter/archives/2005_09.html#083341
The Guardian
I don’t consider it insensitive. The people of New Orleans died because of government neglect at all levels including the EPA and it’s refusal to deal with Global Warming and Climate Change. If the deaths of these people need definition then let it start with that.
Prescott links global warming to Katrina
Juliette Jowit and Ned TemkoSunday September 11, 2005
The Observer
John Prescott sparked controversy yesterday by linking America's refusal to tackle climate change to the devastation of the New Orleans hurricane.
The Deputy Prime Minister caused potential embarrassment for Britain by drawing a parallel between the US city destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and island states that scientists believe are under threat of being swamped.
In a speech in Berlin, he also criticised the US for failing to sign the Kyoto protocol on climate change, which is aimed at slowing global warming by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.
A debate has raged in the US over whether global warming is responsible for the recent series of storms. So far this year there have been 15 named storms, significantly more than average.
President George Bush says he does not believe that human activity causes global warming, but some experts say excessive carbon emissions lead to higher sea temperatures and stronger storms.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,12374,1567349,00.html
Global companies snub survey on climate change
David Adam, environment correspondent
Thursday September 15, 2005
The Guardian
More than 100 of the world's largest companies have been accused of not facing up to global warming after they snubbed a global survey of corporate attitudes to climate change.
Aerospace company Boeing, computer giant Apple, online retailer Amazon and News Corporation, which publishes the Sun and Times newspapers, are among the organisations that failed to respond to a survey from the Carbon Disclosure Project, which launched a report on its findings yesterday in New York.
Acting on behalf of institutional investors with combined assets of more than £11 trillion, the London-based project asked the heads of the largest 500 companies how big a risk climate change posed to their business and what they were doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Of the 354 firms that responded, 90% said climate change posed commercial risks or opportunities and 63% claimed they were taking steps to cut emissions.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,12374,1570195,00.html
Loss of soil carbon 'will speed global warming'
Tim Radford, science editorThursday September 8, 2005
England's soils have been losing carbon at the rate of four million tonnes a year for the past 25 years - losses which will accelerate global warming and which have already offset all the cuts in Britain's industrial carbon emissions between 1990 and 2002, scientists warn today.
The research dashes hopes that more carbon dioxide emissions might mean more vegetation growth and therefore more carbon removed from the atmosphere.
The unexpected loss of carbon from the soils - consistently, everywhere in England and Wales and therefore probably everywhere in the temperate world - means more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which means even more global warming, and yet more carbon lost from the soil.
"All the consequences of global warming will occur more rapidly. That's the scary thing: the amount of time we have got to do something about it is smaller than we thought," Guy Kirk, of Cranfield University, told the British Association Festival of Science, in Dublin.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,12374,1565049,00.html
How carbon causes global warming
Jenny BirdSunday June 19, 2005
Why do carbon dioxide emissions heat up the planet?
The temperature of the Earth depends on a balance between incoming energy from the Sun and the energy that bounces back into space. Carbon dioxide absorbs heat that would otherwise be lost to space. Some of this energy is re-emitted back to Earth, causing additional heating of the planet.
What are the major sources of carbon dioxide?
Most man-made carbon emissions come from burning fossil fuels for energy. In the UK, the biggest emitters are from transport and the domestic sectors, of which aviation is the fastest growing. Because of their varying chemical constituents, different fossil fuels produce different amounts of carbon dioxide. Coal produces most, then oil, and then gas.
Which country produces most carbon?
The US emits the most: 5,800 million tonnes every year. Next is China, over 3,000; Russia, over 2,000; Japan, 1,200; and India, 1,000 million tonnes. Other major emitters are Germany, 800; Canada, 600m; the UK, 500m; and Italy, 47m.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,12374,1509861,00.html
How high-pressure politics threatens action on climate
American resistance will not be the only obstacle to saving the world when Tony Blair meets the G8 leaders - but they must act or face catastrophe, says Robin McKie
Sunday June 19, 2005
The Observer
David King has a simple aim this summer. The government's chief scientific adviser hopes to persuade the leaders of the world's greatest powers to sign an agreement that global warming is real, man-made and requires global action.
Not much to ask, you might think. After all, the signs are everywhere: earlier and earlier springs, melting glaciers, rising oceans, more and more searing summers and increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Nevertheless, King - who has toured the world over the past two months, promoting the carbon-cutting cause and drumming up support for Tony Blair ahead of next month's G8 meeting - has promised he will celebrate in style when this basic agreement is backed by the world's most powerful men: 'I will crack open the champagne. Absolutely.'
Such an effusive reaction would seem more appropriate
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/focus/story/0,6903,1509761,00.html
The Jerusalem Post
Dispelling rumors, PM reaffirms pledge to road map
By HERB KEINON AND JPOST STAFF
"There is no other plan besides the road map," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on Thursday a day after key officials declared their support for more unilateral steps.
Sharon, who addressed an economic conference in Tel Aviv, said, "This country is plagued by rumors. Yesterday such a rumor began circulating, a rumor which emanated from unfounded comments, as if Israel was examining other plans."
"Israel is not and will not examine any other plan; there is only one plan – the road map. It is the best plan for the future of Israel," Sharon emphasized.
According to the prime minister, "One ambassador after another approached the Prime Minister's Office to determine if the rumor was correct, including a very stern appeal from Washington."
On Wednesday, outgoing OC Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Aharon Ze'evi (Farkash) and Eival Gilady, former head of strategic planning in the IDF,
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1127874076237
Palestinians and Jews clash in Hebron kasba
By JPOST.COM STAFF
Some fifty Jewish settlers from Hebron entered the Kasba in Hebron on Thursday evening.
According to a Hebron District police report, both Palestinians and Jews were hurling stones at the other.
No injuries have been reported, while three people, two of them women, were arrested for unlawful congregation and assault.
Earlier in the day a Palestinian woman suffered moderate to serious wounds after a fight broke out between Jews and Arabs in the Beit Romano neighborhood in Hebron's Jewish quarter.
According to a Zaka report, the woman suffered her wounds after a cinder block was thrown at her; apparently by a Jew.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1127987658567
Germany's Social Democratic leader: talks with Merkel 'fruitful"
By ASSOCIATED PRESSBERLIN
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and conservative challenger
Angela Merkel held talks Wednesday that both sides called helpful - but they did not resolve their dispute over who should be Germany's next leader.
Merkel came out of the meeting at the Reichstag parliament building looking relaxed and describing the talks as "constructive and serious," while Franz Muentefering, head of Schroeder's Social Democratic Party, called the preliminary discussions "fruitful."
Both sides said they focused on policy, but had to leave their most serious dispute - over who should be the next chancellor - for further talks in the coming weeks. The two sides are scheduled to meet again next Wednesday.
Germany's stock market, however, seemed willing to ignore the political stalemate and hit a new high for the year.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1127874075306
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