Thursday August 24, 2006

The Final Word: “Wacky Capitals and Brazen Acronyms Edition”

(The media experiment in which we conjoin the headline and last paragraph of each bylined article in the A-section of today's New York Times.)

Page 1

In New Method for Stem Cells, Viable Embryos:

"It paints the pro-life community into a corner," said Stuart Rothenberg, a nonpartisan analyst of Congressional races. "As a rule, you don't want to oppose scientific advances."

Some in G.O.P. Say Iran Threat Is Played Down:

"It reflects a certain way of looking at the world — that all evil is traceable to the capitals of certain states," said Paul R. Pillar, who until last October oversaw American intelligence assessments about the Middle East. "And that, in my view, is a very incorrect way of interpreting the security challenges we face."

U.S. Says Iranian Nuclear Proposal Is Inadequate: President Bush met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the White House on Wednesday to discuss the issue, aides said. Ms. Rice also spoke by telephone with the European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana

Gaza Captors of 2 Newsmen Pressure U.S.:

Israel is demanding the soldier's unconditional release, while the Palestinians seek an exchange for prisoners held in Israeli jails. Egypt has served as a mediator, but the talks appear to have stalled.

Africa Adds to Miserable Ranks of Child Workers:

"If I feel pity for them," she said, "what are they going to eat?"

Storm's Escape Routes: One Forced, One Chosen:

"I've had nothing but positive feedback, and I've heard nothing but positive things," Mr. Blakes said. "For a lot of people, it's just deliverance from a poverty mind-set. It's been a real liberation where their minds are concerned. They've had the opportunity to see real possibilities."

As Spitzer Flexes, Bloomberg Team Feels the Strain:

In 2000, Mr. Doctoroff offended state officials by neglecting to include Governor Pataki in a news conference with Mayor Giuliani about the city's Olympic bid, even though the plans expected vast sums of money from the state.

Other News

Aftermath: Human Rights Group Accuses Israel of War Crimes:

The Israeli military also said it had fired artillery rounds from the disputed territory of Shabaa Farms to the Lebanese village of Shabaa. There were no reports of casualties.

The Cease-Fire: France to Send More Troops to Lebanon, Minister Says:

"This is an infringement on Lebanese sovereignty and a hostile position," he told Dubai Television, according to The Associated Press.

Governor Finishes Third in Alaska G.O.P. Primary:

"That seems like the link that would be worth exploring," Professor Pierson said, "that people are in a sour mood and they're willing to look beyond the presumption they would usually give incumbents."

Car Insurance Rates Drop in New Jersey:

But, so far, she said, "we couldn't find any data to back up that concern."

New Signs of Cooling in Housing:

Realogy told investors that its earnings for the year would be lower than previously expected. Earlier this week, Toll Brothers, the largest luxury-home builder in the country, also said it would earn less money this year.

Whether on the Court or Off, the Unexpected Is Expected:

"Boy, that guy needs to figure something out sometime soon."

International

Violent Civil Unrest Tightens Hold on a Mexican City:

"No one has won anything here," said Fredy Alcántara, the president of the association. "No one has come out ahead." The federal government must intervene, he said, adding, "We are desperate."

Kuala Lumpur Journal: Once Muslim, Now Christian and Caught in the Courts:

Paul Michael said he and other former Muslims moved from church to church for services to avoid detection. They call themselves "M.M.B.B.," for Malay Muslim Background Believers. "It's a group of Malays who are no longer Muslims," he said.

Court Permits British Investigators to Hold 10 Terror Suspects Longer:

The police have accused conspirators of seeking to smuggle explosives onto airliners bound for the United States. Eight of the 11 people charged this week were accused of conspiracy to murder.

Airplane Terrorism Case Prompts Questions About the Work of Islamic Charities in Britain:

"Before 7/7, Pakistan was not on the radar screen of British security forces," he said. "They have a lot of catching up to do."

Ukraine's Premier Pledges to Stop Taking Gas From Russian Pipes:

Still, in the tangled energy trade between the countries, Ukraine's practice of withdrawing gas intended for Western Europe from Russian pipelines has long been a thorn in the side of Gazprom. It has also been a source of leverage for Ukraine in the pricing talks, now a matter apparently off the table.

Dutch Detain 12 on Flight to India:

A British plane made an emergency landing in southern Italy on Friday after a bomb scare that turned out to be a false alarm. On Aug. 17, American fighter jets were scrambled to accompany an airliner that had left London for Washington but was diverted to Boston after a woman told the crew she was feeling claustrophobic and caused a disturbance.

Lawyers for Hussein Accuse Kurd of Treason:

"Next month we will start to receive control security in the provinces, one by one," he said in a statement thanking the Interior Ministry for providing protection during a recent Shiite pilgrimage in Baghdad. "At the end of the year we will take control of most provinces."

National Report

Evolution Major Vanishes From Approved Federal List:

Dr. Krauss said: "Removing that one major is not going to make the nation stupid, but if this really was removed, specifically removed, then I see it as part of a pattern to put ideology over knowledge. And, especially in the Department of Education, that should be abhorred."

To Outsiders, a Town Seems a Cartel by Any Other Name:

Several business leaders said those in control of Vernon did a good job. "What city doesn't have some corruption?" said Todd Levin, president of Todd's Incorporated, a packager of dried nuts and other snack food. "I'm not saying they're corrupt. I just know I get a great deal here, and they're great to work with."

U.S. Pushing for Release of Flu Data:

One Indonesian cluster now being investigated, in Cikelet village in the Garut district of West Java province, appears to consist of up to 20 suspect cases, according to Indonesian news reports. Only three have been confirmed by laboratory tests. A local health official said Tamiflu antiviral tablets had been given to 2,400 residents of the district as a preventive measure.