Thursday September 21, 2006

The Final Word: “International Swagger/Own Worst Enemy 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.)

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Only 25% in Poll Approve of the Congress:

Robert Allen, a Democrat from Ventura, Calif., said: "We're in a stalemate right now. They're not getting hardly anything done." He added, "It's time to elect a whole new bunch so they can do something."

Suits Say U.S. Impeded Audits for Oil Leases:

Agency officials acknowledged that they have not issued any subpoenas in the last three years. "Enforcement of subpoenas by the courts can take years and be very costly," the agency said in a written response to questions. "We have not found them to be a very effective tool."

Iran’s Leader Relishes 2nd Chance to Make Waves:

And as he left, it was with a jab to his hosts. "At the beginning of the session, you said you were an independent group,'' he said. "But almost everything that I was asked came from a government position.'' Then he smiled, thanked everyone and left the room with a light step.

Japanese Fret That Quality Is in Decline:

"The biggest change may not be that Japan has dropped in quality," said Masaru Kaneko, an economics professor at Keio University in Tokyo, "but that Asia is catching up."

Little Girl, 3 Million Years Old, Offers New Hints on Evolution:

In the journal report, Dr. Alemseged and his team wrote that "the functional interpretation of these features is highly debated, with some arguing that the upper limb features are nonfunctional retentions from a common ancestor only, whereas others proposed that they were preserved because A. afarensis maintained, to some degree, an arboreal component in its locomotor repertoire."

Clanging New York Subways, Screeches Intact, Go Miniature:

"It's a symphony of motion and sound," Mr. Young said. "New York City. What's more American than that?"

Other News

Measures Seek to Restrict Detainees' Access to Courts:

"I'm not sure it can pass on the floor," said Representative Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, who with Representative Bob Inglis of South Carolina joined the Democrats on the committee in voting against the bill. "I think there are a lot of people with concerns."

2 Brothers to Plead No Contest in Rhode Island Nightclub Fire:

She said that many victims and relatives wanted to see the Derderians face trial, especially Michael. "I just wanted to see his face," she said. "I just wanted to see him go through something the way we did with our daughter. After four years he'll be walking free. My daughter is six feet under. I'll never see her face again."

Fed Holds Rate Steady at 5.25%:

"All the wage data show an acceleration to one degree or another yet the policy makers do not acknowledge that in their statement," Mr. Zandi said. "That is suggestive of a more dovish Federal Reserve. The small changes in this latest statement all suggest that the Fed will not be raising interest rates anytime soon. In fact, you can almost make the case that they are trying to drive expectations in the other direction."

Judge Voids Bush Policy on National Forest Roads:

A judge in Wyoming then enjoined the rule nationwide, and the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit did not rule on that appeal until after the Agriculture Department had rescinded the rule and set up the system of state petitions in May 2005. Thereafter, the 10th Circuit said, any ruling would be moot because the roadless rule was no longer in effect.

Blue Jays 3, Yankees 2: A Ninth Consecutive Division Title for Yankees:

"We need to make the postseason a lot longer than it's been for us," Torre said. "Hopefully, this postseason is something special."

When Is Thin Too Thin?:

"There need to be more rules and regulations within the modeling industry," Ms. Jovovich said. "A lot of problems that are very gray areas need to be put in black and white."

International

For 4th Time, Pope Clarifies Islam Remark:

"I think this is just the beginning," he said. "I am sure Benedict XVI has many surprises in store. He is not afraid."

Chile Seeks U.S. Files on 1976 Assassination:

"The Chileans have been remarkable, exemplary, in going forward on Pinochet," E. Lawrence Barcella, the lead prosecutor in the original trial of Mr. Letelier's assassins in 1980, said in a telephone interview from Washington. "In my view, outliving those you kill is not a defense, and I hope nobody stops trying" to build the case against General Pinochet.

South Africa Drops Charge of Corruption for Official:

Wednesday's ruling gives Mr. Zuma precious leeway to pursue his own political aspirations while government prosecutors rebuild their bribery case and fight a court battle over the admissibility of important evidence in the military scandal.

Set to Lead, Japan's Next Premier Reconsiders Postwar Era:

"In his appearance and his way of speaking, he's soft," Mr. Shimomura said. "But in the inside, he's rock solid. He sticks to his principles and won't compromise."

Justice Dept. Amends Remark on Torture Case:

Under Congressional rules, the resolutions must be voted on in five House committees within 14 days, or Mr. Markey will be able to force a vote by the full House, his staff said.

On First Day, New Judge Throws Hussein Out of Court, to Lawyers' Dismay:

The American official said he could not comment on whether Judge Amiri would lose any security protection. But he said it was "highly premature" to suggest that the tribunal's impartiality had been harmed by the removal of the judge.

U.N. Finds Baghdad Toll Far Higher Than Cited:

The American military also reported the deaths of three more soldiers. One was killed Wednesday morning in northeastern Baghdad from small-arms fire, and two died from "noncombat incidents" in Baghdad on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

In Reversal, Germany Will Join Lebanon Force:

"If you compare that with the United States, it's a smaller percentage," said Sascha Lange, an analyst at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. "But we are in a transformation to make it possible to deploy troops outside of Germany, and this is only the beginning."

U.S. Supports Abbas in Bid to Assemble Unity Cabinet:

But Mr. Abrams said the United States had argued that the Hamas leadership was being quite explicit in its anti-Israel stand and its support of terrorist tactics.

Iran Who? Venezuela Takes the Lead in a Battle of Anti-U.S. Sound Bites:

Mr. Ahmadinejad did not offer any Iranian oil to poor United States neighborhoods.

African Union Peacekeepers' Stay in Darfur Is Extended as Accord on U.N. Force Is Awaited:

"We will try to foster better relations between Sudan and its neighbors," Mr. Compaoré added. Mr. Bashir on Tuesday accused Chad and Eritrea of sending fighters into Darfur.

National Report

Deal on Homeless Camps Falls Through in Los Angeles:

Other city officials said it did not help that downtown business leaders this week and an editorial in The Los Angeles Times on Wednesday had roundly panned the agreement as unlikely to reduce homelessness and as putting the city at a legal disadvantage.

More Small Women's Colleges Opening Doors to Men:

Undoubtedly, there is a place for women's colleges. What is missing, she said, is the market for it.

G.O.P. in Senate Narrows Immigration Focus to 700-Mile Fence:

The panel called for federal aid to states to allay the costs of the legalization program, and it called on the White House to name an immigration coordinator and to focus on disrupting terrorists' travel with the same vigor it had brought to tracking terrorists' communications and finances.

Effort to Combat Child Pornography on Internet Would Close Sites:

The initiatives respond to problems identified by the Congressional subcommittee in hearings that began in April with the testimony of Justin Berry, who as a teenager had his own Web cam pornography site featuring images of himself. Mr. Berry laid out the network of companies that were hosts, payment processors and other businesses that have remained the focus of the hearings.

NASA Is Satisfied Shuttle Is Safe to Land:

At an earlier mission status briefing, Steve Stich, the entry flight director, said it was not unusual to see small bits of debris floating from the cargo bay. But he added that this usually occurred during the first day of a flight and not late in a mission. Because this is Atlantis's first flight in four years after a major overhaul, he continued, that might account for more bits of hidden debris working their way free.

F.D.A. Nominee Advances; Hurdles Linger:

"It's hard to do those kinds of reforms without a confirmed commissioner," Mr. Enzi said.

One of 2 Suspects Pleads Guilty in Murder-Robbery of a Reporter:

He added, "We think that he should spend a good long time in prison."

Court Refuses Second Delay; Inmate Dies:

The Supreme Court issued no opinion to accompany its decision on Wednesday and responded only to Mr. Hill's request for a stay, leaving aside his appeal.

White House Presents Plans to Cut Emissions:

In response, Mr. Eule referred to the department's energy-efficiency efforts and its aid to builders of less energy-intensive homes. In addition, he cited a part of the Energy Policy Act providing $1.5 billion for developers of six new nuclear plants if they face costly regulatory delays.

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Other News

International

National Report

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