Friday November 3, 2006

The Final Word: “Ipso Facto 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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U.S. Web Archive Is Said to Reveal a Nuclear Guide:

Calls to Mr. Schulte's spokesman yesterday were not returned.

Congress Tells Auditor in Iraq to Close Office:

Mr. Bowen himself declined to comment on the controversy surrounding his office, saying only that he was already working with the other inspectors general to develop a transition plan in accordance with the defense authorization act. "We will do what the Congress desires," Mr. Bowen said.

This Election, Modest Tour for President:

"That is our first really local soldier that's been killed in combat," Ms. Angel said.

In Virginia Race, Women May Be the Decider:

But the Webb campaign was claiming momentum, and independent analysts said the race remained too close to call.

China Courts Africa, Angling for Strategic Gains:

"China is trying a different approach," he added. "It is saying, 'Let us have a chance.' "

Infant-Care Rule Cites Immigrants in U.S. Illegally:

California has objected to the new policy. S. Kimberly Belshé, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, said: "By virtue of being born in the United States, a child is a U.S. citizen. What more proof does the federal government need?"

Other News

Ethics Questions Haunting Races of Democrats, Too:

The Tribune poll shows Ms. Topinka may be right. Those surveyed gave Mr. Blagojevich a slight edge when asked who would do a better job of cleaning up corruption and which candidate they found more honest.

New Jersey: Corzine Bets a Lot in Backing a Controversial Senator:

Mr. Corzine was there, but his name did not appear in press advisories for the event, and he seemed satisfied to let the others share the spotlight.

Officials See Qaeda Trials Using New Law in 2007:

The defendants will not meet Colonel Sullivan or his assistant prosecutors until after they have been charged, which might not be until late next year.

Study Sees 'Global Collapse' of Fish Species:

But predicting a global fisheries collapse by 2048 "assumes we do nothing to fix this," he said, "and shame on us if that were to be the case."

Ex-Leader of Computer Associates Gets 12-Year Sentence and Fine:

She added that the company was still seeking to obtain any "ill-gotten gains" from former executives.

Coach Is Charged in Balco Case:

The Balco investigation has led to five convictions — of Balco's founder, Victor Conte Jr.; its former vice president, James Valente; Greg Anderson, Bonds's trainer; Patrick Arnold, a chemist; and Remi Korchemny, a track coach.

Mission: Rescue Operation:

"I'm still reeling," said Ms. Wagner of the day's news. "The ink is not dry on this. If you have a movie, send it our way. We are still figuring this all out."

International

Weeks Past Coup, Thais Want to Pick Up Pace of Change:

"I am not sure how far the Office of the Auditor General can investigate suspected corruption cases involving him," General Sonthi said of the manipulations that may have covered Mr. Thaksin's tracks. "They might get nowhere at all."

Under Fire, South Africa Shakes Up Its Strategy Against AIDS:

South Africa's Treatment Action Campaign, an organization of 20,000 mostly H.I.V.-positive AIDS activists, has been by far the most vocal critic of the government's programs. In an interview from Cape Town on Thursday, the group's general secretary, Sipho Mthathi, said there was now "a growing enthusiasm, across the board, around the possibility of what we can do as a country in a united fashion" to combat the pandemic.

Israeli Troops Kill 6 Palestinians in Second Straight Day of Fighting in Gaza Farming Town:

Israel has staged repeated raids into northern Gaza over the past five years in an effort to halt the rockets. While the incursions have reduced the rocket fire in some instances, it has never stopped it completely.

Iran Revolutionary Guards Hold War Games After U.S. Exercise:

General Safavi said the games would last 10 days and would take place in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and several Iranian provinces.

Russian Gas Company Plans Steep Price Increase for Georgia:

He also said that Georgia would look for alternative sources — in Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iran — to supply the 1.5 billion to 1.8 billion cubic meters of gas that it needs annually, but that wherever it buys, Georgia clearly will have to pay significantly more than before. Gazprom now supplies the majority of Georgia's natural gas.

Father of Missing U.S. Soldier Says Son Just Made a Mistake in Quest to Find His Calling:

In his tiny living room here, kneading his prayer beads, Mr. Taie said his son is paying a brutal price for the respect he so craved and has, in his family's view, so inarguably earned. "I want to look him in his eye again," the father said, throwing open his hands. "I just don't know how he is surviving."

Pentagon Widens Its Battle to Shape News of Iraq War:

In a sign that the department is having at least some success at bypassing traditional news media, Mr. Whitman said more people every month were downloading podcasts produced by the department about military affairs. Last month, the number of downloads was 219,000, up from 103,000 in April.

General Plays Down Discord Between U.S. and Iraqis:

It said in another statement that Iraqi security forces operating about three miles from the Iranian border had "intercepted six heavily loaded donkeys." The donkeys were hauling 53 Soviet- and Italian-made antitank landmines and one antitank projectile, which the troops confiscated and destroyed. No humans were captured, the statement said, and the donkeys were set free.

National Report

Janitors' Union, Recently Organized, Strikes in Houston:

Chevron issued a statement saying it was not a party to the negotiations and was encouraging the two sides to reach a settlement.

Accused of Gay Liaison, Head of Evangelical Group Resigns:

"It made me angry that here's someone preaching about gay marriage and going behind the scenes having gay sex," Mr. Jones said.

Over 1,600 Arrested in Sex Offender Roundup:

Mr. Marksberry was arrested after a short standoff, Mr. Gonzales said. Several arrests elsewhere produced altercations, including a shootout that led to the killing of a man in Atlanta who was wanted in a drug case, as well as an arrest in northern Florida in which the arresting officers were fired on, officials said. No one was injured in that case.

Man Is Charged With Murder in Wildfire:

Jean Wade Evans, supervisor of the San Bernardino National Forest, where the firefighters worked, said in a statement that the Forest Service continued to grieve but that "this arrest helps with some of the closure, the healing, we need in the Forest Service community and in the families."

3 Found Dead in South Carolina; Man Is Arrested:

Rodrena Patrick, 20, a neighbor who identified herself as a close friend of Ms. Yarborough, said Mr. Gamble was Ms. Yarborough's ex-boyfriend and the father of her baby. Ms. Patrick said Mr. Gamble had been living in the apartment until the couple fought about a month ago.

F.A.A. Finds More Errors on Runways:

But the system costs about $18,000 per plane, and the F.A.A. does not require it.

Political Action: Shifting and Shuffling:

Democrats expressed increasing confidence about Jim Webb's chances in Virginia and said that returns from early voting indicated their candidate in Arizona, Jim Pederson, was gaining against Senator Jon Kyl in a race that had not been considered competitive until this week. An official of the Republican Senate campaign committee said Mr. Kyl's seat was secure and asserted confidence that Bob Corker, the Republican former mayor of Chattanooga, would beat Representative Harold E. Ford Jr. in the tough and expensive race for the Tennessee Senate seat.

The Ad Campaign: Mr. Bud Light Guy Inspires:

Anheuser-Busch, brewer of Bud Light, is staying out of it, while taking the opportunity to plug itself. "When you create some of America's best-loved ads, it's not surprising that people like them," said Joe Jedlicka, the company's vice president for legal and state affairs.

Bumper Stickers:

Alabama Democrats have adopted the campaign, holding the Blue Dot Ball as a fund-raiser in September.

Bush Shores Up His Base as Democrats Spot Opening:

But there was some confusion at the White House on Thursday about just which elections were taking place. One spokesman initially told reporters there was no Senate race in Nevada this year, though the incumbent Republican, John Ensign, has a Democratic opponent who should be at least passingly familiar, since he is Jack Carter, the son of former President Jimmy Carter. The White House later acknowledged the mistake.

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Other News

International

National Report

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