KPMG Is Not Required to Pay Legal Fees, U.S. Contends
Date: 29 April 2006
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Federal prosecutors, in memo filed with Federal District Judge Lewis Kaplan in case against former KPMG executives, argue that policy discouraging companies from paying legal fees for employees under investigation does not violate Constitution; Kaplan plans hearing on whether KPMG bowed to pressure from prosecutors to withhold pay for legal fees for 16 former executives accused of selling improper tax shelters (S)
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News Summary
Date: 30 April 2006
INTERNATIONAL 3-18 Release of Detainees Slowed An effort by the Bush administration to send home many of the terror suspects held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, has been stymied in part because of concern among United States officials that the prisoners might not be treated humanely by their own governments, officials said. 1 Success Varies in Measles Fight Through a national vaccination campaign, Nepal has led the global push to cut the number of children who die from complications of measles. That success is overshadowed by the grievous toll measles continues to take in neighboring India, which has not made the disease a priority. 1 Tacit Concession in Italy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi came close to admitting that he had lost Italy's close national elections, though he did not use the words ''concede'' or ''defeat.'' 8 More Iraqis Flee Violence A new estimate by one of Iraq's vice presidents has put the number of Iraqi families fleeing sectarian violence at 100,000, far outstripping previous projections and raising the possibility that a half-million people could be displaced. 12 Rural Japan's Depopulation Rural communities in Japan, many of which never recovered from the long economic recession, have become increasingly depopulated and, along with their traditions and histories, risk vanishing from one of the world's fastest-aging societies. 18 Rebels Kill 15 Hostages in India Maoist rebels who had kidnapped 48 villagers from a government relief camp in India this week have killed 15 of them in the past day, police officials said. A day after finding two dead hostages, who had been shot, the police found the bodies of 13 others, whose throats had been slit, near where they had been kidnapped in the Dantewada district. 8 NATIONAL 21-30 New Pressure on Journalists The Bush administration is exploring a radical measure to protect information it says is vital to national security: the criminal prosecution of reporters under the espionage laws. Such an approach would signal a radical revision of the informal rules of engagement that have governed the relationship between the press and the government for many decades. 1 Charity Remains Steady After Hurricane Katrina, Congress was so concerned that donations for hurricane relief efforts would cut into other charitable giving that it passed one of the biggest temporary tax breaks in history. But concern about so-called donor fatigue was largely unfounded. 22 Jewish Groups Help in Darfur Over the last two years, Jewish groups, congregations and individuals have taken a lead role in organizing grassroots responses to the killing in Darfur. 21 Report on Conventions The Justice Department's inspector general has found no evidence to support claims that the Federal Bureau of Investigation interrogated political demonstrators before the 2004 Democratic and Republican Conventions to keep them from protesting. 22 Objections to Ports Project Executives from identity verification companies are pushing Congress to rescind a provision that they said could lead to a foreign-owned company's handling personal records for as many as 750,000 port workers. 26 SPORTSSUNDAY Jets Pick Virginia's Ferguson The New York Jets used their first pick in the N.F.L. draft, the fourth over all, to select Virginia offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson. SP1 NEW YORK/REGION 33-37 Cost of Converting to Condos Condominium conversion projects in New York are cutting into the supply of rental apartments and are ushering in a wrenching period of uncertainty for many existing tenants. 33 OBITUARIES 38-39 John Kenneth Galbraith The iconoclastic economist, teacher and diplomat and an unapologetically liberal member of the political and academic establishment, he was 97. 1 Chess 37 Weather 40
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News Summary
Date: 29 April 2006
INTERNATIONAL A3-7 Iran Pursues Nuclear Work; Fight Inside U.N. Is Possible Iran has drastically curtailed cooperation with international inspectors over the past month as it has sped forward with its nuclear fuel enrichment activities, the inspectors said. In pursuing the work, Iran has set up a struggle among United Nations Security Council members about how to respond. A1 Food Aid for Darfur to Be Cut The World Food Program, the United Nations agency responsible for feeding three million people affected by the conflict in Darfur, announced that it would cut in half the amount of food it distributed there because it was short of money. A3 Mexico to Ease Drug Laws Mexican lawmakers passed a sweeping drug law that would crack down on small-time dealers, legalize possession of small quantities of drugs, including heroin and cocaine, and mandate treatment for addicts. A3 U.S. Death Rate in Iraq Rises The military announced the death of an American soldier in Iraq, bringing April's toll so far to 69, the highest in five months, and disrupting a trend of falling American fatalities that had begun in November. A7 The number of insurgent attacks on civilians in Iraq skyrocketed last year, resulting in almost 8,300 deaths and accounting for more than 50 percent of those killed in terrorist attacks worldwide, according to a State Department report. A7 Poland Signs Coalition Deal The governing party in Poland, in what many see as a last-ditch effort to construct a working majority, announced that it had signed a coalition agreement with a populist party that would make one of the country's leading anti-European Union activists the deputy prime minister. A7 For China, Spending in Asia An array of projects that China is developing in Indonesia follow a $7 billion investment spree last year, illustrating the symbiotic relationship between China's need for a variety of raw materials and its Asian neighbors' readiness to provide them, often at enormous environmental cost. A1 NATIONAL A8-9; 12 President Says No To Anthem in Spanish While President Bush has tried to maintain a middle ground in the hot debate over immigration, he signaled that he stands with conservatives on a cultural dividing point: the Spanish version of the national anthem, a new touchstone of the immigrants-rights movement. Mr. Bush said immigrants should learn the English version. A1 Drug Market Domination The Bush administration said that two drug companies have captured nearly half of the vast new market for prescription drug insurance under Medicare, providing a glimpse of a business that has been plagued by start-up problems but could be a profitable and fast-growing venture for insurers. A8 Letter Fuels Families' Ire Two days after receiving a letter from Randal McCloy Jr., the only survivor of the Sago mine disaster, victims' families said they felt a renewed sense of outrage, while relatives of miners said they feared that the hazards persisted. A8 Scandal Imperils G.O.P. Bids Representative Richard W. Pombo, a California Republican who faces re-election this year, is battling intense scrutiny over his relationships with Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay, signaling the wide impact of the lobbying scandal on G.O.P. futures in Congress. A8 Rush Limbaugh Surrenders Rush Limbaugh, the conservative talk-radio host, was charged with prescription drug fraud and turned himself over to Florida authorities as part of a deal to resolve a lengthy inquiry into whether he improperly obtained painkillers. A12 SCIENCE/HEALTH Shuttle to Fly Without All Fixes NASA officials said they will launch the space shuttle Discovery in July without making all modifications to its fuel tank that might reduce foam debris, which has been a priority for the space agency since the shuttle Columbia's destruction in 2003. A9 NEW YORK/REGION B1-5 False Rumors of Raids Send Immigrants Hiding False rumors of random federal immigration raids have sparked panic in immigrant communities around the country, sending thousands of people into hiding. Towns in New Jersey and on Long Island have been among those most affected by the fear, advocates and officials say. B1 Union Leader Leaves Jail Roger Toussaint, the president of the transit workers' union, sounded as defiant as ever after walking out of jail, having served nearly four days of his 10-day sentence for leading an illegal strike. B1 Ground Zero Dust and Illness A doctor overseeing a federal effort to determine the health impact of exposure to ground zero dust said anecdotal evidence suggested that breathing in the smoke and ash that hung over the area after the collapse of the towers could lead to illness. But he said that a rigorous scientific study was required. B3 Beliefs B5 SPORTSSATURDAY D1-7 Texans Have Deal With Top Pick The Houston Texans threw the National Football League draft into tumult by signing defensive end Mario Williams to make him the draft's first overall pick and passing on Heisman Trophy winning running back Reggie Bush. D1 OBITUARIES C10 Steve Howe The relief pitcher whose promising career was derailed by cocaine and alcohol abuse, he was 48. C10 ARTS B7-17 O'Donnell to Join 'The View' With Barbara Walters at her side, Rosie O'Donnell told a live, national television audience that she would return to daytime television this September alongside Ms. Walters as a co-host of ''The View'' on ABC. A13 BUSINESS DAY C1-9 Crude Oil a Financial Asset Crude oil is not merely a physical commodity that fuels the world economy, more and more it has also become a valuable financial asset, bought and sold in electronic exchanges by traders around the world. And they too, have helped push prices higher. A1 Pfizer Promotes Celebrex Despite the increased heart attack risks, Pfizer, the world's largest drug maker, has resumed advertising the painkiller Celebrex. The ad campaign has raised the ire of consumer groups, who say that Celebrex is so dangerous that Pfizer should stop selling it. C1 Law Firm in Spotlight The six-year investigation into whether lawyers at Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman used illegal tactics, took a significant turn after Howard J. Vogel, a retired real estate mortgage broker, agreed to plead guilty and cooperate in the investigation. C1 U.S. Economy Surges Propelled by consumer spending and business investment, the nation's gross domestic product surged by 4.8 percent in the first quarter of the year, fastest rate of growth since 2003. C3 Business Digest C2 EDITORIAL A10-11 Editorials: The sleeping giant; where America leads; still battering the Katrina homeless; Verlyn Klinkenborg on the Morgan Library. Columns: Maureen Dowd, John Tierney. Bridge B8 Crossword B15 TV Listings B17 Weather B18
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News Analysis: Iran and the U.S. in a new cold war
Date: 30 April 2006
By David E. Sanger and Elaine Sciolino
David Sanger
WASHINGTON — Iran and the United States have begun to reveal new strategies in their nuclear dispute that seem bound to escalate their confrontation, as both nations seek to turn to their advantage a highly critical report that portrays a nuclear program proceeding at full tilt, in growing secrecy.
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Voice of (Hispanic) America
Date: 30 April 2006
By Mirta Ojito
Mirta Ojito
Article profiles Maria Elena Salinas, female network anchor for Noticiero Univision, Spanish-language news program; Hispanic immigrants turn to show for news and guidance as they adjust to new lives while staying connected to their old countries; photos (M)
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Colleges Try to Sell Themselves
Date: 30 April 2006
California State Polytechnic University Prof Amanda Podany letter holds that teachers who captivate and inspire their students can be found at many colleges and universities that are not anointed by top position in US News & World Report rankings (Stephen Budiansky April 26 Op-Ed article)
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In Leak Cases, New Pressure on Journalists
Date: 30 April 2006
By Adam Liptak
Adam Liptak
Bush administration in response to leaks is exploring possibility of criminal prosecution of reporters under espionage laws to protect information it says is vital to national security; administration officials say law allows such prosecutions and they will use their prosecutorial powers judiciously; critics of administration position say that altering conventional understanding between press and government could have dire consequences (L)
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Say Uncle, Rummy
Date: 29 April 2006
By Maureen Dowd
Maureen Dowd
Maureen Dowd Op-Ed column holds that Defense Sec Donald Rumsfeld, who was ordered to go to Iraq by Pres Bush, is now figure of absurdity, clinging to his job only because some retired generals turned him into new front on war on terror; contends that on his brief visit to Baghdad, he was afraid to go outside Fortress Green Zone, even though he complains on conservative talk shows about how progress is being made and how press never reports good news out of Iraq (M)
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Oil Prices Don't Get This Economy Down
Date: 29 April 2006
By Mark A. Stein
Mark Stein
Mark A Stein Five Days column; Conference Board reported consumer confidence index rose sharply, to 109.6 in April, highest level in almost four years; at same time, consumer spending rose, home sales increased and orders for durable goods shot up 6.1 percent from same period last year; crude oil prices fell while price-per-gallon rose in large cities to more than $3; McClatchy Co, having bought Knight-Ridder last month, sold four newspapers to NewsMedia Group for $1 billion; CA Inc's former chief executive Sanjay Kumar and former top salesman Stephen Richards pleaded guilty to securities fraud and obstruction of justice; Scott McNealy stepped down as chief executive at Sun Microsystems and was succeeded by president Jonathan Schwartz; Enron's former chief executive Kenneth Lay lost his cool on witness stand in his criminal fraud trial in Houston; photo (M)
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Giants Are More Than Bonds
Date: 30 April 2006
Diana Landau letter contends thatm
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