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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 27, 2008

Barack Obama Meets Gordon Brown, Tony Blair

LONDON (AP) - Presidential contender Barack Obama was meeting Saturday with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the last leg of his European and Middle Eastern tour.

The Democratic hopeful appeared relaxed as he strolled down to the prime minister's office at 10 Downing St., pausing briefly to shake the hand of a somewhat startled police officer standing near the door.

He turned to television cameras, smiled, waved and said "Hello," before walking into No. 10. Brown greeted him just inside the door.

Pooled television images showed Brown offering Obama a chair on the Downing Street terrace before the pair settled down for two hours of talks.

Obama is expected to speak with Brown about the war in Iraq and about strengthening ties between the United States and Britain.

Senate To Pass Foreclosure Rescue

WASHINGTON (AP) - Homeowners struggling to make their house payments could get government mortgage relief under a rescue plan that seeks to revive the chaotic housing market and help reverse the economic downturn.

The Senate is expected Saturday to clear the wide-ranging legislation - considered the most significant housing measure in decades - for President Bush's signature, and the White House says he'll sign it quickly.

The bill gives the government power to throw troubled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac a financial lifeline, in efforts to prevent the two pillars of the home loan market from going under and causing broader market turmoil.

It is designed to help an estimated 400,000 homeowners escape foreclosure by letting them refinance into more affordable loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration.

The Senate on Friday cleared the last hurdle to its passage on a 80-13 test vote that showed broad support for the election-year package.

Long Wait Finally Over For Satellite Radio Customers As FCC Approves XM-Sirius Merger

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.'s $3.3 billion buyout of rival XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. will mean millions of subscribers will be able to receive programming from both services, while executives say it will create huge cost savings for the industry.

Federal regulators formally approved the merger of the nation's only two satellite radio operators Friday.

"I think it's going to be, in the end, a good thing for consumers and be in the public interest," Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin told The Associated Press. "Consumers will enjoy a variety of programming at reduced prices and more diversified programming choices."

Subscribers will not have to buy new radios to receive a mix of programming from both services, according to the companies. But if they want to pursue a special pay-per-channel a la carte option, they will need new sets.

The FCC voted 3-2 to approve the buyout, with the tiebreaker coming Friday night from Republican commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate.

Report: President Ahmadinejad Says Iran Now Possesses 6,000 Centrifuges For Enriching Uranium

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Saturday that Iran now possesses 6,000 centrifuges, machines used to enrich uranium, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

The new figure is double the 3,000 centrifuges Iran had previously said it was operating in its uranium enrichment plant in Natanz.

"Islamic Iran today possesses 6,000 centrifuges," Fars quoted Ahmadinejad as telling university professors in the northeastern city of Mashhad.

In April, Ahmadinejad said Iran had begun installing 6,000 centrifuges at Natanz. His reported comments Saturday provided the first public assertion that Iran has reached that goal.

The announcement is another act of defiance in the face of demands by the United States and other world powers for Iran to halt its enrichment work, which Washington and its allies fear Iran is intent on using to develop weapons.

Australian Investigators Arrive In Philippines To Examine Hole In Jet

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Australian investigators on Saturday began examining a Qantas jumbo jet which had to make an emergency landing after a large hole opened on its fuselage, a Philippine aviation official said.

The Boeing 747-400 was cruising at 29,000 feet with 346 passengers Friday when it was shaken by an explosive bang. The plane descended rapidly before landing safely minutes later at the Manila airport.

There were no injuries among the passengers and crew, but some of the passengers suffered nausea.

Ruben Ciron, chief of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, said four specialists from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau were still inspecting the aircraft to determine what caused the damage.

Qantas Chief Executive Officer Geoff Dixon told reporters Saturday he was "horrified" after seeing pictures of the aircraft's gaping hole. He said it was too early to speculate on what caused the damage.

California Becomes First State To Ban Restaurants From Using Trans Fats

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California on Friday became the first state to ban trans fats from restaurant food, following several cities and major fast-food chains in erasing the notorious artery-clogger from menus.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation that will ban restaurants and other retail food establishments from using oil, margarine and shortening containing trans fats.

In a statement, Schwarzenegger noted that consuming trans fat is linked to coronary heart disease.

"Today we are taking a strong step toward creating a healthier future for California," he said.

Violations could result in fines of $25 to $1,000. Food items sold in their manufacturers' sealed packaging would be exempt.

Lawyer: Gay Bias Might Have Role In Police Shooting Male Dancer

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (AP) - To police, Steven Hirschfield was violent and out of control when he clambered aboard a patrol boat sent to rescue him in the San Diego Bay during a gay pride party.

The 37-year-old bodybuilder, shirtless and wearing sneakers, seized an officer's stun gun and beat him in the face, they say, before he was fatally shot while reaching for the officer's weapon.

Their account has left his grieving family in disbelief. Family members suspect Hirschfield, whom they described as deeply artistic and loving, was a victim of homosexual bias and a police cover-up.

"He is not violent. I have not seen him hit anybody in my life," his sister, Kristine Hirschfield, said at a news conference Friday. "It doesn't make any sense."

The family plans to file a federal lawsuit claiming Hirschfield's civil rights were violated and conduct its own investigation into his death.

Federal Judge Tosses Talk Show Host Michael Savage's Lawsuit Against Islamic Organization

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by conservative radio talk show host Michael Savage against an Islamic civil rights group over its use of a portion of his show in which he called the Quran a "book of hate."

Savage sued the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, for copyright infringement and racketeering lawsuit late last year, claiming the group violated his rights by using a segment of his "Savage Nation" show in a letter-writing campaign to get advertisers to boycott the program. In the broadcast used by CAIR, Savage also called the Muslim holy book "a throwback document."

In her ruling Friday, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston said people who listen to a public broadcast are entitled to use excerpts for purposes of comment and criticism. She also said no evidence was presented to show that advertising on the show's broadcast was affected by CAIR's actions.

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