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Monday, April 19, 2010 – Daily News – 3B WORLD BRIEFING EU flights could resume Monday AMSTERDAM (AP) — Major airlines that sent test flights into European air space found no dam- age Sunday from the vol- canic ash that has para- lyzed aviation over the continent, raising pres- sure on governments to ease restrictions that have thrown global travel and commerce into chaos. Is it safe to fly yet? Airline officials and some pilots say the passenger- less test flights show that it is. Meteorologists warn that the skies over Europe remain unstable from an Icelandic volcano that continues to spew ash capable of knocking out jet engines. European Union offi- cials said air traffic could return to half its normal level on Monday if the dense cloud begins to dis- sipate. Germany allowed some flights to resume. Eighty percent of European airspace remained closed for a devastating fourth day on Sunday, with only 4,000 of the normal 20,000- flight schedule in the air, said Brian Flynn, deputy head of operations for Eurocontrol, which sup- ports the air traffic control network across the Euro- pean Union’s 27 states. ‘‘Today it has been, I would say, the worst situ- ation so far,’’ Flynn said. Insurgents prepare for Kandahar showdown KAND AHAR, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban are moving fight- ers into Kandahar, planti- ng bombs and plotting attacks as NATO and Afghan forces prepare for a summer showdown with insurgents, according to a Taliban commander with close ties to senior insur- gent leaders. NATO and Afghan forces are stepping up operations to push Tal- iban fighters out of the city, which was the Islamist movement’s headquarters during the years it ruled most of Afghanistan. The goal is to bolster the capability of the local government so that it can keep the Tal- iban from coming back. The Taliban comman- der, who uses the pseudo- nym Mubeen, told The Associated Press that if military pressure on the insurgents becomes too great ‘‘we will just leave and come back after’’ the foreign forces leave. Despite nightly raids by NATO and Afghan troops, Mubeen said his movements have not been restricted. He was inter- viewed last week in the center of Kandahar, seat- ed with his legs crossed on a cushion in a room. His only concession to security was to lock the door. He made no attempt to hide his face and said he felt comfortable because of widespread support among Kandahar’s 500,000 residents, who like the Taliban are most- ly Pashtuns, Afghanistan’s biggest eth- nic community. SEC fraud case damages Goldman’s reputation NEW YORK (AP) — While Goldman Sachs contends with the govern- ment’s civil fraud charges, an equally seri- ous problem looms: a damaged reputation that may cost it clients. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s bombshell civil fraud charge against Goldman has tarnished the Wall Street bank’s already bruised image, analysts say. It could also hurt its ability to do business in an industry based largely on trust. Damage from the case could hit other big banks as well. The SEC charges are expected to help the Obama administration as it seeks to more tightly police lucrative invest- ment banking activities. Goldman has denied the SEC’s allegation that it sold risky mortgage investments without telling buyers that the securities were crafted in part by a billionaire hedge fund manager who was betting on them to fail. A 31-year-old Goldman employee is also accused in the civil suit that was announced Friday. The charges could result in fines and restitu- tion of more than $700 million, predicted Brad Hintz, an analyst at San- ford Bernstein. Yet, even if Goldman beats the charge, the hit to its repu- tation could carry a greater cost. Economy growing faster than expected WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says the economy is growing faster than the Obama administration expected. He tells NBC’s ‘‘Meet the Press’’ that the coun- try is on the way to sus- tained job creation. But he acknowledges that unemployment may remain high, close to 10 percent. Geithner says there’s more confidence in the business world, and he says the private sector is growing. He also says people are spending more. He said he sees encouraging signs that should make Americans confident the country will emerge stronger. Water for 15M people are at issue in gas clash PLEASANT MOUNT, Pa. (AP) — A few hun- dred yards from Louis Matoushek’s farmhouse is a well that could soon produce not only natural gas, but a drilling boom in the wild and scenic Delaware River water- shed. Energy companies have leased thousands of acres of land in Pennsyl- vania’s unspoiled north- eastern tip, hoping to tap vast stores of gas in a sprawling rock formation — the Marcellus shale — that some experts believe could become the nation’s most productive gas field. Plenty of folks like Matoushek are eager for the gas, and the royalty checks, to start flowing — including farmers who see Marcellus money as a way to keep their strug- gling operations afloat. ‘‘It’s a depressed area,’’ Matoushek said. ‘‘This is going to mean new jobs, real jobs, not government jobs.’’ Standing in the way is a loose coalition of sport- ing groups, conservation- ists and anti-drilling neighbors. They contend that large-scale gas explo- ration so close to crucial waterways will threaten drinking water, ruin a renowned wild trout fish- ery, wreck property val- ues, and transform a rural area popular with tourists into an industrial zone with constant noise and truck traffic. Polish president, first lady interred KRAKOW, Poland (AP) — Tens of thou- sands of Poles bade farewell to President Lech Kaczynski on Sunday at a state funeral filled with pomp, pride and an out- pouring of patriotism that his divisive and unpopular leadership had never gen- erated. Mourners applauded and chanted ‘‘We thank you!’’ as the caskets bear- ing Kaczynski and his wife, Maria, were carried slowly past pale-toned Renaissance buildings for burial among kings and poets in the ancient Wawel Cathedral. ‘‘Poles finally appreci- ate him,’’ said Ryszard Stolarski, 56, one of many weeping mourners. ‘‘I never imagined that Poland would honor Kaczynski in this way.’’ Many world leaders, including President Barack Obama, could not be there because their travel plans were wrecked by the enormous plume of volcanic ash that blanket- ed Europe. The funeral came eight days after the Polish air force Tupolev 154 crashed on approach to Smolensk, Russia. The worst tragedy to strike Poland since World War II killed the first couple and 94 other people, including top civilian and military leaders. 5 airlines won’t charge for carryons ATLANTA (AP) — U.S. airlines never met a fee they didn’t like. Until now, it seems. Five major carriers on Sunday agreed not to fol- low the lead of a small Florida airline that plans to charge for carryon bags. Their commitment comes just in time to keep travelers from running for the exits during the peak summer flying season, but it is doubtful that it marks a change in strate- gy. Airlines are going to tack on every fee they feel they can get away with because it bolsters their revenue stream while allowing them to keep base fares lower. They just don’t feel like passengers will tolerate losing their sacred free carryons — at least not right now. The promise to New York Sen. Charles Schumer from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, US Air- ways and JetBlue Air- ways comes despite the fact that some of those same airlines are expect- ed to report first-quarter losses next week. They were stung by higher fuel prices and the heavy Feb- ruary snowstorms. Ancillary fees for air travel — including bag- gage fees, reservation change fees and other miscellaneous operating revenue — have been pil- ing up. Rower coped with iPods, chocolate CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio woman who became youngest person to row across the Atlantic Ocean alone says she got through the journey with four iPods, 300 chocolate bars and 100 audiobooks. Katie Spotz spent more than two months alone at sea before completing her feat in March. The 22-year- old athlete spoke about the adventure at a welcome- home party Saturday in sub- urban Cleveland. Spotz says her training included more than 100 hours meditating to help cope with the loneliness of rowing for 10 hours a day. She said the hardest part was sleeping in cramped quarters and battling sleep deprivation. She split the rowing into two-hour shifts and spent time sending e- mails and Twitter messages. Spotz, from Mentor, set out from Dakar, Senegal, on Jan. 3 and finished March 14 in Georgetown, Guyana. Luci Baines Johnson improving at hospital ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) — Luci Baines John- son, the youngest daughter of former President Lyn- don B. Johnson, is making what her doctor calls ‘‘sig- nificant improvement’’ at the Mayo Clinic. The 62-year-old was flown to the clinic by air ambulance Friday and is being treated in the neuro- intensive care unit for what doctors suspect is a rare autoimmune disorder that affects the nervous system and can cause paralysis. Johnson’s doctor in Austin accompanied her to the clinic, and he said Sun- day that she has made sig- nificant improvement in the past 24 hours. Dr. Dud- ley Youman says Johnson is expected to make a full recovery from Guillain- Barre syndrome. He says she will remain in intensive care for a while but eventually return home for rehabilitation to strengthen her muscles. Support our classrooms, keep kids reading. DONATE YOUR VACATION newspaper dollars to the Newspaper In Education Program HELP OUR CHILDREN For more details call Circulation Department (530) 527-2151 D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 PHONE: (530) 527-2151 FAX: (530) 527-5774 545 Diamond Avenue • P.O. Box 220 • Red Bluff, CA 96080