Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/147717
4B Daily News – Thursday, August 1, 2013 WORLD BRIEFING late longtime football coach Joe Paterno that he had seen Sandusky molesting a boy in the shower in 2001. Manning's convictions boost government's pursuit of leakers WASHINGTON (AP) — The successful prosecution of Army Pfc. Bradley Manning gives a boost to the Obama administration's aggressive pursuit of people it believes have leaked national security secrets to the media. Manning was acquitted Tuesday of the most serious charge he faced, aiding the enemy, but he was found guilty by a military judge of enough charges to send him to prison for many years, and perhaps the rest of his life. Legal scholars said they expect the government's case against National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden to be similar to the Manning prosecution, although it would take place in a federal trial court, not a military courtmartial. "I don't think Edward Snowden is doing a jig in his airport lounge in Russia," said Elizabeth Goiten, co-director of the liberty and national security program at New York University's Brennan Center for Justice. Prosecutors were able to convince Army Col. Denise Lind that the reams of documents Manning gave to WikiLeaks constituted violations of the Espionage Act, despite the arguments of Manning's lawyers that he chose to hand over information that he believed would not harm the United States. Manning: Hero to some, traitor to others NEW YORK (AP) — The honors and accolades proliferated over three years: international peace prizes, solidarity campaigns by celebrities, an effort to designate him — in absentia, of course — as grand marshal of San Francisco's gay pride parade. All the while, Bradley Manning was imprisoned by the military, branded a traitor by the U.S. government and reviled by many Americans. Some called for his execution for giving troves of classified secrets to WikiLeaks for global distribution. Few Americans in living memory have emerged from obscurity to become such polarizing public figures — admired by many around the world, fiercely denigrated by many in his homeland. The contrasting portraits of Manning were summarized by his defense attorney, David Coombs, during the trial that culminated Tuesday with Manning's acquittal on a charge of aiding the enemy and his conviction on charges of espionage, theft and computer fraud. "Is Pfc. Manning somebody who is a traitor, who has no loyalty to this country, or the flag?" Coombs had asked. "Or is he a young, naive, goodintentioned soldier who had human life, in his humanist beliefs, center to his decision? Obama's congressional two-step WASHINGTON (AP) — There's a new cadence to President Barack Obama's musings about Congress: Why can't House Republicans be Airlines are constantly tweaking their method for getting you on the plane AP photo A supporter of Army Pfc. Bradley Manning carries a sign while on a bicycle during a nighttime demonstration in front of the White House in Washington, Tuesday. Manning was acquitted Tuesday of aiding the enemy — the most serious charge he faced — but was convicted of espionage, theft and nearly every other count for giving secrets to WikiLeaks, a verdict that could see him spend the rest of his life in prison. more like their mates in the Senate? As Obama presses his economic agenda across the country, he's playing one chamber against the other, hoping Americans will hear his calls for compromise and conclude it's not his fault almost nothing is getting done in Washington. Call it a congressional two-step: Praise Senate Republicans for modest displays of cooperation, then contrast them with House Republicans, whom Obama has started describing as stubborn saboteurs. It's a theme Obama has used repeatedly to bolster his argument that he's the one acting reasonably as he prepares for clashes this fall with Congress, whose relations with Obama have always been notoriously strained. "A growing number of Republican senators are trying to get things done," Obama said Tuesday as he unveiled a new fiscal proposal in Chattanooga, Tenn. Days earlier, Obama accused the House GOP of risking another financial crisis by issuing ultimatums over the debt ceiling and government funding. US economic growth likely weakened in April-June quarter WASHINGTON (AP) — A report Wednesday is expected to show the U.S. economy barely grew from April through June. But economists are hopeful that the weak second quarter is a temporary lull that gives way to stronger growth in the second half of the year. Higher tax increases and steep government spending cuts probably did their worst damage to the economy in the second quarter. As their impact fades, solid job gains, more business spending and a steady recovery in housing should help accelerate growth. Economists forecast that growth slowed in the April-June quarter to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of just 1 percent, according to a survey by FactSet. That's below the sluggish pace of 1.8 percent in the January-March quarter. The Commerce Department will release the first estimate of gross domestic product, or GDP, for the second quarter at 8:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday. GDP is the broadest measure of the output of goods and services, including everything from manicures to industrial machinery. Most economists say growth is already starting to pick up. And many are predicting annual growth rates of between 2 percent and 3 percent in the third and fourth quarters. As 2nd round of sequestration looms, Pentagon to bear brunt WASHINGTON (AP) — A second, deeper round of automatic federal budget cuts is on its way, and it's going to hit the Pentagon hard. Already reeling from a $34 billion budget blow this year due to deficitdriven spending reductions known as sequestration, the Defense Department would feel an additional $20 billion punch in 2014. All told, the Pentagon's budget for next year would be cut by about 10 percent below levels approved just six months ago. Domestic programs are spared further automatic budget cuts, a littleknown wrinkle that could give Democrats some advantage in upcoming negotiations over repealing sequestration — or at least easing its effects. That reality is beginning to dawn in the federal government, which allowed this year's $72 billion round of cuts to take effect. Officials have a few months to try to replace an even deeper round of cuts expected to take effect in January. The situation is a product of the fallout of a budget law enacted two years ago that set up a deficit "supercommittee" with orders to come up with $1.2 trillion in deficit cuts over a decade. The law included the threat of the automatic cuts as a backstop intended to force a deal. Zimbabwe voters stand in long lines as crucial election on Mugabe's future begin HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Posing one of the biggest threats to President Robert Mugabe's 33year grip on power, Zim- babweans flocked to polling stations Wednesday in a presidential election that will determine the course of this southern African country even as suspicions were high that vote-counting could be rigged. Lines of voters snaked around a school in Harare, where polling booths opened just after the scheduled time of 7 a.m. (0500GMT) Wednesday. Many were dressed in heavy coats, scarves and woolen headgear to ward off the winter chill. Some had flasks of hot drinks. "It is moving slowly, but I am here for as long as it takes. We have got to get this done," said voter Isaac Rufaro, who joined the line before dawn. Mugabe has denied allegations of vote-rigging and dismissed concerns about the credibility of the polls. Even so, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Tuesday that Washington is troubled by "the lack of transparency in electoral preparations, by the continued partisan behavior of state security institutions and by the technical and logistical issues hampering the administration of a credible and transparent election." The contest pits Mugabe, 89, against Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, 61, the former opposition leader who teamed up with the president's party in an uneasy coalition. The powersharing deal was forged by regional leaders after Zimbabwe's last disputed and violent election in 2008. New TV channel adds Israel's voice to plethora of international coverage TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — State-of-the-art TV studios above an ancient Mideast port signal Israel's arrival in a modern media landscape in which countries increasingly seek to broadcast their own perspective to the world. Israel advocates have long alleged that their country is portrayed in an unfair and one-dimensional way by the international media, largely as an occupier of the Palestinians. Now the answer has arrived in the form of i24news — the first international channel dedicated to reporting the news from an Israeli point of view. Its goal is to tell the rest of the Israel story in English, Arabic and French. The new station's founders insist they are not an Israeli version of the Qatar-funded AlJazeera pan-Arab channel. They receive no government funding, hold no political affiliation and pledge to cover the news dispassionately and objectively. The initiative, which follows dozens of other attempts to tell Israel's side of the story, highlights a deep-seated sense that Israel is losing the battle over international public opinion and that its voice has been missing from a smorgasbord of news outlets. Sandusky scandal leads to another trial, for ex-Penn State officials HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Jerry Sandusky scandal appears headed for another court battle that is sure to prolong the media spotlight and relive the testimony of how the former Penn State football icon molested boys, sometimes in the school's facilities. Penn State's ex-president and two former top school administrators were ordered Tuesday to stand trial on charges accusing them of covering up their failure to tell police about a 2001 allegation that Sandusky molested a boy in a university locker room shower, even after they knew police investigated complaints about Sandusky showering with boys in 1998. It was, said lead state prosecutor Bruce Beemer, a "conspiracy of silence." District Judge William Wenner called it "a tragic day for Penn State University" after ruling that prosecutors showed enough evidence during a two-day preliminary hearing to warrant a trial for ex-President Graham Spanier, former vice president Gary Schultz and ex-athletic director Tim Curley. The key testimony centered on a series of emails among the three defendants that discussed the 1998 and 2001 cases and the testimony of Mike McQueary, a former team assistant and quarterback who said he had immediately told Schultz, Curley and the DALLAS (AP) — Getting people on and off an airplane quickly is so complicated that even an astrophysicist couldn't figure it out. The astrophysicist, Jason Steffen of the University of Illinois, normally contemplates things such as axion-like particles. But after waiting in one boarding line too many, he turned to the mysteries of airline seating. "I thought there had to be a better way," he says. So, after a series of calculations, he deduced that the best system would be a combination of filling window seats first, then middle and aisle ones, while also spacing the boarding passengers two rows apart. There was just one problem — passengers would have to board in precise order. Good luck with that. These are the same passengers who don't turn off their phones even after they're told it's a federal law. George Zimmerman stopped for speeding in Texas FORNEY, Texas (AP) — George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who was cleared of all charges in the Florida shooting death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin, was stopped for speeding on a highway near Dallas, officials said Wednesday. Forney police stopped Zimmerman on Sunday as he drove west on U.S. 80, about 20 miles east of Dallas. A police dashcam video released Wednesday shows an officer interacting with Zimmerman after pulling him over. The officer, who was not identified, asks Zimmerman, ''Where you headed this weekend?'' After an unintelligible response, the officer asks, ''Nowhere in particular? Why you say that?'' ''You didn't see my name?'' Zimmerman replies. ''Nuh-uh,'' the officer says. ''What a coincidence!'' the officer adds. ''Are you clear of warrants and stuff?'' ''Absolutely sir,'' Zimmerman says. ''Calm down man, you're good,'' the officer reassures Zimmerman. ''I'm going to go back (to check his license), and why don't you slow down a little bit for me. We'll let you off with a warning.'' After an unintelligible response from Zimmerman, the officer says, ''Just take it easy. Go ahead and shut your glove compartment. Don't play with your firearm.'' It was not clear from the video if Zimmerman actually had a gun. The one used in Martin's shooting remains in the custody of the federal government, which is looking into a possible civil rights case. After returning Zimmerman's license, the officer says, ''All right, sir. Slow down.'' He wishes Zimmerman a safe trip. The traffic stop was first reported by TMZ.