Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/16072
8A – Daily News – Friday, September 10, 2010 WORLD BRIEFING Minister in Fla. cancels plans to burn Qurans GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The leader of a tiny church on Thursday backed off his threat to burn the Quran, saying he gave up the plan in exchange for a deal to move a planned Islamic center and mosque away from New York’s ground zero. The imam planning the center, however, quickly denied any such deal. The Rev. Terry Jones had been under intense pressure to back off, including a statement from President Barack Obama and a personal call from U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Jones made his announce- ment outside his church alongside Imam Muham- mad Musri, the president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida. After the news confer- ence, Musri told The Associated Press there was an agreement for him and Jones to travel to New York and meet Saturday — on the actual anniver- sary of the 9/11 attacks — with the imam overseeing plans to build a mosque near ground zero. ‘‘I told the pastor that I personally believe the mosque should not be there, and I will do every- thing in my power to make sure it is moved,’’ Musri said. ‘‘But there is not any offer from there (New York) that it will be moved. All we have agreed to is a meeting, and I think we would all like to see a peaceful res- olution.’’ Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf said he was sur- prised by the announce- ment and that he would not barter. Speaking to reporters later, Jones was adamant that he was promised that the Islamic center would be moved, and said he would be ‘‘very, very dis- appointed’’ if it were not. Iran says female American to be freed TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran said Thursday it will free Sarah Shourd, one of three Americans jailed for more than 13 months, as an act of clemency to mark the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The imprisonment of the Americans has deep- ened tensions between the and put the Dow Jones industrial average back about even for 2010. Stocks posted their sixth gain in the past seven days Thursday, a sign of rising investor confi- dence. Boulder residents ready to evacuate U.S. and Iran, a relation- ship already strained over Washington’s suspicions that Tehran is trying to manufacture nuclear weapons — something Iran denies. Bak Sahraei, the sec- ond counselor of Iran’s UN mission sent an e- mail confirming the release of Shourd, follow- ing up an earlier text mes- sage from the Culture Ministry telling reporters them to come to a Tehran hotel on Saturday morn- ing to witness the release. The site is the same one where the three were allowed the only meeting with their mothers since they were detained in July 2009. Iran claims they ille- gally crossed the border from Iraq’s northern Kur- dish region and had threatened to put the three on trial for spying. Their families say they were hiking in the largely peaceful region of Iraq and that if they crossed the border, it was acciden- tal. Appeals judges allow funding of stem cell research WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court on Thursday permitted federal funding of embry- onic stem cell research to proceed for now, while it considers a judge’s ruling that had temporarily shut off the funds. Thursday’s temporary court action may be a legal reprieve but not one for laboratories. The National Institutes of Health has suspended work to fund new research projects on embryonic stem cells, and while NIH didn’t immedi- ately comment, observers say the scientific process needed to restart that is unlikely before a final court decision. ‘‘No way this would be a scientific reprieve,’’ said Patrick Clemins of the American Association for the Advancement of Sci- ence. While scientists who already have received tax- payer money for stem cell experiments can continue their work until their dol- lars run out, 22 projects that were due to get year- ly checks in September were told they’d have to find other money to con- tinue their work. Most researchers do have mul- tiple sources of funding, and are working now to separate what they can and can’t do, Clemins said. The government is ask- ing the appeals court in Washington to strike down a preliminary order by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth blocking federal funding for some stem cell research. Jobless claims drop and trade gap narrows WASHINGTON (AP) — No, the economy isn’t roaring ahead. And no, companies aren’t making lots of job offers. But a fresh batch of economic data Thursday at least eased summertime fears that the economy might be on the brink of another recession. Far fewer people applied for unemploy- ment aid last week, sug- gesting layoffs are easing. And the nation’s trade deficit narrowed in July, thanks to a bigger appetite overseas for American exports. Other recent data sup- port the notion that the economy, while growing only fitfully, is at least not in danger of stalling: — Hiring by private companies over the sum- mer turned out to be bet- ter than expected. The pace still isn’t enough to bring down high unem- ployment, but it indicates economic expansion. — Stock prices have staged a September rally BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Residents in parts of Boulder are being told to prepare to evacuate in case a major fire burning in the foothills spreads into the Colorado city. The warning came Thursday afternoon for people who live west of Broadway, the main north-south road on the west side of town. They’re being urged to clear things like lawn fur- niture and propane tanks, mow tall grass and move brush from the west side of their homes to the east side to avoid fueling the fire. The city is mowing grass in open spaces. Wind gusts are expect- ed to reach 60 mph Thurs- day night, possibly fan- ning a wildfire that has destroyed at least 169 homes. Apple issues guidelines for iPhone’s App Store NEW YORK (AP) — Apple Inc. on Thursday gave software developers the guidelines it uses to determine which pro- grams can be sold in its App Store, yet it reserved for itself broad leeway in deciding what makes the cut. The move follows more than two years of complaints from develop- ers about the company’s secret and seemingly capricious rules, which block some programs from the store and hence Apple’s popular iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices. The guidelines go some way toward addressing those com- plaints and broadening the discussion about Apple’s custodianship of the App Store. Software developer Nate Weiner said the approval process has always been ‘‘a black hole.’’ A minor update to his Read It Later app, which saves Web pages, was rejected by the App Store for an unusual rea- son — it required user registration — and he had a hard time getting a response from the compa- ny. ‘‘If you submit an app, you have no idea what’s going to happen,’’ he said. ‘‘You have no idea when it’s going to be approved or if it’s going to be approved.’’ Scientists say peacocks with flashy moves attract the women LONDON (AP) — John Travolta was onto something. Women are most attracted to male dancers who have big, flamboyant moves similar to the actor’s trademark style, British scientists say in a new study. Kris McCarty and col- leagues at Northumbria University and the Uni- versity of Gottingen in Germany asked 19 men aged 18 to 35 who were not professional dancers to dance in a laboratory for one minute to a basic drum rhythm. They filmed the men’s move- ments with a dozen cam- eras, and then turned those movements into computer-generated avatars so the study could focus on moves, not appearances. Scientists then showed the dancing avatars to 37 women, who rated their skills on a scale of 1 to 7. According to the women, the best dancers were those who had a wide range of dance moves and focused on the head, neck and torso. The research was pub- lished this week in the journal, Biology Letters, a publication of Britain’s Royal Society. It was paid for by Northumbria Uni- versity. ‘‘In principle, it is pos- sible to break down the motion patterns that are informative and attractive to women,’’ said Rufus Johnstone, a reader in the evolution of animal behavior at Cambridge University. He was not connected to the research. Suspect stole Seattle police car in escape SEATTLE (AP) — A police officer had his patrol car stolen Thursday by a handcuffed burglary suspect who had been put in the back seat. ‘‘It’s very embarrass- ing for the officer,’’ police spokeswoman Renee Witt said. ‘‘We’re just lucky the shotgun and none of the other equipment was taken.’’ The patrol car was abandoned shortly after the suspect took off about 2 a.m. He was recaptured - still in handcuffs - about four hours later near his home in south Seattle. The 33-year-old sus- pect, who name was not released, had been caught with electronics during a break-in at Wing Luke Elementary School, police said. He was cuffed behind his back and placed in the patrol car. He managed to maneuver his hands in front of him then slide through a partition to the front seat of the car while the officer was away for a minute, police said. Britney Spears denies bodyguard’s harassment LOS ANGELES (AP) — Britney Spears denied a bodyguard’s accusations that she sexually harassed him and abused her chil- dren, saying Thursday in a statement on her web- site that authorities looked into his claims but found no reason to act. The statement said the pop singer and her attor- ney expect Fernando Flo- res’ sexual harassment and intentional infliction of emotional distress law- suit to be dismissed. ‘‘This lawsuit is anoth- er unfortunate situation where someone is trying to take advantage of the Spears family and make a name for himself,’’ the statement read. ‘‘The Department of Children and Family Services con- ducted a proper investiga- tion surrounding Mr. Flo- res’ accusations and have closed the case without further action.’’ Spears did not say when the investigation was conducted and the department doesn’t release details of its inquiries. Flores claimed in his lawsuit that Spears repeatedly exposed her- self to him and made other unwanted sexual advances. He also claimed she used his belt to discipline her young sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James, and acted inappropriately in front of them. Boston police accuse driver of causing crash with Tom Brady BOSTON (AP) — Boston police have cited the driver of a van involved in an accident with New England Patri- ots quarterback Tom Brady. Police say 21-year-old Ludgero Rodrigues was cited Thursday for failing to stop at a red light. A police report says Rodrigues was driving a Mercury Villager minivan and struck Brady’s Audi sedan at an intersection in Boston’s Back Bay area near Brady’s home. A 49- year-old passenger in the minivan was seriously injured. Brady was not hurt. The community is invited FREE Admission & FREE Parking FUN DAY Saturday, September 11, 2010 • 9:00 am to 3:00 pm • Antique Aircraft • CHP Helicopter • Ultra Light Aircraft • Lots of Airplane Stuff Hamburgers Hot Dogs & • Medical Helicopters • Classic Cars • Radio Controlled Aircraft • L-29 & L39 Delfin Jet (Czechoslovakian Trainer) • D.F.G. Aircraft • Red Bluff Fire Dept. Cold Beer Softdrinks 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 Popcorn For more information all (530) 351-8203