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To: mishedlo who wrote (59720)	4/27/2006 3:33:28 PM
From: shades	Respond to of 110194

SEC Chairman: Building-Cost Deficit 'Behind Us' (do as I say - not as I do) (Updated throughout with additional reporting from hearing and Cox's comments to reporters following it.) By Judith Burns Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--A nearly $50 million deficit caused by building-cost overruns has been erased, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox said Thursday. In testimony to a House appropriations subcommittee, Cox said the $48.7 million budget gap "is now entirely behind us." Cox, a former House Republican, assumed the helm of the SEC last summer and inherited a deficit caused by unanticipated expenses associated with SEC buildings in Boston, New York and Washington, D.C. He said he took steps to ensure the overruns would be absorbed fully over fiscal 2005 and 2006, giving the SEC a fresh start in fiscal 2007, which begins Oct. 1. Cox also said the agency is on track to correct internal control weaknesses previously identified by the Government Accountability Office and must "lead by example" in this area. Asked about the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Cox said "there's nothing wrong with the law Congress wrote," and he promised the SEC will work closely with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board to address concerns about the strict internal-controls reviews required by the law for public companies. Specific SEC guidance to corporate managers on how to comply with the annual requirement to assess internal controls over financial reports is being developed and existing guidance from the oversight board for auditors may be changed so that it conforms with the SEC's approach, according to Cox. He didn't give a timetable but called that "job one at the SEC right now." Cox praised the work of an SEC small business advisory committee, which has recommended the SEC suspend the internal-controls requirements for many small companies. He said the five-member commission is reviewing the advisory group's report and expressed his own view that the 2002 law is a good one and "we just need to make it work better." While some lawmakers are considering reopening the 2002 law, Cox suggested that might not be needed, saying: "We have far from exhausted the possibilities on the regulatory side." The SEC chief endorsed President Bush's request for $904.8 million of funding for the SEC in fiscal 2007, saying the 1.9% increase is sufficient to support the SEC's investor protection mission, but he asked Congress for additional flexibility in spending. Cox said he wants to give more leeway to SEC regional office managers and have freedom to make changes needed to support "mission-critical programs." Personnel costs, which account for about two-thirds of the SEC's budget, are rising about 5.5% a year due to annual increases in pay and merit pay raises, according to Cox. Given that, he said, "we've got to have more flexibility in our overall budget to make it work." Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., who chairs the House appropriations subcommittee that oversees SEC funding, warned Cox it could be "a pretty tough year" given the strain of other spending, and noted the SEC's budget has risen more in the last five years than the FBI's. Separately, Cox said he will shortly introduce regular intelligence briefings for SEC commissioners, which he received routinely in his former role as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. Cox told reporters after the hearing that intelligence agencies are "willing and able" to provide the briefings for SEC commissioners, who already have clearance to receive top-secret information. He expects the sessions will be helpful on issues such as money laundering and terrorist financing. - By Judith Burns, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-6692; Judith.Burns@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires April 27, 2006 14:27 ET (18:27 GMT)

To: mishedlo who wrote (59720)	4/27/2006 3:34:11 PM
From: shades	Respond to of 110194

US Terrorism Suspect's 5 Relatives Arrested For Loan Fraud . SALT LAKE CITY (AP)--Five relatives of a U.S. citizen suspected of being a senior al-Qaida operative were arrested in California and Utah on charges of defrauding banks of hundreds of thousands of dollars through bad mortgages and car loans. Federal agents are investigating whether the suspects helped fund terrorism, The Salt Lake Tribune reported in Thursday's editions. The newspaper quoted FBI agents as saying some of the money wound up in Jordan, where the family of suspect Shawqi Omar has extensive ties. Omar, a 44-year-old Kuwaiti native with U.S. and Jordanian citizenship, moved his family to Jordan in 1995, and he and Iraq insurgent leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi were indicted there in an aborted chemical attack on the Jordanian intelligence agency. Omar has been held by the U.S. military in Iraq since he was arrested at his Baghdad home in 2004. He has not been charged in Iraq with any crime, but the U.S. government claims he had bomb-making materials and was harboring an Iraqi insurgent and four Jordanian fighters at the time of his arrest. The indictments unsealed Wednesday allege that the five relatives committed fraud with three other people in Utah from 2000 to 2004. "We would be derelict not to investigate where that money is going," said Greg Bretzing, a supervisor in the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force in Utah. Omar's brother Sharif Omar, 37, was arrested Wednesday at his home in Cottonwood Heights, an upscale Salt Lake suburb. Four other relatives were arrested Wednesday in California. Brother Bassam Omar, 42, of San Diego, was arrested in Anaheim. Nephew Alaa Ramadan, 29, of Jordan, was arrested in Los Angeles after flying in from Jordan. Nephew Ihab Ramadan, 27, and brother-in-law Ahmad Abudan, 35, were arrested in Chula Vista, where they live. In at least one instance, according to the indictments, Ihab Ramadan wired $50,000 to an account in Amman, Jordan. The indictments were handed up by a federal grand jury in Utah months ago but were kept sealed until agents were sure of Alaa Ramadan's return. The three defendants not related to Shawqi Omar were summoned to appear in court. One had been in custody on unrelated charges but the others were not arrested. Sharif Omar's wife, Hannah, told the Tribune she has yet to be told why her husband has been arrested. "I don't know what's going on," she said. "I haven't even talked to our lawyer." Gus Omar, a brother of Shawqi, Sharif and Bassam who was not indicted, said the FBI is manufacturing ties between Shawqi Omar's alleged terrorist actions and the family's U.S. business holdings. "There is no connection," said Gus Omar, who works at a Murray car dealership owned by the recently arrested brothers. Bassam Omar is an engineer who owns several Utah businesses, and family members say he was the joint owner of the Baghdad construction company Shawqi Omar was managing when he was arrested. Bassam Omar denied that Shawqi Omar is a member of al-Qaida in an NBC News interview in February. "He is not a terrorist, and it's not fair to him or us," he said. (END) Dow Jones Newswires April 27, 2006 13:47 ET (17:47 GMT) Copyright (c) 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.- - 01 47 PM EDT 04-27-06

To: mishedlo who wrote (59720)	4/27/2006 3:35:50 PM
From: shades	Respond to of 110194

Applebee's: 5% Of Casual-Dining Sector's Patrons Gone (no more expensive dinners for princess?) By Richard Gibson Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES DES MOINES, Iowa (Dow Jones)--Applebee's International Inc. (APPB), which continues to suffer from guest-count declines, said its research indicates that about 5% of the category's usual customers have stopped patronizing casual-dining restaurants in recent months. The largest chain in the grill-and-bar segment, Applebee's attributed that dropoff primarily to economic factors. But it reiterated that it hopes more flavorful food and fresh advertising will help increase its business in coming months. After seeing a temporary lift in traffic early in the year, figures for March and April fell again as "gas prices and other macroeconomic conditions reared their ugly heads," President Dave Goebel said on a conference call. The company also predicted a slowdown in new-store development by many in the industry next year. Several analysts have been arguing for months that casual-dining is overbuilt. "We're more stingy on approving sites than we ever have been, based on the macro environment," said Chief Financial Officer Steve Lumpkin. Applebee's said its weakest markets are in Michigan and the Northeast, although Virginia emerged as "a troubled market" in April. Its strongest markets include California, the Southwest and Washington, D.C. Lunch and dinner traffic has fallen of late. "There's no question that our lower-income consumer is getting pinched," Goebel said. On the other hand, late-night business has picked up, he said. For the first quarter ended March 26, Applebee's reported net income of $27.2 million, or 36 cents a share, down from $31.7 million, or 38 cents a share, a year earlier. Operating revenue, which includes company-store sales and franchise income, rose to $344.3 million from $304.5 million. Citing the slow start to current-quarter sales, UBS Investment Research lowered its second-quarter earnings estimate for Applebee's to 30 cents a share from 33 cents, which is the average estimate on Wall Street. UBS said it seeks to do business with companies covered in its research. Shares of Applebee's were trading recently at $22.83, down 18 cents, or 0.8%, on the Nasdaq Stock Market. -By Richard Gibson, Dow Jones Newswires; 515-282-6830; dick.gibson@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires April 27, 2006 13:16 ET (17:16 GMT)

To: mishedlo who wrote (59720)	4/27/2006 5:13:35 PM
From: shades	Respond to of 110194

Good article Mish - Ok lets draw a japan analogy - how receptive were thier citizens to receiving africans and latinos or anyone other group to come and live and work in thier country? Everything I have read is that they were very unreceptive and that japan was extremely racist and monoculture. My redneck friend at wild adventures imports lots of africans to come and work at the park - and the customers don't seem to mind - could japan have done the same thing? From what I read no. I saw beautiful empty condo's in asia in 96 - too much development and not enough people. So we have 30K condos and 5K a year demand - what if a lot of zimbabweans want to flee mugabe and "come to america" like eddie murphy? Here is an article on africa losing lots of its people - where are they going? Elroy tells me to store gold so I can FLEE - well they are FLEEING to here - I wont be fleeing there - I can assure you of that. Message 22390424 Remember the brain drain that fled europe in hitlers day - how much UNMEASURABLE boost did that give to the american economy - all those smart spocks "coming to america?" However my croation friend left america to go back home to war torn croatia because the women here were too stuck up - so did many of his ukraine and russian counterparts. Good to have your priorities straight eh? Two possible scenarios to bridge the 30K supply and 5K demand gap - more importation of 3rd worlders or a war where we blow up lots of this overdevelopment and bring the supply side down - maybe a bit of both - that worked in ww2 eh? I left west palm beach - too many 3rd worlders for me and from the ones I talked too - many more on the way. Cinqo de Mayo Senore! HAHA! I just watched a Brosnan flick called Taffin - he had a unique solution to real estate developers. imdb.com An Irish tough-guy debt collector is asked by his local community to help rid the town of developers bent on building a chemical plant on the outskirts of town. The developers are ruthless and have sent their heavies into town to keep the locals quiet.

To: mishedlo who wrote (59720)	4/27/2006 7:11:40 PM
From: shades	Respond to of 110194

Games athletes plead for asylum (are they fleeing from the west or TO the west?) theaustralian.news.com.au Cath Hart April 26, 2006 TWENTY-SIX athletes and officials who took part in last month's Commonwealth Games are seeking asylum in Australia in a development that could create a new round of diplomatic problems for the Howard Government. The group is understood to include participants from Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Cameroon. They are among an estimated 126 Commonwealth Games athletes and team officials who have overstayed their special Games visas. With Commonwealth Games travel authorities issued to athletes and officials expected to expire today, the Immigration Department estimates 100 people have not yet left the country or made visa applications. This is in addition to the 26 who have applied for asylum. The asylum-seekers include 14 members of the Sierra Leone team who applied for protection visas after fleeing the athletes village. They were issued with bridging visas after spending six days on the run. The Immigration Department is assessing their asylum applications. The group, which fled to the Sydney house of a sympathetic doctor, included three young women who claimed they were fearful of facing brutal traditional female circumcisions if they returned to Sierra Leone. One of the athletes told police that, three weeks before she travelled to Melbourne to compete in the Games, her sister had bled to death after undergoing the procedure. UN peacekeepers withdrew from Sierra Leone last October after a period of reconstruction following more than a decade of civil war, but rebel groups and youth gangs continue to be a threat. The asylum applications from the 26 athletes and officials come as Australia is locked in a diplomatic row with Indonesia after the granting of asylum to 42 Papuans. John Howard yesterday foreshadowed further top-level meetings, including talks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to help repair ties between the two nations. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade secretary Michael L'Estrange last week met senior Indonesian officials in Jakarta as part of efforts to ease the tensions. The Prime Minister said he had spoken to Mr L'Estrange, who reported that the meetings had been successful. "They are part of a process," Mr Howard said yesterday. "You start with the departmental head. He lays some of the groundwork. "I expect there to be a meeting or meetings between (Foreign Minister) Mr (Alexander) Downer and (Indonesian Foreign Minister) Dr (Hassan) Wirayuda and I'm sure at some stage, in the not too distant future, I'll have a discussion with the President." The status of the Nigerian, Cameroon, Ghanaian and Bangladeshi applicants is unknown. Although Nigeria has experienced longstanding religious and ethnic tensions, its neighbour, Cameroon, has enjoyed relative stability although most of the country's political power remains with the ethnic oligarchy headed by President Paul Biya. The Immigration Department said the majority of athletes and team officials had complied with visa conditions. "The Commonwealth Games visa arrangements have been very successful and some people attending the Games have stayed on to enjoy Australian hospitality as their visas were valid for a month after the end of the Games," a spokesman said. More than 600 athletes and officials from other countries elected to remain in Australia for more than a week after the Games but the majority of those have now left, an Immigration spokesman said. Government officials anticipate that many of the overstayers - who are from low-risk countries such as New Zealand and Britain - will leave promptly or make a visa application. After the Sydney Olympics in 2000, more than 30 athletes and officials made asylum claims and more than 140 members of the Olympic family overstayed their visas. The group, which represented less than 1 per cent of the 38,000 athletes and officials in Sydney for the Games, were mainly from Britain, Germany, Canada and other "low risk" countries such as the US.

To: mishedlo who wrote (59720)	4/28/2006 2:31:17 AM
From: shades	Respond to of 110194

Domino's CEO: Need Value Offerings To Maintain Traffic>DPZ (I am amazed at how many pizza places are still around - when do they great fast food wars come on like was predicted in Demolition Man? - already I see KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza hut sharing the same retail space - however applebees loss may be dominoes gain) By Richard Gibson Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES DES MOINES, Iowa (Dow Jones)--Domino's Pizza Inc. (DPZ) indicated Thursday it plans to deliver value as it seeks ways out of what it called a "softened" U.S. pizza market. The chain reported negative domestic same-store sales for the first quarter - largely because of extraordinary performance a year earlier - although per-share earnings beat Wall Street expectations. Saying on a conference call that "traffic activity and general momentum in the category really softened in the quarter," Chief Executive David Brandon said that "value positioning will be extremely important with consumers" to maintain sales. "But I don't mean by value that we simply want to be out there with discounted prices and nonsense regarding price wars," he added. "It's about fundamental value packages that...resonate with the consumer." Brandon said "it appears that consumers are feeling the impact of rising gas prices and interest rates, and may be shopping with a little less disposable income." Noting that pizza offers a less-expensive meal for families than a trip to most restaurants, the Domino's chairman said his company and others in the category "should be the beneficiary as the customer retreats." Domino's reported first-quarter net income of $26.2 million, or 39 cents a share, compared with $24.7 million, or 35 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue for the period ended March 26 was $347.7 million, down from $369.7 million previously, partly reflecting lower cheese prices. The Ann Arbor, Mich., chain operator saw same-store sales fall 3% at company-owned stores and decline 4% at franchised units. A year ago comps at company units were up 13.8% while those at franchised stores were up 10,8%. "I'm not here to make excuses," Brandon said on the call in addressing the negative same-store sales. "We simply had an incredible quarter last year (that) we all knew would be hard to top." The company also said that if blocks of its stock became available for repurchase, "we would look at our refinancing options and be interested in accumulating any available shares." Shares of Domino's recently were trading down $1.01, or 3.7%, to $26.59, on the New York Stock Exchange. -By Richard Gibson, Dow Jones Newswires; 515-282-6830; dick.gibson@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires April 27, 2006 11:08 ET (15:08 GMT) Copyright (c) 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.- - 11 08 AM EDT 04-27-06

To: mishedlo who wrote (59720)	4/28/2006 2:35:02 AM
From: shades	Respond to of 110194

Canada PM: Deal Reached With US To Resolve Lumber Dispute -2- Harper said the U.S. has agreed to provide Canadian lumber producers with unrestricted access under current market conditions under the seven year deal. "This means no quotas, no tariffs," he said. He said the U.S. has also agreed to return at least US$4 billion of some US$5 billion in duties collected from Canadian producers. -Nirmala Menon, Dow Jones Newswires; 613-237-0668; nirmala.menon@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires April 27, 2006 17:33 ET (21:33 GMT) Copyright (c) 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.- - 05 33 PM EDT 04-27-06

To: mishedlo who wrote (59720)	4/28/2006 2:59:07 AM
From: shades	Respond to of 110194

Winn-Dixie Charged With Selling Undersized Lobsters (HAHA - they need some of those oversized brazilian lobsters - really we need much better watchdogs over the uncontrolled harvesting of the baby fishies and shrimp all over the ocean eh?) MIAMI (AP)--Federal prosecutors on Thursday charged supermarket chain Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. (WNDXQ) with illegal possession, transportation and sale of undersized spiny lobster. The company faces possible fines and probation of up to five years, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami said in a statement. The charges come as the Jacksonville-based chain is working to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by this fall. In 2002 Winn-Dixie sold undersized spiny lobster in Miami and elsewhere when it should have known that the transactions were illegal under Florida law, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Two Winn-Dixie spokesmen did not immediately return telephone calls for comment Thursday after business hours. Florida law requires that the lobsters, which live in waters from Florida to Brazil, have a minimum tail length of 5.5 inches before they are harvested. It was unclear how many undersized lobsters were sold. The case was filed in U.S. District Court in Miami. The company has a hearing next week in federal bankruptcy court. The court is expected to soon consider Winn-Dixie's sale of 35 stores. (END) Dow Jones Newswires April 27, 2006 20:47 ET (00:47 GMT) Copyright (c) 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.- - 08 47 PM EDT 04-27-06