NEW YORK (Reuters) - Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT.N), signaling
Chief Executive Irene Rosenfeld's determination to make foreign
acquisitions, is giving its international managers more power
The landscape could well be mistaken for the rolling, sun-drenched hills of Tuscany.But the monasteries perched on hilltops are Buddhist. And the workers aren't Italians with centuries of viticulture coursing through their veins, but Asian farmers new to the grape at Myanmar's first winery.Started by a German entrepreneur, the Aythaya estate has been producing reds, whites and ross since 2004 and is preparing for a leap forward in both output and quality, with exports also on the horizon.They're...
Around the corner from the Capital Grille, the power steakery on South Broad, and kitty-corner across Chestnut from the Olive Garden, you will now find Fogo de Chão, the newest chain operator in Center City, setting up house in the splendid, French Regency bones of J.E. Caldwell, for most of the last century the city's classic jeweler.
Fogo de Chão (pronounced fo-go dee shoun) means "fire on the ground," and while the cuts of meat here are hardly seared over rustic campfires, as was the practice on the grasslands of southern Brazil, their stylistics - including tableside carving - descend from that other American cowboy tradition.
Instead of a Capital Grille-style slab of meat on a plate, the sirloin or filet or beef ribs here are paraded on glistening skewers, tender slices carved on demand at your table - a barbecue (or more precisely, churrasco) buffet on the hoof.
Lansing Jr. Woman's ClubAbout the group: Established in 1947. Affiliate of General Federation of Women's Clubs. An international women's organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. Promotes interest along educational, civic and cultural lines. Meets monthly, August through May. Web site: www.lansingjrs.org. Nonprofit organization.Special events: Lansing Jr. Woman's Club joins the state organization in supporting March of Dimes and P...
ATLANTA (AP) -- Hooters, the restaurant chain known for its tasty wings and scantily clad servers, is heading to Israel.Atlanta-based Hooters of America Inc. said in a statement Monday that it has reached a franchise deal with llana and Ofer Ahiraz to open the first Hooters restaurant this year in Israel, with several more locations in Israel to follow.
The first location will be in Tel Aviv, Hooters spokesman Mike McNeil said Tuesday. The franchisees are from Israel. Eventually, other parts of the country may be considered for locations, but there have been no formal decisions about where, McNeil said."For the most part, it will be identical to what you're going to see in the United States -- the same uniform for the girls, chicken wings and burgers," he said.He said he wasn't sure if kosher fare would be offered, but he said Hooters would be...
The chain plans to expand over the next two years to Colombia, Dubai, Guam, New Zealand and India.The chain said international expansion is a key focus for the company.Hooters, a privately held company started in 1983, is known for its spicy chicken wings and the women who serve them, which the chain refers to as "Hooters Girls."Besides their revealing attire of low-cut, tight tank tops and short orange shorts circa the 1980s, the waitresses are known for their playful banter and friendly smiles...
Foreign high school students are scheduled to arrive soon for academic semester and year program homestays, and the sponsoring organization needs a few more local host families.According to Pacific Intercultural Exchange Executive Director John Doty, the students are all between the ages of 15 and 18 years, are English-speaking, have their own spending money, carry accident and health insurance, and are anxious to share their cultural experiences with their new American families. Doty noted that...
Area representatives for PIE match students with host families by finding common interests and lifestyles through an informal in-home meeting. Prospective host families are able to review student applications and select the perfect match. As there are no "typical" host families, P.I.E. can fit a student into just about any situation, whether it is a single parent, a childless couple, a retired couple or a large family.Families who host for PIE are also eligible to claim ...
©2005 The Inyo Register
PALMETTO, Fla. - The U.S. Coast Guard has released the names of the two seamen who died last week from lack of oxygen in the hull of a ship berthed at Port Manatee.
Chief mate Rene Otto, 35, from Germany, and third mate German Jesus Ugaz Aguilar, 24, from Peru, were found cold and unconscious last Thursday in a refrigerated cargo hold of the Sol do Brasil.
Paramedics were unable to revive them.
With a name like Driving Forward, it is probably no surprise the band has big dreams.
"If we can play every weekend, that would be phenomenal," said guitarist and vocalist Jesse Naul, whose band will be at Lemont's Stage 83 on Saturday.
"But it's hard to keep playing Chicago and have the same fan base want to come out every weekend. That's why we want to get out of state and maybe play Chicago once every couple of months."
U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson acknowledged that U.S. economic prescriptions for Latin America have not reduced poverty, and he pledged openness to new ideas.
"The benefits of growth don't seem to be reaching all the people," Paulson told reporters this week during a flight to Lima, Peru, from Guatemala City.
"People are going to have to try some new ideas. I have some views. I want to do some more listening."
The countdown to the Final Four is on, and March Madness consumes us. Watching basketball has become our rights of spring. But things are moving so fast, I get them confused.For a while I had Anna Nicole Smith mixed up with Nicole Brown Simpson. I assumed that O.J. had moved to the Bahamas.Hillary Clinton compared herself to John Kennedy in having to break down barriers. Most people find a greater resemblance with Kennedy in Bill.Scooter Libby seems to resemble G. Gordon Liddy, the architect of ...
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In September 1940, the Wades arrived in Shanghai; Ernest, a Navy doctor, his wife, Helen, and the children, Marion, Diane and Ernie.
What might have been a great overseas adventure, however, was short-lived. Two months later, with war clouds gathering and Shanghai already under control of the Japanese, Washington ordered American military dependents to leave China.
Ernest, a surgeon at the Fourth Marine Regimental hospital, stayed behind. The family would never see him again.
Jesse Watson never wanted to illustrate children?s books. Nevertheless, he is currently at work illustrating a young adult title called Chess Rumble by Greg Neri, published by Lee & Low Books and due in bookstores in spring 2008. Watson has also painted book covers for the Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver series featuring Hank Zipzer ? the World?s Best Underachiever, and Sharon M. Draper?s Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs books. ? Photo by Kathie Meyer
An illustrated life; children's books becoming a family tradition
When the phone rings at Jesse Joshua Watson's house, it could be his father, Richard Jesse Watson, a children's book author and illustrator. Or it could be his brother, Ben Watson, also a children's book author. Or it could be television, movie star and young adult author Henry Winkler.
The Venezuelan leader drops off a $100-million assistance plan.
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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has opened a new front in his anti-American offensive: Haiti.
PALMETTO, Fla. - The U.S. Coast Guard has released the names of the two seamen who died last week from lack of oxygen in the hull of a ship berthed at Port Manatee.
Chief mate Rene Otto, 35, from Germany, and third mate German Jesus Ugaz Aguilar, 24, from Peru, were found cold and unconscious last Thursday in a refrigerated cargo hold of the Sol do Brasil.
Paramedics were unable to revive them.
The fiancee and a cousin of Raymond Lee Oyler testified earlier in the day that the defendant talked of setting a wildfire to create a diversion so he could free his dog from the pound.
The pair also said Oyler had a copy of "The Anarchist Cookbook" - a how-to book with instructions for building destructive devices - and had spoke of lighting earlier fires.
Superior Court Judge Jeffrey J. Prevost ruled there was sufficient evidence to hold Oyler to answer on 44 of the 45 counts he was charged with in connection with 22 wildfires in the San Gorgonio Pass between May and October.
SHANGHAI ? Dell Inc., aiming to boost sales in rapidly growing developing countries, unveiled a new, compact and inexpensive desktop personal computer designed for first-time buyers and novice users who want to connect to the Internet.
Dell's chief executive officer, Michael Dell, said the new computer, whose base price will be about $333, would be sold first here in China, one of the world's fastest growing PC markets. Dell then plans to introduce it in other countries, including India and Brazil.
The computer unveiled yesterday, which Dell calls the EC280, "was designed with China and other key markets in mind," Mr. Dell said. He added that Dell is striving to "adjust our business to meet the needs of customers in fast-growing and emerging markets."
Barclays PLC on Tuesday moved a step closer to acquiring ABN Amro Holdings
NV after the two companies agreed to some terms of a merger, including a head
office in Amsterdam.
Brazil Developer Cyrela Schedules Debentures Road Show
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
March 21, 2007 7:16 a.m.
He changes divisions when he faces Joshua Clottey on April 7 in Springfield, Mo.
Three-time former world champion Diego Corrales, who last fought as a lightweight, will make a two-division leap when he faces welterweight contender Joshua Clottey of New York on April 7 at The Shrine Mosque auditorium in Springfield, Mo.
The 10-round main event, to be telecast by Showtime, will be a test to see if the nearly 6-foot Corrales (40-4, 33 knockouts), who says his body can no longer adapt to fighting at 130 and 135 pounds, can effectively compete at 147 pounds. Conversely, Clottey (30-2, 20 KOs), a native of Ghana, is an established welterweight.
Brazil?s state-run oil company Petrobras and two partners announced a deal Monday to buy Ipiranga, the No. 2 fuel distributor and refiner in Latin America?s largest nation, for nearly $4 billion in cash and stock.
Petroleo Brasileiro SA and chemical company Braskem SA will pay about $2.4 billion in cash, and fuel distributor and refiner Grupo Ultra will issue new shares for the rest, said Percio de Souza, an adviser to the three purchasers.
News Tribune news services
Jim Lloyd's March 17 letter, "Ethanol an energy sinkhole," like so many others, was ill-informed. He was wrong to call ethanol an energy sink; in fact, it is a renewable energy source. Ethanol production varies.
The United States primarily uses corn to produce ethanol and the energy yield is positive. Brazil's primary crop for ethanol is sugar cane, with an energy yield per acre much higher than that made from corn, and it is a commercially viable product used in all gasoline sold in Brazil.
The use of corn is not ideal for the production of ethanol; but the real energy sink seems to be the use of subsidies to support ethanol development.
Among the most frequent questions we get is how we choose what to put on Page 1.
Karen Peterson, our managing editor, usually picks the Page 1 stories, though she draws on a consensus achieved among a dozen or so editors at the 3 o?clock news meeting she runs every weekday afternoon.
Here is how she described our thinking in a recent note to a reader:
Tom Marsico is finished adding to his mutual fund lineup after rolling out a pair of new products. He isn't stressed about the economy and the stock market, despite the volatile stretch, and he thinks railroad shares are cheap.
Those are a few of the thoughts the Denver-based money manager shared as the 10-year anniversary of his company, Marsico Capital Management, looms on the horizon.
The firm has unveiled plans for the Marsico Global Fund, which is set to debut as early as May 31. The move comes just a few months after the introduction of the Marsico Flexible Capital Fund.
The Pass-A-Grille Yacht Club's annual keelboat regatta has been a one-day affair since it was known as the Anchor Cup. This year it seemed more like two races, as the wind quit during the race, then returned with a solid sea breeze.
Jeff Grossman and crew on his Skye 51 ketch Polyphonic were in position to get the new wind first and used all five sails to romp to victory in the True Cruising class. Tim Roberts, another Clearwater Yacht Club sailor, placed second on the Endeavour 35 Chances R. True Cruising, with 14 boats, was the largest class of the regatta.
Davis Island's George Cussins, on his J/105, led the Spinnaker A division, St. Petersburg Yacht Club's Grant Dumas' Ranger 33 the B and the Hunter 28.5 of Treasure Island Yacht Club's Rafael Paris the Non Spinnaker fleet. The Racer/Cruiser winner was Jeff Russo on his J/40 from Davis Island.
German Wine Dinner: 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. dinner Thur., the Pepper Mill Restaurant, 1575 S Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater. German-inspired courses including potato cake with spicy mint applesauce, pork sauerbraten, almond tuile with wild berries, paired with German red and white wines; $49. Call (727) 449-2988 to register or view menu at www. peppermillofclearwater.com.
Mise en Place Wine Dinner: 6:30 p.m. Thur., Mise en Place, 442 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa. California winemaker August Briggs presents varieties to pair with five courses; $150. Call (813) 254-5373.
Vintage Wine Dinner: 7 p.m. Thur., NoHo Bistro, 1714 N Armenia Ave., Tampa. Sea scallops, hangar steak and apple tart pair with wine choices from experts at Vintage Wine Cellars; $75. Call (813) 879-2931 to register.
The art of Brazilian churrasco has finally made its way from South America to Delray Beach. Men dressed in gaucho pants serving a variety of grilled meats on sword-like skewers might be a common sight in the land of soccer and samba, but at Gol! the Taste of Brazil, it brings a different way of thinking to your average dinner out.
My sister and I looked forward to visiting a churrascaria together in Florida after living seven years in So Paulo. The restored Arcade Building from the 1920s and faint bossa nova music in the background gave the meal an exotic setting. I ordered the complete dinner ($39.95) with unlimited access to the salad bar and endless servings of meat, chicken and seafood. I was impressed to find Guaran ($3.50) on the menu, the famous Brazilian soft drink made from the red Amazonian fruit.
When I flipped the plastic disk next to my plate from red to green to signal that I was ready to be served, a steady flow of grilled meat began to arrive at the table. I had to decline about half of the roaming gauchos to save room for the salad bar, but I never refused a serving of picanha. The thin slices of rump roast seasoned with sea salt were tender, juicy and almost buttery. My mouth still watered days later when I thought of it.
ATLANTA -- Hooters -- the restaurant chain known for its scantily clad servers and its spicy chicken wings -- is headed to Israel.
Atlanta-based Hooters of America said in a statement Tuesday that it has reached a franchise deal with Ilana and Ofer Ahiraz to open the first Hooters Restaurant this year in Israel, with more locations to follow.
There are more than 430 Hooters Restaurants in the United States and 23 other countries, including China, Australia, Switzerland and Brazil.
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - ABN Amro Holding NV and rival Barclays PLC are in talks about combining the two banks in what would be one of the biggest cross-border combinations in European banking history.
ABN Amro, the Netherlands' largest bank, said in a statement that it was in "exclusive preliminary discussions with Barclays PLC concerning a potential combination of the two organizations."
In a separate statement, Barclays, of Britain, confirmed it was considering "a potential combination of the two organizations which will create value for both sets of shareholders."
CARTAGENA, Colombia -- In his first trip to this violence-racked country, Bill Gates said Microsoft Corp. was helping set up computer learning centers in areas where demobilized paramilitary fighters are in dire need of job training.
Given the low Internet penetration in Latin America, he said, the company's focus for getting people online in the region is to promote computer centers in libraries.
The company said it was donating $1 million over three years to set up nine training centers in some of Colombia's most conflictive regions.
CARTAGENA, Colombia (AP) - In his first trip to this violence-wracked country, Bill Gates said Microsoft Corp. was helping set up computer learning centers in areas where demobilized paramilitary fighters are in dire need of job training.
Given the low Internet penetration in Latin America, he said, the software company's focus for getting people online in the region is to promote computer centers in libraries.
The company said it was donating $1 million over three years to set up nine training centers in some of the Colombia's most conflictive regions.
LONDON/AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch bank ABN AMRO and British bank Barclays are in exclusive talks for a possible $160 billion merger that would be Europe's biggest financial services deal, they said on Monday.
Shares in ABN AMRO hit a record high earlier on Monday after sources familiar with the matter said on Sunday that Barclays approached ABN AMRO with a merger blueprint.
The two banks said they were in "exclusive preliminary discussions" concerning a merger. They said the talks were "exploratory."
MUSIC/FILM: Officials say overall attendance may have hit record numbers
09:37 AM CDT on Monday, March 19, 2007
AUSTIN – It's early Sunday afternoon, and Sixth Street is all but deserted, save for a few stragglers hanging out in the bars listening to one last set. Traffic on the highway is at a standstill. There's no badge anywhere in sight.
One of earth's youngest nations with one of its oldest indigenous populations,
Australia is a land of contrasts. The country is a captivating mix of desolation
and riches, from the harsh life of the outback in its interior to the welcoming,
SANTA FE ? Joseph Cortez came to the United States from Brazil in 1959 to work one year as a motorcycle mechanic and learn English.
In the 46 years since, he got married and had a daughter, returned to Brazil once and earned a reputation as a man who can carve beauty from blocks of wood.
Standing in his 40-by-30-foot shop in Santa Fe, Cortez described his life as the American dream. When asked about the plan to return to Brazil, he shrugged and smiled.
Foreign high school students are scheduled to arrive soon for academic semester home-stay programs, and the sponsoring organization needs a few more local host families.According to Pacific Intercultural Exchange Executive Director, John Doty, the students are all between the ages of 15 and 18 years, are English-speaking, have their own spending money, carry accident and health insurance and are anxious to share their cultural experiences with their new American families.Pacific Intercultural Ex...
Four men were arrested late Thursday night after allegedly stealing a large stone gargoyle from an Olney resident's yard and placing it in their vehicle's trunk.According to information from Olney Police Department Chief Rick Chaplin, at approximately 11:50 p.m. Thursday, an officer on patrol came upon a vehicle stopped in the 800 block of N. East St. The officer observed four male subjects around the vehicle acting suspiciously.The subjects entered the vehicle and were southbound on East Street but did not have their headlights on.
The officer stopped the vehicle for driving without headlights when required. When the vehicle was stopped, police found a large stone statue in plain view in the open.Further investigation revealed the statue was stolen from a resident in the 800 block of N. East St. The owner of the property was Marge Lenear.Lenear told police she gave no one permission to take her property and that the statue was valued at more than $300.
Arrested were Benjamin W. Sheib, 20, Liberty, Ind., on charges of driving without lights when required, illegal consumption of alcohol, no valid registration, DUI, theft of more than $300, and criminal damage to property; Troy C. Ellis, 19, Massillon, Ohio, on charges of criminal damage to property, theft of more than $300, and illegal consumption of alcohol; Timothy J. King, 20, Brazil, Ind., on charges of criminal damage to property and theft of more than $300; and Robert A. Woo...
GUATEMALA CITYThe Inter-American Development Bank announced Friday that it would forgive $4.4 billion in debt owed by five of Latin America and the Caribbean's poorest nations.
The bank excused the foreign debts of Bolivia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti and Guyana in an announcement ahead of its annual meeting, which starts today.
"This is a historic opportunity that will give these countries a fresh start," bank President Luis Alberto Moreno said.
CARTAGENA, Colombia (AP) -- In his first trip to this violence-wracked country, Bill Gates said Microsoft Corp. was helping set up computer learning centers in areas where demobilized paramilitary fighters are in dire need of job training. Given the low Internet penetration in Latin America, he said, the software company's focus for getting people online in the region is to promote computer centers in libraries. The company said it was donating $1 million over three years to set up nine trai...
An oil tanker draws up to a refinery along the Houston Ship Channel and unloads a cargo of Saudi crude. The refinery turns the crude into jet fuel and ships it to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Jets bound for Asia, Latin America and Europe load the fuel and fly off.
As far as U.S. Customs is concerned, the Saudi oil never entered the United States. Importers never had to pay a tariff of about a quarter of a penny a gallon, which adds up when you're importing more than 546 million gallons a day.
That's how a foreign trade zone works.
SAO PAULO, Brazil --Brazil's airlines were trying to make up for lengthy flight delays Monday after its troubled air traffic control system failed over the weekend, stranding travelers just months after a breakdown that enraged thousands of passengers.
A control center in Brasilia that monitors flights through the nation's populous southeast region had suffered a communications equipment failure, Brazil's Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Then power went out at the airport in Brasilia, making the problem worse, officials confirmed Monday. Unusually heavy rains in Sao Paulo put even more strain on the system.
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- ABN Amro Holding NV, the Netherlands' largest bank, and rival Barclays PLC of Britain are in early-stage talks about a "potential combination," the banks said Monday.
The disclosures came amid reports that Barclays was eyeing a possible purchase of its smaller rival. At Monday's closing stock prices, ABN Amro was worth about $76 billion while Barclays was valued at about $86 billion.
If a deal were struck, it would be one of the biggest cross-border combinations in European banking history.
SAO PAULO, Brazil - Brazil's airlines were trying to make up for lengthy flight delays Monday after its troubled air traffic control system failed over the weekend, stranding travelers just months after a breakdown that enraged thousands of passengers.
A control center in Brasilia that monitors flights through the nation's populous southeast region had suffered a communications equipment failure, Brazil's Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Then power went out at the airport in Brasilia, making the problem worse, officials confirmed Monday. Unusually heavy rains in Sao Paulo put even more strain on the system.
DALLAS — At the start of a tour to try to capture the support of neighboring Texans, Democratic presidential hopeful and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said Sunday that, if elected, he would work to raise the country's image around the world while improving wages and health care availability at home.
"I can get bipartisan support. I can bring Democrats and Republicans together. I can bring nations together," Richardson, a former congressman, ambassador and energy secretary in the Clinton administration, told a small group of mainly Spanish language media Sunday.
With planned stops in San Antonio, Abilene and Austin this week, Richardson is trying to capture the support of neighboring Texas for several reasons. The state would have a better say in selecting presidential nominees if lawmakers move up the primary to Feb. 5. Texas also offers Richardson, the son of a Mexican mother and American father, a potential base of support in its growing Latino population.
BERLIN (AP) The United States objected to key parts of a discussion on climate change at a meeting between G-8 environmental officials and representatives from five influential developing nations, Germany's environment minister said.
The conference ended with consensus on several points, including a general acceptance of the scientific explanation for the causes of global warming and that industrialized nations need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions more than mandated by current agreements, said German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who hosted the meeting Saturday.
Officials also agreed that industrialized countries have been responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions in the past and for the need to help developing countries control their emissions today, Gabriel said.
MELBOURNE, Australia - China led qualifying for the men's 3-meter synchronized springboard and women's 10-meter synchronized platform finals Monday in the world championships, giving the country an early jump on winning its first diving gold medals.
Wang Feng, who won the world title in 2005 with former partner He Chong, and Qin Kai led with 453.96 points after six rounds of preliminary dives.
Their countrywomen, Jia Tong and Chen Ruolin, were the top qualifiers in the synchro platform with 329.94 points. Jia won the event two years ago with Yuan Peilin.
Your Ethanol article claims it costs 85 cents to produce one gallon of ethanol. I know it costs about $2 to produce one gallon of gasoline.
E-85 is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
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Letters for Sunday: Gardasil, shopping Carnival, Patriot Act
08:45 AM CDT on Sunday, March 18, 2007
Gardasil needs testing
MARQUETTE Three Northern Michigan University students won scholarships to study abroad for the spring 2007 semester.
Shea Belanger, a junior elementary education major from Suttons Bay, received a $500 scholarship from the Council on International Educational Exchange. She is studying at the school of health and science at Dublin City University in Ireland to pursue her physical education minor. The CIEE program awards scholarships based on academic excellence, financial need and a required essay.
Two other NMU students received Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships through a nationwide competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of States Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
DALLAS ? At the start of a tour to try to capture the support of neighboring Texans, Democratic presidential hopeful and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said Sunday if elected, he would work to raise the country?s image around the world while improving wages and health care availability at home.
?I can get bipartisan support. I can get nations together,? Richardson, a former congressman, ambassador and energy secretary in the Clinton administration, told a small group of mainly Spanish-language media Sunday.
?Don?t vote for me just because I?m Hispanic, but because I have the best plan,? Richardson said.
After a slow start to the season, undefeated Crab Orchard has become the most dominant team in the USPA Piaget Gold Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Led by 10-goal-rated Adolfo Cambiaso of Argentina and 7-goaler David Stirling of Uruguay, who was making his U.S. polo debut in Wellington, Crab Orchard defeated Black Watch 14-8 on Sunday.
LocalLinks
WELLINGTON — Wellington's Margie Engle captured the 25,000 euro Medium Tour Final 1.50m Classic on the final day of the Winter Equestrian Festival at Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club.
The 10-time AGA Rider of the Year outrode seven others in the jumpoff aboard one of her prize horses - Hidden Creek's Perin - for the title. The two stopped the clocks at 33.06 seconds in the final round.
Individual 2004 Olympic gold medalist Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil - atop Rufus - took second and Francois Mathy of Belgium was third.
President Bush and Congress have promoted the increased use of biofuels such as ethanol as key to achieving American “energy independence.” But breaking free of the U.S. reliance on imported oil will require diplomatic skill as well as homegrown solutions.
The agreement that Bush inked with Brazil during his Latin American tour is an excellent place to start.
Together, Brazil and the United States produce more than 70 percent of the world’s ethanol. Cooperation in developing and spreading technologies for ethanol production, setting common international standards and opening new markets for alternative fuels could pay big dividends for both economies while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Conservative pundit Ann Coulter slurred Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards from the podium at the right wing's premier event, the recent Conservative Political Action Conference. She called Edwards a ``faggot,'' and the room filled with laughter and clapping.
Coulter claims it was just a schoolyard taunt, but what she did was the same slam, fully intended, as when a white calls a black man ``boy.'' The intention is to strip the target of his masculinity. The slur is integral with the vilest bigotry practiced against minorities across the ages. Coulter knew she was speaking in front of the nation's conservative leaders, not playing tag with a half-dozen schoolgirls.
There is a great stream of conservative philosophy that has much to offer our nation's political dialogue, but for too long America's conservatives have been enthralled by an elitist leadership that panders to bigots.
SAO PAULO --Leftist fugitive Cesare Battisti, who reinvented himself as a writer in France while he was wanted in Italy for two 1970s murders, lost his freedom Sunday in a three-nation operation that ended in his arrest near Brazil's famed Copacabana beach.
French police were present during the 8 a.m. arrest at Battisti's Rio de Janeiro Hotel, police officials in Paris said.
''Brazilian police had been following him for several months after receiving information from Interpol in Paris and Rome,'' Ramos said.