The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Wednesday, January 26, 2011 - 3A The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Wednesday, January 26, 2011 - 3A NEWS BRIEFS WASHINGTON Unemployment rises in 20 states, falls in 15 others The unemployment rate rose in 20 states last month as employers in most states shed jobs. The Labor Department says the unemployment rate rose in 20 states and fell in 15. It was unchanged in another 15 states. That's nearly the same as in November, when the rate rose in 21 states, fell in 15 and was the same in 14. The report is evidence that the job market is barely improving even as the economy grows. Most economists expect hiring to pick up this year, although the unem- ployment rate will likely remain high. TRENTON, N.J. Governor: State won't repay U.S. for tunnel work Gov. Chris Christie said yester- day that New Jersey will contin- ue its fight to avoid repaying the federal government $271 million spent on the Hudson River rail tunnel project that he canceled in October. The deadline for the state to repay the money or file a formal appeal was last night. Christie said on an appearance on West Trenton news radio sta- tion 101.5 that the state does not intend to pay. Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said the administration would have more details today on an appeal. The $8.7 billion project was the most expensive public works proj- ect in the country when Christie spiked it. It would have doubled the capacity for trains travel- ing between New York City and New Jersey, routes that are now close to capacity and frequently delayed. MOGADISHU, Somalia With draught, Somalis march to demand aid Hundreds of Somalis are marching through the capital demanding aid for their drought- stricken country. The aid group Oxfam says half a million Somalis have been affected by the drought. The U.N. says one in six children is acutely malnourished. Somalia has been torn apart by civil war for 20 years and the ongoing conflict is hampering relief efforts. Insurgents issued restricted which led the U.N. to stop distributing aid in areas under their control. Those who held the demon- stration in Mogadishu yesterday say they do not understand why they are notbeinghelped because they live in a part of the city out- side insurgent control. HARARE, Zimbabwe Wildlife director reports sharp rise in rhino poaching Poachers are using aircraft to hunt and kill rhinoceros, Zimba- bwe's wildlife chief said yester- day, as demand in Asia for their horns' supposed medicinal ben- efits grows. Seven endangered rhinos were killed in southern Zimbabwe from early December to Jan. 19, representing about one-third of all 22 rhinos poached throughout 2010, Parks and Wildlife director general Vitalis Chidenga. He said the poachers, including localrecruits,were well-equipped with sophisticated weapons. Five of the rhino were shot in one park in the southwestern Matabele- land province, he said. Rhino horn is prized in Asia as a traditional cure for everything from colds to impotence and it is used to fashion ceremonial dag- ger handles in oil-rich countries in the Middle East. -Compiled from Daily wire reports Russian gov. ratifies historic arms pact with United States NASSER NASSER/AP A protester throws a tear gas canister toward police at a demonstration in Cairo, Egypt yesterday. " " Egyptian riots enounce president's 30-year reign Cl polic prote of pe squa bigge years Mub At killer onstr sia's dema grin( likel a pre Mc Inter ers fi - or terda climt truck "D dowr the you!' sand in a that As of d grou woul Tahr from govei ing t stage At least three confrontations. A large security force moved killed in in around 1 a.m. today, arrest- ing people, chasing others into violent riots side-streets and filling the square with clouds of tear gas. AIRO (AP) - Egyptian Discontent with life in e fired tear gas and beat Egypt's authoritarian police esters to clear thousands state has simmered under ople from a central Cairo the surface for years. How- re yesterday after the ever, it is Tunisia's popular est demonstrations in uprising, which forced that s against President Hosni nation's autocratic ruler from arak's authoritarian rule. power, that appears to have least three people were pushed young Egyptians into d in the nationwide dem- the streets, many for the first rations inspired by Tuni- time. uprising, which also "This is the first time I am anded a solution to Egypt's protesting, but we have been ding poverty and were a cowardly nation. We have to, y to fuel growing dissent in finally say no," said Ismail Syed, sidential election year. a hotel worker who struggles to obilized largely on the live on a salary of $50 a month. net, the waves of protest- "We want to see change, just lled Cairo's central Tahrir like in Tunisia," said 24-year- Liberation - Square yes- old Lamia Rayan. y, some hurling rocks and Dubbed a "day of revolution bing atop armored police against torture, poverty, cor- ks. ruption and unemployment," own with Hosni Mubarak, yesterday's protests in cities n-withtheayrat-hanted across Egypt began peace- crowds. "We don't want fully, with police at first show- they screamed as thou- ing unusual restraint in what S of riot police deployed appeared to be a calculated massive security operation strategy to avoid further sul- failed to quell the protests. lying the image of a security night fell, thousands apparatus widely criticized as emonstrators stood their corrupt and violent. nd for what they vowed With discontent growing d be an all-night sit-in in over economic woes and the 'ir Square just steps away toppling of Tunisia's presi- parliament and other dent resonating in the region, rnment buildings - block- it was an acknowledgment of he streets and setting the the need to tread softly by an for even more dramatic Egyptian government that normally responds with swift retribution to any dissent. But as crowds filled Tahrir Square - waving Egyptian and Tunisian flags and adopting the same protest chants that rang out in the streets of Tunis - security personnel changed tactics and the protest turned violent. At one point, demonstrators attacked a water cannon truck, opening the driver's door and forcing the man out of the vehi- cle. As protesters hurled rocks and dragged metal barricades, officers beat them back with batons. Protesters emerged stum- bling amid clouds of acrid tear gas, coughing and covering their faces with scarves. Some had blood streaming down their faces. One man fainted. Police dragged some away and clubbed a journalist, smash- ing her glasses and seizing her camera. START treaty limits number of U.S., Russia nuclear aresenals MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's lower house of parliament rati- fied a landmark nuclear arms pact with the United States yes- terday, virtually assuring pas- sage of an agreement President Barack Obama has described as the most significant arms control deal in nearly two decades. The State Duma voted 350-96 with one abstention to pass a bill to ratify the New START treaty, which was approved by the U.S. Senate late last year. The treaty will now go to the upper house for final approval. The New START would limit each country to 1,550 strategic warheads, down from the cur- rent ceiling of 2,200 and also re-establish a system for moni- toring that ended in December 2009 with the expiration of the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty signed by Soviet Presi- dent Mikhail Gorbachev and President George H.W. Bush. The treaty's passage has never been in doubt in the Kremlin- controlled parliament, but Russian lawmakers wanted to counter a U.S. Senate resolu- tion raising some Republican concerns that accompanied the December ratification by adding on a similar motion. Obama pressed strongly for the pact's approval, and Demo- crats sought to appease some Republican senators by allow- ing them to raise their concerns about the treaty in the accompa- nying resolution. Neither the Senate, nor the Duma resolution would affect the text of the treaty, which is a centerpiece of Obama's efforts to "reset" ties with Russia. While the Senate resolution said the treaty shouldn't restrict U.S. plans to develop a missile defense system, the Duma rati- fication bill states that the treaty can only be fulfilled if emerging missile defenses don't erode the Russian nuclear deterrent. The Russian draft bill also mimics the Senate resolution's concerns that the remaining nuclear arsenal is effective by emphasizing the need to mod- ernize Russia's nuclear forces. The Russian legislators said they felt obliged to present their view of the treaty's provisions, given the Senate interpretation. "The State Duma proceeds from the assumption that the New START- treaty can be functioning and viable only in conditions when there is no quantitative and qualita- tive buildup of the U.S. mis- sile defense systems, developed independently or jointly with other countries," the Duma said in a statement accompanying the passage of the ratification bill. NATO has approved a plan for a U.S.-led missile defense in Europe last fall and invited Rus- sia to join. Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev was receptive of NATO's proposal but didn't makea definitive commitment. Medvedev has warned that the failure to reach agreement on a joint European missile shield with Moscow may force Russia to deploy new offensive weapons and trigger a new arms race. In its statement yesterday, the Duma also turned a cold shoul- der to the U.S. push for a quick start of U.S.-Russian talks to cut short-range nuclear weapons. White House officials prepare long-term transportation plan Transit bill to will propose and how officials plan to pay for it. Any plan include $50B to that increases transportation spending without a means to hire construction pay for it, or which raises taxes, is likely to get a cold reception workers from House Republicans. White House and Trans- WASHINGTON (AP) - portation Department officials Obama administration offi- declined to answer questions cials are preparing a long-term about the plan. highway and transit spending Obama sees greater trans- plan even though they've had portation spending as one of to dip into the general treasury the important levers govern- just to keep the current pro- ment can turn to jumpstart gram afloat and Republicans job creation. Last Labor Day, are demanding that govern- he laid out a plan to invest $50 ment shrink. billion in highways, bridges, Transportation lobby- transit, high-speed rail and ists and interest groups said airports, adding it to the first administration officials have year of a six-year transporta- indicated in public forums tion bill. Congress didn't act on and private conversations in the proposal before adjourning recent weeks that they expect last year, but White House and to unveil a transportation plan Transportation Department after President Barack Obama officials appear determined to presents his budget to Con- stay the course. gress in mid-February. Roy Kienitz, the Transpor- Transportation Secretary tation Department undersec- Ray LaHood told a recent busi- retary for policy, laid out some ness conference in Atlanta that of the key themes of the admin- the six-year bill will include istration's plan at a meeting a $50 billion "upfront invest- last week of the U.S. Confer- ment to help employ the nearly ence of Mayors. They included one in five construction work- support for high-speed trains ers that are still out of a job," and the administration's liva- according to a transcript of his bility initiative, which seeks to remarks. He has also said he foster communities that have wants Congress to put a trans- densely-built housing mixed portation bill on Obama's desk with office, retail and enter- for signature by August. tainment development, as well What's unclear is how large as an array of transportation a program the administration alternatives to driving.