AVUND

utorak, 19.05.2009.

A showy musical theater actor and his clean-cut acoustic guitar-playing rival get their last chance to woo viewers

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A showy musical theater actor and his clean-cut acoustic guitar-playing rival get their last chance to woo viewers and votes on Tuesday night in the final performance episode of U.S. television talent show "American Idol."

After 100,000 people auditioned last summer and five months of broadcasts on the Fox network, Adam Lambert, 27, and Kris Allen, 23, are expected to sing three songs each before "Idol" viewers call in their votes to anoint the eighth winner of the TV ratings juggernaut. The winner will be announced at the season finale on Wednesday night.

The Lambert-Allen matchup marks the third time in "American Idol" history -- and the second year in a row -- that the show's finale has come down to two male contestants. The two finalists reportedly roomed together for much of the season at the so-called Idol Mansion, apparently because they both have a penchant for neatness.

That's about all this year's two finalists have in common, however.

Widely considered the front-runner going into the finale, the flamboyant, nail-polish-wearing Lambert has wowed audiences with his off-the-charts vocal range, outrageous costumes and his willingness to take risks with songs like Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" and Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love."

"From a pure TV spectacle standpoint, this is the Adam Lambert show," said Michael Slezak, who covers "American Idol" for Entertainment Weekly. "It's hard to deny his effect and his dominance."

Nicknamed "Glambert" by his fans, the San Diego native was in the cast of the Los Angeles production of the musical "Wicked" before auditioning for "Idol."

ALLEN SEEN AS UNDERDOG

At the other end of the spectrum, Allen is a laid back Arkansas student who most often performs with his acoustic guitar or at the piano. Like Lambert, however, he has won praise for putting his own spin on tunes, among them Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" and Michael Jackson's "Remember the Time."

As recently as last week, the recently wed Allen was considered a long shot heading into the battle for the top two "Idol" spots, but wowed the show's judges with his rendition of Kanye West's "Heartless," ousting early favorite Danny Gokey.

"Idol" watcher Slezak, however, cautioned against assuming that a Lambert victory was a foregone conclusion, saying Allen seems well-placed to succeed in the music business beyond "American Idol."

"In terms of artists who are going to create records that are going to sell, he's neck and neck with Adam Lambert," Slezak said. "People like to say that he is the weaker vocalist, but we haven't really heard many bum notes from Kris Allen this season. This guy's pretty good."

"American Idol" has been America's most-watched TV show for several years, attracting an average audience this year of more than 26 million viewers per episode. It has produced bona fide music stars including country singer Carrie Underwood, Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson, rocker Chris Daughtry and Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson.

outh Africa (Reuters) – Belligerent half-centuries by Brendon McCullum

CENTURION, South Africa (Reuters) – Belligerent half-centuries by Brendon McCullum and Brad Hodge took the Kolkata Knight Riders to a seven-wicket victory off the last ball against the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League on Monday.

McCullum opened the innings as Kolkata chased a stiff target of 189, and the New Zealander raced to his 50 off just 21 balls to equal Yusuf Pathan's IPL record set for the Rajasthan Royals against the Deccan Chargers in Hyderabad last year.

The Kolkata captain was eventually bowled by left-arm spinner Shadab Jakati for 81 off 48 balls, with 11 fours and three sixes, leaving his team 65 runs to get in six overs.

Hodge immediately warmed to the task and his ball-striking was impressively clean as he took Kolkata to victory with a top-class innings of 71 not out off 44 balls, which included four fours and four sixes.

Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha played a supporting role with an unbeaten 25 off 13 balls as Kolkata scored the last of the six runs they needed off the last ball of the match.

Chennai's bowling fell shy of expectations, although champion off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan baffled the batsmen as he took one for 16 in four overs.

The Chennai total of 188 for three was built around a rapid partnership of 74 for the third wicket between Suresh Raina (52) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (40 not out).

South African all-rounder Albie Morkel then unleashed an assault on Ajit Agarkar, scoring 17 in the final over as he reached 21 not out off 10 balls.

The victory was just the second in 13 matches for Kolkata, while Chennai will be under pressure to win their last match, against the Punjab Kings XI in Durban on Wednesday.

Chennai are still second in the standings but can be overtaken by the Deccan Chargers, Punjab or Rajasthan Royals should they win their final match of the round-robin phase and the Super Kings lose.

(To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

outh Africa (Reuters) – Belligerent half-centuries by Brendon McCullum

CENTURION, South Africa (Reuters) – Belligerent half-centuries by Brendon McCullum and Brad Hodge took the Kolkata Knight Riders to a seven-wicket victory off the last ball against the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League on Monday.

McCullum opened the innings as Kolkata chased a stiff target of 189, and the New Zealander raced to his 50 off just 21 balls to equal Yusuf Pathan's IPL record set for the Rajasthan Royals against the Deccan Chargers in Hyderabad last year.

The Kolkata captain was eventually bowled by left-arm spinner Shadab Jakati for 81 off 48 balls, with 11 fours and three sixes, leaving his team 65 runs to get in six overs.

Hodge immediately warmed to the task and his ball-striking was impressively clean as he took Kolkata to victory with a top-class innings of 71 not out off 44 balls, which included four fours and four sixes.

Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha played a supporting role with an unbeaten 25 off 13 balls as Kolkata scored the last of the six runs they needed off the last ball of the match.

Chennai's bowling fell shy of expectations, although champion off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan baffled the batsmen as he took one for 16 in four overs.

The Chennai total of 188 for three was built around a rapid partnership of 74 for the third wicket between Suresh Raina (52) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (40 not out).

South African all-rounder Albie Morkel then unleashed an assault on Ajit Agarkar, scoring 17 in the final over as he reached 21 not out off 10 balls.

The victory was just the second in 13 matches for Kolkata, while Chennai will be under pressure to win their last match, against the Punjab Kings XI in Durban on Wednesday.

Chennai are still second in the standings but can be overtaken by the Deccan Chargers, Punjab or Rajasthan Royals should they win their final match of the round-robin phase and the Super Kings lose.

(To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

President Barack Obama plans to propose the first-ever national emission limits for cars

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama plans to propose the first-ever national emission limits for cars and trucks as well as average mileage requirements of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016 — all costing consumers an extra $1,300 per vehicle. Obama's plan couples for the first time pollution reduction from vehicle tailpipes with increased efficiency on the road. It would save 1.8 billion barrels of oil through 2016 and would be the environmental equivalent to taking 177 million cars off the road, senior administration officials said Monday night.

The plan also would effectively end a feud between automakers and statehouses over emission standards — with the states coming out on top but the automakers getting a single national standard and more time to make the changes.

The plan still must clear regulatory hurdles at the Environmental Protection Agency and the Transportation Department. The administration officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the formal announcement by Obama was scheduled for Tuesday.

New vehicles would be 30 percent cleaner and more fuel efficient by the end of the program, according to officials familiar with the administration's discussions. The officials also spoke on condition of anonymity because the formal announcement had not been made.

Administration officials said consumers were going to pay an extra $700 for mileage standards that had already been approved. The comprehensive Obama plan would add another $600 to the price of a vehicle, a senior administration official said.

The extra miles would come at roughly a 5 percent increase each year. By the time the plan takes full effect, at the end of 2016, new vehicles would cost an extra $1,300.

The cost would be recovered through savings at the pump for consumers who choose a standard 60-month car loan if gas prices follow government projections, according to one official.

In a battle over emission standards, California, 13 other states and the District of Columbia have urged the federal government to let them enact more stringent standards than the federal government's requirements. The states' regulations would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent in new cars and trucks by 2016 — the benchmark Obama planned to unveil for vehicles built in model years 2012 and beyond.

The Obama plan gives the states essentially what they sought and more, although the buildup is slower than the states sought. In exchange, though, cash-strapped states such as California would not have to develop their own standards and enforcement plan. Instead, they can rely on federal tax dollars to monitor the environment.

A 2007 energy law requires carmakers to meet at least 35 mpg by 2020, a 40 percent increase over the current standard of about 25 mpg. Passenger car requirements have remained unchanged at 27.5 mpg since 1985, drawing complaints from environmental groups that the government has been slow to push automakers to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles.

The auto industry will be required to ramp up production of more fuel efficient vehicles on a much tighter timeline than originally envisioned. It will be costly; the Transportation Department last year estimated that requiring the industry to meet 31.6 mpg by 2015 would cost nearly $47 billion.

But industry officials — many of whom are running companies on emergency taxpayer dollars — said Obama's plan would help them because they would not face multiple emissions requirements and would have more certainty as they develop their vehicles for the next decade.

"For us, that clarity, not having to address a patchwork of conflicting laws and regulations across our country, is a significant win," said David McCurdy, a former Oklahoma congressman who leads the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group which represents 11 vehicle manufacturers.

Auto executives, including General Motors Corps. CEO Fritz Henderson, and executives from Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., Daimler AG and others planned to attend the White House event. United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger also planned to attend.

Henderson said the automaker, which faces a June 1 deadline by which it may be forced to file bankruptcy, was "fully committed" to the administration's approach. His company and Chrysler LLC have received billions in government loans during a dramatic downturn in car sales and weakened economy.

Toyota Motor Sales USA President James Lentz also issued a statement in support of the single benchmark.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, praised the move, which allows him to declare victory on policy and dodge a tricky budget question on how to pay for it.

"Today, we're seeing what happens when California leads on energy and the environment and doesn't waiver, doesn't get bogged down, doesn't let obstacles get in the way," Schwarzenegger said.

It also provides a reason for Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat who is being considered for the Supreme Court vacancy, to visit the White House. Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said Granholm's visit was primarily for the autos event but wouldn't comment if she would meet with Obama about the soon-to-be-vacant court position.

A March 2008 decision prevents states from setting their own limits on greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles, but Obama has ordered the EPA to reconsider the ruling.

The EPA was already working toward establishing federal greenhouse gas emissions standards for new motor vehicles when it made a preliminary determination in April that six greenhouse gases — four of which are released from automobiles — endanger human health and welfare.

Before the new Obama proposals would even have a chance at being implemented, the EPA would have to approve those findings. Hearings began on Monday.

he nation's top military officer warned Monday that the deaths of Afghan civilians caught up in U.S.

WASHINGTON – The nation's top military officer warned Monday that the deaths of Afghan civilians caught up in U.S. combat operations could cripple President Barack Obama's revamped strategy for the seven-year-old war. "I believe that each time we do that, we put our strategy in jeopardy," Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said. "We cannot succeed ... in Afghanistan by killing Afghan civilians."

Mullen said additional forces and new tactics can help the United States turn a discouraging tide in Afghanistan. He said he was hopeful that "in the next 12- to 24 months, that we can stem the trends which have been going very badly in Afghanistan the last three years."

But speaking at the Brookings Institution, Mullen sounded frustrated that as the first of 21,000 U.S. reinforcements arrive, Taliban insurgents are having a seemingly easy time using America's military prowess against it.

Mullen pointed to this month's disputed U.S. airstrikes in Farah province, in which women and children were apparently among dozens of civilians killed. The United States says the Taliban is responsible for at least some of the deaths, but Mullen didn't spend much time defending U.S. actions.

The May 4-5 incident is still under investigation and Mullen indicated the details may always remain murky.

Mullen refused to rule out the use of unmanned drones, which the United States uses to target insurgent hideouts in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Witnesses in the latest incident say a drone flew overhead before the U.S. bombs fell.

"We can't tie our troops' hands behind their backs," Mullen said.

Afghans blame U.S. airstrikes for the deaths and destruction in two villages in the western province. American officials say the Taliban held villagers hostage during the fight.

"We've got to be very, very focused on making sure that we proceed deliberately, that we know who the enemy is," Mullen said. "The enemy uses this very effectively against us."

It is unclear how many people died. The Afghan government has paid out compensation to families for 140 dead, based on a list gathered from villagers. The U.S. military has said that figure is exaggerated, but it has not provided its own estimate.

If the Afghan toll is correct, it would be the largest case of civilian deaths since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion to oust the Taliban.

Mullen said it will take as long as two years for the United States to make full use of an extra 21,000 forces now moving into the country. He said he is encouraged that the first units arriving this spring seem to be off to a fast start.

"I would look to 2009 and 2010 to be incredibly important years in Afghanistan," Mullen said. "The violence level is up, the Taliban is much better organized than they were before."

ponedjeljak, 18.05.2009.

Oil prices crept to near $57 a barrel Monday in Asia as traders mulled whether last week's push

SINGAPORE – Oil prices crept to near $57 a barrel Monday in Asia as traders mulled whether last week's push to above $60 was justified amid signs of weak crude demand.

Benchmark crude for June delivery was up 64 cents to $56.98 a barrel by late afternoon in Singapore in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. On Monday, the contract dropped $2.28 to settle at $56.34.

A series of lower forecasts for world oil consumption last week undercut investor optimism that a global economic recovery was imminent. The International Energy Agency, the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries all cut crude demand expectations.

The outlook for the U.S. economy also turned darker last week after dismal news on unemployment and housing were reported. Retail sales fell unexpectedly in April.

"The fundamentals of oil remain quite gloomy," said Victor Shum, an energy analyst at consultancy Purvin & Gertz in Singapore. "The retail sales results show the U.S. economy is still struggling."

Crude has risen from below $35 a barrel in March, boosting gasoline and other oil product prices just as the U.S. economy is fighting to emerge from a severe recession.

High oil prices over the last two years, which surged to a record $147 a barrel in July, helped undermine consumer demand and plunge the world into its worst economic slowdown since World War II.

"When oil goes to $60 while major economies are still struggling, those high prices will simply slow down an economic recovery," Shum said.

In other Nymex trading, gasoline for June delivery rose 1.24 cents to $1.69 a gallon and heating oil gained 1.48 cents to $1.43 a gallon. Natural gas for June delivery jumped 1.2 cents to $4.11 per 1,000 cubic feet.

In London, Brent prices rose 62 cents to $56.60 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared victory in India's national elections on Saturday

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared victory in India's national elections on Saturday, saying voters had given the Congress party-led coalition a "massive mandate."

Singh spoke as results indicated his alliance had achieved a sweeping — and surprising — success in the monthlong polls that will keep Singh in power for another term.

"I express my deep sense of gratitude to the people of the country for the massive mandate they have given" the alliance, he said.

The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, the country's other main party, failed to convince voters to change the national leadership during a time of economic uncertainty and regional instability.

"We accept the people's verdict," said Arun Jaitley, a senior BJP official. "Certainly something did go wrong."

News channels called the election in Congress' favor based on more than 70 percent of votes counted.

The CNN-IBN channel said the Congress-led alliance could win 258 seats in the 543-seat Parliament, and the BJP-led alliance could take 162. It projected that the Congress party alone — without the support of its coalition allies — would take 198 seats, putting it far ahead of all other parties. Other channels predicted similar results in the massive vote — the largest in the democratic world — which for logistical and security reasons was held in five phases between April 16 and May 13.

If counting trends continue the same direction, it would be a clear victory for the Congress coalition — but would still leave it short of the 272 seats needed to govern alone and it would require the support of other parties. India has been ruled by coalition governments for most of the last two decades.

However, the results appeared far better for Congress than nearly everyone expected. For months, polls and political observers have predicted that neither of the country's two main parties would emerge a clear winner, forcing an unstable and unwieldy coalition that could have conceivably included dozens of smaller parties.

Things now appear far clearer: Congress "seems to have the upper hand," said Venkaiah Naidu, a BJP leader.

The "Third Front," an alliance of communist, regional and caste-based parties that had banded together — and which for a time had been seen as a wild card that could emerge with immense power — appeared to have done poorly. Most news stations predicted they would win less than 80 seats.

As results came in, celebrations erupted outside the Congress party headquarters. Party workers set off fireworks and danced in the streets carrying posters of party leader Sonia Gandhi.

"We have won a thumping majority," Congress activist Parag Jain said outside the party offices, in a leafy, elegant south New Delhi neighborhood. "Successful rule begins and ends with Congress and the Gandhi family."

The BJP's office compound offered a somber contrast, as supporters and party workers held quiet discussions inside the shuttered gates, decorated with the party symbol of a lotus flower.

The Congress party has long said that Singh, 76, an economist and technocrat who helped open India's economy nearly 20 years ago, would return to power if it won. But the election appeared to also be a clear victory for Sonia Gandhi's son, Rahul, who emerged as a key strategist during the campaign and became the party's most visible face. While a relative political newcomer, he has been increasingly viewed as a future prime minister.

Rahul, 38, is a scion of India's most powerful family — the son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, grandson of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and great-grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister. The family was closely allied to the pacifist icon Mohandas Gandhi, though they are not related.

The results also indicated that the communist parties, a traditional power in Indian politics, had dropped from 60 seats to less than half that number.

Prakash Karat, the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said it was cause to re-examine their approach, saying they had "suffered a major setback."

The communist parties had supported Congress for much of the previous term, but broke ties over the Indian-U.S. civilian nuclear agreement, the cornerstone of warmer relations between New Delhi and Washington.

According to the constitution, a new legislature has to be in place by June 2.

The long, grueling campaign season produced few central issues that resonated across the wildly diverse nation of 1.2 billion people and 714 million eligible voters. Total voter turnout was approximately 60 percent, the national election commission said, up slightly from 58 percent in the last national vote in 2004.

nedjelja, 17.05.2009.

Democrats just can't seem to get on the same page on national security

WASHINGTON – Democrats just can't seem to get on the same page on national security — and it could cost them dearly on an issue Republicans have dominated for decades.

Increasingly, President Barack Obama and Democrats who run Congress are being pulled between the competing interests of party liberals and the rest of the country on Bush-era wartime matters of torture, detention and interrogation of suspected terrorists.

The Democratic Party's struggle over how to position itself on these issues is threatening to overshadow Obama's ambitious plans for energy, education and health care. It's also keeping the country looking backward on the eight years of George W. Bush's presidency, much to the chagrin of the new White House. And, it's creating an opening for an out-of-power GOP in an area where Democrats have made inroads.

Governing from the center and backtracking on a previous position, Obama decided this past week to fight the release of photos that show U.S. troops abusing prisoners. The president said he feared the pictures would "further inflame anti-American opinion" and endanger U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Then he decided to resume military tribunals for some Guantanamo detainees after a temporary suspension. "This is the best way to protect our country, while upholding our deeply held values," he said.

The developments riled liberals who are important campaign-year foot soldiers and fundraisers.

"These recent decisions are disheartening," said Jameel Jaffer of the American Civil Liberties Union. "He has shown backbone on some issues and not on others."

On Capitol Hill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi protected the party's left flank by accusing the CIA of lying to her about the agency's use of a form of simulated drowning on suspected terrorists. "We were told that waterboarding was not being used," said Pelosi, D-Calif. "And we now know that earlier they were." The CIA disputes Pelosi's account.

As Democrats splintered, Republicans watched with glee.

The irony is these are the same wartime issues created by Bush and the GOP-led Congress that Democrats successfully campaigned against in 2006 and 2008. The conflicting Democratic positions threaten to undercut the party's gains on national security; polls last fall showed Democrats had drawn even on national security issues long dominated by the GOP.

The White House desperately wants to get Democrats in Congress focused on the president's priorities. Obama's team has made it clear it's not eager to retread the past. But House and Senate liberals, prodded by a vocal and active network of grass-roots and "netroots" supporters, relish doing just that, seemingly fixated on how Bush and former Vice President Dick Cheney handled Iraq and terrorism.

And it's the popular new president who may have the most to lose.

Obama is facing the same predicament that confronted and confounded other recent Democratic presidents. While governing as centrists, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter bent over backward on issues of war and peace, working to appease the party's left wing without being held hostage by it.

Defeated Democratic nominees — John Kerry in 2004, Al Gore in 2000, Michael Dukakis in 1988 — lost in part because Republicans successfully tagged them as soft on security.

Obama appears to be trying for a balance between keeping campaign promises to reverse Bush policies and protecting national security.

Overall, Obama seems less willing to systematically overturn Bush's national security positions than his domestic policies.

There are signs that making good on his promise to close Guantanamo in his first year is proving exceedingly difficult. Last week, Attorney General Eric Holder reassured lawmakers that the administration would not release Guantanamo prisoners into U.S. neighborhoods.

In blogs and on cable TV, Democratic critics griped that Obama was appearing more like Bush than the Democrat who won the nomination by rallying liberals around his pledge to end the Iraq war quickly.

Answering liberal complaints, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said: "First and foremost, the president does what is in the best security interest of the United States."

Obama is betting that liberals will forgive him for changing course on these issues. He does have several years to make it up to them before his likely re-election campaign.

Conversely, Obama may have further endeared himself to moderates and independents who are more hawkish on national security and are important to his winning coalition. It's also possible that conservative Republicans may now be more open to dealing with him because of his moves on security issues.

With those actions, Obama may have undercut Cheney's complaint that the Democrat's policies were endangering the country. The president also may have insulated himself from further weak-on-security attacks following a campaign during which skeptics questioned his readiness to lead the military in wartime.