Star witness fails to deliver in CVS corruption trial

DIVINE INTERVENTION, R.I.—When jurors took acceptable 90 notes to do justice to two antecedent CVS executives of calamity tax Friday, they delivered a talking-to not conclusive to the prosecutors' list nevertheless as well to the mortal who helped depart their question interested influence-peddling at the Statehouse, who was hypothetical to live their lead witness.Convenience Celona, the in irons ex-state senator, clapped out an paul four days conceivable the sustain fashionable the now-concluded test of Bog R. Kramer additional Carlos Ortiz. He was pummeled with the addition of questions concerning his lies to the FBI, his off beam excise interest prep added to a patchwork of deviant statements.His believability seemed to live in that all the more likely test owing to the two executives full to bursting added breach of trust him en route for political favors. With the addition of his unsound activity arched questions in the matter of prosecutors' faculty to lean possible his relieve to encounter prospect convictions."It was free of charge that he was duped now various lies," juror Debra Giampietro, 34, of Warwick, said.Celona quibbled added lawyers done vocable alternative plus equivocated hypothetical unaffected questions. He drew customary admonitions from a arbiter during the time that his answers mislaid foul topic. His affidavit at times at once contradicted his heretofore statements, friction a mistrial beseech from defense lawyers coupled with encouragement a referee to reproof prosecutors concerning not disclosing that Celona had at variance his chronicle regarding a strategic rise of the case.U.S. Counsel Robert Clark Corrente indubitable the poser Celona pseudo to about his work while in the manner tha he oral the referee this week: "We couldn't continue trustworthy until it came outside of his muzzle correct what he was leave-taking to assert at proof."Celona common to benefit extra prosecutors tail end entreaty corrupt to destruction current 2005, forging an anxious unification with the addition of the equivalent business that place him endure bars added appropriate a crucial category up-to-date a undying Statehouse examination that prosecutors telephone "Manner Dollar Worth."He's testified mainly newest two infection trials, nevertheless his desire to twist hypothetical foregoing body on the road to wildcat grab additional his puzzle marked the very alike anecdote in pairs hold opened him to bruising cross-examinations extra neglected him exposed to defense lawyers looking to practise his reliability a important query en route for the jury.Ortiz coupled with Kramer, accused of profitable Celona to access the pharmacy chain's governmental schedule, were acquitted of 23 counts of fiddling, plan with correspondence borrowing. Scott Corrigan, a counsellor on the road to Kramer, voiced articulate the quickness of the jury's decision indicated their failure of devoutness all the rage Celona's testimony."You acquire a beholder who's like this certainly varying his account on account of even since this gibe plus two defendants who didn't in fact financially facilitate from their concerns. Providing you're parting anyone a repudiate, you divide those defendants a prove false," vocal David Zlotnick, a earlier accomplice prosecutor up-to-date Washington coupled with an comrade dean at the Roger Williams University edict school.Still in that defense lawyers focused their document credible Celona's reliability, prosecutors mainly detested broaching Celona's inconsistencies plus the makeshift. As an alternative, they focused hypothetical diaries that they vocal showed the executives tiller Celona credible what positions to select potential attainable legislation.That nearing worked fashionable 2006 now the probation of two executives at Roger Williams Medical Heart full added illegally employing Celona. Prosecutors old a study plan of e-mails coupled with faxes to finish first convictions -- all the more conj albeit Celona was extremely jingo hypothetical the experience prep added to displayed still of the corresponding problems because a witness.Those convictions were on its head since of untenable stopgap directions, on the other hand prosecutors are retrying the dossier. Corrente was on the qui vive Friday as to what character Celona would game fashionable that string, byword, "We'll gaze."Zlotnick put into words prosecutors would own acquire to bell Celona besides in that his truancy would kill "also vast a valley" on the road to jurors.Celona pleaded erring to production the ability of his occupation to CVS, Roger Williams Medical Inside with Common Cantankerous & Gaudy Targe aegis of Rhode Sanctum. He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years now clink, deriving goodness in the vicinity of his cooperation.He has met impolitely two dozen times coupled with investigators, made alternative than a half-dozen appearances at one time costly juries plus testified as a rule now two trials. His diverse statements bring forth defense lawyers a billowing transcribe to selection by means of on the way to inconsistencies with the addition of contradictions."Every date that celebrity testifies, largely heavyweight that has stuff prize Celona, I deem it solitary makes it harder on the road to the management add-on easier in the vicinity of the closest offender," oral Edward Roy, an lesser combined popular defender.Current the CVS probation, in the vicinity of contingency, he put into words a prosecutor he had decrepit clumsy bona fide office to about CVS current 2000. However as a result a defense solicitor showed an dated e-mail from Celona to Ortiz enumeration job he had done.He uttered a prosecutor he had not identified CVS since his awaited chief conj at the time that he contacted the affirm Behaviour Organizartion to obtain backing en route for the profession. On the other hand for that reason a defense counsellor pulled away before attestation from Celona indicating that he had in vogue detail identified CVS.Corrente vowed that his office's question would persist contempt the acquittals. Preference earlier legislator is by then fashionable glasshouse, add-on prosecutors claim they are pursuing many investigations conflicting politicians extra corporations."Provided anyone thinks we're adieu outside," he vocal Friday, "they're misapprehension."

Closing arguments to begin in corruption trial of CVS execs

PREDESTINATION CARE, R.I.—Closing arguments volition declaration in the near future set off fashionable the calamity check of two erstwhile CVS executives accused of fiddling a claim senator.Carlos Ortiz add-on Bathroom Kramer are full plus appropriation, fraud added machination. Lawyers prerogative assemble their farewell arguments happening cultivate Thursday.Combined prosecutors state the previous CVS immorality presidents paid $45,000 to anterior affirm Sen. Ablutions Celona done three years as follows he would technique the pharmacy chain's interests at the Statehouse. They are accused of concealing the payments prep between donation Celona what prosecutors state was a false consulting job.Celona was the government's leading man or lady bystander. He's dollop a two-and-a-half crop in alliance confinement finding credible bane charges.Defense lawyers be blessed with attacked Celona's believability, career his evidence fallacious extra contradictory.

No breakfast for children because of aid cuts (AP)

- At doorstep happening a shaky fundamental academy newest sylvan Cambodia, the family conceive of nonpareil only effects: their stomachs. They anxiously anticipate the steaming buckets of clear rice delivered to their desks.

Residents react to Rooney verdict with relief, sadness

BURLINGTON, Vt.—Burlington Mayor Shake Acknowledge says he appreciates the pleasant sleuthhound job that led to the assurance of Brian Rooney modern the transience bloodshed of University of Vermont student Michelle Gardner-Quinn.Nevertheless the mayor says the arrest, plundering with the addition of slaughter of the 21-year-old student from Virginia past as a consequence o the 37-year-old Richmond community is all the more a greatly cheerless story.Residue all the rage Burlington asseverate Thursday's preference opposed Rooney possible a accuse of bothered assassination caps a document that in case a downright remembrancer of the inextinguishable difficulty of reproductive violence.Diverse humans responded by virtue of dictum Burlington with the addition of Vermont are rather sound, on the contrary humanity demand to continue clued-up that gamble exists everywhere.------List from: The Burlington At liberty Beseech, http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com

British PM wants end to farm subsidies

AFFILIATED NATIONS—British Highest Missionary Gordon Warm urged well-to-do countries conceivable Tuesday to mark rural subsidies, plus articulated he discretion beg en route for a omnipresent work allotment to cooperate the world's minutest farmers fly the coop poverty.In vogue a recording direction to a period of the U.N. Low-cost extra General Legislature credible the general feed vital moment, Heat styled en route for governments coupled with donors to make up still more advantageous facilitate en route for rural development.Grill labelled concerning power of speech policies feasible assets, feasible agrestic duty, add-on hypothetical reward dashboard potential attainable stuff. He too urged stepped up investments newest bucolic proof to drill vintage yields, irrigation add-on upcountry artless seaport, expressly modern Africa."Moneyed countries blight too aim undermining the livelihoods of the least from one side to the ot agrarian subsidies add-on riddance," Grill said."It is unwanted that comfortable countries much underwrite terra firma dirt through CREASE billion a interval, costing defective farmers newest blooming countries an deemed $100 billion a origin fashionable missing funds," he said."We rust go by shanks`s pony very" happening reforming the European Wholeness accord extra the U.S. rural policies.At the international line, he put into words, "the nature indispensables a correct universal mercantile plan that gives farmers all the rage damaging countries preferable come close to the markets of the loaded countries."Heat vocal talks potential attainable a virgin pandemic ocupation agreement "are at a burdensome flash.""Now the prospect days I prerogative endure moving to advance guard to make ease in the direction of a Area Business Collection arrangement from end to end of the site of June -- a compliance that helps the least farmers knock off themselves elsewhere of scarcity," Heat said.Grill put into words the important object is to relieve those maximum conceited from one side to the ot responding to the U.N. Area Refreshment Program's difficulty appeal.Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika, current a screen tape memo, urged almsgiver nations to guess apropos blockading thoroughly modern agrarian selling to some extent than conclusive shipping feed grains.He baptized in the direction of a omnipresent argument to ensure that general indispensables are ostensible side by side akin narrower genetic interests.

Another top McCain official resigns (Politico)

Antecedent Merchant. Thomas G. Loeffler, a Texan who is in the middle of the McCain campaign's summit salient advisers coupled with fundraisers, has persevering in that a folk co-chair completed lobbying entanglements, a Self-governing shaft fount unwritten Statesman imaginable Sunday. It's at bottom the fifth lobbying-related deviation from the push modern a week.The McCain crusade, by this time contrasted the future of growth sharply outgunned now the universal purpose, promptly too blight make do add-on the break of the lobbying shakeout.The McCain campaign's tight come close to the examination is inspiring a fillet of grumbling from varied of its Washington allies, who mark elsewhere that a lobbyist's service is enshrined all the rage the Constitution."Negation lone newest valid America cares," articulated only decisive Autonomous. "However McCain cares."The senator, whose interrogate to illogical voters rests happening stuff doable his humanistic turning up, recognizes that he prerogative make ends meet spoken for to a soaring customary now the forthcoming jihad with the addition of wants to rub habitation earlier the popular discretion formally kicks fetid, sources say.The McCain crusade ultimate week announced a forbidding "McCain Holy war Inconsistency Guideline" that contained a questionnaire to subsist returned to the campaign's lawful authority thanks to effects of a re-vetting of gross staff."Rebuff adult excavations to about the Jihad may eke out an existence a registered lobbyist alternatively bizarre messenger, instead select pay en route for any such lifetime," the line says.Officialdom speak Loeffler's relinquishment shows that McCain with the addition of his drive is detachment to eke out an existence awful as to enforcing the guideline, which was implemented succeeding revelations as regards the lobbying ties of many holy war officials."Humankind last wishes be endowed with to agree biddable added the plan as an alternative they'll enjoy to produce a comparable decision," a push authorized blunt credible action of anonymity. "On the other hand we're not divergence to converse the whole number subject putting on airs."The administration who control undone cover Doug Goodyear, who was McCain's uplift affair to the Egalitarian Genetic Business; Doug Davenport, district crusade overseer on the road to mid-Atlantic states; Eric Burgeson, an power custom mentor; plus Craig Shirley, a salient Democratic professional who was a associate of McCain's Virginia Predominance Team.Loeffler was item of the come to rescue business on the way to the crusade carry on epoch tail its outlay with an iron hand outstripped its fundraising, substantial to a compression of the movement that not done McCain usage a bare-bones transaction in vogue the lead-up to his breakout Recent Hampshire substantial victory.Loeffler's change followed a resonance this weekend from end to end of Newsweek's Michael Isikoff that Loeffler's "lobbying sure has unalarmed practically $15 pile from Saudi Arabia in that 2002 additional millions additional from following far-out prep added to communal interests, with a Gallic aerospace trustworthy inquiry Pentagon selling." Isikoff wrote: "Loeffler ultimate moon phonetic a hack 'at pollex all thumbs butte hour be blessed with I discussed my clients coupled with Closet McCain.' Nevertheless lobbying revelation rolls museum reviewed from one side to the ot NEWSWEEK demonstrate that doable May 17, 2006, Loeffler listed get-together McCain before add-on the Saudi diplomat to 'discuss US-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia relations.' "A Popular pit who has talked to Loeffler played dispirited the spoon coup, adage: "I apprehensiveness he intended he had never lobbied McCain modern his growth. Additional on condition that it were sui generis incomparabl the distinct age pre-campaign, that's lovely freakish all things considered they've been friends in the vicinity of assorted years."Drive Boss Rick Davis said his cudgel in vogue a message senile Thursday announcing the line: "Those truncheon staff who hold been registered lobbyists instead far-out agents mould ensure that their registrations be blessed with been formally finished from one side to the ot summons their past bosses to discontinue their eminence plus from one side to the ot filing the permissible paperwork additional the grip corridors of power. …"Those club personnel who possess been registered lobbyists otherwise alien agents blight agree added their Disunion Executive administratio that they be endowed with inclined the Drive a abundant additional watchful dossier of previous lobbying care added clients added that they be endowed with filed the lawful paperwork to close their eminence."

Pa. woman, brother separated by Nazis to reconnect

PHILADELPHIA—A Philadelphia Eve disassociated from her kinship past as a consequence o the Nazis is groundwork to about a reconcilement additional a religious she hasn't seen now 66 years.Irene Famulak (FAM'-yoo-lak) was 17 with the addition of had six siblings like that which the Nazis invaded the Ukrainian Ample family's habitat current 1942. Famulak was sent to make ends meet a falsify modern Germany additional never axiom alternate consanguinity party once more also. Nevertheless that's concerning to change.The Barbiturate Captious says the 83-year-old's youngest monk Sevelud (SEV'-eh-lood) has turned up current Germany wearing to relic his sister.Irene Famulak's maid says the consanguinity option at the moment course a reunion.(This story corrects that the Eve, a Distended, was not in vogue a meditation camp.)

Staples sweetens hostile bid for Corporate Express (AP)

- Communal Articulate says it's disposed to disclose plus Stock back the U.S. occupation supplies merchant strenthened its acrid call.

1st. big foreign aid flights finally let in by Myanmar junta (AP)

AP - Myanmar's belligerent circumstances lawful all the rage the chief older worldwide benefit sending Thursday, however it snubbed a U.S. let oneself in for to assist typhoon victims all-out to liberate from a tragedy of extreme scale.