U.N. vows to raise funds for Gaza repairs

U.N. vows to raise funds for Gaza repairs

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The United Nations will quickly raise money for emergency repairs in the Gaza Strip, the world body’s humanitarian chief promised Thursday after witnessing what he called shocking destruction from the three-week war between Israel and Hamas.

But U.N. aid chief John Holmes and another senior U.N. official acknowledged they have no fallback plan if reconstruction is snagged by the power struggle between Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers and their moderate Palestinian rivals in the West Bank.

Hamas, which seized power in Gaza by force in June 2007, insisted Thursday that it will not share control over reconstruction projects that initial estimates have said could cost up to $2 billion.

Governor considering suit to block trial, lawyer says

CHICAGO — Facing almost certain defeat in a Senate impeachment trial, Gov. Rod Blagojevich might ask the courts to step in and block a proceeding that he considers “a sham,” a lawyer for the Democratic governor said Thursday.

Attorney Samuel E. Adam told The Associated Press on Thursday that a lawsuit challenging what he called “completely unfair” Senate trial rules is being prepared and could be filed to the state Supreme Court within days, pending a final decision on whether to move forward.

Blagojevich’s trial is set to begin Monday.

Standing alongside Adam outside the attorney’s Chicago office Thursday, the governor told the AP he has no intention of mounting a defense unless rules are changed before the Senate trial that will determine whether he’s thrown out of office.

Kennedy’s withdrawal creates political mystery

ALBANY, N.Y. — Caroline Kennedy’s mysteriously abrupt decision to abandon her Senate bid gave rise to an ugly swirl of accusations Thursday and feverish speculation over whether she jumped or was pushed.

The 51-year-old daughter of President John F. Kennedy was widely considered a front-runner for the Senate seat until she sent a midnight e-mail to reporters and Gov. David Paterson saying she was withdrawing for what she described only as personal reasons.

Even though many Democrats had thought Paterson was going to appoint Kennedy any day now, a person close to the governor said Thursday that Paterson had no intention of picking her because he believed she handled herself poorly in introducing herself as a candidate.

Castro says he probably won’t be around in 4 years

HAVANA — Fidel Castro said Thursday he doubts he’ll make it to the end of Barack Obama’s four-year term and instructed Cuban officials to start making their decisions without taking him into account.

In an online column titled “Reflections of Comrade Fidel,” the 82-year-old Cuban leader suggested his days are numbered, saying Cuban officials “shouldn’t feel bound by my occasional Reflections, my state of health or my death.”

“I have had the rare privilege of observing events over such a long time. I receive information and meditate calmly on those events,” he wrote. “I expect I won’t enjoy that privilege in four years, when Obama’s first presidential term has ended.”

Nashville voters reject English-only measure

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Voters in Nashville, Tenn., have rejected a measure requiring government business be done only in English.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, the “English First” proposal was defeated by a vote of 41,752 to 32,144.

The vote means the city of nearly 600,000 people has refused to become the largest in the U.S. to prohibit the translation of written and spoken communications for residents who speak no or little English.

The proposal sparked intense debate. Proponents said using one language would have united the city and saved money. But business leaders, academics and the city’s mayor worried it would have given the city a bad reputation. Similar measures have passed elsewhere.

Associated Press