Free Republic

<p>SACRAMENTO - Republican resolve to resist new taxes could lead to a budget without sales or income tax increases. But Californians will probably pay more to camp at state parks, fish for striped bass and file for divorce.</p> <p>Senate Democratic budget writers have compiled a patchwork of more than $700 million in new and increased fees on everything from fire protection to phone calls -- a small step toward plugging the state's $38.2 billion shortfall.</p>

NEW YORK -- Mirant Corp. (NYSE:MIR - News) has offered its banks a slightly higher interest rate, additional debt seniority, and more stock options at a lower strike price in the company's proposed refinancing, according to a filing Wednesday with the Securities Exchange Commission. On June 2, Mirant unveiled a restructuring plan to avert bankruptcy by extending upcoming debt maturities. The company asked bondholders to exchange $ 1.45 billion existing bonds for new bonds with later maturities, some cash and stock options. It also asked its banks to refinance more than $3 billion in loans. Last week, the company said...

<p>Assembly Democrats dangled a budget deal to skeptical Republicans on Wednesday, offering to support $2.5 billion in cuts to health programs for the poor and other state services in exchange for GOP backing for a plan to borrow pension funds to help fill the state's budget hole.</p>

A US car dealership has been criticised for an advert in which Saddam Hussein is offered a new car every year for his life. Brad Benson's radio advertisement in New Jersey made the offer on the grounds Saddam must first leave Iraq. But Mr Benson has received complaints from people saying he shouldn't have offered him a car, while others said Mr Benson is guilty of making fun of a serious situation. The Mitsubishi and Hyundai dealership owner then ran a second advert apologising for the first. But more than 700 people objected to that saying Mr Benson had nothing...

<p>WASHINGTON - The United States issued a take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum to Turkey on Wednesday as a stalemate developed over access to Turkish bases even as ships carrying U.S. troops drew close to the conflicted ally's shores.</p> <p>A key component of the Pentagon's Iraqi battle plan envisions a two-front attack, one from Turkey on the north, the other from Kuwait on the south. If Turkey refuses to cooperate, U.S. officials said they will have to substantially alter their war strategy.</p>

Saddam's 'cynical' offer is rejected By Toby Harnden, Philip Sherwell, George Jones and Anton La Guardia (Filed: 18/09/2002) The United States and Britain promised last night to continue to press for a United Nations Security Council resolution against Iraq. They dismissed Saddam Hussein's offer to readmit arms inspectors as a cynical ploy. France, Russia and China, the other three permanent members of the Security Council, welcomed Saddam's move and said a resolution was not now needed. However, officials in Washington told journalists that contingency planning for war would continue.President George W Bush did not respond directly to Iraq's offer but...

U.S. Determined to Oust Saddam Despite Iraqi Offer Sat Aug 3, 4:19 PM ET By Randall Mikkelsen KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine (Reuters) - The United States said on Saturday Iraq's invitation for talks with U.N. arms inspectors would not sway its determination to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein , despite Baghdad's insistence that the offer was genuine. "That's our policy, it has not changed," said U.S. National Security Council spokesman Sean McCormack, reiterating Washington's often-stated goal of ousting Saddam. President Bush accuses Saddam of being a menace to the region and said this week he was "looking at all options, the use...

Friday, 2 August, 2002, 12:50 GMT 13:50 UK Iraq arms offer divides powersEarly reactions to Iraq's offer of talks over the possible resumption of arms inspections suggest the big powers on the UN Security Council will be divided over the issue. The UK gave the invitation a cool response, but Russia welcomed the move as an "important step" and France expressed its support. The US and the United Nations have yet to respond. Iraq is suspected of rebuilding its weapons programme In a letter to the UN, Iraqi Foreign Minister, Naji Sabri, invited the chief inspector, Hans Blix, for what...

AT&T set to make AOL pay Unjointly venturing By INQUIRER staff: Monday 29 July 2002, 10:06 RUCTIONS ARE EXPECTED as the AOL TIME WARNER BROS CNN company continues to seek to chop up and reorganise its Time Warner Entertainment (TWE) joint venture with AT&T According to the New York Times, AOL is trying to persuade AT&T to swap some or all of its 27.3 per cent interest in TWE for a slice of newly-created Time Warner Cable. AT&T will seek a billion dollars just to consider the plan, the paper says. The Bank of America is currently evaluating the worth...

Libya Denies Making Lockerbie Compensation Offer Wed May 29,12:47 PM ET LONDON (Reuters) - The Libyan government denied on Wednesday it had offered $2.7 billion to compensate families of the 1988 Lockerbie airliner attack as part of a deal to ease sanctions against it. State-run Jana news agency, monitored by the London-based BBC, quoted a Libyan spokesman as saying: "Libya is not part of this issue ... As far as the Libyan state is concerned, it has not been accused in this issue ... and it has nothing to do with any accords." Jana quoted the spokesman as saying that...

Libya's Lockerbie Offer Libya has offered $10m each to families of the 270 victims of Pan Am Flight 103, which exploded over Lockerbie in 1988. The $2.7bn offer was revealed by a US law firm representing 118 families of victims. The explosion killed 259 mostly American passengers and crew and 11 residents of the Scottish town. 'Uncharted waters' One Libyan defendant was convicted and a second was acquitted of the mid-air bombing. If Libya's offer is accepted by the families, each of the them would receive $10m. "These are uncharted waters," said Jim Kreindler, of Kreindler & Kreindler, a member...

New Flashes from Ha'Aretz 21:19 Bush proposal for U.K., U.S. guards for Ze`evi killers includes total lifting of travel ban on Yasser Arafat 21:18 Palestinians accept Bush proposal on U.K., U.S. guards for Ze`evi killers, PFLP head, PA finance chief 21:04 Colin Powell releases official letter outlining proposal to send Britons, Americans to guard Ze`evi killers

Fiber Optek Interconnect Corp., a privately held developer of fiber-optic telecommunications networks, said it is considering making an offer for financially troubled Global Crossing Ltd. (GX - news) (GBLXQ). Global Crossing, in Chapter 11 bankruptcy-court proceedings, is currently being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (news - web sites) for alleged accounting improprieties. Late last week, the Bermuda -based telecommunications company announced plans to close 71 offices and cut hundreds of jobs as part of a restructuring aimed at saving costs. Nevertheless, Fiber Optek believes "Global Crossing has significant value as an operating entity," Michael S. Pascazi, president of...