May 17, 2005

Today, pro-terrorist antisemitic MP George Galloway said to the Senate, under oath, that his money laundering scheme, the Mariam Appeal's finances had been cleared by the Charity Commission. He said that they had looked at "every penny in and every penny out".  He said it twice, as if he believed it. The Senators, and their staff were not well enough informed to challenge him on this.  This means that they didn't actually take the time to read the report.  I find it hard to accept that George Galloway didn't read it.  The commissions report actually says this: 12. The Commission has been unable to obtain all the books and records of the Appeal.  Mr Galloway, the first Chairman of the Appeal, has stated that this documentation was sent to Amman and Baghdad in 2001 when Fawaz Zuriekat became Chairman of the Appeal. Mr Galloway has informed the Commission that this documentation is no longer under the control of the original trustees of the Appeal and cannot be located by them. Mr Galloway confirmed that the Appeal did not produce annual profit and loss accounts or balance sheets. Rather than clear the Mariam Appeal, the investigation found that "two of the original trustees, received unauthorized benefits in the form of salary payments from the Appeal’s funds." With the lack of any accounting records (required under trust law), books, or even any income and expense or balance sheets the Commission had only Mr. Galloway's assurance that he didn't get any of the funds personally. 12:47:13 PM

Chechen militant tried for Beslan siege killings. MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Chechen militant Tuesday went on trial for seizing a school in the town of Beslan in a raid that left more than 330 hostages dead, with prosecutors demanding imprisonment for life. [Reuters: World] 10:01:06 AM

Firm to test vaccine against obesity Atlanta Journal Constitution (subscription) - By Roni Rabin. For overweight people who've tried pills, protein diets and personal trainers, a new weight loss therapy may be on the horizon — in a syringe. A Swiss biotechnology company is enrolling 112 obese volunteers in the first human trial of a vaccine designed to trigger antibodies to ghrelin, a human peptide, or hormone, that stimulates the appetite. The volunteers, who must live in Switzerland and have a body mass index of between 30 and 35, will receive monthly shots for six months. A control group will receive placebo injections, and all will be counseled on diet and exercise. "The vaccination aims to induce antibodies against ghrelin that will bind the ghrelin in the blood system, so it does not get to the brain and cannot induce a feeling of hunger," said Claudine Blaser, director of corporate communications for Cytos Biotechnology, the Zurich company doing the trials. 9:57:44 AM

Belinda Stronach crosses the floor, and is now a Liberal MP. Gets a cabinet post, right away. During the press conference, the press laughed when Paul Martin tried to say that this was not an attempt to change the balance for the coming Budget Vote. 9:44:38 AM

Canada’s Liberals Still Popular in Ontario Angus Reid Global Scan -The governing Liberal party would fare well in Canada’s most populous province if a federal election takes place soon, according to a poll by Leger Marketing. 43 per cent of respondents in Ontario would vote for the Liberals. The Conservative party is second with 31 per cent, followed by the New Democratic Party with 19 per cent. Six per cent of respondents would support other political organizations. Ontario voters elect 106 members to the 308-seat House of Commons. 9:38:55 AM

Newsweek retracts controversial Qur'an story CTV - Hours after the White House called its reluctance "puzzling," Newsweek magazine is retracting a controversial report that sparked deadly protests in Afghanistan. 9:30:31 AM