Pirates Outmaneuver Warships Off Somalia
New York Times – Dec. 16
Rear Adm. Giovanni Gumiero is going on a pirate hunt. From the deck of an Italian destroyer cruising the pirate-infested waters off Somalia’s coast, he has all the modern tools at his fingertips — radar, sonar, infrared cameras, helicopters, a cannon that can sink a ship 10 miles away — to take on a centuries-old problem that harks back to the days of schooners and eye patches. “Our presence will deter them,” the admiral said confidently. . . . But according to Kenneth Randall, dean of the University of Alabama School of Law and an international law scholar, “Any country can arrest these guys and prosecute them at home, under domestic laws that apply. “I’m actually surprised people think it’s unclear,” he said. “The law on piracy is 100 percent clear.” He said that international customary law going back hundreds of years had defined pirates as criminals who robbed and stole on the high seas. Because the crimes were committed in international waters, he said, all countries had not only the authority but also the obligation to apprehend and prosecute them.
Close to Home: Prices stay low in Birmingham, Ala.
USA Today – Dec. 16
A diverse economy helped boost Birmingham’s housing market while much of the country suffered in turmoil. In 2006 and 2007, the largest city in Alabama experienced its best home sales periods ever, says Hal Tillman, president of the Birmingham Association of Realtors. But it’s hard to maintain such momentum. Sales are down significantly in 2008 because Birmingham is not immune from today’s economic challenges, says Grayson Glaze, executive director of the Alabama Center for Real Estate. Unemployment is rising, although it is not as high as in other parts of the nation, says Sam Addy, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama.
Lower gas prices boost economy
Tuscaloosa News – Dec. 16
Anyone searching for an upside to a bad economy need look no farther than the pumps at the nearest gas station. . . . Declining consumption was the key for bringing oil prices down, said Peter Clark, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering at the University of Alabama. Demand has dropped by about 5 percent, about 1 million barrels of oil, a day. That translates into about 20 million gallons of gasoline daily. “When you drop your consumption that much and the world follows you, there’s going to be a lot of excess production,” Clark said. . . . Now those who still have jobs are getting more for their money. “It does help the consumers,” said Ahmad Ijaz, an economist with the University of Alabama’s Center for Business and Economic Research. “If they spend less on gasoline, they can spend more on other things. The money being spent on gasoline can now be spent on other products.”
Bama’s unique addition
Mobile Press-Register, Dec. 16
Opposing teams at Bryant-Denny Stadium will now be housed in “The Fail Room.” The University of Alabama honored Mobile native, alumnus and Crimson Tide Foundation contributor James M. Fail on Monday by officially naming the visitors’ locker room for him. “This naming opportunity came at Mr. Fail’s request,” UA Athletic Director Mal Moore said in a statement. “Mr. Fail has been such a strong supporter of ours and had already made a significant gift to name our media suite in memory of his late father-in-law, former Birmingham Post-Herald sports editor Naylor Stone.
The Fail Room
KGW-NBC PORTLAND, Ore. — Dec. 15
We found proof there is something in someone’s last name. There is a booster at the University of Alabama who made a big donation to the Tide. James Fail gets a room named after him. It will be the visitor’s locker room.
Indian officials visit Birmingham to explore trade opportunities with Alabama
Birmingham News – Dec. 16
Two high-level Indian government officials visited Birmingham on Monday, to make what they called personal contacts to further commerce between their country and Alabama. The visitors were Sanjiv Arora, India’s Consul General in Houston, and V.S. Senthil, economics minister at the country’s embassy in Washington. Attendees at an afternoon reception included Jefferson County Commission President Bettye Fine Collins, Commissioner William Bell and University of Alabama Law School Dean Kenneth Randall. The reception was hosted by the international practice group of the Birmingham law firm Haskell Slaughter Young & Rediker