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Snake imports to Japan slither around laws

TOKYO – A pet shop owner in Japan who was arrested Friday for allegedly selling poisonous snakes told police he had imported them from Egypt, Kenya and the United States through official customs channels.

The suspect, Naoki Bando, runs the Kuroi Mori (black forest) pet shop in Chofu, Tokyo, and is said to have sold the snakes to a dock worker, 41, who was arrested Aug. 27 for keeping 51 poisonous snakes at his apartment without permission.

As the import and sale of many species of poisonous snakes is not regulated, a senior officer at the Metropolitan Police Department said it is likely people will continue to secretly keep poisonous snakes until there is a change in the rules.

Tokyo University plans competition for method to accurately predict earthquakes

TOKYO – Japanese and international researchers will get a chance to put their earthquake predicting skills to the test in 2009, when Tokyo University’s Earthquake Research Institute holds a competition to see who can most accurately predict seismological activity.

The contest aims at providing in-depth analysis of which earthquake forecasting methods yield the most accurate results, which organizers hope will help improve earthquake forecasting and lead to a better understanding of the complex mechanisms of the phenomenon.

Contestants will be able to freely access earthquake data that the organizers have prepared, and a computer system set up for earthquake research will be available for the contest.
Whoever has the best method of correctly predicting quakes will be named the winner.

The researchers will be expected to show off their skills in combining various theories on earthquakes and research in an effort to emerge victorious.

Nation

Idaho congressmen split on bailout vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Idaho Congressmen Bill Sali and Mike Simpson split their votes Monday on the $700 billion financial markets bailout plan. Sali voted against the measure, which failed in the House Monday, and Simpson voted for it.

Sali said the bill would increase national debt without getting to the root of the economic problem, while Simpson argued the bill would help everyday people by stopping the decimation of savings and investments, and freeing up money for business investment.

Sali’s Democratic opponent in the November general election, Walt Minnick, said Congress needs to take action, but the bill was the “wrong bill to save the American economy.” Simpson’s Democratic opponent Debbie Holmes called Congress’ failure to pass the bill “horrific” and directly blamed failure to pass the bill for the stock market’s unprecedented crash Monday.

Three banks to control a third of U.S. deposits

PHILADELPHIA – Citigroup Inc.’s takeover of Wachovia’s banking business will create a triumvirate of behemoths controlling nearly a third of U.S. deposits.

This year’s massive consolidation – much of it pushed through on an emergency basis by regulators – is creating conditions that could eventually harm consumers and could lay the groundwork for an even bigger financial meltdown in the future, experts said.

Monday’s Citigroup-Wachovia deal, if it is approved by Wachovia shareholders, will give Citigroup a U.S. deposit market share of 9.79 percent, based on June 30 data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Bank of America Corp., with its purchase of Countrywide Financial Corp. in July and its pending acquisition of Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc., is on its way toward 12 percent market share.
JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s purchase of the failed Washington Mutual Inc. boosted its market share to 9.75 percent.

Local/BSU

Condoleezza chooses BSU

Up to four Boise State University students will be among a select group of interns chosen to participate in a new U.S. State Department program starting during the summer of 2009.

Boise State is one of 15 colleges and universities personally selected by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to take part in the Internship Fellows Program, which was created to identify talented students from higher education institutions that have not traditionally been the focus of State Department recruitment efforts.

The State Department will select up to four Boise State students for 10-week paid internships for summer 2009, and up to four more for fall 2009. The interns may be assigned to the State Department in Washington, D.C., or to consulates overseas.

Arrests made in strong-armed robbery
Boise Police arrested two men late Sunday night after a man leaving work called police to report his backpack had been stolen. Christopher E. Sinqufield, 27, of Boise, and Troy D. Pulley, 20, also of Boise were apprehended and are charged with felony robbery.

Boise Police were called to 9th and Bannock Streets at approximately 11:45 p.m. Sunday night after a man reported he was leaving work and was confronted by two unknown men who demanded his backpack. The victim said the two made threats they had a gun, but a weapon was never shown. The victim turned over the backpack and the suspects ran off.
When Boise Police arrived, a private downtown security guard had detained Sinqufield. Officers found Pulley a few blocks away.

What The?

Good, and you? Aieeeeeee!
A man received a cell phone call while hiking on Mount Whitney. Concentrating on the call as he continued to stroll, he walked off a 25-foot cliff. He is OK.

Nice kitty-kitty
A woman in Mount Carmel, Pa., saw what she thought was her neighbor’s cat and reached down to pet it. It was a skunk, which sprayed her and chased her into her house.

COMPILED BY ARBITER STAFF

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