SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2019 12 Former Enron CEO released Democrats after 12 years in prison move to block Washington, United States er collapsed. Trump’s border Thousands of people lost ormer Enron chief executive their jobs and life savings when FJeffrey Skilling has been re- Enron went under, in what was emergency leased from prison after serving then the largest corporate bank- 12 years for his role in the fraud ruptcy in US history with more Washington, United States scheme which sent the US ener- than 40 billion dollars in out- gy giant into bankruptcy. standing debt. S Democrats on Friday Skilling, 65, had been most Skilling was convicted in May rolled out their meas- recently incarcerated at a reen- 2006 of 19 counts of conspiracy, Uure aimed at blocking try facility in Houston, Texas, fraud and insider trading and President Donald Trump from according to the US Bureau of ordered to forfeit about 45 mil- circumventing Congress to Prisons website. lion dollars in assets, including seize federal dollars for con- The Houston Chronicle re- his home. struction of his controversial ported that Skilling had been Jeffrey Skilling (Courtesy of Houston Chronicle) One of Skilling’s children, a southern border wall. released on Thursday after com- 20-year-old son, died in 2011. House Speaker Nancy Pelo- pleting 12 years of what was ini- of glossy business magazines. He worked his way up Enron founder Kenneth Lay si said the chamber will vote tially a 24-year sentence. It was The native of Pittsburgh, through the ranks and held was also convicted of fraud but next Tuesday on the so-called eventually reduced on appeal. Pennsylvania, and father of the Enron CEO title for just died before he could be sen - disapproval resolution to ter- A Harvard-educated whiz three was snapped up by Enron six months before quitting in tenced and his conviction was minate the national emergen- kid, Skilling once stood on the in the early 1990s following a August 2001 for “personal rea- thrown out because his death cy that Trump declared last top rungs of America’s corpo- stint as a consultant with McK- sons,” just four months before prevented him from appealing week, an exceptional step that rate ladder and graced the pages insey and Co. the Houston-based energy trad- the verdict. sparked fierce political and legal battles. The legislation is expected to clear the Democrat-held US Speaker of the House Nancy House of Representatives, then Pelosi addresses a press conference Amazon dropping New York HQ a ‘big loss’: Trump head to the Senate where it is guaranteed a vote under the less” declaration, saying it had Washington, United States one of the world’s most success- rules. Its fate however is any- no valid rationale. ful companies. thing but assured in the upper “There is no evidence to sup- resident Donald Trump said “I think it’s a big loss,” New chamber, which is controlled port the president’s false claim Pon Friday Amazon’s aban- York real estate mogul Trump by Trump’s Republicans. of a crisis on the border,” Pelosi donment of plans for a head- said. Trump swiftly weighed in to told a conference call Friday quarters in New York marked “I think if you look at the deal, say he would reject the meas- from Laredo, Texas, where she a “big loss” for the US financial the deal was not a great deal ure if it reaches his desk, deep- and fellow lawmakers were capital. from the standpoint of they ening a showdown with his visiting a bridge connecting The Long Island City neigh- could have made a better deal Capitol Hill opponents. the US and Mexico. borhood was one of two lo - than that, a much better deal, “Will I veto it? 100 percent,” Trump announced the emer- cations the online retail giant but still it’s a loss to New York Trump said, expressing con- gency last week in order to selected last year after a long City.” fidence that Congress would bypass Congress, which did search for a second base, or It marked a rare concession not be able to override his ob- not approve the $5.7 billion “HQ2.” from the president, who has jection. he wanted for his wall, a long- Amazon had promised the been a highly vocal critic of Overriding a presidential standing promise from his sprawling complex in the bor- Amazon and its CEO Jeff Bezos, veto requires a two-thirds 2016 presidential campaign. ough of Queens would create who also owns The Washington majority in both chambers, The spending bill, which 25,000 jobs in exchange for Post. meaning substantial numbers he reluctantly signed in order nearly $3 billion in state and Trump has repeatedly ac - of Republicans would have to to avert a government shut- city incentives. cused the Post of lobbying for break with Trump in order for down, included appropriations But it withdrew the plans last the company -- and claims the his emergency declaration to of just $1.4 billion for fencing week, blaming opposition from US Postal Service loses “billions be blocked. and other barriers along the US President Donald Trump greets attendees during a White House reception in community leaders angry at the of dollars” delivering Amazon Pelosi meanwhile ham- border, but specifically not for honor of National African American History Month huge subsidies being offered to packages. mered away at Trump’s “law- Trump’s proposed wall. Paris gets taste of rural life with farm parade People attend the International Agriculture Fair (Salon international de l’Agriculture) in Paris Paris, France “In Paris, we don’t often see cows. A man opens the door of cages with hens My three girls are really happy to rench rural life came to the capital see them up close,” Cecile Lassale, a FParis on Friday when cows, sheep and 38-year-old teacher, who brought her other livestock were paraded through a children, said. Paris neighbourhood to mark the start of President Emmanuel Macron is sched- an annual agricultural fair. uled to visit the agricultural fair over the Farmers paraded around 50 animals, weekend. some wearing colourful traditional head- The show, held from February 23 to gear and floral decorations, through the March 3 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles Buttes-Chaumont park in northeast Paris has as its theme “Men, Women and Their before the opening of the International Expertise.” Agriculture Show. Paris suburbs already see some farmlife. Parkgoers stood and watched as herds of Each month, shepherds from an urban sheep trotted along pathways besides the farming project in Aubervilliers, just north park’s lake while farmers led brown and of Paris, release a herd from an enclosure in white mottled cows on ropes. Some animals a park for a wander in the streets. got an accompanying accordian tune. The sheep pace across zebra crossings, Four cheese producers were also on hand past cafes and petrol stations, stopping to to give the hundred or so assembled city graze at the base of graffitied public apart- French President Emmanuel Macron (R) visits the 56th International Agriculture A man sets up a reproduction of the Eiffel tower with slickers a taste of their fare. ment blocks. Fair (Salon international de l’Agriculture) at the Porte de Versailles exhibition fruits and vegetables center.