Schr? has lately been banging on about some people being too lazy to find work, which in the east went down rather badly. A quarter of Germany's post-communist adult population is on the dole or employed in make-work schemes.But that is no reason for the Chancellor to feel embarrassed about his cousin Renate is not lazy. She cannot get a job, it emerged yesterday, because she used to work for the communist secret police, the Stasi.All that can be glimpsed from the Chancellory's authorised leak is that she was an English-language translator. That would suggest that she used to spy not on her compatriots, but mainly on foreigners.Schr? showed a great deal of understanding for the plight of his cousin, whose full name cannot be revealed for fear she might be beaten up by her neighbours. He received Renate graciously when she came calling at his home The cameras, alas, were not invited to this reunion.. The balance of power in the US Senate could shift hands today with the expected announcement that a veteran Republican has decided to switch to the Democrats.
The balance of power in the US Senate could shift hands today with the expected announcement that a veteran Republican has decided to switch to the Democrats. Senator Jim Jeffords is expected to announce today his intention to leave the Republican party shifting control of the Senate to the Democrats. While the Senate is currently split 50-50 between the two parties, Vice-President Dick Cheney's casting vote gives control to the Republicans. Mr Jeffords' switch would have profound implications, allowing the Democrats to seize control of the flow of legislation in committees and on the Senate floor, but also giving them the chairmanship of those committees.Mr Jeffords who has frequently crossed party lines on high-profile issues yesterday met both President George Bush and Mr Cheney. Mr Bush is said to have urged Mr Jeffords, 67, to remain a Republican. Last night Mr Jeffords, who represents Vermont, refused to be drawn on his intentions but said: "I will be making an announcement tomorrow in Washington.
Lots of people are trying to get me to do different things."However, sources close to Mr Jeffords were quoted last night as saying he had told his staff of his intention to switch parties. The Democrats have reportedly offered him the chairmanship of either the health or education committees, which he currently holds.Last night speculation focused on whether Mr Jeffords would announce that his switch would come into effect immediately or if he would wait until two key pieces of Bush legislation on education and tax-cuts were safely passed. If Mr Jeffords became an independent, Republicans would remain in control if he voted with them.Though Mr Jeffords has been a Republican for 25 years, he angered Mr Bush earlier this year when he refused to support his $1.6 trillion tax-cut, choosing instead to side with a bipartisan group which forced changes.. The Ford Motor company will have to spend more than $2bn to recall up to 13 million Firestone tyres for safety reasons, the firm said yesterday as it began what will be a nine-month process of replacement. The Ford Motor company will have to spend more than $2bn to recall up to 13 million Firestone tyres for safety reasons, the firm said yesterday as it began what will be a nine-month process of replacement. The company's chief executive, Jacques Nasser, said customers will be able to return the tyres to Ford dealers and get free replacements. He said it was a "precautionary and preventative" recall."We feel it is our responsibility to act immediately. This is what we said we would do," Mr Nasser said.Ford issued the recall because of Bridgestone/Firestone's refusal to expand last summer's decision to retrieve 6.5 million Wilderness AT tyres, some of which had suffered sudden tread separations.The tyres have been linked to at least 174 traffic deaths and 700 injuries in the US.
