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U.S. considers interim climate change plan

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. officials are considering an interim climate change pact before next month's summit in Denmark, tackling a more ambitious plan next year, officials said.

The two-pronged, scaled-back strategy is being driven by lack of action on climate legislation in Congress, hampering the Obama administration's efforts to strike an international deal this year, The Washington Post reported Friday

Backing an interim agreement would be an attempt to keep the U.N.-sponsored talks in Copenhagen and before from being seen as a failure, administration and congressional officials told the Post. At the U.N.-backed climate change summit, world leaders will consider a successor to the Kyoto protocol on climate change.

"An interim, operational deal is not meant to be seen as a substitute for a real agreement," Todd Stern, the U.S. special envoy on climate change. "It's meant to be seen as substantive building blocks to a full, legal agreement, and perhaps the best chance of getting such an agreement."

At the core of the interim agreement are "political commitments" from key nations outlining targets to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions and includes the amount of money wealthy countries would contribute to help developing nations address global warming and reduce emissions, the Post said. Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen outlined the interim deal last month.

Leaders of the European Union, U.S. environmental groups and developing nations pushed for a binding treaty specifying how much nations would cut their greenhouse gas emissions during the next decade and the method for distributing money to developing countries.

"To the extent we can build a framework and even some of the elements that lead us to a final treaty in six months or less, that's essential," said Kevin Knobloch, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists in the Washington.

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Lawyer says accused shooter is paralyzed

FORT HOOD, Texas, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- The psychiatrist charged with killing 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, last week is paralyzed, his civilian attorney said Friday.

Retired Army Col. John Galligan made the comment on CBS' "The Early Show" based on an hour-long meeting he had with Maj. Nidal Hasan at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio Thursday.

He said his client has been coherent in their discussions despite his medical condition.

"He understands who I am. We can talk. He knows what time it is," Galligan said after anchor Harry Smith asked him if Hasan was competent to stand trial.

Galligan described Hasan's condition as "extremely serious" and said his paralysis is likely from the waist down.

"He cannot get up and walk," Galligan told a group of reporters gathered at Fort Hood's entrance.

Galligan said his client is in "extremely serious" condition.

Hasan was wounded after 13 people were fatally shot at a military processing center at Ford Hood on Nov. 5.

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Same-sex marriage law pits D.C., church

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Hopes for compromise are dim as District of Columbia Council members and Catholic leaders dig in on proposed same-sex marriage law changes, officials said.

Several council members Thursday said the archdiocese erred when it said its Catholic Charities organization will have to end its contracts with the city if the proposal passes unchanged, The Washington Post reported Friday.

The measure, scheduled for a council vote next month, would not require religious organizations to perform or make space available for same-sex weddings, but would require them to obey city laws prohibiting discrimination against gay men and lesbians. Church officials say Catholic Charities would have to suspend its work as one of the city's largest social-services provider, rather than provide benefits to same-sex married couples or allow them to adopt.

"It's a dangerous thing when the Catholic Church starts writing and determining the legislation and the laws of the District of Columbia," said D.C. council member Tommy Wells.

Archdiocese spokeswoman Susan Gibbs said the city was "the one giving the ultimatum."

"We are not threatening to walk out of the city," Gibbs said. "The city is the one saying, 'If you want to continue partnering with the city, then you cannot follow your faith teachings.'"

Between $18 million to $20 million in city funds for 20 to 25 programs run by Catholic Charities is at stake, said Edward J. Orzechowski, the charity's president and chief executive officer.

"We're going to continue to serve those in need," Orzechowski said. "But how we do that, where we do it and the manner in which we do it is what's at risk."

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Sex trafficking ring broken

ATHENS, Greece, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Police in Athens say they have broken up a sex-trafficking ring that lured more than 40 Nigerian women to Greece with promises of legitimate jobs.

Instead of jobs, the women were held for ransom or forced to work as prostitutes, Kathimerini reported Friday.

Police broke up the ring with the rescue of five young Nigerian women who were being held captive until each of their families paid a ransom of $119,000.

They arrested a 20-year-old Nigerian woman believed to be part of the ring and are seeking her husband, a Nigerian with Greek citizenship in the scheme.

Police say members of the ring blackmailed some of their victims to work as prostitutes by threatening to place voodoo curses on their relatives.