Congress demands documents on torture policy; UN envoy warns Burma reform needed; Musharraf offers Bhutto power-sharing deal...

5 October :: House and Senate judiciary committees have ordered Justice Dept. to turn over legal opinions on harsh interrogation techniques, alleging the Department's lawyers, who had in 2004 found torture "abhorrent" had in 2005 "reversed themselves and reinstated a secret regime, in essence reinterpreting the law in secret"; White House spokesman says "The policy of the United States is not to torture", adding "The president has not authorized it, he will not authorize it”, while suggesting that policy was "within the corners of the law"... UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari has warned the Burmese military gov't it cannot return to past practices, must release jailed dissenters, cease using violence to crush democracy movement... Pakistan pres. Musharraf gives fmr. PM Bhutto immunity for corruption charges in hopes of forming power-sharing gov't after elections, Bhutto seeks more protections before signing on to new deal, Supreme Court still to rule if Musharraf permitted to continue serving dual role as pres., head of military... Canadian dollar passes US dollar in currency markets, rising today to $1.02, its highest mark since 1976 against the US currency; new job data cited as cause for day's jump, US dollar has been steadily falling against major currencies in recent months, stands now at $1.41/1€, $2.04/£1... Global carbon footprint is 24.627 billion tons, as of mid-day GMT... New 'green' roofing material reflects heat back into atmosphere, reduces weight stress, reduces overall demand on heating, cooling; ENN reports "The product, many say, represents a major shift in the roofing industry because existing roofing materials of the last 100 years resemble heavy metal armor. The ArmorLite roof is lightweight and strong, like a Kevlar bulletproof vest that replaced heavy armor vests"... Climate campaigners including fmr US vice president Al Gore nominated for Nobel Peace Prize; if group wins award, it would signal shift away from traditional role for prize, rewarding statesman, political leaders who enhance conditions for political settlements...