The News Crawler

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Last Update: Wednesday, May 27, 2009

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Mexican Congress debates legalizing marijuana Mexico's Congress opened a three-day debate Monday on the merits of legalizing marijuana for personal use, a policy backed by three former Latin American presidents who warned that a crackdown on drug cartels is not working. Somalia Piracy Began in Response to Illegal Fishing and Toxic Dumping by Western Ships off Somali Coast President Obama vowed an international crackdown to halt piracy off the coast of Somalia Monday soon after the freeing of US cargo ship captain Richard Phillips, who had been held hostage by Somali pirates since last Wednesday. While the pirates story has dominated the corporate media, there has been little to no discussion of the root causes driving piracy. We speak with consultant and analyst Mohamed Abshir Waldo. In January, he wrote a paper titled “The Two Piracies in Somalia: Why the World Ignores the Other?” Obama: Stimulus projects 'ahead of schedule' President Barack Obama said Monday the $787 billion economic stimulus plan is beginning to take hold and that work is coming in "ahead of schedule and under budge US DHS: Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment, 7 Apr 2009 The report states that the economic downturn and the election of the first African American president is fueling right-wing radicalization and recruitment. Examples are given. With the muzzle finally off, Area 51 insiders spill their tales Area 51. It's the most famous military institution in the world that doesn't officially exist. If it did, it would be found about 100 miles outside Las Vegas in Nevada's high desert, tucked between an Air Force base and an abandoned nuclear testing ground. Then again, maybe not the U.S. government refuses to say. You can't drive anywhere close to it, and until recently, the airspace overhead was restricted all the way to outer space. Any mention of Area 51 gets redacted from official documents, even those that have been declassified for decades. Zardari gives in to Taliban, signs Islamic law Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari signed a regulation late on Monday night to put the SWAT Valley under Islamic law as part of a peace deal with the Taliban. He signed the law after having come under intense pressure from members of his own party and other lawmakers.	Ukraine Arrests Lawmaker, Businessmen For Trying To Sell Plutonium 150 militants attack U.S.-NATO supply line About 150 militants armed with rockets and automatic weapons attacked a transport terminal in northwestern Pakistan that lies along a key supply route used by U.S. and NATO troops. Iraq Sunni anti-Qaeda Leader Eyes Shi'ite Alliance A senior leader in a Sunni Arab movement founded to combat al Qaeda in Iraq is edging away from the military activity of the past, toward a once unthinkable alliance with the country's Shi'ite prime minister. OBAMA LIFTS CUBA TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS America’s hidden unemployment crisis If 'contingent workers' were included in unemployment figures, the U.S. jobless picture would be much darker. Bailed-Out Banks Face Probe Over Fee Hikes TARP Oversight Panel Investigating Bank Lending After Rash Of Complaints About Increases In Interest Rates, Fees... Panel Chair Warren: "In A Sense, We're Asking Taxpayers To Pay Twice" Meghan McCain: GOP Should Support Gay Marriage The daughter of former presidential hopeful John McCain said she supports gay marriage and lashed out today against anti-gay Republicans. Why Spain Can Actually Prosecute Bush and Co. for Their Crimes They can use "universal jurisdiction," often used to prosecute foreign nationals for crimes that shock the conscience of the global community. Republicans own Fox News: Admission by Bush Apologist The fifth thing that Republicans have to do is understand the problem of communicating in a world where much of the television media, particularly, is hostile...If I had to recommend one single thing that the Republicans should be doing to help articulate the message, it is to acquire another television network so that there is not just FOX, but multiple sources of alternative information that will do a much better job than we did in 2008 to keep things honest. Hezbollah 'plotted to attack Egypt' Lebanese group's operatives planned to hit targets in Sinai, Egyptian minister says.
Connecticut
Army chooses new site for Conn. training center Connecticut officials are applauding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for choosing an alternate site for a new training center in Middletown. Blumenthal: "Decision Blows Broadwater Out of The Water" In a decision environmentalists termed a deathblow to Broadwater, the U.S. Department of Commerce today upheld New York's rejection last year of a plan to build a massive, floating natural-gas plant in Long Island Sound. Connecticut To Use State, Federal Funds On Housing, Loans For Low- To Moderate-Income Borrowers The state plans to use federal and state funds to help communities rehabilitate vacant, foreclosed homes and help low- to moderate-income borrowers move into them, Gov. M. Jodi Rell's office said Saturday. Bill Aims to Can Inmates' Freedom of Information State legislators are hoping to put an end to inmates using freedom of information filings to torment cops and prison officials	Gas prices in Connecticut up again Conn. pension fund dips 23 percent Connecticut's state treasurer says its pension fund has lost 23 percent of its market value since July, but remains in better shape than those in many other states. Obscure State Weatherization Program Could Become Laboratory For Job Creation The federal government is sending millions of dollars in stimulus money to Connecticut to create jobs, but how do you define job creation? The state is trying to find the answer. Connecticut 2009 Job Loss Map Our interactive map shows the thousands of jobs lost throughout the state, including at Hallmark, which has offices in Enfield. Who Pays for the Huskies' Parade? A parade will be held Sunday for the UConn women, but some wonder what it will cost the state and the city of Hartford.
United States
Mom Saves Dead Son's Sperm; Is it Ethical? Pentagon fights bugs afflicting deployed troops Fluorescent rodent feces, a promising new mosquito repellant and a better flytrap are all part of a war on bugs designed to protect U.S. troops around the world. Why Spain Can Actually Prosecute Bush and Co. for Their Crimes They can use "universal jurisdiction," often used to prosecute foreign nationals for crimes that shock the conscience of the global community. Vermont considers decriminalizing teen 'sexting Vermont senators say they don't want to condone teen 'sexting' -- the sending of explicit photos and messages via cell phones. California Towns Fight Back Against Justice Department Suit to Overturn Youth Protection Act that Bars Military from Recruiting Minors Last November, residents of Eureka and Arcata passed a ballot initiative known as the Youth Protection Act that bars the US government from trying to enlist youths under the age of eighteen in any branch of the US armed forces. But just days after the laws went into effect, the Justice Department filed a suit seeking to overturn them. The Justice Department’s civil action says the initiatives are invalid because they conflict with federal law. Both towns are refusing to cave. They’ve hired lawyers and filed counter-claims challenging the federal government’s action. Evidence frays in racially charged dragging death Four months after a grand jury indicted two white men in connection with the dragging death of a black man in this racially troubled northeast Texas town, key evidence against the pair appears to be evaporating amid growing optimism by one defense attorney that he can win an acquittal when the first case comes to trial in July. Anti-Gay Organization Attempting To Scrub Leaked Audition Videos From YouTube (VIDEO) So, they launched a campaign against gay marriage, and made some commercials about chasing tornadoes, and rainbow coalitions, and gay thunder. And mostly, people laughed, because WTF? Well, as it turns out, whatever remained in these peoples' lives, spared from ruin by all the gay marriage, ended up getting ruined by leaked videos of the terrible actors giving terrible auditions for their terrible commercial. So, naturally, NOM is now against anyone seeing those audition videos, ever, and has launched a campaign against them, as well. Anyway, that clip is still available on MSNBC, and now it's available here, as well! (NOM segment begins at 2:15) Internet payday lenders with ties to Indians dodge California regulators California business regulators are stumbling in their efforts to find and ban an unlicensed form of high-interest consumer credit: payday loans available on the Internet. Appeals Court: Marine Can't Sue Murtha	Mexican ambassador: U.S. should take pot legalization seriously A Rabbit, Colored Eggs, Candy And Jesus: The History Of Easter Revealed Vet recalls worst loss of U.S. troops at sea James Wheeler kept a secret for nearly 60 years. Republicans own Fox News: Admission by Bush Apologist The fifth thing that Republicans have to do is understand the problem of communicating in a world where much of the television media, particularly, is hostile...If I had to recommend one single thing that the Republicans should be doing to help articulate the message, it is to acquire another television network so that there is not just FOX, but multiple sources of alternative information that will do a much better job than we did in 2008 to keep things honest. Alberto Gonzales And Five Top Associates To Be Indicted By Spanish Prosecutors Panel says it can't block importation of nuclear waste The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says it does not have authority to prevent importation of foreign radioactive waste Decline in blacks in prison for drug crimes reverses 25-year trend Reduced crack use and criminal justice reforms may have contributed to the 20 percent drop With the muzzle finally off, Area 51 insiders spill their tales Area 51. It's the most famous military institution in the world that doesn't officially exist. If it did, it would be found about 100 miles outside Las Vegas in Nevada's high desert, tucked between an Air Force base and an abandoned nuclear testing ground. Then again, maybe not the U.S. government refuses to say. You can't drive anywhere close to it, and until recently, the airspace overhead was restricted all the way to outer space. Any mention of Area 51 gets redacted from official documents, even those that have been declassified for decades. US DHS: Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment, 7 Apr 2009 The report states that the economic downturn and the election of the first African American president is fueling right-wing radicalization and recruitment. Examples are given. FDA takes action against firm in human experiments Citing serious violations uncovered by a congressional probe, federal regulators Tuesday imposed restrictions on a company that monitors testing of experimental drugs and medical devices on human beings. Spain asks U.S. about location of 9/11 suspect A Spanish judge has asked the United States, Britain and three other countries about the whereabouts of an alleged senior al Qaeda member who was captured in Pakistan in 2005, a court official said Tuesday. No U.S. transfer sites for Guantánamo detainees selected American Al-Qaeda Operative Adam Gadahn in New Al-Sahab Video: 'How to Prevent a Repeat of the Gaza Holocaust' Amazon de-ranks 'gay friendly' books, sparking Web fury Harvard economist: Legalize all drugs Beck's staff thought collapse was stunt Judge: Suit against Cheney's security detail may proceed
Madoffed
Credit Suisse Starts Shutting 2,500-5,000 U.S. Offshore Accounts State of Oregon Sues OppenheimerFunds The lawsuit includes allegations of negligence, breach of contract and violations of state securities laws. N.Y. Pension Deals Seen as Focus of Wide Inquiry Prosecutors are investigating whether the private equity firm made payments in exchange for state business UBS Client Pleads Guilty in Tax Case A wealthy UBS private banking client pleaded guilty to tax evasion, making him the second American ensnared in a widening federal investigation of the Swiss banking giant.

Science
Super acne? Drug-resistant zits on the rise It sounds like the stuff of teenage nightmares: super strong, mutant acne. But the bacteria that causes acne is increasingly developing resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics. Incoming asteroid under close watch Exactly 20 years from today, an asteroid about the size of a 25-story building will come closer to Earth than the networks of communications satellites orbiting the planet.	Trees May Dry Up With Global Warming Warming global temperatures could cause massive tree die-offs. That's the gloomy conclusion of a new study by scientists at the University of Arizona. They've discovered that trees exposed to temperatures warmer than those in their native environment were less capable of tolerating drought.
Politics
Credit card industry loses one Credit card lobbyists glum as Senate passes 2 separate bills to protect consumers Goldman push to repay $10bn Bailed-Out AIG Not Participating In Derivatives Overhaul Palin's AG Pick Ross Defended KKK Statue, Mocked Offended Student Sarah Palin's choice for attorney general once wrote a column defending the statue of a KKK figure as an expression of free speech and mocked the psychology of a college student who protested the display. How 3 retailing icons got caught in battle over union ballots Three high-profile companies, Starbucks, Costco and Whole Foods, are caught in a crossfire in a nasty fight over legislation that would make it easier for unions to organize. GOP Rep. won't release list of 'socialists' Bailed-Out Banks Face Probe Over Fee Hikes TARP Oversight Panel Investigating Bank Lending After Rash Of Complaints About Increases In Interest Rates, Fees... Panel Chair Warren: "In A Sense, We're Asking Taxpayers To Pay Twice" Guantánamo Attorneys Urge Panetta To Preserve CIA Black Site Evidence	Breast cancer bill harshly criticized by cancer experts How the Toxic Asset Plan Will Magically Make Your Money Disappear Geithner's "plan" will pick your pocket to pay off some of the richest people in America. JUDGES: Franken winner of Senate race Over five months after the election, a three-judge panel has declared Democrat Al Franken the winner of the Minnesota U.S. Senate race Judge In Coleman-Franken Case Donated To Coleman Campaigns Sebelius lowballed donations from abortion doc President Barack Obama's health secretary nominee, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, got nearly three times as much political money from an abortion doctor as she told senators Meghan McCain: GOP Should Support Gay Marriage The daughter of former presidential hopeful John McCain said she supports gay marriage and lashed out today against anti-gay Republicans. 100 Former Govt Employees Now Working as Bank Lobbyists on Bailout Mother Jones, Labor Groups Reach an Accord on Immigration.
Obama
Obama's military budget While media plays up program cuts, total defense budget surpasses Bush by $20 B "WE CANNOT REBUILD THIS ECONOMY ON THE SAME PILE OF SAND" Read The Rest Of Obama's Tough Speech On The Economy: We Will Hold People Responsible For This Crisis... Re-Make 20th Century Rules That Got Us Here OBAMA LIFTS CUBA TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS Biden Won't Comment On State Secrets Law He Once Co-Sponsored The Vice President's office is declining to weigh in on a bill that would restrict use of the "state secrets privilege" by the Department of Justice, despite the fact that, as a senator, Joe Biden co-sponsored that very piece of legislation.	Obama may cede Iran's nuclear rights United States President Barack Obama plans to ease the standoff on Iran's nuclear program - and stage a US comeback in Central Asia - by offering Tehran access to a global nuclear fuel bank in Kazakhstan. Tehran has welcomed the strategy, and the likely involvement of Japan serves up other geopolitical dimensions favorable to the Washington. Moscow is less enthusiastic. Obama: Stimulus projects 'ahead of schedule' President Barack Obama said Monday the $787 billion economic stimulus plan is beginning to take hold and that work is coming in "ahead of schedule and under budget." Obama Team Tells Jewish Leaders: UN Durban Text Crosses "Red Line"
Economy
Bankruptcies surge despite law meant to curb them The number of U.S. businesses and individuals declaring bankruptcy is rising with a vengeance amid the recession, despite a three-year-old federal law that made it much tougher for Americans to escape their debts, an Associated Press analysis found. America’s hidden unemployment crisis If 'contingent workers' were included in unemployment figures, the U.S. jobless picture would be much darker.	Median Wage Going Nowhere The U.S. Department of Labor released its annual National Compensation Survey for 2008, which provides detailed figures on earnings by occupation. Longer Unemployment for Those 45 and Older Retail and Price Data Show Ongoing Economic Weakness

Iraq	Map of Iraq
WATCH: Top US General In Iraq Certain All Troops Gone By 2011 Saturday: 15 Iraqis Killed, 35 Wounded Sunday: 1 US Soldier, 5 Iraqis Killed; 12 Iraqis Wounded Suicide bomber kills Iraqi Sunnis A suicide bomber attacks US-allied Sunni Awakening militiamen in Iraq, killing at least nine and wounding about 30. Al-Qaida front group claims attack in Iraq's north An al-Qaida front group is claiming responsibility for a suicide truck bomb in Mosul last week that killed five U.S. soldiers -- the largest number of American combat deaths in a single blast in more than a year. Microfinance Projects Revive Iraq Economy There is still at least one place in the world where "credit" is not a dirty word: Iraq. Japanese Companies Build New Housing Units in Baghdad Iraq, Turkey and US Step Up Intel-sharing in Fight Against PKK Five Christians Killed in Disputed Areas Suicide Bomber Kills 9 Sunni Militiamen in Iraq Iraq Militia Fear Reprisals After US Exit Security Intensified in Baghdad Amid Upsurge in Violence Iraqi VP: Some US-backed militias are planning attacks Shell Studies Iraqi Oil-Field Investment With China	US soldiers killed in Mosul attack Iraq Government Claims Media Is Stoking Violence Rights report cites abuses in Kurdish Iraq The Kurdish region of Iraq has seen gains in human rights, but security forces "regularly abuse their authority" and women continue to be targets of violence, Amnesty International said Tuesday. Soldier Killed By Armor-Piercing Bomb Today... Seventh US Combat Death Since Friday Iraq Accuses Media of Provoking Strife Iraq's Shiite-led government criticized foreign and Iraqi media Monday for reports about recent arrests of U.S.-backed Sunni paramilitaries, accusing news organizations of stoking religious tension and threatening national unity Small US Loans Are Catalyst for Iraqi Business Two Turkish Soldiers, 7 Kurd Rebels Die in Clashes Two Turkish soldiers and seven Kurdish guerrillas were killed in clashes during a military operation in southeast Turkey, army headquarters said on Saturday. The clashes between the troops and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants Iraq Sunni anti-Qaeda Leader Eyes Shi'ite Alliance A senior leader in a Sunni Arab movement founded to combat al Qaeda in Iraq is edging away from the military activity of the past, toward a once unthinkable alliance with the country's Shi'ite prime minister. Cash-Strapped Iraq Faces Growing Unemployment Iraq's Ministry of Interior is the country's largest single employer. But the recent downturn in oil prices has reduced revenue and prompted a government hiring freeze. And that has left many young Iraqis with few job prospects.
Middle East
Hezbollah 'plotted to attack Egypt' Lebanese group's operatives planned to hit targets in Sinai, Egyptian minister says. Turkish troops die in PKK clashes Saudi judge upholds marriage of 8-year-old girl Abbas, Netanyahu in 'warm' phone conversation North Cyprus 'link to Turkish plot' A Turkish Cypriot leader calls for a probe into alleged links between suspected Turkish coup plotters and northern Cyprus. Iran candidate rules out enrichment suspension: report Iranian presidential candidate Mirhossein Mousavi has ruled out suspending uranium enrichment but would work to verify Iran was not diverting its nuclear programme for weapons, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. Saudi judge upholds 8-year-old's marriage A Saudi mother is expected to appeal a judge's ruling after he once again refused to let her 8-year-old daughter divorce a 47-year-old man, a relative said. Mossad tip led to capture of Hezbollah cell in Sinai Lines separating warring camps in the region are becoming increasingly clearer as news emerged Monday that foreign intelligence services - including Israel's Mossad - provided Egyptian authorities with intelligence that contributed to the uncovering of a Hezbollah-run terrorist ring and led to the arrest of dozens of suspects Iran plans to launch new satellite into orbit US to donate unmanned military aircraft to Lebanon The United States is to donate 12 Raven unmanned aircraft to the Lebanese army as part of its military assistance programme, the US embassy announced on Tuesday. PA police find explosives lab in mosque 8 people, 2 bombs captured in Kalkilya operation, spokesman says; Hamas: Arrests are political. Egypt boosts forces on Israeli border Official says move meant to stop infiltration into Israel; paper: Hizbullah planned 3 attacks in Sinai. Saudi Shura Council Members: Restrict Religious Police Members of Saudi Arabia's Shura Council have accused Saudi religious police personnel of violating individual freedoms, and have demanded that the body be reorganized and its authority cut back Inside Iran's Revolutionary Court Ali Shakeri, advisory board member for the Center for Citizen Peacebuilding at the University of California, Irvine, was tried in Iran's Revolutionary Court last October. He describes what it was like in a conversation with Melissa Block	On Jumpy Lebanon-Israel Frontier, a Quiet Drug War On Lebanon frontier, quiet war against drug dealers smuggling heroin into Israel Hezbollah denies Egypt accusations Nasrallah says arrests in Egypt are aimed at turning people against the movement. Nasrallah: Hezbollah members arrested in Egypt was helping Palestinians to smuggle arms to Gaza Israeli troops arrest Syrian in Golan: army Israeli soldiers arrested an unarmed Syrian who crossed into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights Tuesday, a military spokesman said. Lebanese ex-general accused of spying for Israel A retired Lebanese general was arrested on suspicion of spying for Israel, a senior Lebanese security official said Tuesday. Egyptian guard killed while patrolling border with Israel An Egyptian security official says a border guard was killed early Monday while patrolling the frontier with Israel. ... India set to launch Israeli spy satellite Gaza boat explodes near Israel Navy vessel A booby-trapped fishing boat exploded on Monday near an Israel Navy vessel off the coast of the northern Gaza Strip Hamas agrees to probe deaths of alleged Israel collaborators Gaza prime minister Ismail Haniyeh approved last week the recommendation of the local interior ministry's special investigative committee to dismiss and court-martial 11 policemen on suspicion of causing the death of detainee Zayad Ayash Jaradat. A decision on the death of another detainee is still pending About 40 Kurds detained in Turkey over rebel links About 40 people, among them three senior members of Turkey's main Kurdish party, were detained Tuesday in a vast police operation targeting a separatist Kurdish rebel organization, a judicial source said. Israel, US to hold missile defense drill Largest-ever drill to include Arrow 2, US-developed THAAD and ship-based Aegis system. Sunni-Shi'ite Clashes Erupt Again In Saudi Arabia Following a two-month respite, clashes have again erupted between Sunnis and Shi'ites in Al-Madina, Iranian Website: Egyptians, Saudis, Israelis Planning To Assassinate Hizbullah Leader Shabab Al-Mujahideen Claim Responsibility for Firing At U.S. Congressman's Plane
Afghanistan	Map of Afghanistan
Female Official Killed in Southern Afghanistan Female provincial official who fought for women's rights gunned down in southern Afghanistan Taleban 'kill love affair couple' The Taleban in Afghanistan publicly shoot dead a young couple who they said had tried to elope to marry, officials say. 150 militants attack U.S.-NATO supply line About 150 militants armed with rockets and automatic weapons attacked a transport terminal in northwestern Pakistan that lies along a key supply route used by U.S. and NATO troops.	Afghan cleric defends marital law Religious leader hits out at critics who say new legislation legalises marital rape. Iran offers to train Afghan police in drugs fight Iran said on Monday it was ready to help train Afghan police in fighting the drugs trade, but Tehran was not discussing the narcotics problem with NATO forces in its eastern neighbor. How Afghan Women View The Controversial 'Rape Law'
Pakistan	Map of Pakistan
Pakistan capital put on high alert Threats by pro-Taliban fighters prompt deployment of extra security forces. Pakistan dilly-dallying on 26/11 probe yet again Pakistan agrees to Islamic law in Taliban area Under pressure from lawmakers, Pakistan's president on Monday signed a regulation that puts a northwest valley under Islamic law to achieve peace with Taliban militants who have brutalized the area	Zardari gives in to Taliban, signs Islamic law Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari signed a regulation late on Monday night to put the SWAT Valley under Islamic law as part of a peace deal with the Taliban. He signed the law after having come under intense pressure from members of his own party and other lawmakers. ISI being restructured and cleansed: Pak Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence is in the process of being ''restructured and cleansed'' in the wake of suggestions of its links with the Al-Qaida and Taliban, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said.
Asia
THAI MILITARY LAUNCHES CRACKDOWN; AT LEAST 49 INJURED
Europe
Spain: Basque group in missile attack plot on king The armed Basque separatist group ETA considered assassinating King Juan Carlos by attacking his plane or helicopter with a surface-to-air missile, Spain's interior minister said Monday. Cluster Bombs Used by Russia, Georgia The U.S.-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticised Russia and Georgia Tuesday for using cluster bombs during their week-long conflict in August, in a statement apparently also directed at a coalition made up of Brazil, China, India, Israel, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea and the United State, which want to continue producing and exporting the lethal weapons.	114 arrested before protest near UK power station British police arrested 114 people Monday on suspicion of planning a disruptive environmental protest at a coal-fired power station. Ukraine Arrests Lawmaker, Businessmen For Trying To Sell Plutonium Russia May Turn to Foreign Banks for Loans to Cover Deficit Germany to ban cultivation of Monsanto GMO maize Germany will ban cultivation and sale of genetically modified (GMO) maize despite European Union rulings that the biotech grain is safe
Africa
Somali pirates vow 'revenge' Somali Pirates Strike Again! Hijack 4 More Ships Where will captured Somali pirate get justice? The high profile of the case suggests a trial in the United States, but the Justice Department might be wary of bringing the young suspect into the American court system. Analysis: Somalia Piracy Began in Response to Illegal Fishing and Toxic Dumping by Western Ships off Somali Coast President Obama vowed an international crackdown to halt piracy off the coast of Somalia Monday soon after the freeing of US cargo ship captain Richard Phillips, who had been held hostage by Somali pirates since last Wednesday. While the pirates story has dominated the corporate media, there has been little to no discussion of the root causes driving piracy. We speak with consultant and analyst Mohamed Abshir Waldo. In January, he wrote a paper titled “The Two Piracies in Somalia: Why the World Ignores the Other?”	Crisis talks fail in Madagascar Supporters of the former president of Madagascar quit talks aimed at ending the political crisis, blaming a UN mediator. Pirates seen as not interested in raising violence U.S. and French naval attacks on Somali pirates raised fears Monday for the safety of scores of foreign sailors still held hostage and sparked a debate on safeguarding shipping. The most likely outcome, though, is business as usual for the bandits Dolphins Block Somali Pirates Experts Fear Al-Qaida May Turn To Piracy Al-Qaida has kept a low profile recently and was noticeably quiet during the recent U.S. standoff with Somali pirates. But counterterrorism experts worry that this distance between the terrorist network and piracy will not last. Frenchman dies in Somalia rescue A French hostage dies but four others, including a child, are freed in a rescue by French forces on a yacht off Somalia
The Americas
Water cut off in Mexican capital Mexico City shuts down a main pipeline providing fresh water to millions of residents as reserves fall to record low levels. Rebels kill 13 soldiers in Peru Shining Path guerrillas kill 13 soldiers in attacks in the remote south-east of Peru, the country's defence minister says. Venezuela's Chavez singles out some TV networks President Hugo Chavez urged authorities on Monday to impose sanctions on Venezuelan television networks that allegedly backed a military rebellion that briefly ousted him seven years ago. Nuclear watchdog asked to leave N. Korea North Korea's foreign ministry said the country will quit talks aimed at disarming the country of nuclear weapons and strengthen nuclear capabilities, state-run media reported Tuesday. Cuba keeps out US religious freedom group	Chile police 'victimise Mapuche' A top UN official says evidence suggests police in Chile use excessive force against the indigenous Mapuche people. Bolivian leader on hunger strike Bolivian President Evo Morales says he will refuse to eat until the upper house of parliament passes a new electoral law.Morales ends hunger strike the Bolivian president, has ended his five-day hunger strike after Bolivia's congress approved a new election law. Bolivia Congress Approves Law Extending Pres' Term Limits Mexican Congress debates legalizing marijuana Mexico's Congress opened a three-day debate Monday on the merits of legalizing marijuana for personal use, a policy backed by three former Latin American presidents who warned that a crackdown on drug cartels is not working. Paraguayan president's affair: She was 16 and he was a Catholic bishop Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo admitted Monday that he's the father of a 2-year-old boy who was conceived when Lugo was still a Catholic bishop.