| The News Crawler | ||
| Free Local Business Advertising Available | ||
|
Last Update: Monday, March 01, 2010 |
Click
here for Yesterdays Edition
 |
|
|
World Headlines
|
||
|
Afghanistan
Marines Launch Major Attack On Taliban Stronghold In Afghanistan Marines Invest in Local Afghan Projects The Marines are funding local development as part of an outreach effort intended to reduce violence in Helmand Province. Taliban: We won’t fight GIs ‘face-to-face’ Taliban fighters plan to disguise themselves as civilians during a looming NATO offensive in southern Afghanistan, a militant commander told NBC News Afghan government in tentative talks with insurgent leader Iraq Iraqi Court Overturns Ban on Hundreds of Candidates By overturning the fiercely disputed ban of candidates for suspected ties to the Baath Party, the court may have averted a boycott of the national election. In Northern Iraq, a Vote Seems Likely to Split In Nineveh Province, a parliamentary election considered crucial to Iraqi unity is highlighting conflicts among ethnic and religious groups. Iraq Oil Line Bombed; Output Drops The capacity at Baghdad’s Dora refinery, a frequent target, was cut from around 140,000 barrels per day to 70,000 following the attack. Monday: 56 Iraqis Killed, 142 Wounded Friday: 46 Iraqis, 1 Syrian Killed; 169 Iraqis Wounded Twin Car Bombs Kill 40 At Height Of Iraq Shiite Pilgrimage Al-Qaida group claims Iraq hotel blasts An al-Qaida front group in Iraq says it was behind the deadly suicide blasts at Baghdad hotels this week and warns that deadlier attacks are to come. 250 Blackwater personnel kicked out (by Iraqi gov't) Pakistan America's Once-Secret War In Pakistan Busts Open....Roadside Bomb Kills U.S. Soldiers, Dozens Of Students At Girls' School... Analyst: 'Now Can We Start Treating This Like a Real War?' Pakistan using militants against India: US America's intelligence chief has told a Senate committee that Pakistan is continuing to use militants in its strategy against India. Pakistan Is Said to Pursue Role in U.S.-Afghan Talks The offer is aimed at preserving Pakistan’s influence in Afghanistan once the Americans leave, and could both help and hurt American interests. The Americas Haiti Parents Want Americans Freed Some of the children's own families say they willingly handed over the children, want the Americans freed, and want them to continue ahead with plans to have the children live in an orphanage in the Dominican Republic.Haitian Parents Willingly Gave Children To U.S. Baptists Haiti judge: Detained Americans should be released El Salvador Investigates Adviser to Detained Americans in Haiti Police in El Salvador have begun an investigation into whether a man suspected of leading a sex trafficking ring has been providing legal advice to the Americans charged with child abduction. U.S. firms want part in Haiti cleanup Haiti raises earthquake's death toll to 230,000
Hey Corporate Media, "Looting" Is a Racist
Code Word When the news camera captures
footage of a Haitian man taking rice, what
does it show? Theft? Survival? What if that
man is white?
Haiti Earthquake Death Toll Rises, Now Same As 2004 Asian Tsunami Haiti 'awash in evangelism' Christian missions 'risk running afoul of Haiti’s culture and laws.' Chevron hires twelve public relations firms to discredit indigenous Indians in Ecuador In response to an environmental lawsuit filed against the oil giant, Chevron has fortified its defenses with at least twelve different public relations firms whose purpose is to debunk the claims made against the company by indigenous people Falklands oil plans anger Argentina Buenos Aires complains to UK over proposed exploration off coast of disputed islands.
|
Middle East Pilot made ‘fast and strange turn’ before jet crashed The pilot of a doomed Ethiopian Airlines flight made a “fast and strange turn” minutes after takeoff from Beirut in a thunderstorm, Lebanon’s transportation minister said Tuesday, revealing new clues about the plane’s few minutes in flight. Raze Illegal Buildings — Unless They Are Jewish East Jerusalem — Backed by armed security men, the municipal inspectors race their jeeps through the narrow alleyways and up a hillside crowded with buildings. Some of the homes are well-faced with stone; the naked concrete of others gives off something of a temporary air. CIA chief holds secret talks with Egypt, Israel Yemen agrees truce with Shi'ite rebels to end war The Yemeni government and northern Shi'ite rebels agreed on Thursday to a truce aimed at ending a war that has raged sporadically since 2004 and drawn in neighboring Saudi Arabia, both sides said. Iran Unleashes Wave Of Arrests Of Dissidents Russia, U.S. harshly condemn Iran's nuclear move Tehran says it will enrich some of its uranium to a higher purity for medical purposes, but other nations fear the process could eventually be used for weapons. China's response is more muted. Iran president Ahmadinejad accepts nuclear deal terms Iran's president has said it is ready to send its enriched uranium abroad for further enrichment under a deal to ease concerns about its nuclear programme. U.S. Penalizes Companies Tied to Iran Corps The sanctions targeting the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps of Iran underscored the Obama administration’s determination to single out the elite corps as a way to curb Iran’s nuclear program. Iran to hang nine more over election turmoil Europe Kremlin Stunned By Largest Protest Since Fall Of Soviet Union The protest, staged at the weekend, saw between 10,000 and 12,000 people gather in Kaliningrad's main square to demand the resignation of the governor and shout slogans against the ruling United Russia party. Greece Derails: Is Europe Far Behind? Speaking on national television this evening, the Greek Prime Minister – George Papandreou – lashed out at the European Union (presumably meaning mostly Germany) for creating a “psychology of looming collapse which could be self-fulfilling.” He also implied that Greece was being treated, in some senses, like a “lab animal.” U.S. soccer player’s car blown up in Scotland Judge: Italian spies likely knew of CIA kidnap UBS: Bank Bailout Good Guy? There's a reason the Swiss bank offered to take a loss on its contracts with AIG. And it's not because UBS was feeling friendly. Asia China to write off 80 percent of Iraq debt Lawyer of Mumbai attack co-accused shot dead Violence flares in Indian Kashmir Three people including a policeman die in violence in Indian-administered Kashmir, police officials say. Africa African Union to Consider "Land For Haitians" Plan The African Union (AU) agreed on Sunday to consider a Senegalese proposal to resettle Haiti's earthquake homeless and possibly create a state for them in Africa. Somali Islamists 'join al-Qaeda' Somali Islamist rebel group al-Shabab confirms for the first time that its fighters are aligned with al-Qaeda's global campaign NIGERIAN MILITANTS ATTACK SHELL OIL PIPELINE OVERNIGHT Uganda's 'kill gays' friends' bill Anti-gay law worse than thought: Friends who don't rat out friends face death |
|
|
US Headlines |
||
|
Keep Fish Off Drugs: Don't Flush Your Pills Around the country,
chemists have discovered that fish in the water downstream from
water treatment plants absorb chemicals found in antidepressant
drugs into their bodie Conservative Activists Rebel Against Fox News: Saudi Ownership Is ‘Really Dangerous For America’ Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal owns a 7 percent stake in News Corp — the parent company of Fox News — making him the largest shareholder outside the family of News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch. Alwaleed has grown close with the Murdoch enterprise, recently endorsing James Murdoch to succeed his father and creating a content-sharing agreement with Fox News for his own media conglomerate, Rotana. Study: Charter Schools Increasing Racial Segregation in Classrooms Judge seals video in racially-charged Taser ‘homicide’ The tape begins with Pikes handcuffed to a chair in the Winnfield Police Department, the sources said. He had already been hit by a so-called "direct" stun -- a Taser fired directly into his chest rather than from a distance -- and eight other Taser shots. US terrorists 'de-citizenized'? Report: Pentagon wants 'mechanism' to strip terrorists of citizenship. : Pentagon's Airborne Laser Destroys Missile In Flight DHS: The number of illegal immigrants in US fell The Homeland Security Department estimates the number of illegal immigrants living in the U.S. fell about 7 percent to 10.8 million in January 2009. Toyota Recall: New Questions About What the Motor Company Knew and When While Toyota USA president Jim Lentz told ABC News he was confident that "there are no electronic problems" with Toyota vehicles and that the problem had been completely fixed with the recalls, Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) said that in private, Toyota executives told his staff they still don't know what caused all of the runaway cars. Insurer warned govt. of Toyota State Farm says it alerted regulators in 2007 about acceleration problems. Toyota's Gas Pedal Problems First Noticed In 2003 Christmas Day bomb suspect Abdulmutallab providing intelligence, sources say Senate report: 'Dirty money' still entering US Foreign leaders and their families are still able to channel hundreds of millions of dollars in potentially corrupt money into the United States despite post-Sept. 11 laws cracking down on money laundering, according to a report released at a Senate hearing Thursday Economy US banks face insider trading probe Neil Barofsky, the special inspector-general overseeing the US government’s financial rescue efforts, is to probe allegations of insider trading among bank executives and their associates EU denies US access to bank data "U.S. diplomats in Brussels called the move 'a setback for U.S.-EU counter-terror cooperation,'" Dow Jones Newswires noted. Resistance to the arrangement was led by Dutch lawmaker Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Dow added. "We all know what the [U.S.] Congress would say" if the Obama administration proposed sending Americans' bank data overseas, he reportedly said. China evading US duties via third nations: group Manufacturers in China are evading millions of dollars of US anti-dumping duties on steel wire products by exporting them via third countries, an American industry group charged Monday. Rich-poor gap 'wider than 1970s' The gap between rich and poor is wider now than 40 years ago, a government-commissioned panel has reported Moody’s warns US over credit rating fears The ratings agency says that the triple A sovereign credit rating of the US would come under pressure unless tougher actions were taken to tackle the country’s budget deficit Another property collapse coming? Half of $1.4 trillion in commercial real estate loans 'under water. After Buying Spree, China Owns Stakes in Top U.S. Firms Flush with cash despite the global economic downturn, China’s sovereign wealth fund quietly snapped up more than $9 billion worth of shares last year in some of the biggest American corporations, including Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Citigroup. Economist Dean Baker Interview with Dean Baker, economist and co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research and author of "The Conservative Nanny State: How the Wealthy Use the Government to Stay Rich and Get Richer" Science Medical journal re- tracts autism study Prestigious Lancet retracts 'flawed' study linking MMR vaccine and autism. |
Gingrich Says British Shoe Bomber 'Was An American Citizen'....Uses
Inaccurate Information To Defend Bush, Assail Obama...Newt
Gingrich Trips Up Again With Daily Show Correction In a post on
his Twitter page, Gingrich explained that when he made the Reid
comment to the Daily Show's Jon Stewart his reference was actually
Jose Padilla. Reid, after all, is a British citizen. Padilla is
American. Appearing on Fox News in November 2005, the former speaker
said the following when asked whether it was "a loss" for the Bush
White House to have tried Padilla in civilian courts after holding
him for three-and-a-half years as an enemy combatant. "Well, I think
if they believe they have enough evidence to convict him, going
through the process of convicting him and holding him, I suspect,
may be for the rest of his life without parole would not be -- would
hardly be seen as a loss," Gingrich said. Politics British Court Summary of Secret Documents Says U.S. Mistreated Detainee The British government was forced to release a summary of secret documents that were shared by American intelligence officials with their British counterparts detailing the mistreatment of a British man who was subjected to extraordinary rendition by American officials. U.S. warns there will be a price for Britain to pay after judges reveal abuse of terror suspect The U.S. has warned its relationship with Britain has been harmed by the court ruling that revealed Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed was tortured at the behest of American authorities. Obama says Pyongyang out of US terror black list US President Barack Obama said on Wednesday that North Korea will no longer be listed on the US Black list for terrorist countries in spite of Congress calls in this regard. Only 12% Of Americans Think Obama Cut Their Taxes Only 12 percent of the public say that the Obama administration has lowered their taxes since coming to office, despite the fact that the White House's stimulus package cut taxes for 95 percent of Americans, a new opinion survey found. GOP BLINKS: 27 Obama Nominees Confirmed The Senate confirmed a huge group of administration nominees on Thursday, following a tense exchange between President Barack Obama and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). At a White House meeting with bipartisan congressional leaders on Tuesday, Obama warned that he would make recess appointments if the logjam over nominees wasn’t broken before the Senate left for the Presidents’ Day break. “Mitch, this is unprecedented,” the president said, gesturing forcefully on the Cabinet Room table, according to aides. “If you don’t move any, I’m going to do some [recess] appointments Public Stimulus Spent on Private Wine Train California has been hit hard during the recession, so it's no question why federal stimulus dollars are being spent there. Yet one project -- $54 million for renovations for a privately-owned "wine train" -- has some in Congress questioning how they're being spent. Pentagon draws plans for immortal ’synthetic organisms’ Blackwater Charged U.S. Taxpayers For Strippers, Prostitutes, Ex-Employees Say Top five insurers made $12 billion in profits last year, dropped 2.7 million people Bill Would Apply Antitrust Laws To Insurance With Congress still stalled on the big health bill, it turns to smaller pieces of legislation. The House this week will vote on a bill to repeal a decades-old insurance industry exemption from antitrust laws. Some analysts say eliminating the exemption wouldn't have an impact on competition or premiums.
GOP Leader
Presses Big Bank CEO For More Campaign Donations
RNC Official: Women Need 'More Handholding' To Run For Office Tea Party Convention's Racial Brouhaha: Obama Won Because Jim Crow-era Law Not On Books - Tancredo The opening speaker at the first National Tea Party Convention called President Obama a "committed Socialist ideologue" who was elected because "we do not have a civics, literacy test before people can vote." "You have launched the counter-revolution," the speaker, former Rep. Tom Tancredo Jimmy Kimmel: Misspelled Signs of the Tea Party Adm. Mike Mullen: Repeal Is The 'Right Thing To Do' .. 'Comes Down To Integrity' "No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens." |
|
|
Connecticut |
||
|
Judge: Pratt can't move jobs (1,000) out of US A federal U.S.
judge ordered jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney to halt its plans to
move 1,000 jobs out of Connecticut and to Japan, Singapore and the
state of Georgia. U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in Bridgeport
issued a permanent injunction, stopping the company's plans to shift
the jobs. Sikorsky venture to develop unmanned Black Hawk Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. is launching a $1 billion venture featuring a pilot-less Black Hawk helicopter as military demand rises for technology to fight two wars. Puerto Rican pleads guilty to 1983 Conn. robbery A Puerto Rican nationalist has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to his involvement in a 1983 armored truck robbery of about $7 million in Connecticut -- one of the largest robberies in American history. Criminal probe is launched in Conn. plant blast Big loss for the state -- will it have repercussions for Blumenthal? The state must pay more than $18 million to the owner of an East Hartford computer company that state officials had accused of skimping on parts, a Superior Court jury in Waterbury decided Friday. No surprise: The overwhelming majority of Peter Schiff's donors don't live in CT Wood furnaces, car idling eyed by Conn. lawmakers Proposals to limit pesticide use around schools, ban outdoor wood-burning furnaces and stop drivers from letting their vehicles idle too long are among ideas that will be considered by a Connecticut legislative committee this spring. Conn. students face $103 fine for swearing The principal of a Connecticut High School is warning that students caught swearing could face $103 tickets issued by police for creating a public disturbance. Conn. newspapers fighting plan for online notices Connecticut newspapers are running full-page ads this month against a proposal to allow cities and towns to post legal notices on municipal Web sites instead of the local, printed newspaper. HUSKY change could save state $28M After listening for years to legislators that the management care organizations running the state’s HUSKY Medicaid program are charging too much, the state has decided to change the model. Man slain outside Hamden tattoo parlor A man believed to be the owner of a Dixwell Avenue tattoo parlor was shot to death outside his shop Tuesday night, police said. |
Mayor would consider KSM trial in city The possibility that one of the world’s most notorious terrorists may be
tried in New Haven doesn’t seem to frighten
the locals
State acts to protect renters in foreclosures (video) Tiquanda Newton, 31, got a notice two days before Christmas that she and her two children had about a week to evacuate their apartment because of a foreclosure action. Read Story State’s water plans draw fire Members of the Public Utilities Commission had some strong words recently for proposed state regulations on how much water can be drawn from the state’s rivers, streams and watersheds Gas-pipe purging linked to seven big explosions since 1997 The cause of the explosion at the Kleen Energy natural-gas plant has yet to be determined. But a federal safety board had recently urged stronger safety codes for the process of gas-pipe purging, which was under way at the plant in Middletown, Conn. Blumenthal: Laws Protecting Tenants Are Violated New state and federal laws passed last year are supposed to protect renters in foreclosed properties from getting tossed out with little or no notice. Rell To Propose Credit Consortium For State's Smaller Businesses In a State of the State address that will focus on jobs and balancing the budget, Gov. M. Jodi Rell today is expected to propose a $500 million " Connecticut Credit Consortium" that would provide loans to small and medium-sized businesses. Any Chance At A New Haven-To-Springfield Line? Now that other states have grabbed most of the federal stimulus money for high-speed rail systems, does Connecticut still have a chance of building a New Haven-to-Springfield line? Conn. gov: program collects $2m in unpaid taxes Conn. police official threatens reporter, resigns Gov. Rell Calls for State to Forgive Student Loans In her final State of the State address, Governor Jodi M. Rell is calling for the state to forgive student loans as a way of keeping qualified, trained workers in our state. Offshore Account Holders Outed The state is going after Connecticut residents who evaded taxes by opening offshore accounts. Stew’s donates $25G to Haitian workers’ families A charity associated with the Stew Leonard’s grocery store chain has donated $25,000 to help the store’s Haitian employees whose families were affected by the earthquake in that nation. |
|
| United States | ||
|
Fire depts. charging for putting out fires Fire,
accident victims being 'billed for services once funded by taxpayer
money.' ACORN hopes to 'sting the stinger'" Now that he's proven that [O'Keefe's] law-breaking isn't a one-shot deal, we are demanding that the attorneys general in California and Maryland conduct formal investigations of O'Keefe's actions from last year," Lewis said in the email. Toyota Transportation Chief Tries to Keep Pressure on Toyota After advising owners of recalled Toyotas not to use them until they were repaired by a dealer, the Transportation Secretary later said he had misspoken Toyota Has Pattern of Slow Response on Safety Issues Toyota to recall 270,000 Priuses Security Issues Democracy Now! The CIA Is Welcoming Itself Back onto American University Bomb blows up unoccupied truck in SC neighborhood Authorities say someone planted a bomb that exploded under a pickup truck in a South Carolina neighborhood. Puerto Rico activating Guard to fight crime Puerto Rico’s governor is activating the National Guard to battle crime in the U.S. territory Radiation risk from body scanners Report: Pregnant women, children shouldn't be scanned at airports. US to share classified technology with allies The U.S. will sell to its NATO allies mine-resistant vehicles and other equipment to protect against roadside bombs in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday Shoe Bomber Richard Reid Was Also Read Miranda Rights Packaged Salad Can Contain High Levels Of Fecal Bacteria, Says New Study Iowa Computer Breach Points to China Al-Qaida will strike in 3-6 months, Panetta says Courts
US wants out of suit over Chinese detainee's
death The alleged neglect and
death of a terminally ill Chinese immigrant detained in a Rhode
Island jail two years ago triggered scathing reports and
investigations, a wide-ranging federal lawsuit and hand-wringing
over who was responsible.
Scientist convicted of trying to kill Americans Aafia Siddiqui convicted of shooting at US interrogators while in Afghan detention. NY Attorney General Files CIVIL CHARGES Against BofA...Read The Lawsuit Gay teen’s harassment suit gets federal notice A New York father files suit against the school district on charges the district failed to protect his son from bullying. Religious groups want gay judge removed from Prop-8 trial Judge Questions Bank of America’s New Deal With S.E.C. The court might reject a new $150 million settlement over the takeover of Merrill Lynch, which could send the case to trial. Education Abortions higher among religious school students NY Girl Prevented From Graduating By Homelessness Oregon civil rights group offers scholarships to white students The Oregon League of Minority Voters is trying a new civil rights tactic: offering scholarships to white students to take classes in race relations. Private colleges look to rein in financial aid Two of the nation's most selective private colleges will no longer offer aid packages that allow students of any income to attend without taking out loans. Detroit to teach students how to to work at Walmart Georgia Schools Inquiry Finds Signs of Cheating Georgia education officials ordered investigations on Thursday at 191 schools across the state where they had found evidence of tampering on answer sheets for the state’s standardized achievement test. Drug War DRUG WAR STILL GROWING UNDER OBAMA....Obama Wants More Money for the Failed Drug War? NYC Police Accused of 'Anal Assault' Over Marijuana Use New York City police have arrested over 300,000 people for low-level marijuana possession since 1997, sometimes employing outrageous methods to humiliate citizens
Cameron Douglas Faces More Time Than a Murderer or a Rapist for a Non-Violent Drug Charge
U.S. would reap billions from $1 cigarette tax hike Adding a $1 per pack tax to cigarettes could raise more than $9 billion a year for states, health advocates said on Wednesday, and a poll released with the study shows Americans would support such a tax. |
Greed
'Octopussy,' Six Others Plead Not Guilty to
Insider Trading A man regulators call "the Octopussy" and six other
white-collar defendants pleaded not guilty Tuesday in federal court
in Manhattan to securities fraud charges in an insider trading case
that has shaken Wall Street. Prosecutors have billed the case as one
of the largest insider trading cases ever and accused suspects of
using drug dealer-style tactics to evade detection. So far, 21
people — including wealthy hedge fund whiz Raj Rajaratnam — have
been charged. Eight have pleaded guilty.
Former hospital executive will plead guilty to paying kickbacks Vincent Rubio, while at Tustin Hospital and Medical Center, was involved in a multimillion-dollar scheme to recruit homeless patients from skid row for treatment billed to Medicare and Medi-Cal. Goldman Sachs Spy' Indicted, Allegedly Stole Secrets Worth Millions Ex-Intel exec admits conspiring with Rajaratnam A former Intel Capital director pleaded guilty on Monday to fraud in the Galleon insider trading case, telling a New York court that hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam gave him money for personal needs and that he profited from illegal trades. Media Teabaggers upset Marvel Comics made them 'supervillains'
Why Doesn't the iPad Do Flash? When you surf the Web,
Flash is unavoidable. What about the iPad?
Limbaugh: I love the Women's Movement...from behind NBC Serves Fried Chicken & Collard Greens In Honor Of Black History Month The New York Attorney General's office is filing civil charges against Bank of America and its former CEO Ken Lewis, saying the bank misled investors about Merrill Lynch when it acquired the Wall Street bank in late 2008. Civil charges were also being filed against Joe Price, the bank's former chief financial officer.
Police/Prison
High School Student Tasered After Basketball Game Twelve arrested in U.S. for disrupting Israel ambassador Police intervene after hecklers scream "killers" during speech by Michael Oren at California university 15-year-old girl assaulted in downtown Seattle transit tunnel while three security guards are around
Ex-cop who assaulted boy wins early jail release A former
Waterbury police
lieutenant will
be released from
prison after
serving only
half his
three-year
sentence for
sexually
assaulting a
15-year-old boy.
Civil Rights Oliver North: After gays allowed into military, pedophiles will follow Dancing at Jefferson Memorial a no-no So you think you can dance at the Jefferson Memorial? Think again. A federal judge has ruled against a woman who was arrested for dancing with a group of 17 others at the memorial dedicated to President Jefferson. The woman, Mary Oberwetter, and others were dancing to music on their headphones near midnight April 12, 2008 Did Wal-Mart fire immigrants for locals? A small group of West African men who came to the Rockies in search of economic opportunity have accused Wal-Mart of dismissing them because supervisors wanted to give their jobs to local people in need of work. Teacher Suspended After Party Photos Posted Online A high school teacher in Pennsylvania was suspended for 30 days after a picture of her at a strip club was posted on a social networking site. The picture was taken at a bachelorette party. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, some students saw the picture and notified school officials. The ACLU is looking into the case. Manitoba judge upholds decision to seize children of alleged white supremacists Both children were apprehended by CFS after the girl went to school with drawings of swastikas on her and racist slogans written on her in permanent marker. Queer Rising Shuts Down Manhattan Marriage Office Environment The Overuse of Antibiotics in Livestock Feed Is Killing Us Shrimp's Dirty Secrets: Why America's Favorite Seafood Is a Health and Environmental Nightmare BIODIVERSITY: Northern "Biopirates" Gobbling up Resources - Rich countries are like biopirates, looting far-away lands for food, raw materials and cheap labour. They're plundering other richer ecosystems because they've largely destroyed their own. And they're blocking global efforts to create an independent scientific assessment panel that is likely point the finger at the real reason species are going extinct at 1,000 times their natural pace, experts say. New Anti-Smog Restrictions Could Warm Planet The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed tightening the standard for smog to protect human health. The result would be cleaner urban air. But because of a quirk of atmospheric chemistry, the pollution control measures could contribute to global warming. |
|
| Science | ||
|
UFO In Space Stuns Scientists Stanford scientists turn mice tail components into brain cells Skin cells from the tails of mice were turned into neurons able to form connections crucial to brain function, a study said. The Stanford University scientists who performed the feat said it should work with human tissue. Science teacher divides Ohio townParents complained when boy found with crucifix-shaped mark
on arm allegedly made by teacher
|
||
| Politics | Political Resources | |
|
Palin's PAC Spends Thousands On Copies Of Her Own Book NOT AGAIN! Unknown Democrat Wins Illinois Lt. Gov. Race, Scandalous Past Emerges...Candidate Accused Of Rape Attempt On Ex-Wife, Domestic Battery General Says 'Gays Too Precious To Risk In Combat' HOW CORPORATIONS SECRETLYMOVE MILLIONS TO FUND POLITICAL ADS Meghan McCain: Tea Party represents 'innate racism' Sen.-elect Brown says he supports abortion rights Republican Sen.-elect Scott Brown of Massachusetts says he opposes federal funding for abortions, but thinks women should have the right to choose whether to have one.... Prosecutors Launch Investigation Of Paterson Over Gaming Contract...N.Y. Gov Calls Scandal Allegations 'Racialized' And 'Hypersexualized' McCain Backs Down To Hannity: ‘I Never Quite Understood’ Global Warming FBI gets involved in Ensign affair Federal agents start interviewing people connected to the Nevada Republican's sex scandal. Treasury/Federal Reserve/Bailouts/SEC/IRS
SEC abandons beleaguered backdating case against Broadcom former
executives
Outrage as bailed-out AIG pays 100 million dollars in bonuses
AIG, who were bailed-out by the US government at the height of the
financial crisis, is set to pay out approximately 100 million
dollars in bonuses, sparking outrage among US officials
SEC enforcement chief wants to catch investment scammers in the act
Robert Khuzami launches a new program to encourage whistle-blowers
involved in financial scams and presses for laws to provide big
rewards for securities tattletales
Geithner: Bank fee would recoup AIG bonuses Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner says Congress can recoup
"outrageous" bonuses for AIG employees through a new bank fee in
President Barack Obama's proposed budget.
Treasury to make $1B available to small banks The Treasury says
it will invest up to $1 billion in small banks that serve poor
communities as part of the Obama administration's efforts to spur
more lending to small businesses.
U.S. lawmaker to push for crackdown on speculation key U.S.
lawmaker is set to join forces with several business groups on
Wednesday to call for Congress to end the "reckless speculation" in
commodity markets as the Senate prepares to take on financial
reform. |
Federal Election Commission Fines Arlen Specter's Senate Campaign,
Treasurer For Donation Violation Schwarzenegger's dropping two state holidays is legal, California judge rules A San Francisco Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday that the Schwarzenegger administration acted legally when it enforced a new law that eliminated two former state holidays — Lincoln's Birthday and Columbus Day. Health Insurance AP: Obama says health care bill may die ....'Let Me Be Clear. I Am Not Going To Walk Away From Health Reform' Obama admin. demands justification for insurer's 39% rate hike on Californians Americans Send Message On Health Care ....Neary Two-Thirds Want Leaders To Pass Comprehensive Bill Congress opens probe into Anthem Blue Cross rate increases Defense Spending Army curtails plan to cut spending for world bases BAE to pay $400m fine to US Arms firm BAE Systems is to pay a fine of $400m (£250m) after pleading guilty to making false statements to the US government. Pelosi says spending freeze should apply to defense Stimulus Two-Faced: Stimulus Opponents Privately Beg For Government Cash
Lobbying
Think-tanks take oil money and use
it to fund climate deniers
Coal Ash Industry Manipulated EPA
Data, Ghost-Wrote Agency Reports for
a Decade The industry "watered
down official reports, brochures and
fact-sheets to remove references to
potential dangers." So-called
"environmental benefits" were
aggrandized. Budget and Taxes Social Security surplus hit by joblessness, early retirement How The GOP Created The 'Deficit Crisis' Narrative And Everyone Else Bought In |
|
|
Congress |
||
|
Senate
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) humbles John McCain for holding up NLRB
nominee Craig Becker
McConnell Raised Big Bucks From Foreign Defense Contractor Probed
For Bribery In the wake of the Supreme Court's Citizens United
ruling, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has been quick to denounce a bid
by Democrats to stop foreign corporations from pouring money into
U.S. elections, claiming current law already bars such spending.
Patrick Kennedy will not run again
Rep.
Kennedy (D-RI), the last Kennedy to hold office, will not seek
reelection. |
House
House Committee Opens Investigation
Into Treasury's Foreclosure Prevention Program Rep.
Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.), chairman of the House Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform, said Saturday that his committee
would look into ways for the Treasury Department to speed up
policies to help the housing market and whether loan servicers and
banks are carrying through on their obligations.
Rep. Murtha is dead....Rep.
John Murtha: lifelong hawk, military backer, brazen earmarker Rep.
John Murtha (D) of Pennsylvania, who died Monday, was the first
Vietnam veteran to be elected to Congress. He also brought home
billions in defense-related earmarks for his struggling district. |
|
| White House | ||
|
Obama Obama's $30 Billion Small-Business Plan Could Be Doomed To Fail During his State of the Union address last week, President Barack Obama said he wants to "take $30 billion of the money Wall Street banks have repaid and use it to help community banks give small businesses the credit they need to stay afloat."But even if the money is made available, it may still not get where he wants it to go. Community bankers don't necessarily want it -- and may not really have anyone to lend it to. Obama Does Not Think CEO Bonuses Are Justified, White House Spokesman Says Anatomy of the White House - PhRMA Deal Nuke Commission Nominee William Magwood Faces Questions About Energy Industry Ties Magwood certainly has experience in the nuclear energy field. He was the federal government’s top nuclear technology official from 1994 to 2005, working as director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology. After leaving the DOE, he founded Advanced Energy Strategies, an energy consulting firm, in 2006. He was also the president of Secure Energy Inc. for four years. But watchdog groups worry that a pro-nuclear energy advocate and former industry consultant would not be an effective regulator of the same industry, where his role would be to promote public safety -- not the industry’s well-being. Sen. Dems Retreat: From Earlier WATCH: Obama Takes On Birthers, Uganda's Anti-Gay Law At Prayer Breakfast Ben Nelson To Filibuster Key Obama Labor Nominee...Obama Warns GOP He Will Use Recess Appointments |
Baraknaphobia Bachmann: Health Care Reform Amounts To 'Gangster Government' Tea Party Convention's Racial Brouhaha: Obama Won Because Jim Crow-era Law Not On Books - Tancredo Vast Majority Of 'GOP Leaders' Believe Obama Is A Socialist DOJ US justice department opposes Google book deal The US Department of Justice on Thursday came out against a revised legal settlement with US authors and publishers that would allow Google to scan and sell millions of books online. GITMO/Bahgram/CIA-Blacksites New York Senate Passes Resolution Opposing 9/11 NYC Trial
Court orders government to disclose what MI5 and MI6 knew of
former Guantánamo inmate's treatment
All Gitmo detainees who returned to terror were released under Bush, Obama adviser reveals Pentagon appears to impede autopsy of Gitmo 'suicide' Rendition victim moves to sue US Canadian man tortured in Syria appeals ruling that prevented him from suing officials.
|
|
| Economy | Click for Economic Statistics | Financial Crisis for Beginners |
|
Nine Wall Street Execs Who Cashed In on the Crisis
Meet the moguls who made out like bandits. Opec says supply rise 'worrying' Opec Secretary General Abdalla El-Badri tells the BBC that producers have increasingly flouted targets and supplied more oil than agreed.
Wal-Mart Cuts 10,000 Jobs
GLOBAL BANK TAX GAINING MOMENTUM Women Now a Majority in American Workplaces As in previous recessions, male workers have borne the brunt of the job losses in the last two years. U.S., Mexico closer to resolving trucking dispute Congress could be moving closer to allowing Mexican trucks to haul cargo through the United States, helping to end a trade dispute hurting some exporters, the U.S. Trade Representative said on Monday. Economists: 'Cadillac Tax' May Mean Higher Wages One of the biggest sticking points with the plan to overhaul health care has been how to pay for it. The Senate wants to impose a so-called "Cadillac Tax." That is, a tax on the most expensive health care plans. Economists say in the long run the tax would result in companies offering less expensive health plans. The money the company saves would then translate into higher wages. |
HUNGER IN AMERICA JUMPS 'UNPRECEDENTED' 46%
Unemployment rises in most metro areas 5.1 Million Homes Projected To Be Worth Less Than 75% Of Mortgage By June Suburbs: The new face of America's poor? Suburbs, not inner cities, are home to the largest and fastest-growing poor population in the US. Unfortunately, they don't often have the services to help. China patents surge as U.S. filings plunge China bucked an unprecedented decline in global patent filings last year, boosting its total by 29.7 percent, while the United States saw a fall of 11.4 percent. UBS Reports a Profit, but Clients Are Still Taking Out Cash The Swiss bank was hurt as customers withdrew 45.2 billion Swiss francs ($42 billion), from its wealth management units. U.S. Report Details Money Laundering An investigation has shed new light on how major banks unwittingly shifted hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of politicians, their relatives and associates. U.S. stock exchanges push for sub-penny pricing: report Major U.S. stock exchanges are pressing the regulator to allow price quotes in increments as small as one-tenth of a cent, the Wall Street Journal said on Tuesday. |
|
| Iraq | Map of Iraq | |
|
Suicide Bomber Kills 41 Shiite Pilgrims
A female suicide bomber killed at least 41 Shiite pilgrims in
northern Baghdad who were making an annual pilgrimage to the holy
city of Karbala. Iraq army 'arrests US citizens' Mosul governor tells Al Jazeera that two US citizens are being held by Iraqi army. Iraq militant video 'shows abducted US contractor' Shiite militant group says it’s holding two US hostages Assassination Network Leader Captured in Mosul Iraq’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) on Sunday arrested the leader of an armed network specialized in assassinations in the city of Mosul, according to a local security source in Ninewa. Female Candidate Assassinated in Mosul |
Bush and Blair did
strike Iraq deal at
ranch, says Welsh MP
Iraq Seals Deal With Russia's Lukoil-Led Group Iraq finalizes deal with Lukoil-Statoil consortium to develop prized oil field : US Military Releases Iraqi Photographer An Iraqi freelance photographer who worked for Reuters has been released by the U.S. military after 17 months in detention in Iraq, the news agency reported Wednesday. Questions on Rule of Law Raised by Iraqi Leader’s Use of Army The prime minister sent the military to press a provincial council on the appointment of a governor, raising doubts about Iraq’s democratic institutions. |
|
| Middle East | Map of the Middle East | |
|
Iran
<Click
for video and history> Opposition heads attacked in Iran Massive security presence; Mousavi's wife beaten during rally.
Iran Plans to End US Apache's Domination over
Battlefields Iran ‘ready’ to make uranium exchange deal Iran is ready to complete a uranium exchange deal with world nuclear powers, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday. Iran detains ten Turkish citizens Ten Turkish tradesmen are reported to have been taken into custody on December 31 after their entry into Iran. Their vehicles and passports were also seized. Iran Says It Sent Animals Into Space Iran plans 10 new enrichment plants in 2010/11 Iran suggests prisoner exchange for US hikers Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad suggested in a television interview Tuesday that Iran would release three jailed U.S. hikers in exchange for Iranians currently serving in American prisons. Syria Eastern Syria faces ‘catastrophe’ Free market economic reforms have helped create a “catastrophe” in eastern regions of Syria, greatly exacerbating the effects of a devastating drought, according to leading critics of government policy. Saudi Arabia Saudi raids kill 14 say Houthi rebels Houthi rebels said that 14 people including women and children were killed in raids carried out by Saudi airplanes against regions in the north of the country. The Other 23 Yemeni soldiers killed by Shiite rebels Yemeni kidnapped in Philippines: police A Yemeni man working for an Islamic religious group has been kidnapped in the troubled southern Philippines, police said on Friday.
|
Israel
Israel reprimands 2 top officers over Gaza war Israel admission on white phosphorus doesn't settle larger debate In its response to the Goldstone report, Israel revealed that two senior military officers have been reprimanded for using white phosphorus in Gaza. Report: Israel Stole $2B from Palestinian Workers Israel closes beaches after explosives wash ashoreHamas denies al-Qaida militants entering Egypt from Gaza Militants' plotting Israeli attack arrested: Egypt Gaza Militants: More Bombs Floating Off Israel Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday claimed they had sent a series of floating bombs toward Israeli beaches, including two that washed up Monday. The militants claimed additional bombs were still floating in the Mediterranean. Hamas Official: If Israel Withdraws, We'll Take Over West Bank ‘Lost Tribe’ on Fast Track to Israel The Israeli government is reported to have quietly approved the fast-track immigration of 7,000 members of a supposedly “lost Jewish” tribe, known as the Bnei Menashe, currently living in a remote area of India. Under the plan, the “lost Jews” would be brought to IsraelIsrael says Hamas man was Iran arms link Israeli officials have alleged that a senior military commander of Hamas, the Palestinian miliitant group, found dead in a Dubai hotel was a leading conduit for weapons supplies from IranHamas: Dubai assassins were likely Arabs, not Israelis Hamas "regrets" civilian deaths, Israel unmoved Hamas has expressed regret for the deaths of Israeli civilians in Palestinian rocket attacks during fighting in Gaza a year ago.Lebanon US intelligence finds 5,000 Hezbollah trained to seize Galilee towns EgyptSenior members of Muslim Brotherhood reportedly arrested in crackdown Egypt Also Tries to Restrict Veils As French legislators continue to wrestle with the idea of imposing a partial ban on full facial veils, Egypt's courts have been dealing with the same issue. |
|
| Afghanistan | Map of Afghanistan | |
|
Saudi Arabia To Taliban: Expel Bin Laden "No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the
fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women
to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens." Fatal blast hits Afghan dog fight A bomb attack on a dog fight in southern Afghanistan kills at least three people and injures at least 30 more, police say Afghan police official accused of helping insurgents make bombs New video shows Taliban flogging men, boy Did 'pandering' cost U.S. lives at Afghan base? Why did eight American soldiers die defending an remote outpost the U.S. military no longer wanted to hold? NBC News' Richard Engel reports from Kabul.. US faults command over Afghan ambush that killed 8 Toll Grows in Afghan Avalanche Authorities said a storm with heavy wind and rain set off waves of snow that buried two miles of a highway and left cars trapped in a tunnel, killing at least 150. |
UN removes Taliban from blacklist Five senior Taliban officials
considered "moderate' deleted from UN sanction list. War casualties put UK hospitals under strain New beds opened to handle rise in UK troops injured as new Afghanistan offensive looms
Afghanistan war: Marjah offensive
targets opium capital The US offensive against the town of Marjah
illustrates the link between the Taliban insurgency and the
narcotics trade. The Taliban promote and tax the opium
business and are allies with the drug lords who organize the
distribution and export. Suicide Bomber Wearing Police Uniform Attacks U.S. Base In Afghanistan US now has 700 Afghan bases Forts used by British colonists, Soviet occupiers now American. |
|
| Pakistan | Map of Pakistan |
|
Pakistani official:
Tribesmen kill, hang
militants With Taliban Leader Reported Dead, New Pakistani Figure Emerges US militant suspects complain of torture in Pakistan ' Karachi ethnic clashes 'kill 12' At least 12 people are killed in two days of violence in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, police say. |
Clashes break out after strike shuts down Kashmir CONFIRMED: Pakistani Taliban Chief Mehsud Is Dead Deadly blasts at Pakistan police compound Gunmen Open Fire on Former Official in Pakistan Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, who served as minister for information under Pervez Musharraf, survived the attack on Monday though four others were killed. |
| North&South Asia | Map of Asia |
|
East Timor Police Beat Fisherman As UN Officer Watches (VIDEO)
Uzbek photos anger officials Photographer says she faces prison for portraying "negative" image of Uzbekistan.
Gao Zhisheng: One year later, China still mum on missing lawyer
INDIAN KASHMIR: Mass protest after police kill second teenager Chinese police shut down hacker training op Police in central China have shut down a hacker training operation that openly recruited thousands of members online and provided them with cyberattack lessons and malicious software, state media said Monday. |
Tibet temperature 'highest since records began'
say Chinese climatologists
President Rajapaksa dissolves parliament,
anger grows over Fonseka arrest Sri
Lanka’s President dissolved parliament
tonight and announced fresh elections as the
opposition called for nationwide protests
over the arrest of Sarath Fonseka,
New 3D scanner at airports not to show body parts The three-dimensional scanner that doesn't violate passengers' privacy. China Lists $9.6 Billion in Shares of U.S. Companies The China Investment Corporation bought more than $9 billion worth of shares in companies like Bank of America and Apple. |
| Europe | Map of Europe |
|
Russia announces Libya arms deal
Bosnia police raid Muslim village Bosnian police launch a major raid against a conservative
Muslim community, which they say poses a threat to the country.
Latvian ghost town auctioned off for $3.1 million Latvia sold a deserted town built around a Soviet-era radar station to a Russian investor who bid $3.1 million at an unusual auction Friday, officials said. Ukraine Opposition Leader Appears to Win Election A victory for Mr. Yanukovich would also be a triumph for Moscow in its struggle for influence with the West in the former Soviet Union. While Mr. Yanukovich, with the assistance of an American political consultant, has tried to remake his image so that he is not considered a favorite of Russia, he advocates policies that it welcomes. Georgian TV Channel Says Russian Company Elbowed It Off the Air The broadcaster accused a French satellite operator of caving into pressure by allowing the Russian company to buy out the spectrum on one of its television satellites. |
Chechnya militants kill soldiers
Militants kill five Russian soldiers in the
troubled North Caucasus region of Chechnya,
officials say.
Portuguese police find ETA base Portuguese police seized a large amount of explosives Friday at a home being used by Basque separatist group ETA as a base to prepare attacks in neighboring Spain, officials said. Heroin in London may cause anthrax British health authorities have warned that contaminated heroin being sold in London may cause anthrax, after one addict was hospitalized with the potentially fatal disease. India suspends first GM food crop on safety grounds India has halted the cultivation of what would have been its first genetically modified (GM) vegetable crop because of safety concerns 'Neo-Nazi' party allowed to distribute CDs outside schools German authorities have decided to step aside as the National Democratic Party of Germany, a radical far-right political group that is often described as ‘neo-Nazi’, distributes CDs outside of schools, a report said Saturday. |
| Map of Africa | |
|
Somali insurgents unite, profess loyalty to Qaeda
Somali pirates hijack Libyan ship A Libyan-owned cargo ship that is registered in North Korea seized with all 17 crew. SUDAN: ICC drops war crimes charges against Darfur rebel chief The International Criminal Court says it will not charge Bahar Idriss Abu Garda (pictured), the leader of Darfur's United Resistance Front, over the killing of 12 peacekeepers in 2007, citing insufficient evidence. Ivory Coast: Voter Registration Halted Ivory Coast has suspended its voter registration process because of rising tensions, the government said, casting doubt on when the presidential election will take place. |
Danish Forces Free Ship Captured by
Pirates--first time warship intervened
during hijacking
Libya 'must halt web crackdown' Angola oil pipeline attacked – by swordfish?
Swordfish
punctured part
of an oil
loading pipe at
an offshore
oilfield in the
African nation
of Angola – now
the world's No.
7 oil exporter –
causing a
three-day delay
in crude
shipments.
'Nigerian Security Forces Kill Unarmed Men, Footage Allegedly Shows |
| The Americas | Map of North America and South America |
|
Wells Fargo Bows To
Facebook Pressure,
Waives Haiti
Donation Fees Canada's Finance Minister says G7 have agreed to cancel Haiti's debt. Social Responsibility Missing in Growing Trade Ties China has become Peru's second largest trade partner, with interests basically in mining and oil. However, it is viewed with caution by this Andean nation, because the Asian giant has a reputation for flouting environmental standards and labour rights. Mexico Arrests 2 Reputed Leaders of Tijuana Gang Mexican authorities on Monday arrested two suspected leaders of a brutal drug trafficking gang that terrorized the border city of Tijuana for several years, a U.S. official said. Peru farmers drop cocaine in favor of cocoa Tapping into a niche market for organic cocoa, some Peruvian farmers have turned away from cocaine in favor of growing beans for high-end chocolate retailers in Europe and the US. NICARAGUA: Can Army Protect Plundered Forest Reserves? The Nicaraguan state has embarked on an iron-fisted policy, including the use of military force, to clamp down on those responsible for environmental depredation, after repeated denunciations by organisations and government officials that the country's two largest biosphere reserves are being plundered. Colombia's 'neo-paramilitaries' on the rise 'Successor groups' of right-wing paramilitaries are growing fast, causing a steep rise in violence in many areas, according to a new report from Human Rights Watch. 5 cops arrested in crackdown on Tijuana drug gang A crackdown on a vicious Mexican drug gang has led to the arrest of five Tijuana police officers, including two who had been at the forefront of the border city's efforts to rid the force of corruption. Costa Rica elects 1st woman president in landslide Chavez launches own radio show to broadcast on moment’s notice |
Slowly, Food Distribution in Haiti Improves Coupons for 55 pounds of rice under a new United
Nations food program have become more valuable than Haitian money.
Above, a community leader distributed coupons.
Haiti Resumes Adoptions Haiti resumed allowing orphans already in the adoption pipeline to leave the country, as it continued its child-trafficking investigation of 10 American missionaries arrested Friday for allegedly attempting to ferry 33 children out of the country. Haitian women become crime targets after quake Bernice Chamblain keeps a machete under her frayed mattress to ward off sexual predators and one leg wrapped around a bag of rice to stop nighttime thieves from stealing her daughters' food. Man Found Alive In Rubble 4 Weeks After Haiti Earthquake Haiti: black market in food aid emerges In Haiti's capital, street vendors are openly selling rice by the cup from bags stamped with US flags. Health crisis in Haiti enters a deadly new phase The second stage of Haiti's medical emergency has begun, with diarrheal illnesses, acute respiratory infections and malnutrition beginning to claim lives by the dozen. Haiti's pressing need: rain-resistant shelter for 750,000 homeless Actor, Activist Danny Glover: Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide “Mystified” at US Resistance to His Return....“Haiti: Killing the Dream”: Excerpt of Documentary on Centuries of Western Subversion of Haitian Sovereignty Amid drug war, Mexico less deadly than decade ago MTV Under Fire For Pulling 'South Park' Mexico Episode U.S. seeks extradition of Guatemalan ex-president The United States has requested the extradition of former Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo on money-laundering charges, authorities said on Sunday as they searched for him at several of his properties |