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| Last Update: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 |
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Gunfire Horror at National Cricket Match Sri Lankan cricket
players wounded, police killed in east Pakistan.
Four arrested for attack on Lankan team: Pak media....VIDEO:
Sri Lankan Cricket Team Attacked By Gunmen In Pakistan
Feds 'to let CIA off the hook for tapes'.....Isikoff points to discrepancies in CIA tapes story Following Monday's revelation that the Central Intelligence Agency destroyed 92 tapes of suspects, some allegedly undergoing harsh interrogations, the ACLU was quick to pounce, calling on a judge to issue a "prompt finding of contempt" against the CIA for disobeying an order to preserve evidence. |
100,000 foot soldiers in Mexican cartels Mexico's deadliest drug
cartels together have fielded more than 100,000 foot soldiers, according
to U.S. Defense Department officials. "It's moving to crisis
proportions," a senior U.S. defense official said. Militants' sudden unity threatens Obama's Afghanistan strategy A new alliance of Pakistani extremist groups — united after rival warlords vowed to renew the fight against international troops — threatens to escalate the insurgency in neighboring Afghanistan just as thousands more U.S. soldiers are to be deployed to the region. Justice Dept OKed Military Carrying Out Domestic Raids After 9/11 We Came an Inch from Martial Law, Bush Justice Department Memos Reveal |
| Connecticut | |
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Connecticut man sues police for shooting at him A man who pointed a
rifle at Rocky Hill police in 2007 is now suing the officers who shot at
him, claiming they used excessive force and arrested him without
probable cause. Connecticut Considers Adding Big-Jackpot Lottery Hedge funds are fizzling, casino revenue is down, and state officials are looking anywhere they can to find a few extra bucks. Teachers, unions want rich to pay more taxes Teachers and state employee unions on Monday asked the legislative Finance Committee to approve a new progressive income-tax structure that makes the wealthy pay more. State braces for cash flow woe State Treasurer Denise Nappier warned Monday that Connecticut could run into a cash crunch as early as May because of the economic downturn. Shelton man pleads guilty to mortgage fraud A Shelton man pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court to charges related to a $3.6 million mortgage fraud scheme, the U.S. attorney’s office said. |
Ex-California School Official To Oversee Connecticut Desegregation
Settlement The state Department of Education has hired a former
superintendent from California to oversee implementation of the Sheff v.
O'Neill desegregation settlement.
Rell Plan To Suspend Binding Arbitration Faces Opposition Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell has a plan to make the system of binding arbitration — which replaced the right to strike for teachers, police officers and other public employees — more friendly to cities and towns. Moratorium on artificial turf fields urged Moratorium on artificial turf fields urged Future Uncertain for CT Malls Shop while you can! The owner of two Connecticut malls appears to be on the brink of bankruptcy. DEP approves Plainfield woodburning plant The state Department of Environmental Protection today issued a final decision approving permits required for the construction and operation of Plainfield Renewable Energy |
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United States |
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Feds 'to let CIA off the hook for tapes'.....Isikoff
points to discrepancies in CIA tapes story
Following Monday's revelation
that the Central Intelligence Agency
destroyed 92 tapes of suspects, some allegedly undergoing harsh
interrogations, the ACLU was quick to pounce, calling on a judge to
issue a "prompt finding of contempt" against the CIA for disobeying an
order to preserve evidence.
Ex-AIG Chief Claims Insurance Giant Cheated Him Former AIG CEO sues
the company in NY, saying AIG took his fortune through deceit Flu strain now resistant to popular drug Citi's new $500/month mortgages Ex-Oregon congressman pleads not guilty to fraud A former Oregon congressman has pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles to money laundering and tax charges relating to an investment scheme that allegedly cost investors more than $10 million. As NOLA Charter Schools Thrive, Tensions Grow More than half of New Orleans schoolchildren attend charter schools, which have shown performance improvements, and more charters are on the way. Teachers at traditional public schools complain that their performance is hampered because charters push problem students back to them. 3 face hate-crime charges in Texas gay bar attack Three men are facing hate-crime charges after allegedly throwing rocks into a gay bar, injuring two men, police said. We Came an Inch from Martial Law, Bush Justice Department Memos Reveal |
Mass. Married Gays Sue for Federal Benefits Gay couples in Mass.
file US lawsuit seeking same benefits as straight couples $50 million lawsuit filed in BART shooting The family of a man slain by a former transit police officer filed a $50 million lawsuit Monday against officers involved in the New Year's Day shooting, the family's attorney told CNN affiliate KTVU. RI unemployment rate keeps rising to 10.3 percent Justice Dept OKed Military Carrying Out Domestic Raids After 9/11 Scientists Fear Visa Trouble Will Drive Foreign Students Away Foreign students are having a difficult time obtaining permission to study in the United States. Loophole lets 15 semiautomatics in D.C. for 3 years For the next three years, as many as 15 D.C. residents will enjoy a right denied their neighbors - the right to own recently banned semiautomatic weapons. Gun dealer trial begins in Arizona Jury selection began in Phoenix on Tuesday in the trial of a U.S. gun dealer charged with knowingly selling hundreds of weapons to smugglers shopping for Mexican drug cartels. Citigroup to allow jobless to cut mortgage payments 13 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Daylight Saving Time When clocks spring forward, people lose sleep, have more heart attacks, and might not even save energy Decades later, asbestos-ravaged town has its day in court Financial Scams On The Rise As Economic Suffering Spreads Bailed Out AIG Spending Millions On Four PR Firms, In-House Team |
| Madoffed | |
| SEC warns of impostors The Securities and Exchange Commission said con artists are impersonating its employees and pressing brokerages and money managers to turn over records in "emergency" inspections. | |
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Science |
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Ladyboy lizards use transvestite trickery: researchers (AFP) Young male lizards in South Africa imitate females to fool aggressive older males into leaving them alone, in an example of transvestism in the natural world, researchers have found. |
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Security Issues |
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Gates, Army working out stop-loss payments The snail’s-pace
development of a plan to pay a monthly allowance of up to $500 for
soldiers affected by stop-loss orders has not escaped Defense Secretary
Robert Gates, who has now taken a personal interest in getting the
payments to 13,000 eligible soldiers. Decades of Disparity: New Study Underscores Severity of Racial Bias in Drug-Related Law Enforcement A new study underscores the severity of racial bias in drug-related law enforcement. According to Human Rights Watch, African Americans were arrested as much as five-and-a-half times as whites on drug charges every year for the past three decades. The trend dates back to 1980, the earliest date with complete data. House to look at locals enforcing immigration law The Homeland Security Department has failed to ensure local and state law enforcement partners pursue serious criminals and don't misuse their authority while enforcing immigration law, government investigators say. |
ATF warns spring breakers against Mexico travel State to stop imprisoning some illegal-immigration repeat offenders California corrections officials say the state will no longer spend the estimated $10 million a year it costs to lock up undocumented immigrants with prior convictions who reenter the country illegally after being deported. Report: Alarming Spike In Growth Of Hate Groups The Southern Poverty Law Center reports the number of hate groups has increased by over 50 percent since 2000. Woman sent to prison for cheating Pentagon The owner of a defunct South Carolina company was sentenced Monday to 6 1/2years in prison for bilking the Pentagon out of $21 million she obtained by inflating military equipment shipping costs. US: Syrians at Guantanamo not father and son (AP) Two Syrians imprisoned at Guantanamo are not biologically father and son, a U.S. military official says, responding to an effort by defense lawyers to have the men housed together at the U.S. prison in Cuba. |
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Politics |
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Foreign tax havens targeted in U.S. bills Offshore tax havens used
by rich Americans in Switzerland, the Cayman Islands and other nations
are targeted for shutdown by bills offered on Monday by Democrats in
both chambers of Congress. TARP overseer joins board of firm with bank ties Former Sen. John Sununu, a member of the government watchdog panel that oversees the financial sector rescue fund, is joining the board of managers of a firm affiliated with a bank that has received $3 billion from the fund. Fed Chief Says Insurance Giant Acted Irresponsibly Pressing for quick action on the economy, Ben S. Bernanke also scolded A.I.G. for exploiting “a huge gap in the regulatory system.” Is the FDA a broken agency? Tainted peanuts. Unsterilized syringes. Salmonella in Mexican chili peppers. A contaminated blood thinner from China that sent patients into life-threatening shock. 'Bridge to nowhere' OK'd for Everglades A provision buried inside Congress' giant spending bill would overturn a federal court order, discard part of environmental law and reject an Indian tribe's plea, forcing the government to build a bridge in Everglades National Park that a federal judge has declared "a complete waste of taxpayer dollars." |
List of 2008 lobbying fees of $1 million or more A list of lobbying
contracts filed with Congress for 2008 that were worth at least $1
million, as compiled by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Fed program promises $1 trillion lending Are D.C. Voting Rights Constitutional? The nearly 600,000 residents of the District of Columbia are once again close to gaining a vote in Congress. The Senate passed a bill last week supporting the measure, but some argue that such a provision is unconstitutional. Constitutional expert Jonathan Turley, who opposes the bill, and Walter Smith, who supports it, debate the matter. Create a 9/11 Commission for Financial Reform 16 Emanuel earmarks in federal spending bill Although President Obama has repeatedly pledged to ban congressional earmarks, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel has 16 such projects, worth $8.5 million, in the bill the Senate is to begin debating today Coleman Camp asks that election results be 'set aside' Hidden Pension Fiasco May Foment Another $1 Trillion Bailout |
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Obama offers to drop missile project if Russian helps deal with Iran
The news that he has
secretly proposed a trade-off with Russia over US missile defence
system in eastern Europe – vigorously opposed by Moscow – suggests that
active diplomacy is being pursued, though it does not yet include the
unconditional engagement with Iran that some would like to see
Obama denies offering Russia missile shield deal 'No Swaps': Russia Responds to Obama Note Medvedev says he is willing to talk missile defense and Iran -- but separately. Medvedev: U.S. offered no Iran trade-off |
Obama nominates friend, adviser to head FCC President Barack Obama
has named Julius Genachowski as his nominee to chair the Federal
Communications Commission Top Obama Officials Defend $3.6T Budget President Barack Obama's top economic officials vigorously defended the administration's $3.6 trillion budget against Republican claims that it contained overly optimistic economic assumptions and included stealthy tax increases. Sources: Obama putting Bush species rule on hold President Barack Obama wants agencies, at least for now, to resume full scientific reviews of projects that might harm endangered wildlife and plants.... |
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Economy |
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Fed's Bernanke fears stagnation
Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has warned of stagnation if the US
authorities do not move "aggressively" to stimulate the economy. Interest rates for most credit card types rise The average annual interest rates charged on most popular types of credit cards rose last week, according to Bankrate.com. Mortgage delinquencies up for 8th straight quarter |
Ford reports huge drop in sales
US car-maker's sales down 48 per cent as economy continues to struggle. Inside the Bear Stearns boiler room Years from now, when academics search for causes of the stock market crash of 2008, they will focus on the pivotal role of mortgage-backed securities. These exotic financial instruments allowed a downturn in U.S. home prices to morph into a contagion that brought down Bear Stearns a year ago this month - and more recently have brought the global banking system to its knees. |
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Iraq |
Map of Iraq |
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Tuesday: 3 Iraqis Killed, 11 Wounded Iraqi Agrees To Extradite Arab Prisoners To Their Home Countries The Iraqi parliament's human rights committee has called on the Algerian government to immediately sign a legal agreement with the Iraqi government to allow the extradition of 130 Algerian prisoners held in Iraq for belonging to the Iraqi Security gains jump-start sales of American SUVs in Iraq Now that security has improved in Iraq, Hummers and other SUVs are big sellers among young and wealthy Iraqis US soldier killed in attack on base in Iraq (AP) FACTBOX-Military and civilian deaths in Iraq Obama revises Iraq War history Anyone else puzzled and disturbed by President Obama's statement Friday while addressing the troops at Camp Lejeune? I quote: "And I want to be very clear. We sent troops to Iraq to do away with Saddam Hussein's regime. Ukraine may beef up peacekeeping force in Iraq Ukraine will consider the possibility of increasing its peacekeeping personnel as part of the NATO Training Mission-Iraq |
Kurdistan-Iraq:
Ceasefire Agreement Between Kurdistan Region And Iran Kurdistan
region guard forces have announced that following the signing of an
agreement with Iran, air and ground shelling of the Iraqi regions near
the Iranian and Turkish border has stipped, since mid-February.
Nevertheless, it was reported that Arab, Kurd crisis has legal solution Conflict between Arabs and Iraqi Kurds can be averted if the status of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk is resolved through legal provisions, officials said. A drawdown of contractors in Iraq US commanders there may find it hard to quickly reduce the use of almost 150,000 contractors. Iraq still suffering from blackouts Many districts in Iraq, including the capital, Baghdad, still suffer from a lack of electricity six years after the U.S.-led invasion |
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Middle East |
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Israel bombs Gaza tunnels At least four people are wounded in latest
assault on Hamas-run territory. Arab homes on Jewish historical site stoke strife Yakoub Rishe fears returning from work one day to find his home wrecked. His wife, Aida, worries that any stranger knocking at the door was sent to kick them out. Ergenekon wiretapped politicians and businessman’ A clandestine terrorist organization charged with attempting to trigger a military coup established two centers in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) and the Turkish capital to wiretap individuals, the Sabah daily reported yesterday |
Report: Hamas Acting To Take Over Refugee Camps In Lebanon An
independent Palestinian source reports that since the end of the Gaza
war, Hamas and the PFLP-GC are acting to strengthen their influence in
the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, and that Hamas is using funds
it received from Iran
Saudi minister says Arabs should stand up to Iran Saudi Arabia's top diplomat urged Arabs on Tuesday to stand up to Iran's ambitions in the region, including its nuclear program. Donors pledge aid to rebuild Gaza Strip, shun Hamas rulers Turkey and Syria settle decades-old property dispute Secret Israeli defense database shows full extent of illegal settlements, 2009 |
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Afghanistan |
Map of Afghanistan |
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US Afghan supplies cross Russia A first shipment of non-military
supplies has crossed Russia on its way to US forces in Afghanistan Militants' sudden unity threatens Obama's Afghanistan strategy A new alliance of Pakistani extremist groups — united after rival warlords vowed to renew the fight against international troops — threatens to escalate the insurgency in neighboring Afghanistan just as thousands more U.S. soldiers are to be deployed to the region. Afghan tech boom: Mullah embraces iPhone (AP) Mullah Abdul Salaam Zaeef is a former Taliban ambassador to Pakistan. He spent almost four years in Guantanamo. He wears a black turban, has a thick beard — and is never without his Apple iPhone. 'Impossible' to set date for Afghan withdrawal: Gates US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday it was far too early to set a date for the withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan, where NATO faces a growing insurgency. |
Murtha says Afghanistan plan lacks goal Rep. John Murtha said
Tuesday the situation in Afghanistan is so challenging that he estimated
it would take 600,000 troops to fully squelch violence in the
country.... Afghan Women Slowly Gaining Protection A new Constitution and the work of a community of women’s advocates are creating a more egalitarian notion of women’s rights in Afghanistan. Gates: Afghan exit date 'impossible' Def Sec says too early to set a time for eventual withdrawal of troops How To Win In Afghanistan Without Killing Anyone Though the trend in Afghanistan is disturbing, it is not unsalvageable. Opium production obviously remains a great challenge. Micro-herbicide can provide a solution. |
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Pakistan |
Map of Pakistan |
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Gunfire Horror at National Cricket Match Sri Lankan cricket
players wounded, police killed in east Pakistan.
Four arrested for attack on Lankan team: Pak media....VIDEO:
Sri Lankan Cricket Team Attacked By Gunmen In Pakistan
Sri Lankan team lived through 25 minutes of terror Terrorists fired automatic weapons, hurled grenades at the bus. Pak minister blames India for attack on Lanka team 'Declaration of war on Pakistan by India,' says PPP leader. Pakistani vigilantes take on Taliban Residents of Peshawar, the main city outside militants' stronghold in the tribal areas, are forming armed patrols to defend their villages – sometimes with official backing. |
Killings, kidnappings jeopardise Pakistan Swat truce A fragile
ceasefire in Pakistan's insurgency-hit Swat valley was hanging by a
thread Tuesday after two soldiers were killed
Zardari’s Control of Pakistan Shaken by Attack on Sri Lankans Warning of attacks on Sri Lanka cricket team was ignored Pakistani officials received specific warnings that militants were planning to ambush the Sri Lankan cricket squad, but they were unable to prevent today's deadly attack because of the country's spiralling political crisis, opposition MPs claimed tonight. |
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Asia |
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Many Sri Lankan Tamils giving up on country Most Asian markets extend slump amid finance gloom Same as those who struck Mumbai: Punjab Governor The terrorists who attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team here on Tuesday were the same who had struck in Mumbai, Punjab Governor Salman Taseer has said. “It was a planned terrorist act on the pattern of the attack on Mumbai. |
'Top mutineer' held in Bangladesh Grass-Roots Uprising Against River Dam Challenges Tokyo |
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Europe |
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War Games: Obama Sought Russian Deal on Iran in Secret Letter Obama
offered to back off missile deal in exchange for Russian help with Iran.
'No Swaps': Russia Responds to Obama Note Medvedev says he is willing to talk missile defense and Iran -- but separately.Medvedev: U.S. offered no Iran trade-off Author Orlando Figes claims political pressure behind cancellation of Stalin book The distinguished Russian scholar Orlando Figes today revealed that his Russian publisher had cancelled a contract to publish his latest book on life under Stalin, saying it had apparently dumped the project because of "political pressure". |
Party Defector: Nazism Is Alive and Well Ex-official of a party in
Germany warns of "fourth reich," another holocaust. Putin’s Party Wins Regional Elections Jailed Russian Tycoon Khodorkovsky Back in Court Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky appeared in a Moscow court on Tuesday on new charges of embezzlement and money laundering. Google put secret UK nuke base on map New high resolution images show secret nuke base, other military installations. |
| Africa | |
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Ukrainian magnate paid ransom to free ship (AP) A
top Ukrainian businessman says he helped pay a $3.2
million ransom to free 20 sailors who spent over three
months held captive by Somali pirates.
Shell pipeline explodes in southern Nigeria (AFP) An oil pipeline operated by the Royal-Dutch oil giant Shell that feeds into the key export Escravos terminal in southern Nigeria has exploded, curtailing production, a company spokesman said Tuesday. |
Nomads In Northern Mali, Niger To Al-Qaeda: Free Hostages – Or We'll Fight You Arab and Touareg nomads from northern Mali and Niger have sent a threat via a third party to Al-Qaeda Maghreb, telling the organization that if it does not release the six people it abducted, including two Canadian diplomats, the tribes will launch |
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The Americas |
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President fires 700 police in Dominican Republic Dominican Republic
President Leonel Fernandez fired 700 police officers Sunday and forced
the retirement of 31 military and police generals, two days after he
promised in a state-of-the-nation speech to cleanse the government of
corruption. Why Cuba's Dreams of Major Oil Discoveries Might Come True Recent estimates suggest that the island could move into the petroleum big leagues. 100,000 foot soldiers in Mexican cartels Mexico's deadliest drug cartels together have fielded more than 100,000 foot soldiers, according to U.S. Defense Department officials. "It's moving to crisis proportions," a senior U.S. defense official said. |
El Salvador amnesty lets killers walk free A controversial law
granting amnesty to the perpetrators of abuses during El Salvador's
civil war is once again in the spotlight after a judge in Spain agreed
in January to prosecute 14 military officers in the slaying of several
Jesuit priests, while explicitly leaving the door open to indicting
former President Alfredo Cristiani in the coverup. Guatemala creates US-trained force to fight drugs (AP) Argentine courts seize Iran diplomat's property (AP) An Argentine court has ordered a second seizure of property owned by a former cultural attache at Iran's embassy in Buenos Aires who is sought for his alleged role in a 1994 terrorist attack. |