The News Crawler

The News Crawler
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Last Update: Monday, May 04, 2009

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CDC: US swine flu cases jump to 91 in 10 states Scores of U.S. schools closed due to flu The "NAFTA Flu": Critics Say Swine Flu Has Roots in Forcing Poor Countries to Accept Western Agribusiness As the US reports its first known death from the global swine flu, the World Health Organization has raised its pandemic threat level. Several countries around the world have banned the import of US and Mexican pork products. We speak to professor and author Robert Wallace, who says the swine flu is partly the outcome of neoliberal policies that forced poorer countries to open their markets to poorly regulated Western agribusiness giants. Suit claims Dole bankrolled Colombia death squads Dole Food Co. made regular payments for at least a decade in a banana-growing region to illegal far-right Colombian militias that killed thousands, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed Tuesday. Pakistan retakes key town, kills over 50 Taliban: military Pakistan shares nuclear secrets Pakistan’s senior civil and military officials are sharing tightly held information about the country’s nuclear weapons programme to western countries in a bid to allay fears about the security of warheads in the face of a Taliban advance Torture? It Probably Killed More Americans Than 9/11 The use of torture by the US has proved so counter-productive that it may have led to the death of as many US soldiers as civilians killed in 9/11, says the leader of a crack US interrogation team in Iraq. 46 killed as bombs rip through Baghdad (AFP) A wave of near-simultaneous bombs ripped through crowded Baghdad markets and a packed minibus Wednesday, killing 46 people including women and children out shopping, officials said. Bush Once Said: 'War Criminals Will Be Punished & It Will Be NO Defense To Say "I Was Just Following Orders"' CIA Never Studied Whether Torture Was Effective or Necessary.....CIA reportedly declined to closely evaluate harsh interrogations	Did legalizing drugs in Portugal work? Administration seeks change in crack sentences The Obama administration joined a federal judge Wednesday in urging Congress to end a racial disparity by equalizing prison sentences for dealing and using crack versus powdered cocaine.... Study finds `massive waste' in misdemeanor cases Treating petty, nonviolent misdemeanors as infractions rather than crimes would save millions of dollars and better protect defendants' rights without hurting public safety, according to a study commissioned by criminal defense attorneys. Consumer confidence soars in April US economy shrinks by 6.1% Recession continues to bite as US exports plunge to 40-year low. Consumer Protection Measure Introduced In Senate At a press conference on the Hill, victims of tragedies made worse by forced arbitration shared their stories. One of them, Jamie Leigh Jones, provided a statement saying she was gang-raped by her Halliburton subsidiary co-workers in Baghdad in 2005. When the Justice Department didn't come through with charges against her assailants, Jones tried to take one of them to civil court. Company lawyers pointed to her employment agreement, which stipulated that any claim "must be submitted to binding arbitration instead of to the court system." 186 million in U.S. live with dangerous air pollution High-schoolers have made little progress since the 1970s, study says Younger students have made some encouraging gains in math, but the lack of improvement among older students raises questions about recent education reforms. Signing Statements? Bill by Sen. Specter tells courts to ignore them. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) last week reintroduced several bills that he said were needed to limit presidential power and to restore the proper constitutional balance among the three branches of government.
Connecticut
Survey Shows State Businesses Exporting More To Middle East Ethics Complaint From Judicial Watch Says Price Dodd Paid For Cottage Amounts To A Gift The conservative government watchdog group Judicial Watch filed an ethics complaint Friday against U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd, saying the price Dodd paid for his cottage in Ireland amounted to a gift from a friend and accusing the senator of failing to report it as such on government disclosure forms. Three "Probable" Cases of Swine Flu in Connecticut	Senate bill bans idling for more than 3 minutes Allowing a car, truck or bus to idle could lead to a fine in Connecticut. Lieberman Hail Arlen Specter's Switch To Democrat House Votes To Re-Regulate Connecticut's Electricity Market Saying they were seeking to provide rate relief, lawmakers in the state House of Representatives voted Wednesday to re-regulate the state's electric market in the hopes of providing rate stability for homeowners and small business customers.
United States
RI considers wind turbines on Narragansett 3 academics have died in 18 months US has embedded social scientists with troops The hope is that they will teach the military to behave in more 'culturally appropriate' ways and reduce the need for lethal force. However, three young academics have died during the 18 months that the policy has been operation, and the American Anthropological Association has condemned the initiative as unethical. CDC confirms 40 US cases of swine flu....New cases in Calif.; Rep. wants border closed "Humanitarian Aid Is Not a Crime" - Activist Fights Littering Charge for Leaving Water Jugs in Desert along Arizona-Mexico Border The Sonora Desert along the Arizona-Mexico border is a deadly place. Over the past decade, nearly 2,000 men, women and children died while trying to cross the border into Arizona. Dan Millis is a volunteer with the humanitarian and advocacy organization No More Deaths. In February of 2008, he found the body of a fourteen-year-old girl from El Salvador in the southern Arizona desert. Two days later, as he was leaving gallon-sized sealed jugs of water along the same migrant trails, he was ticketed for littering by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. He refused to pay the $175 fine and fought the littering ticket misdemeanor charge on the grounds that humanitarian aid is not a crime. FBI to add bomb maker to wanted list An FBI official says a notorious terrorist suspected of aiding the insurgency in Iraq will be added to the agency's list of its most wanted terrorists. Angry shareholders seek changes at Bank of America Pentagon developing 'Internet of the future' Abu Zubaydah’s Interrogation, In His Own Words For a forthcoming piece, I was combing through the International Committee of the Red Cross’s formerly-confidential 2007 interviews with the 14 detainees who, until September 2006, the CIA kept at its undisclosed “black site” secret prisons. (Mark Danner disclosed the document in a recent New York Review of Books piece.) The first annex to the report is an extended verbatim statement from Abu Zubaydah, the al-Qaeda operative captured in Pakistan in March 2002 who became the first detainee tortured by CIA and contractor interrogators based on a regimen adapted from the SERE program and approved by senior Bush administration officials. While Abu Zubaydah is hardly the most reliable narrator — he has both incentives to lie and he’s recounting events from years ago that took place in disorienting environments — his account appears to conflict with former FBI agent Ali Soufan’s account of an interrogation that took time to become brutal. 30 Gitmo Detainees Cleared For Release U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says about 30 detainees have been cleared for release from Guantanamo Bay. CDC: US swine flu cases jump to 91 in 10 states Scores of U.S. schools closed due to flu More in US switch religious affiliations Catholics who leave their faith say they drifted away from the church because it did not meet their spiritual needs or they stopped believing in its teachings, according to a new study, while Protestants often tend to cite circumstantial factors, a move, a marriage, or a problem with a particular minister or congregation. The "NAFTA Flu": Critics Say Swine Flu Has Roots in Forcing Poor Countries to Accept Western Agribusiness As the US reports its first known death from the global swine flu, the World Health Organization has raised its pandemic threat level. Several countries around the world have banned the import of US and Mexican pork products. We speak to professor and author Robert Wallace, who says the swine flu is partly the outcome of neoliberal policies that forced poorer countries to open their markets to poorly regulated Western agribusiness giants.	New witness casts doubt on Lockerbie bomb conviction A new witness is expected this week to undermine thoroughly the case against the only person to be convicted of the Lockerbie bombing. New testimony will call into question evidence linking the Libyan Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi to the bomb that blew up Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988, his lawyers claim. Most families allow media to cover fallen soldiers In the weeks since the Pentagon ended an 18-year ban on media coverage of fallen soldiers returning to the U.S., most families given the option have allowed reporters and photographers to witness the solemn ceremonies that mark the arrival of flag-draped transfer cases. UAW agrees to 'painful' agreement to save Chrysler The United Auto Workers union announced Sunday it had reached an agreement with Chrysler, Fiat and the U.S. government that meets the requirements of the Treasury Department for loans to the auto giant. Signer of 'torture memos' has expressed regret, colleagues say Jay Bybee told colleagues that he was disappointed in the policy decisions that came from the legal reasoning. Now a federal judge, he has not spoken publicly about the documents. Why was oil terminal built at the base of an active volcano? Alaska _ When Mount Redoubt began erupting last month, the nearby Drift River oil terminal suddenly emerged from the obscurity of a low-key industrial facility to the potential source of an environmental disaster on the scale of the Exxon Valdez. Hollywood Goes To Court Over DVD Software RealNetworks recently released RealDVD software that allows people to copy DVDs onto a computer. That did not make the Hollywood studios happy, because they see it as a way for customers to steal movies. The two sides are in federal court Monday in San Francisco arguing the legitimacy of the software. FCC 'Fleeting Expletive' rule OK for now The Supreme Court ruled narrowly Tuesday in favor of a government policy that threatens broadcasters with fines over the use of even a single curse word on live television, yet stopped short of deciding whether the policy violates the Constitution. Pentagon lags in developing nonlethal arms The U.S.' nonlethal-weapons program has carried out more than 50 research and development projects but has made no new weapons 1 year in prison for soldier who deserted Army An Army soldier tearfully apologized for going to Canada to avoid deploying to Iraq and was sentenced Tuesday to a year in prison after pleading guilty to desertion. 186 million in U.S. live with dangerous air pollution Oregon training camp aimed for militancy A man convicted of helping the Taliban testified at a terrorism trial Wednesday that it was his idea to create a militant jihad training camp in Oregon to recruit men from England and the United States to fight in Afghanistan, but he no longer supports terrorist causes. UAW may buy majority of Chrysler Justice Dept. Opens Anti-Trust Probe Into Google Books Deal High-schoolers have made little progress since the 1970s, study says Younger students have made some encouraging gains in math, but the lack of improvement among older students raises questions about recent education reforms. Achievement gap for US students hasn't narrowed The achievement gap between white and minority students has not narrowed in recent years, despite the focus of the No Child Left Behind law on improving the scores of blacks and Hispanics, according to results of a federal test considered to be the nation's best measure of long-term trends in math and reading proficiency. Court: Different shootings bring same penalty The Supreme Court says accidentally shooting a gun during the commission of a crime should bring the same penalties as intentionally using a firearm Spanish judge opens Gitmo torture probe Sojourner Truth finally gets a spot in the Capitol
Madoffed
How Madoff did it Madoff unit auctioned for $25.5 million Ex-American Home CEO settles with SEC for $2.45M The former head of American Home Mortgage Investment Corp. has agreed to pay nearly $2.5 million to settle federal civil charges of accounting fraud and concealing the company's deteriorating finances as the subprime mortgage crisis hit in 2007.

Science
Optical disc offers 500GB storage An optical disc that can store 500GB of data, equivalent to 100 DVDs, is announced by General Electric. How swine flu spreads in humans Swine Flu's "Possible Source" Astronomers see oldest object in universe yet Astronomers have spotted a burst of energy from a dying star, setting a record for the oldest and most distant object seen by Earth yet	Researchers look to algae for fuel It's abundant, it's cheap, it's in our backyard -- and Carmela Cuomo thinks it might fuel our cars one day. A Green Challenge: Make Renewables Reliable Bringing renewable energies like wind and solar power onto the electric grid is the first step toward making the grid both green and smart, but engineers and power companies must also find solutions to the challenges of renewable energies, which don't produce consistent, reliable power.
Politics
GOP to CIA: Release interrogation briefing records Top House Republicans are calling for the CIA to release to Congress its records on the classified briefings it conducted for lawmakers on its harsh interrogation program in an effort to establish what Democrats knew about those techniques. US plans majority stake in GM Signing Statements? Bill by Sen. Specter tells courts to ignore them. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) last week reintroduced several bills that he said were needed to limit presidential power and to restore the proper constitutional balance among the three branches of government. Colbert Study: Conservatives Don't Know He's Joking CIA Never Studied Whether Torture Was Effective or Necessary.....CIA reportedly declined to closely evaluate harsh interrogations $1 billion a day for stimulus The federal government has made available more than $75 billion for stimulus projects in the 10 weeks since President Obama signed the $787 billion recovery package into law. NYT: How Geithner forged ties to finance club An examination of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s five years as head of the New York Fed shows that he forged unusually close relationships with executives of giant financial institutions. TARP cop sees unstressful bank tests The adverse scenario used to test the health of the 19 largest U.S. banks is "disturbingly close" to current economic conditions, sparking a concern that there might need to be a second "stress test," a U.S. financial bailout fund watchdog said on Monday. Probe of FDIC contract urged by watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a public watchdog group, urged the Inspector General's Office at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Monday to investigate a contract that the agency awarded to a real estate firm headed by the husband of Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Gays would get new protections under House bill Bank of America, Citigroup Need More $$ Report: Feds tell Bank of America, Citi stress tests show they may need capital. Senate Confirms Sebelius for HHS Secretary Senate confirms Obama's nominee for HHS post in midst of swine flu emergency Study finds `massive waste' in misdemeanor cases Treating petty, nonviolent misdemeanors as infractions rather than crimes would save millions of dollars and better protect defendants' rights without hurting public safety, according to a study commissioned by criminal defense attorneys.	How Karl Rove and His GOP No-Nothings Fought Against Pandemic Preparedness Rove and key congressional Republicans aggressively attacked the connection between pandemic preparation and economic recovery. John McCain admits US under George Bush violated the Geneva Convention 5 US lawmakers, others arrested at Darfur protest Five members of Congress have been arrested while protesting the expulsion of aid groups from Darfur in front of the Sudanese Embassy in Washington. US Official: Harman wasn't monitored by NSA The National Security Agency did not place a wiretap that reportedly intercepted phone conversations made by Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., the top U.S. intelligence official said Monda FDIC's Bair: No bank is too big to fail Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. chief Sheila Bair reiterated calls for creating a system that would allow regulators to dismantle a large financial institution. U.S. plans informal meetings with Cuba Specter switches to Democrat, 'at odds' with GOP Veteran Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania switched parties Tuesday with a suddenness that stunned the Senate, a moderate's defection that left Democrats one seat shy of a 60-vote filibuster-resistant majority with many of President Barack Obama's key legislative priorities on the horizon. GOP Still Filibustering HHS Nominee Sebelius Despite Flu Outbreak... NYT: It Is "Deeply Disquieting" That Obama Administration Has Few Top Health Officials In Place ...TOP 15 HEALTH JOBS REMAIN OPEN AMID CRISIS Treasury seeks to borrow $361B GWB: 'War Criminals Will Be Punished & It Will Be NO Defense To Say "I Was Just Following Orders"' Republicans seek CIA records on interrogations Top House Republicans are calling for the CIA to release to Congress its records on the classified briefings it conducted for lawmakers on the agency's harsh interrogation program, in an effort to establish what Democrats knew about those techniques Consumer Protection Measure Introduced In Senate At a press conference on the Hill, victims of tragedies made worse by forced arbitration shared their stories. One of them, Jamie Leigh Jones, provided a statement saying she was gang-raped by her Halliburton subsidiary co-workers in Baghdad in 2005. When the Justice Department didn't come through with charges against her assailants, Jones tried to take one of them to civil court. Company lawyers pointed to her employment agreement, which stipulated that any claim "must be submitted to binding arbitration instead of to the court system."
Obama
Small businesses brace for tax battle If President Barack Obama's tax plans are enacted, the burden will chiefly fall on two groups: wealthy families and businesses. Weatherizing Contractors In Short Supply The federal stimulus plan is giving states $5 billion to make leaky homes more energy efficient. But there's a shortage of qualified contractors to do the work, and trainers are scrambling to get more builders up to speed on weatherization. Who's Getting An Obama Tax Increase? Some small businesses will have to cut back due to higher taxes. How the Banks Plan to Limit Credit-Card Protections Barack Obama and congressional Democrats are determined to crack down on credit-card abuses, but the banking industry may have a way to resist the toughest proposed rules Obama Administration Expands Housing Aid Plan Obama adminstration launches effort to aid troubled borrowers with second mortgages Fox refuses to air Obama in primetime....Fox not granted a question at Obama’s press conference.	Obama administration expands housing aid plan The Obama administration said Tuesday it is expanding its plan to stem the housing crisis by offering mortgage lenders incentives to lower borrowers' bills on second mortgages. White House: No HHS secretary not problem The White House on Sunday brushed off questions about whether a lack of top health officials was making more difficult President Barack Obama's response to a swine flu outbreak. Text of President Barack Obama's news conference on Wednesday Obama: keeping US-Mexico border open President Barack Obama says health officials aren't recommending closing the U.S. border with Mexico because of the swine flu outbreak Administration seeks change in crack sentences The Obama administration joined a federal judge Wednesday in urging Congress to end a racial disparity by equalizing prison sentences for dealing and using crack versus powdered cocaine....
Economy
General Motors to Slash 23K Hourly Jobs World Bank to aid poor countries with public works Consumer confidence soars in April Hopeful signs that the worst may be over for the economy boosted Americans' moods in April, sending a closely watched barometer of sentiment to the highest level since November. The New York-based Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index rose more than 12 points to 39.2, up from a revised 26.9 in March.	Racial disparities persist in higher-paying jobs Blacks and Hispanics lag behind whites for higher-paying jobs at the largest rates in about a decade as employment opportunities dwindled during the nation's economic woes and housing slump.... US economy shrinks by 6.1% Recession continues to bite as US exports plunge to 40-year low.

Iraq	Map of Iraq
Monday: 4 Iraqis Killed, 10 Wounded Gunmen kill Iraqi family in their house Unknown gunmen killed a man and a woman in Kirkuk, police reported. It added that the incident is a terrorist attack. Police Major Adnan Abdullah said attackers stormed the house of Youssef Saba, an employee in North Oil Company, and opened 78 Oil and Gas Fields Are Presented to Foreign Companies for Development American Charged with Participating in US$40 Million Scam to Steal Fuel from US Army in Iraq A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging Robert Jeffery, 55, with conspiracy and theft of government property in connection with a scheme to steal large quantities of fuel from the US Army in Iraq, announced Assistant Attorney...fire killing him and wounding his children. John Kerry: Violent Iraq Withdrawal Expected Iraq moves to dissolve National Security Council (AFP) - The Iraqi government approved draft legislation on Wednesday that would dissolve the National Security Council, a body formed by the US-led coalition after its invasion more than six years ago Nine burn-pit lawsuits filed against KBR Wednesday: 63 Iraqis Killed, 108 Wounded US soldiers kill two in northern Iraq (AFP) Iraq Blasts Were Engineered from Abroad: Security Advisor A top Iraqi security official has said foreign hands were behind a recent wave of terror attacks across the country which left at least 140 people dead, half of them Iranians. Iraq Owes Kuwait $25.5 Billion in War Damages April deadliest month in a year as security in Iraq plummets	Al Maliki confirms arrest of Al Qaeda Chief U.S. forces say kill 7 al Qaeda suspects in Iraq Seven suspected al Qaeda insurgents were killed in clashes with U.S. forces in a largely Sunni Arab province of Iraq, the U.S. military said Monday. Attacks on Christians in Iraq leave 3 dead Baghdad Double Bombing Casualties Rise to 130 U.S. Soldier Killed in Kirkuk 2 Iraqi Soldiers Killed in Mosul Torture? It Probably Killed More Americans Than 9/11 The use of torture by the US has proved so counter-productive that it may have led to the death of as many US soldiers as civilians killed in 9/11, says the leader of a crack US interrogation team in Iraq. US Interpreter Who Witnessed Torture in Iraq Shot Herself with Service Rifle U.S. Detains 6 Iran-linked Members in Southern Iraq Raid 46 killed as bombs rip through Baghdad (AFP) A wave of near-simultaneous bombs ripped through crowded Baghdad markets and a packed minibus Wednesday, killing 46 people including women and children out shopping, officials said. Iraq Uncovers Shiite-Sunni Qaeda Murder Squad Iraq's interior ministry said on Tuesday it had arrested an Al-Qaeda cell behind scores of murders and car bombings that included three Shiite members, one of them a police officer. Iraqi Approval Needed for US Troops to Return, Official Says The Iraqi government cast doubt on Monday on the possibility that American troops will remain in urban trouble spots like Mosul after the June 30 deadline for US forces to withdraw from cities.
Middle East
UAE 'boosting military imports' United Arab Emirates jumps to third-largest importer of arms globally Turkey police in shootout with militant; 7 wounded Turkish police and a militant clashed in an ongoing shootout Monday and seven officers were wounded when the attacker threw explosive devices during a raid on a safe house in a residential area, officials said. 'Iran arms ship bound for Gaza downed near Sudan' An Iranian vessel laden with weapons bound for the Gaza Strip was torpedoed off the coast of Sudan last week, allegedly by Israeli or American forces operating in the area, the Egyptian newspaper El-Aosboa reported on Sunday Report: Hizbullah Cell Uncovered In Azerbaijan The Kuwaiti daily Al-Siyassa cites "highly sensitive sources" as saying that authorities in Azerbaijan several months ago arrested two Lebanese nationals who were active in a cell of Hizbullah and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps ... New Video from Al-Qaeda Maghreb Showcases Suicide Bombers, Young Children Raised in Jihad Camps Iran, Venezuela review ways to expand defense ties Saudi royal: U.S. can't be energy-independent A key member of the Saudi royal family who headed the country's intelligence service for 25 years accused both the Obama and Bush administrations Monday of "deceiving" the American people that the U.S. can ever end its dependence on foreign oil. "You can't get rid of oil. You can't get rid of fossil fuels — gas and coal — unless you want to price yourself out of existence," Prince Turki al-Faisal, former ambassador to Washington, told editors and reporters at The Washington Times. Egypt orders slaughter of all pigs over swine flu	Watchdog warns arms transfers to Mideast rising The volume of weapons exported to the Middle East has risen sharply in the last four years, threatening to destabilize the volatile region further, a leading Swedish think tank warned Monday. Yemeni troops free hijacked oil tanker With Shiites rising across the region, Saudi Arabia's grow impatient Older leaders among the minority aim to peacefully address discrimination but warn that younger Shiites are pushing for militancy. Iran: We've arrested Israel spy ring Intelligence minister says group of people wanted to "carry out explosions, particularly before election." 'Iran will honor any two-state decision' Ahmadinejad urges international community to respect Palestinians' right to determine their fate. Iranian Website: Ahmadinejad Doesn't Recognize Two-State Vision The Iranian website Asr-e Iran stated that the Western media had distorted statements by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in an April 26 interview on ABC TV, that "Iran would agree to any decision made by the Palestinians," as meaning agreement Turkish ex-minister escapes blast A former Turkish justice minister was unhurt in a failed attack by a suspected female suicide bomber, officials say. PKK 'ready for peace' with Turkey U.S. officials: Torture tape delays U.S.-UAE nuke deal Bomb kills 9 in Turkey, police detain 2 suicide bombers Nine soldiers were killed in southeast Turkey in the worst attack in months and police detained two suspected suicide bombers in the capital on Wednesday in an escalation of tensions.
Afghanistan	Map of Afghanistan
20 Taliban killed in Pakistan; peace pact in doubt Taliban militants said Monday their peace deal with the Pakistani government was "worthless" after authorities sent helicopters and artillery against hide-outs of Islamist guerrillas seeking to extend their grip along the Afghan border. Terrorists moving from Afghan border to Africa There is growing evidence that battle-hardened extremists are filtering out of safe havens along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and into East Africa, bringing sophisticated terrorist tactics that include suicide attacks.	Police doubt they can stop Taliban influx from Pakistan As their American trainers shouted out the drill, 15 bearded young Afghan police officers marched back and forth with their U.S.-issue fake guns at an American outpost in the foothills of the Hindu Kush mountains, preparing for the dread day when they return to their valley, which the Taliban control. US sees spike in Afghanistan, Pakistan attacks UK to send 700 more troops to Afghanistan
Pakistan	Map of Pakistan
Pakistani leader: Bin Laden 'may be dead' -- or not Pakistan's president said Monday his intelligence agencies believe Osama bin Laden may be dead, but he added there is no proof. Other Pakistani officials and a U.S. counterterrorism official said they thought the al-Qaida chief is alive. U.S. officials said bin Laden is most likely hiding in the mountains along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, in particular the lawless tribal regions. 30,000 flee army raid on NW Pakistan: local official Around 30,000 people in northwest Pakistan have been displaced by a military offensive to flush out Taliban militants, a provincial minister said Tuesday. Suspected US missile strike kills six in Pakistan A missile strike by a suspected US drone on Wednesday killed at least six militants in northwest Pakistan's tribal area bordering Afghanistan, officials said.	LeT, JeM join hands to form new front: Report Banned terrorist groups in Pakistan's Punjab province are gaining strength after joining hands on a new platform Muslim United Army and have become a serious challenge for the government which lacks resources to effectively counter their activities. Pakistan shares nuclear secrets Pakistan’s senior civil and military officials are sharing tightly held information about the country’s nuclear weapons programme to western countries in a bid to allay fears about the security of warheads in the face of a Taliban advance Pakistan retakes key town, kills over 50 Taliban: military
Asia
Filipinas protest US soldier rape acquittal Philippines protests and calls to end US Visiting Forces Agreement in response to appeals court decision Bullets and ballots in India's general election One is facing a murder charge, another arrested for abduction, while a third is fighting a robbery case. Welcome to India's general election, where nearly a fifth of 5,500 candidates face criminal charges.	The Fijians fighting in the British army More than 2,000 Fijians are currently serving in the British forces, trading their palm-fringed Paciﬁc islands for the battleﬁelds of Afghanistan and Iraq. Why do they do it? For a passport out of poverty and to ﬁght for the nation that once ruled them. 50 arrested after anti-Kurdish riots in Kyrgyzstan: officials
Europe
Police 'pay protester informers' Police are using hundreds of paid informants inside protest groups to feed them intelligence, according to evidence handed to the Guardian. Britain proposes affirmative action bill Is the end near for the English gentleman of privilege? Britain has proposed an affirmative action bill meant to tackle thorny class divisions and encourage equal opportunities for women and minorities -- a proposal already causing an uproar in some circles. Britain would consider taking Gitmo detainees Mafia thrives in global financial meltdown While businesses around the world are hunkering down for survival, the Italian mob is living a golden moment. Sharia law may be enforced in UK courts Sharia law may soon be enforced in the UK if a EU plan for family courts across Europe is put in place by the government, a move that could trigger a row in Britain. Judges in Britain could be forced to bow to Sharia law in some divorce cases heard in the country. France urges Mexican flight ban France says it will request an EU-wide ban on all flights to Mexico, source of the swine flu outbreak.	Russia military spy boss 'sacked' Russian President Dmitry Medvedev dismisses the head of the country's powerful GRU military intelligence service. Quake unearths prehistoric dwellings in Italy Russian commandos break their silence to reveal how they tortured Chechens THE hunt for a nest of female suicide bombers in Chechnya led an elite group of Russian special forces commandos to a small village deep in the countryside. There they surrounded a modest house just before dawn to be sure of catching their quarry unawares. Britons illegally exported fighter jet equipment to Iran, court told Did legalizing drugs in Portugal work? 3 men acquitted of helping 2005 London bombers Three men charged in London's 2005 suicide bombings - Britain's deadliest attack since World War II - were acquitted of the most serious offenses against them Tuesday in the latest terrorism case to frustrate prosecutors. Interpol names Chechen suspects Interpol issues arrest warrants for seven Russians over the killing of a rival of Chechnya's president in Dubai.
Africa
Spanish capture 'Somali pirates' Seychelles Coast Guard arrests 9 suspected pirates Darfur kidnappers say freed Western aid workers Terrorists finding safe havens in East Africa	Darfur is now a "low-intensity conflict": U.N Violence in Sudan's Darfur region has subsided into a "low-intensity conflict," an international envoy said on Monday, but the United States and its allies disagreed, according to diplomats.
The Americas
Peru grants Chavez critic asylum Opposition leader facing embezzlement charges says he is being persecuted. Colombia sacks 11 in wiretapping scandal Colombia's domestic intelligence agency has fired another 11 people in a scandal over illegal eavesdropping of judges, journalists and politicians. Venezuela recalls ambassador to Peru Venezuela recalled its ambassador to protest Peru's decision to grant political asylum to a prominent opponent of President Hugo Chavez, calling it a mockery of international law and escalating a diplomatic dispute. Cruise lines cancel Mexico stops over flu fear	Video proves plan to kill Bolivian President Suit claims Dole bankrolled Colombia death squads Dole Food Co. made regular payments for at least a decade in a banana-growing region to illegal far-right Colombian militias that killed thousands, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed Tuesday. Brazil slave labor complaints rise Reports of debt slavery reached record numbers in Brazil last year, and most of the cases were connected to the nation's booming sugarcane ethanol sector, according to a report released Wednesday by a watchdog group.