The News Crawler

The News Crawler
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Last Update: Thursday, May 21, 2009

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Pakistan denies it's expanding nuclear arsenal Pakistan is denying U.S. claims that it's expanding its nuclear arsenal. Mullen: 2 Years to Turn Tide in Afghanistan Mullen: New forces, new strategy need up to 2 years to turn tide in Afghan war Blue collar males lose more ground Rodney Ringler is an unemployed blue collar male without a college degree. He's hardly alone. Men like him have been the main victims of the current recession in the United States. Obama to Announce Stricter Emission Standards for Autos The president's new rules call for 35 MPG average by 2016. Banks Want To Undo Deal Possibly Worth Billions To Taxpayers Judith Miller's 'jailer' appointed to spy court The judge who ordered former New York Times journalist Judith Miller jailed for refusing to reveal her sources has been appointed to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Bush, China held secret climate talks Report: Obama to finish what Bush quietly began with new emissions cuts. Fossil find may be monkey, human ancestor A University of Michigan professor says the discovery of a 47 million-year-old fossil may be from a primate species related to humans, apes and monkeys. Study links cigarette changes to rising lung risk (AP) It may be riskier on the lungs to smoke cigarettes today than it was a few decades ago — at least in the U.S., says new research that blames changes in cigarette design for fueling a certain type of lung cancer. Torture a hallmark of drug kidnappings Jaime Andrade was stepping out of the shower when the men came to snatch him. The kidnappers took him to a house in a middle-class neighborhood and tortured him for three days. Andrade's case is one of more than 1,000 kidnappings that police in Phoenix,	Israel begins new settlement, despite U.S. opposition Israel has moved ahead with a plan to build a new settlement in the northern West Bank for the first time in 26 years, pursuing a project the United States has already condemned as an obstacle to peace efforts. ... 'Demolitions rising' in Jerusalem Home demolitions in Arab East Jerusalem appear to be on the rise under Jerusalem's new mayor, an Israeli rights group says Gaza rocket devastates Israeli home, lightly wounding teen A Qassam rocket fired by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip exploded in the yard of a home in the Western Negev town of Sderot on Tuesday, causing extensive damage to the building and lightly wounding one person WATCH: Israel's Netanyahu Doesn't Mention "Two-State Solution" During Obama Meeting Congress gives final OK to mortgage fraud bill The U.S. House of Representatives gave final approval on Monday to a bill that will create an independent commission to investigate the cause of the U.S. economic meltdown and give federal prosecutors more legal clout and staff to crack down on financial fraud. US failed torture reform: Detainees - the Need for a Stronger Legal Framework, July 2005 US failed torture reform: Elements of a Possible Initiative, 12 June 2005 U.S. Sick Leave Policy Makes Nation More Vulnerable To Swine Flu Ex-officers: Security compromised by oil use An advisory group of retired generals and admirals said in a report issued Monday that reducing America’s reliance on oil and dealing with climate change are critical for future national security US court rejects 9/11 abuse lawsuit Man held after attacks cannot sue FBI chief and forrmer attorney general, court says.
Connecticut
NY trustee sues Connecticut fund in Madoff case The trustee overseeing the liquidation of Bernard Madoff's assets has sued another of his major investors, this time demanding the Fairfield Greenwich Group give back $3.5 billion it earned from the disgraced financier. Conn. man held on bomb-making charges If you cant keep the drugs out of jails, how do you ever expect to keep them off the street Man arrested for possession caught with drugs in his jail cell A Connecticut man was arrested last week for criminal possession of cocaine and after being remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility, officers discovered he was passing drugs from inside his jail cell. State lawmakers may tax disposable shopping bags Conn. judge gives probation in N. Haven scandal A former finance director in North Haven has been given probation for his role in a town financial scandal. Elderly state couple chargedafter 200 lbs. of pot found An elderly Connecticut couple traveling through Arkansas have been arrested after police discovered more than 200 pounds of marijuana inside of their truck.	U.S. Senate Passes Sen. Chris Dodd's Credit Card Reform Bill Protect consumers from arbitrary interest rate, fee and finance charge increases and prohibit universal default on existing balances · Prohibit interest charges on paid-off balances from previous billing cycle (also known as a double-cycle billing ban) · Require payments to be applied first to the credit card balance with the highest interest rate · Protect students and other young consumers from aggressive credit card solicitations · Ensure that payments are fairly allocated to the account with the highest interest rate first · Require greater disclosure of rates, terms and billing details by credit card companies Establish tougher penalties for companies that violate the law. Connecticut's Dodd Draws Challenger in Senate Primary
United States
US court rejects 9/11 abuse lawsuit Man held after attacks cannot sue FBI chief and forrmer attorney general, court says. US To Expand Immigration Checks To All Local Jails Credit Card Firms Going After Their Best Customers Ex-officers: Security compromised by oil use An advisory group of retired generals and admirals said in a report issued Monday that reducing America’s reliance on oil and dealing with climate change are critical for future national security Supreme Court upholds California medical pot law U.S. Sick Leave Policy Makes Nation More Vulnerable To Swine Flu 8th grader planned school shooting Student walked into class and fired round, then killed self; note detailed plans. Robot warriors will get ethics guide A professor of computer science is in the first stages of developing an "ethical governor," a package of software and hardware that tells robots used in warfare when and what to fire. Credit card company Discover Network Dispute Rules Manual, 12 Oct 2007 Pulpit Pimps? Some mega-church pastors are living large and somebody—maybe even the government—should find out if they are ripping off their congregations. Drug war guns came from Houston 19 stuns from Tasers not excessive in Patrick Lee's death, jury says U.S. military: Heavily armed and medicated Terrifying Phone Threats Target Asian-American Business Owners, Professionals Calls from China threaten violence against recipients' businesses and families. Jury Convicts Dems' Moneyman Hsu Hsu's conviction embarasses Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Shell shareholders revolt on pay Shareholders of oil giant Royal Dutch Shell oppose the firm's executive pay plan, amid anger at bonuses for managers. Judge doesn't rule out breaching Snake River dams to save salmon For years, the federal government has struggled to find a way to operate the massive hydropower system on the Columbia and Snake rivers in the Pacific Northwest and still recover the endangered salmon that all-too-frequently are slaughtered at the massive dams as they make their way up and down the river. U.S. set to boost seasonal flu vaccine production Aggressive steps are being pursued to accelerate the production of seasonal flu vaccines, which could be shifted into pandemic flu injections "if that is necessary," the top U.S. health official said on Tuesday.	Police beat teen bloody, family accuses Torture a hallmark of drug kidnappings Jaime Andrade was stepping out of the shower when the men came to snatch him. The kidnappers took him to a house in a middle-class neighborhood and tortured him for three days. Andrade's case is one of more than 1,000 kidnappings that police in Phoenix, Inmate: I confessed to end Chicago police torture An inmate seeking a new murder trial claims he was tortured so badly by Chicago police officers in the 1990s that he would have signed anything, including his murder confession. Should torture memo authors be disbarred? Lawyers and human rights activists are trying out a new tactic in an attempt to bring the architects of US torture policy to justice. They say officials whose legal advice authorized torture should be disbarred. This as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is struggling to get her story straight on what and when she knew about the use of waterboarding on foreign prisoners held in US detention. Tanya Snyder reports. Anglo spy fusion: Operation Empire Challenge, C4ISR OTM executive summary, 26 Nov 2008 Operation Empire Challenge 2008 was a sophisticated combined anglo-empire (US, UK, AUS, CAN) space, air and ground intelligence and targeting fusion operation to test next-generation warfare. US failed torture reform: Detainees - the Need for a Stronger Legal Framework, July 2005 US failed torture reform: Elements of a Possible Initiative, 12 June 2005 High School Student Takes On Anti-Gay Harassment—And Wins ACLU Sues To Stop Tennessee Schools From Censoring Gay Educational Web Sites Study links cigarette changes to rising lung risk (AP) It may be riskier on the lungs to smoke cigarettes today than it was a few decades ago — at least in the U.S., says new research that blames changes in cigarette design for fueling a certain type of lung cancer. Special-Needs Kids Killed by Teachers Committee report finds hundreds of special-needs children injured, even killed. Texas's Looming Crisis: Groundwater Scarcity Israel Lobby Is in a Public Opinion Pickle: Jewish Voters Went for Obama Big Time, and He's No Neocon SC plays marriage counselor, says: ‘obey your wife’ Judge tells Air Force officer the secret of a successful marriage. Senate scrutinizing Alaska's Native corporations Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, a former state auditor and prosecutor, is launching a new investigation into the billions of contracting dollars awarded to Alaska Native corporations by the federal government in recent years.

Science
Fossil find may be monkey, human ancestor A University of Michigan professor says the discovery of a 47 million-year-old fossil may be from a primate species related to humans, apes and monkeys.	Dallas Mother's Fling Results In Twins With Different Fathers Brilliant Birds Stun Scientists Mockingbirds can identify people and quickly react to those they don't trust
Politics
Labor unions find themselves card-checkmated Two New Judges for the FISA Court The Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court has appointed two new judges to the eleven-member Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, a spokesman for the Court said today. DoD reports no longer include Bible quotes The Pentagon said Monday it no longer includes a Bible quote on the cover page of daily intelligence briefings it sends to the White House as was practice during the Bush administration. Congress gives final OK to mortgage fraud bill The U.S. House of Representatives gave final approval on Monday to a bill that will create an independent commission to investigate the cause of the U.S. economic meltdown and give federal prosecutors more legal clout and staff to crack down on financial fraud. Banks Want To Undo Deal Possibly Worth Billions To Taxpayers Congressman, CIA dispute briefing list accuracy FEC dismisses complaint over Palin clothing The Federal Election Commission has dismissed a complaint over the $150,000-plus designer wardrobe the Republican Party bought to outfit vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin....	Bush, China held secret climate talks Report: Obama to finish what Bush quietly began with new emissions cuts. Brazil and China Eye Plan To Axe Dollar Geithner: No plans to cap executive pay Democrats Won't Fund Guantanamo Closing Judith Miller's 'jailer' appointed to spy court The judge who ordered former New York Times journalist Judith Miller jailed for refusing to reveal her sources has been appointed to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Geithner: No plans to cap executive pay (AP) Conservative hypocrisy on military spending Feingold blocks measure commemorating Reagan’s birth Cheney kept nepotism ‘alive and well,’ says ex-Powell aide Credit Card Bill Passes Senate Overwhelmingly Barney Frank: TARP Recycling Okay If Money Goes To Small Banks
Obama
Biden Reveals Location of Secret VP Bunker? Vice President Joe Biden, well-known for his verbal gaffes, may have finally outdone himself, divulging potentially classified information meant to save the life of a sitting vice president. Court: White House can keep Bush e-mail memos private Why Obama Isn't Funding Needle-Exchange Programs (Time.com) Despite campaign promises to do so, Obama has not lifted the federal funding ban on needle-exchange programs for drug addicts. Why the reversal? Obama Administration Will Not Ask Supreme Court To Take Up National Security Letter "Gag Order" Decision The government will not ask the Supreme Court to review a decision that struck down Patriot Act provisions that allow the government to impose unconstitutional gag orders on recipients of national security letters (NSLs). NSLs issued by the FBI require recipients to turn over sensitive information about their clients and subscribers. A lower court ruled in 2007 that the gag order provisions were unconstitutional, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld that ruling in 2008. The government's time for petitioning the Supreme Court for review has now expired.	WATCH: Netanyahu Doesn't Mention "Two-State Solution" During Obama Meeting Obama urges dialogue, not demonization, on abortion President Obama, in perhaps the most controversial appearance of his presidency, told graduates and faculty at the University of Notre Dame yesterday that both sides in the debate over abortion must engage without "demonizing" each other, and can work together to address one of the root causes of abortion - unintended pregnancies. The President's Budget: Bush to Obama This publication offers a look at federal budgets spanning 2008 to 2010, including the Obama administration's first budget. Since the values embedded in the budget set the parameters for action while reflecting our nation's approach to the common good, citizens are urged to reconcile the numbers presented here with the Obama to Announce Stricter Emission Standards for Autos The president's new rules call for 35 MPG average by 2016.
Economy
Shunned Chrysler dealers have only weeks to sell vehicles, setting ... US homebuilder confidence climbs US homebuilder confidence rose to an eight-month high in May and has doubled since falling to a record low at the beginning of the year as buyers responded to new incentives to break ground. American Express will eliminate 4,000 jobs	600 banks fail WSJ 'stress test' Blue collar males lose more ground Rodney Ringler is an unemployed blue collar male without a college degree. He's hardly alone. Men like him have been the main victims of the current recession in the United States. 'Sharp drop' in US tech start-ups The number of new technology start-ups in Silicon Valley fell 65% in the first three months of 2009, figures suggest.

Iraq	Map of Iraq
Saturday: 1 US Soldier, 22 Iraqis Killed; 31 Iraqis Wounded; Hundreds of Kurdish Bodies in Mass Graves Sunday: 20 Iraqis Killed, 21 Wounded Monday: 5 Iraqis Killed, 14 Wounded Tuesday: 4 Iraqis Killed, 8 Wounded 'Billions Lost' to Corruption in Iraq Gunmen Open Fire on Japanese Ambassador on Visit to Iraq’s Anbar Arrest Warrants Issued for 23 Civil Servants in Diwaniya Six Die in Iraq Attacks, Qaeda Suspects Seized Iraq Arrests 2 Sunni Leaders, Raising Fears of Violence One of the men, Sheik Riyadh al-Mujami, arrested in Diyala Province is a prominent figure in the local Awakening Council. US-Iraqi Operation Targets Al Qaeda Cell in North Iraq TV Airs Confession of Terrorist Leader al-Baghdadi Iraq rejects Kurdish plans to export gas to Europe Oil-price plunge forces Iraq to cut its security costs Pentagon says Iranian weapons still coming to Iraq	Iraq Kurdistan to pump gas into Europe Iraq police arrests 30 Al Qaeda members At least four people were killed and more than 20 were wounded in two explosions targeting two cafes in Abu Dsheir region, security sources reported. In Al Karrada District, Major Saad Abbas Al Shumari declared that 30 Al Qaeda members were arrested in a crackdown by Falluja Police Gunman Shoots Prison Officer Dead in Iraq City A prison officer was killed after a gunman opened fire on him in the northern city of Mosul on Sunday, police said. Iraq to Re-detain Released Prisoners Iraq wants to put detainees freed mainly by U.S. troops behind bars once again, a senior Interior Ministry official said. US Soldiers Kill Civilian In Northern Iraq 1st Iraq census in decades skips religion details Iran: Top leader says US is training terrorists in Iraq Aunt: 'We did not send a rapist ... to Iraq' The aunt of former U.S. soldier Steven Green told jurors tearfully Monday that "We did not send a rapist and murderer to Iraq" as defense lawyers worked to save her nephew from a death sentence.
Middle East
Iran's Khamenei Warns Voters Against Electing Pro-Western President Israel begins new settlement, despite U.S. opposition Israel has moved ahead with a plan to build a new settlement in the northern West Bank for the first time in 26 years, pursuing a project the United States has already condemned as an obstacle to peace efforts. ... 'Demolitions rising' in Jerusalem Home demolitions in Arab East Jerusalem appear to be on the rise under Jerusalem's new mayor, an Israeli rights group says. Suspicions Of Iranian, Shi'ite Involvement In Egypt Bombings Egyptian Minister of Judicial and Legislative Councils Affairs Dr. Mufeid Shihab has announced that Egypt's security apparatuses had apprehended members of the cell that carried out the bombing near the Al-Hussein mosque in Cairo on February Clinton tells Netanyahu: U.S. insists Israel cease settlement activity	Egypt criticized for 'inhumane' killing of pigs Two suspected Lebanon spies flee to Israel Two Lebanese men suspected of spying for Israel fled across the heavily fortified border to Israel Monday, as security officials also said authorities arrested two more alleged Lebanese collaborators Saudi Arabia delays municipal polls Israel 'deaf' to two-state solution Palestinians applaud Obama's comments to Israeli leader, but say little will change. Gaza rocket devastates Negev home, lightly wounding teen A Qassam rocket fired by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip exploded in the yard of a home in the Western Negev town of Sderot on Tuesday, causing extensive damage to the building and lightly wounding one person
Afghanistan	Map of Afghanistan
US military: Afghan contractors (Blackwater) violated gun policy Afghan president's brother attacked, unharmed (AP) Rocket-propelled grenades and machine gunfire rained down on a motorcade carrying the brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Monday in an apparent assassination attempt, the brother said. A bodyguard was killed. The Myth of the Moderate Taliban Presidents of Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan to meet in Tehran on May 24 Female Journalists Under Fire in Afghanistan and Pakistan	US troops defend use of phosphorous in Afghanistan US troops in Afghanistan are defending the use of white phosphorus as a battlefield smoke screen. There are allegations that its use has caused civilian US troops defend use of phosphorous in Afghanistan Pakistan, Afghanistan Unable to Fight Drug Trafficking Mullen: 2 Years to Turn Tide in Afghanistan Mullen: New forces, new strategy need up to 2 years to turn tide in Afghan war What Happened to the Afghan Elections?
Pakistan	Map of Pakistan
Street battles rage in Pakistan Pakistani troops in north locked in street-to-street combat with Taliban. Pakistan denies it's expanding nuclear arsenal Pakistan is denying U.S. claims that it's expanding its nuclear arsenal.	Location of all Pakistan nukes not known CIA Director Leon Panetta said Monday the United States does not know the location of all of Pakistan's nuclear weapons but is confident the country has them secure. US approves $1.9 billion aid for Pakistan, says Babar More than one million displaced in Pakistan
Asia
Sri Lanka rebel chief 'killed' Bangladesh rounds up 'mutineers' More than 500 border guards arrested over suspected involvement in February revolt.	Why Are Indian Farmers Committing Suicide and How Can We Stop This Tragedy? Last Tiananmen 'hooligan' freed China reportedly frees the last activist still jailed for 'hooliganism' relating to the Tiananmen democracy movement of 1989
Europe
Report probes UK terrorist bombings Parliament report to detail MI5 surveillance before devestating 7/7 attacks. US blacklists Greek 'revolutionaries' as terrorists Russia: No More 'False History' Russian president creates commission to fight attempts to falsify history. Reporter convicted for killing fish with shampoo A Danish TV reporter has been convicted of animal cruelty for killing 12 aquarium fish with shampoo for a consumer affairs show.	French priest interviews Hitler's willing executioners in Ukraine A horrific page of history unfolded last Monday in Ukraine. It concerned the gruesome and untold story of a spontaneous pogrom by local villagers against hundreds of Jews in a town south of Ternopil in 1941 MI5 'too stretched' before 7 July British security services did not have the resources to carry out extra checks before the 2005 London bombings, a report says.
Africa
Chad admits raid on rebels in Sudan Somali fighters seize another town Hizbul Islam fighters march into Mahaday, north of Mogadishu. Burundian albino murders denied Eleven people accused of killing albino people go on trial in Burundi - understood to be the first such court case.	-piracy body backs off on international maritime force An international piracy conference on Tuesday backed off tough proposals calling for an international naval taskforce to be set up under U.N. auspices to fight Somali pirates after members disagreed over implementation.
The Americas
In Venezuela, Shootings of Union Organizers Common So far this year, four Ciudad Guayana activists belonging to different construction industry unions have been murdered. Oil Production Interrupted as Peru Sends in Army to Suppress Peaceful Indigenous Protests	Activists Try to Block Start of Pascua Lama Mine As Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold gets ready to start construction at the Pascua Lama mine, straddling the Argentine-Chilean border, activists in Chile are scrambling to block the ambitious mining project while calling for an investigation of supposed irregularities committed in the approval process.