The News Crawler

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Last Update: Friday, May 29, 2009

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U.S. undertakes Iraq-scale embassy project in Pakistan The U.S. is embarking on a $1 billion crash program to expand its diplomatic presence in Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan, another sign that the Obama administration is making a costly, long-term commitment to war-torn South Asia, U.S. officials said Wednesday. Iranian-Made Weapons Seized In Afghanistan Shia books thrown in Afghan river Provincial authorities in south-west Afghanistan throw thousands of books on Shia Islam into a river. Iran-Iraqi Kurdistan Alcohol Smugglers Risk Death or Jail to Supply Banned Drink Some are shot by Iranian security forces as they smuggle their illicit cargo of alcohol across the border at night. Others fall foul of the minefields that were planted during the war, which finished 20 years ago, as they test new trafficking routes. Iraq says U.S. raid "a crime," violated security pact (Reuters) Iraq viewed a U.S. military raid that killed two people as a crime that violated a bilateral security pact and demanded on Sunday that U.S. forces hand those responsible to the courts, an Iraqi official said. U.S. Army Could Be in Iraq for 10 More Years Gen. Casey: Pentagon must plan for extended combat despite 2012 agreement. Contractor pleads guilty to fraud in Iraq bids Intelligence Chiefs Clash Over Turf The nation's two intelligence chiefs are locked in a turf battle over overseas posts, forcing National Security Adviser James L. Jones to mediate, according to current and former government officials. "We did not know that child abuse was a crime," says retired Catholic archbishop Retired Catholic Archbishop Rembert G Weakland, who has been accused of covering up widespread child rape by priests in Milwaukee, has a forthcoming memoir in which he wrote the following bits of wisdom:"We all considered sexual abuse of minors as a moral evil, but had no understanding of its criminal nature." America's Poor Give The Largest Percent Of Their Incomes To Charity Newspapers Must Convince Readers Product Worth Paying For 150,000+ VETS sleep on US streets.	Saudis warn of huge rise in oil prices Saudi Arabia warned today that the world could be facing another oil shock, with prices back above the record highs of almost $150 a barrel within two to three years. OBAMA TAPS SOTOMAYOR FOR US SUPREME COURT; 1ST LATINA NOMINEE - BIO Debunking The GOP's Dirty Attacks Against Sotomayor Media meltdown over Obama's 'empathy' remark; Bush said same about Supreme Court Judge Thomas General David Petraeus Endorses Obama's Plans To Close Gitmo, End Torture.... Pentagon Releases List of Gitmo Detainees Who Returned to Terrorism A Pentagon report released today confirms that 14 percent of the 540 detainees -- or one in seven -- who were released from the detainee center Guantanamo Bay Cheney Throws Troops Under the Bus regarding torture U.S. military lawyers asked Afghanistan's highest court Monday to demand the release of a Guantanamo prisoner they say was only about 12 years old — not 18, as the military maintains — when he was sent to the detention center in Cuba. Drug Prohibition: Law Enforcement Is The Problem Supreme Court eases limits on questioning suspects without lawyer The Supreme Court on Tuesday made it easier for police and prosecutors to question suspects, lifting some restrictions on when defendants can be interrogated without their lawyers present. Did 'returning' terrorists become extremists in Guantanamo? One of the detainees whom a newly released Pentagon report says returned to the battlefield after he was released from the Guantanamo Bay prison camp told McClatchy that he was a local security leader in Afghanistan when he was arrested and became a radical Islamist only during his detention. Shell on Trial: Landmark Trial Set to Begin Over Shell's Role in 1995 Execution of Nigerian Human Rights Activist Ken Saro-Wiwa A landmark trial against oil giant Royal Dutch Shell’s alleged involvement in human rights violations in the Niger Delta begins this Wednesday in a federal court in New York. Fourteen years after the widely condemned execution of the acclaimed Nigerian writer and environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, the court will hear allegations that Shell was complicit in his torture and execution.
Connecticut
Sotomayor's State Ties Thirty years ago Sonia Sotomayor left Yale Law School, but the nominee's reach as a judge on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals covers Connecticut. New Haven's legal links to Sotomayor Today President Barack Obama announced his choice for the country's next Supreme Court Justice. Sonia Sotomayor is a graduate of Yale Law School and has even ruled on the controversial reverse discrimination case known as the New Haven 20. Referendum Fails X 2 While the majority rejecting the proposed North Branford 2009-2010 budget as too high was overwhelming at 77 percent, the number of voters turning out for the referendum was anything but overwhelming Connecticut Close to Banning BPA The state of Connecticut could ban the sale of plastic baby bottles, food containers and cups containing Bisphenol-A following approval of the ban last week by the Connecticut Senate.	State House Approves Election-Day Registration by 81 to 65 Many Democrats say the bill would increase voter participation and improve democracy, but Republicans countered that it could lead to voter fraud at the last minute. The bill is bad public policy, they argued, because the fraud might not be detected until after the election's winner had already been declared. Don’t know much about history State legislators had the rare opportunity of hearing two of Indian country’s most esteemed law experts and ardent supporters of tribal sovereignty on a panel with the state attorney general, who has participated in crucial lawsuits opposing tribal sovereignty. Connecticut Senate votes to regulate hedge funds The Connecticut Senate has voted to require hedge funds and private equity funds located in the state and doing business here to disclose certain conflicts of interest to customers. CT school district considers Muslim holidays
United States
150,000+ VETS sleep on US streets. No exclusive cable rights in apartments: court A federal appeals court says cable companies cannot have exclusive rights to provide service in apartment buildings that they wire Russia to sell nuclear fuel to US US to treat uranium as commercial fuel; Russia begins mining anew. Fare-phones could replace tickets, transit cards The Regional Transportation Authority is considering new technology that would allow commuters to deduct fares from an online account through the scan of their cell phone. "We did not know that child abuse was a crime," says retired Catholic archbishop Retired Catholic Archbishop Rembert G Weakland, who has been accused of covering up widespread child rape by priests in Milwaukee, has a forthcoming memoir in which he wrote the following bits of wisdom:"We all considered sexual abuse of minors as a moral evil, but had no understanding of its criminal nature." Did 'returning' terrorists become extremists in Guantanamo? One of the detainees whom a newly released Pentagon report says returned to the battlefield after he was released from the Guantanamo Bay prison camp told McClatchy that he was a local security leader in Afghanistan when he was arrested and became a radical Islamist only during his detention. Update on arrests: San Francisco police arrest 175 anti-Prop 8 protesters San Francisco police arrested about 175 protesters who were part of a group that blocked a major intersection for hours today in response to the state Supreme Court's ruling upholding Proposition 8 Police Arrest Same-Sex Marriage Supporters, including Clergy Schwarzenegger budget plan would eliminate welfare, close most state parks Former NYPD commissioner Kerik indicted Former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik was indicted on charges of making false statements to White House officials vetting him US Soldier: ‘There’s No Way I’m Going to Deploy to Afghanistan’ "It’s a matter of what I’m willing to live with," Specialist Victor Agosto of the U.S. Army, who is refusing orders to deploy to Afghanistan, explained to IPS. "I’m not willing to participate in this occupation, knowing it is completely wrong." Rape Kit Backlog – 12,000 in Los Angeles Alone	Newspapers Must Convince Readers Product Worth Paying For Teen With Cancer Returns Home.... Parents OK chemo for son, regain custody America's Poor Give The Largest Percent Of Their Incomes To Charity Shell on Trial: Landmark Trial Set to Begin Over Shell's Role in 1995 Execution of Nigerian Human Rights Activist Ken Saro-Wiwa A landmark trial against oil giant Royal Dutch Shell’s alleged involvement in human rights violations in the Niger Delta begins this Wednesday in a federal court in New York. Fourteen years after the widely condemned execution of the acclaimed Nigerian writer and environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, the court will hear allegations that Shell was complicit in his torture and execution. [includes rush transcript–partial : Policeman shoves 29-year-old man into a coma Halliburton Chief Denies Company Still Tied to KBR Halliburton Co. CEO Dave Lesar today dismissed suggestions by a shareholder that the 2007 spinoff of its former subsidiary KBR was a ruse and that Halliburton's recent agreement to pay most of KBR's legal fines in a federal bribery case was an example... FBI Infiltrates Iowa City Protest Group “It’s put a lot of people on edge,” says one of the activists who was spied on.read more Calif. High Court Upholds Gay Marriage Ban The California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, the voter-approved ban on same sex marriage. But it also ruled that an estimated 18,000 gay couples who wed before the law took effect will remain married. Iraqi Translator, U.S. Soldier Reunited In U.S Ali Jabber Yasary served as a translator for the U.S. military in Iraq until the violence in his country forced him and his wife to flee. Now, with the help of an American soldier he worked with in Iraq, Yasary has a new home in California. But thousands of other Iraqis who served U.S. forces in Iraq are still waiting. Intelligence Chiefs Clash Over Turf The nation's two intelligence chiefs are locked in a turf battle over overseas posts, forcing National Security Adviser James L. Jones to mediate, according to current and former government officials. US military plans tribunal session at Guantánamo The U.S. military is planning a war court session at Guantánamo Bay next week to resolve an internal dispute involving the attorney for a Canadian detainee, the lawyer said Tuesday. Army base shuts down for anti-suicide event Supreme Court eases limits on questioning suspects without lawyer The Supreme Court on Tuesday made it easier for police and prosecutors to question suspects, lifting some restrictions on when defendants can be interrogated without their lawyers present. Drug Prohibition: Law Enforcement Is The Problem
Madoffed
US cracks down on corporate bribes: Report Hedge fund agrees to return Madoff withdrawals The pool of money available to compensate victims of Bernard Madoff's massive pyramid scam is getting bigger. S.E.C. Accuses 2 in Texas of Faking Bank Records Two men in Texas defrauded investors of about $20 million by faking records to show that their business, Global One, achieved annual returns of 23 percent, the S.E.C. said.

Science
Crater was shaped by wind and water, Mars rover data shows Neglected Russian girl found mimicking cats, dogs A 5-year-old Russian girl has been has placed in state custody after being found alone in an apartment filled with cats and dogs and imitating the animals' behavior. Space rock yields carbon bounty A meteorite that crashed to Earth in 2000 has shown an abundance of a chemical likely to have been involved in the origins of life.	Concentrated solar power could generate 'quarter of world's energy' Virgin Mary made into 'normal mum' to widen Christianity's appeal But the church became so worried about people worshipping Mary rather than Christ that rosaries were introduced in the late middle ages to "create a way of praying to Mary that is more monitored," she added.
Politics
Cheney Throws Troops Under the Bus regarding torture U.S. military lawyers asked Afghanistan's highest court Monday to demand the release of a Guantanamo prisoner they say was only about 12 years old — not 18, as the military maintains — when he was sent to the detention center in Cuba. Former Senior Military Interrogator Rebukes Cheney for Torture Speech....Interrogator: Torture may have cost 'thousands' of US lives U.S. Expected to Own 70% of Restructured G.M. UAW to get 17.5 percent of GM shares Wiretaps Show Burris Promised Check to Blagojevich In the months before his appointment to the Senate, Roland Burris (D-Ill.) promised to issue a $1,500 check to then-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's campaign, a conversation captured on FBI wiretaps according to an attorney for the Illinois Senator Government Announces Money For Green Jobs, Training From Stimulus Package $1.2B in stimulus for summer jobs With teen summer employment expected to hit its lowest level since 1948, the federal government is pumping $1.2 billion in stimulus money into job training programs for youth. China warns Federal Reserve over 'printing money' Ohio senator going after dissolvable tobacco products For smokers long confined to standing outside in nasty weather to get their nicotine fix, Camel Orbs - a dissolvable tobacco product slightly bigger than an Altoid mint - is an alternative that keeps users out of the elements. For Sen. Sherrod Brown and public health advocates, it's yet another diabolical strategy to get youngsters hooked on smoking. Mr. Brown, Ohio Democrat, last week successfully added a measure calling for a quick Federal Drug Administration study of Orbs and other dissolvable tobacco products to a larger bill that would, for the first time, put tobacco products under FDA regulatory authority. Bush v. Gore lawyers take on gay marriage ban Evidence Shows Jefferson Took Bribes in Exchange for Legislative Action Government prosecutors suggested in federal court Wednesday that they have evidence ex-Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) took bribes in exchange for legislative activity, but said they did not charge him with that crime because his actions were protected by constitutional Speech or Debate privilege Moody's: US government's 'Aaa' rating is stable Moody's Investors Service said Wednesday the U.S. government's "Aaa" rating is stable despite the country's swelling debt. Republican Party Shrinks to Lowest Level in 30 Years	Overseas US Dems pass legal pot resolution The Democratic Party Committee Abroad, otherwise known as Democrats Abroad, passed a resolution on April 25 recommending the legalization of marijuana in all 50 state Why Social Security should go bankrupt It's increasingly obvious that Congress and the president will deal with the political stink bomb of an aging society only if forced. And the most plausible means of compulsion would be for Social Security and Medicare to go bankrupt. People from Toronto respond to a US advertising campaign about the Canadian health-care system OBAMA TAPS SOTOMAYOR FOR COURT; 1ST LATINA NOMINEE - BIO "8 Republicans still in Senate voted for Sotomayor in 1998 Sotomayor's Reversals: Another Attack Debunked The charge is one of several being held up by conservatives as evidence that Sotomayor stands far outside the judicial mainstream. But a little bit of context greatly dilutes its effectiveness. Indeed, if anything, it makes Sotomayor a picture of mainstream jurisprudence. Of the three opinions Sotomayor had overturned by the Supreme Court, two found the man she is being nominated to replace -- Justice David Souter -- on her side. Justice Sam Alito on empathy and judging - Glenn Greenwald "Apparently, the only way to avoid 'identity politics' is to pick white men for every job." Both Adam Serwer and Daniel Larison note the glaring, obvious hypocrisy in simultaneously insisting that "empathy" has no place in the law while protesting Sotomayor's decision in Ricci on the completely law-free ground that what happened to the white firefighters is so "unfair." And Matt Yglesias writes that he is "really truly deeply and personally pissed off by the tenor of a lot of the commentary on Sonia Sotomayor" and, in a separate post, notes the wildly different treatment accorded Sotomayor and Sam Alito despite very similar records. Sonia Sotomayor 'Reversal Rate' Attack Debunked But secondly, a 60 percent reversal rate is actually below average based on the Washington Times' criteria. According to MediaMatters.org, the Supreme Court typically reverses about 75 percent of circuit court decisions that it chooses to rule upon. Debunking The GOP's Dirty Attacks Against Sotomayor Conservatives call Sotomayor 'dumb,' 'bully,' Obama's 'Harriet Miers'
Obama
Barack Obama's bid to rid the US of illegal immigrants with criminal records Barack Obama's bid to rid the US of illegal immigrants with criminal records has resulted in a boom in deportation flights. Jonathan Franklin reports from on board one of them Car Czar Steven Rattner Held Shares In Investment Fund Run By Chrysler's Majority Owner , head of the U.S. Treasury Department's automotive team, has a net worth of at least $188 million and held shares in an investment fund run by the majority owner of Chrysler LLC, according to his financial- disclosure statement No exceptions to Israeli settlement freeze US President Barack Obama has made it clear to Israel he wants no "natural growth exceptions" to his call for a freeze in West Bank settlements Media meltdown over Obama's 'empathy' remark; Bush said same about Thomas	Petraeus Endorses Obama's Plans To Close Gitmo, End Torture.... Pentagon Releases List of Gitmo Detainees Who Returned to Terrorism A Pentagon report released today confirms that 14 percent of the 540 detainees -- or one in seven -- who were released from the detainee center Guantanamo Bay Obama: $467M for renewable energy President Obama said Wednesday he will use roughly $467 million in stimulus money for initiatives that in two years will double the country's capacity for clean, renewable energy. The first initiative is to develop solar-technology programs across the country similar to one that provides roughly 25 percent of the electricity for the Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, where the president spoke. The second is to develop domestic geothermal energy throughout the country.
Economy
GM would be biggest bankruptcy ever Attorneys worry: there may not be enough qualified lawyers to fold up GM. Saudi oil minister: OPEC to hold output steady OPEC is unlikely to cut output at its upcoming meeting, Saudi Arabia's oil minister said in comments published Tuesday, as indications mounted that the oil producing bloc would resist a temptation to tighten the taps despite wanting higher crude prices.	Home Prices Show Record Decline, Fall 19.1% U.S. consumer confidence soared in May Saudis warn of huge rise in oil prices Saudi Arabia warned today that the world could be facing another oil shock, with prices back above the record highs of almost $150 a barrel within two to three years.

Iraq	Map of Iraq
State Department Official Among 3 Americans Killed In Iraq By Suicide Bomber FALLOUT: Coming Home from the War in Iraq - Online Now! Embattled Iraq Trade Minister Resigns Iraq Eying Gas Exports to Europe Via Arab Pipeline Reuters cited Mr Hussain al-Shahristani oil minister of Iraq as saying that his government is in talks to possibly export surplus natural gas through the Arab Gas Pipeline to the Middle East and Europe. Mobile Companies Owe Government $2 Billion – MP The mobile phones companies operating in Iraq owe the Iraqi government nearly $2 billion, member of the parliament’s economic committee said on Friday. Deaths in Iraq car-bomb attack Four civilians and a US soldier among victims of blast in western district of Baghdad. U.S. Army Could Be in Iraq for 10 More Years Gen. Casey: Pentagon must plan for extended combat despite 2012 agreement. Car Bomb Factory Seized in Baghdad Iraq Condemns Shiite Militia Leaders to DeathAn Iraqi court on Tuesday condemned eight Shiite militia leaders to death on a range of terrorism charges including murder and planting bombs. Arresting a Fake Company Takes on Quantities of Oil Estimated to Be Worth 4 Billion DinarsThe Economic Crime Combat Department was able to arrest the members of a fake company in the province of Basra, called Badr Al-Jinoub ( the South Full Moon), seized large quantities of oil estimated to be worth four billion dinars. Contractor pleads guilty to fraud in Iraq bids	Monday: 9 Iraqis, 1 Syrian Killed; 8 Iraqis Wounded Tuesday: 3 Americans, 11 Iraqis Killed; 4 Iraqis Wounded Wednesday: 1 US Soldier, 11 Iraqis Killed; 16 Iraqis Wounded Arab Domination Rejected by Kurds in Makhmour Real Democracy in Kurdistan Could Counter al-Maliki Iraq Aims to Allow Foreign Investors to Own Land Iraq's investment commission is pushing for foreign firms to be allowed to own land, a move seen as key to attracting the developers required to build houses and repair and expand the country's creaking infrastructure. Iraqi intelligence sues Guardian Iraq's national intelligence service has launched a court action to sue the Guardian, claiming to have been defamed by a story that characterised the regime of prime minister Nouri al-Maliki as increasingly autocratic U.S.-supported Iraqi Militias Clash with Government Sheikh Mustafa Kamil Hamad Shabib drives past the wheat fields where al-Qaeda hit men used to dump their victims, through the intersection where he survived a car bomb, and into the family compound that sustained 85 hits from al-Qaeda mortars in 2006. Kurdish Rebels Propose British-style Devolution Kurdish rebels that have waged a thirty year war on Turkey have offered to drop a demand for independence in return for British-style devolution. Iraq says U.S. raid "a crime," violated security pact (Reuters) Iraq viewed a U.S. military raid that killed two people as a crime that violated a bilateral security pact and demanded on Sunday that U.S. forces hand those responsible to the courts, an Iraqi official said. Iraq to arrest 1,000 'corrupt' officials 7 al-Qaeda Elements Detained in Diala
Middle East
Ahmadinejad denies calling for Facebook ban Venezuela, Bolivia give Iran uranium Israelis get four times more water than Palestinians, says World Bank report Palestinians losing out in access to vital shared aquifer in the occupied territories Hizbollah tries to secure IMF funds Lebanon's Hizbollah has held talks with the International Monetary Fund and the European Union as it seeks to secure continued financial support for Lebanon if the alliance it leads was to win Iran's Ahmadinejad Rejects Western Nuclear Proposal, Claims Iran Is Not Cooperating With NKorea Iran-Iraqi Kurdistan Alcohol Smugglers Risk Death or Jail to Supply Banned Drink Some are shot by Iranian security forces as they smuggle their illicit cargo of alcohol across the border at night. Others fall foul of the minefields that were planted during the war, which finished 20 years ago, as they test new trafficking routes. Iran Starts Production of 'Younes 6' Hovercrafts Iranian-Canadian Spy Convicted in Germany An Iranian-Canadian businessman who had spied for Germany for more than a decade has been convicted of supporting Tehran's missile program, according to a German press report to be published Monday. Iran saves $8.5b by rationing gasoline Televised debates in Iran likely to be cancelled MP Fatemeh Alia stated on Tuesday that televised debates among presidential candidates may be cancelled as certain candidates have expressed displeasure over the move. Israeli bill seeks to outlaw denial of Jewish state Israel's parliament gave initial approval on Wednesday to a bill that would make it a crime to publicly deny Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, punishable by a sentence of up to a year in prison.	Iran Dispatches Fleet of Warships to Gulf of Aden France Opens UAE Base... Aid convoy stranded on Gaza border convoy bringing medical aid to Gaza is stranded at the border with Egypt, as UN agencies say the blockade has been tightened. Barak: There is no direct link between outposts and Iran Defense minister says rule of law is reason illegal outposts should go; FM: Evacuating outposts in return for allowing natural growth "nonsense. Israel Offers U.S. A Settlement Compromise Israel would dismantle nearly two dozen wildcat settlement outposts in the West Bank in the next few weeks if the U.S. drops its objections to continued building in existing, government-sanctioned settlements, officials said. Israel claims Iran set up Hizbullah cells in Venezuela KUWAIT INSTALLS THERMAL CAMERA TO EXAMINE INCOMING; ‘Heat’ is on Ministry of Health installed Sunday the first thermal camera at Kuwait International Airport for tighter examination of travellers coming from countries with swine flu. The thermal camera was used to examine around 300 passengers coming from countries with swine flu, deputy director of Public Health Department at the Health Ministry Dr Yusuf Mandekar told KUNA. Journalist Who Reported On Hizbullah Involvement In Al-Hariri Assassination: It's All Reliable Iran lifts ban on Facebook US cracks down an alleged Hezbollah financiers The United States moved Wednesday to impose financial sanctions on two men accused of providing financial support to the militant Shiite group Hezbollah Charity leader gets 65 yrs. for Hamas funds Holy Land case was 'major victory' in George W. Bush's 'war on terror.'
Afghanistan	Map of Afghanistan
Afghan was taken to Guantanamo aged 12: rights group An Afghan who has spent over six years at the U.S. military's Guantanamo Bay prison was only around 12-years-old when he was detained, not 16 or 17 as his official record says, an Afghan rights group said on Tuesday. Shia books thrown in Afghan river Provincial authorities in south-west Afghanistan throw thousands of books on Shia Islam into a river. Contractors in killing say they're scapegoats Two U.S. security contractors involved in the shooting death of an Afghan civilian said they were pressured to say they had been drinking in order to protect the company's contract.	Deaths in Afghanistan convoy blast Three civilians and three soldiers serving with Nato-led forces in Afghanistan have been killed in a suicide car bomb attack on a military convoy, officials have said. Afghan gov't destroys books it says insult Sunnis The Afghan government dumped more than 1,000 books from Iran into a river in western Afghanistan because of content allegedly offensive to Sunni Muslims, officials said Wednesday. Iranian-Made Weapons Seized In Helmand US lawyers ask Afghan court to help Gitmo inmate
Pakistan	Map of Pakistan
Taliban Pleads With Swat Civilians Pakistani Taliban urges civilians to return to Swat city, won't fire at troops. Pakistan lifts Nawaz Sharif election ban Sharif was banned from standing for office nine years ago after the military leader, General Pervez Musharraf, sent him into exile in Saudi Arabia. Sharif returned to Pakistan in 2007 but was barred from last year's election. U.S. undertakes Iraq-scale embassy project in Pakistan The U.S. is embarking on a $1 billion crash program to expand its diplomatic presence in Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan, another sign that the Obama administration is making a costly, long-term commitment to war-torn South Asia, U.S. officials said Wednesday.	Taliban wants do-over on peace deal in Pakistan The Pakistani Taliban says it wants to return to a peace deal that recently collapsed, sparking an ongoing massive military operation, a spokesman said Tuesday. Car Bombing Kills 30 In One Of Pakistan's Deadliest Attacks This Year Trio held after deadly blast kills 27 Pakistani Taliban claim Lahore bombing Bomb kills troops in Pakistan's Swat: officials
Asia
North Korea Test-Fires 2 More Missiles: Reports Killing of Sikh Leader Sets Off Riots in India Riots erupted across the Punjab region of India in response to the death of the leader of a Sikh sect after an attack on a temple in Vienna. Troops kill 10 rebels in southern Philippines China lawyers in touchy cases could be disbarred China's judiciary is warning law firms to rein in lawyers who take up human rights and other politically sensitive cases, lawyers said Wednesday, increasing the pressure in a government campaign that has so far failed to curb growing legal activism.	Explosion reported in Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan's border with Uzbekistan is closed after reports of an explosion and shootings on the Uzbek side. N. Korea: No longer bound by 1953 truce New Probe into ‘Drug War’ Killings Takes a Stab at Impunity A special investigative arm of Thailand’s criminal justice system is set to mount a fresh probe into a massacre of civilians during a brutal ‘war on drugs’ launched six years ago, when the authoritarian Thaksin Shinawatra was the country’s prime minister
Europe
Positive Cocaine Test Prompts Red Bull Removal In Germany Scientology on trial in France The Church of Scientology has gone on trial in the French capital, Paris, accused of organised fraud. Desperate Russians won't turn up their nose at expired food Retirees, living on limited pensions, forage Moscow back alleys for the best deals on past-their-prime, even slightly rotten or moldy, goods. They say these days they're competing with bigger crowds. "Militant Protestant supporters of a Scottish soccer team beat to death a Roman Catholic man in the latest sign of how sports rivalries inspire sectarian bloodshed in Northern Ireland	UK rolling out system to track all cars Sri Lanka to Add Soldiers to Prevent Tiger Return Sri Lanka plans to recruit 100,000 more soldiers to prevent a Tamil Tiger comeback IBM earmarks $3 billion for Europe, Asia stimulus Georgian Opposition Takes Railroad Station The move represented an escalation of the opposition’s tactics, and indicated that its leaders were now trying to put economic pressure on the president.
Africa
'Scores killed' in Darfur battle Zimbabwe Cholera Cases to Top 100,000 U.S. targets Hezbollah network in Africa The U.S. Treasury Department said on Wednesday it will freeze the assets in the United States of two individuals linked to Hezbollah and prohibit U.S. banks and consumers from making business deals with them.	Somalia facing 'foreign invasion' President calls for international support as foreign fighters join armed opposition. Somali infighting could help al-Qaida
The Americas
Ecuadorians Sue Chevron For Dumping Oil (VIDEO) Mexico mayors held over drug links Security forces detain 28 officials accused of protecting cartel members.	Colombians to sue US-based Drummond Coal More than 200 Colombians have announced plans to file a lawsuit against Birmingham, Alabama-based Drummond Coal Company, which operates an open pit coalmine in Colombia’s northern region. They charge the company financed right wing death squads in Colombia, which assassinated more than 200 civilians between 2000 and 2006.

Bush v. Gore lawyers take on gay marriage ban

Sonia Sotomayor 'Reversal Rate' Attack Debunked But secondly, a 60 percent reversal rate is actually below average based on the Washington Times' criteria. According to MediaMatters.org, the Supreme Court typically reverses about 75 percent of circuit court decisions that it chooses to rule upon.