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Last Update: Saturday, December 10, 2011	Click here for Previous Edition

Connecticut
Yale-New Haven Hospital, Saint Raphael's agree to merger Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Hospital of Saint Raphael have agreed to merge into one hospital with two campuses, according to a statement issued by Yale-New Haven. Read Story CT Drug War The 'loosey goosey' afterlife of drug assets seized by police Former state's attorney among those who benefited from fund (SUBSCRIBER EXTRA: Database of police drug asset fund expenditures)Office furniture, new Harley-Davidson motorcycles, a dinner bill for $996 at Drescher's Restaurant, a new passenger van and $11,000 worth of commemorative badges.All of those items, plus a car that was given to former State's Attorney John A. Connelly for business use, were purchased with drug-related assets seized by Waterbury police, according to an investigation by the Republican-American. Four people shot in 24 hours in New Haven..... North Haven man, 67, shot in buttocks in New Haven after standing up to robbers	Advocates press Connecticut to comply with law against racial profiling OT hoarders on state's radar....Malloy's push to cut overtime begins with agency watch lists Scores of state employees are on agency watch lists now because of how much overtime they are making. The lists include some workers who have already made double or triple their regular pay. Waterbury forcing people out of homes for new school Roy and Jennifer Thompson look through mortgage paperwork inside their home at 201 Birch Street in Waterbury. They are one of several families along the street affected by the city's decision to seize ....Roy and Jennifer Thompson expected to grow old together in the modest ranch house they bought on Birch Street a dozen years ago. Connecticut Working Families rallies over jobs at Pez in Orange Members of Connecticut Working Families rallied outside Pez Candy Inc. USA’s headquarters Wednesday, claiming the company has not retained the jobs it promised to create when it accepted a loan from the state five years ago
United States
WikiLeaks Click here for Wikileaks News Updated White House issues executive order in wake of WikiLeaks reports WikiLeaks cable lead Al Jazeera news head to resign? Wadah Khanfar had been news director at the network for eight years before resigning today. His resignation followed the release of WikiLeaks material suggesting that he had, under pressure from the United States, modified the network's coverage of the Iraq war. These alterations, according to the leaked cable, include the removal of images of injured children from a Web piece in which witnesses gave their accounts of U.S. military operations in Iraq. The Only State Dept. Employee Who May Be Fired Because of WikiLeaks But as Van Buren describes in a rare and fascinating glimpse inside the workings of the State Department, his interrogation more likely resulted from his new book, We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People. It's a shocking, Catch-22-like tale of Van Buren's year running a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Iraq. The stories he recounts—a $171 million hospital "opened" by Laura Bush in 2004 that didn't see a single patient in the next six years WikiLeaks Honduras: US Linked to Brutal Businessman Security Issues Pacific islands belonging to US eager to lease land to China The cash-strapped Northern Mariana Islands, a US territory in the Western Pacific, has offered to lease land to China as long as it is not used for military purposes. FBI to launch nationwide facial recognition service The FBI by mid-January will activate a nationwide facial recognition service in select states that will allow local police to identify unknown subjects in photos Homeland Security moves forward with 'pre-crime' detection More Holes Emerge in FBI's Anthrax Case....Scientists’ Analysis Disputes F.B.I. Closing of Anthrax Case CIA Assassinates Two US Citizens in Yemen Secret U.S. memo sanctioned killing of AulaqiThe Justice Department wrote a secret memorandum authorizing the lethal targeting of Anwar al-Aulaqi, the American-born radical cleric who was killed by a U.S. drone strike Friday, according to administration officials. Despite US Opposition, Cluster-Bomb Ban Moving Forward U.S. man charged over bid to give China defense info A man has been charged with attempting to pass defense information to China. Nat Sec Lab Hacks Diebold Touch-Screen Voting Machine by Remote Control With $26 in Computer Parts U.S. has no plans to set up ‘selective fencing’ along Canada-U.S. border US Issues Travel Alert After Awlaki Death The State Department issued a worldwide travel alert on Saturday warning of the possibility of anti-American attacks in response to the killing of two top al Qaeda members. Mosque Kicked Out Suspected Terrorist Because Of His Radical Views And Support Of Al-Qaeda This week, the FBI arrested and charged 26-year-old suspected terrorist Rezwan Ferdaus with plotting to use remote-controlled planes filled with plastic explosives to attack the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol. The Massachusetts man began plotting a “violent jihad” against the U.S. early last year “with the goal of terrorizing the United States, decapitating its ‘military center’ and killing as many ‘kafirs,’ i.e., an Arabic term meaning non-believers, as possible.” SAIC loses data of 4.9 million patients "Iran Terror Plot in America" U.S.: Iran-Tied D.C. Terror Plot Disrupted "FBI and DEA agents have disrupted a plot to commit a "significant terrorist act in the United States" tied to Iran, federal officials told ABC News today." snip...more at link Virginia man charged with spying on Syrian Americans The FBI arrested and charged Mohamad Anas Haitham Soueid, 47, a resident of Leesburg, VA, for spying on Syrian-American protesters in the Washington area on behalf of the Syrian government. Official: Iranian plot suspect interrogated for 12 days Is Iran's Alleged Cash-for-Assassinations Plot Too Implausible to Be True? Read: Justice Dept. complaint (PDF) Iran and Saudi Arabia's rocky relations Iran demands access to accused US plotter Iran demanded consular access on Sunday to a man held in the United States over a suspected plot to kill the Saudi ambassador and vowed to respond robustly to any "inappropriate measure" by the West Record Number Of Immigrants Deported In 2011 The Quds Force connection FULL STORY Iran says the alleged plot is "a fabrication" WikiLeaked U.S. Cables Paint Portrait of Brutal, Ineffectual and Polluting UN Force Oil Spill BP oil not degrading on Gulf floor, study says Environment Suit: Pipeline work jumps gun (Keystone XL violates the National Environmental Policy Act) Film exposes cancer epidemic near Koch Industries plant Residents of a small Arkansas community say that the toxic pollutants being dumped for years by a Koch Industries plant is killing them. Only 15 families reside around Penn Road and already 11 people have died of cancer. Occupy Wall Street Why Are Police Attacking Peaceful Protesters? How OWS Has Exposed Militarization of Law Enforcement Man with knife attacks Occupy N.M. protesters Hackers post data on JP Morgan Chase CEO Naomi Wolf criticises protest arrest Author was arrested alongside Occupy Wall Street protesters after she disputed police claims that they had to clear sidewalk Police arrest 80 ‘Occupy Wall St.’ protestors Wall Street Mocks 99-Percenters By Looking Down, Drinking Champagne Videos Show Police Using Pepper Spray at Protest on the Financial System Anonymous Goes After the Pepper Spray Cop's Personal Info The police officer videoed spraying what appears to be pepper spray into the eyes of peaceful protesters in New York City on Saturday has found Internet fame as online activists target him in traditional hacker fashion:'Pepper-spray' officer named in Bush (2004 Repub Nat'l Convention)protest claim MSNBC on NYPD Police Brutality during Occupy Wall Street Lawrence O'donnell with Cornel West joins ‘Occupy Wall Street’ protest FoxNews Discrediting female protestors being Pepper Sprayed Occupy Wall Street has been picking up some decent support from unions in the past few days. Yesterday we reported that the Teamsters Union declared their support for protestors, and we also found out that the United Pilots Union had members at the protest demonstrating in uniform. A Massive Union Just Voted To Side With The Wall Street Protesters According to Daily Kos, The New York Transit Workers Union (TWU) voted to support the Wall Street Protestors at their meeting last night. A member of TWU Local 100 told a reporter that they would join the protest Friday at 4PM. Charlie Rangel Reportedly Booed Away At Wall St. Protests Another Video Of NYPD Officer Using Pepper Spray At Occupy Wall Street Protests Surfaces Over 100 NYPD Officers Refuse to Work in Support of Occupy Wall Street Movement Nurses to Join March on Wall Street October 5; Demand Wall Street Transaction Tax – an “FTT” WATCH LIVE: NYPD Arrests Scores Of 'Occupy Wall Street' Protesters On Bridge...Occupy Wall Street – the story of the Brooklyn Bridge 'trap' To the hundreds of Occupy Wall Street protesters hemmed in on Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, it felt like a trap. Hundreds of people had streamed onto the bridge without impediment, only to find their path blocked,700 Arrested As Occupy Wall Street Protests Escalate Occupy Wall Street Arrests; Fox 5 Crew and Protesters Hit by Mace, Batons Labor Unions Join ‘Occupy Wall Street’ Protest for Huge March (Draws Close to 15,000, Per ABC News) Bloomberg: Occupy Wall Street Can Stay Indefinitely Bloomberg: Occupy Wall Street Can Stay Indefinitely By Michael Howard Saul Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Monday that he’ll allow the Wall Street protesters to stay indefinitely, provided they abide by the law, City's Entire Police Force Detained In Organized Crime Investigation Clergy To Join Forces With "Occupy Wall Street" Protesters Watch: U.S. Marines tell Hannity to ‘f*ck off’ At “Occupy Wall Street” on Monday, two men in military colors who claimed to be Marines spoke to a cameraman with “The Other 99 Percent” and explained why they joined the protest Police arrest scores of Occupy Boston protesters Why Occupy Wall St. isn't about a list Occupy Wall Street Cleanup: Russell Simmons Offers To Pay To Avoid Violence Wall Street Protesters Confront Bloomberg While He Dines at Top Restaurant, Leaves by Back Door Violence Breaks Out During ‘Occupy Wall Street’ March On Wall Street In Private, Wall St. Bankers Dismiss Protesters as Unsophisticated Occupy Wall Street Protest Culminates With 6,000 in Times Square Michael Moore:"Cop Told Me Reason OWS Eviction Didn't Happen Is Bloomberg's Afraid Of Youtube!" NYPD arrests Occupy protesters, non-protester at Citibank branch (NYC mayor) Bloomberg Says ‘Tent City’ Goes Beyond Free Speech Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, speaking Monday as Occupy Wall Street protesters celebrated the passage of a month encamped in Zuccotti Park, said he was trying to strike a balance between protecting protesters’ right to free speec Hundreds Arrested in 'Occupy' Protests (Violent Arrests at Occupy SF Apparently Occurring Now) Meet the Guy Who Snitched on Occupy Wall Street to the FBI and NYPD 1 MARINE vs. 30 COPS (Marine Wins) Professor: Tea party, 99 Percent must unite Bank of America refuses to let customers close accounts	Foo Fighters Protest Hate Church With Gay Sex Song Antidepression Med Use Skyrocketed over 20 Years Greed Big Banks Accused Of Overcharging Veterans Media ‘The Wire’: Why it still matters The issues and concerns raised on the HBO show have grown ever more timely as we descend into a new decade, writes Carlo Rotella. Trader Goes On Epic Rant On BBC Verizon sues to overturn 'net neutrality' rules Verizon Communications, the largest U.S. cell phone carrier, is suing to overturn new government regulations governing the flow of Internet traffic. On Day Obama Gets Awlaki, Fox And Friends Says He’s Too Weak On Terror Removal of restrictions can decrease music piracy Contrary to the traditional views of the music industry, removal of digital rights management (DRM) restrictions can actually decrease piracy, according to new research from Rice University and Duke University. O’Reilly tells Smiley, ‘knock it off with the black business’ Yahoo Appears To Be Censoring Email Messages About Wall Street Protests 2 hours ago · Thinking about e-mailing your friends and neighbors about the protests against Wall Street happening right now? If you have a Yahoo e-mail account, think again. ThinkProgress has reviewed claims that Yahoo is censoring e-mails News International to pay $4.7 million to settle hacking case News International is expected to pay about three million pounds ($4.7 million) to settle hacking claims Tony Bennett apologizes for 9/11 comments Tony Bennett: America caused 9/11 Netflix Separates DVD and Streaming Services Drug War D.E.A. Bans Chemicals Used in ‘Bath Salts’ The Drug Enforcement Administration took emergency action on Friday to ban three synthetic stimulants used to make products that are marketed at head shops and on the Web as “bath salts,” but are actually used as recreational drugs Drug deaths now outnumber traffic fatalities in U.S., data show Propelled by an increase in prescription narcotic overdoses, drug deaths now outnumber traffic fatalities in the United States Whistleblowers: Cartels throw parties for U.S. officials (New York City) Police Memo on Marijuana Warns Against Some Arrests 1 hour ago · Amid criticism about the way New York City police officers enforce marijuana laws, Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly issued a memo to commanders this week reiterating that officers are not to arrest people who have small amounts of marijuana Dozens arrested in drug raid at Pa. Boeing plant Feds order pot shops to close within 45 days SAN FRANCISCO -- Federal officials are warning California medical marijuana dispensaries they must shut down within 45 days or face criminal prosecution and having their property confiscated. 5 law officers among 70 charged in Arkansas drug trafficking bust White House Launches Crackdown On Medical Marijuana We fabricated drug charges against innocent people to meet arrest quotas, former detective testifies Presidential Candidate Would Consider Pardoning Nonviolent Marijuana Offenders Courts New evidence could clear 14-year-old executed by S.C. Judge Refuses to Sanction CIA for Destroying Torture Tapes Cops to Pay Amy Goodman $100K for Wrongfully Arresting Her here's a video of normal-sized middle-aged female journalist Amy Goodman being arrested by multiple hulking stick-wielding riot police dressed in full body armor at the Republican National Convention in 2008. Sometimes you just have to laugh at the police state. Hey guy, are there enough of you there, you think? What if she scratches your eyeballs?! The moral of the story is, if you are the police state, just let reporters do their jobs Miss. teen pleads not guilty in black man's death 9 hours ago · A white Mississippi teenager accused of running down a black man with a truck has pleaded not guilty to capital murder Judge Rules Florida Prison Privatization Unconstitutional Judges Order Texas To Halt Discriminatory Redistricting Alabama’s Anti-Immigrant Law Successfully Intimidates Children From Going To School On Wednesday, Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn issued an opinion that struck down parts of Alabama’s radical new anti-immigrant laws, but left in place a provision requiring public schools to “systematically determine the immigration status of public school students and to report the number of undocumented students in their district to the state.” Hacktivist's attorney: DDoS 'sit-in' is not a crime An attorney defending a homeless man alleged to be a member of the activist group "Anonymous" has filed an unusual defense, claiming that even if his client carried out a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack on Santa Cruz County computers, it would have simply been initiating a next-generation version of the sit-in protest. Justice Department Says Texas Redistricting Map Violates Voting Rights Act, Discriminates Against Minority Voters Citizens United) A Blockbuster Case Yields an Unexpected Result the critique is wrong on at least one point — the bit about secrecy. An often overlooked part of the Citizens United decision actually upheld disclosure requirements U.S. court rules against Chevron in Ecuador case Ecuadorans suing Chevron Corp. over pollution in the Amazon rain forest are one step closer to collecting a $9.5 billion judgment against the San Ramon company.A U.S. appeals court on Monday lifted a lower court's order that had blocked the Ecuadorans from collecting money in the long-running lawsuit. Julius Baer Bankers Said to Be Charged in Tax Probe by U.S. 13 hours ago · Two Julius Baer Group Ltd. client advisers were charged with helping U.S. customers of the Swiss bank evade taxes, Court allows ACLU challenge to FISA Amendments Act warrantless wiretapping law to proceed That’s RICO Corporations are increasingly using anti-racketeering laws to keep employees from unionizing. High court ruling means execution unlikely in 1981 cop-killing (Mumia Abu-Jamal) 2 hours ago · By Sarah Hoye, CNN updated 1:33 PM EST, Tue October 11, 2011 Philadelphia (CNN) -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for death-row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal to get a new sentencing hearing Court halts Ala. schools' checking of immigration status Civil Rights 'L-Word' star kisses girl, gets escorted off plane Catholics cannot accept gay marriage, pope says Pope Benedict said on Saturday the Catholic Church could not accept gay marriage. 'L-Word' star kisses girl, gets escorted off plane 5 hours ago · A lesbian actress who starred in "The L-Word" said she kissed a girl — and got escorted off of a Southwest Airlines flight on Monday for doing it. ATF: Illegal to Sell Guns to Med Marijuana Users The cell phone service providers Virgin Mobile and Verizon retain the content of text messages, according to a Justice Department memo obtained by the America Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of North Carolina. Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, Nextel, and Virgin Mobile all retain information relating to text messages, such as who the text messages were sent to and when, but only Verizon and Virgin Mobile retain the actual content of the text messages. Virgin Mobile keeps text message content for 90 days and Verizon keeps it for 3 to 5 days. The Justice Department document, “Retention Periods of Major Cellular Providers,” was published in 2010 as a guide for law enforcement agents seeking to obtain cell phone records. Even Those Cleared of Crimes Can Stay on FBI Terror Watch List Mitchell Wilson Suicide: Disabled Boy's Death Raises Bullying Concerns Police/Prison New Yorkers Protest NYPD "Stop and Frisk" Program Child abuse increased as economy crashed, study shows Police(Homeland Security FBI) raid IHOP locations in Toledo area Five IHOP locations were raided in the Toledo area Tuesday morning by the FBI and Homeland Security. Authorities were investigating money laundering, funding terrorist organizations and possible undocumented workers Man escapes prison with homemade nunchucks Explosion Investigated as Detonation of a Car Bomb Seriously Injures 3 in Michigan ATF 'Fast and Furious' secret audio: Murder of Border Patrol agent 'collateral damage' Ku Klux Klan member executed over 1998 Texas murder Lawrence Brewer was executed Wednesday for the racially-motivated murder of a disabled black man 2,901 Arrested in Immigration Sweep A crackdown highlighted an Obama administration policy to focus enforcement on illegal immigrants with criminal records. U.S. Citizen Charged With Elaborate Capitol Attack Plot (Fullerton) California cop pleads not guilty to murder in beating (Kelly Thomas) A Fullerton, California, police officer pleaded not guilty Monday after being charged in the beating death of a mentally ill homeless man, Veterans Attempt Citizens Arrest of Rumsfeld in Boston In Response To A String Of Sexual Assaults, New York Police Tell Women To Cover Up Instead Of Catching The Attacker Alabama Law Makes It A Felony For Undocumented Immigrants To Have Water At Their Homes First Person Detained Under New Alabama Immigration Law Turns Out To Be In U.S. Legally Cop Slams Student Into Cafeteria Table 6 dead in Seal Beach hair salon shooting Police in Seal Beach confirm 6 people have been killed in a shooting inside a hair salon on Wednesday afternoon

Science	History
"Missing" Global Heat May Hide in Deep Oceans There Is No Biological Reason to Eat Three Meals a Day -- So Why Do We Do It? Scientists create cyborg rat with artificial cerebellum Soviet-era pill from Bulgaria helps smokers quit (cheap) A pill developed in Bulgaria during the Soviet era shows promise for helping millions of smokers cheaply and safely kick the habit 'Magic mushroom' drug may improve personality In new research that will almost certainly create controversy, scientists working with the hallucinogen psilocybin -- the active ingredient found in "magic mushrooms" -- have found that a single dose of the drug prompted an enduring but positive personality change in almost 60 percent of patients. Study finds unprecedented Arctic ozone loss Trial of Ecstasy for trauma victims Scientists hope to overcome tabloid anger after US trial suggests clubbers' drug can help PTSD sufferers Fish caught on video using a rock to break open a clam First comet found with ocean-like water: New clues to creation of Earth's oceans Researchers find that the brain smells what it expects rather than what it sniffs (w/ video)- In the moments before you “stop and smell the roses,” it’s likely your brain is already preparing your sensory system for that familiar floral smell. New research from Northwestern Medicine Amazing 'Cyclops' Shark Discovered Scientific analysis reveals financial 'super-entity' that controls global economy	The Beatles banned segregated audiences, contract shows The Beatles showed their support for the US civil rights movement by refusing to play in front of segregated audiences, A mix of sprinkling system water and melted aluminium from aircraft hulls likely triggered the explosions that felled New York's Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, a materials expert has told a technology conference. "If my theory is correct, tonnes of aluminium ran down through the towers, where the smelt came into contact with a few hundred litres of water," Christian Simensen, a scientist at SINTEF, an independent technology research institute based in Norway, said in a statement released Wednesday. *CIA Docs: US Way Overstated Soviet Capabilities*
Politics
6 Dumb Arguments Against Taxing the Rich, Explained Treasury/Federal Reserve/Bailouts/SEC/IRS SEC Puts Standard and Poor’s on Notice for Civil Charges on 2007 MBS The SEC has told Standard and Poor’s that they may file civil charges over the rating agency’s role in a 2007 mortgage backed securities deal. SEC Criticizes Credit Raters California breaks from 50-state probe into mortgage lenders California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris will no longer take part in a national foreclosure probe of some of the nation's biggest banks, which are accused of pervasive misconduct in dealing with troubled homeowners. Harris removed herself from talks by a coalition of state attorneys general and federal agencies investigating abusive foreclosure practices because the nation's five largest mortgage servicers were not offering California homeowners reli Government Aims To Hold More People Responsible For Financial Crisis Secret Docs Show Foreclosure Watchdog Doesn’t Bark or Bite Why has the administration’s flagship foreclosure prevention program been so ineffective in helping struggling homeowners get loan modifications and stay in their homes? One reason: The government’s supervision of the program has apparently ranged from nonexistent to weak. Fannie Mae Knew Early of Abuses, Report Says How Mortgage Companies Use Connections To State Attorney General To Stave Off Investigations FDIC backs barring banks from trading for own gain SEC Warns Staff Their Stocks Data Was Exposed The Securities and Exchange Commission is warning staffers that their personal brokerage account information may have been compromised, after it uncovered security flaws with an ethics compliance program. Citi pays $285m to settle SEC case Debit Fee Questioned As Bank Records Record Profit Bank of America Corp. (BAC), hit by a credit downgrade last month, has moved derivatives from its Merrill Lynch unit to a subsidiary flush with insured deposits, according to people with direct knowledge of the situation. BofA Said to Split Regulators Over Moving Merrill Derivatives to Bank Unit (MUST READ) US central banks may need to burst bubbles: Bernanke Reuters BOSTON: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Tuesday that central banks may need to resort to monetary policy to combat asset bubbles Florida Bank, Used as ATM by Insiders, Won TARP Loan But Now Teeters The rise and fall of U.S. Century, while certainly more extreme than most banks, exemplifies the fast-and-loose banking culture that led to the financial crisis, which continues to drag down the global economy Health Care Sharp Rise in US Health Insurance Cost, Study Finds Autism coverage mandated in California Gov. Jerry Brown approved a measure today that will require health plans to include coverage for autism as a medical benefit Obama W. House won't give up Solyndra emails The White House will not comply with requests to turn over documents related to the bankrupt solar company Solyndra, which received a $535 million loan guarantee from the federal government, CNN learned Friday. Obama: Rich must pay fair share of deficit cuts President Barack Obama demanded $1.5 trillion in new taxes on the rich in a plan aimed at slashing the deficit. Obama’s Buffett Rule Backed by 63% of Investors E-Mails Reveal Early White House Worries Over Solyndra New e-mails provided to Congressional investigators show White House officials expressed concern that Solyndra might collapse months before it did. Drug Deal Would Enrich White House Chief Of Staff's Old Company, Risk Public Health In Developing Nations As commerce secretary under Bill Clinton, William Daley worked with U.S. pharmaceutical giants to curb the use of cheaper generic drugs abroad. As a board member for Abbott Laboratories, he had a front-row seat on a brutal clash between a major drug company and a developing nation over access to life-saving medication. And as White House chief of staff today, Daley has President Barack Obama’s ear. Add up Daley’s power and experience, and experts who follow public health policy suspect his influence in the U.S. stance in negotiations over a major international trade deal -- a stance with hugely profitable implications for giant American drugmakers. New FOIA docs reveal smoking gun regarding State Department bias We have received a new round of documents from the State Department in response to our Freedom of Information Act request. These documents are deeply disturbing in that they provide definitive evidence of pro-pipeline bi *Obama OKs Aid to Militaries Using Child Soldiers* Secret Panel Can Order Americans Assassinated There is no public record of the operations or decisions of the panel, which is a subset of the White House's National Security Council, several current and former officials said. Neither is there any law establishing its existence or setting out the rules by which it is supposed to operate Obama Has Written Personal Checks To Struggling Americans	Paul Ryan Endorses ‘Unemployment Reform’ That Asks The Jobless To Work More For Less Multi-Millionaire Congressman: ‘I Don’t Want To Raise My Taxes…Don’t Ask Me’ To Pay More \| Arpaio Undertakes Investigation Of Obama’s Birth Certificate Elections Plagued By Shadow Campaigns Funded By Secret Money Koch Brothers Flout Law Getting Richer With Secret Iran Sales Reid Proposes Surtax on ‘the Richest’ to Pay for Jobs Plan The 5 percent levy on incomes of more than $1 million has little chance of passing, but Democratic leaders hope it draws a contrast with Republicans who have opposed the tax. Herman Cain: Tax Poor People’s Food To Finance Massive Tax Break For The Rich Conservative Writer Admits ‘Infiltrating’ 99 Percent Movement To ‘Mock And Undermine’ It Koch Industries Made Illicit Payments, Stole Oil On Federal Land And Lied To Authorities Incendiary GOP State Representative Arrested For Drunk Driving Once Compared Immigrants To 'Multiplying Rats' Rick Perry officials spark revolt after doctoring environment report Herman Cain's 2004 Campaign Called Gays 'Godless' FBI was investigating Murtha for corruption, new records show· Several months before Rep. John Murtha died, the FBI was moving to expand its ongoing investigation of the powerful lawmaker into a full public corruption probe SHOCK VIDEO: Cain Blames The Unemployed, Audience Cheers TDPS: Repubs Booeing Gay Soldier Shows They're Obsessed with Sex, Don't Really Support the Troops Feds to defend 54.5 mpg fuel efficiency proposal Defense Spending Senate Panel Approves $53B Foreign Aid Bill Amnesty: Arms from the US, Europe used against protesters in Middle East, North Africa *New Drone Can Be Stored in Soldiers' Backpacks* House House bill would block EPA oversight of coal ash, leave it to states Senate Senate passes China currency bill The Senate passed legislation Tuesday aimed at punishing China for alleged currency manipulation, which has been widely blamed for costing American jobs. Obama Jobs Plan Voted Down By Senate Republicans House GOP Proposes So-Called ‘Let Women Die’ Bill That Lets Hospitals Deny Life-Saving Care In their latest assault on women’s health, this week House Republicans will take up HR 358, the ironically titled “Protect Life Act.” Opponents have rechristened the measure the “Let Women Die” bill because it would allow hospitals that receive federal funds to turn away a woman seeking an abortion in all circumstances, even if an abortion is necessary to save her life: Senate Republicans Block Firefighter & Teacher Jobs Bill By a 50 to 50 vote, Republicans and some Senate Democrats blocked a motion to bring the bill - one component of President Barack Obama's overall jobs bill - from being brought up on the Senate floor. GITMO/Bahgram/CIA-Blacksites WikiLeaks uncovers Canadian detainee mystery U.S. diplomatic cables published by WikiLeaks have exposed a troubling case of a mentally ill Canadian-Egyptian held in a U.S.-run Afghanistan prison for more than 18 months Budget and Taxes Buffett Says He Stands By President's 'Buffett Rule' Warren Buffett says he's absolutely "fine" with President Obama calling the new plan to establish a minimum tax rate for individuals making more than $1 million a year the "Buffett Rule White House calls for federal employees to increase contributions to retirement plans A $16 muffin? Justice Dept. audit finds ‘wasteful’ and extravagant spending Shock Doctrine at U.S. Postal Service: Is a Manufactured Crisis Behind Push Toward Privatization? Poll: Majority Of GOP Voters Favor Raising Taxes On Wealthy Not Just The ‘53 %’: The Working Poor Pay More Of Their Income In State And Local Taxes Than The Rich In 49 States
Economy	Click for Economic Statistics	Financial Crisis for Beginners
Video game challenges players to live on $8 an hour Mortgage rates drop to once unthinkable lows at less than 4% Goldman Sachs plans deeper cost cuts (1,700-3,000 job cuts) Bank of America to charge monthly fee for debit card use Bank of America Corp plans to start charging customers who use their debit cards a $5 monthly fee. Private Companies Profit From Worldwide Immigration Crackdown Bernanke says economic recovery close to faltering Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says the economic recovery "is close to faltering" and the central bank is prepared to take further steps to support it. The economy is growing more slowly than the Federal Reserve had expected, Bernanke said Tuesday before the congressional Joint Economic Committee. He said the biggest factor depressing consumer confidence is poor job growth. U.S. Solar Firms Accuse Chinese of Trade Violations US economy faces slow growth, Fed says History’s Missed Moment Why did the greatest failure of laissez-faire capitalism since the Great Depression lead to a turn to the right rather than the left in both Europe and the U.S.? Homeowners Alone The number of Americans whose homes are “underwater” continues to be a huge drag on the economy, but the administration is failing to address the issue. U.S. Incomes Declined More During Recovery Than In Recession	IMF may need billions in extra funding Trader: Euro will collapse because ‘Goldman rules the world’ Texas Bank Is Closed; U.S. 2011 Failures at 74 Citi hikes checking fees Banks' credit ratings downgraded Confidence in the UK's financial sector was dealt a blow today after an agency slashed the credit ratings of some of Britain's biggest banks IMF adviser: The global economy could collapse ‘in two to three weeks’ Trade Deal Will Give Big Pharma Overseas Monopolies At The Expense Of AIDS Programs That Save Thousands Friendly's Files Bankruptcy, Closing 60+ Stores Steel companies braced for price falls Hedge funds suffer worst quarter since 2008 Japan’s Nikkei 225 Heads for Biggest Advance in Two Weeks on Europe Pledge Japanese stocks rose for a third day, with the Nikkei 225 Stock Average headed for its biggest gain in two weeks, after German and French leaders pledged to support European banks and stem the region’s debt crisis. Friendly's Restaurant Screwing Employees Out of Pensions A federal agency that monitors company pension plans is accusing Friendly Ice Cream Corp.of filing for bankruptcy protection in order to get out of paying the pensions of nearly 6,000 workers and retirees.

Iraq	Map of Iraq
*Iraq Troops to Drop to 30,000 in 10 Days* Woman ordered to pay KBR costs from Iraq rape suit Uniformed Gunmen Kill 20 at Iraqi Govt Complex WikiLeaks shakes security of Iraq's tiny Jewish community An Anglican priest here says he's working with the U.S. Embassy to persuade the handful of Jews who still live in Baghdad to leave because their names have appeared in cables published last month by WikiLeaks. The Rev. Canon Andrew White said he first approached members of the Jewish community about what he felt was the danger they faced after a news story was published last month that made reference to the cables. Attack on Govt Building in Iraqi Holy City Kills 22, Wounds 106 34 Killed, 124 Wounded in Attacks Across Iraq	U.S. To Hand Over Iraq Bases, Equipment Worth Billions Iraq, Afghanistan wars not worth fighting, many vets say Iraq, siding with Iran, sends essential aid to Syria’s Assad Iraq: Over 1,300 Bodies Found in Two Mass Graves String of Attacks in Baghdad Kill 30 Blasts in Baghdad's Sadr City kill at least 18, wound 40 Lowe's to close 20 stores, lay off nearly 2,000 Iraq rejects US request to maintain bases after troop withdrawal
Middle East	Map of the Middle East
Israel At UN, Obama Defends Opposition to Palestine And it was his celebration of people wanting to live in “freedom and dignity” that ran afoul of the whole reason for the speech, which was insisting that the Palestinians cannot be allowed independence and must remain under Israeli occupation until Israel says otherwise. The talks didn’t happen, but the UN vote still is, and most of the world is still on board with 2010-Obama’s vision of an independent Palestine. Except for 2011-Obama, who has promised to veto it. Israel court frees Al Jazeera journalist An Israeli military court decided on Monday to release Al-Jazeera journalist Samer Allawi who was detained in August. Massive Expansion of Jerusalem Settlement U.S. Tax Deductible Contributions Support Israeli Settler Organization’s ‘Shoot To Kill’ Campaign U.S. Congress freezes $200 million in aid to Palestinians Israel and Hamas agree Gilad Shalit release Israel and Hamas reach a deal to release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held in Gaza since 2006. Iran <Click for video and history> Iran arrests 5 people for working for BBC’s Farsi-language service Two U.S. hikers convicted as spies leave Iran on bail Two U.S. citizens sentenced in Iran to eight years' jail for spying flew out of the country on Wednesday after Oman paid bail of $1 million, Official: Iran to send ships near U.S. coast Iran plans to send military ships near the Atlantic coast of the United States, but offered no timeline or details on the “powerful presence Having finally been released, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal returned to the US with stories of human rights violations within the Iranian prison in which they were held, saying they were “comparable” to the conditions at the US-run Guantanamo Bay Iranian pastor refuses to reject religion, faces execution 37 minutes ago · Washington (CNN) -- Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, the head of a network of Christian house churches in Iran, could be executed as soon as midnight Wednesday in Tehran for refusing to recant his religious beliefs and convert to Islam, U.S. believes Iran's Khamenei authorized assassination plot Saudi Arabia Saudia Arabia Executes Sudanese National for SORCERY Saudi Arabia Gives Women Right To Vote, Run In Local Elections Saudi Security Forces Wounded in Attack in Eastern Province Saudi Police Open Fire on 'Seditious' Protesters California reportedly subpoenas BofA over toxic securities Three Saudi YouTube social activists arrested Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Sultan al Saud has died.	Egypt Click here for everything related to the Protests in Egypt Egypt bans exporting palm fronds for Israeli holiday At Least 19 Killed In Egyptian Riots Egyptians Chant "Muslims Christians Are One" as Military Viciously Attacks Protest Other Explosion in Ankara Causes Injuries, Damages Vehicles An explosion, apparently in a vehicle, rocked the center of the Turkish capital Ankara on Tuesday, causing some casualties and damaging surrounding vehicle Bahrain Vote Erupts in Violence Police and hundreds of protesters clashed during parliamentary elections, which the opposition boycotted. Bahrain jails 27 people for links to mass protests Turkey Says It Killed 49 in Battling Kurd Rebels Yemen Gaddafi killed in gun battle Images of a captured Gadhafi, bloodied and dazed, broadcast Qaddafi son dead, another son captured Yemen protesters storm elite military base; 50 die Yemeni protesters 'fired on by troops' 50 Killed, Nearly 1,000 Injured As Troops Crack Down On Yemen Protesters C.I.A. Drone Kills U.S.-Born Qaeda Leader in Yemen Anwar al-Awlaki, a leader in Al Qaeda’s outpost in Yemen, Libya Gadhafi's Killing Spares West 'Awkward' Trial NATO Refuses to Investigate Libyan Civilian Deaths U.S. Sending More Contractors to Secure Libya’s Weapons Stockpile Libyan Rebels Fail to Agree on New Government Libya Rebels Dumping 100s of Bodies in Cemetery Blair 'visited Libya to lobby for JP Morgan NATO Air Strike Reportedly Kills 354 in Sirte Panetta: 12 more U.S. troops sent to Libya Enormous Mass Grave Uncovered In Libya Libya: 20,000 Surface-to-Air Missiles Missing Syria Syrian troops captured in central town Assad supporters throw stones at U.S. envoy in Damascus Over 10,000 soldiers have deserted Syria army, says high-ranking defector
Afghanistan	Map of Afghanistan
Taliban Claim Attack on Pakistani Police Study: US Night Raids Aimed at Afghan Civilians *UN: Afghan Violence Up 39 Percent Over 2010* Jalaluddin Haqqani, Once CIA's 'Blue-Eyed Boy,' Now Top Scourge For U.S. In Afghanistan Ten years into the occupation of Afghanistan, American officials describe the militia led by Jalaluddin Haqqani as the country's deadliest insurgent group, responsible for a slew of particularly bold attacks, including the day-long assault three weeks ago on the U.S. embassy in Kabul. But Haqqani's rise to power can be traced directly back to the secret, multi-billion-dollar U.S. campaign to create a radicalized and well-equipped army of Islamic jihadists -- known as the mujahideen -- to lead a war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s. A Marine and a Navy medic killed by a U.S. drone airstrike were targeted when Marine commanders in Afghanistan mistook them for Taliban fighters, even though analysts watching the Predator's video feed were uncertain Computer Virus Hits U.S. Drone Fleet German General Says NATO Mission in Afghanistan Has 'Failed' Afghanistan to back Pakistan if wars with U.S.: Karzai Afghanistan would support Pakistan in case of military conflict between Pakistan and the United States, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said in an interview to a private Pakistani TV channel broadcast on Saturday. Afghan ministers have embezzled millions: anti-graft chief At least two Afghan cabinet ministers have embezzled millions of dollars of public money,	Afghanistan Peace Council chairman Burhanuddin Rabbani 'killed in Kabul blast' Kabul police report gunshots in alleged CIA compound The police weren't authorized to go inside to check, and the U.S. embassy isn't commenting, so the incident remains unexplained. U.S. Continues to Back Afghan Warlord Linked to 2006 Massacre and Torture of Prisoners Opium Production, Profits Rise Drastically in Afghanistan *Afghan Govt. Blocks Major Corruption Probe* 'Blind sheikh' son killed by US drone: monitors Afghan Police Break Up Politician’s Hunger Strike Afghan police have taken a woman politician to hospital and dismantled the tent where she observed a 12-day hunger strike to protest against being disqualified from parliament, officials said Friday.... NATO Says 115 Militants Killed in E. Afghanistan

Pakistan	Map of Pakistan
Pakistan Pushes Back Against U.S., Woos China Gunmen Kill 14 Shi'ites in Quetta, Pakistan US missile attack kills Haqqani member in Pakistan Hillary Clinton: US held meeting with Haqqani network	CIA contractor charged in Pakistan deaths arrested in Colorado Doctor Who Helped CIA Get bin Laden Faces Treason Charges 9 Pakistani Soldiers, 14 Taliban Killed in Clashes
Asia	Map of Asia
Groundwater flowing into Fukushima nuclear plant Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Tuesday it suspects that 200 to 500 tons a day of groundwater might be flowing through pits and wall cracks into reactor and turbine buildings US confirms $5bn Taiwan F-16 fighter jet upgrade Radioactive 'Hot Spots' Detected in Tokyo Japanese researchers discovered high levels of radioactive material in concentrated areas in Tokyo and Yokohama, more than 241 kilometers away from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plan North Korea Planned to Trade Nukes For Full Ties With US: WikiLeaks China rare earths supplier suspends production China's biggest producer of rare earths is suspending production for one month in hopes of boosting slumping prices of the exotic minerals used in mobile phones and other high-tech products. Police Break Up "Occupy Sydney" Protest in Morning Raid	U.S. Decides Against Selling F-16’s to Taiwan The Obama administration has decided not to sell F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan but instead to help it refurbish its existing fleet, prompting criticism in Congress that the United States is buckling to pressure from China. China detains Walmart store managers US retailer forced to close stores amid pork labelling probe Beijing intervenes to help stabilise banks Domestic arm of wealth fund to buy stakes in ‘big four’ banks China to control shadow banking and private lending The China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) has said it is looking to curb the rise of shadow banking and private lending in the country
Europe	Map of Europe
Women 'flown in from UK for Berlusconi sex parties' Germany bans neo-Nazi group aiding far-right prisoners Anti-Drug Tsar Says, ‘Plant Cannabis’ The country's top anti-drug official said Wednesday that a good way to boost the agricultural sector would be to cultivate plantations of cannabis. Ivanov said at least three Russian research institutes have cultivated 20 subspecies of "harmless," drug-free cannabis that could become the essential raw material used for seed oil, livestock feed, pulp for paper production and other products as in years past. Soros fails to quash insider trading conviction George Soros, the billionaire hedge fund manager, has lost a case at the European Court of Human Rights to have his criminal conviction for insider dealing quashed. Elderly patients condemned to early death by secret use of do not resuscitate orders Elderly patients are being condemned to an early death by hospitals making secret use of "do not resuscitate" orders Russia's Medvedev backs Putin for president	MPs summon Met police to explain bid to force Guardian to reveal sources (Re: Phone Hacking Scandal) French left captures Senate in setback for Sarkozy Church Slams ‘Licentious Conduct’ of Italian Elite The Italian Catholic Church has largely looked the other way when it came to ruling-class sex and corruption scandals, until this week. Spain nationalizes 3 banks after cash injections The Truth About Putin's 'Treasure Dive' The widely publicized incident in which Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin pulled up ancient Greek jug fragments from the seabed on a diving expedition was staged, his chief spokesman said. Netherlands plans to ban 'strong cannabis' Dutch government says it will move to classify high-potency cannabis alongside hard drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy. Protesters burn cars in Rome as 'Occupy' protests spread worldwide Rome has been rocked by the most violent protests it has witnessed for years as a demonstration against “corporate greed” turned into a riot.
Africa	Map of Africa
U.S. assembling secret drone bases in Africa, Arabian Peninsula, officials say At least 65 dead in Mogadishu blast: ambulance service Obama Sends 100 US Troops to Uganda to Combat Lord’s Resistance Army 2 hours ago · Two days ago President Obama authorized the deployment to Uganda of approximately 100 combat-equipped U.S. forces to help regional forces “remove from the battlefield” – meaning capture or kill – Lord’s Resistance Army leader	Tunisia Tunisian Police Use Tear Gas on Islamist Protesters TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisian police fired tear gas to disperse several thousand Islamists trying to force their way into the prime minister’s office on Friday, the biggest in a series of clashes that are overshadowing next week’s landmark election.
The Americas	Map of North America and South America
Mexico 35 bodies found in Mexican roadway during rush hour 2 severed heads found in Mexico City accompanied by message claiming to be from drug cartel Bolivia Bolivians rebuke Morales in judicial ballot Bolivian police break up anti-highway march Bolivia cancels controversial Amazon highway	Other Canada has best reputation in the world: study Offshore wind company sues (Ontario) province for $2.25 billion Offshore wind company sues province for $2.25 billion An Ontario offshore wind company is seeking $2.25 billion in damages from the provincial Liberal government after the province declared a moratorium on off-shore wind farms. Torture Victims’ Case Against George W. Bush Received in Provincial Court in British Columbia Venezuela Chavez to seize homes and hotels for the poor on idyllic Los Roques (Venezuela) Telecoms agency fines Globovisión for coverage of prison riot