The News Crawler

The News Crawler
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Last Update: Thursday, March 19, 2009

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Unlikely bedfellows in Afghanistan The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, of which Russia and China are key members and Iran is an observer, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are both to hold conferences on the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan Obama computer chief guilty of theft in 1996 President Barack Obama's new computer chief, already on leave after an FBI raid at his old job, turns out to have pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft in 1996 when he was 21 years old, court records show Shell says being investigated in U.S. bribery probe Royal Dutch Shell said it was under investigation by U.S. authorities for potential breaches of overseas bribery rules Guantanamo suspects may be tried on pre-9/11 charges Old terror case files are being dusted off as the Obama administration considers prosecuting high-profile Guantanamo Bay detainees in civilian courts, focusing on crimes allegedly committed before Sept. 11, 2001. It's a tactic that could allow the government to limit testimony about harsh, more recent interrogations and to avoid revealing sensitive intelligence about Al Qaeda.	US military says Iranian unmanned aircraft was illegal, but no one should be surprised An Iranian unmanned aircraft shot down by the U.S. military over Iraq was operating illegally and unsafely, but its presence should not come as a shock, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday. Judges To Decide Minnesota Senate Election The Senate contest in Minnesota is in the hands of a three-judge panel. The state has been without one of its senators for two months following an election that was so close, it triggered a statewide recount. The recount put Democrat Al Franken ahead of incumbent Republican Norm Coleman by 225 votes. GOP eyes Bush v. Gore for Coleman Some encourage Coleman to take his fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Dems Fuming Over White House Plan To Make Vets Pay For Service Injuries Military rape reports rise, prosecution still low More people came forward to report sexual assaults in the military last year, but a significant percentage wouldn't give crucial details needed for an investigation.
Connecticut
Conn. bill raises age for using assault weapon Connecticut lawmakers on Monday were considering a bill that would require someone to be at least 18 years old before handling a machine gun or assault weapon. Conn. officials settle airport improvement dispute A contentious dispute between New Haven and East Haven over improvements at Tweed New Haven Regional Airport has been settled. Conn. man charged with making bombs F-22 Cuts Would Wallop CT Connecticut could lose up to 3,000 UTC jobs if F-22 jets are discontinued. Conn. DEP concerned about syndrome killing bats	10-digit dialing starts in April in Conn. Lieberman, others lose Conn. eminent domain case The Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled against U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., and others in an eminent domain case in East Haddam. Gov. Rell: New UConn Hospital in Farmington is Unaffordable Bill advances to study highway tolls revenue State wants to give public more data on sex offenders
United States
'Suitcase cash' man jailed in US A Venezuelan is jailed for four years in the US for being an illegal agent involved in an $800,000 cash-in-a-suitcase scandal. Cop dispatcher fired for buying pot for sick aunt Marijuana was for sick aunt suffering from breast cancer, she says Shell says being investigated in U.S. bribery probe Royal Dutch Shell said it was under investigation by U.S. authorities for potential breaches of overseas bribery rules Guantanamo suspects may be tried on pre-9/11 charges Old terror case files are being dusted off as the Obama administration considers prosecuting high-profile Guantanamo Bay detainees in civilian courts, focusing on crimes allegedly committed before Sept. 11, 2001. It's a tactic that could allow the government to limit testimony about harsh, more recent interrogations and to avoid revealing sensitive intelligence about Al Qaeda. Report: Israeli defense official denied visa to U.S. Uzi Arad, who is in line to become Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu's chief of the National Security Council, is forbidden from entering the United States, according to a report in Tuesday's Washington Times Citi, Morgan Stanley look to sidestep bonus caps: report Anticipating restrictions on bonuses, officials at Citigroup Inc and Morgan Stanley are exploring ways to sidestep tough new federal caps on compensation, the Wall Street Journal said. Seventy-Three New Millionaires at AIG, as the Company Fails More details on those AIG bonuses are coming out, courtesy of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s pestering of the company for more information, The New York Times reports. Upset With AIG? How About Bailout Funds Supporting Tiger Woods, Europe's Soccer Stars? U.S. preparing integrated plan on Mexico drug war The U.S. government is working on an integrated plan to address Mexico's escalating war with drug traffickers and could complete work on the initiative as early as this week, a top U.S. military official said on Tuesday.	Mainstream media need to return to ideals after failures "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart's attack on the nation's business media and his blistering showdown last week with CNBC anchor Jim Cramer could be another nail in the coffin of the mainstream media. West Point grads form gay support group Thirty-eight graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., came out of the closet Monday with an offer to help their alma mater educate future Army leaders on the need to accept and honor the sacrifices of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender troops. EPA re-evaluates 'green club' for companies The Environmental Protection Agency is closing a program that drew complaints from environmentalists for cutting back on company inspections and regulations as a reward for voluntary controls on pollution. U.S. now has no takers for its spent nuclear bomb materials Duke Energy's contract to buy nuclear fuel made from bomb material has expired, leaving the government with a $4.8 billion fuel-making plant under construction with no takers for its product. Where There’s Smoke There are Taxes If you are a smoker, you can expect your wallet to become lighter as of April 1 unless you plan on cutting back. Pentagon says jobs not a factor in budget choices Defense Secretary Robert Gates will disregard possible job losses when deciding the fate of weapons programs and systems in the Pentagon's 2010 budget, a spokesman said on Tuesday. Missouri to waive sales tax April 19-25 for Energy Star-certified appliances Fox News Apologizes For Misleading Viewers With Old Clip Of Biden Gay-themed film cost Oklahoma teacher her job How an Electronic Medical Record Can Help Keep Your Family Healthy Military rape reports rise, prosecution still low More people came forward to report sexual assaults in the military last year, but a significant percentage wouldn't give crucial details needed for an investigation.
Madoffed
IRS To Allow Madoff Victims To Deduct Theft Losses

Science
Cattle respond to magnetic fields from power lines High-voltage power lines mess with animal magnetism. Researchers, who reported last year that most cows and deer tend to orient themselves in a north-south alignment, have now found that power lines can disorient the animals. Scientists on trail of physics' Holy Grail Scientists at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, the atom smasher in Batavia, Ill., are touting a milestone in the search for what has been called the Holy Grail of physics, the Higgs boson	Scientists create laser gun to kill mosquitoes Scientists in the U.S. are developing a laser gun that could kill millions of mosquitoes in minutes. The laser, which has been dubbed a "weapon of mosquito destruction" fires at mosquitoes once it detects the audio frequency created by the beating of its wings. Study: Cancer patients of faith more likely to get intensive treatments
Politics
Exclusive: U.S. Injecting Billions Into Foreign Central Banks Defense center consulted with Murtha advisers, sources say A Pennsylvania defense research center regularly consulted with two "handlers" close to US Representative John Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat, as it collected nearly $250 million in federal funding through the lawmaker, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post and sources familiar with the funding requests. A Q Khan's black N-market not closed yet: Democrat A US lawmaker who introduced a legislation in the US Congress last week to pressure Pakistan to allow US officials access to its rogue scientist A Q Khan, asserted that his black nuclear market has not been closed down yet completely. Reid to Try Again to Block Congressional Pay Raises Freeman 'insulted' by insinuations He denies he's anti-Semitic for pointing at the 'Israel lobby" for scuttling his appointment Cuomo Details Million-Dollar Bonuses at A.I.G. New York’s attorney general said the top payout was $6.4 million while six other employees received $4 million. Dems Fuming Over White House Plan To Make Vets Pay For Service Injuries Health care overhaul may cost about $1.5 trillion (AP) Freddie Mac: The Government's Next Black Hole?	Bill would let local governments raise taxes Sen. Terry Care, the assistant majority leader, wants to let local governments decide if they want to increase taxes. Judge criticizes Senate confirmation process The chief judge of the U.S. District Court in Washington on Monday said senators are "injuring the federal judiciary" by holding up nominations and making a political issue out of the clients represented by lawyers up for federal positions GOP eyes Bush v. Gore for Coleman Some encourage Coleman to take his fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Judges To Decide Minnesota Senate Election The Senate contest in Minnesota is in the hands of a three-judge panel. The state has been without one of its senators for two months following an election that was so close, it triggered a statewide recount. The recount put Democrat Al Franken ahead of incumbent Republican Norm Coleman by 225 votes. US House speaker Nancy Pelosi urges easing competition laws for newspapers Nancy Pelosi argues US anti-trust laws should be relaxed to keep news organisations viable The Phony AIG Bonus Scandal Outrage Sen. Menendez To Treasury: Investigate Morgan Stanley Bonuses Too
Obama
No More 'Enemy Combatants' -- But Is Obama Merely Rebranding Bush's 'War on Terror'? Obama chooses Indiana judge for US appeals court President Barack Obama on Tuesday nominated U.S. District Judge David Hamilton, a moderate, to serve on a midwestern federal appeals court as the administration begins to remake the federal judiciary Obama defends tackling many problems at same time	Obama wavers on pledge to declare Armenian genocide Obama taps Steelers owner as ambassador to Ireland Obama computer chief guilty of theft in 1996 President Barack Obama's new computer chief, already on leave after an FBI raid at his old job, turns out to have pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft in 1996 when he was 21 years old, court records show
Economy
Housing Starts Surge; Wholesale Prices Edge Up Cheaper gas can't last, analysts warn Oil up $2 as equities rise on housing data	Banks' Toxic Assets Rise 149 Percent Treasurys dip ahead of Federal Reserve meeting Treasury prices slipped Monday ahead of Tuesday's meeting of the Federal Reserve, sending the 30-year bond's yield to the highest level since November

Iraq	Map of Iraq
Monday: 1 US Soldier, 11 Iraqis Killed; 7 Iraqis Wounded ISI Commander in New Audio Message: Obama's Decision To Withdraw U.S. Troops From Iraq - An Admission of Failure; New Campaign Underway US military says Iranian unmanned aircraft was illegal, but no one should be surprised An Iranian unmanned aircraft shot down by the U.S. military over Iraq was operating illegally and unsafely, but its presence should not come as a shock, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday. FACTBOX-Military and civilian deaths in Iraq Iranians at Iraq camp allege abuse Members of an Iranian group say Iraqi forces have beaten and abused them as Iraqis move to expel the Iranians from a camp on Iraqi land Al Qaida reactivated Iraq sleeper cells following U.S. pullout announcement U.S. Moves to Replace Contractors in Iraq The decision not to renew Blackwater Worldwide's security contract in Iraq when it expires in early May has left the State Department scrambling to fill a protection gap for U.S. diplomats and civilian officials there Iraq beefs up pipeline security	Iraq to upgrade intelligence before US exit New deal for Blackwater Days after the Baghdad government decided it no longer wanted the company then known as Blackwater in Iraq, the State Department signed a $22.2 million deal in February to keep the embattled contractor working there through most of the summer, contract records show. Survey finds changes under way in executive pay A growing number of companies are freezing salaries, reducing bonus pools and making other major changes to their executive pay programs, a consulting firm reported Tuesday. US military contractor in Iraq accused of hacking girls' computers to coerce nude photos Iraq Inspector: U.S. Must Change Course It's not what U.S. taxpayers want to hear from the man charged with monitoring how their money was spent in Iraq: "Billions of dollars were wasted in the Iraqi reconstruction enterprise," said Stuart Bowen, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. Iraq govt calls for death sentences to be ratified Iraq's government on Tuesday called on the presidential council to ratify the death sentences against former officials from Saddam Hussein's regime so that the punishments can be carried out
Middle East
Hamas hardens stance in soldier release talks: Israel Israel accused Hamas on Monday of hardening its stance in Egyptian-brokered talks on exchanging hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for a captured Israeli soldier Israel could use ballistic missiles against Iran, study says Ballistic missiles could be Israel's weapon of choice against Iranian nuclear facilities if it decides on a pre-emptive attack and deems air strikes too risky Iran: Leading candidate vows Islamic-based reform Iran's leading reformist challenger to hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in upcoming elections vowed Tuesday to pursue democratic reforms but also stay true to the country's Islamic values Ergenekon's death wells	Iran's Khatami says out of presidential race Iran's former president Mohammad Khatami officially announced on Tuesday his withdrawal from the June presidential race to avoid splitting the votes of the reformist front. Murky Palestinian group says it's behind shooting An obscure Palestinian militant group is claiming responsibility for a West Bank attack that killed two Israeli police officers this week. But Israeli and Palestinian security officials are casting doubt on the claim. Suspect in alleged NY plot released in Lebanon A Lebanese man arrested three years ago on terrorism charges for allegedly plotting to blow up New York City commuter tunnels has been released on bail, Lebanese officials said Tuesday
Afghanistan	Map of Afghanistan
Murdered Afghan leader is buried Mr Khan was killed in a communist-inspired coup in 1978. His remains were found in a mass grave last year. U.S. says 7 Afghan militants killed in raid High-level call to leave a losing battle One of Australia's most distinguished former soldiers has called for Australia to withdraw its troops from an ''unwinnable'' war in Afghanistan.	Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan Unlikely bedfellows in Afghanistan The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, of which Russia and China are key members and Iran is an observer, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are both to hold conferences on the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan
Pakistan	Map of Pakistan
Pakistan to restore democracy in key province: PM The Pakistani government will restore democracy quickly in its biggest and politically most important province as part of reconciliation efforts, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Tuesday. Pakistan's Asif Ali Zardari may become a figurehead U.S. May Widen Strikes in Pakistan President Obama and his advisers are considering expanding the war in Pakistan beyond the tribal areas to strike at a different center of Taliban power. Airstrikes In Pakistan's Tribal Areas Legally Murky	Suicide bomber kills 8, wounds 17 in Pakistan At least eight people were killed and 17 others wounded in Pakistan when a suicide bomber blew himself up in front of a restaurant in the city. Officials said the suicide bomber was likely targeting a protest march that was due in Islamabad but was cancelled on Monday UK reportedly knew Britons were tortured in Pakistan The government knew two Britons facing criminal charges were tortured in Pakistan but did nothing to stop it, lawyers said on Tuesday, echoing allegations of official complicity in abuse of terrorism suspects overseas. Islamic-law judges start work in Pakistan valley
Asia
NKorea rejects US food aid China jails 2 ethnic minorities for protests Authorities in China's far west Muslim minority region have sentenced a man to 15 years in jail for organizing nonviolent rallies and another to eight years imprisonment for raising a separatist flag, an overseas advocacy group said Tuesday.	Bomb lobbed at police station in China's west North Korea fully reopens border Seoul's Unification Ministry says North Korea has agreed to let South Koreans back across the border to work at factories at a joint industrial zone in the north.
Europe
Turk faces terror charges in Germany Federal prosecutors in Germany say they have charged a Turkish citizen with terrorist-related offences. The 22-year-old is accused of supporting the Al-Qaeda-linked Islamic Jihad Union. This group is believed to have set up training camps for Islamist radicals along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.	Medvedev says Russia to rearm military as NATO expands The Guardian: Censored Barclays tax avoidance leaked memos, 16 Mar 2009
Africa
Nigerian rebels attack pipelines Nigerian oil militants attack a pipeline in the Niger Delta, the second attack in four days. The Pope’s Immoral Message on AIDS in Africa Military handed power in Madagascar	Arab League, Qatar: We Won't Extradite Al-Bashir Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa reported that Qatar and the Arab League are rejecting out of hand the International Criminal Court request to arrest and extradite Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir when he arrives in Qatar
The Americas
Rebels and Cocaine Revive an Old War in Peru’s Jungles The war against the Shining Path rebels, which took nearly 70,000 lives, supposedly ended in 2000, but it may be sparking back to life.