The News Crawler

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Last Update: Wednesday, September 23, 2009	Click here for Yesterdays Edition

World Headlines
Fires Swallow Newspaper Offices in Baghdad Fires erupted at the building of al-Bayyna daily in Baghdad issued by Hezbollah in Iraq. NYT Reports on Justice Dept. Charge That Blackwater Saw Killing Iraqis as Payback for 9/11 Iraqi predicts fraud in election A leading Iraqi Sunni legislator said Thursday that parliamentary elections scheduled for January will likely be rife with fraud and intimidation unless the United Nations monitors the vote and Iraq changes its electoral laws. Lawsuit Filed by Families of Iraqi Civilians Reveals New Details of Blackwater Shooting Incident U.S. forces shoot mentally handicapped person in Falluja Pat Tillman's First Mission Was Jessica Lynch Rescue Tillman said Lynch's rescue "screams of media blitz," Jon Krakauer book reveals. Attacks kill 16 in Mexican border cities Firefighters have found six bodies inside a burning car in Tijuana, and 10 people were killed in two separate shootings in another northern Mexican border town besieged by drug violence. Opposition mayor shot dead in western Venezuela Venezuela's federal police are investigating the shooting death of a mayor who was a member of the opposition to President Hugo Chavez. U.S. Commandos Reportedly Kill One Of FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists In Somalia President Barack Obama is reported to have signed an "Execute Order" for Nabhan ten days before the attack was launched.^[10] Britain 'may be forced to bail out tax havens' Britain could be forced to bail out one or more of its offshore tax havens at huge cost, according to early drafts of a Treasury report, because the economic crisis has wrecked their finances. Mafia 'sank nuclear waste ship' A shipwreck that could contain nuclear waste is being investigated by authorities in Italy amid claims that it was deliberately sunk by the mafia Gay Chinese stand up to police When the police descend on People's Park and shoo away the gay men gathered there, the men usually scatter to avoid trouble. But recently, about 50 or so confronted five officers and forced a police retreat. Pakistan outsources part of terror war to militia They wear their hair and beards long, Taliban style, and support attacks on U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan. Yet the fighters are tolerated and -- many believe -- backed by Pakistan because they share a common enemy: the country's most deadly terror network. Musharraf admits US aid diverted Former president Pervez Musharraf says US military aid to Pakistan during his tenure was used for defences against India. Karzai Accused of Using State Funds to Bribe Elders Ahead of Election Abdullah says Karzai bribed tribal elders between $4,000 and $8,000 each to throw the election to Karzai. one third of Karzai votes suspicious Graham, Lieberman, McCain call for more troops in Afghanistan	Missiles in Turkey traded for shield, diplomat says The announcement Thursday that the Obama administration is canceling missile defense deployments in Europe may be part of a trade that includes sending other missiles to Turkey. Group claiming al Qaeda links says it fired rockets into Israel A group claiming links to al Qaeda said on a militant website on Monday that it was behind the firing of two rockets from Lebanon into Israel last week, citing Israel's blockade of Gaza and preventing prayer at an East Jerusalem mosque as motives. Conference criticizes Israeli nukes A 150-nation nuclear conference on Friday passed a resolution directly criticizing Israel and its atomic program for the first time in 18 years. Iran hailed the vote as a "glorious moment. Saudi Interior Minister: I Regret That Most Bombers In Iraq Are Saudis Saudi Interior Minister Prince Naif bin 'Abd Al-'Aziz has expressed regret that most of the perpetrators of attacks in Iraq are Saudis, and that many Saudis from good families are joining the ranks of terror Saudi Sources: Seven Al-Qaeda Operatives In Iran The Saudi daily 'Ukaz has published the names and photos of six Al-Qaeda operatives, whom Saudi security sources say are in Iran. Pro-government senior cleric shot dead in western Iran A senior cleric who was a member of a top government body was shot dead in a Kurdish-populated area on Thursday, the second such killing in less than a week, state media reported. UN Human Rights Council to open first session with US as member Irish taxpayers pay billions to write off high-risk speculators' debts Irish taxpayers will hand over tens of billions of euros to the republic's banks in order to write off high risk loans owed to them by the country's builders and speculators SAS training soldiers from Libyan regime that provided explosives to IRA terrorists Special forces have been training Libyan soldiers under a Government deal with Colonel Gaddafi, despite his regime having funded many of the IRA’s worst attacks. Chinese 'assault' concerns spread Pro-China figures in Hong Kong express concern about alleged Chinese police attacks on Hong Kong journalists. Police: Pakistan suspect is Swede once at Gitmo A terror suspect recently detained in Pakistan is the same Swedish national once held by the U.S. at Guantanamo Bay, police said Monday. He and others in his group were allegedly trying to join al-Qaida in the country's lawless tribal areas. Osama Bin Laden in New Message: Stop the War Or We Will Continue to Fight You 'On All Possible Fronts' – Like We Did Against the USSR Until It Disintegrated; Our Weapon Is Our Patience Taliban makes IEDs deadlier The Taliban has been building simpler, cheaper anti-personnel bombs made of hard-to-detect nonmetal components, increasing the number of lethal attacks on NATO forces in Afghanistan, according to a confidential military report. Murtha To Obama: No More Troops
US Headlines
Secretive spending on US intelligence disclosed Intelligence activities across the U.S. government and military cost a total of $75 billion a year, the nation's top intelligence official said on Tuesday, disclosing an overall number long shrouded in secrecy. Baucus Health Care Bill Sticks To White House-Pharma Deal That Supposedly Was Never Struck C-section a pre-existing condition Pregnancy considered optional therefore not necessary to insure. FORMER Health Insurance Executive Explains HOW Companies POCKET BILLIONS Through ' RESCISSION ' New England Journal Of Medicine: Over 70% Of Doctors Back Public Health Care Option Too Much Religion Leads to High Teen Pregnancy Rates 'Explosive' Sibel Edmonds Cover Story at 'The American Conservative' There’s a new issue of The American Conservative going to press today, and it includes a story that will make more than a few congressmen and foreign lobbyists intensely uncomfortable: an in-depth interview between Phil Giraldi and FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmonds. She tells us exactly how Turkish intelligence have penetrated national secrets, suborned government officials, and blackmailed Congress. It’s going to be explosive. Report: FBI, ATF agents still feuding Agents of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are feuding over bomb investigations - racing each other to crime scenes, failing to share information and refusing to train together Cracker Barrel Attack: Tasha Hill Beaten In Front Of Daughter, Called Racial Slurs "The man slung open the door pretty hard and fast and I had to push my daughter out of the way. I turned to the man and I just said, 'Excuse me sir, you need to watch yourself you almost hit my daughter in the face.' And from there it just went downhill," said Hill. Is war on drugs worth it? Maybe not, new FBI data suggest. Many law enforcement officers now say the drug interdiction effort is costly and unsuccessful. The bulk of drug arrests in 2008 were for simple possession, almost half for marijuana. FBI report shows one drug bust in US every 18 seconds Study: More think news stories are biased Nearly 63 percent of Americans in Pew Research Center for the People & the Press study believe news stories are often inaccurate. In 1985, 34 percent of people thought so. Court Dismisses Torture Suit Against CACI International School officials in prayer case could get jail time Two Florida school administrators were due to appear in federal court Thursday to face contempt charges for saying a prayer at a school luncheon. Obama's CIA-on-Campus Program Shrouded in secrecy, "intelligence officer training" conflicts with universities' commitment to openness and free inquiry Previously Classified Interviews with Former Soviet Officials Reveal U.S. Strategic Intelligence Failure Over Decades 1995 Contractor Study Finds that U.S. Analysts Exaggerated Soviet Aggressiveness and Understated Moscow's Fears of a U.S. First Strike What Cooked the World's Economy? Imagine that a person is terminally ill. He or she would not be able to buy a life insurance policy with a huge death benefit. Obviously, third parties could not purchase policies on the soon-to-be-dead person's life. Yet something like that occurred in the financial world. WATCH: "Tea Party" Leader Melts Down On CNN -- Obama Is "Indonesian Muslim Turned Welfare Thug" Bill Moyers: Tea Party Organizer Is Epitome Of Privilege Here's the catch," Moyers says after showing video clips with protesters decrying "the lies" coming from the Obama administration. "Something these marchers who came to Washington at Armey's urging could hardly be expected to know. For most of his adult life, their leader has benefited from just the kind of government tax-supported health care he's fighting to keep them from having too." The Most Damning Internal Emails Of The Financial Crisis W.H. collects Web users' data without notice The White House is collecting and storing comments and videos placed on its social-networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube without notifying or asking the consent of the site users, a failure that appears to run counter to President Obama's promise of a transparent government and his pledge to protect privacy on the Internet. Dozens of Groups to Justice Dept: End Faith-Based Hiring Dozens of groups urge the Justice Department to end a Bush-era policy. Ron Paul: Federal government is 'one giant toxic asset'If you assume that any form of competition with the private sector is “socialism” than you are denying the American tradition of competition. What should have been done was what Franklin Roosevelt did, which was the seizing of do nothing, bum, corporations under chapter 11 of the US code. This made FDR's spending plan much different than Herbert Hoover's unpopular subsidies (bail outs.) Using a chapter 11 to convert the parts of the market that has been called the “zombie banks” into something useful that creates jobs is something the US code demands Police: Pakistan suspect is Swede once at Gitmo A terror suspect recently detained in Pakistan is the same Swedish national once held by the U.S. at Guantanamo Bay, police said Monday. He and others in his group were allegedly trying to join al-Qaida in the country's lawless tribal areas.	Senate votes to deny funds to ACORN....House votes to cut federal funding for ACORN However, approval of the House and Senate measures demonstrated the political fallout against ACORN after the recent release of videos that appeared to show the agency's employees condoning illegal actions. House Roll Call: How they voted on ACORN defunding Putting the ACORN smars in context.....Haiti kids home founder charged with sex abuse According to the indictment, Douglas Perlitz first traveled to Haiti as a student at Fairfield University and became inspired to build a school there.In 1997, he received a grant from the Roman Catholic Order of Malta to start a center to help street children, which grew into a boarding school for boys that provided meals, sports activities and classroom instruction, the indictment states. He allegedly enticed the nine boys with promises of food and shelter and with gifts such as cell phones and cash, the indictment states. ACORN CEO Bertha Lewis says "Where finally, people were thrown out in dozens of our Bertha Lewis, ACORN CEO, discussing the latest controversy surrounding her organization. ACORN Head Bertha Lewis Vows Action on Employee Misconduct, But Warns Group Targeted by "Modern-Day McCarthyism" Japan urges talks on US military base Japan considers revision of a deal with the US to relocate an air base to be a top priority, Tokyo's newly appointed foreign minister has said, in a sign of a more assertive foreign policy US shifts missile defense from Europe to Navy ships A sea-based defense offers more flexibility against changing threats, including from Iran, Pentagon officials say. It also avoids a debate with Eastern Europe. New York City Homes Raided In Terrorism Probe The raids came after an individual under surveillance for alleged links to al-Qaida came to New York City over the weekend and left the area, Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., said after receiving a briefing on the raids from federal law enforcement officials Monday. FBI Raids Denver Home of Terror Suspect....Denver Man Had Video of Manhattan Subways: Investigators Federal program uses syringes to deter drunk driving Rush Limbaugh: We need segregated buses Sotomayor Issues Challenge to a Century of Corporate Law During arguments in a campaign-finance case, the court's majority conservatives seemed persuaded that corporations have broad First Amendment rights and that recent precedents upholding limits on corporate political spending should be overruled. Insurance Company MUST PAY 10 MILLION Dollars For REVOKING Policy Of Teen With HIV The South Carolina Supreme Court has ordered an insurance company to pay $10 million for wrongly revoking the insurance policy of a 17-year-old college student after he tested positive for HIV. Republican National Convention Aftermath / Nun among 8 on trial for war protest China takes US trade spat to WTO Beijing complains to world trade body after US imposes new tariffs on Chinese tyre imports Banking crisis 'may happen again' British think-tank says problems at root of financial meltdown have not been addressed. Back To The 1940s? California's Unemployment Rate Hits Highest Point In Nearly 70 Years Elizabeth Warren: Why Was Detroit Bailout Treated Differently Than Wall Street Bailout? When poor lending practices brought the world's biggest banks and AIG to their knees, Washington delivered hundreds of billions in financial lifelines, with little to no restrictions. When car manufacturers in Detroit needed bailing out, Washington played hardball and made sweeping changes to the boards and management at both GM and Chrysler. Elizabeth Warren wants to know why two insolvent industries were treated so differently. Campaign To Audit The Fed Reaches Critical Mass In Congress Credit Default Swaps Making A Dangerous Comeback Credit-default swaps -- the financial instrument that helped bring down AIG and played a key role in causing the biggest financial crisis since the 1930s -- are, a year after the fall of Lehman Brothers, back en vogue on Wall Street, Bloomberg reports. Instead of being viewed as tools of financial disaster, CDSs are said to be contributing to the credit market's renewed confidence. UBS worker calls CDO 'vomit' in e-mail A UBS AG employee referred to asset-backed securities sold by the Swiss bank as "vomit" in an internal e-mail in 2007, according to a fraud lawsuit brought by Pursuit Partners LLC, a Stamford-based Measure to let guns on Amtrak passes Senate Major Obama Campaign Bundlers Nominated for Ambassador Posts in Australia, Luxembourg 9/11: Our Truth, and Theirs President Obama’s "green czar," one Van Jones, was recently pressured into resigning. His crime? He had once signed a letter originating with one of the "9/11 Truth" organizations calling for a new investigation of the terrorist attacks. No, he hadn’t declared that 9/11 was an "inside job," as some of the more flamboyant "truthers" assert: indeed, he hadn’t challenged any one specific aspect of the official story. All he had asked for was a new investigation – and once this got out (thanks to Fox News nut-job Glenn Beck), he was shown the door. 45,000 DEATHS LINKED TO LACK OF HEALTH INSURANCE "We're Losing More Americans Every Day Because Of Inaction Than Drunk Driving And Homicide Combined"
Connecticut
Senate smackdown: Wrestling exec to challenge Dodd in CT State changing its estate tax law Many wealthy Connecticut residents will no longer have to flee to Florida to avoid the Connecticut estate tax because of a new law enacted Sept. 8 Pratt, GE battle over F-35 contract Whitney said its proposal for the next batch of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter engines reduces costs by at least 10 percent from its previous lot as the unit of Pratt has no word on whether jobs will leave Conn. Pratt & Whitney says it's finished formal negotiations with the Machinists union but hasn't made a decision on the future of more than 1,000 employees in Connecticut. State plays role in new fuel standards Masonicare fined $26,600 over oil spill allowed to linger John McCain targets Urban Transitway funding The city has fallen on the radar of U.S. Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential candidate who campaigned on ridding the government of wasteful spending. 2 wounded in Bloomfield drive-by shooting Bloomfield police say gunshots fired from a car into a group of young men gathered in a driveway wounded two people, while a third person narrowly escaped injury Crossing the Line to Go To School A New Haven priest has been charged with larceny for allegedly sending his two kids to schools in a different district Conn. unemployment rate increases Labor officials say Connecticut's unemployment rate increased to 8.1 percent in August as the state lost 3,700 jobs, mostly in the hospitality, government and financial activities sectors.	Killing Of Yale Student Not A Random Act, Police Say Defense bill would give state a boost Billions of dollars in defense contracting work could be coming to Connecticut if federal lawmakers pass the 2010 Defense Appropriations measure that a U.S Senate subcommittee approved last week. The bill includes more than $4.3 billion in projects for Electric Boat in Groton, more than $3 billion for Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford, in excess of $13.4 billion for Pratt & Whitney and millions more for smaller companies that do work for the nation’s armed services. U.S. Sens. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Conn., announced the funding contained in the appropriations bill late Friday. 4 in running as U.S. attorney for state Four nominations for U.S. attorney for Connecticut, including a lecturer at Yale Law School, have been sent to President Barack Obama by the state’s two U.S. senators Lab technician is charged with murdering Yale grad student, held on $3M bail Eli Lilly Plans 5,500 Job Cuts Over Two Years Seeking to cut costs and bring new drugs to market more quickly as its best-sellers go off-patent, drug maker Eli Lilly & Co. said Monday that it will eliminate 5,500 jobs over two years and reorganize into five business units. Pratt Makes Demands: Pay Cuts, Wage Freezes Too Much For Union Pratt & Whitney has demanded deep pay cuts, wage freezes and other painful concessions from union workers as a condition for keeping more than 1,000 jobs in the state, according to documents obtained by The Courant. Mmmm: 20,000 Gallon Sewage Spill Untreated water was accidentally released into the Connecticut River 17,000 In CT Will Get More Aid If Jobless Rate Climbs Higher
United States
Charlie Sheen claims US government was behind 9/11 Previously Classified Interviews with Former Soviet Officials Reveal U.S. Strategic Intelligence Failure Over Decades 1995 Contractor Study Finds that U.S. Analysts Exaggerated Soviet Aggressiveness and Understated Moscow's Fears of a U.S. First Strike Letter found that led to Indians' 'Trail of Tears' Nearly 180 years ago, President Andrew Jackson handed a letter to a military officer with a message for two American Indian tribes: Leave Mississippi and Alabama, or else. Life Span Of African-Americans In New Orleans Now Rivals North Korea's Greed Wells Fargo Fires Exec for Squatting in Foreclosed Home Neighbors say banker partied in foreclosed home of Madoff victims. UBS Warns US Clients that IRS May Get Their Data U.S. clients of UBS have been warned by the bank that their undeclared income in Switzerland may be revealed to U.S. tax authorities, according to a letter obtained by Reuters on Friday. Drug War Heroin supply clinic 'cuts crime' A scheme where addicts get heroin in supervised clinics has led to big cuts in street drugs usage and crime, the BBC learns. Report: Top anti-drug official was 'secret ally of drug lords' In other words, Cramer, a key Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agent who worked in Guadalajara and Nogales, Arizona, was allegedly “a secret ally of drug lords,” reported The Los Angeles Times. Is war on drugs worth it? Maybe not, new FBI data suggest. Many law enforcement officers now say the drug interdiction effort is costly and unsuccessful. The bulk of drug arrests in 2008 were for simple possession, almost half for marijuana. FBI report shows one drug bust in US every 18 seconds Police/Prison Reality show aids arrest of police chief who allegedly sought child porn President and CEO of investment manager Rockefeller & Co. found dead in Mass. Cracker Barrel Attack: Tasha Hill Beaten In Front Of Daughter, Called Racial Slurs "The man slung open the door pretty hard and fast and I had to push my daughter out of the way. I turned to the man and I just said, 'Excuse me sir, you need to watch yourself you almost hit my daughter in the face.' And from there it just went downhill," said Hill. Sheriff disables 'sonic weapon' that could cause death PR man seeks $12 million for wrongful conviction A wrongfully convicted Puerto Rico man who spent eight months in maximum security prison for the 2005 slaying of a Canadian businessman has sued more than a dozen police officials and prosecutors for his ordeal, his lawyer said Thursday. Federal program uses syringes to deter drunk driving Ex-rape suspect: 'We were treated like animals' RI judge seeks probe of Woonsocket police Rhode Island's chief family court judge has asked the Woonsocket police department to investigate allegations that several officers beat up a teenager in a park and at police headquarters. NYC On Pace For Record-Low Number Of Homicides More New Yorkers are out of work, and the cash-strapped city isn't graduating a new class of police cadets this year. And yet crime is going down -- way down. Security Issues New York City Homes Raided In Terrorism Probe The raids came after an individual under surveillance for alleged links to al-Qaida came to New York City over the weekend and left the area, Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., said after receiving a briefing on the raids from federal law enforcement officials Monday. FBI Raids Denver Home of Terror Suspect....Denver Man Had Video of Manhattan Subways: Investigators Cell Phones on Planes: Why Not? Foreign governments allow cell phone use on planes; why won't the U.S.? Military robot 'hops' over walls New video footage has been released of a robot that can leap over obstacles more than 7.5m (25ft) high. NYC synagogue bomb defendants may claim entrapment US shifts missile defense from Europe to Navy ships A sea-based defense offers more flexibility against changing threats, including from Iran, Pentagon officials say. It also avoids a debate with Eastern Europe. Japan urges talks on US military base Japan considers revision of a deal with the US to relocate an air base to be a top priority, Tokyo's newly appointed foreign minister has said, in a sign of a more assertive foreign policy Border fence costs billions to maintain t will cost taxpayers $6.5 billion over the next 20 years to maintain the fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a government audit. Report: FBI, ATF agents still feuding Agents of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are feuding over bomb investigations - racing each other to crime scenes, failing to share information and refusing to train together US missile system's track record: test delays, failed launches, missed targets For a system designed to protect the country from nuclear oblivion, the US national missile defence project's history of failure has long raised eyebrows among scientists. 'Explosive' Sibel Edmonds Cover Story at 'The American Conservative' There’s a new issue of The American Conservative going to press today, and it includes a story that will make more than a few congressmen and foreign lobbyists intensely uncomfortable: an in-depth interview between Phil Giraldi and FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmonds. She tells us exactly how Turkish intelligence have penetrated national secrets, suborned government officials, and blackmailed Congress. It’s going to be explosive.	Education House Bill Would Kill Private Student Loans House Passes Sweeping Student Loan Mkt Overhaul Obama's CIA-on-Campus Program Shrouded in secrecy, "intelligence officer training" conflicts with universities' commitment to openness and free inquiry. School officials in prayer case could get jail time Two Florida school administrators were due to appear in federal court Thursday to face contempt charges for saying a prayer at a school luncheon. Courts Fugitive Ex-spy To Face Fraud Charge in US A former French spy, who escaped standing trial in the UAE by  allegedly fleeing in a rubber dingy, will be charged in a United States federal court in Southern Florida. Court Dismisses Torture Suit Against CACI International Court declares voter ID unconstitutional (Indiana) Death row inmate denied retrial despite judge-prosecutor affair All Detainees Not Equal Under Law Justice Dept. argues against giving Bagram detainees their day in U.S. court. Republican National Convention Aftermath / Nun among 8 on trial for war protest Court overturns firing of New Orleans police officer in beating A state appeals court has overruled the New Orleans Police Department's firing of an officer involved in a high-profile, videotaped altercation after Hurricane Katrina. Court declares voter ID unconstitutional (Indiana) Insurance Company MUST PAY 10 MILLION Dollars For REVOKING Policy Of Teen With HIV The South Carolina Supreme Court has ordered an insurance company to pay $10 million for wrongly revoking the insurance policy of a 17-year-old college student after he tested positive for HIV. Court Rules Against Halliburton: Gang Rape Wasn't A 'Workplace Injury Sotomayor Issues Challenge to a Century of Corporate Law During arguments in a campaign-finance case, the court's majority conservatives seemed persuaded that corporations have broad First Amendment rights and that recent precedents upholding limits on corporate political spending should be overruled. Police: No evidence Christian teen threatened A Florida law enforcement report has found no credible evidence that a teenager's father threatened to kill her for converting from Islam to Christianity. 'Soft Money' Rules Struck Down Appeals court says limits on campaign spending by nonprofit groups violate right to free speech. Media FOX Interviews "Acorn Pimp" In "Pimp" Costume Rush Limbaugh: We need segregated buses Colbert: Corporations Are People Too (VIDEO) Stephen disagrees. He thinks that corporations should be treated just like individuals: "Corporations do everything people do except breathe, die and go to jail for dumping 1.3 million pounds of PCBs in the Hudson River. Double Standard for Serena Williams Why is Roger Federer's on-the-court meltdown acceptable while Serena Williams's outburst is cause for a national apology tour? Study: More think news stories are biased Nearly 63 percent of Americans in Pew Research Center for the People & the Press study believe news stories are often inaccurate. In 1985, 34 percent of people thought so. FCC to Propose Net Neutrality Rule would prevent wireless companies from blocking Internet applications, source says. Environment U.S. military seeks to reduce reliance on toxic hexavalent chromium It is a highly toxic chemical that allegedly sickened National Guardsmen in Iraq and caused the legal battle that inspired the movie “Erin Brockovich.” Now, hexavalent chromium is in the U.S. military’s sights under a recent Pentagon order Controversial Bush smog rule under review EPA will look at the tougher standard its advisers proposed in 2008 WASHINGTON - The Obama administration said Wednesday it will review a controversial Bush-era smog rule, saying it might have fallen short of scientific recommendations. Leaked emails reveal deadly cover-up of dumped toxic waste Dangerous germs found on beaches CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO - Dangerous staph bacteria have been found in sand and water for the first time at five public beaches along the coast of Washington Birth Control Could Fight Climate Change Giving contraceptives to people in developing countries could help fight climate change by slowing population growth, experts say. Civil Rights UN Human Rights Council to open first session with US as member Naomi Klein on "Minority Death Match: Jews, Blacks and the 'Post-Racial' Presidency" There was a major boycott with the Obama administration refusing to attend, claiming the conference would unfairly target Israel. Critics say the controversy over Israel could have been an excuse to avoid dealing with the conference’s key issues, including addressing the legacy of slavery Forest Service apologizes to Hispanics The US Forest Service has apologized for suggesting that campers who eat tortillas, drink Tecate beer, and play Spanish music may be armed marijuana growers, calling it “regrettable’’ and “insensitive

Science	History Resources
Proton Energy Systems designs and manufactures proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrochemical systems to make hydrogen from water in a zero pollution process producing safe, pure, reliable onsite hydrogen to meet today’s global hydrogen requirements. Monkeys Obtain Full Color Vision With Gene Therapy Males with red-green colorblindness can distinguish the hues after gene therapy, study suggests.	Blind Woman Regains Sight After Doctors Implant Tooth In Her Eye A cosmic but too hot place to stand: Astronomers find first rocky planet outside solar system Too Much Religion Leads to High Teen Pregnancy Rates
Politics	Political Resources
Democrats now comprise majority of ‘most corrupt in Congress’ list Law Used to Indict Blagojevich Challenged as Vague Honest service law used to indict Blagojevich called too vague, faces Supreme Court challenge Key Blagojevich Aide Killed Himself, Rat Poison Found Nearby Small Airports For Private Planes Get Billions Of Tax Dollars Former top Ashcroft aide takes the fifth top aide to former Attorney General John Ashcroft claimed his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination Thursday in a trial related to the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. Senate votes to deny funds to ACORN....House votes to cut federal funding for ACORN However, approval of the House and Senate measures demonstrated the political fallout against ACORN after the recent release of videos that appeared to show the agency's employees condoning illegal actions. House Roll Call: How they voted on ACORN defunding Putting the ACORN smars in context.....Haiti kids home founder charged with sex abuse According to the indictment, Douglas Perlitz first traveled to Haiti as a student at Fairfield University and became inspired to build a school there.In 1997, he received a grant from the Roman Catholic Order of Malta to start a center to help street children, which grew into a boarding school for boys that provided meals, sports activities and classroom instruction, the indictment states. He allegedly enticed the nine boys with promises of food and shelter and with gifts such as cell phones and cash, the indictment states. ACORN CEO Bertha Lewis says "Where finally, people were thrown out in dozens of our Bertha Lewis, ACORN CEO, discussing the latest controversy surrounding her organization. ACORN Head Bertha Lewis Vows Action on Employee Misconduct, But Warns Group Targeted by "Modern-Day McCarthyism" Rep. Joe Wilson tied to racist southern heritage group Who are the SCV? A once-proud organization of Confederate history buffs and Civil War re-enactors that traditionally spent its money to restore battlefields and Confederate cemeteries. By 2006, however, the SCV had been substantially taken over by an organized cadre of white supremacists (read here for more background) who sought to turn the nation’s oldest Southern historical society into what the veteran white supremacy activist Kirk Lyons called “a modern, 21st century Christian war machine capable of uniting the Confederate community and leading it to ultimate victory,” had seized much of the SCV’s leadership positions, the Southern Poverty Law Center released an extensive list of SCV officials who belonged to “hate groups.” Bush Cabinet official target of corruption probe The Justice Department has launched an investigation into whether former Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton illegally used her position to steer lucrative oil leases to Royal Dutch Shell PLC, the company she works for now, officials with both departments confirmed to The Associated Press Obama Fuel Rules: Team Obama Details New Mileage Standards President Obama supports extending Patriot Act provisions Obama Warns Wall Street: 'History Cannot be Allowed to Repeat Itself' Former Czar Rove Criticizes Obama Czar ... GOP Rep. Admits They Didn't Question Bush's Czars House GOP Insanity: Anti-Czar Bill Gets 100 Cosponsors = Obama scraps Bush's European missile defense plan Major Obama Campaign Bundlers Nominated for Ambassador Posts in Australia, Luxembourg "Dancing With The Czars": Dems Mock GOP, Glenn Beck Over Czar Obsession 9/11: Our Truth, and Theirs President Obama’s "green czar," one Van Jones, was recently pressured into resigning. His crime? He had once signed a letter originating with one of the "9/11 Truth" organizations calling for a new investigation of the terrorist attacks. No, he hadn’t declared that 9/11 was an "inside job," as some of the more flamboyant "truthers" assert: indeed, he hadn’t challenged any one specific aspect of the official story. All he had asked for was a new investigation – and once this got out (thanks to Fox News nut-job Glenn Beck), he was shown the door. U.S. government sets up online 'app store' The Obama administration has unveiled a government "app store" designed to push the federal bureaucracy into the era of cloud computing. Justice: Reauthorize 3 Patriot Act tactics The Obama administration has recommended continuing three controversial Bush-era tactics to investigate suspected terrorists, according to a letter released Tuesday from the Department of Justice to a key lawmaker. Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, a Vermont Democrat who is chairman of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, received a letter from Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich in which the Justice Department asked Congress to reauthorize three portions of the Patriot Act that are set to expire at the end of the year. The three portions relate to roving wiretaps, seizing business records and monitoring suspected "lone wolf" terrorists. W.H. collects Web users' data without notice The White House is collecting and storing comments and videos placed on its social-networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube without notifying or asking the consent of the site users, a failure that appears to run counter to President Obama's promise of a transparent government and his pledge to protect privacy on the Internet. Dozens of Groups to Justice Dept: End Faith-Based Hiring Dozens of groups urge the Justice Department to end a Bush-era policy. Treasury/Federal Reserve/Bailouts/SEC/IRS Who's Regulating The Regulators? The Most Damning Internal Emails Of The Financial Crisis AP: Cuomo Is Preparing Charges Against Bank Of America Execs Vanity Fair: TARP funds black hole Treasury dumped billions, as Bush era waned, 'with- out even common sense Treasury: US economy needs indefinite life support Cuomo subpoenas 5 Bank of America board members over Merrill Lynch deal California AG Jerry Brown To Launch Investigation Into Rating Agencies' Role In The Financial Crisis Campaign To Audit The Fed Reaches Critical Mass In Congress Credit Default Swaps Making A Dangerous Comeback Credit-default swaps -- the financial instrument that helped bring down AIG and played a key role in causing the biggest financial crisis since the 1930s -- are, a year after the fall of Lehman Brothers, back en vogue on Wall Street, Bloomberg reports. Instead of being viewed as tools of financial disaster, CDSs are said to be contributing to the credit market's renewed confidence. UBS worker calls CDO 'vomit' in e-mail A UBS AG employee referred to asset-backed securities sold by the Swiss bank as "vomit" in an internal e-mail in 2007, according to a fraud lawsuit brought by Pursuit Partners LLC, a Stamford-based Financial commission starts recession inquiry The special commission charged by Congress to investigate the financial crisis got fully under way on Thursday as lawmakers vow to pass major new financial regulations this fall. SEC tightens grip on ratings agencies US securities regulators passed rules to tighten supervision of credit ratings agencies following a torrent of criticism over their role in the financial crisis Fed focuses on property exposure The US Federal Reserve is reviewing banks’ exposure to commercial real estate, the troubled sector whose slide poses a risk to many banks because of the wide distribution of loans and mortgage-backed securities across the sector. SEC and FSA to share data on hedge funds UK and US regulators took a step towards co-ordinated global financial regulation as they agreed they would ask hedge fund managers to report a common set of data to both countries	Health Insurance Sen. Snowe: Public option cannot pass Scare Tactics: Insurance Company Tells Elderly That Reform Means Cuts To Medicare New England Journal Of Medicine: Over 70% Of Doctors Back Public Health Care Option FORMER Health Insurance Executive Explains HOW Companies POCKET BILLIONS Through ' RESCISSION ' Insurers: C-section a pre-existing condition Pregnancy considered optional therefore not necessary to insure. Baucus Health Care Bill Sticks To White House-Pharma Deal That Supposedly Was Never Struck Sebelius: No abortion money in health overhaul ealth and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says the president supports language in health overhaul legislation that explicitly prohibits money for abortions.... How Republicans would overhaul the health care system People with disabilities left out of health care debate Many Americans who require the daily assistance of others to live in our homes and communities must turn to Medicaid for help covering the cost of that care. But first we usually have to impoverish ourselves just to become eligible.read more Defense Spending Gates restores Air Force authority in tanker deal Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday restored the Air Force's authority to select the winner of a $35 billion contract for aerial refueling tankers between Boeing Co. and Northrop Grumman Corp. Secretive spending on US intelligence disclosed Intelligence activities across the U.S. government and military cost a total of $75 billion a year, the nation's top intelligence official said on Tuesday, disclosing an overall number long shrouded in secrecy. House wants burn-pit curbs in defense budget Thirty-two members of the House of Representatives signed a letter Friday imploring the Senate to include an amendment in the final version of the 2010 defense authorization bill to restrict the military’s operation of open-air burn pits for waste disposal in the war zones.“Hundreds of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and service members are becoming sick and even dying from what appears to be overexposure to dangerous toxins produced by open-air burn pits used to destroy large quantities of waste,” 45,000 DEATHS LINKED TO LACK OF HEALTH INSURANCE "We're Losing More Americans Every Day Because Of Inaction Than Drunk Driving And Homicide Combined" Harkin: ‘Strong public option’ will pass by Christmas At his 32nd annual Steak Fry fundraiser, U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) was cheered by an enthusiastic crowd when he declared that a health care reform bill would pass both houses of Congress “by Christmas,” and that it would include a government-run, not-for-profit health insurance plan GITMO/Bahgram/CIA-Blacksites U.S. judge orders Kuwaiti held at Guantanamo freed Police: Pakistan suspect is Swede once at Gitmo A terror suspect recently detained in Pakistan is the same Swedish national once held by the U.S. at Guantanamo Bay, police said Monday. He and others in his group were allegedly trying to join al-Qaida in the country's lawless tribal areas. Hungary to accept one former detainee FBI chief vows to protect terror detainees from rendition Signaling a shift in the U.S.'s handling of overseas interrogations, FBI director Robert Mueller reassured Democratic lawmakers Wednesday that his agents would never turn over detainees to the CIA for rendition, despite the bureau's heightened role in the questioning of terrorism detainees. Delay sought in Guantanamo trials The Obama administration is seeking another two-month delay in a handful of key military commission trials of terrorism detainees, as two key senators said Wednesday they no longer believe Guantanamo Bay inmates will be transferred to Kansas. Senate Measure to let guns on Amtrak passes Senate Senators' Patriot Act 'fixes' would repeal telecom immunity Rangel writes his own rules Head of Congress’ powerful tax-writing committee fails to pay taxes or make required financial disclosures. House Jackson Jr., 2 others subjects of ethics inquiry A House ethics panel says it is investigating allegations against three lawmakers, including Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who allegedly launched a "public campaign" to be appointed to President Obama's former Senate seat in Illinois. Joe Wilson thinks his outburst was a "Town Hall Moment?" WT effin' F? Ron Paul: Federal government is 'one giant toxic asset'If you assume that any form of competition with the private sector is “socialism” than you are denying the American tradition of competition. What should have been done was what Franklin Roosevelt did, which was the seizing of do nothing, bum, corporations under chapter 11 of the US code. This made FDR's spending plan much different than Herbert Hoover's unpopular subsidies (bail outs.) Using a chapter 11 to convert the parts of the market that has been called the “zombie banks” into something useful that creates jobs is something the US code demands. Baraknaphobia Tea Party Activists Spreading Fake Photo Showing Big Crowd WATCH: "Tea Party" Leader Melts Down On CNN -- Obama Is "Indonesian Muslim Turned Welfare Thug" Reverse! Arlington ISD will not bus students to Bush speech Nope. They're sending fifth graders to see another president: former President George W. Bush, and his wife, Laura. Bush is speaking alongside several Dallas Cowboys players and prominent Texas business leaders. Senator's madam woes may be crimping anti-ACORN crusade Judge tosses 'birther' suit, threatens lawyer with sanctions Obama as witch doctor: Racism or satire? Posters portraying President Obama as a witch doctor may be racist, organizers of Tea Party protests say, but they reflect anger about where he is leading the country. Bill Moyers: Tea Party Organizer Is Epitome Of Privilege Here's the catch," Moyers says after showing video clips with protesters decrying "the lies" coming from the Obama administration. "Something these marchers who came to Washington at Armey's urging could hardly be expected to know. For most of his adult life, their leader has benefited from just the kind of government tax-supported health care he's fighting to keep them from having too." Hitler poster provokes Edmonds incident As a child in Armenia, Henry Gasparian witnessed firsthand the horrors of Nazi Germany. So when Gasparian, 70, saw a poster of President Obama with a Hitler mustache near the entrance to the Edmonds Farmers Market on Sept. 5, he admits that his reaction was "personal and emotional." Obama Heckled At Health Rally At a health reform rally in College Park, Maryland one attendee was escorted out of the building for heckling President Obama. Stimulus Senate Dem: End 'bottomless pit' stimulus projects Elizabeth Warren: Why Was Detroit Bailout Treated Differently Than Wall Street Bailout? When poor lending practices brought the world's biggest banks and AIG to their knees, Washington delivered hundreds of billions in financial lifelines, with little to no restrictions. When car manufacturers in Detroit needed bailing out, Washington played hardball and made sweeping changes to the boards and management at both GM and Chrysler. Elizabeth Warren wants to know why two insolvent industries were treated so differently.
Economy	Click for Economic Statistics
Even amid crisis, executive pay continues to rise Fuel costs push US prices higher What Cooked the World's Economy? Imagine that a person is terminally ill. He or she would not be able to buy a life insurance policy with a huge death benefit. Obviously, third parties could not purchase policies on the soon-to-be-dead person's life. Yet something like that occurred in the financial world. U.S. industrial output rises again, inflation tame U.S. industrial production rose for a second straight month in August, reinforcing views the recession had ended, while a spike in gasoline costs pushed up inflation. Back To The 1940s? California's Unemployment Rate Hits Highest Point In Nearly 70 Years SEC proposes banning ‘flash trading’ Regulators proposed banning "flash orders," which give some traders a split-second edge in buying or selling stocks	Blockbuster Will Close Up to 960 Stores US gold soars to 14-month high Consumer Prices Rise on Higher Gas Prices China takes US trade spat to WTO Beijing complains to world trade body after US imposes new tariffs on Chinese tyre imports. Banking crisis 'may happen again' British think-tank says problems at root of financial meltdown have not been addressed. Rise in construction of US homes The building of new homes in the US rose at its fastest rate in nine months in August, official figures show. Morgan Stanley Ups 2012 Oil Forecast to $105

Iraq	Map of Iraq
KBR Contractor Shot Dead At U.S. Base In Iraq; Soldier Held US TROOPS KILL FALLUJAH 'SHOE-THROWER' An Iraqi man who witnesses said shouted abuse before throwing a shoe at a US army vehicle was shot dead on Wednesday in what the American military said was a suspected grenade attack. Pat Tillman's First Mission Was Jessica Lynch Rescue Tillman said Lynch's rescue "screams of media blitz," Jon Krakauer book reveals. NYT Reports on Justice Dept. Charge That Blackwater Saw Killing Iraqis as Payback for 9/11 Iraq to Make Biofuels out of Rotting Dates Iran, Iraq Adopt Three Methods to Invest in Joint Oilfields Deadly Shooting Erupts in US Base Near Iraqi City of Tikrit A civilian contractor has been shot and killed on an American military base in the Iraqi city of Tikrit and a US soldier has been detained in connection with the incident. U.S. Army Arrests 3 People Suspected of Shelling Green Zone Fires Swallow Newspaper Offices in Baghdad Fires erupted at the building of al-Bayyna daily in Baghdad issued by Hezbollah in Iraq. 2 “Ansar al-Islam” Members Nabbed in Arbil Kurdish security forces arrested two members of Ansar al-Islam and seized a weapons cache of the group in Arbil, said a release issued Wednesday. .	U.S. forces shoot mentally handicapped person in Falluja 3 Arrested for Rocket Attack During Biden Visit US warned Black- water on killings Lawsuit: Company was warned about deadly incidents before massacre. US military shuts key jail in Iraq Al Maliki refuses Baath in reconciliation Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki stressed the necessity to proceed with national reconciliation noting that reconciliation does not include Baath Party since it is banned by the Constitution, he added. Displaced in Kirkuk exceed 10,000 families Iraq’s second deputy speaker Aref Tayfour called to return home all Arab families who displaced to Kirkuk in recent years due to violence mainly that Iraq is witnessing relative security now Lawsuit Filed by Families of Iraqi Civilians Reveals New Details of Blackwater Shooting Incident Four Killed in Turkey-Kurd Clashes Clashes between Turkish troops and PKK near the Iraqi Kurdistan border left four dead. Bombs kill 3 near Shia shrine in Baghdad Iraqi predicts fraud in election A leading Iraqi Sunni legislator said Thursday that parliamentary elections scheduled for January will likely be rife with fraud and intimidation unless the United Nations monitors the vote and Iraq changes its electoral laws.
Middle East	Map of the Middle East
Iran Arrests Children of Dissident Clerics Iran authorities prevent doctors from issuing medical certificates to protesters In Iran, reformist candidate Mahdi Karoubi charged that the authorities were preventing doctors from issuing medical certificates to protesters wounded during the post-election unrest. Karroubi said on his website that a military commander told the health ministry not to issue medical certificates Iran’s Montazari denounces trials The fifth trial of people accused of fomenting street unrest after the elections was held yesterday Monday in Iran. The official IRNA news agency said that six opposition activists stood trial in Tehran among whom Abdollah Momeni, a former student leader. Powerful Iranian cleric barred from delivering Quds Day prayers Ayatollah Rafsanjani, who supports the opposition movement, will be replaced by Ahmadinejad and an ally on the day of solidarity with Palestinians, reports say. Anti-government rallies are planned. Transcript: Interview with Iran's Ahmadinejad NBC News’ Ann Curry interviewed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the Presidential Compound in Tehran on Thursday. Read the transcript of the interview. Pro-government senior cleric shot dead in western Iran A senior cleric who was a member of a top government body was shot dead in a Kurdish-populated area on Thursday, the second such killing in less than a week, state media reported. Video: Clashes reported at Iran Quds day rallies Witnesses say security forces and supporters of the Iranian opposition have clashed in Tehran Former president Mohammad Khatami has been involved in a scuffle. The reformist website Parleman News blames the attack on the son of the editor of the hardline newspaper Keyhan. 'Nuke agency: Iran can make bomb' IAEA Conceals Evidence Iran Documents Were Forged The International Atomic Energy Agency says its present objective regarding Iran is to try to determine whether the intelligence documents purportedly showing a covert Iranian nuclear weapons program from 2001 to 2003 are authentic or not. The problem, according to its reports, is that Iran refuses to help meanwhile, secret intel reports to White House say the oppositeIntelligence Agencies Say No New Nukes in Iran Thousands March In Dueling Iran Protests Hard-liners attacked senior pro-reform leaders in the streets while opposition protesters, chanting "death to the dictator," hurled stones and bricks in clashes with security forces during the twin demonstrations Friday Amid Protests, Iran Leader Calls Holocaust a Myth EXCLUSIVE: UAE kept tight lid on disrupted terror plot Authorities in the United Arab Emirates earlier this year quietly broke up a major terrorist ring affiliated with al Qaeda that had plotted to blow up targets in Dubai - a banking hub that has long seemed immune to attacks by the terrorist group. The disruption in May of the previously undisclosed plot came at a sensitive time for the UAE, which months earlier concluded an agreement with the United States that would allow the U.S. to sell it nuclear reactor technology and nuclear fuel Crusading Spanish judge could join a war crimes case against Israel or Hamas	Israeli guards 'humiliated inmates' Palestinian women accuse Israeli guards of conducting degrading internal body searches. Group claiming al Qaeda links says it fired rockets into Israel A group claiming links to al Qaeda said on a militant website on Monday that it was behind the firing of two rockets from Lebanon into Israel last week, citing Israel's blockade of Gaza and preventing prayer at an East Jerusalem mosque as motives. Conference criticizes Israeli nukes A 150-nation nuclear conference on Friday passed a resolution directly criticizing Israel and its atomic program for the first time in 18 years. Iran hailed the vote as a "glorious moment. Gaza's Water Supply Near Collapse Israel frees Hamas West Bank political official IDF Draft dodgers speak at US colleges Campus advocates worry two Israeli women's tour will only fuel anti-Israel sentiments abroad IDF to remove 100 W. Bank roadblocks Egypt jails US couples for adoption Two couples jailed for trying to illegally adopt Egyptian children. Govt Enforcing Ramadan Fast Hundreds of Egyptians are reported to have been arrested for eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours as part of a police campaign against people caught breaking the Ramadan fast. Saudi Arabia Arrests Dozens Of Protestors Against Religious Oppression Saudi Interior Minister: I Regret That Most Bombers In Iraq Are Saudis Saudi Interior Minister Prince Naif bin 'Abd Al-'Aziz has expressed regret that most of the perpetrators of attacks in Iraq are Saudis, and that many Saudis from good families are joining the ranks of terror Saudi Sources: Seven Al-Qaeda Operatives In Iran The Saudi daily 'Ukaz has published the names and photos of six Al-Qaeda operatives, whom Saudi security sources say are in Iran. Refugees killed in Yemen air raid Lebanon convicts 5 Palestinians for armed attacks Lebanese TV journalist charged with slandering judge Jumblatt: Iran, Saudi Arabia should arm Lebanon Druse leader says Lebanon should turn to Iran for arms against Israel, calls for Iran-Arab unity. Watchdog alarmed by Turkish media fine a n international watchdog says the Turkish government's decision to impose an "unprecedented" penalty on the country's largest media group is alarming. Turkey approves Kurdish studies A Turkish university will for the first time teach the Kurdish language, which was banned nationwide until 1991. Missiles in Turkey traded for shield, diplomat says The announcement Thursday that the Obama administration is canceling missile defense deployments in Europe may be part of a trade that includes sending other missiles to Turkey.
Afghanistan	Map of Afghanistan
Graham, Lieberman, McCain call for more troops in Afghanistan Murtha To Obama: No More Troops Bagram Detainees Win Right To Challenge Detention Military Chief Says More Troops Needed for Afghan War Huge explosion rocks Afghan capital At least nine people dead, including six Italian soldiers, in Kabul suicide blast. Drugs suspected in death of Afghanistan contractor A U.S. contractor in Afghanistan helping train the national police was found dead last week of a possible drug overdose, just months after his company was reprimanded by the State Department for another worker's drug-related death. Car bomb targets NATO vehicle, at least six dead Obama: No Quick Decision on Afghan War Illiteracy undermines Afghan army Why we need to buy off the Taliban CIA director: Karzai appears to have won CIA Director Leon Panetta says Afghan President Hamid Karzai appears to have won re-election despite charges of fraud and corruption in the vote. Video: Evidence of election rigging in Afghanistan Exclusive footage obtained by the Guardian of ballot papers pre-marked for Hamid Karzai that were seized by monitors Afghanistan is 'gold standard for quagmires' Five U.S. troops among 50 killed in violence	Karzai Accused of Using State Funds to Bribe Elders Ahead of Election Abdullah says Karzai bribed tribal elders between $4,000 and $8,000 each to throw the election to Karzai. one third of Karzai votes suspicious Karzai unlikely to claim Afghan election victory soon ...Karzai supports vote inquiry, but rejects EU claims of ‘massive fraud’ The Final Count? Karzai With 54 Pct Full Afghan vote tally shows Karzai at 54 percent; fraud probes pending. Afghanistan Blast Kills 3 U.S. Soldiers Afghan airstrikes decrease, firefights rise Berlusconi evokes Afghan exit after soldiers' death Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says Italy wants to bring home its more than 3,000 troops stationed in Afghanistan “as soon as possible” and is already planning a “strong reduction”. A suicide blast killed six Italian soldiers earlier today. Suicide car bomb kills 16, wounds dozens in Afghan capital Taliban gain power in city key to Afghan politics Slow, quiet fall of Afghanistan's second-largest city challenges NATO's efforts to stabilize the region. Afghans losing faith in democracy Taliban makes IEDs deadlier The Taliban has been building simpler, cheaper anti-personnel bombs made of hard-to-detect nonmetal components, increasing the number of lethal attacks on NATO forces in Afghanistan, according to a confidential military report. The shift in the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) away from larger anti-armor bombs has allowed the Taliban to produce more weapons and hide them in more places as they strive to kill larger numbers of American forces in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province and other contested regions. The change in production from metal-dominated explosives to devices made of plastic is making it more difficult

Pakistan	Map of Pakistan
'Bin Laden' message harangues US India-Pakistan rocket row erupts Indian troops fire across border after a series of rockets land in their territory. Bomb claims lives in Indian Kashmir Pakistan outsources part of terror war to militia They wear their hair and beards long, Taliban style, and support attacks on U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan. Yet the fighters are tolerated and -- many believe -- backed by Pakistan because they share a common enemy: the country's most deadly terror network. Musharraf admits US aid diverted Former president Pervez Musharraf says US military aid to Pakistan during his tenure was used for defences against India. PAKISTAN: Army claims capture of Taliban commander in Swat Pakistan's military says it has captured Taliban commander Sher Muhammad Qasab in the Swat valley. It is the third high-profile arrest announced in five days and part of Islamabad's continuing campaign to regain control of the north-western district. Suicide bomb destroys hotel, kills 29 in Pakistan A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a hotel in a northwest Pakistan market on Friday, killing 25 people	Osama Bin Laden in New Message: Stop the War Or We Will Continue to Fight You 'On All Possible Fronts' – Like We Did Against the USSR Until It Disintegrated; Our Weapon Is Our Patience Pakistan: Air drone attack kills 4 Islamist militants Pakistani officers said that 4 Islamist militants at least were killed on Monday with a US rocket North West the country. Senior officials in the Army and Security Services said that the rocket launched by a pilot-less air drone fell Monday morning on a vehicle that was roaming in a village Police: Pakistan suspect is Swede once at Gitmo A terror suspect recently detained in Pakistan is the same Swedish national once held by the U.S. at Guantanamo Bay, police said Monday. He and others in his group were allegedly trying to join al-Qaida in the country's lawless tribal areas. Pakistan giveaway becomes deadly stampede Fourteen women were killed Monday in a stampede during a flour giveaway in the Pakistani city of Karachi, police said. Guard at Pakistani oil terminal slain by attackers Christian’s jail death sparks Pakistan clashes Pakistani Christians clashed with security forces Wednesday at the funeral of a Christian man who police said hanged himself in jail while being held on accusations he defiled the Muslim holy book.
North&South Asia	Map of Asia
Chinese 'assault' concerns spread Pro-China figures in Hong Kong express concern about alleged Chinese police attacks on Hong Kong journalists. Beijing birth defects rise again Beijing sees another rise in birth defects, mirroring increases elsewhere in China, amid fears pollution is to blame. Rebels accuse Indian intelligence Thirty-four Burmese separatists facing trial in India on gun-running charges accuse Indian intelligence of double-crossing them. U.S. returns stolen fossils to China Hollywood producers are guilty of bribing Thai official Gay Chinese stand up to police When the police descend on People's Park and shoo away the gay men gathered there, the men usually scatter to avoid trouble. But recently, about 50 or so confronted five officers and forced a police retreat. The Killings of Five Reporters Return to Haunt Australia -- and Indonesia Australia's Federal Police decide to open a war crimes investigation into the deaths of the so-called Balibo Five in a remote East Timorese village 34 years ago. Did a new movie push them to act now?	China needle attacks 'not toxic' No evidence is found that any of the alleged victims of recent needle attacks in China's Xinjiang province were poisoned. New law 'closes' Vietnam think tank Vietnam's only independent think tank disbands due to a new government decree which would severely curtail its activities. China says Xinjiang bomb operation uncovered Chinese security forces uncovered a bomb-making operation in the volatile western region of Xinjiang, foiling plans to carry out attacks including suicide bombings, police said Wednesday. South Korea holding Uighur activist at airport Immigration officials stopped an ethnic Uighur activist from Germany from entering South Korea and have been holding him at an airport since early this week, officials said Thursday. Terror leader Noordin Top dies in Indonesian raid, police say He was believed to be responsible for bombings that killed scores of Westerners and Indonesians in Bali and Jakarta.
Europe	Map of Europe
Nestle threatens to leave Switzerland The world's biggest food company Nestle could leave its homebase Switzerland if Bern imposes a cap on executives' salaries, the group's chairman said in remarks published Sunday. Suicide bomber strikes in Chechnya Spain urged to end detention law Spain must stop holding suspects without access to lawyers of their choice and without informing their families, activists say. UK labor unions approve Israeli goods boycott British labor unions agreed Thursday to support a boycott of some Israeli goods in response to the offensive in Gaza. Stalin grandson in court fight to clear dictator's name Sitting in his front room at home in Moscow, surrounded by shelves of books on 20th-century history, Leonid Zhura recounts how life was better under Stalin. "It was a heroic epoch. It was the first time in human history that a society was founded on fair principles," he says, adding that Stalin did not commit any crimes. Female suicide bomb attack in Grozny targets police At least two police officers were injured when a female suicide bomber self-detonated in an attack targeting the main thoroughfare of Chechnya's capital Grozny, known as Putin Street after the Russian prime minister. New law blocks Scientology from being dissolved A new French law means the Church of Scientology cannot be dissolved in France even if it is convicted of fraud, it has emerged during a trial of the organisation Belgian farmers dump milk in price protest Belgian farmers sprayed 790,000 gallons of fresh milk onto their fields Wednesday, furious over the low milk prices they say are bankrupting farmers. Britain 'may be forced to bail out tax havens' Britain could be forced to bail out one or more of its offshore tax havens at huge cost, according to early drafts of a Treasury report, because the economic crisis has wrecked their finances.	Mafia 'sank nuclear waste ship' A shipwreck that could contain nuclear waste is being investigated by authorities in Italy amid claims that it was deliberately sunk by the mafia Gazprom concern at Ukraine bill The head of Russian gas giant Gazprom expresses concern Ukraine might not be able to pay its gas bills beyond 2010. Medvedev won't rule out new term Russia's President Medvedev refuses to rule out running for a second term in office, Russian news agencies report. SAS training soldiers from Libyan regime that provided explosives to IRA terrorists Special forces have been training Libyan soldiers under a Government deal with Colonel Gaddafi, despite his regime having funded many of the IRA’s worst attacks. Deadly Russian base fire also burns secret papers Google's camera not exactly welcome in English town French banks say capital plans ‘unfair’ French bankers have warned that European financial institutions will be unfairly penalised compared with US competitors by new capital requirement rules on the agenda at the G20 summit of leading industrial nations this month 'Jews harvesting Algerian kids' organs' Algerian newspaper report is spreading like wildfire across Muslim and anti-Semitic Web sites. Russia to develop S-500 air defense system soon: air force commander Irish taxpayers pay billions to write off high-risk speculators' debts Irish taxpayers will hand over tens of billions of euros to the republic's banks in order to write off high risk loans owed to them by the country's builders and speculators NATO Urges Linked US/Russia/NATO Defense
Africa	Map of Africa
Foreign Troops Attack Somali Militants The earlier reports said the troops wore uniforms with French insignia, and had attacked a vehicle carrying Islamists from the al-Shabab group. A French military spokesman denied his country's forces were involved. U.S. Commandos Reportedly Kill One Of FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists In Somalia President Barack Obama is reported to have signed an "Execute Order" for Nabhan ten days before the attack was launched.^[10]	WFP to shut Somalia food centres The World Food Programme is closing 12 feeding centres for mothers and children in Somalia due to lack of funds. Suicide blasts hit Somalia base At least 16 people are killed after two suicide attacks on an African Union peacekeepers' base in the Somali capital.
The Americas	Map of North America and South America
Oilsands emit more than entire countries: report Alberta's oilsands produce more greenhouse gas emissions than some European countries right now and will produce more than all of the world's volcanoes in just 11 years if the pace of development continues, a new report says. Canada introduces bill supporting US deserters Canadian Parliament will consider a bill introduced Thursday that would allow American and other war resisters to stay in Canada. Blacks in Mexico: A Forgotten Minority Mirroring Mexico's history itself, most of Yanga's Afro-Mexican population has been pushed to neighboring rural villages that are notable primarily for their deep poverty and the strikingly dark skin of their inhabitants. Mexico's independence from Spain and new focus on building a national identity on the idea of mestizaje, or mixed race, drove African Mexicans into invisibility as leaders chose not to count them or assess their needs. Now many blacks want to fight back by improving the shoddy education and social services available to them and are petitioning for the constitution to recognize Afro-Mexicans as a separate ethnic group	Russia lends Chavez $2bn for arms Venezuelan president says deal includes 92 tanks and S-300 surface-to-air missiles. Cuba angry as embargo goes on Says 'no concessions' to US as Obama extends embargo for one year. Canadian Aboriginals receive body bags for flu Health officials ordered an investigation Thursday into why the Canadian government sent body bags to an Aboriginal reserve in Manitoba after community leaders requested assistance to deal with an expected outbreak of swine flu Chavez signs $16 billion oil deal with China Attacks kill 16 in Mexican border cities Firefighters have found six bodies inside a burning car in Tijuana, and 10 people were killed in two separate shootings in another northern Mexican border town besieged by drug violence. Opposition mayor shot dead in western Venezuela Venezuela's federal police are investigating the shooting death of a mayor who was a member of the opposition to President Hugo Chavez.