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Morning headlines brought to you by Carolyn Kay MakeThemAccountable.com Top Story 7 GOP senators back war debate
Senate Republicans who earlier this week helped block deliberations on a resolution opposing President Bush's new troop deployments in Iraq changed course Wednesday and vowed to use every tactic at their disposal to ensure a full and open debate. Pablo on Politics
The WorldSecurity crackdown in Iraq; bomb kills 15
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Baghdad's streets were electric with tension Wednesday as U.S. officials confirmed the new security operation was under way. U.S. armor rushed through streets, and Iraqi armored personnel carriers guarded bridges and major intersections.
Shooting erupts on Israel-Lebanon border
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanese troops deployed along the border with Israel opened fire late Wednesday as Israeli troops searched for Hezbollah bombs, drawing retaliatory fire, officials from both sides said.
Palestinian factions to resume talks
MECCA, Saudi Arabia - Rival Palestinian factions were headed into a second full day of talks Thursday focusing on the composition of a coalition Cabinet and what commitments the West would require to lift its financial boycott of a government involving the militant group Hamas.
Alliance split over Iran nuclear defiance
VIENNA, Austria - Europeans are accusing Americans of strong-arming them into cracking down on Iran in the latest trans-Atlantic conflict straining efforts to maintain a joint front on Tehran and its refusal to freeze uranium enrichment.
NATO chief to urge allies to boost Afghan fight
SEVILLE, Spain (Reuters) - NATO's top operational commander will urge the alliance on Thursday to step up efforts to crush an expected Taliban offensive in Afghanistan but many allies remain reluctant to come forward, officials said.
Russia plans military buildup
Russia s defense minister on Wednesday laid out an ambitious plan for building new intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear submarines and possibly aircraft carriers and set the goal of exceeding the Soviet army in combat readiness.
NKorea ready to discuss nuke disarmament
BEIJING - North Korea expressed readiness Thursday to discuss initial steps of its nuclear disarmament, raising hopes for the first tangible progress at international talks on Pyongyang's atomic weapons program since they began more than three years ago.
Zimbabwe meltdown wrongly attributed to sanctions: US envoy
HARARE (AFP) - Zimbabwe is using Western sanctions imposed on President Robert Mugabe and his coterie as a convenient excuse to explain its economic meltdown, the US ambassador to Harare has said. The NationDems take simple tack on Iraq war debate
WASHINGTON - House Democratic leaders are considering a straightforward approach to next week's Iraq war debate, planning a short and simple measure opposing President Bush's decision to send more forces into combat.
Pentagon Underreporting War Injuries?
Veterans groups and presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama say the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs are deliberately leaving non-combat injuries off casualty tallies for Iraq and Afghanistan.
War objector's court-martial ends in mistrial
FORT LEWIS, Washington (Reuters) - A military judge declared a mistrial on Wednesday for the court-martial of a U.S. Army officer who publicly refused to fight in Iraq and criticized the war.
Senators examine home foreclosure surge
WASHINGTON - With home foreclosures surging, senators on Wednesday examined lending practices that especially hurt minorities and seniors and can heighten the risk of default.
Senator wants probe into Fla. election
SARASOTA, Fla. - Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Wednesday called for an investigation into the electronic touch-screen voting machines used in a disputed congressional race in Florida.
Tim Russert Contradicts Libby's Testimony
NBC newsman Tim Russert testified he never discussed a CIA operative with vice presidential aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, contradicting Libby's version to a grand jury in the CIA leak investigation.
CIA leak trial summary
A summary of testimony from witnesses in the obstruction and perjury trial of former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby:
25 Most Corrupt Members of the Bush Administration
CREW found and documented more than more than 160 cases of misconduct over the last six years and then narrowed the list based on type of offense, the official’s level of responsibility and the impact on the public trust. The majority of the officials in the report have been convicted of crimes, are currently under criminal investigation, or are being investigated by the inspector generals of their respective agencies.
New initiative: No children? Then no marriage
Proponents of same-sex marriage have introduced an initiative that would require heterosexual couples to have children within three years or else have their marriages annulled.
Well, right wingers keep telling us that the only valid purpose for marriage is having children. —Caro Economy & BusinessNasdaq ends up on Cisco, oil curbs Dow, S&P
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Nasdaq Composite Index booked its second straight day of gains on Wednesday as solid earnings from Cisco Systems Inc. increased the allure of technology stocks.
Productivity gains sharply in 4th quarter
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. business productivity rose at a much stronger-than-expected 3.0 percent annual pace in the fourth quarter while unit labor costs moderated, in good news for the inflation-wary Federal Reserve.
Consumer borrowing slows in December
WASHINGTON - Consumers increased their borrowing at a more modest pace in December as credit card debt increased at the slowest rate in nine months.
Developing nations poised to challenge USA as king of the hill
Globalization long has been regarded as a made-in-America phenomenon, driven by Silicon Valley's technology, Hollywood's movies and Wall Street's cash. But suddenly, countries formerly on the periphery of world events seem poised to challenge American dominance of this age of global integration. MediaMalkin, writer of "mean-spirited rantings," accused Edwards bloggers of "foul-mouthed nutroots diatribes"
As Media Matters for America has noted, The New York Times and the Associated Press have both reported criticism by Catholic League president Bill Donohue of two bloggers hired by John Edwards' presidential campaign; Donohue contends that the bloggers are "anti-Catholic, vulgar, trash-talking bigots." Much of the controversy surrounding the hiring of the bloggers, Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwan, began on conservative weblogs, including that of Michelle Malkin, who wrote about the hiring starting as early as February 3.
Scooter Libby and the media debacle
As special counsel in charge of investigating the Valerie Plame CIA leak, and now the lead prosecutor in D.C. federal court methodically laying out the damning evidence of perjury, obstruction, and lying against Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, Fitzgerald has consistently shown more interest -- and determination -- in uncovering the facts of the Plame scandal than most Beltway journalists, including the often somnambulant D.C. newsroom of The New York Times.
When Will Media Deeply Probe Corruption in Iraq Contracts?
Joe Galloway on the latest news: 363 tons of $100 bills blown to Baghdad, $12 billion in cash, and we don't even know where it went. When will the "gag-reflex" finally set in and bring down the crooked and incompetent contractors, greedy defense corporations and Iraqi crooks?
Bush Releases Budget Aimed to Erase Deficit
The Washington correspondent's latest transmittal of Bush economy PR to Times readers—under the White House dream-headline "Bush Releases Budget Aimed to Erase Deficit"—says the spending proposals address "the need to spend what it takes to succeed in Iraq and in the broader struggle against terrorism and the necessity of reining in spending on much of the rest of what government does." That's a great rendition of what Republicans always say, but has Bush ever reined in spending, or tried to? According to more reality-based reporting at Stolberg's own paper, the answer is no
Suggestion: Make Tribune pay for Goldberg's bad prediction
Jonah Goldberg bet $1,000 in 2005 "that Iraq won't have a civil war, that it will have a viable constitution, and that a majority of Iraqis and Americans will, in two years time, agree that the war was worth it." Two years is up and Jeff Cohen wants Tribune to pay the $1,000. "Not only does Tribune syndicate Goldberg's column, it was Tribune's Los Angeles Times that added the analytically-impaired Goldberg to its columnist roster in November 2005 -- at the same time it fired renowned columnist Robert Scheer, whose Iraq analysis had been breathtakingly accurate."
Rumors Abound: Buffett Buying Newspaper Stocks?
Investment guru Warren Buffett is reportedly scooping up newspaper stocks, including shares of The New York Times Co. Shares of the Times and Gannett rose today because of the rumors, Bloomberg reported.
Chicago real estate magnate Zell shows interest in Tribune
Sam Zell has approached Tribune with a complicated proposal that may include taking an equity stake in the company while adding debt to fund a large dividend for shareholders, report Michael Oneal and Becky Yerak. "It's short of making a bid and more 'Would you be interested in doing XYZ?'" a source tells them.
GREEN TOPS IN AIR AMERICA FIRE SALE
February 8, 2007 -- Real estate tycoon Steve Green has won a bankruptcy fire sale to buy liberal radio network Air America for $4.25 million, but he isn't taking on any obligation to cover a bounced $360,749 paycheck to star commentator Al Franken
Bush Proposes Steep Cut to PBS Funding
News that Bush is "reopening the fight over government support of public television, unveiling a...budget that would cut federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting by nearly 25 percent," comes as no surprise to the CEO of the Association of Public Television Stations, who calls it "more of the same," while "noting previous requests to cut funding for public TV, most of which were overturned by Congress."
Simpson barred from spending "If I Did It" money
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A Los Angeles judge on Wednesday barred O.J. Simpson from spending, at least for now, the advance for his aborted book "If I Did It" about the murders of his ex-wife and her friend. Superior Court Judge Gerald Rosenberg's ruling broadens a January restraining order sought by the father of murder victim Ron Goldman and marks the latest twist in an ongoing legal fight over the reported $1 million advance. Technology & ScienceMobile ESPN to relaunch through Verizon
NEW YORK - ESPN is relaunching its shuttered cell phone service through Verizon Wireless, this time delivering its flashy feed of sports scores, news and video highlights through a top industry player instead of competing for subscribers with its own full-blown wireless brand.
Google and cable firms warn of risks from Web TV
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - New Internet TV services such as Joost and YouTube may bring the global network to its knees, Internet companies said on Wednesday, adding they are already investing heavily just to keep data flowing.
Music industry group fires back at Apple
LOS ANGELES - A recording industry group fired back Wednesday at Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs, suggesting his company should open up its anti-piracy technology to its rivals instead of urging major record labels to strip copying restrictions from music sold online.
Despite lawsuits, digital music downloads grow
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Despite success in suing people who download music illegally and in reaching deals with personal networking sites like YouTube, the music industry is still bleeding millions of dollars in sales to online piracy.
Nokia to roll out free mobile map service
HELSINKI (Reuters) - The world's top cellphone maker Nokia will open a new service on February 10 offering free maps and routing in more than 150 countries, the Finnish company said on Thursday.
Bloggers Rail Against Proposed N.Y. iPod Fine
It'll cost you to cross the street while booging to your iPod, chatting on the phone or checking email.
Microsoft to put Office in Win Mobile 6
San Francisco (InfoWorld) - For business users who want Microsoft Office on their cell phones, Windows Mobile 6, the upcoming version of Redmond's mobile operating system to be unveiled next week, will be a must-have upgrade.
Secrets Of The DoS Root Server Attack Revealed
Security experts say possibly millions of zombie computers were used in Tuesday's attack on the Internet's 13 root servers. But the attack didn't work because people had been planning for it for years.
Hackers attack every 39 seconds
A new study, which investigated how exactly hackers crack computers, confirms those regularly issued warnings about password vulnerability.
Gadget toilet made for modern kings and queens
SINGAPORE, Feb 7 (Reuters Life!) - Think you deserve a throne? A U.S. plumbing firm has created a luxury toilet equipped with laptop computer and flat-screen TV which it plans to give away in an online sweepstake.
Why successful people snap
Psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow speculates that the astronaut charged with first-degree attempted murder 'lost perspective'
Website shows you how your job is killing you
SINGAPORE, Feb 8 (Reuters Life!) - Think your job is killing you? A humorous Web site set up by an online recruiting firm shows you exactly how bad things are.
Video Games Can Improve Your Vision
Playing high-action video games for a few hours each day can improve your vision, according to researchers in the U.S. |
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