|
Older News Archivescom0116
NEWS MONDAY, FEBRUARY
8, 2010 NEWS
Greenspan
Says Unemployment Not Likely To Fall Soon
Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said it is “very difficult”
to see U.S. unemployment falling soon and that an economic recovery is
“going to be a slow, trudging thing.” He also expressed concern about falling
stock prices. While the recession is “essentially over,” Greenspan said
“it’s very difficult to make the case that unemployment is coming down
any time soon.” The former Fed chief spoke on NBC’s “Meet the Press” program.
Bloomberg
VOA VIEW: Greenspan is forecasting the
obvious - nothing intuitive or helpful.
Shuttle
Endeavour Blasts Off On Last Planned Night Launch
Endeavour and six astronauts rocketed into orbit Monday on what's expected
to be the last nighttime launch for the shuttle program, hauling a new
room and observation deck for the International Space Station. The space
shuttle took flight before dawn, igniting the sky with a brilliant flash
seen for miles around. The weather cooperated at the last minute; Sunday
morning's try was thwarted by thick, low clouds that returned and almost
caused another delay. Sun
Sentinel
Senior
Afghan Official Accused Of Militant Links
A district administrator in northwestern Afghanistan has been accused
of militant links and corruption charges, officials said Monday, the second
senior Afghan official to be arrested in the past week. The allegations
come amid fears of infiltration and pressure on President Hamid Karzai
to crack down on corruption in the ranks. The chief administrator in Bala
Murghab, a heavily Taliban influenced area, was detained late Thursday
but officials did not disclose the news until after his interrogation.
Tampa
Tribune
Rash
Of Retirements Push Social Security To Brink
Social Security's annual surplus nearly evaporated in 2009 for the
first time in 25 years as the recession led hundreds of thousands of workers
to retire or claim disability. The impact of the recession is likely to
hit the giant retirement system even harder this year and next. The Congressional
Budget Office had projected it would operate in the red in 2010 and 2011,
but a deeper economic slump could make those losses larger than anticipated.
USA
Today
VOA VIEW: Thank Obama and his fellow Democrats.
Palin:
Obama Deficit Spending 'Immoral'
Deficit spending by the Obama administration is "immoral," former Republican
vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin says. Appearing on "Fox News Sunday,"
Palin blasted Obama's handling of the economy and the budget, saying, "We
have lost millions and millions and millions of jobs as we have incurred
greater and greater debt and deficit, debt that I believe is immoral because
we're handing the bill to our children."
UPI
PLEASE DO BUSINESS WITH THOSE WHO DO BUSINESS
WITH US -- OUR ADVERTISERS.
U.S.
Sends A Message By Stepping Up Crackdown On Foreign Business Bribes
Federal authorities want companies to know that the cost of paying
bribes to win overseas contracts is growing steeper by the day. Long a
priority of the FBI and the Justice Department, efforts to police corrupt
business payments have intensified in recent weeks, with multimillion-dollar
corporate settlements and coordinated arrests of individual executives
accused of attempting to grease the skids. Washington
Post
Governor
Girds Nev. For Gashes To Budget
Nevada’s budget is so far out of balance that by one account the state
could lay off every worker paid from the general fund and still be $300
million in the red. The economic downturn has hit so hard that prisons
might be closed, entire colleges shuttered and thousands left without jobs.
Against the backdrop of an imploding economy and an $881 million shortage,
Governor Jim Gibbons will try in an emergency State of the State address
today to explain the depth of the state’s financial crisis and how to fix
the gaping hole in the budget. Boston
Globe
Blacks
Face Senate Shutout In 2011
That historically all-white club known as the U.S. Senate is likely
to lose what little diversity it has after November's elections. Two white
men will be competing for President Obama's former Senate seat from Illinois,
now held by Roland W. Burris, the chamber's lone black member. Appointed
by a scandal-tainted governor, Mr. Burris won't be seeking a full term.
In contests in Florida, Texas and North Carolina, black candidates face
daunting uphill battles to join the august body. They are having difficulties
raising cash and building name recognition against better-known, better-financed
rivals. WashingtonTimes
VOA VIEW: Obama's poor performance five
white voters little motivation to cross racial lines.
Campaign
Case May Have Set Course For Supreme Court
As the Supreme Court nears the midpoint of its annual term and prepares
to hear several momentous cases, one question looms: Will the justices'
split decision reversing past rulings and allowing new corporate spending
in political races set the tone for the term, or will Citizens United v.
Federal Election Commission be an exception? "Is this a turning point?"
asks Pamela Harris, director of Georgetown Law's Supreme Court Institute.
Harris notes that Chief Justice John Roberts' concurring opinion in the
campaign-finance case defended reversing past rulings that have been, as
Roberts wrote, "so hotly contested that (they) cannot reliably function
as a basis for decision in future cases." Indy
Star
In
Case You Forgot, Dems Also Are Running For Governor In Texas
Move over Republicans, it's the Democrats' turn. After two debates
featuring the three Republican gubernatorial candidates, the two front-runners
for the Democratic nomination -- former Houston Mayor Bill White and hair-care
millionaire Farouk Shami -- get their turn tonight on statewide television.
Democratic observers say they expect the debate to focus on the daily problems
facing Texans -- from dropout rates, transportation needs and unemployment
to rising utility and insurance costs -- and how to fix them. McClatchy
No
Double-Dip Slump But Recovery Slow
The risk the economy will slip back into recession is lower now than
at any time in the past year, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said
on Sunday, while conceding that recovery will be slow and uneven. In an
interview on ABC News' "This Week," Geithner dismissed concerns that rising
U.S. indebtedness might put pressure on the United States' prized triple-A
credit rating. Credit ratings agency Moody's last week warned that anemic
U.S. growth, on top of already stretched government finances, could put
pressure on the country triple-A status. Reuters
VOA VIEW: Geithner has no clue.
9/11
Health Lawsuits Raise Credibility Concerns
As the first cases in a massive battle over illnesses linked to 9/11
near trial, an Associated Press investigation has found that several of
the initial 30 suits contain inconsistent or exaggerated claims about how
the workers got sick or how much time they spent at ground zero. One demolition
worker who said he developed health problems after toiling for six months
in the toxic ruins of the World Trade Center has actually been severely
ill since the 1990s. In a previous medical malpractice case, he said he
was so sick between 2000 and 2003 that he couldn't work regularly. MSNBC
Iran
Sentences Former Deputy FM To 6 Years In Jail
A semiofficial news agency says a court has sentenced a former deputy
foreign minister to six years in prison after convicting him of security
charges. Monday's ISNA agency report quotes Mohsen Aminzadeh's defense
lawyer Abbas Shiri as saying his client was convicted of conspiring to
"disturb security" and spreading propaganda against the Islamic establishment.
Houston
Chronicle
THANK YOU FOR VISITING OUR WEB PORTAL. PLEASE
TELL A FRIEND.
Retail
Sales Probably Climbed In January
The rebound in spending that gave U.S. retailers a lift during the
holiday season probably carried over into the new year, signaling consumers
may contribute more to growth, economists said before reports this week.
Sales climbed 0.3 percent in January, the third gain in four months, according
to the median forecast of 51 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News before
Commerce Department figures Feb. 11. Another report may show the trade
gap fell in December. Bloomberg
Clinton:
Iran, Korea Stance Shows Benefits
The U.S. policy of engaging Iran and North Korea has paid benefits,
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says. In an interview broadcast Sunday
on CNN's "State of the Union," Clinton defended President Barack Obama's
efforts to reach out to the two nations, saying the moves have succeeded
in encouraging the rest of the world to act together to prevent their nuclear
ambitions. Asked if Iran had responded to Obama's inaugural address offer
to "extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist," Clinton answered,
"No. But the fact is, because we engaged, the rest of the world has really
begun to see Iran the way we see it." UPI
Jordan
Urges US To Push ME Peace
Jordan's King Abdullah II on Sunday urged the US to give its "undivided
attention" to set the tone for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, warning
that if the two-state solution becomes unviable, the Middle East would
be doomed to many decades of instability. "We are waiting for the US to
give us undivided attention on this issue," the king told CNN in an exclusive
interview."If we don't get a clear mandate over the next month or so I'm
not convinced we will be able to move forward." Jerusalem
Post
Al-Qaeda
Is A Wounded But Dangerous Enemy
In the past six weeks, Americans have witnessed two jarringly different
-- but completely accurate -- views of al-Qaeda's terrorist network. One
image was that of terrorist leaders being hunted down and killed by satellite-guided,
pilotless aircraft. The other was of an agile foe slipping past U.S. defenses
and increasingly intent on striking inside the United States. New assessments
of al-Qaeda by the top U.S. counterterrorism experts offer grounds for
both optimism and concern a year after President Obama took office. Officials
say al-Qaeda's ability to wage mass-casualty terrorism has been undercut
by relentless U.S. attacks on the network's leadership, finances and training
camps. Washington
Post
LA-Area
Cleans Up From Storms
Homeowners shoveled mud from living rooms and workers scooped debris
from catch basins in a foothill neighborhood slammed by weekend rains as
yet another storm takes aim at the region. Evacuated residents were allowed
back into the mud-caked La Canada Flintridge area north of Los Angeles
Sunday, where a day earlier 43 homes were damaged by rain-spawned mudslides.
Nine of them were so badly damaged they've been deemed uninhabitable. More
than 500 homes were evacuated as mud and debris — surging down from foothills
denuded of undercover by autumn wildfires — overflowed basins and flooded
streets. Atlanta
Journal
Failed
Job Seekers Add To Homeless Problem In ND
North Dakota has the lowest unemployment in the nation and a booming
oil industry. But with its good fortune has come an unexpected problem:
homelessness, as desperate job seekers flow into the state looking for
work. Officials say shelters are full statewide. Some homeless newcomers
are living in cars, while others are bunking with acquaintances to avoid
freezing. Louis ''Mac'' McLeod is executive director of the Minot Area
Homeless Coalition. He says people come to North Dakota without researching
jobs or housing. They find out they aren't qualified for the jobs available,
or if they land work, they can't find housing, which is scarce. NY
Times
YOU can speak
out and be heard by having your own "Column"
- Visit the "Public Opinion"Section
above
Brennan
Fed Up With Politics Played Over Christmas Day Bomber
President Obama's top counterterrorism adviser expressed frustration
with Washington on Sunday, saying Republicans are playing politics on national
security and making ignorant allegations about the investigation into the
Christmas airliner plot. Saying congressional Republicans are using a "500-mile
screwdriver" to criticize the administration about its response to the
failed attack in Detroit, Deputy National Security Adviser John Brennan
said the GOP is motivated by partisan purposes and second-guessing the
case. Fox
News
Some
Dead, At Least 13 Injured In Connecticut Power Plant Blast
An explosion at an under-construction power plant rocked central Connecticut
Sunday, causing some deaths and at least 13 injuries, officials said. Residents
up to 20 miles away reported hearing the blast about 11:30 a.m. at the
Kleen Power Plant in Middletown, a suburb of Hartford, Connecticut. An
area hospital said it received 11 patients, and that two others were flown
from the scene to a hospital in Hartford. CNN
Obama
To Host Televised, Bipartisan Meeting On Health Care
In an effort to put Republicans on the spot on health care, President
Obama said he will invite them to the White House for a televised meeting
later this month to try reignite the push for a bill. Republicans said
they will meet but said the only way to get the negotiations going is if
the president promises to start over. Mr. Obama, in an interview with CBS
that aired just before the Super Bowl on Sunday, welcomed their ideas and
said he wants to comb through the best proposals. WashingtonTimes
Convicted
Chinese Spy To Get Espionage Sentence
An elderly Chinese-born engineer convicted of economic espionage for
hoarding sensitive documents that included space shuttle details faces
sentencing Monday, and prosecutors are seeking a 20-year term. A judge
found Dongfan "Greg" Chung, 74, guilty in July of six federal counts of
economic espionage and other charges for keeping 300,000 pages of sensitive
papers in his home. The documents also included information about the fueling
system for a booster rocket. Despite Chung's age, prosecutors have requested
a 20-year sentence, in part to send a message to other would-be spies.
Charlotte
Obsever
Doctor
Finally Looks At Charge In Jackson Death
Dr. Conrad Murray, who has been trying to surrender to authorities
for a week, will likely get his chance with prosecutors saying they will
file a charge Monday in the death of Michael Jackson. A district attorney's
spokeswoman did not name the doctor nor say what the charge will be but
Murray's lawyers have said they expect a single charge of involuntary manslaughter
against the man who administered an anesthetic to the singer before he
died. San
Diego Union
U.S.
Calls For Greater International Pressure On Iran
The United States called on world powers to work together to put more
pressure on the Iranian government to curb its nuclear program. U.S. Defense
Secretary Robert Gates, during a visit to Rome, said sanctions targeting
the Iranian government would be most effective. There was an international
consensus to avoid putting "more hardship than is absolutely necessary"
on the Iranian people, he said. Gates, who discussed the Iranian issue
with Italian leaders, said Tehran's response to U.S. and Western overtures
has been very disappointing. Reuters
WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK ALL OUR SOURCES
FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS IN MAKING US AMERICA'S NUMBER ONE NEWS & INFORMATION
PORTAL.
Investors
Worry About Downturn
The threats seem to be coming from all directions. Jittery stock traders
react to each day's news as if it could be the start of Financial Crisis
2.0. On Thursday, the Standard & Poor's 500 index suffered its biggest
one-day drop in more than nine months because of worries about debt problems
in Greece, Portugal and Spain. Concerns about China's plans to limit economic
growth and proposed regulatory bank changes from Washington also have pummeled
the market. MSNBC
Mid-Atlantic
Digs Out Of Epic Blizzard
The flakes had stopped falling, but residents in the Mid-Atlantic region
of the U.S. were faced Sunday with the prospect of digging out of more
than two feet of snow in some areas. Roads reopened but officials continued
to warn residents that highways could be icy and treacherous. Hundreds
of thousands of people from Pennsylvania to New Jersey to Virginia were
without power, left in the cold and possibly without a way to watch the
Super Bowl. CBS
'Shut
Up'? Pakistan President's Outburst Scrubbed From 'Net
When President Asif Ali Zardari says “Shut up,” he apparently means
it. A few weeks ago, a short video of Pakistan’s unpopular, democratically
elected president began playing on endless loop on the dozen private channels
here. In the clip, he is giving a speech in Urdu to a crowd that apparently
wasn’t listening to him too closely (not uncommon in Pakistan). As he speaks,
you can hear background chitchat from the inattentive audience. Well, he
could hear that same chitchat too, so at one point he looked down at someone
and yelled, in English, ”Shut Up!” ABC
ATTENTION TALK SHOW HOSTS:We
are honored that many radio talk show hosts use our Web Portal for their
"show prep." We would appreciate your occasional mention of our site
to your audience. Thanks!
Palin
'Would Be Willing' To Take On Obama In 2012
Sarah Palin has President Obama in her sights, telling FoxNews.com
she "would be willing" to challenge him in the 2012 presidential race.
The former Alaska governor, in an interview Saturday on the sidelines of
the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville, said President Obama's
"lack of experience" has held him back his first year in office and that
she would put her credentials up against his any day. Fox
News
Geithner
Says Brown Wrong About Stimulus
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner challenged newly elected Senator
Scott Brown’s claim that the last stimulus bill “didn’t create one new
job.” Brown made the remark during his first press conference
after being sworn in Thursday, but in my “This Week” interview, Geithner
said he doesn’t “think there’s any basis for that judgment.” The administration
has faced some criticism for using the phrase “jobs saved or created” in
describing the impact of the stimulus package. Massachusetts Governor Deval
Patrick, Friday, said the stimulus package created more than 7,000 jobs
in that state. ABC
US
Colleges Court Hispanic Families Using Espanol
For some Hispanic students, navigating the college application process
can be a double-whammy: Balancing high school coursework with essays and
interviews, and then translating the whole system for their parents, who
don't speak English. Some venerable East Coast universities are trying
to ease that burden _ and tap the booming pool of Hispanic students _ by
offering Spanish translations of their admissions and financial aid material.
Las
Vegas Sun
Obama
Invites GOP Leaders To Health Care Talk
President Barack Obama, battling complaints that he has been too partisan
and secretive in pushing his health care agenda, said Sunday he will host
leaders of both parties to discuss the topic later this month. The announcement
came as Obama and Congress' Democratic leaders seek a way to overhaul the
nation's health care system even though Senate Republicans are again able
to block legislation with filibusters. Polls show that many Americans feel
Obama and his congressional allies have not sought enough GOP input, although
Democrats say Republicans have shown virtually no interest in seeking a
realistic agreement. Las
Vegas Sun
ADVERTISEMENT:If
you want to advertise your business or web site on this Web Site, send
us an email by clicking on to "Contact" above. It could be the best
business decision you make.
Human
Rights Group Slams Israel's Probe Of Gaza Conflict
An international human rights organization on Sunday faulted Israel's
investigation into alleged war crimes last year in Gaza. Israel has not
demonstrated that it will conduct thorough and objective investigations,
Human Rights Watch said in a statement. "An independent investigation is
crucial to understand why so many civilians died and to bring justice for
the victims of unlawful attacks," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director
for the New York-based organization.
CNN
'Israel’s
Obliteration Is Certain'
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday the destruction
of Israel was assured, while pledging to “defend Palestinians due to their
heartfelt beliefs.” ”Israel is going downhill toward decline and fall and
God willing its obliteration is certain,” Khamenei said during a meeting
with Islamic Jihad leader Ramadan Abdullah Shallah, according to the Teheran
Times. “Today Palestine is the symbol of life, determination, faithfulness,
diligence, and dignity,” Khamenei explained, adding that the Palestinians
had proved that they were “spiritually more powerful than Zionists,” which
is why the IDF has been unable “defeat them.” Jerusalem
Post
Iran
Makes New Uranium Enrichment Challenge
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has asked the country's nuclear
chief to begin enriching uranium to 20%. The move comes amid a worsening
stand-off over a Western offer for Iran to swap enriched uranium for nuclear
fuel. Western nations fear Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons and
have threatened new sanctions. Iran insists its programme is peaceful.
The US defence secretary urged the world to "stand together", saying there
was still time for sanctions to work. BBC
Karzai
Considers Introducing Afghan Conscription
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has told a conference of the world's
top defence officials in Germany that he is considering introducing conscription.
The Afghan president said at the summit in Munich he wants to build an
army and police force of 300,000 by 2012. His comments come as US-led forces
are poised to launch a major offensive in Helmand province against the
Taliban. The Nato commander, General Stanley McChrystal, said the operation
would "send a strong signal". BBC
Britain
To Slash Number Of Foreign Student Visas
The number of foreign students given visas is to be slashed as part
of a crackdown on abuses of the system, it was revealed today. Home Secretary
Alan Johnson is bringing in tougher rules including demanding that applicants
be able to speak passable English and banning those enrolling for short
courses from bringing dependants. The tightening has been in the pipeline
for several months, since Gordon Brown pledged a review in the wake of
the Detroit plane bombing attempt. Independent
Campbell
Defends Bla In Emotional Interview
Former prime minister Tony Blair did not mislead Parliament in the
run-up to the Iraq War, Alastair Campbell insisted today.
In an emotionally charged interview Mr Blair's former communications
chief said the former leader was a "totally honourable man. A clearly upset
Mr Campbell paused several times to gather his thoughts as he was questioned
on BBC 1's Andrew Marr Show. Mr Campbell gave evidence to Sir John Chilcot's
Iraq Inquiry last month but later issued a clarification about his answer
to one of the key questions. Independent
Toyota
Poised To Recall Prius Hybrid Cars Over Brake Defect
Toyota is poised to recall hundreds of thousands of Prius hybrid cars
to fix a potentially dangerous brake defect, reports in Japan said today.
The expected recall of Toyota's flagship green vehicle risks inflicting
further damage to the reputation of the world's biggest carmaker, which
has already recalled more than 8m cars worldwide because of potential accelerator
problems. Guardian
NKorea
Threatens South Amid Push To Restart Talks
North Korea warned South Korea on Monday that any attempt to bring
down the communist country would draw "strong measures" from its military,
a threat issued even as Pyongyang embarked on a flurry of diplomacy with
Seoul, Washington and Beijing. Armed with a "world-level ultra-modern striking
force" that has not yet been publicly revealed, North Korea's Ministry
of People's Security and the Ministry of State Security said in a joint
statement that the state was poised to mobilize troops to defend itself.
Detroit
News
French
Government Seeks To Boost National Identity
France's government on Monday will study ways to bolster the nation's
identity, culled from three months of sometimes noisy and occasionally
racist debate on what it means to be French in an increasingly globalized
world. Immigration Minister Eric Besson, who initiated the debate, submitted
proposals based on the 350 local meetings held around France since early
November. It was not clear whether any firm steps would be taken after
the government meeting. Besson said Friday that several concrete measures
on better integrating immigrants can be expected, and that his proposed
initiatives also concern fighting discrimination and building a European
identity. SF
Gate
Iraq
Woman Candidate Gunned Down
A woman planning to stand in Iraq's March 7 general election was gunned
down today in the restive northern city of Mosul, police said, just days
before campaigning is officially due to start. Suha Abdul Jarallah, a candidate
on the list of pro-Western former prime minister Iyad Allawi, was shot
dead as she left a house in the Ras al-Jadda neighbourhood in central Mosul,
350 kilometers (218 miles) north of Baghdad. NY
Post
France
Agrees To Sell Russia Advanced Warship
French defense officials say France has agreed to sell Russia an advanced
amphibious warship and is considering a Russian request for three more.
Jacques de Lajugie, head of international development at the French arms
agency DGA, told a news conference Monday that among the outstanding questions
are where the Mistral would be built. No information about a timetable
for the delivery of the one ship that France has so far approved was immediately
available. Philadelphia
Inquirer
Iran
Launches Production Lines For Unmanned Planes
Iran has launched two production lines to build unmanned aircraft with
surveillance and attack capabilities, the defense minister announced Monday.
It also announced that Iran would soon deploy a missile air defense system
more powerful than the advanced Russian S-300 system Tehran has ordered
from Moscow in 2007 but has yet to receive. The state television quoted
Defense Minister Gen. Ahmad Vahidi as saying the unmanned aircraft would
be able to carry out surveillance as well as offensive tasks with high
precision and a long range. Seattle
Times
Don't
Wait For Victory To Start Talking To The Taliban, Ainsworth Tells Nato
The defence secretary, Bob Ainsworth, said today that Nato should not
seek the Taliban's unconditional surrender and warned against "setting
the bar too high" for peace talks. In a debate in Munich about the conduct
of the war and potential overtures to the Taliban, he argued it was unrealistic
to require insurgents to support western-style democracy before entering
dialogue. Guardian
David
Cameron Will Bring In Law To Stop Privilege Defence To Expenses Crimes
David Cameron is to vow to change the law to stop three MPs charged
with false accounting from escaping justice. He will say that Mr Brown
is tolerating the “disgusting sight” of the Labour MPs attempting to use
parliamentary privilege as a defence to serious charges. The three have
been charged, along with a Conservative peer, under theft laws after disclosures
about their expenses. But lawyers acting on their behalf have told the
Crown Prosecution Service that they are looking at parliamentary privilege
laws as a possible means of defence. Telegraph
News
World News Europe RussiaRussia Condemns US Move To Put Missiles In Romania
The Kremlin said it was taken aback by news that Romania's top military
body had agreed to host US SM-3 interceptor missiles and other military
infrastructure in response to an alleged missile threat from Iran. Sergey
Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said he had demanded an "exhaustive
explanation" from Washington, citing a treaty that would prevent US ships
delivering the necessary equipment via the Black Sea. Telegraph
ABC Online Canada
National Post Daily
TelegraphThe Observer Wired
News Xinhua News
VOA VIEW -- Is
the opinion of Voice of America, Inc. The founding fathers of this
great nation gave us the First Amendment. You too can express your
opinion on this web site. Click on the blue "Public Opinion" button
at the top of this page for full details. The opinions expressed
are not necessarily the opinions of the ownership or advertisers of this
web site.
|
