Sorting Out A Clear Strategy For Afghanistan

When Barack Obama takes office next week, he'll inherit an increasingly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. A troop increase has already begun, but some question the signals that strategy sends. In addition, analysts urge Obama to take a regional approach.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 16 Jan 2009 | 9:13 pm

Volvo Car group to cut production in Sweden

STOCKHOLM (AFP) - Volvo Car Corporation, owned by struggling US auto giant Ford, said Friday it will reduce production at its main plant in Sweden in January and February due to falling demand.
Source: AFP - Wire stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:50 pm

Bank of America reports $2.39 billion loss

Charlotte-based Bank of America reported a quarterly loss after paying preferred dividends of $2.39 billion Friday, having secured an extra $20 billion in bailout cash.
Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:45 pm

Soccer: Japan defender Tulio doubtful for World Cup q'fier: Okada+

(Kyodo) _ Japan's preparations for their crunch World Cup qualifier at home to Australia have suffered a blow after coach Takeshi Okada revealed Friday key defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka is
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:44 pm

Methane raises hope that Mars is habitable

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Plumes of methane gas detected on Mars could be a sign of geological or biological activity -- and possibly the latest indication that life can be sustained on the Red Planet, according to a study.
Source: AFP - Wire stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:43 pm

Pirates free cargo ship held for 2 months

Somali pirates have released a Danish cargo ship and its mainly Russian crew after a ransom was paid to the hijackers, more than two months after it was seized, the owner said Friday.
Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:40 pm

All survive plane crash in New York river (Reuters)

Reuters - A US Airways jet with 155 people on board ditched in the frigid Hudson River off Manhattan after apparently hitting a flock of geese on Thursday and officials said everyone was rescued.

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:37 pm

All survive plane crash in New York river

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A US Airways jet with 155 people on board ditched in the frigid Hudson River off Manhattan after apparently hitting a flock of geese on Thursday and officials said everyone was rescued.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:37 pm

2ND LD: More than 60 wounds in body of murdered Chuo University professor+

TOKYO, Jan. 16 (Kyodo) _ (EDS: UPDATING) Police have found more than 60 wounds in the body of a Chuo University professor who was fatally stabbed at a Tokyo campus Wednesday, ...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:36 pm

In farewell speech, Bush says he kept nation safe (AP)

AP - As Americans get ready to turn the page on George W. Bush, the president offered his own first draft of history. Summarizing eight — and at times turbulent — years in office, Bush told the country that while his policies have been unpopular, there can be little debate about the results: "America has gone more than seven years without another terrorist attack on our soil."

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:35 pm

Big chill clamps down on upper Midwest (AP)

AP - Forecasters say temperatures in the upper Midwest could be the coldest in years Friday as chilly Arctic air keeps spilling south from Canada.

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:33 pm

Gaza fighting slows as Israel counters Hamas offer

GAZA (Reuters) - Israel said its Gaza offensive could be "in the final act" on Friday and sent envoys to discuss truce terms after Hamas made a ceasefire offer to end three weeks of fighting that has killed more than 1,100 Palestinians.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:32 pm

Trial opens for US suspect in Italy slaying

PERUGIA, Italy - An American college student and her Italian former boyfriend went on trial Friday accused of sexually assaulting and murdering her roommate in a slaying that...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:32 pm

Obama hitting the road to sell his economic plan (AP)

AP - Seeking an early victory on a top priority, President-elect Barack Obama is pitching workers in the ailing Midwest on his plan for some $825 billion in new spending and tax cuts to spur the troubled economy.

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:32 pm

Citigroup posts $8.29B loss, splits up the company (AP)

AP - Citigroup said Friday it is splitting up into two businesses as it reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $8.29 billion — its fifth straight quarterly loss.

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:31 pm

Investigation begins in plane's NYC splash landing (AP)

AP - Everything about the fate of Flight 1549 seemed like a million-to-1 shot — a flock of birds crossing a jetliner's path and taking out both engines, a safe landing in the Hudson River by a former fighter pilot. As amazement about the "miracle on the Hudson" turned to questions, a team of 20 National Transportation Safety Board investigators began looking into how Thursday's bizarre near-disaster happened.

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:30 pm

British writer John Mortimer dead at 85

LONDON - British writer John Mortimer, creator of the curmudgeonly criminal lawyer Rumpole of the Bailey, has died at 85. Mortimer's literary representatives, United...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:28 pm

NBC announces `30 Rock,' `The Office' renewals (AP)

AP - NBC is renewing Tina Fey's "30 Rock" for the 2009-10 season, along with "The Office" and "The Biggest Loser."

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:28 pm

Bank of America posts 4Q loss; gets $20B from US (AP)

AP - Escalating credit losses drove Bank of America Corp. to report a fourth-quarter loss and slash its quarterly dividend to a penny on Friday, hours after receiving a multibillion-dollar lifeline from the federal government.

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:27 pm

Citi posts loss, to split company in two

Citigroup says it is splitting up into two businesses as it sustains its fifth straight quarterly loss.
Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:25 pm

Titans coordinator Schwartz to coach 0-16 Lions (AP)

AP - Jim Schwartz insisted he loves challenges. Well, he's got one. The Detroit Lions, the NFL's first 0-16 team, agreed Thursday on a four-year deal with Schwartz to make him their next coach. The former Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator will be introduced at a Friday news conference at Ford Field, where Detroit lost its home games last year by an average of 21.4 points to break another dubious league record.

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:25 pm

Bank of America gets capital; Merrill loses $15.3 bln - Reuters

Source: Google News | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:23 pm

Obama's AG pick on track for confirmation (AP)

AP - Eric Holder appears headed for confirmation as attorney general after declaring a new course in U.S. counterterrorism policy, but a Senate panel still wants to hear more about his decisions as a Clinton administration Justice Department official.

Source: Yahoo! News: Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:22 pm

Postman loses �130,000 savings to Nigerian internet scam

A postman told today how he sank into depression and debt after losing �130,000 in an internet scam involving Nigerian fraudsters.

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:20 pm

10 Reasons Why LeBron Won't Be A New York Knick In 2010

In spite of all of the talk, New York fans shouldn't get their hopes up - cause it's not happening.

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:20 pm

Russia and Ukraine have "last chance" for gas deal

MOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) - The European Union piled pressure on Russia and Ukraine on Friday to resolve a dispute cutting gas supplies to Europe in mid-winter and Germany said Russia must honor energy contracts.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:18 pm

Tales of Heroism and Survival in 'Miracle on the Hudson' - FOXNews

Source: Google News | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:18 pm

Israeli envoys sent to US, Egypt for truce talks

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- Top Israeli diplomats headed for Egypt and the United States on Friday in what appeared to be a final push toward a cease-fire to end Israel's punishing Gaza offensive against Hamas militants....
Source: AP Top International News At 7:18 a... | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:18 pm

Banks lose billions as state aid pours in

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hours after taking $20 billion in new state cash, Bank of America and recent addition Merrill Lynch revealed they had lost almost as much last quarter, while Citigroup also made thumping losses.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:16 pm

Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie wins at Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Haile Gebrselassie easily won the Dubai Marathon on Friday, but said steady rain throughout the race hampered his bid to claim the $1 million...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:15 pm

Zimbabwe rolls out Z$100tr note

A Z$100tr, currently worth about US$30 is to be introduced in Zimbabwe, state media says.
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:15 pm

Soccer: Sasaki to stay on as Japan women's national team coach+

(Kyodo) _ The Japan Football Association said Friday it has decided to keep Norio Sasaki at the helm of the Japan women's national team. Sasaki, who guided "Nadeshiko Japan" to the...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:09 pm

Citigroup posts loss, splits company

Bank reports $8.29-billion loss for fourth quarter, announces sweeping restructuring

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:08 pm

Benitez turns down contract offer

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez rejects the offer a new contract with the Anfield club, BBC Sport learns.
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:07 pm

LEAD: Gov't to compile emergency policy package to create jobs+

(Kyodo) _ (EDS: ADDING INFO IN LAST 3 GRAFS) The government will compile an emergency policy package to create jobs in an attempt to relieve social unease that is spreading as a result
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:07 pm

Steve Jobs' Health, Apple's Future and the Mac Blogosphere Cacophony - TechNewsWorld

Source: Google News | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:06 pm

UN to Obama: Don't change Afghan strategy

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- The top U.N. official in Afghanistan said U.S. President-elect Barack Obama should resist calls to change strategy in Afghanistan, urging him instead to focus on implementing the one already being pursued....
Source: AP Top International News At 7:18 a... | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:04 pm

Slovaks step up effort to secure gas swap with Kiev - Reuters

Source: Google News | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:04 pm

Urgent push for Gaza ceasefire

Diplomatic activity intensifies in the Middle East over the terms of a possible truce in Gaza, but there is more violence overnight.
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:02 pm

Cambodia Soldier

Cambodian soldiers exercise in a camp at Preah Vihear province, about 245 kilometers (152 miles) north of Phnom Penh, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:02 pm

Warning over cuts for New York opera

New York's Metropolitan Opera has cancelled major productions and must find further cuts to avoid financial crisis, its general manager warns.
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:01 pm

Citigroup to split as losses grow

Struggling US banking giant Citigroup is to split the firm in two, as it reports a quarterly loss of $8.29bn (£5.6bn).
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:01 pm

Medic says Israeli troops kill West Bank protester

Palestinian medics says Israeli soldiers have shot dead a Palestinian during a violent protest against Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip. They named the dead man as 20-year-old...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:01 pm

Pakistan Britain

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, rights, welcomes visiting British Foreign Secretary David Miliband for talks in Islamabad, Pakistan on Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. Miliband, who received great...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:00 pm

Eagles have given Cardinals Fitz on 'D' - New York Daily News

Source: Google News | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:57 am

Madoff's fund may not have made a single trade

BOSTON (Reuters) - Bernie Madoff's investment fund may never have executed a single trade, industry officials say, suggesting detailed statements mailed to investors each month may have been an elaborate mirage in a $50 billion fraud.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:55 am

Power outage strikes Toronto

Subway service interrupted, 22,000 hydro customers have no heat or power in bitter cold

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:55 am

Medic says Israeli troops kill West Bank protester

Palestinian medics says Israeli soldiers have shot dead a Palestinian during a violent protest against Israel's offensive in the West Bank. They named the dead man as 20year-old Musab...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:54 am

Sri Lanka: Thousands of civilians flee rebel area

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) -- Thousands of civilians have fled Sri Lanka's northern war zone in recent days, crossing the front lines amid fierce fighting as the army closed in on the rebels' last stronghold, the military said Friday....
Source: AP Top International News At 7:18 a... | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:53 am

Former Esquire, Men's Fitness publisher dead

BOSTON - Alan Stiles, the former publisher of Men's Fitness and Esquire magazines, has died after being struck by a commuter train. He was 54. Stiles parked his Hyundai...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:51 am

Iraq Gaza Protests

A child is one of more than 300 protesters gathered to protest Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip at a demonstration organized by the Islamic Union of Kurdistan in Sulaimaniyah, 260 kilometers...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:50 am

What Apple could learn from Palm's webOS

Engadget digs through the iPhone's current shortcomings and what Apple should beg, borrow and steal from the Pre and webOS.

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:50 am

China's Wild Camel Population on the Rise

Report: China's wild camel population increasing due to less poaching.
Source: ABC News: International | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:47 am

U.S. murder suspect goes on trial in Italy

PERUGIA, Italy (Reuters) - American student Amanda Knox and her former Italian boyfriend went on trial in Italy on Friday for the murder of a fellow British student killed in what prosecutors are calling a bungled sex game.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:45 am

3RD LD: Watanabe forms new group with independent lawmaker, experts+

(Kyodo) _ (EDS: ADDING SCHEDULE IN 5TH GRAPH, ASO'S COMMENT IN 8TH GRAPH) Just three days after leaving the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, former Cabinet minister Yoshimi Watanabe...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:42 am

World stocks gain on Bank of America aid

Bailout lifts sentiment, strengthens market confidence

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:41 am

Extreme Reading

The newest Extreme sport from the good folks at ESPN

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:40 am

Giants Coach Tom Coughlin Isn't Sure He Wants Burress Back

If coach Tom Coughlin has anything to do with it, troubled New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress might not be back, WFAN radio in New York reported on Wednesday

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:40 am

Baseball: Free agent catcher Aikawa set to join Yakult+

(Kyodo) _ Free agent catcher Ryoji Aikawa agreed Friday to join the Yakult Swallows after he failed to receive an adequate offer from teams in the major leagues. Yakult is thought to...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:39 am

Bank of America has $2.39-billion loss

Bank will receive $20-billion in fresh capital from government bailout fund in exchange for preferred stock

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:38 am

Prime Minister says London 2012 ahead of schedule

LONDON - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says London is ahead of schedule in its preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games. Brown toured the Olympic Park on Friday to...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:35 am

NYT: Some ask if bailout is unconstitutional

While much of the debate over the $700 billion federal bailout plan has focused on whether the cash is being spent wisely or well, some conservatives are concerned about its constitutionality.

Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:35 am

Satyam chief's custody extended

An Indian court extends custody of Ramalinga Raju, head of fraud-hit Satyam, until Monday and will hear a bail plea then.
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:35 am

Israel Boosts Diplomatic Effort For Gaza

Top Israeli diplomats headed for Egypt and the United States on Friday in what appeared to be a final push toward a cease-fire to end Israel's punishing Gaza offensive against Hamas militants.
Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:34 am

Putin to face German gas pressure

Russian PM Vladimir Putin will face pressure to find a solution to Europe's gas crisis during a visit to Germany.
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:33 am

ECB, SNB to continue franc liquidity operations

The European Central Bank and the Swiss National Bank said Friday the banks would continue to provide the financial system with liquidity denominated in Swiss francs at least until the end of April.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:32 am

Kercher case to be held in public

An Italian judge rules that the trial of two suspects over the murder of British student Meredith Kercher will be heard in public.
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:31 am

Ask AP: Hedging gasoline, home at the White House

It takes an enormous staff to maintain the White House. But do any of the mansion's butlers, chefs or handymen actually call the residence of presidents home?
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:29 am

Pilot hailed for 'Hudson miracle'

The pilot of an airliner forced to land on New York's Hudson River after it appeared to hit a flock of birds is hailed as a hero after all 155 passengers and crew survive.
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:28 am

Official: Vietnam to release jailed reporter early

Vietnam will grant an early release to a journalist jailed for his aggressive coverage of a government corruption scandal, an official said Friday.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:28 am

Bank of America posts 4Q loss; gets $20B from US

Escalating credit losses drove Bank of America Corp. to report a fourth-quarter loss and slash its quarterly dividend to a penny on Friday, hours after receiving a multibillion-dollar lifeline from the federal government.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:25 am

Soccer: Miyamoto sets sights on 2010 ACL after joining Kobe+

(Kyodo) _ Former Japan captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto has set his sights on the 2010 Asian Champions League after returning to Japan on Friday to join Vissel Kobe from Austrian Club Salzburg.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:24 am

Indians' Travis Hafner says he's close to hitting again

CLEVELAND - Travis Hafner has always been a hulking kind of guy, a Paul Bunyanesque image come to life that has no doubt worked to his advantage when stepping in against opposing...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:22 am

Meredith Kercher was found dead with multiple stab wounds to her throat

An American student who once called herself "Foxy Knoxy" and her former boyfriend have gone on trial for the alleged sex-murder of British housemate Meredith Kercher in the Italian university town of Perugia...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:22 am

British student murder trial opens in Italy

An American student who once called herself "Foxy Knoxy" and her former boyfriend went on trial Friday for the alleged sex-murder of her British housemate in the Italian university town of...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:22 am

Raffaele Sollecito

Italian student Raffaele Sollecito is charged with the alleged sex-murder of British counterpart Meredith Kercher in the Italian university town of Perugia.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:22 am

Kercher's family -- who are seeking 30 million euros from her alleged killers -- would favour a closed trial

Meredith Kercher's father and sister listen to journalists' questions during a 2008 press conference in Perugia, Italy.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:22 am

US student Amanda Knox gave herself the nickname "Foxy Knoxy" on MySpace

Amanda Knox -- one of the two defendants charged with the 2007 murder of British student Meredith Kercher -- at the courthouse in Perugia.
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:22 am

Twins said to be interested in Eric Gagne

The Twins' search for bullpen help has brought them to look into Eric Gagne, the 2003 National League Cy Young Award winner who holds the major league record for consecutive...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:20 am

Kenya appeals for $400M in urgent food aid

Kenya's president is asking international donors for $406 million to buy emergency food for almost a third of the country's population.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:20 am

Does methane point to life on the Red Planet? - New Scientist

Source: Google News | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:18 am

Citi posts loss, splits up the company

Citigroup said Friday it is splitting up into two businesses as it reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $8.29 billion — its fifth straight quarterly loss.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:18 am

Japan Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji, Japan's highest peak at 3,776 meters (12,388 ft.), looms over high-rise buildings of Tokyo's Shinjuku district on Friday January 16, 2009. On Friday morning the temperature in Tokyo dipped...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:18 am

Police say New Hampshire man admitted killing grandfather

NASHUA, N.H. - Police say a Nashua, N.H., man charged with killing his grandfather admitted that he committed the crime. Twenty-year-old Michael Phillips was charged with...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:17 am

Prime Minister says London 2012 ahead of schedule

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says London is ahead of schedule in its preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:16 am

Israeli envoys sent to US, Egypt for truce talks

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Top Israeli diplomats headed for Egypt and the United States on Friday in what appeared to be a final push toward a cease-fire to end Israel's...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:14 am

World oil demand to shrink sharply this year: IEA

LONDON (Reuters) - World oil demand will contract sharply in 2009 as global economic slowdown further erodes consumption, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Friday.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:13 am

UN Urges Israel to Consider Halting Attacks - New York Times

Source: Google News | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:13 am

Dozens of dead cats found in bags

Authorities are trying to find out who stuffed 70 dead Siamese cats into seven large trash bags and dumped them onto a road in suburban San Antonio.
Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:12 am

Wigan agree to sell Palacios to Spurs

PARIS (AFP) - Wigan manager Steve Bruce on Friday confirmed there is virtual agreement with Tottenham for the Latics' Honduran midfield star Wilson Palacios in a deal worth around 14 million pounds (18 million dollars).
Source: AFP - Wire stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:12 am

SA beat Australia in tense opener

South Africa beat Australia by three wickets after a tense finish to the first one-day international in Melbourne.
Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:11 am

Poll finds broad support for Obama - The Associated Press

Source: Google News | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:10 am

A History Of Presidential Inaugurations In Images

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:10 am

How far away is the horizon?

And as I gaze over the amber waves of grain to the line that divides land and sky, I sometimes wonder how far away that line is. The horizon is a semi-mythical distance, used in poetry as a metaphor for a philosophical division of some kind. But in fact it’s a real thing, and the distance to it can be determined.

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:10 am

Treasury, Bank of America reach bailout deal

WASHINGTON - The government has extended a new multibillion-dollar lifeline to one of the country's biggest banks as officials continue to struggle with a serious crisis...
Source: Home - BostonHerald.com | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:09 am

EU trade deficit swells in November

The European Union's trade deficit widened to euro23.8 billion ($31.1 billion) in November from euro17 billion a year earlier as the global economic downturn hit its exports, official figures showed Friday.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:09 am

Thousands Flee Fighting in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka says thousands of civilians have fled rebel territory in recent days
Source: ABC News: International | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:08 am

Method for AP-GfK poll on Obama

The Associated Press-GfK poll on expectations for president-elect Obama and his administration was conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media from Jan. 9-14, 2008. It is based on landline and cell phone telephone interviews with a nationally representative random sample of 1,001 adults. Interviews were conducted with 801 respondents on landline telephones and 200 on cellular phones.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:05 am

Why brave the crowds? Charm City can be presidential, too - Baltimore Sun

Source: Google News | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:05 am

Poll finds broad support for Obama

Barack Obama enters the White House with public expectations of his success far higher than for any president in a generation, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll.
Source: Newsvine - Get Smarter Here | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:04 am

SCENARIOS - Assessing risks of India, Pakistan confrontation - Reuters India

Source: Google News | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:03 am

Pirates free Danish ship held for 2 months

Ransom payment was parachuted to the hijackers

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:03 am

155 People Walk Away From Jet's Water Landing

The National Transportation Safety Board is looking in to what caused the two engines on a US Airways jetliner to fail shortly after takeoff Thursday from New York's LaGuardia Airport. The plane ditched in the Hudson River near Midtown Manhattan. All 155 people aboard were quickly pulled to safety aboard rescue craft and private boats.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:00 am

House Democrats Offer Stimulus Package

House Democrats have unveiled an $825 billion economic recovery bill. By a combination of public spending and tax cuts, backers hope it will kick-start the economy. President-elect Barack Obama says it would fulfill his promise of creating or preserving more than three million jobs.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:00 am

Obama To Tighten Interrogation Guidelines

During the presidential campaign, Barack Obama spoke out against the use of anything like torture in the interrogation of suspected terrorists. Obama said he would order all interrogations be carried out in accord with the U.S. Army Field Manual — guidelines far more restrictive than the ones President Bush has given the CIA.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:00 am

Hearings Continue For Obama's AG Pick

Attorney General-designate Eric Holder says "waterboarding is torture." He spoke about it at his confirmation hearing Thursday. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to hear from other witnesses Friday.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:00 am

Senate Endorses A $350 Billion Check For Obama

President-elect Barack Obama scored an early legislative victory on Capitol Hill Thursday. After intense lobbying by Obama and top economic aides, the Senate voted to release the second half of the $700 billion financial rescue package. When Obama takes office on Tuesday, he will have $350 billion available to battle the financial crisis.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 16 Jan 2009 | 11:00 am

UN to Obama: Don't Change Afghan Strategy

UN urges Obama not to change strategy in Afghanistan, to focus on implementation
Source: ABC News: International | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:53 am

Owner: Pirates free Danish ship held for 2 months

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) -- Somali pirates have released a Danish cargo ship and its mainly Russian crew after a ransom payment was parachuted to the hijackers, more than two months after it was seized, the owner said Friday....
Source: AP Top International News At 7:18 a... | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:52 am

Piracy hit unprecedented high in '08

Pirates seized an unprecedented 49 ships and held nearly 900 crewmembers for ransom worldwide last year, mainly due to the surging ...

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:52 am

China to Celebrate Dalai Lama's Exile

China to create day marking the end of Tibet's feudal rule, exile of Dalai Lama.
Source: ABC News: International | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:50 am

China to celebrate day Tibet feudal rule ended

BEIJING (AP) -- Chinese-backed Tibetan lawmakers proposed on Friday the creation of a holiday to mark the quelling of a pro-independence uprising in the remote Himalayan region 50 years ago....
Source: AP Top International News At 7:18 a... | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:50 am

Russia hopes US will not seek NATO expansion

MOSCOW (AP) -- Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Russia hopes the new U.S. president will not raise tensions by making Ukrainian and Georgian membership in NATO a priority....
Source: AP Top International News At 7:18 a... | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:44 am

Probe begins in jet's 'miracle' splash landing

As amazement about US Airways Flight 1549's "miracle" crash-landing in the Hudson River  turned to questions, federal investigators began looking into how the bizarre near-disaster happened.

Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:42 am

Plane's landing hailed as 'Miracle on the Hudson'

In what New York's governor called "a miracle on the Hudson," a veteran pilot glided a US Airways jetliner with two dead engines ...

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:41 am

Ukraine Slovakia Russia Gas

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, left, and Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic greet each other in Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. Ukraine's President will meet with top officials from gas-starved...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:40 am

Homemade bombs now top threat in Kandahar, Canadians say

Number littering the Kandahar landscape has more than doubled in the past year

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:36 am

Trial Begins: Amanda Knox in The Dock

Trial opens for US student accused in slaying of British roommate in Italy
Source: ABC News: International | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:33 am

Trial opens for US suspect in Italy slaying

PERUGIA, Italy (AP) -- An American college student and her Italian former boyfriend went on trial Friday accused of sexually assaulting and murdering her roommate in a slaying that shocked Italy....
Source: AP Top International News At 7:18 a... | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:32 am

U.S. student on trial for Italy murder

An American college student and her Italian former boyfriend went on trial Friday accused of sexually assaulting and murdering her roommate in a slaying that shocked Italy.

Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:30 am

Car Porn: Totally Safe for Your Work But Not for Your Wallet

Car collectors with discerning eyes and deep wallets cruised the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction in Scottsdale. Their prey: hundreds of glistening vehicles waiting to go home with the highest bidder. And we mean high. Consider these images of car porn not safe for wallets.

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:30 am

Bank of America gets new $20 billion injection

NEW YORK (AFP) - The US government threw Bank of America a new 20-billion-dollar lifeline Friday as once-rock steady firms such as Japan's Honda cut thousands of jobs piling on a new round of gloomy news for governments battling recession.
Source: AFP - Wire stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:28 am

War, crowds complicate Obama inaugural security

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Barack Obama's inauguration as the first U.S. black president will take place on Tuesday amid unprecedented security aimed at protecting him as well as the record crowds expected to attend.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:24 am

Toyota and Honda cut more output

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's top two automakers, Toyota and Honda, will slash output further to counter swelling inventories as auto sales slump, while third-ranked Nissan is seen shifting some output abroad to cut costs.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:20 am

Clement, Lord push for boost to broadband in stimulus plan

Seeking funding for high-speed Internet access for everyone in the country in stimulus plan

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:12 am

Let federal money flow freely, mayors urge

Want to decide at the municipal level which projects get funding

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:10 am

Passengers hail pilot after 'Miracle On The Hudson'

NEW YORK (AFP) - They called it the "Miracle on the Hudson" and Chesley Sullenberger III on Friday became the patron saint of passengers everywhere for guiding his crippled jet to an injury-free landing in the freezing waters off New York.
Source: AFP - Wire stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:09 am

China Fire

People look at a half-constructed building caught on fire in Foshan, south China's Guangdong province, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. The fire on the 26-story office building lasted for four hours. Cause of the...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNImagesWorld | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:05 am

Great Presidential Farewells

Soon-to-be-former-President George W. Bush gave his final address last night, commandeering the networks at 8:00 to share his parting thoughts. "There are things I would have done differently if given the chance," he said. That rare admission of error...
Source: The Daily Beast - Big Fat Story List | 16 Jan 2009 | 10:01 am

Ottawa fails to follow through on toxics review

Launched by the Prime Minister in 2006, Chemicals Management Plan is no longer issuing assessments of hazardous chemicals

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 16 Jan 2009 | 9:53 am

Winnipeg tries apologetic approach to deal with medical mistakes

New approach hailed as the first of its type in Canada

Source: The Globe and Mail - Front Page News | 16 Jan 2009 | 9:51 am

Indie 103.1 Goes Off the Air to Keep Intregrity

The Famous Los Angeles Radio Station has suddenly stopped broadcasting!

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 16 Jan 2009 | 9:40 am

U.S. Student To Face Italy Slay Charges

An American college student and her former Italian boyfriend were to go on trial in the picturesque medieval city of Perugia, accused of sexually assaulting and murdering a fellow British student in a slaying that shocked Italy.
Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 16 Jan 2009 | 9:30 am

Israel: 'Final act' in Gaza fight

Israel said its Gaza offensive could be "in the final act" on Friday as it dispatched envoys to discuss truce terms after Hamas made a cease-fire offer to end three weeks of fighting that has killed more than 1,100 people.

Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 16 Jan 2009 | 9:29 am

Sign of Progress in Iraq: Baghdad ATMs

By-the-numbers report suggests shattered Iraq slowly being put together.
Source: ABC News: International | 16 Jan 2009 | 9:28 am

How the hell were these games ever controversial?!

For a medium that lets us chainsaw faces off, punch presidents in their plums and slaughter endangered species; it's amazing how sensitive some of us get when developers do things we don't agree with.

Source: digg.com: Stories / Popular | 16 Jan 2009 | 9:20 am

Bush defends troubled record in farewell address

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Thursday defended his actions to avert a collapse of the financial system and protect America from another terrorist attack as he mounted a farewell bid to polish his troubled legacy.
Source: Reuters: Top News | 16 Jan 2009 | 8:32 am

Israeli Diplomats Head to U.S., Egypt in Push for Cease-Fire

Top Israeli diplomats were heading for Egypt and the United States Friday in what appeared to be a final push toward a cease-fire to end Israel's punishing Gaza offensive against Hamas militants.

Source: FOXNews.com | 16 Jan 2009 | 8:20 am

Rural U.S. wary of Obama's America

Some rural areas that rejected the new president are apprehensive about his urban perspective.

Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 16 Jan 2009 | 8:17 am

Obama pledges entitlement reform

In Post interview, president-elect says Social Security and Medicare must be addressed in order to secure nation's long-term economic recovery.
Source: msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines | 16 Jan 2009 | 7:39 am

Israel hammers Gaza as Hamas offers conditional truce

GAZA CITY (AFP) - Israeli troops again pounded Gaza on Friday after killing a top Hamas leader, as the Islamists offered a conditional truce amid a diplomatic push to end the war that has killed more than 1,100 people.
Source: AFP - Wire stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 7:31 am

Pakistan extends crackdown on Mumbai suspects

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) -- Pakistan insisted it would help India to bring those behind the Mumbai terrorist attacks to justice, saying Thursday it had shut down extremist Web sites and suspected militant training camps, and detained 71 people in a deepening probe....
Source: AP Top International News At 7:18 a... | 16 Jan 2009 | 7:21 am

#41: We Can't Quit W. Countdown - 50 Reasons We're Sorry to See President Bush Go

#41: because it always took an extra couple of seconds to figure out which Bush twin pictures had been photoshopped:

Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 16 Jan 2009 | 7:00 am

Drudge just being a dick now

We have never seen a less flattering photo of a fellow human being. C'mon Matt, that's just mean.

Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 16 Jan 2009 | 6:53 am

ATTACK ON AMERICA!

Just 4 days before the inauguration of Barack Obama, a gaggle of geese attacked a commercial airliner over the Hudson River in New York City . The brazen assault, called a "bird strike," happened minutes after USAirways flight 1549 departed from LaGuardia. We urge President Bush to show no mercy to these geese by invading a duck pond.

Update! 7:15 AM According to the Today Show, these geese may have been Canadian. Figures.

Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 16 Jan 2009 | 6:32 am

Hero pilot's 'miracle on the Hudson' praised

In the cockpit Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger III - with 40 years of flying experience - knew something was wrong. His plane had suffered a "double bird strike" and would have to return to the airport. As the controller began...
Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 16 Jan 2009 | 6:20 am

Bush: Success Or Failure? You Make The Call

Was George W. Bush a successful president or a failure? Was he an inept bumbler or a political genius? Did he make the world safer or more dangerous? There's no shortage of lists proposing Bush's best and worst moves. Here are two — and a chance to weigh in yourself.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 16 Jan 2009 | 5:58 am

Like Obama, Companies Sell Own Brand Of Change

During his election campaign, Barack Obama branded a message of change with the word "hope" and the slogan "Yes We Can." Now companies such as Ben & Jerry's, PepsiCo and IKEA appear to be riding the Obama wave by using themes of change and optimism to sell products.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 16 Jan 2009 | 5:55 am

Soldier receives Aussie's first VC in 40 years

CANBERRA - An Australian soldier was awarded the top military honor in the British Commonwealth on Friday for risking his life to save a wounded interpreter and injured soldiers during an ambush in Afghanistan. Trooper Mark Donaldson...
Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 16 Jan 2009 | 5:32 am

Official Reflects On Foreign Aid Triumphs, Challenges

The Bush administration leaves behind a solid legacy in humanitarian aid and development, says Henrietta Fore, the outgoing director of U.S. foreign assistance and head of USAID. Her final days on the job are busy, dealing with crises in Gaza and Zimbabwe.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 16 Jan 2009 | 5:16 am

Keynes' Economic Theories Back In Vogue

Economist John Maynard Keynes is enjoying a resurgence of popularity, as his theories are at the heart of the incoming administration's thinking on how to respond to the U.S. economic crisis. Keynes was a man of many contradictions. He was part of England's elite social class, but he was also a shocking figure.

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Source: NPR Topics: News | 16 Jan 2009 | 5:15 am

124 Arrested in Post-Mumbai Crackdown

Pakistan arrested 124 in crackdown on those allegedly linked to Mumbai attacks.
Source: ABC News: International | 16 Jan 2009 | 4:53 am

D.C. set for inaugural chill

Frigid temperatures in Washington could pose a danger to more than 1 million people expected to walk and stand outside for hours ...

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 4:47 am

Poll: Americans believe Obama will deliver despite down times

A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds stratospheric expectations for Obama that his own supporters acknowledge may be unrealistic.

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 4:43 am

Unrest festers over Bay Area transit killing

When an unarmed black man was shot dead in the back by a white police officer in Oakland on New Year's Day, the city braced ...

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 4:41 am

National Mall concert will offer test run for inauguration

Security officials are bracing for a preview of the inauguration Sunday when 500,000 people are expected to fill part of the ...

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 4:40 am

Obama to tout economic plan in Ohio

Obama plans to visit an Ohio factory as the first stop in an effort to mobilize millions of citizen-lobbyists to promote his ...

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 4:39 am

Obama's connections, from campaign trail to inaugural train

One early backer's presence underscores the bond Obama forged with rank-and-file supporters and the heavy expectations of him.

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 4:39 am

Iran president: 'Not feasible' for Israel to live

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- A top Israeli envoy delivered his country's stance on a cease-fire agreement in Gaza to Egyptian mediators trying to seal a truce on Thursday. The Iranian president said the fighting showed Israel's continued existence in the region is "not feasible."...
Source: AP Top International News At 7:18 a... | 16 Jan 2009 | 4:23 am

President-elect prepares diplomatic offensive

Obama says he will appoint a team to address "on Day One" the crisis in Gaza and brewing troubles across the Middle East.

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 4:15 am

Israel intent on razing Gaza tunnels

As talks for a cease-fire deal in Gaza gain steam, Israel remains focused on its military objectives among them, killing Hamas' ...

Source: USATODAY.com News - Top Stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 4:08 am

Kremlin snubbed as Russia, Ukraine plan gas crisis talks

MOSCOW (AFP) - Ukraine prepared Friday to host a summit of eastern European chiefs of state ahead of new talks on its gas war with Moscow, as Europe batted aside a Kremlin proposal for a summit in Moscow to resolve a feud that has left millions of Europeans freezing.
Source: AFP - Wire stories | 16 Jan 2009 | 2:04 am

Venezuela seeks investments from Big Oil

CABIMAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Squeezed by slumping crude prices, Venezuela is reaching out to the multinational oil companies it once demonized as imperialist profiteers....
Source: AP Top International News At 7:18 a... | 16 Jan 2009 | 1:18 am

Cousins plead guilty in Ohio in terror case

TOLEDO, Ohio - Two cousins from the Chicago area have pleaded guilty in Ohio to taking part in a plot to recruit and train terrorists to kill American soldiers. Federal prosecutors say the men had been training and planning to...
Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 16 Jan 2009 | 12:34 am

WATCH: Israel Shells U.N. Compound in Gaza

Source: ABC News: International | 15 Jan 2009 | 10:24 pm

Sleepwalking man freezes to death

HAYWARD - A man who froze to death in Wisconsin while sleepwalking outdoors in bare feet sometimes took a sleeping pill, and authorities suspect he had also been drinking before he died. Investigators found a bottle of Ambien in...
Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 15 Jan 2009 | 9:30 pm

PHOTOS: X-Ray Oddities

A man with a blade lodged in his head walks into a hospital, talks to doctors.
Source: ABC News: International | 15 Jan 2009 | 8:08 pm

Hiccups slow confirmation hearings

WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama's smooth transition process hit a snag less than a week before his swearing-in as questions over his choice for Treasury Secretary delayed the confirmation hearing for that key post. Obama's...
Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 15 Jan 2009 | 8:00 pm

Drunk on job okay, court rules

Peru's top court has ruled that workers cannot be fired for being drunk on the job, a decision the Government criticised yesterday for setting a dangerous precedent. The Constitutional Tribunal ordered that Pablo Cayo Mendoza...
Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 15 Jan 2009 | 7:15 pm

Bush aides lament the side of him the world never saw

President George W. Bush will be judged on what he did. He will also be remembered for what he's like: a fast-moving, phrase-mangling Texan who stays upbeat even though his country is not. For eight years, the US has been led by...
Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 15 Jan 2009 | 7:00 pm

Senior Hamas Leader Killed In Airstrike

An Israeli airstrike killed senior Hamas leader Said Siam in an airstrike in Gaza City, flattening the building where he was staying.
Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 15 Jan 2009 | 7:00 pm

U.N. Blasts Israel For Aid Compound Attack

Israeli troops shelled the U.N. headquarters in Gaza after coming under fire from Palestinian militants, said Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The United Nations denies the claim.
Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 15 Jan 2009 | 7:00 pm

Okay, Obama, we get it...you love everyone

Not only is Barack Obama about to become the next president of the United States, but he's also a better father than you. Parade magazine has posted an open letter Obama wrote to his daughters, Sasha and Malia, explaining to the young girls why he "took his family on this journey" and what he wants for their future...and yes, dare we say it, the future of all children. It's enough to bring a tear to your eye, assuming you aren't already crying because you're laid off and can't afford food.

But Obama isn't just baring his heart and soul to his children. No, the man is so overcome with emotion, he can't help writing letters to pretty much everyone he knows. We've turned up a few excerpts from other letters from Obama. Read on to find out just how much the guy loves the whole damn world.

Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 15 Jan 2009 | 6:23 pm

Prince Albert reaches South Pole

Monaco's Prince Albert II has reached the South Pole after a two-day cross-country ski trip. The Prince's team visited the Amundsen-Scott base, one of 26 international bases the prince is expected to visit during his trip to A...
Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 15 Jan 2009 | 6:15 pm

Storms destroy Fiji's sugar industry

Fiji's sugar cane industry, the country's second biggest earner, has been decimated by torrential rain that has wiped out crops and battered the livelihood of 22,000 cane farmers. Thousands of hectares of cane have been destroyed...
Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 15 Jan 2009 | 6:00 pm

WATCH: The Changing Face of Bulldogs

Source: ABC News: International | 15 Jan 2009 | 5:44 pm

President threatens to dissolve Parliament

Latvia's President has threatened to dissolve Parliament after more than 40 people were injured in the worst rioting since the Baltic country split from the Soviet Union in 1991. President Valdis Zatlers said he would disband...
Source: New Zealand Herald - World | 15 Jan 2009 | 5:15 pm

Singapore Man Admits to Role in Airport Crash Plot

Singapore man facing trial in Indonesia on terror charges has admitted plotting to crash an aircraft into the city-state's airport in 2001, a newspaper reported.

Source: FOXNews.com | 15 Jan 2009 | 5:00 pm

31% of you like me! 31% of you really like me!

Bush just got a parting gift from the American people: his last Gallup polls shows that his approval rating went up to a year-long high of 31%. It's still in historically low territory, but, then again, it's still higher than a full thirty other numbers! That's a lot of numbers. Plus, the percentage of people that hate him has dropped to under two-thirds.

What could account for this new-found popularity? According to Gallup, it could be a traditional lame-duck out-going administration bounce. But we think that's being unfair. There must be plenty of other reasons why we're liking George Bush more these days. Take the poll and tell us what you think it is...

Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 15 Jan 2009 | 4:58 pm

How does one say "oops" in Hebrew?

The Israelis contend that Hamas is deliberately using human shields to incur as much bloodshed- and international outrage- as possible. Last week, the Israelis pounded a school and today, they shelled a UN compound full of food and humanitarian supplies. Israel's claims that Hamas was firing from that compound.

We have to take off our hajibs to Hamas, because the UN is not having any of it. Said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, "I conveyed my strong protest and outrage to the defense minister and foreign minister and demanded a full explanation." Ki-moon claims an Israeli defense minister called the bombing a "grave mistake."

Schools... a warehouse full of food? Hamas has Israel so spooked that they're shooting at lettuce. Where else should Hamas hide in order to goad the Israelis? We crankcalled 300 Americans last night and this is what they told us:

Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 15 Jan 2009 | 4:27 pm

'Best Job' Frenzy Grips Applicants Worldwide

Desperate to snag the 'Best Job in the World,' thousands of people from across the globe have submitted video applications to the tourism department of Australia's Queensland state for their latest advertised vacancy.

Source: FOXNews.com | 15 Jan 2009 | 4:05 pm

Kim Jong Il May Tap Youngest Son as Successor

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has named his youngest son to succeed him as head of the Stalinist nation, a South Korean news agency report said.

Source: FOXNews.com | 15 Jan 2009 | 3:56 pm

Venezuela Solicits Bids From Big Oil Companies

Squeezed by slumping crude prices, Venezuela is reaching out to the multinational oil companies it once demonized as imperialist profiteers.

Source: FOXNews.com | 15 Jan 2009 | 3:50 pm

Boring cabinet confirmation hearings no one cares about ROUNDUP!!!

Everyone's wringing their hands over Eric Holder and Tim Geithner. But what about the other nominees? The ones who are sailing right through their confirmation hearings? The ones who pay their taxes and don't pardon guys who illegally trade with Iran? It's time to take a look at the boring cabinet confirmation hearings no one cares about with our Boring Cabinet Confirmation Hearings No One Cares About ROUNDUP!!!

Secretary of Agriculture! No more sleepless nights for Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack. He's almost guaranteed to be confirmed as Agriculture secretary after a hearing that overturned no stones and revealed nothing worth remarking upon. Vilsack said at his hearing that as Secretary of Agriculture, he plans to pursue alternative fuel sources to produce ethanol. No one was heard to respond, "Yeah no shit," but not everyone in the hearing was mic'd.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs! According to the New York Times, Retired Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric K Shinseki was "showered with praise" by the senate confirmation committee (we're taking the Times' word for it because we can't be expected to watch this crap). Shinseki pledged at his hearing that as Secretary of Veterans Affairs, he would work to improve the affairs of veterans. Shinseki's confirmation hearing did raise the question amongst observers as to whether committee members are permitted to crawl under their desks to nap during the more devastatingly uneventful confirmation hearings.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator! Lisa P Jackson, nominee to head the EPA, said at her hearing that if confirmed she would restore scientific integrity to the Agency, a statement that came close to being worth repeating to another human, since it could be interpreted as a direct rebuke to the handling of the agency under Bush. Jackson was evasive, however, on questions about regulating tailpipe emissions or carbon dioxide, only stating that the issues would be given "speedy review." There were no reports of anyone responding, "Yeah, you probably would give those issues review since that would be your frigging job. Breaking! EPA Administrator nominee promises that if confirmed she would carry out duties of EPA Administrator!" Jackson is also likely to be confirmed and neither you nor we really care all that much.

AND NOW, BACK TO FIGURING OUT WHICH INAUGURATION PARTY YOU PLAN TO GET DRUNK AT NEXT TUESDAY!

Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 15 Jan 2009 | 3:49 pm

23/6 Op-ed: Where will our 12 year old daughters go to dance with 35 year old men?

The Black Angus has filed for bankruptcy. Of all the bad news emanating from this awful economy, this grim headline is the first to hit us where we live (in the past). Explains the company's chief restructuring officer:

"The debtors' restaurants primarily are located in some of the areas hardest hit by the mortgage crisis, causing consumers in those markets to cut back on discretionary spending."

The Black Angus dance floor is the last place on earth an underage girl can slow dance with a guy who owns a house. (His name was Ted. He had a moustache.) If they take that from us, we have nothing left to pass down to our daughters. You're too late, Barack Obama. You could not save us.

Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 15 Jan 2009 | 3:44 pm

Flying Mix-Up Lands Shocked Australian Tourists in Jail

An ill-fated sightseeing adventure has landed five shocked middle-aged Australians in prison in Indonesia's troubled Papua region.

Source: FOXNews.com | 15 Jan 2009 | 3:35 pm

Pakistan Arrests 100 In Mumbai Probe

Pakistan has arrested more than 100 people in a crackdown on groups allegedly linked to the Mumbai attacks, a top official says, adding that the information India has handed over still needs work before it can be used as evidence in court.
Source: World News: CBSNews.com | 15 Jan 2009 | 3:30 pm

U.N. Says 'Warming Relationship' Between Congo, Rwanda

Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria, cautioned that "much remains to be done," but he said the situation has improved significantly since early November when fighting and ethnic tensions had escalated significantly.

Source: FOXNews.com | 15 Jan 2009 | 3:21 pm

The Future: A Guide to Post-Bush Bush-Bashing

As the last days of the current administration draw to a close, millions of writers, bloggers, comedians, talk-show hosts and YouTube celebrities are working themselves into a licking frenzy as they get their last shots in at President George Bush, the Younger. Goodbye and good riddance, you say? At long last our national nightmare is over? Wrong and wrong. Did you really think your jobs were over? Did you spend every spare moment of the last eight years attacking Bush just to calmly, willingly let it all go? Hardly.

Those of you lazy enough to think of escaping the requirements and duties demanded by full-scale Bush-bashing have clearly not been paying attention. Anyone can attack Bush now via Regular Bush-Bashing (RBB). The difficult part is saving your hatred and vitriol for when he is no longer around, for when we really need to attack him. We tend to forget how bad things are the moment they are removed from sight and when they return, like old girlfriends or iceberg lettuce, they don't seem so bad after all. Is this what you want to happen with George W. Bush? Obviously not. And this is why Post-Bush Bush-Bashing (PBBB) is so important.

Imagine yourselves a week or two from now. Many of you will be dead. Others will be alive and those are the ones I am asking to imagine themselves a week or two from now. George W. Bush is safely ensconced in his nuclear-powered Dallas mansion, giddily chortling while President Obama is picking up the pieces of all that has come before. Imagine yourselves, so safe in the warming psychic embrace of the current President, that you feel no need to bash George W. Bush. "Why, that's ancient history," you sigh contentedly as you and your loved ones prepare for digital television that will take us all into an unimagined world of improved picture and sound quality. It is not difficult to guess what will happen as the result of an attitude like this:

2009-2012: With Bush safely out of sight and mind, there is no longer a comparative norm by which to measure Barack Obama's performance. Immediately, the press turn on him and so do the American people. Meanwhile, former Presidents Clinton, Carter, and Bush, the Elder are all killed during a taping of "Inside the Actors Studio" and Obama is forced to send Bush, the Younger on minimal foreign errands. Armed with sympathy for his position as the only living ex-President, Bush, the Younger's reputation increases. Influenced by Obama's apparent mediocre polls, a variety of professorial ne'er-do-wells reevaluate George W. Bush's legacy and decide that he was one of our greatest leaders and that Millard Fillmore's Guano Treaty was one of the most important foreign policy achievements in our history.

2012-2040: The Republicans, in a cunning move, wave their right to nominate a candidate for President in 2012, thus saving the country 250 billion dollars in election costs and gaining immeasurable good will. Meanwhile, George Bush chooses to forgo writing his memoirs and, instead, teams up with author Stephenie Meyer to create a series of books starring brother Jeb as a smart and soulful vampire hunter. Jeb becomes an instant cultural hero and, supported by an overwhelming number of teenaged girls, wins the Presidency in 2016, easily defeating Caroline Kennedy and her "My father was shot in office--what else do you want?" campaign. Soon, a new and endless supply of Bush children take office, establishing a beachhead that will dominate American politics for decades to come. And, in 2037, Dane Cook receives the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

Happily, there is no need for any of this to happen if you proceed with your PBBB the moment that Obama takes command on January 20. And just as the transition of power will shift, so you must make the transition from RBB to PBBB. Here are some ways to inspire your Bush-fueled rage in the post-Bush world:

1. Visualize. When you are at a loss as to how to begin PBBB, the mere mental image of President Bush's Texas-sized grin should be enough to jump start all of your RBB emotions and allow the hate to flow in a new, concentrated PBBB way. And if that's not enough, just remember...he was our President. Our President! Twice! Grrrrr!

2. Focus your rage. It is as easy to get distracted by the myriad number of things to hate about Bush when he is no longer President as it was when he was President, so concentrating on one area may help. Some may prefer his many war crimes while others may opt for the failure of his administration to respond to Katrina victims. Pick one fuck-up that suits your personality and see how it works. Don't be afraid to "shop around" to find the best one for you!

3. Choose a mantra. (This may or may not be related to the focus of your rage as mentioned in the above "Focus your rage.") Select a concise, easily memorizable Bush-related saying or quote that you can repeat at different intervals during the day. (Mission accomplished! Misunderestimate! He stole the Presidency--twice!) This will be directed into energy waves that not only free your mind for more PBBB but will also eventually reach out across the cosmos and injure Bush. It could take aeons but, spiritually, it will work!

4. The George W. Bush Library - $500 million for a building named after a President who can't read? Am I right? Grrrr!

5. "W." (The Director's Cut) - Deleted scenes will include Bush personally setting explosive charges in the Twin Towers and paying off Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard to take Tom Brady out for the season.

These are merely helpful hints to get you started in your blogging, protesting, and PBBB tasks. Too much to handle, you say? Too bad. And remember--it is just the beginning. For PBBB will--must--enter a new phase, a new era of antipathy and invective. We may not live to see it but the next generation certainly will--a time when our unfettered opinions of George W. Bush will be transmitted via thoughts to everyone else on the planet simultaneously, a mass e-mail of malice and wrath. A time when our children will be genetically encoded with the same hatred of George W. Bush that we have, a proud heritage to pass along. These are the days worth waiting and fighting for.

To paraphrase a great President: "We choose to bash George W. Bush not because it is easy but because it is hard." PBBB will not be easy but the important tasks in life seldom are.

Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 15 Jan 2009 | 2:36 pm

Chinese Cops Rescue 5 Kids Kidnapped to Be Sold

After a sweep spanning seven provinces and on a special order from Beijing, Chinese police have arrested 13 baby-snatchers and rescued five toddlers they had kidnapped to sell.

Source: FOXNews.com | 15 Jan 2009 | 2:32 pm

Vatican Offers Glimpse Into Secret Confession Tribunal

One of the Vatican's most secrecy shrouded tribunals, which handles confessions of sins so grave only the pope can grant absolution, is giving the faithful a peek into its workings for the first time in its 830-year history.

Source: FOXNews.com | 15 Jan 2009 | 2:23 pm

The Russia-Ukraine Gas Crisis

As representatives from Ukraine and Russia are getting ready to meet on Saturday to discuss the gas row, Europeans are being frozen to the edge, going so far as to burn their beloved 1992 David Hasselhoff Calendars to stay warm. Agreements made this week have fallen apart, so in order to end this crisis, we must get to the bottom of it. Using the only international laws that are ever truly followed: the Laws of the School Yard.

Whoever Smelt It, Dealt It: Russia and Gazprom first accused Ukraine of siphoning off gas and not paying their bill, knowing full well that the best defense is a good offense. What better way to divert attention away from yourself than to accuse somebody else? Advantage: Ukraine

Whoever Denied, It Supplied It: The first rule to getting off the hook for pretty much anything is Deny, deny, deny which means that the more adamant the denials, the more likely the guilt. Ukraine has been denying like O.J.
Advantage: Russia

Whoever Kept It, Hidden Did the Forbidden: Both Russia and Ukraine have been excessively vocal in making their cases, while others have remained a little too quiet on the subject. The likes of Somalia, Ethiopia, Hamas, Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe can easily be ruled out, but someone else clearly had a role in this.
Advantage: China

Whoever Did the Dance, Pooped Their Pants: Ukraine has stated that Russia is trying to send the gas through pipelines that are being used to send its own reserves in the opposite direction and the dance between the countries continues the crisis.
Advantage: Europeans with electric heat.

Milk, Milk, Lemonade Around the Corner Fudge Is Made: Germany is often referred to as the Land of Chocolate, which includes fudge. Germany is also well known for its beer, which has been sticking to the Reinheistgebot, or Beer Purity Law since 1487. Who needs milk and lemonade when you have chocolate and beer? As an added bonus little Adolph Hitler and his sisters were taken from their parents for undisclosed reasons, a deafening blow to neo-Nazis everywhere.
Advantage: Germany

The Pen15 Club: Being that it only works in English, there is no Le Stylo15 Club (that's French), the club had to have originally formed in England. Hence, Gordon Brown could easily solve this crisis by having Ukraine and Russia join the club. The capital "P," lowercase "en," and little "15" written on your hand requirement to join the club would unite Ukraine and Russia in embarrassment.
Advantage: Everyone who has ever convinced somebody else to let them write penis on his hand.

Doorknob: No one has yet called "doorknob" so it remains the ultimate trump card in this crisis. Once invoked, whoever started the crisis will have to immediately run to touch a doorknob, incurring a plethora of punches to the shoulder until the objective is accomplished.
Advantage: No one yet, but look for the truly guilty party to declare "Safety" before Saturday's meeting to ensure immunity.

Source: 23/6 - Some of the News, Most of the Time | 15 Jan 2009 | 2:14 pm