News – Get Them in Court

General

Former head of the U.N. oil-for-food program, Benon Sevan, was accused on Monday of receiving nearly $150,000 in kickbacks and Alexander Yakovlev, a former U.N. purchasing office was arrested on charges of pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars from U.N. contractors. Try em and punish em if the evidence holds out well.

Parking tickets go tech.

The falling credibility of the reader.

Ferreting out the iTunes customer service number.

What happens to release doves.

Today’s Papers has a federal judge nailing the administration for having overturned a Clinton-era rule that required the addition of a bittering agent to rat poison so children won’t ingest it, that a secret Pentagon program actually pegged four of the 9/11 hijackers, Bush’s six-month report card compared to that of his three immediate two-term predecessors and more in the one page news.

Middle East

Addressing a special session of Parliament, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Palestinians should conduct themselves during Israel’s pullout in a way that shows the world they deserve a state</A.. That would be a big help.

Contention continues to delay the finishing of a constitution for Iraq. And nature itself has a hand in delaying events.

Iran restarts work at a uranium conversion plant while the IAEA holds an emergency meeting. The work resumption is hailed by Iranian media.

Uzi Landau, leader of a Likud “rebel” faction, will seek to topple Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as head of the ruling Likud party before the next general election.

The ICRC suspends activities in Gaza after a spate of kidnappings targeting foreigners. The UN officials kidnapped, however, were quickly liberated by security forces.

Israel’s finance minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has resigned over Sharon’s disengagement plan. He claims the plan would create a base for Islamic terrorism. Of course, an event like this garners a good deal of comment.

Europe

After having to look to UK to rescue men from a trapped submarine, Russia looks into buying rescue vehicles from them.

Amusements

Minivan bought at police auction has 100 pounds of pot inside

Google punishes CNET after CNET published a story showing how easy it was to find personal info using Google — and using Google’s CEO as an example

Five years after state government allowed Florida residents to ride motorcycles without helmets, study finds… well, let’s just say they didn’t use their newfound freedom in the responsible and careful manner for which Floridians are renowned

Two teenage boys suspended from school after visiting brothel during field trip

Political reporters laugh with glee as wife of husband convicted of tax fraud announces she will challenge wife of impeached president for Senate seat

Army whistleblower being demoted for daring to ask such questions as “Why is Halliburton getting billions in contracts without competitive bidding?”

Man drives off without wife realizes six hours later, just assumed he had gone deaf

Wal-Mart loses appeal of Oregon Land Use Board decision denying it permission to build store after forgetting to put stamp on envelope. Also forgot to sign bribe check

A week after pissing off Canada, DEA gets kicked out of Venuzuela

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop people too wrapped up in their work

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Newspaper to publish readers’ submissions for upcoming Idaho quarter.

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this picture of Manny Ramirez and Edgar Renteria banging heads