News – Improper Appointment
North America
Bush has nominated John Bolton, an open and fervent critic of the UN, as US ambassador to the UN. Some think Bolton will help the UN through ‘tough love’. Personally, I think that if you want to show tough love, you have to have the love first and Bolton, as far as I’ve heard, doesn’t have it. Putting an openly discordant element into the mix is more likely to cause the UN to close off, not work with Bolton on reform. Of course, if Bush wanted to make sure the UN resists every effort at change in a bid to further discredit them.. hey, I wouldn’t put it past him, personally.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says that the US would never send prisoners to other countries to be tortured. If that’s so, I’d like to see where they require that any prisoner sent abroad for interrogation isn’t tortured by the host interrogators and where they set aside penalties for those who do so.
Laura Bush reveals the White House plan for dealing with gangs and drugs.
A congressional investigation shows that dozens of terrorism suspects on federal watch lets were able to get approval to buy guns legally in the US.
The senate has voted down republican and democratic efforts to put a rise in the minimum wage into bankruptcy legislation.
What should CBS do to address it’s past mistakes?
Middle East
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accuses Israel of dragging it’s feet on peace moves, such as it’s promise to free prisoners and pull back from West bank cities. The more extreme settlers remain dug in, prepared to resist being moved.
An undefined Syrian official says that the troop pullout planned for Lebanon includes intelligence and security personnel. I say let them act for now without badgering, but watch closely what they do. If they only pull back some, rather than out fully, then we can resume demands.
Local police warn that India’s outsourcing industry could be a target for terrorists, but the companies say they’re prepared to cope with that threat.
Pro-Syrian demonstrators rally against perceived US interference in Lebanon, marking a division in views within the country. With Syrian troops leaving, that won’t help the stability of the region if those divisions decide to clash.
While they don’t go so far as asserting US soldiers deliberately fired on the car carrying a freed Italian hostage, they say that the US version of events don’t mesh with theirs and would like a full investigation. The journalist herself asserts she was targeted, but the US denies her claims. I don’t see a reason they’d want to do such a thing. The 3rd Infantry Brigade, the unit involved in the event, has also had a few soldiers investigated for an alleged rape a year ago. Mind you, such things don’t imply, nor are intended to imply, deviancy being common within that division. It’s merely something else that’s happened.
Asia
China reveals anti-secession legislation that allows the use of military force to thwart Taiwan independence last among other options.
China’s soaring demand for timber is a threat to the world’s forests, says the conservation group WWF.
Europe
Search dogs in a part of England are wired up and protected better than most.
General
The details of running the World Bank. Do you think Bono could do it?
Today’s Papers has terrorists potentially infiltrating US security institutions, regular low-doses of aspirin effecting men and women oppositely, a tragic fire in a Dominican Republic prison that kills 134 trapped inmates and more in the one page news.
Amusements
Zookeepers chase man in lion suit. w/ video goodness
Al-Quaeda had plans to kidnap Russell Crowe in an attempt to bring America and it’s unbridled devotion to celebrity to its knees. However, their plan was scrapped when they realized Americans were ok with it
Car chase ends at toll plaza when criminal mastermind forgets exact change
PEZ collectors clear out from basements around the world, hold convention in Wisconsin. Self-proclaimed “PEZheads” admit they have “a bit of an illness.”
Educator cries foul when Manchester United star uses 10 obscenities in a one minute “discussion” with a referee
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Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this big top