News – Money Talks?

Iraq

Saudi Ambassador Prince Bandar bin Sultan says that the US could have avoided bloodshed by buying the loyalty of the former Iraqi army for around 200 million. Question is, if that had happened what would America and the Iraqis have thought about it. It’s an interesting possibility, but could have been seen in a very poor light.

There has been recent heavy fighting in the Golan and Shuhada districts of Falluja.

Georgi Parvanov, the President of Bulgaria was making a surprise visit to Iraq when his convoy was ambushed. Though his car was shot up, no one was injured in the attack.

The UK could send in up to 2,000 more troops to cope with the loss of Spain’s 1,400.

Israel/Palestine

Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and Education Minister Limor Livnat all refuse to promote Sharon’s Gaza pullout plan, which they only reluctantly back. But don’t’ worry, he’s promised to not be bound by the vote, he’ll present the plan to parliament regardless.

Israeli human rights groups accuse border police of using a 13 year old boy as a human shield.

Twenty Palestinian militants who are wanted by Israel were forced to leave Arafat’s compound.

Afghanistan

The US fingers Spain and Turkey as countries that could do more militarily in Afghanistan, since they’re not in Iraq. Those nations and several others, all part of NATO, are noted to have ‘excess troop capacity’ and could help in that arena.

Korea

The toll of the train explosion in North Korea continues to rise, their hospitals overwhelmed with the wounded.

Africa

The IAEA is looking to use it’s Sterile Insect Technique to try and eradicate the Malaria carrying mosquitos from the African continent. The technique has worked well before and if it does now, then it could help end the problem of Malaria on the continent. But the project is being pursued carefully as there are still many issues with it.

China

China’s Parliament says no go to Hong Kong elections in 2007 and 2008. That leaves China in control of the island’s democratic progress.

Canada

Canada has the first diesel-hydrogen hybrid truck.

US

Bush to promote high speed internet and alternative fuels. Universal access to broadband internet by 2007? We’ll see, I suppose.

DC was the site of a massive protest on abortion rights. Organizers claim to have had about a million participants. Possible, though no official numbers are noted yet.

Bush stands behind his policy of showing no flag draped coffins despite a Kerry slam. No exploiting them, he says. Things can only be exploited so much as to benefit his campaign. Anything more is unacceptable. But if you want to see them, you can head over to The Memory Hole.

Dinner party trivia: Kerry still has shrapnel in his leg.

National average price of gas at $1.83 a gallon.

Continues the wasteful spending on broken missile defense, when there are few if any nations that could reach us with missiles and have the intent to do so if they could.

Bush gets ripped on his administration’s science policy by US Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle at an American Association for the Advancement of Science forum.

Mark Geragos and Benjamin Brafman have been released as Michael Jackson’s lawyers without any noted reason. They’re replaced by Thomas Mesereau.

General

Estee Lauder has passed away at 97. In 198 she was the only woman on Time’s list of the 20th most influential business geniuses.

You think it’s over once you buy yourself an iPod? Oh no, you must accessorize! Boombox purses? iPod control winter jackets? Crazy man.

Is Google’s porn site filter a little too tight? I think they could refine it to be a bit more detailed when it comes to looking for keywords.

Amusements

Phone mistaken for gun during fight.

Newgrounds: Bounty Hunters Talk Back

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Pick a scene from Iowa State’s “Last VEISHA Ever” and photoshop it. Choices include egg catapults, a medieval tournament and Jesus marching with a folded lawn chair

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop new Magic: The Gathering cards featuring politicans

Note: As The Guardian was inaccessible at creation time, The BBC has replaced it in this news entry.

Note 2: I also forgot to do Slate. Sorry. :p