News – Short News

Middle East

Moqtada Sadr orders the six cabinet ministers in Iraq’s parliament who hold loyalty to him to withdraw from it, in an effort to pressure Prime Minister Nouri Maliki to set a date for the withdrawal of US troops.

Those who claim the attack on Iraq’s Parliament step forward. On that note, looking at the security in the Green Zone. So how did the bomber manage to get through all of that?

Asia/Pacific

Seven EU parliament members go to a forum on democracy in Singapore. They, along with Cambodian and Philippine congresspersons are not allowed to speak at the forum. The Singapore government says that foreigners did not have permission to speak at the event. “Singapore’s politics are reserved for Singaporeans. As visitors to our country, foreigners should not abuse their privilege by interfering in our domestic politics,” Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement. Interesting.

South Korea is considering delaying food aid to North Korea because they missed the deadline to shut down their main nuclear reactor. Note, not long ago they promised to send it regardless of that aspect. Normally I’d say they should do what they think is right, but they made a direct promise that they are contemplating going back on. This is not good for the process of negotiation. They should carry out their promise and learn to not make promises they aren’t set and determined to keep.

Free repairs for 180k toilets offered after some of them catch fire. That’s right.. toilets on fire. Insert ‘hot seat’ jokes here.

Americas

So finally Jose Padilla is getting his day in court. The original accusations against him, of being a dirty bomber, factor not at all with what he’s currently being charged with.

Further concerns over the DHS watch list. It’s a net that catches far too many innocent people up in delays and other such bullshit. I’m just glad that I’m not caught by said net. All the same, I like to get to the airport 2-3 hours early just in case. Fortunately, there are ways to deal with it.

A study notes that the young who attend sexual abstinence classes are no more likely to abstain that those who don’t. Of course, if those classes have no info on safe sex, it’s likely they’ll not know how to properly protect themselves as well, I bet.

North Carolina District Attorney Mike Nifong faces possible disbarment for allegedly violating the rules of legal ethics in the Duke lacrosse case.

General

Should we fight the market for human organs or use it? All things considered, it is a market that will exist despite the distaste some have for it. If it were accepted, it could at least be better regulated than if it’s given to being banned.

Is the cause of high blood pressure in the brain? If so, there could be better ways discovered to deal with it.

The Blogs are all about the Don Imus issue.

Today’s Papers has the Internet as a terrorist recruiting ground, the increasing number of illegal immigrants filing taxes in hopes it will help them one day earn legal status, the release of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ testimony a full two days ahead of a key Senate hearing on the controversy over fired U.S. attorneys and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Mark Fiore: MC Rove

Ford paid Allen Mulally 28.2m for three months’ work, while losing 12.6b. Yet American automakers wonder why the American public seems unwilling to bail them out

Britain now fines you more for putting your garbage out for collection on the wrong day than it does for theft

Foolish customer, you cannot hurt a Twinkie. And here’s why

Arizona realtors get Zillow banned in state. Because a computerized algorithm could never be more accurate than a high-school dropout housewife in a gold blazer

Helicopter rescues teen after he’s declared too fat, drunk and stupid to climb back up from the beach

Football fan seeks compensation because he got wet when it rained

Dog turns CD player on while owner is on vacation and turns it up to full blast. Hilarity ensues

Frustrated artist jailed for three months after planting and calling in a fake bomb to get more recognition for his work

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: If religion ruled the business world…

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this retro transistor

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Theme: Convert an old Soviet propaganda poster or mural into a campaign ad for the 2008 U.S. elections