An 18-year-old Portland man with autism, whose recruitment renewed questions about Army practices, was released Tuesday from his enlistment contract. Jared Guinther signed up for one of the Army's most dangerous jobs, cavalry scout, after being heavily recruited. He passed medical and other examinations. He was scheduled to leave for basic training in August. The Army announced Tuesday that it decided he didn't meet enrollment criteria, two days after The Oregonian newspaper reported his parents' objections. Gaylan Johnson, spokesman for the United States Military Entrance Processing Command, said Guinther's disability was not disclosed in the medical exam and information regarding his condition was not available to the command until after the enrollment process was complete. The command oversees medical exams for the Army. ... http://www.cbsnews.com censor News |
Editor - 09:37:00 05-12-06 |
Zimbabwe's inflation tops 1,000% |
Zimbabwe's inflation rate has surged past the 1,000% mark signalling that the African country is struggling to keep its economy functioning normally. The annual rate of price growth was 1,042.9% in April, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) said, having risen 129 percentage points from March. It means average goods are about 11 times as expensive in April 2006 as they were 12 months earlier. Zimbabwe is suffering from shortages of food, fuel and foreign currency. President Robert Mugabe blames domestic and foreign enemies for the problems. According to the International Monetary Fund, Zimbabwe suffers the highest rate of inflation in the world. Many analysts put the responsibility firmly at the ruling party's door, claiming the government made the situation worse when it seized control of land owned by white farmers, which triggered a sharp drop in production and exports of agricultural goods.... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4765187.stm
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Editor - 09:33:00 05-12-06 |
Moussaoui 'saved by lone juror' |
Only one juror prevented Zacarias Moussaoui from being sentenced to death for his role in the 9/11 attacks, the Washington Post has reported. The paper says it was contacted by the jury forewoman from the trial, after which Moussaoui was given life in jail. She said that in secret votes on three terrorism charges, the jury repeatedly voted 11-1, 10-2 and 10-2. A unanimous vote on any of the charges would have condemned Moussaoui to a lethal injection. The forewoman complained that the dissenter who kept holding out on the first charge never identified him or herself, and never put forward their arguments for discussion, the paper says.... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4765041.stm
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Editor - 09:30:00 05-12-06 |
EU calls for unity from Americas |
European leaders have expressed concern at the mixed signals coming from Latin America, as tensions over energy overshadow a summit in Austria. Bolivia's nationalisation of its gas sector and a planned new Venezuelan tax on oil firms have dominated the agenda. But with some Latin American and Caribbean nations keen to expand trade, the European Commission president urged the nations to present a common vision. Growing differences between them may prevent a trade deal, analysts say. Some American countries, like Chile and Colombia, favour free market economics and are keen to attract investment from Europe, says the BBC's Latin American correspondent Steve Kingstone. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4763999.stm
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Editor - 09:22:00 05-12-06 |
Mogadishu militia fighting kills 135 |
At least 135 have been killed in a fight between rival militias to control a district of the troubled Somalian capital, Mogadishu.The fighting in the northern CC district of the city began last Sunday as mainly secular warlords clashed with the Islamic Court Union (ICU).Thousands of residents have since cleared out of the neighbourhood, but the majority of those killed are believed to have been bystanders killed in the crossfire between the two groups. The ICU, whose base is in the south of the city, has been fighting for control of a strategically important road in the north of the capital.Government control in Somalia broke down in 1991 and there has been little outside involvement in the country since 1995, when a UN peacekeeping force withdrew following fierce fighting with local guerrillas.... http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1773757,00.html?gusrc=rss
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Editor - 09:20:00 05-12-06 |
US immigration bill impasse eases |
The US Senate has reached a deal that could see the approval of a stalled bill that would grant millions of illegal immigrants the right to stay. But the deal gives Republicans the right to make amendments that could curtail eventual immigrant benefits. The bill would also need to be squared with laws passed in the House that call for criminalising illegal immigrants. Pro-immigrant pressure groups have announced another demonstration in Washington next Wednesday. One of the Senate bill's key provisions is the opening of a path to eventual citizenship for about 11 million illegal immigrants. Many Republicans in the House see the Senate bill as an amnesty to lawbreakers. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4764027.stm
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Editor - 09:17:00 05-12-06 |
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