Democrats in the U.S. Congress pressed on Thursday for a timetable for a U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq, ignoring White House threats of a presidential veto on any bill that ties nearly $100 billion in combat funds to a 2008 pullout. The U.S. House of Representatives was set to begin debate on legislation to bring all American combat troops out of Iraq by September 1, 2008. A vote is expected by Friday. Anticipating that debate, the White House issued another in a string of strong warnings. "The one (bill) they are considering has zero chance of being enacted into law. It's bad legislation, the president's going to veto it and Congress will sustain that veto," White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters. But Democratic leaders kept scrambling to nail down the 218 votes they need in the House to pass the bill, which funds U.S. combat in Iraq and Afghanistan this year.... http://news.yahoo.com censor News |
Editor - 10:37:00 03-22-07 |
US struggles to avert Turkish intervention in northern Iraq |
The US is scrambling to head off a "disastrous" Turkish military intervention in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq that threatens to derail the Baghdad security surge and open up a third front in the battle to save Iraq from disintegration. Senior Bush administration officials have assured Turkey in recent days that US forces will increase efforts to root out Kurdistan Workers' party (PKK) guerrillas enjoying safe haven in the Qandil mountains, on the Iraq-Iran-Turkey border. But Abdullah Gul, Turkey's foreign minister, MPs, military chiefs and diplomats say up to 3,800 PKK fighters are preparing for attacks in south-east Turkey — and Turkey is ready to hit back if the Americans fail to act. "We will do what we have to do, we will do what is necessary. Nothing is ruled out," Mr Gul said. "I have said to the Americans many times: suppose there is a terrorist organisation in Mexico attacking America. What would you do?... We are hopeful. We have ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/turkey/story/0,,2040626,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12
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Editor - 10:35:00 03-22-07 |
Thousands flee Mozambique blasts |
There has been a series of explosions at a weapons depot in Mozambique, situated near the capital's airport. Thousands of people in Maputo fled in panic as shells and shrapnel were hurled into the air. Smoke and blasts could be seen and heard from 10km away. It is the second time in less than two months that aging explosives in the arsenal have detonated. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6481607.stm
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Editor - 10:33:00 03-22-07 |
Pill stops cow burps and helps save the planet, Nutty news for today |
Cut down on flying, sell the car and recycle your bottles. But if you really want to tackle global warming, you should stop your cow from burping. According to scientific estimates, the methane gas produced by cows is responsible for 4% of greenhouse gas emissions. And now, German scientists have invented a pill to cut bovine burping. The fist-sized plant-based pill, known as a bolus, combined with a special diet and strict feeding times, is meant to reduce the methane produced by cows. "Our aim is to increase the wellbeing of the cow, to reduce the greenhouse gases produced and to increase agricultural production all at once," ... http://environment.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,,2040615,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12
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Editor - 10:31:00 03-22-07 |
McDonald's franchise pays $550,000 to settle sex harassment charges |
A company that runs McDonald's (MCD) restaurants in Arizona and California will pay $550,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the federal agency that oversees workplace civil rights.GLC Restaurants, based in Flagstaff, will pay the money to eight young women who were sexually harassed by a male manager at a McDonald's restaurant in Cordes Junction, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced Thursday. McDonald's was not named in the suit.The manager allegedly grabbed the teens around the waist, touched their breasts, put his hands in their pockets and rubbed up against them in 2001 and 2002, according to the EEOC lawsuit, filed in federal court in 2005.... http://www.usatoday.com/money/workplace/2007-03-22-sex-harassment_N.htm?csp=34
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Editor - 10:28:00 03-22-07 |
Pentagon Probes Army Retirement Home Investigators Sent To Check Out Allegations Of Poor Conditions, Rising Death Rate At Historic Facility |
Responding to more allegations of poor health care for veterans, the Pentagon said Thursday it is investigating conditions at a historic retirement home in the capital. The Defense Department sent a medical team on an inspection visit Wednesday after Defense Secretary Robert Gates received a letter from the Government Accountability Office reporting allegations of a rising death rate and rooms spattered with blood, urine and feces at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Northwest Washington. "We are going to take every complaint and we are going to address it," said Maj. Stewart T. Upton, a Pentagon spokesman. There were also charges of patients with severe bed sores, including one with maggots, CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports. "This was a resident who was uncooperative in his care, which doesn't excuse what our staff did. We did find a maggot in the wound," said Timothy Cox, head of the home. ... http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/22/national/main2595817.shtml?source=RSSattr=U.S._2595817
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Editor - 10:27:00 03-22-07 |
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