A federal appeals court will hear arguments Tuesday in the case of a German man who claims the CIA held him captive and tortured him in Afghanistan after mistakenly identifying him as an associate of the Sept. 11 hijackers. Khaled El-Masri wants the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reinstate his lawsuit against former CIA director George Tenet and others. A federal judge in Alexandria dismissed the suit in May, ruling that a trial could expose government secrets and jeopardize national security. Ben Wizner, the American Civil Liberties Union lawyer representing El-Masri, said the workings of the CIA's "extraordinary rendition" program in the war on terror already are so widely known that the case could be tried without divulging any state secrets. The rendition program, in which terror suspects are captured and taken to foreign countries for interrogation, has been heavily criticized by human rights groups and has been the subject of worldwide newspaper and magazine articles... http://www.foxnews.com censor News |
Editor - 09:32:00 11-24-06 |
Ethiopia warning draws Somali ire |
The Islamic body that controls much of Somalia has reacted angrily to comments by Ethiopia that it is prepared for an attack by its eastern neighbour. The head of Somalia's Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, said his forces were ready to face Ethiopian troops within Somalia. On Thursday Ethiopia's PM said the UIC had declared holy war on his country. Ethiopia denies allegations by the UIC that Ethiopian troops are backing Somalia's weak transitional government. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has denied these claims but admits to having hundreds of military trainers in Somalia. On Thursday he told MPs that Somalia's UIC represented a "clear threat". ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6179218.stm
full News |
Editor - 09:28:00 11-24-06 |
Oil May Rise on Increased Demand for Heating Fuel. Yep like they said, it has nothing to do with the election, just another coincidence the election is over |
Crude oil may rise next week on speculation increased demand for heating fuel during the U.S. winter will cut inventories. Seventeen of 35 analysts, traders and brokers, or 49 %, said prices will gain, according to a Bloomberg News survey. Eight expect a decline and 10 forecast little change. Last week, 52 % said oil would be higher this week. Supplies of distillate fuel, including heating oil and diesel, fell for a seventh week last week, declining 1.2 million barrels to 133.8 million in the U.S., the Energy Department said on Nov. 22. Prices may also climb on expectations the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will cut output next month in response to demands from members Venezuela, Algeria and Nigeria. ``With the OPEC meeting coming up, refineries starting to run and an upcoming winter, we will see a rise in the longer run,'' said Nils-Erik Berg, a Stockholm-based oil trader with Preem Petroleum AB, Sweden's largest oil company. They forgot winter was coming? ... http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aq1RfQdmB1R8&refer=exclusive
full News |
Editor - 09:24:00 11-24-06 |
EU-Russia summit delays new pact |
A summit between the European Union and Russia has ended without progress on a new partnership agreement with Moscow. The two sides had planned to launch negotiations on such a pact - involving energy, migration and other issues - in the Finnish capital Helsinki. But Poland vetoed the partnership talks and is refusing to lift its objections unless Russia ends a ban on Polish meat and vegetables. Most EU members had tried to get Poland to change its mind, to no avail. The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Helsinki said the summit appeared to be doomed to failure before it had even begun. It is the first time that one of the 10 countries that joined the EU in 2004 has blocked such an important EU agreement. Talks about a new Stability and Co-operation Pact between the EU and Russia were to have been a key part of the meeting. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6179080.stm
full News |
Editor - 09:16:00 11-24-06 |
Dollar loses ground against euro |
The dollar has plunged to its lowest level against the euro since April 2005 amid concerns for the US economy. The euro surged to $1.3086 against the dollar, with many other currencies following suit. Sterling rose almost 1% to $1.93, the yen hit a two-month high and Russia's rouble rose to a seven-year high. Analysts have voiced concerns about the US economy after the White House downgraded its growth forecasts amid a sharp slowdown in the housing market. Meanwhile, expectations that the European Central Bank is once again about to raise interest rates gave a lift to the euro. Recent figures showing an unexpected rise in German business sentiment - its seventh quarterly rise in a row - also helped. So did French data showing that business confidence held at five-year highs in November. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6179552.stm
full News |
Editor - 09:11:00 11-24-06 |
Official: Russia Sending Air Defense Missile System to Iran |
Russia has begun delivery of Tor-M1 air defense missile systems to Iran, a Defense Ministry official said Friday, confirming that Moscow would proceed with arms deals with Tehran in spite of Western criticism. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue, declined to specify when the deliveries had been made and how many systems had been delivered. Ministry officials have previously said Moscow would supply 29 of the sophisticated missile systems to Iran under a $700 million contract signed in December, according to Russian media reports. The United States called on all countries last spring to stop all arms exports to Iran, as well as ending all nuclear cooperation with it to put pressure on Tehran to halt uranium enrichment activities. Israel, too, has severely criticized arms deals with Iran. The Tor-M1 deal, involving conventional weapons, does not violate any international agreements... http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,231717,00.html
full News |
Editor - 09:08:00 11-24-06 |
|
post The Good, The Bad and The Ugly |
|