A senior federal law enforcement official tells ABC News the government is tracking the phone numbers we (Brian Ross and Richard Esposito) call in an effort to root out confidential sources."It's time for you to get some new cell phones, quick," the source told us in an in-person conversation.ABC News does not know how the government determined who we are calling, or whether our phone records were provided to the government as part of the recently-disclosed NSA collection of domestic phone calls.Other sources have told us that phone calls and contacts by reporters for ABC News, along with the New York Times and the Washington Post, are being examined as part of a widespread CIA leak investigation.One former official was asked to sign a document stating he was not a confidential source for New York Times reporter James Risen. ... http://blogs.abcnews.com censor News |
Editor - 12:38:00 05-15-06 |
African Union pressures Darfur rebels |
The African Union increased pressure on Sudan's holdout rebels to sign a deal ending Darfur's three-year civil war and appealed Monday for a stronger peacekeeping force to monitor it.The European Union also urged the holdouts to go along with the deal already signed by the government and the main rebel group. The holdouts had been given until Monday to sign.AU Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare said the 53-nation bloc will push for a U.N. travel ban and asset freeze targeting those who try to undermine the Darfur peace process and commit human rights violations in the vast, arid region.Abdel Wahid Nur, leader of a splinter faction of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement, and Khalil Ibrahim of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement have resisted international pressure to join the peace agreement signed May 5.... http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-05-15-darfur_x.htm?csp=34
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Editor - 12:35:00 05-15-06 |
New England Floods Force Evacuations, Rain Continues |
Record-setting rainfall in New England forced rivers out of their banks and people out of their homes today as governors in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine declared states of emergency. Record flooding is possible on several rivers in northeast Massachusetts and south central New Hampshire, and the National Weather Service has posted a flood warning for much of the two states and parts of southern Maine, according to its Web site. Parts of northeastern Massachusetts from Gloucester to Peabody received between 12 to 15 inches of rain and may get up to four inches more in the next 24 hours, said Charlie Foley, National Weather Service meteorologist in Taunton, Massachusetts said. Boston recorded 3.77 inches of rain yesterday, breaking the May 14 record. ... http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aAU4ECYdXwyw&refer=home
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Editor - 12:33:00 05-15-06 |
Landmark Nepal king plans delayed |
Political parties in Nepal have postponed landmark plans to curtail the powers of King Gyanendra, including taking away his control of the army. MPs had been due to discuss the issue on Monday but will now do so later this week, the government says. The proclamation is expected to override the 1990 constitution, which handed most power to parliament but kept the monarchy involved in politics. Meanwhile, royalist ex-ministers are being blamed for a budget shortfall. Addressing the newly-recalled parliament, Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat said increased palace and security spending were responsible for the shortfall of more than $100m in the current financial year. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4771795.stm
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Editor - 12:32:00 05-15-06 |
2 U.S. Soldiers Killed In Downing Of Chopper |
Insurgents shot down a U.S. helicopter south of Baghdad and killed two soldiers, the U.S. military said Monday. Their deaths, along with those of three other soldiers and two Marines, brought the weekend toll to seven U.S. service members.The helicopter attack occurred Sunday during fighting in Youssifiyah, 12 miles south of the Iraqi capital, the military said in a brief statement.It was the second helicopter shot down in the past six weeks over that area, known as the "Triangle of Death" because of the large number of insurgent attacks. An Apache helicopter went down there on April 1.The two U.S. Marines died Sunday during unspecified "enemy action" in Anbar Province, the area of western Iraq that is the heart of the Sunni-led insurgency, the U.S. command said. Two U.S. Army soldiers also died Sunday in a roadside bombing in Baghdad. ... http://www.nbc30.com/news/9214930/detail.html
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Editor - 12:28:00 05-15-06 |
Justices Block Ohio Taxpayers' Lawsuit |
Taxpayers have no right to challenge nearly $300 million in tax breaks that Ohio's elected officials used to entice DaimlerChrysler Corp. to build a new plant in Toledo, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday. By ruling that the taxpayers had no right to sue, the justices avoided deciding whether tax incentive programs are constitutional. The high court's decision could have had a significant impact nationally because nearly every state uses billions of dollars in tax breaks to attract companies. Two years ago, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Ohio's tax credit on new equipment, saying the practice hinders interstate commerce because the incentives are available only to businesses that invest in Ohio. ... http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5823012,00.html
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Editor - 12:24:00 05-15-06 |
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