Five years after the Sept. 11 attacks, the Bush administration still does not fully understand the threat from al-Qaida, a congressional report released on Wednesday said.“(Al-Qaida) still remains the single greatest threat. ... Unfortunately, there are still gaps in our understanding of Islamist extremist groups, which leaves America vulnerable,” the report said.The document, “Al-Qaeda: The Many Faces of an Islamist Extremist Threat,” was part of a series of reports released by the House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on threats facing the United States. Democrat members distanced themselves from them and accused the Republican majority of trying to frighten voters about such threats in advance of elections in November....
http://www.msnbc.msn.com
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Editor - 07:51:00 09-21-06
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 Sulawesi militants face execution |
Three Indonesian Christian militants facing execution for attacks against Muslims in 2000 have been visited by relatives for probably the last time. Lawyers for Fabianus Tibo, Marianus Riwu and Dominggus Silva said earlier this week the men would face the firing squad in Central Sulawesi on Thursday. But a priest who also visited the trio said the date was set for early Friday. Security is tight in the religiously divided province amid fears the executions will spark renewed violence. The priest, Reverend Jimmy Tumbelaka, said after meeting the three men at their prison in Palu: "They are mentally ready to face the firing squad". Mr Tibo's son Robert said he did not think there was anything more they could do for the men. "I just came today for my father. I hope the last prayers will help him." Some 4,000 extra troops have already been deployed in Central Sulawesi, and reinforcements are being drafted in as tensions rise ahead of the executions. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5366226.stm
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Editor - 07:49:00 09-21-06
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| Atlantis shuttle returns to Earth |
The space shuttle Atlantis has touched down safely in Florida, ending a 12-day mission to re-start construction of the International Space Station (ISS). The shuttle made a perfect landing on runway 33 at Nasa's Kennedy Space Center just after 0621 EDT (1021 GMT). "Nice to be back. It was a great team effort. Assembly is off to a good start," said Atlantis' commander Brent Jett after the landing. The mission is the third shuttle flight since the Columbia disaster in 2003. A planned return on Wednesday was postponed after astronauts spotted several mysterious objects floating in space outside the orbiter. But inspections found no damage to the spacecraft from the nearby debris. And the US space agency was happy that none of the items posed a further risk to the vehicle. There have been some suggestions that the objects escaped from the shuttle's cargo bay and are related to spacewalks undertaken during the mission. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5365114.stm
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Editor - 07:47:00 09-21-06
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| Branson Pledges $3 Billion at Clinton Global Initiative to Combat Global Warming |
British business mogul Richard Branson said Thursday he would invest about $3 billion to combat global warming over the next decade. Branson, the billionaire behind the multi-platform Virgin brand, said the money would come from 100 percent of the profits generated by his transportation and airline sectors. It will then be invested in efforts to find renewable, sustainable energy sources in an effort to wean the world off of oil and coal. Branson made the announcement on the second day of the Clinton Global Initiative, an annual conference of business, political and nonprofit leaders hosted by former President Clinton. "Our generation has inherited an incredibly beautiful world from our parents and they from their parents," Branson said at a news conference with Clinton at his side. "We must not be the generation responsible for irreversibly damaging the environment." ...
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2473154
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Editor - 07:45:00 09-21-06
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| Power handover in Iraqi province |
UK and Italian forces in southern Iraq have handed over control of the province of Dhi Qar to Iraqi forces. At a ceremony in the provincial capital, Nasiriya, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki described the handover as a "great day". It is the second of 18 provinces to be handed over, following neighbouring Muthanna in July. Dhi Qar is one of the country's less troubled provinces, and has been in the British area of control since 2003. There are reports of a string of insurgency attacks across Iraq which claimed up to 32 casualties. The attacks included: Six officers died in a mortar and gun attack on a police station in west BaghdadA car bomb in a market in north-west Baghdad killed two peopleAt least three died in violence in Baghdad's Doura neighbourhoodOther deadly attacks are reported in Baqouba, Diwaniya, Diyala, Falluja and Mosul. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5366270.stm
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Editor - 07:43:00 09-21-06
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| Military to name civilian as leader |
Thailand's military and police officers yesterday promised to install a civilian interim prime minister within two weeks, so elections could take place in one year. Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin, the army commander who seized Thailand's government in a quick, bloodless coup, also received the endorsement of the country's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Such support is regarded as crucial for the survival of the coup. Gen. Sondhi said that he would act as prime minister for two weeks until a new leader is chosen by the Council of Administrative Reform, that an interim constitution would be drafted within that time and that Thailand's foreign-policy and international agreements would remain unchanged. He also said there would be no elections for a year. The Bush administration denounced the coup, saying it was a "step backward for democracy," but did not warn Americans to leave. Australia called the government seizure a "great disappointment," and the European Union also condemned it...
http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20060920-111935-7627r.htm
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Editor - 00:39:00 09-21-06
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