After an ice storm knocked out power throughout the Carolinas last week, many people are still without heat and are forced to seek refuge in shelters like the high school in East Flat Rock, N.C. More than 400,000 homes and businesses in the Carolinas — most of them in northern South Carolina — continued to cope without electricity on Saturday. Officials say it may be until Tuesday before all power is restored. At the peak of the crisis, 700,000 homes and businesses were without power. Experts say the storm has caused as many power outages as Hurricane Hugo did in 1989.Utility officials have had trouble restoring power because of the extensive damage, and because the outages are scattered. ... http://abcnews.go.com censor News |
Editor - 13:15:00 12-18-05 |
Hamas poll win threatens aid for Palestinians |
The European Union joined the U.S. House of Representatives on Sunday in threatening to curb aid to the Palestinian Authority if the Islamic militant group Hamas wins next month's parliamentary election. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said during a visit to the region that the European Union — the main donor to the Palestinian Authority — could not support any party that advocated violence and did not recognize Israel. Hamas is sworn to destroying the Jewish state and has led a suicide bombing campaign. Solana said in Israel that if Hamas won the parliamentary election, it would be "very difficult that the help and the money that goes to … the Palestinian Authority will continue to flow." Solana also visited the Gaza Strip. Sounds like we only like Democracy when we get the results we want. If the Palestinians vote for Hamas, isn’t that Democracy? ... http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1418265
full News |
Editor - 11:36:00 12-18-05 |
Crucial choice for Bolivia voters |
Bolivians are voting in a presidential election in which the front-runner says he could be "nightmare" for the US. Left-winger Evo Morales has vowed to legalise the growing of coca, which has traditional uses but is also used in the production of cocaine. His main rival, former President Jorge Quiroga draws support from the wealthy gas and oil producing east. Bolivia, South America's poorest country, has had five presidents in the last four years. It is currently governed by interim President Eduardo Rodriguez, who took office after Carlos Mesa was ousted amid popular protests. Eight candidates are running in Sunday's election - which will also choose a new congress and new prefects, or governors, in all of the country's nine departments. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4539454.stm
full News |
Editor - 10:51:00 12-18-05 |
Netanyahu, Shalom Trade Barbs Ahead of Likud Primary |
Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom traded accusations that the other would further weaken the Likud Party as they campaigned for the last day before the party's primary election. Netanyahu, 56, pledged to oppose giving more land to the Palestinians if he wins tomorrow's contest. He warned that electing Shalom would hurt the Likud's independence and lead to it becoming a junior partner in a coalition led by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's new Kadima Party. ``Tomorrow Likud members will have to make the important choice whether they want a strong Likud that will fight against dividing Jerusalem and oppose Kadima or a little weak Likud that will just be an extension of Kadima,'' Netanyahu said in remarks broadcast on Israel Radio. ... http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aKa0hMHOkd6Q&refer=home
full News |
Editor - 10:47:00 12-18-05 |
Cheney visits Iraq; attacks kill 19 |
A string of attacks killed 19 people, including two relatives of a senior Kurdish official, and Vice President Dick Cheney made a surprise visit Sunday in which he suggested that Iraq's recent elections were a major step toward withdrawing U.S. troops. Cheney's visit, under heavy security, was so secret that even Iraq's prime minister said he was surprised when he showed up for what he believed was a meeting with the U.S. ambassador only to see Cheney waiting to greet him.Cheney toured the country the same day President Bush scheduled a prime-time address on Iraq."The participation levels all across the country were remarkable," Cheney told reporters after an hourlong briefing from the war's top military commanders. "And that's exactly what need to happen as you build a political structure in a self-governing Iraq that can unify the various segments of the population and ultimately take over responsibility for their own security."... http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-12-18-cheney-iraq_x.htm?csp=34
full News |
Editor - 10:29:00 12-18-05 |
Cuba avoids friction with US over Guantanamo |
American anti-torture activists who marched through southeastern Cuba to protest the detention of terror suspects at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay had to settle last week for a prayer vigil five miles away. Cuba's Communist government did not allow the 25 members of the Catholic Worker movement to march to the gates of the U.S. military enclave and demand access to the prisoners. Instead of jumping at the chance to embarrass its foe, Cuba preferred to avoid an incident in the no-man's land of barbed wire and mines surrounding the 45-square-mile (117-sq-km) base. ... http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1418199
full News |
Editor - 10:26:00 12-18-05 |
|
post The Good, The Bad and The Ugly |
|