The Louisiana House approved a ban on most abortions, a largely symbolic bill that could go into effect only if the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark 1973 decision is overturned. The measure would allow abortion in cases when the woman's life is in danger or childbirth would permanently harm her health. The bill passed 85-17 and heads to the Senate. It could take effect only under two circumstances: if the U.S. Constitution is amended to allow states to ban abortion; or if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down its own Roe v. Wade ruling, which provided for a woman's right to an abortion. The bill is similar to a South Dakota law passed this year that is expected to land before the high court. ... http://abcnews.go.com censor News |
Editor - 22:26:00 05-31-06 |
Bush's Offer on Iran Talks Aimed at Winning Over China, Russia |
The Bush administration's offer to join European allies in nuclear talks with Iran is aimed less at Iranian leaders and more at persuading Russia and China that it will take every diplomatic step before forcing a confrontation. The U.S. offer yesterday to join France, Britain and Germany in negotiations as soon as Iran stops enriching uranium is a shift in the administration's previous stance that it wouldn't engage the Iranian government. Yet it is conditioned on Iran taking a step that its leaders have repeatedly rejected. ``The U.S. calculation is that Iran might not take this bait, and if that happens, Iran will look like the obstructionist,'' said Charles Ferguson, a former State Department nuclear safety official who's now at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington. ``The U.S. has feared that it was becoming isolated from its partners on this issue because while it's had a pretty tight relationship with the EU, cracks have been appearing.'' ... http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aMSTw2qZURyY&refer=home
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Editor - 22:23:00 05-31-06 |
Taiwan leader surrenders powers |
Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian has ceded some of his powers amid a growing political crisis caused by a corruption scandal involving his family members. He said he was handing control of the cabinet to the prime minister and would take no part in political campaigning. But Mr Chen said he would retain diplomatic and military portfolios and would also oversee ties with China. Mr Chen's announcement comes a week after his son-in-law was arrested on suspicion of illegal stock trading. The case against Chao Chien-ming has prompted calls by opposition politicians for the president to resign. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5035838.stm
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Editor - 22:20:00 05-31-06 |
Milosevic not poisoned, UN finds |
There is no evidence to suggest that former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic was poisoned, according to a United Nations investigation. The Hague tribunal's report said he died of a heart attack - despite claims "in some segments of the media that he was the victim of murder". Mr Milosevic died in his cell on 11 March while on trial for war crimes. The report said security breaches did allow him to self-medicate but said he had received "proper care". The UN report is based on the investigations by the Dutch public prosecutors, coroner and police. Doctors from Serbia, Russia, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, who had treated him before or during his time in detention were also consulted by the inquiry. To bad this happened just when he was trying to call the Scumbag Clinton to the court. Now that would have been an eye opener and maybe set the stage to get these other Powerful Leaders who commit War Crimes in court. He is dead, so it did not happen... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5032736.stm
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Editor - 12:02:00 05-31-06 |
Chile students clash with police |
Police in Chile have used tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands of secondary school students in Santiago who are pressing for education reforms. More than 600 students were arrested in the capital, Santiago, and hundreds of schools were closed across Chile as some 500,000 pupils staged a strike. Their demands include a new curriculum, free bus fares and no exam fees. More talks are due on Wednesday to end the dispute, seen as a big test for the new president Michelle Bachelet. Student leaders and education ministry officials are to resume their meetings in several hours after a first round of talks made some progress but produced no breakthrough. "I want to ask that we don't make a war of this," declared Education Minister Martin Zilic, saying he was optimistic a resolution could be found. Protesters said they would continue their demonstrations for another day. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5032012.stm
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Editor - 11:01:00 05-31-06 |
Troops shoot two Iraqi women at checkpoint Meantime, prime minister declares state of emergency in Basra |
Two Iraqi women were shot to death north of Baghdad after coalition forces fired on a vehicle that failed to stop at an observation post, the U.S. military said Wednesday. Iraqi police and relatives said one of the women was about to give birth.A car entered a clearly marked prohibited area near coalition troops at an observation post but failed to stop despite repeated visual and auditory warnings, the U.S. military said in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press.“Shots were fired to disable the vehicle,” the statement said. “Coalition forces later received reports from Iraqi police that two women had died from gunshot wounds ... and one of the females may have been pregnant.” The statement said the incident was being investigated.“The loss of life is regrettable and coalition forces go to great lengths to prevent them,” the military said.... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13057629/from/RSS/
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Editor - 10:59:00 05-31-06 |
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post The Good, The Bad and The Ugly |
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