"A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished."   Proverbs 22:3 and Proverbs 27:12  KJV   Word study on this verse

 

 UK: New abortion rules spark protest news.bbc.co.uk 7/310/4 ["Anti-abortion campaigners have condemned new guidelines which confirm doctors can help girls under 16 to have an abortion without involving parents."]
 China leader warns Bush on Taiwan news.bbc.co.uk 7/310/4 ["Chinese president Hu Jintao has phoned President George W Bush to warn the US against selling more military technology to Taiwan."]
 Iran 'insists' on enriching uranium reuters.co.uk 7/310/4 ["A U.N. Security Council referral was now "more and more likely," he said during a visit to Kuwait.  The administration has been agitating to bring Iran before the security council, which can impose sanctions on violators of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty."]
 Taiwan's Chen in submarine dive news.bbc.co.uk 7/310/4 ["Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian has taken part in a rare submarine dive as part of the island's annual war games.   ...In a speech back on dry land, President Chen blamed China for threatening peace in the Taiwan Straits, by increasing its military budget and deploying missiles aimed at Taiwan.  He said the island needed to strengthen its own defences. "]
 Sudan rejects UN resolution on Darfur abc.net.au 7/310/4 ["Sudan has 30 days to comply or it will face the threat of international sanctions."]
 Rev. Jerry Falwell accused of violating tax-exempt status by endorsing Bush sfgate.com 7/310/4 ["Leaders cannot make partisan comments in official organization publications or at official organization functions, including official church publications and functions," Miller wrote"]
 9/11 chairman: 'Complete transformation' needed cnn.com 7/310/4 ["We do not see the creation of a new domestic intelligence collection agency, because it would be too risky for civil liberties, take too long and sever an important link between criminal investigation and intelligence gathering,"]
 White House Projects Highest Deficit Ever apnews.myway.com 7/310/4 ["This year's federal deficit will soar to a record $445 billion"]
 Ashcroft's 'anti-terror' numbers game timesunion.com 7/310/4 ["often by using terrorism laws against conventional criminals and a curious hodgepodge of nuns, protesters and artists."]
 Argentina blames IMF for crisis news.bbc.co.uk 7/310/4 ["International Monetary Fund policies are to blame for impoverishing 15 million people in Argentina, the country's president has said."]
 

 

 China Warns of Military Clash with Taiwan by 2008 reuters.com 7/30/4 ["if the island's President Chen Shui-bian pushes ahead with a plan for a new constitution by 2008"]
 Oil Prices Set Record Highs Friday voanews.com 7/30/4 ["Prices began to skyrocket Wednesday on news Russian oil giant Yukos may be forced to stop selling oil. Russia is the world's second-biggest oil exporter, after Saudi Arabia, and Yukos is its largest oil producer."]
 Negotiators Try to Reach World Trade Deal reuters.com 7/30/4 ["Success in the talks would lay the basis for continued negotiations in the World Trade Organization's Doha Round that could give the world economy a long-term boost. Failure would mean a virtual rerun of the collapse of world trade talks in Cancun, Mexico, last year."]
 NATO Clinches Iraq Deal as U.S., France Shelve Row reuters.com 7/30/4 ["after the United States, faced with resistance from France, agreed to shelve its demand that the mission come under U.S.-led coalition command."]
 New law allows schools to hold students until 17 years old newsday.com 7/30/4 ["N.Y. -- A new state law aimed at increasing graduation rates will allow more school districts to compel students to stay in school through the year of their 17th birthday. "]
 APA Taken to Task for Endorsement of Same-Sex 'Marriage,' Same-Sex Adoption agapepress.org 7/30/4 ["This week's endorsement of same-sex "marriage" and homosexual adoption by the world's largest association of psychologists is, in the words of one critic, another attempt to "silence the truth about homosexuality.""]
 Prison camp must go: Blair thestar.com 7/30/4 ["Guantanamo Bay"]
 Christian Doctors Group Urges Congress to Invest in Adult Stem Cells lifenews.com 7/30/4 ["Over 2,000 doctors who are members of the Christian Medical Assoication signed a letter sent to members of Congress on Friday, "urging investment in adult stem cell research that is already providing therapies for patients.""]
 UN Demands Sudan Disarm Militia, Threatens Sanctions bloomberg.com 7/30/4 ["``We believe the signal the council is now sending to Khartoum is unambiguous,'' German Ambassador Gunter Pleuger said. ``Sudan has been given a chance to avoid the imposition of sanctions.''"]
 Malaysian censors say Passion is only for Christians guardian.co.uk 7/30/4 ["Tickets for the picture, ...will only be sold through churches and it is believed the distributor Fox International will not be allowed to advertise."]
 Arrow anti-missile defense system successfully tested in U.S. haaretzdaily.com 7/30/4 ["being further proof for the technological superiority of the Israeli defense industries."]
 

 

 US Drops Word 'Sanctions' from Sudan UN Resolution voanews.com 7/29/4 ["It turns out that the word is objectionable to certain members of the Security Council. They would rather use what I would call 'U.N. speak' for exactly the same thing."]
 Graphic Abortion Protest To Roll Into Des Moines theiowachannel.com 7/29/4 ["Protesters say they want to change minds about abortion in key states in this election year. The goal is to shock voters nationwide.   ...Some events are so evil that words fail to describe their magnitude"]
 Nato scheme to train Iraqi security forces is blocked news.independent.co.uk 7/29/4 ["At the Istanbul summit the French President, Jacques Chirac, said the alliance could offer support to individual nations which want to train Iraqi troops but that "a Nato presence in Iraq" was out of the question."]
 New York Times Admits It Is “Cheerleading” for Gay Marriage massnews.com 7/29/4 ["literally three-quarters of the people deciding what's on the front page are not-so-closeted homosexuals."]
 AU troops heading for Darfur kbc.co.ke 7/29/4 ["the African Union has asked for British and Dutch help in airlifting 300 African troops to Sudan. "]
 Gay marriage quickly becomes new culture war registerguard.com 7/29/4 [" The two sides are also increasingly identified with the Republican and Democratic parties."]
 Oshkosh Police conduct door to door gun confiscations 7/29/4 ["Citizens' guns were seized through searches of area homes. The police promised to return the firearms after forensic tests proved they were not involved in the crime."]
 Party refuses to cede the religious vote boston.com 7/29/4 ["Yesterday, the Democratic National Committee sponsored its first convention caucus for "people of faith," and last week the party hired a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister as a senior adviser on outreach to religious voters.   ...the Republican Party has increasingly embraced the language of religion, as the GOP has successfully courted, and become influenced by, conservative white evangelical Protestants."]
 Economic slowdown to hit US smh.com.au 7/29/4 ["orders for big-ticket manufactured goods rose by only a 0.7 per cent rise last month."]
 Under-the-skin ID chips move toward U.S. hospitals zdnet.com.com 7/29/4 ["The Federal Drug Administration issued a ruling Tuesday that essentially begins a final review process that will determine whether hospitals can use RFID systems  ...to identify patients and/or permit relevant hospital staff to access medical records"]
 Oil price at 21-year record as fears grow news.ft.com 7/29/4 ["The sharp increase came as Yukos, one of Russia's biggest oil companies, threatened to halt production and concerns grew over whether the world's limited spare oil capacity would be able to satisfy growing demand in a tight market.   ...World oil producers, almost all of which are pumping at full capacity, have only a 1.5m-2m barrels a day cushion of spare oil left to make up any shortage."]
 Alaska Volcano Showing Possible Eruption Signs reuters.com 7/29/4 ["An Alaska volcano that last erupted 14 years ago, raining ash on the state's largest city, is now rumbling with earthquakes that may be a precursor to another eruption, scientists said on Wednesday."]
 

 

 Lost Record '02 Florida Vote Raises '04 Concern nytimes.com 7/28/4 ["Almost all the electronic records from the first widespread use of touch-screen voting in Miami-Dade County have been lost, stoking concerns that the machines are unreliable as the presidential election draws near.   ...records disappeared after two computer system crashes last year"]
 US, Taiwan military exercises ominous signals atimes.com 7/28/4 ["These activities have occurred at roughly the same time, and the size of maneuvers by the US side is especially noticeable.   ...In case of war between mainland China and Taiwan, Japan is expected to give Taiwan a hand. Presumably, a joint force by the US, Japan and Taiwan would create formidable pressure to mainland China if it wants to attack"]
 US: China has credible Taiwan attack options atimes.com 7/28/4 ["China's accumulated capacity to devastate Taiwan and the steady improvement in its military forces imparts a growing unease to the atmosphere of these annual exercises."]
 Warning against mosque attack theaustralian.news.com.au 7/28/4 ["THE Saudi-based Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) warned today of Muslim "anger" if there was an attack on Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque."]
 Saudis Propose Arab, Islamic Military Force in Iraq bloomberg.com 7/28/4 ["`The secretary-general broached the subject of a Pakistani contingent for UN staff, and Musharraf said he would prefer a Muslim multinational force to do this   ...It's a very important step that the Saudi government endorsed that idea.''"]
 Russian oil crisis sends New York price to record high channelnewsasia.com 7/28/4 ["The main New York oil contract soared to an all-time high 42.50 dollars a barrel as the market reacted with alarm to a financial crisis at Russian oil giant Yukos."]
 Bombings, clashes kill more than 120 in Iraq dailystar.com.lb 7/28/4 ["It raised fears of a fresh insurgent campaign just days before Iraq holds a major political conference to plot its future."]
 War in Iraq 'preventing efforts to stop Sudan genocide' news.independent.co.uk 7/28/4 ["It warned that discussion on Iraq had prevented the United Nations Security Council discussing the Darfur crisis in May and diverted attention from clear warning signs that started emerging more than a year ago."]
 US demands vote on defiant Sudan theaustralian.news.com.au 7/28/4 ["But, as Washington stepped up the pressure on Khartoum, the Sudanese Government repeated its warnings against any foreign military intervention in its western province."]
 Wash. judge hears arguments in same-sex 'marriage' case sbcbaptistpress.org 7/28/4 ["Lawyers for several homosexual couples asked a Washington state judge July 27 to overturn the state's defense of marriage act and legalize same-sex "marriage.""]
 US urged to send no wrong signal to Taiwan news.xinhuanet.com 7/28/4 ["The enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act demonstrates the US disregard of the United Nations Charter and other international laws, and fully exposes its hegemonic style of placing itself above international norms"]
 VC property owners okay mosquito tax, West Nile Virus fears high santapaulatimes.com 7/28/4 ["approved an increase in a tax that has been highlighted through the spread of West Nile Virus."]
 

 

 Planned Parenthood "I Had An Abortion" Shirts Cause Huge Uproar From Women lifenews.com 7/27/4 ["Having an abortion is a heartbreaking experience. It is not something to boast about."]
 UN warns of humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh abc.net.au 7/27/4 ["the worst monsoon floods in a decade.  An estimated 30 million people have been affected."]
 Court Annuls France Homosexual Marriage abcnews.go.com 7/27/4 ["Court Nullifies France's First Homosexual Marriage; Couple Plans to Fight Decision"]
 China Militia Hold Exercises Opposite Taiwan-Media news.yahoo.com 7/27/4 ["About 18,000 troops took part in those war games on Fujian's Dongshan island.  ...U.S. decision-makers played out this month a crisis-simulation drill, dubbed Dragon's Thunder, based on a growing Chinese military threat to Taiwan."]
 Churches sing from the same hymn sheet smh.com.au 7/27/4 ["Fifteen Australian churches have signed a historic "covenant of co-operation" under which they will recognise each other's baptism and ministries - and even share their clergy. Some will share church buildings, different congregations filling the same pews but in separate services.   ...members of the National Council of Churches in Australia. They comprise the Catholic, Anglican, Uniting, Lutheran and Congregationalist churches, the Churches of Christ, Quakers, Salvation Army and seven Orthodox churches."]
 Sudan Says U.S. Using Darfur to Topple Government wireservice.wired.com 7/27/4 ["Ousman Alsaid also told reporters Western military intervention in its remote western region would risk splitting Africa's largest country and unsettling its neighbors.   ...It shows that these countries did not learn from the difficult situation they are facing through their intervention in Iraq."]
 Bush Considers Speedy Moves on 9/11 Report news.myway.com 7/27/4 ["On some of the recommendations, "the president could certainly act within days," Buchan said."]
 Iran carries out threat to resume building nuclear equipment news.independent.co.uk 7/27/4 ["resumed building and testing the centrifuges, which can be used to make fissile material for a nuclear weapon."]
 Real test of adopting 9/11 reforms gulf-news.com 7/27/4 ["Kerry overtook Bush again, with his advisers announcing that they had already completed their own analysis and determined that 25 of the 41 recommendations did not require congressional action."]
 Israeli concern over Iran nukes heraldsun.news.com.au 7/27/4 ["noted with concern that Iran restarted its nuclear program this month in defiance of regulations imposed by the UN nuclear watchdog"]
 North Koreans arrive in secret following mass defection story.news.yahoo.com 7/27/4 ["More than 200 North Koreans have arrived in South Korea behind a wall of secrecy as the government played down the biggest influx yet of defectors from the Stalinist state."]
 Cuba's heartland grapples with worst drought in 40 years thestate.com 7/27/4 ["There is rarely enough food for all the early risers, and fistfights have been known to break out when supplies run short"]
 Free Speech Behind the Razor Wire wired.com 7/27/4 ["But activists have been largely united in one civil action: their boycott of the so-called free-speech zone carved out by the U.S. Secret Service and local authorities, the only spot where protesters will be able to shout their messages to the delegates arriving on buses in a nearby parking lot."]
 

 

 British MPs Call for World Court Ruling on Iraq War wireservice.wired.com 7/26/4 ["Forty British parliamentarians have asked U.N Secretary-General Kofi Annan to seek the opinion of the U.N.'s International Court of Justice on the legality of the Iraq war.   ...'It is clear that, in Britain and the United States, war was justified on the basis of intelligence reports of current and serious threats from weapons of mass destruction, purportedly held by Iraq, all of which turned out to be without foundation.' "]
 Cash, card or fingerprint? myrtlebeachonline.com 7/26/4 ["at four Piggly Wiggly stores in South Carolina. It's already in use on the West Coast and in several other areas."]
 Bush Set to Act on 9/11 Panel's Ideas - Report wireservice.wired.com 7/26/4 ["President Bush plans to begin making decisions about restructuring the U.S. intelligence machinery within days and may enact some changes without waiting for Congress   ...We're going to focus on all the recommendations and determine which ones can be done through executive-branch action. The president said he wants this on a fast track."]
 Land of Israel Supporters Buoyed By Human Chain - And By Its Success israelnationalnews.com 7/26/4 ["I'm looking at more than a single-file human chain here. There are enough people here to make ten parallel chains."]
 ACLU Argues Punch Cards Could Affect Vote guardian.co.uk 7/26/4 ["ACLU lawyer arguing that even isolated malfunctions in Ohio could change the November election results in this swing state.   argues that punch cards are more likely to go uncounted than votes cast with other systems, and that use of the ballots violates the voting rights of blacks, who mostly live in punch-card counties."]
 DFAT calls for ePassport chips csoonline.com.au 7/26/4 ["has requested both restricted and open tenders for integrated circuit chips, inlays, hardware, software and services for the first batch of prototype, new-age travel documents."]
 U.S. To Reject Global Free Trade Deal Without 'Substantial' New Openings cio-today.newsfactor.com 7/26/4 ["U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick warned Monday he would reject a global trade liberalisation deal without "substantial" new openings in agriculture, goods and services."]
 UK: 'Don't panic' plea as terror leaflet issued news.scotsman.com 7/26/4 ["Advice leaflets will be sent to every UK household and a series of radio and television adverts will be broadcast from tonight. "]
 EU Unites for World Trade Talks, Presses U.S. reuters.com 7/26/4 ["The EU overcame internal differences on Monday for world trade talks, demanding greater account of its interests and pressing its biggest trading partner Washington for concessions over farming subsidies."]
 Flood chaos continues in India, Bangladesh abc.net.au 7/26/4 ["estimate a quarter of the state's 80 million people were affected by the flooding that struck more than 7,000 villages."]
 The Abu Ghraib Stain Makes Pushing U.S. Rights Policy Abroad Tougher ap.tbo.com 7/26/4 ["For a government that routinely lectures foreign countries on their human rights failings, this has been a very difficult year for the United States."]
 Fetal Brain Cells Show Hope for Stroke Victims -Study abcnews.go.com 7/26/4 ["The brain cells "are not embryonic stem cells," Steinberg said, referring to controversial cells taken from days-old human embryos. "They are from a line established many years ago and should not be as controversial.""]
 

RECAP newsletter - 7/25/4

 Britain to Issue Public Safety Leaflet on Terrorism reuters.com 7/25/4 ["designed to tell people what to do in the event of a terrorist attack.   ...issued in March 2003 on the eve of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, said bottled water, tinned food and batteries were the sort of thing every household should keep in stock for day to day emergencies."]
 Cheney talks on terror war, abortion oregonlive.com 7/25/4 ["The vice president's spouse was silent on the issue of gay marriage, an issue she recently made news on when she spoke out against a proposed federal constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage. The Cheneys have a gay daughter who works on the Bush-Cheney campaign."]
 US urges sanctions against Iran jpost.com 7/25/4 ["urging the International Atomic Energy Agency to refer to the UN Security Council Iranian violations of their pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons."]
 Sudan Militants Threaten Attacks on Western Troops reuters.com 7/25/4 ["called on Muslims to prepare to fight Western forces sent on any mission to western Sudan"]
 Russia marking Navy Day itar-tass.com 7/25/4 ["This year is different from previous years on all the four fleets of the Russian Navy – the Black Sea, Baltic, Northern, and Pacific – for an increasing number of combat drills, with accent made on complex training of naval units"]
 S. Korea: US to Return 9 Bases by 2005 times.hankooki.com 7/25/4 [""]
 Israeli Minister Warns of Attack on Jerusalem Shrine news.ft.com 7/25/4 ["by Israeli right wing groups seeking to derail a plan to pull out of Gaza."]
 Pope calls for end to bloodshed in Sudan, Uganda alertnet.org 7/25/4
 Britain willing to send 5,000 troops to Sudan gulf-news.com 7/25/4 ["Prime Minister Tony Blair said this week the world had to act and that he had not ruled out military intervention to deal with what a US Congressional resolution described as a genocide taking place in Sudan's Darfur region."]
 Yukos' Struggles Creates Void in Russia heraldtribune.com 7/25/4 ["the pumps that produce 2 percent of the world's oil still work. But the company has warned that exports could be interrupted as it gets pushed deeper into a corner over a gargantuan back-taxes bill.   ...world oil prices leaped around 80 cents a barrel on fears of a shortage."]
 RNC-ya later: N.Y.ers nydailynews.com 7/25/4 ["Many plan to flee city during GOP gathering"]
 

 

 Iraq war coalition is losing members denverpost.com 7/24/4 ["with two more nations slipping out of the multinational force in July and 11 others facing the end of their deployments during the next eight months amid signs that their commitment to remain in Iraq is flagging."]
 Kenya: Food shortages force coastal residents to eat wild roots irinnews.org 7/24/4 ["The Kenyan ministry of agriculture has estimated that food production this year in five of the country's eight provinces will be at least 40 percent below normal, while drought conditions in pastoral areas have rendered nearly a million people severely food-insecure."]
 Bush Says He Will Consider Panel's Ideas for Protecting U.S. bloomberg.com 7/24/4 ["The bipartisan commission's recommendations include a Cabinet- level post to oversee intelligence gathering."]
 $34 million for Chinese abortions? newswithviews.com 7/24/4 ["the U.S. is the world's largest donor to health programs for women and children, to the tune of $1.8 billion this year, of which over $400 million is for reproductive health and family planning.”"]
 Shia firebrand denounces Iraqi PM news.bbc.co.uk 7/24/4 ["Speaking at Friday prayers in Kufa mosque, the Shia leader said Mr Allawi had proved that he was only continuing the US-led occupation.  In his first sermon for two months, Mr Sadr also condemned the beheading of foreign hostages seized by militants. "]
 Russia Refuses to Send Troops to Iraq politinfo.com 7/24/4 ["Russia has long said it would not take part in any multinational peacekeeping force in Iraq, even if one were formed under the aegis of the United Nations. "]
 Japan Science Council OKs Human Cloning newsday.com 7/24/4 ["has voted to adopt policy recommendations that would permit limited cloning of human embryos for scientific research in Japan, an official said. "]
 North Korea Officially Rejects U.S. Nuclear Proposal yonhapnews.co.kr 7/24/4 ["The North, instead, called for the United States to accept Pyongyang's own proposal and participate in providing energy assistance to the communist state."]
 New Iraqi National Guard struggles to distance itself from U.S. mentors seattletimes.nwsource.com 7/24/4 ["But American officials concede it will be months, if not years, before the Iraqi National Guard — eventually to number 30,000 soldiers — is up to the task of providing security."]
 US troops to leave Seoul by 2008 abc.net.au 7/24/4 ["More than half a century later, Pentagon officials contend the so-called "tripwire" is an anachronism in an age of high-tech sensors and computer networks, precision weapons and US military dominance in the air and at sea."]
 Israel to Distribute Anti-Radiation Pills lasvegassun.com 7/24/4 ["The military said it decided to collect the masks because the threat from Iraq had been reduced after Saddam Hussein was removed from power."]
 Protestant bloc is dwindling, poll finds azcentral.com 7/24/4 ["has plummeted to 52 percent - and by the end of 2004 it may no longer be the nation's majority religious group."]
 Singapore eyes up to 15 extra free-trade deals hindustantimes.com 7/24/4 ["Bilateral deals are forged alongside slower-moving multilateral talks organized by the World Trade Organization, whose 147 members are attempting to reach a global deal to liberalize trade under the so-called Doha Development Round, which started in late 2001."]
 Judge blocks new state law limiting abortions clarionledger.com 7/24/4 ["The law would have limited abortions after the 13th week of pregnancy to hospitals and ambulatory surgical clinics."]
 

 

 China tells US Pacific Command chief military contact with Taiwan must stop channelnewsasia.com 7/23/4 ["military exchanges with Taiwan must stop given the "seriousness" of the cross straits standoff."]
 Taiwan holds live-fire cannon drills straitstimes.asia1.com.sg 7/23/4 ["continuing major annual military manoeuvres as China prepared to launch large-scale war games in the sea off its southern provinces.   ...The military drills will showcase China's most advanced weapons"]
 Churches buying 'Passion' DVD in bulk story.news.yahoo.com 7/23/4 ["In an unprecedented move for a Hollywood studio, Fox sent fliers to hundreds of thousands of churches inviting them to buy special packs of 50 DVDs" - support the ungodly Fox network and the Catholic church at the same time...]
 New bill in House would ban same-sex 'marriage' nationwide sbcbaptistpress.org 7/23/4 ["and unlike a constitutional amendment, requires only a simple majority to pass."]
 House OKs anti-gay nuptials bill detnews.com 7/23/4 ["The Republican-led House voted Thursday to prevent federal courts from ordering states to recognize gay marriages sanctioned by other states."]
 Judge upholds "free speech zone" but permits march on FleetCenter boston.com 7/23/4 ["but refused to change a nearby protest zone, despite calling the fenced-in area "an affront to free expression."   ..."I at first thought, before taking a view (of the protest zone), that the characterization of the space being like a concentration camp was litigation hyperbole," he said. "Now I believe it's an understatement.""]
 EU Vows to Play Peace Role Despite Israeli Rebuke reuters.com 7/23/4 ["Solana wrapped up his visit telling reporters: "Europe ...is a very important international power and is going to play a role, (whether) you like it or not.""]
 Pentagon Finds Bush's Military Payroll Records reuters.com 7/23/4 ["But other Guard officers have said they had no recollection of seeing him there."]
 Polls show growing Arab anger at US straitstimes.asia1.com.sg 7/23/4 ["have worsened in the past two years to such an extent that in Egypt - an important ally in the region - nearly 100 per cent of the population now holds an unfavourable opinion of the country"]
 Collaboration with Iraq ruled out detnews.com 7/23/4 ["Not only did Osama bin Laden resent the Iraqi regime’s secularism, Kurtz’s classified memo stated, but there was no confirmed information about collaboration between them on weapons of mass destruction."]
 Four months later, where’s the passion? thestate.com 7/23/4 ["The American Tract Society of Garland, Texas, sold more than 4 million evangelistic pamphlets pegged to the film — the society’s highest sales since the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. But churches have not reported any flood of new adherents.   ...At the same time, the film has inspired many Christians and Jews to reach out to each other."]
 Zionists respond as pullout picks up speed jnewswire.com 7/23/4 ["But those Jews Sharon is determined to uproot from their homes are unwavering in their belief that God has given them a mandate to settle the land of Israel, and are set to make implementation of his plan as difficult as possible."]
 Bullet shortage straitstimes.asia1.com.sg 7/23/4 ["The Army is taking the unusual step of buying ammunition from Britain and Israel as it scrambles to increase domestic production."]
 Iraq wants Arab, Muslim troops to protect UN straitstimes.asia1.com.sg 7/23/4 ["as well as the multinational force, Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said on Thursday.  Mr Allawi told reporters he had asked Egypt to provide troops to protect UN staff when they return to Iraq, but Egyptian officials indicated that Iraq should first bring its insurgency under control. "]
 

 

Fledgling European Defense Agency faces a tough battle iht.com 7/22/4 ["A unified front is probably the best way for European nations to provide security and counter what they say are heavy-handed tactics favored by Washington   ...which aims to consolidate defense-related research and spending in Britain and the Continent"]
Ottawa backs same-sex rights to divorce fftimes.com 7/22/4 ["Justice Department conceded that excluding gays and lesbians from the definition of “spouse” in Canada’s Divorce Act—effectively denying them the right to divorce—is unconstitutional."]
Bush signs into law terror-defense bill seattletimes.nwsource.com 7/22/4 ["a $5.6 billion bill aimed at bolstering the nation's defenses against biological, chemical and nuclear terrorism."]
Ireland: Green light for 'designer babies' to save siblings guardian.co.uk 7/22/4 ["It is wrong to create a child simply as a means to an end, however good that end might be, because to do so turns that child into an object. This violates the basic ethical principle that we should not use people as tools."]
Slovakia: Christian democrat ministers criticized for opposing same sex partnerships slovensko.com 7/22/4 ["for blocking the European Union's plan to mutually recognise same sex marriages."]
House Votes to Curb Same-Sex Marriage reuters.com 7/22/4 ["The House measure, also supported by the administration, offers a different approach. It would forbid federal judges from requiring one state to recognize a same-sex marriage licensed in another." - compromise? allow it but limit it?]
Big Brother lives in Cool Valley stltoday.com 7/22/4 ["has landed a $31 million contract to help install a big listening post in and around Baghdad to help Iraqi police and U.S. intelligence agents monitor cell-phone traffic. The surveillance network will be able to track 360 cell-phone calls at once"]
Sharon warns Solana that EU could be frozen out of peace process eubusiness.com 7/22/4 ["the EU had given the "green light to terrorism" by backing a recent non-binding UN General Assembly on the barrier, according to a statement from his office."]
Iran's Parliament Approves Abortion Bill guardian.co.uk 7/22/4 ["approved a draft bill  ... It's also a nice gesture toward the outside world,'' he said. "]
9/11 Panel Blames 'Institutional Failings' news.yahoo.com 7/22/4 ["but does not blame President Bush or former President Clinton   ...the commission found the FBI was not set up to collect intelligence domestically, in part because of civil liberties concerns."  -so you're suggesting...?]
U.N. chief says world not safer seattletimes.nwsource.com 7/22/4 ["U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said yesterday, countering President Bush's claims he had made the world a safer place."]
FL: DOT Plans To Start Tracking Local Drivers wftv.com 7/22/4 ["is placing 120 electronic readers, just like the ones that read your E-PASS, at intersections to track drivers   ...when you sign the contract for an E-PASS it's actually in there that you agree to be a part of traffic studies."]
Is Pentagon fuelling tensions in Taiwan Strait? straitstimes.asia1.com.sg 7/22/4 ["the DoD seemingly endorses the view that the island should present 'credible threats to China's urban population or high-value targets, such as the Three Gorges Dam', to deter Chinese military coercion against the island. "]
Britain to conduct military overhaul seattletimes.nwsource.com 7/22/4 ["its biggest peacetime military overhauls yesterday, cutting tanks, ships and thousands of personnel in an effort to adapt its forces to tackle modern threats including terrorism."]
Israel slams Europeans for UN fence vote jpost.com 7/22/4 ["raises doubts about the European Union's ability to contribute constructively to the advance of the peace process," the statement said."]
Rumsfeld Says More US Troops in Iraq Possible voanews.com 7/22/4 ["refusing to rule out the possibility of sending even more American troops to the country, beyond the 140,000 currently deployed there.   ...Several members of the military coalition ...have already pulled out of Iraq in response to terrorism or terrorist threats against their citizens."]
Army to Call Up Recruits Earlier nytimes.com 7/22/4 ["another sign of increasing stress on the military, the Army has been forced to bring more new recruits immediately into the ranks to meet recruiting goals for 2004, instead of allowing them to defer entry until the next accounting year, which starts in October."]
Military says it received prisoner from U.S. men but denies any Pentagon links cnews.canoe.ca 7/22/4 ["We did not commission him to go out and look for terrorists."]
Boston battens down for DNC csmonitor.com 7/22/4 ["A convoy of mobile command centers will be ready to respond at this year's Democratic National Convention if communication systems in the city of Boston shut down."]
  US threatens Sudan sanctions heraldsun.news.com.au 7/22/4 ["called on the UN today to threaten sanctions"]
 

 

U.S. Army Asking Guardsmen to Stay Longer in Iraq reuters.com 7/21/4 ["to volunteer to stay on active duty beyond a statutory two-year limit for such service   ...noting that Chu's memo barred mobilization for reservists longer than 24 months cumulatively, while U.S. law set the limit at 24 consecutive months of service."]
Israel rejects UN vote on barrier news.bbc.co.uk 7/21/4 ["work will continue on the West Bank security barrier despite condemnation at the UN.   ...the resolution has no legal force and Israel insists the barrier is needed to protect its citizens."]
War call-up cuts US ability to fight disasters guardian.co.uk 7/21/4 ["the high number of national guard volunteers serving in Iraq has hobbled their ability to fight wildfires or other disasters, it was reported yesterday."]
Taiwan Drill Showcases Readiness for China Attack wireservice.wired.com 7/21/4 ["The drills by Taiwan, claimed by China and seen by security analysts as the most dangerous flashpoint in the Asia-Pacific, coincided with drills by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on the island of Dongshan off China's southeastern coast."]
US military is spread dangerously thin gulf-news.com 7/21/4 ["Nine months ago, a quarter of the soldiers in Iraq were from the National Guard and Reserve; now it's 40 per cent and rising."]
EU Passport Gets Popular in Israel dw-world.de 7/21/4 ["Some see the burgundy-colored document as an insurance policy should the conflict in the Middle East escalate."]
How treaties trump the Constitution newswithviews.com 7/21/4 ["Nothing in the U.S. Constitution authorizes the federal government to regulate private property. Nothing in the U.S. Constitution authorizes the federal government to manage wildlife or prescribe land use regulations within the various states."]
Protest zone draws ire boston.com 7/21/4 ["Democratic National Convention"]
Army Delays Centerpiece Modernization Program reuters.com 7/21/4 ["The U.S. Army is delaying for two years the launch of its first combat unit to be fully equipped in a $92 billion modernization program co-led by Boeing Co._, top generals told Congress on Wednesday."]
Log Cabin Republicans Praise Republican National Convention for Choice of Inclusive Speakers logcabin.org 7/21/4 ["We thank Chairman Gillespie, Bill Harris, CEO of the Convention, and Governor Racicot, Chairman of the Bush-Cheney ’04 campaign, for selecting leaders who are examples of how to build a stronger Republican majority in America"]
UN 'to detail lack of Iraqi WMDs'  news.bbc.co.uk 7/21/4 ["Inspectors from the United Nations nuclear agency are to go to Iraq to "draft the final report on the absence of weapons of mass destruction" there.   ...Claims that Iraq possessed banned weapons were used by the US and UK as the key reason for going to war."]
  US pressing allies on Iran heraldsun.news.com.au 7/21/4 ["THE US is pressing Britain, France and Germany for strong measures against Iran in response to its violation of a non-proliferation agreement reached with the three last fall"]
Straw admits he knew Iraq intelligence was suspect last year news.scotsman.com 7/21/4 ["knew in September that a key source of intelligence on Iraq’s chemical and biological weapons capability had been discredited"]
Annan criticises Sudan for failing to curb militia reuters.co.uk 7/21/4 ["The 15-month conflict has killed at least 30,000 people, forced villagers into concentration-camp type compounds and left 2 million people without enough food and medicine."]
Church moves to derail Spain's same-sex marriage bill sfgate.com 7/21/4 ["Roman Catholic Church in Spain urged followers Tuesday to block Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's plan to legalize same-sex marriage.   ...Zapatero has indicated that he plans to relax restrictions on abortion and divorce, permit stem-cell research using human embryos and shelve a law that made Catholic instruction compulsory in schools."]
Lesbians launch Canada's first same-sex divorce reuters.co.uk 7/21/4 ["The Supreme Court of Canada will examine the gay marriage issue in the fall to determine whether same-sex unions must be permitted constitutionally."]
 

 

Taiwan set for military exercises, coinciding with Chinese, US drills spacewar.com 7/20/4 ["practice its first air force freeway landings in 26 years, to be followed by upscale wargames, coinciding with Chinese military maneuvers simulating an invasion of the island   ...The air force for the first time will fire AIM-120 air-to-air missiles the United States delivered to Taiwan last year   ...Making the drills more sensitive will be a string of wargames to be staged in the Pacific by the United States and its allies, the paper said."]
Israel can't go it alone against Iran: politicians, analysts spacewar.com 7/20/4 [""]
Washington Propaganda Against Iran Aimed to Cover Up Failures in Iraq tehrantimes.com 7/20/4 ["since Washington has failed to establish security and create a sense of affinity with the Iraqi people it is resorting to propaganda to cover up their abysmal failure in Iraq."]
Thousands attempt to view child porn news.scotsman.com 7/20/4 ["British Telecom has stopped 200,000 attempts to access such images in just three weeks by using new technology. "]
The chosen few: sfgate.com 7/20/4 [Bohemian Grove]
Cops rip judge: 'It's giving an open door to terrorists' nydailynews.com 7/20/4 ["NYPD cops blasted a federal judge's ruling aimed at stopping them from searching demonstrators' bags outside the Republican National Convention, saying the decision gives "an open door to terrorists.""]
Governors run through hypothetical terror attack with Ridge magicvalley.com 7/20/4 ["Some worried about administrative logjams over money. Others talked of pressure on the National Guard.  ...At the end of the day ... the homeland is secure when the home towns are secure."]
Strained Army National Guard having tough time recruiting usatoday.com 7/20/4 ["End strength has been declining since January.  ...about 14% below its goal of 37,486 recruits by May 31.   ...He says recruiting will get harder as long as the National Guard or Army Reserve are called up for full-time duty as frequently as they have been since 9/11."]
Protestant Majority Waning in U.S., Associated Press Reports bloomberg.com 7/20/4 ["The U.S. will cease to be a majority Protestant country in years because of a steep drop in membership at many Protestant churches   ...defined Protestants as people who said they are members of a Protestant denomination, such as the Episcopal or Southern Baptist churches. The category includes the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and independent Protestant churches"]
Survey Finds Protestants Losing Membership reuters.com 7/20/4 ["Protestants may soon account for less than half of the U.S. population for the first time since the country's founding  ...Protestants are in decline, the survey found, because younger adherents are dropping out."]
Gay Couple Sues to Have Union Recognized guardian.co.uk 7/20/4 ["sued the federal government on Tuesday to have their union legally recognized in the rest of the country."]
US House panel cuts funds for Bush Mars plan reuters.com 7/20/4 ["results from the costs of fighting terrorism in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. But Democrats blame it on Bush's tax cuts, which they say also squandered the surpluses he inherited upon taking office three-and-a-half years ago."]
UN General Assembly Tells Israel to Dismantle Security Barrier 7/20/4 ["The United Nations General Assembly told Israel to comply with an International Court of Justice declaration that the West Bank security barrier is illegal and must be dismantled.  The Assembly voted 150 to six with 10 abstentions late yesterday to approve a resolution"]
Iraq calls off campaign against gunmen washtimes.com 7/20/4 ["suspension of the planned military campaign came in "respect to the holy shrines in the city,""]
National Guard preparing for largest mobilization since WWII news8austin.com 7/20/4 ["By mid-August, members of the 56th Brigade in Fort Worth will all become full-time National Guard soldiers.   ...Some states have as much as 80 percent of their National Guard force in active duty. Close to half of the soldiers serving overseas in Iraq are either national guardsmen or military reservists."]
The 'Quiet War' Against Humanity rense.com 7/20/4 ["The Lulling Before the Culling"]
Germany's Schroeder Honors Nazi Resisters apnews.myway.com 7/20/4 [""It's really important to remember that there were soldiers who gave their lives against injustice, to have a different Germany, a better Germany, a free Germany," he said. "It's very important to recognize it every year." "]
 

 

PM admits graves claim 'untrue' guardian.co.uk 7/19/4 ["Downing Street has admitted to The Observer that repeated claims by Tony Blair that '400,000 bodies had been found in Iraqi mass graves' is untrue, and only about 5,000 corpses have so far been uncovered."]
Now America accuses Iran of complicity in World Trade Center attack telegraph.co.uk 7/19/4 ["Some Bush officials are privately contemplating a possible military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities before Russian fuel rods are delivered next year."]
UN Vote on Israeli Barrier Put Off One More Day reuters.com 7/19/4 ["the EU is seen by many at the United Nations as a moral compass, able to bring along with it as many as 25 other nations, U.N. diplomats said."]
Bush: U.S. Looking Into Whether Iran Involved In 9/11 reuters.com 7/19/4 [" The commission has found more al Qaeda contacts with Iran than with Iraq, officials said.  White House spokesman Scott McClellan said there was "no evidence that there was any official involvement between Iran and the Sept. 11 attacks." "]
Gay Couples Exchange Vows in Colorado abcnews.go.com 7/19/4 ["Fifty gay and lesbian couples celebrated the U.S. Senate's defeat of the Federal Marriage Amendment by exchanging vows Sunday in the heart of the conservative Christian movement and the shadow of Pikes Peak.   ...Focus on the Family   ...Three of Canada's provinces have legalized gay marriage."]
UN witnesses heated debate over draft resolution on wall ruling gulf-news.com 7/19/4 ["Israel's permanent representative, Dan Gelerman, attacked the Arab group and accused them of "hypocrisy and double standards," and levied a scathing verbal assault on all the countries that were members of the International Court of Justices."]
Pastor apologizes for gay-marriage remarks sanluisobispo.com 7/19/4 ["The picketers, rallying on a call from local political Web sites, reacted to comments the pastor made in The Tribune a week ago regarding a proposed federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage."]
Iran allowed Sept. 11 hijackers through, CIA says newsday.com 7/19/4 ["but there is no evidence of a direct connection between Tehran and the 9/11 plot, acting CIA Director John McLaughlin said yesterday."]
Touch to Vote abcnews.go.com 7/19/4 ["More Americans to Vote on Electronic, Touch-Screen Systems in November   ...A new study shows 50 million votes will be cast this way, with 28 states having at least one district using the method."]
Population booms at settlements slated for evacuation haaretzdaily.com 7/19/4 ["leaders acknowledge they are trying to enlist new residents who will resist Sharon's announced pullout. The numbers represent a big challenge for the prime minister, who is staking much of his political career on reducing, not raising, the number of settlers in those areas."]
 

Current Event RECAP - 7/18/4

 

Protesters Confront Gay Cruise Passengers news.scotsman.com 7/18/4 ["We don’t care how much money they bring. The Bahamas is off-limits,” said another, Pastor Vaughan Miller.   ...Stacey turned to Zion, who was wearing a T-shirt that read: “Let my parents marry” and asked: “What do we call people like that?” He replied: “Narrow-minded”]
Religious leaders disagree on gay rights thehawkeye.com 7/18/4 ["Specifically, the pastors contend that what is happening now is tantamount to what happened to the ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which were destroyed by God because, among other things, the residents there were leading unclean sexual lifestyles."]
Sharon urges exodus of Jews from France seattlepi.nwsource.com 7/18/4 ["to escape a rising tide of anti-Semitism, while acknowledging that the French government is fighting racial violence."]
The rising tide of anti-Americanism washtimes.com 7/18/4 ["U.S. favorability ratings have slipped from summer 2002 to March 2004, from 63 to 37 percent in France, 61 to 38 percent in Germany, and 75 to 58 percent in the U.K. Majorities in every country surveyed, apart from the United States, had an unfavorable perception of President George W. Bush."]
WWII guidebook to Iraq has lessons that are relevant today usatoday.com 7/18/4 ["The guide anticipates virtually every problem encountered by U.S. forces in the past 15 months, from the Abu Ghraib prison scandal to the increase in casualties since the fall of Baghdad.   ...Americans look as if they're violating all the major cultural taboos," says Juan Cole, professor of modern Middle Eastern history"]
3 million Iraqis under militia rule chron.com 7/18/4 ["Mahdi Army controls Sadr City, defies government   ...Allawi is pushing an amnesty plan for some insurgents, presumably including the Mahdi Army, and officials in the government would like the organization to join in the political system."]
Gay Republicans' big-tent revival washtimes.com 7/18/4 ["The conservative gay-rights group called the Log Cabin Republicans is orchestrating a political drive for inclusiveness   ...Now it appears as if Bush has jeopardized the 1 million votes he received from his gay constituency in the 2000 election."]
Bhutto: Pakistan bought North Korea missile know-how news.yahoo.com 7/18/4 ["in the 1990s, but there was no exchange of nuclear technology in return"]
Allawi reopens Shia cleric's newspaper news.ft.com 7/18/4 ["sought to reach out to Moqtada al-Sadr, a radical Shia cleric who has excluded himself from the political process, by allowing a controversial newspaper to resume publication."]
Palestinian gunmen attack Gaza security office, open fire, smash furniture, burn building chron.com 7/18/4 ["There is a consensus in the Palestinian nation and not just in Gaza that what is happening now can't continue," Soufian Abu Zaida, a Fatah leader in Gaza told Israel Radio."]

 

Chinese produce new type of sub washtimes.com 7/17/4 ["suggests that China is building up its submarine forces in preparation for a conflict over Taiwan, defense analysts say.  "China has decided submarines are its first-line warships now, their best shot at beating carriers"]
Passion's Aftermath: Research Shows Film's Spiritual Impact Falling Short headlines.agapepress.org 7/17/4 ["One of the most disappointing things the research revealed was the apparent lack of a direct evangelistic impact by the film. Less than one-tenth of one percent of the people who saw The Passion said they responded to it by making a profession of faith or accepting Christ as their Savior."]
U.S. Moving Weapons Out of South Korea ap.org 7/17/4 ["The massive logistical feat began July 7 and is moving hundreds of Abrams tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles, Humvees and artillery pieces to the southern port city of Busan to be shipped out under tight security."]
Philippines begins pull-out of Iraq troops reuters.co.uk 7/17/4 ["Opportunities for participating in the reconstruction of Iraq are now lost.... Another concern is how the U.S., the country's largest trading partner, would react to the pull-out in terms of investments and aid"]
Giant Buddha to rise in northern India guardian.co.uk 7/17/4
U.S. to create huge bomb for buried targets chron.com 7/17/4 ["The Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP, would be about one-third heavier than the 21,000-pound Massive Ordnance Air Blast, MOAB, dropped twice last year in "live" tests at a range in Florida."]
US to vote against resolution on Israeli barrier smh.com.au 7/17/4 ["The 191-nation body was scheduled to take a vote on Monday on the draft submitted by Arab states after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared last week that the Israeli construction of the wall "is contrary to international law.""]
Hundreds of Patients in Belgium Dead From Euthanasia Since Legalization lifenews.com 7/17/4 ["00 cases of euthanasia have been documented in Belgium since the practice was legalized two years ago and many more may not have been reported to governmental authorities."]
New Poll Finds Most Americans Feel US Should Have Stayed Out of Iraq voanews.com 7/17/4 ["CBS News poll released Friday, 51% of those polled said the United States should not have gone to war in Iraq. And the poll reported 62% of respondents said the war was not worth the cost."]
AP seeks order to release Bush's military record boston.com 7/17/4 ["Records released so far do not put to rest questions over whether Bush fulfilled his National Guard service during the Vietnam War, the AP said in papers filed in federal court in New York."]
 

 

U.S. dumps colour-coding of air passengers after months of controversy canada.com 7/16/4 ["in favour of a voluntary system of sharing personal information.   ...Frequent fliers can register by providing personal information and a fingerprint or iris scan to the Transportation Security Administration."]
China bans abortion based on baby's gender abc.net.au 7/16/4 ["China says it will strictly ban selective abortion of female foetuses in an attempt to reverse a disastrous imbalance in the ratio of newborn boys to girls."]
Senators want to know more on 'ghost' detainees usatoday.com 7/16/4 ["examine lingering questions about the abuse of detainees in Iraq and elsewhere by U.S. forces, including the practice of keeping secret the whereabouts and identities of some prisoners."]
UK: 'Largest' simulated terror attack news.bbc.co.uk 7/16/4 ["Emergency planners want to test how well more than 2,000 fire, ambulance and police officers will respond to Sunday's staged poison gas attack."]
Iraq Turns to Muslim Nations for Help thestate.com 7/16/4 ["there were no immediate takers, and at least one polite rebuff from mostly Muslim Malaysia, which said it probably won't dispatch troops to Iraq."]
Global currency supporters to meet wmtw.com 7/16/4 ["Bretton Woods International Monetary Conference"]
Gillerman: Dark day for the United Nations jpost.com 7/16/4 ["The 191-member world body is considering a draft resolution that would demand that Israel comply with the court."]
Anyone to blame for Iraq intelligence failures? middle-east-online.com 7/16/4 ["Former British FM wonders why no-one is blamed for 'one of the greatest failures in British intelligence ever.'"]
  N-plants for war heraldsun.news.com.au 7/16/4 ["North Korea has acknowledged that most of its nuclear programs are weapons-related"]
House rejects effort to cut Egyptian military aid haaretzdaily.com 7/16/4 ["congressional frustration with Egypt's efforts to confront terrorism, crack down on internal anti-Semitism and foster peace in the Middle East. "]
Yukon will not fight same-sex marriage ruling theglobeandmail.com 7/16/4 ["The territorial government won't fight the Yukon Supreme Court's ruling"]
Guns Worn In Open Legal, But Alarm Va. washingtonpost.com 7/16/4 ["Police commanders have since issued a reminder to officers that "open carry" is the law of the land in the Old Dominion."]
Japan Merger Creates World's Largest Bank washingtonpost.com 7/16/4 ["Two of Japan's biggest financial institutions on Friday announced plans to merge and create the world's largest bank, underscoring growing sentiments that the country's long troubled banking system has significantly improved."]
Terror suspects told legal rights news.bbc.co.uk 7/16/4 ["Critics say past warnings of prisoner mistreatment by the ICRC were overlooked.  They will now be forwarded to a committee in the Pentagon rather than being dealt with by field commanders. "]
 

 

Debate Over Banning Same-Sex 'Marriage' Heats Up in Australia cnsnews.com 7/15/4 ["Prime Minister John Howard's government has drafted a bill designed to prevent Australian homosexuals and lesbians from getting married abroad and then trying to get their marital status recognized in Australian courts."]
'Outing' drive hits Capitol Hill seattlepi.nwsource.com 7/15/4 ["Gay rights advocates say effort exposes hypocrisy of closeted staffers in Congress   ...some gay rights activists are "outing" closeted homosexual staffers who work for members of Congress who support it."]
Episcopal bishop allows blessings of same-sex unions rdu.news14.com 7/15/4 ["An Episcopal bishop in North Carolina has given formal permission to churches in his diocese blessing same-sex unions."]
Yukon judge legalizes same-sex marriages seattletimes.nwsource.com 7/15/4 ["when a judge changed the territory's common-law definition of marriage to mean the voluntary union for life of two people to the exclusion of all others."]
Lutheran church continues struggle with public prayer ktvotv3.com 7/15/4 ["The guidelines allow Lutheran ministers to sometimes participate in such gatherings. A Lutheran minister would need to be able to freely proclaim that Jesus is the only savior. The event also couldn't give the impression that Christians and non-Christians are praying to the same God."]
A tiny chip takes on a big job newsday.com 7/15/4 [MEXICO - "Attorney General Rafael Macedo de la Concha... he and an undisclosed number of officials on his staff had chips the size of rice grains implanted in their arms to give them exclusive and secure access to a national, computerized database for crime investigators that went live Monday."]
Iran, North Korea Rebuke U.S. Double Standard tehrantimes.com 7/15/4 ["said here Wednesday that the U.S. is the only state around the globe which has used nuclear weapons and killed tens of thousand of innocent people."]
The Latest Bush Doctrine cbsnews.com 7/15/4 ["President Bush has taken not one ounce of personal responsibility for the failings of our intelligence. Pathetically, that is the custom in American politics, but it still reflects poorly on the president."]
Kerry Didn't Read Iraq Report Before Vote -- Aides news.yahoo.com 7/15/4 ["The Kerry campaign stepped up the attack on Wednesday, sending out an e-mail with the headline, "Did anyone in the White House read the full National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq?""]
Life expectancy plummets in Africa news.bbc.co.uk 7/15/4 ["The Aids crisis has slashed the life expectancy in some parts of Africa to less than 33 years, according to the UN's Human Development Report 2004."]
Ashcroft Outlines Patriot Act Successes foxnews.com 7/15/4 ["The Patriot Act is Al Qaeda's worst nightmare when it comes to disrupting and disabling their operations here in America"]
What form of oath is taken by a Supreme Court Justice? newswithviews.com 7/15/4 ["If they did not take the Constitutional oath then NONE of the decisions rendered were worth the paper they were printed on and the American people have been deliberately deceived!"]
House Approves 'Bioshield' Defense Bill wired.com 7/15/4 ["The $5.6 billion, 10-year Project BioShield program, approved by the House on a 414-2 vote, expands public- and private-sector research incentives to develop treatments, antidotes and vaccines that would otherwise not find a viable commercial niche."]
Chirac backs down on EU charter vote theaustralian.news.com.au 7/15/4 ["Mr Chirac said he counted on France to take a responsible decision, remembering that the EU had brought peace to the continent after frequent wars."]
Idaho Soldiers Told to Use Approved 'themes' With Media ap.tbo.com 7/15/4 ["to use five approved "themes" when talking to the media, including support for war in Iraq and confidence in the superiority of American troops."]
Nymex Oil Rises to Six-Week High on Crude, Fuel-Supply Concerns bloomberg.com 7/15/4 ["after the U.S. government reported the biggest withdrawal of oil from storage in three months amid surging fuel demand in the world's biggest gasoline market."]
 

 

China To Demonstrate Air Superiority in Taiwan War Games defensenews.com 7/14/4 ["an essential element in any invasion of the island, state media and analysts said July 12."]
Gay Marriage Issue Fails to Excite American Voters reuters.com 7/14/4 ["Evangelical Christian supporters of President Bush hoped their drive to ban same sex marriages would become a defining issue in this year's presidential campaign but so far this has not happened."]
China War Games, Missile Tests Fuel Taiwan Tension reuters.com 7/14/4 ["The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is to stage a mock invasion of Taiwan this month... less than 300 km (200 miles) from Taiwanese soil...  The Russian news agency Itar-Tass said China had notified Russia of plans to test-fire three ballistic missiles this month. "]
British report absolves Blair of misleading public, saying intelligence on Iraq flawed boston.com 7/14/4 ["Blair said he took full, personal responsibility. But he told parliament, ''No one lied, no one made up the intelligence'' after the much-awaited report was released."]
Khatami: No Impediments for Iran to Build Uranium Centrifuge ap.tbo.com 7/14/4 ["His comments were the closest to an acknowledgment that Iran has resumed building centrifuges after saying in June it would do so within days."]
Charges Dropped for N.Y. Gay-Nups Ministers foxnews.com 7/14/4 [" In a strong rebuke of New York's rationale for banning gay marriages, a judge on Tuesday dismissed criminal charges against two Unitarian Universalist ministers who married same-sex couples."]
'Israeli plans' for Arafat death news.bbc.co.uk 7/14/4 ["The plan proposes a burial for Mr Arafat in Abu Dis, rather than the holy ground of Jerusalem.  But Israel has no intention of harming him at the moment, Israeli radio said. "]
House panel OKs anti-abortion provision seattlepi.nwsource.com 7/14/4 ["A House committee gave abortion opponents a victory Wednesday, voting to making it easier for hospitals, health insurers and others to refuse to provide or cover abortions.   ...Its fate in the Senate is unclear."]
Bush move to ban same-sex marriage blocked swissinfo.org 7/14/4 ["Polls show most Americans oppose same-sex marriage, but are split on whether a constitutional ban is needed. Surveys also find voters believe many other issues are more important."]
China warns US to stop arms sales to Taiwan spacewar.com 7/14/4 ["and cut military links with the island if it wanted any improvement in bilateral relations."]
Mubarak swears in new government news.bbc.co.uk 7/14/4 ["A new Egyptian government mixing the old guard and a new generation of politicians close to President Hosni Mubarak's son has taken office."]
Texas City Sends Thousands to Planned Parenthood Abortion Business lifenews.com 7/14/4 ["The City Commission of Brownsville, Texas approved budgets last week for non-profits, including a $15,000 taxpayer-funded gift to the local Planned Parenthood affiliate."]
Abortion pill catching on theseattlestar.com 7/14/4 [Washington - "On Jan. 5, the state Attorney General's office granted nurses—specifically advanced registered nurse practitioners—the authority to prescribe or furnish abortion-inducing drugs to women seeking to end a pregnancy."]
Snow: Terror Threat Hangs Over Economy wired.com 7/14/4 ["that requires vigilance against any bid to weaken measures for investigating suspicious money transactions, U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow said on Tuesday."]
War by folly sfgate.com 7/14/4 ["...the Bush White House cannot just shrug off the Senate Intelligence Committee's conclusion that every major pretext for the war against Iraq was seriously flawed."]
CDC Ships 'Chem-Packs' for Preparation apnews.myway.com 7/14/4 ["shipping stocks of antidotes against chemical weapons to states under a long-awaited program to boost response to a potential terrorist attack."]
Group accuses U.S. of hiding detainees freep.com 7/14/4 ["Suspects reported by FBI as captured not at centers, Red Cross says"]
Archdiocese Official Demands Resignation of Bishop in Seminary Porn Scandal ap.tbo.com 7/14/4 ["Krenn has been widely criticized for dismissing photos... as a "schoolboy prank."  ...Krenn, whose close ties to the Vatican led to a visit by Pope John Paul II to his diocese in 1998"]
Chirac firm on headscarf ban news24.com 7/14/4 ["the legislation prohibits any ostentatious religious insignia, including Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses, in state schools and universities."]
 

 

Rosie to get keys to Key West when her gay cruise arrives sun-sentinel.com 7/13/4 ["billed as the first boat that caters to gay and lesbian families - stops at the popular island port on Wednesday during its inaugural voyage.   ...They are raising four children together and strongly support gay marriage and adoption."]
Iraqi foreign minister urges NATO to launch training programme soon eubusiness.com 7/13/4 [" NATO leaders meeting in Istanbul late last month offered to help train Iraqi security forces, but the alliance still has to work out how the training is to be delivered.  The main stumbling block has been whether the Iraqi troops should be trained inside or outside of the country, with France insisting it should not be done on Iraqi territory. "]
Alex & Me: Michael Moore's Better Half breakfornews.com 7/13/4 ["The difference between Michael Moore and Alex Jones comes down to this..."]
Arab nations want UN to pressure Israel on barrier haaretzdaily.com 7/13/4 ["Arab states on Monday called for an emergency session of the UN General Assembly to demand that Israel comply with a World Court ruling that the West Bank separation fence is illegal and must be dismantled."]
Homeland Security Confirms Election Delay Talks voanews.com 7/13/4 ["suggest asking Congress for emergency legislation to allow postponing the election after any attack."]
Ronald Reagan's Son To Back Embryonic Research at Democratic Convention lifenews.com 7/13/4 ["His speech, touting embryonic stem cell research, is drawing concerns from pro-life advocates who say that it is a further violation of President Reagan's pro-life legacy."]
Navy: Exercise Not Meant to Send Message lasvegassun.com 7/13/4 ["The United States' largest naval exercise in decades, involving the deployment around the globe of seven of the Navy's 12 carrier battle groups..."]
US Trade Gap Falls Unexpectedly reuters.com 7/13/4 ["The politically sensitive trade deficit with China rose slightly to $12.1 billion as imports from that country leapt to their second highest level on record. U.S. exports to the Asian giant rose more than 6.0 percent to $2.9 billion."]
Will the 2004 Election Be Called Off? globalresearch.ca 7/13/4 ["Why Three Out of Four Experts Predict a Terrorist Attack by November"]
New England senators form coalition on gay marriage news.bostonherald.com 7/13/4 ["At least three of the region's five Republicans will join the six Democrats and one Independent and vote against the proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage this week."]
"A slip of intelligence" yet "on carried the war" peopledaily.com.cn 7/13/4 ["In view of the war brought about by the "slip of intelligence", not to say the innocent Iraqi people suffering from the war, even for those 880 American soldiers losing their lives in Iraq and the Americans shouldering a monthly war expenditure of 7 billion US dollars, to bear a bitter memory of it is something quite imaginable."]
US in talks over biggest missile defence site in Europe guardian.co.uk 7/13/4 ["with Poland and the Czech Republic over its controversial missile defence programme, with a view to positioning the biggest missile defence site outside the US in central Europe."]
UN Security Council mulling Sudan sanctions khaleejtimes.com 7/13/4 ["mulling a US resolution to impose sanctions on the militias in Sudan’s Darfur region, with opposition strong despite the scope of the humanitarian tragedy."]
Cheney home is split on gay issue theaustralian.news.com.au 7/13/4 ["The Cheney's 35-year-old daughter Mary is gay."  "...But Mrs Cheney told CNN yesterday: "First of all, people should be free to enter into their relationships that they choose."]
Bush stands by decision to invade theage.com.au 7/13/4 ["saying the invasion was the right thing to do even though no banned weapons have been found."]
U.S.'s Snow Says Patriot Act Key to Financial War bloomberg.com 7/13/4 ["said the USA Patriot Act must be maintained in order to keep a chokehold on terrorism financing, rebutting calls from Democrats who say portions of the measure undermine the Constitution."]
Philippines to pull out of Iraq swissinfo.org 7/13/4 ["withdraw its 50 soldiers, all working on humanitarian projects, as scheduled on August 20."]
Bush asserts pre-emptive strikes policy financialtimes.com 7/13/4 ["his administration would maintain its policy of pre-empting potential security threats despite growing doubts over the adequacy of US intelligence to assess such dangers."]
War With China newsmax.com 7/13/4 ["In little more than 48 hours, China won World War III."]
Cold weather kills eight in Argentina and Chile, thousands of animals in Peru news.yahoo.com 7/13/4 ["In southern Brazil, where people were still enjoying beach weather a week ago, winter weather slammed the region on Sunday with the coldest temperatures in a decade."]
US troop pullout will hit South Korean economy straitstimes.asia1.com.sg 7/13/4 ["Entertainment industry, in particular, fears shutdown of businesses; thousands employed by US military may also lose jobs"]
Tampa, Orlando couples challenge state ban on gay marriage wtev.com 7/13/4 [""]
With Netherlands leading, gay unions gain momentum in Europe kansascity.com 7/13/4 ["Since April 1, 2001, when the landmark legislation went into effect, more than 6,000 gay couples in the Netherlands have wed.  Thus far, the dire consequences predicted by many religious conservatives have not come to pass - "God did not flood the Netherlands," joked Carr - and the idea of same-sex marriages seems to be gaining momentum across Europe.   ...all of the Scandinavian countries as well as France, Germany and parts of Spain recognize some form of gay civil unions."]
 

 

Russia back strongly in world arms market iht.com 7/12/4 ["Prodded by a state-controlled export agency, Moscow has been closing deals on submarines, tanks, frigates, helicopters and jet fighters, along with the add-ons and maintenance contracts that keep these expensive items running."]
U.S. Mulling How to Delay Nov Vote in Case of Attack reuters.com 7/12/4 ["the Department of Homeland Security asked the Justice Department last week to review what legal steps would be needed to delay the vote if an attack occurred on the day before or on election day."]
EU foreign ministers to meet to set stance on Hague ruling haaretzdaily.com 7/12/4 ["Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia appealed Saturday for EU backing in securing UN enforcement of the non-binding court ruling."]
Faith meeting takes on global beliefs, religion myrtlebeachonline.com 7/12/4 ["Parliament of the World's Religions"  "...The big attraction to non-conventional and non-Western religions is not new to the Parliament of the World's Religions. In fact, when the first parliament was established in 1893, one of its goals was to open its doors to non-Western traditions."]
Blair overstated WMD claims: report theage.com.au 7/12/4 ["overstated what Britain knew about Iraqi weapons when he claimed before the war that Saddam Hussein posed a serious threat, two former intelligence officials said in a television interview.  ...the MI6 spy agency had withdrawn the intelligence that underpinned Britain's prewar assertion that Iraq was continuing to produce chemical and biological agents."]
Should the US elections be delayed? news.bbc.co.uk 7/12/4 ["Counter-terrorism officials are examining what legal action would need to be taken to allow them to postpone the November 2 elections in the event of an attack."]
Report: Touchscreen voting flawed in Fla. boston.com 7/12/4 ["votes were not recorded for about one out of every 100 people using the new machines, or a 1.09 percent rate of undervotes, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported."]
Electronic voting critics sue company seattlepi.nwsource.com 7/12/4 ["alleging that the company's shoddy balloting equipment exposed California elections to hackers and software bugs."]
Floods Leave Millions Homeless in South Asia voanews.com 7/12/4 ["more than three million people. "]
Gold Expected to Rise for a Second Straight Week, Survey Shows bloomberg.com 7/12/4 ["on expectations that a U.S. government report Friday will signal inflation has accelerated, boosting the allure of precious metals as a hedge."]
More Distortions From Michael Moore msnbc.msn.com 7/12/4 ["Some of the main points in ‘Fahrenheit 9/11’ really aren’t very fair at all"]
 

 

Bush urges passage of gay marriage ban boston.com 7/11/4 ["The White House has at times seemed reluctant to use all of its political muscle on the issue. Bush has spoken about the matter sporadically..."   '...'What they do in the privacy of their house, consenting adults should be able to do," Bush said in Kutztown, Pa., according to a White House transcript. ''This is America. It's a free society. But it doesn't mean we have to redefine traditional marriage."]
UN Chief Annan Calls for Leadership in Global AIDS Fight voanews.com 7/11/4 ["Officials from more than 100 countries are attending the 15th International AIDS Conference, which opened in the Thai capital Sunday. In his opening address, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan is calling for government leadership to stem the epidemic and its threat to global development."]
POWs: A step toward barbarism denverpost.com 7/11/4 ["The big black line, never to be violated, was beating, torturing, sexually abusing or causing the death of a prisoner. These principles are encoded in the documents we studied: Army Field Manual 27-10, The Law of Land Warfare, and the Geneva Convention."]
Report not likely to alter U.S. strategy boston.com 7/11/4 ["Now that a Senate committee has concluded the CIA falsely claimed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, expect more caution on Capitol Hill the next time a president seeks approval for pre-emptive military action. But don't expect America to strike only after an attack."]
U.S. at War With Beijing, Reports Cite China as No. 1 Threat newsmax.com 7/11/4 ["The U.S. government has cited China as the No. 1 threat to global security for the second time in less than a month."]
Spy chiefs 'withdrew' Saddam arms claim guardian.co.uk 7/11/4 ["Tony Blair's claim that Saddam Hussein posed a 'current and serious' threat to Britain is challenged by dramatic new allegations today that Britain's spy chiefs have retracted the intelligence on which it was based."]
Analysts see shift in Iraq as exit bid detnews.com 7/11/4 ["They say U.S. deference to U.N., NATO reflects decided strategy change   ...That was the classic part of the exit strategy that the Nixon administration tried” in Vietnam, McCormick said. “We’re seeing some of that, but the problem is the Iraqi security forces are not sufficiently developed for that turnover to take place."]
Iraqis, troops share mutual enmity detnews.com 7/11/4 ["Rocks, animosity fly between angry natives, frustrated Americans   ...The Iraqi National Guard has refused dangerous assignments, even when accompanied by U.S. troops."]
Wartime reignites quandary of draft detnews.com 7/11/4 ["Despite opposition from majority, talk of revival continues  ...Once the election is past us in November, we may face some very hard questions. If we don’t have enough people to meet the needs, we may have to draft. The re-enlistment rates for the National Guard and the reserves are way down."]
Could your kids be given to 'gay' parents? worldnetdaily.com 7/11/4 ["who will supply the children of gay "parents," since obviously they cannot produce children themselves.   ...Granting gay couples the "right" to have children by definition means giving them the right to have someone else's children"]
Prince Charles Fearful Over Nanotechnology-Paper reuters.com 7/11/4 ["Prince Charles, who is a committed environmentalist" - he's more than than...]
FL: State family attorneys want the law banning gay adoption lifted am850.com 7/11/4 ["By a unanimous vote the Executive Council of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar has decided to push for a repeal. Florida is the only state in the nation to have a complete ban on gay adoption and has been law since 1977."]
Fearing sanctions, students flee Cuba newsday.com 7/11/4 ["Bush administration officials say they are restricting travel to Cuba to cut off its flow of hard currency. They say that will weaken its regime and speed the transition to democracy."]
UK: Cruelty law to slug snail killers theage.com.au 7/11/4 ["RSPCA inspectors could enter without a warrant any vehicle carrying animals.  If entering a private home without a warrant they would need to be accompanied by police."]
Peek at polygamists' haven azcentral.com 7/11/4 ["The mainstream Mormon Church once held similar beliefs but abandoned polygamy in 1890 under pressure from the federal government. Fundamentalist followers believe that was a mistake."]
 

Current Event RECAP - 7/11/4

Gay N.J. Couples Register for Partnerships abcnews.go.com 7/10/4 ["N.J. Same-Sex Couples Register for Domestic Partnerships on First Day of New Law"]
'IoS' poll: MPs reject abortion reform news.independent.co.uk 7/10/4 ["The survey will come as a blow to anti-abortionists who had hoped to cut the limit to 22 weeks"]
China to rehearse Taiwan 'invasion' theaustralian.news.com.au 7/10/4 ["The 18,000-man mock landing on the beaches of Dongshan Island is to involve amphibious assault craft, Russian-built fighter jets and submarines operating in the Taiwan Strait to ward off a simulated counter-attack by the US Seventh Fleet."]
U-N and other experts call for routine H-I-V testing in the developing world news.bostonherald.com 7/10/4 ["instead of leaving it to people to request an H-I-V test. "]
Kremlin prepares to seize Yukos's oil telegraph.co.uk 7/10/4 ["The oil trader who would take over the marketing if Sechin's strategy wins has - like Putin and Sechin - a KGB background, according to a member of the Russian security service."]
African Union Force Ready to Deploy in Sudan allafrica.com 7/10/4 ["The African Union aims to deploy 300 armed troops to protect its observers and civilians in Sudan's conflict-ravaged region of Darfur by the end of the month"]
China's premier issues Aids alert news.bbc.co.uk 7/10/4 ["Last week, the United Nations warned that 10 million people in China could be infected with HIV within six years.  China says it has recorded more than 800,000 cases of HIV/Aids, but experts say the real figure could be much higher. "]
Fleet exercise showcases a more nimble Navy usatoday.com 7/10/4 ["For the hundreds of thousands of U.S. soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen "forward deployed" overseas, that business is changing fast. Major cuts have already been announced for Germany and South Korea, and senior U.S. military officials say there is much more change ahead."]
 

 

 ICJ: West Bank fence is illegal, Israel must tear it down haaretz.com 7/9/4 ["International Court of Justice ruled Friday in The Hague that the separation fence being built by Israel in the West Bank was in breach of international law, and called on Israel to tear it down and compensate Palestinians harmed by its construction."]
 Palestinians to seek UN General Assembly backing on ICJ decision haaretzdaily.com 7/9/4 ["Palestinians will ask the United Nations General Assembly next week to adopt a nonbinding resolution affirming the International Court of Justice ruling against the West Bank separation fence"]
 House Refuses to Curb Patriot Act foxnews.com 7/9/4 ["The Republican-led House bowed to a White House veto threat Thursday and stood by the USA Patriot Act, defeating an effort to block the part of the anti-terrorism law that helps the government investigate people's reading habits."]
 Hate-crimes law worries pastors worldnetdaily.com 7/9/4 ["Some consider liability insurance to cover pulpit remarks"]
 Guard to Play Bigger Role in Iraq Rotation ap.org 7/9/4 ["The number of National Guard brigades in Iraq will grow from three to five, and for the first time in Iraq a National Guard division headquarters will command active-duty brigades."]
 Iraq errors were CIA's fault, says Senate guardian.co.uk 7/9/4 ["A Senate report due to be published today will blame the CIA for the Bush administration's unfounded claims about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, and will not address White House responsibility for the debacle."]
 AP: Iraq Insurgency Larger Than Thought apnews.myway.com 7/9/4 ["is led by well-armed Sunnis angry about losing power, not foreign fighters, and is far larger than previously thought, American military officials say.   ...have enough popular support among nationalist Iraqis angered by the presence of U.S. troops that they cannot be militarily defeated."]
 U.N. Didn't OK Uranium Transfer to U.S. ap.org 7/9/4 ["The United States disclosed Tuesday that the material was secured from Iraq's former nuclear research facility and airlifted out of the country to an undisclosed Energy Department laboratory for further analysis last month."]
 Sudan warns against Darfur sanctions reuters.co.uk 7/9/4 ["has warned the United States and Britain against imposing sanctions on Khartoum over violence in Darfur and landing the world in an Iraq-style quagmire, says the official SUNA news agency."]
 Paul Continues Fight for US Sovereignty house.gov 7/9/4 [""]
 Egyptian Prime Minister, Cabinet Resigns guardian.co.uk 7/9/4 ["Mubarak, a former air force commander, transformed Egypt into Washington's second most important strategic partner in the Middle East after Israel. Any successor is likely to continue that foreign policy. "]
 Nervous Depositors Make Run on Banks themoscowtimes.com 7/9/4 ["a trend that has seen an estimated $5 billion, or about 10 percent of all household savings, taken out of the system in the last two months."]
Anti-Jewish acts in France soar heraldsun.news.com.au 7/9/4 ["THE number of racist and anti-Jewish acts in France is rising sharply, with more recorded so far this year than for all of 2003, the government said today."]
 Memorial Tribute to Light Sky at Trade Center Site reuters.com 7/9/4 ["The "Tribute in Light," first illuminated the city night on March 11, 2002, six months after the attacks that destroyed the buildings and killed nearly 2,800 people. It shone nightly for more than a month, and was re-lit the night of Sept. 11, 2003.   ...88 searchlights"   editor: look at March 11, 2002 in the history calendar to see why I am pointing this out.]
 

 

 General Assembly agrees to upgrade status of the Holy See at the UN catholicnewsagency.com 7/8/4 ["adopted a Resolution, submitted as a presidential text, to upgrade the status of the Holy See at the U.N., signifying a more participatory role in the U.N.’s work."]
 Russian bank crisis panics public news.bbc.co.uk 7/8/4 ["The crisis of confidence in Russia's banking sector is spreading, with one top bank imposing a 10% penalty charge on withdrawals to its customers."]
 Dump the U.S. Dollar for Bigger Bucks reuters.com 7/8/4 ["Investors are racing to buy high-yielding currencies like the Australian dollar and sterling on the prospect of widening interest rate differentials compared with the U.S. dollar."]
 ACLU sues to allow gay 'marriage' washingtontimes.com 7/8/4 ["sued the city of Baltimore and four Maryland counties to allow homosexual couples the right to marry...  The ACLU of Virginia has said it will sue that state for its ban on civil unions."]
 Blair hints at abortion rethink news.bbc.co.uk 7/8/4 ["The legal time limit for abortions could be re-examined because of new medical research, Tony Blair has said."]
 Australia, US sign bases, missile pacts theage.com.au 7/8/4 ["Labor has condemned the missile defence program as costly, technically questionable, unnecessary and likely to provoke a new arms race."]
 Gay-Marriage Debate Fuels Showtime Drama abcnews.go.com 7/8/4 ["While the issue of gay marriage has received its share of television news and talk show time, it has been largely absent from TV series until now."]
 Pentagon accused of evading Guantánamo ruling guardian.co.uk 7/8/4 ["The Pentagon said last night it would create military review panels to weigh the legality of detentions at Guantánamo, in a measure that critics said falls far short of a supreme court ruling that entitles prisoners to challenge their detentions in US courts."]
 ABC to televise abortion theaustralian.news.com.au 7/8/4 ["It shows a four-week-old foetus being sucked out of a woman's womb using the "manual vacuum aspiration" technique, and footage of the dismembered remains of foetuses from the ages of 12 to 21 weeks...  Australian women having 100,000 abortions a year."]
 Troops stretched too thin, some fear denverpost.com 7/8/4 ["lawmakers said Wednesday the Pentagon is stretching troops to their limit and perhaps undermining the nation's future force...   That is, in order to make it through today, we do things that mortgage the future."]
 Suit demands automatic recounts washingtontimes.com 7/8/4 ["A coalition of voting rights advocates have filed a challenge to a state rule that bans manual recounts on touch-screen voting machines in Florida."]
 China warns Rice it won't 'sit idle' if US backs Taiwan independence channelnewsasia.com 7/8/4 ["If Taiwan authorities are determined to pursue Taiwan independence; if foreign forces interfere and support this, we would definitely not sit idle without doing anything...  He urged the US to not only stop selling arms to Taiwan, which Beijing fears will embolden Chen, but to halt military and official relations with Taiwan."]
 Report on Iraq intelligence won't discuss rationale for war denverpost.com 7/8/4 ["will sidestep the question of how the Bush administration used that information to make the case for war, congressional officials said Wednesday."]
 International conference targets Internet hate speech edition.cnn.com 7/8/4 ["A sticking point was whether the United States, which has championed nearly unfettered free speech, would line up with European countries that have banned racist or anti-Semitic speech in public."]
 Book of Mormon to be published commercially for first time usatoday.com 7/8/4 ["The Doubleday decision was made in order to make the book more widely available, church spokesman Dale Bills said Wednesday."]
 Israel agrees to nuke talks heraldsun.news.com.au 7/8/4 ["The prime minister affirmed to me that Israeli policy continues to be that in the context of peace in the Middle East, Israel will be looking forward to the establishment of a nuclear-weapons free zone in the Middle East"]
 Powell Issues Renewed Warning Over Darfur voanews.com 7/8/4 ["U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell Thursday renewed warnings of international sanctions against Sudan if there is not immediate action to ease the humanitarian situation in the western Darfur region. "]