Current Events > Archive

"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

   May2004 ARCHIVE

UN Delays Vote Exempting U.S. from War Crimes Court wireservice.wired.com 5/22/4 ["The Bush administration maintains the court could be used for politically motivated or frivolous suits against U.S. troops and wants peacekeepers in U.N.-mandated operations excluded from prosecution if they are nationals of a country that did not sign up to the court."]
Arab league: Israel war crimes to the Hague jpost.com 5/22/4 ["said they would act towards bringing Israel to trial at the International Court of Justice at the Hague"]
454 freed from notorious prison thestar.com 5/22/4 ["some emerging with fresh claims of abuse.  ...With anger at the U.S.-led coalition rising, the Iraqi Governing Council yesterday condemned Thursday's raids on the home and offices of Ahmad Chalabi"]
Putin gets back on board with Kyoto protocol pact canoe.ca 5/22/4 ["in a deal with the EU. Putin, contradicting months of warnings Russia wouldn't ratify the greenhouse gas emissions pact, has now jumped on board. In exchange, the EU signed a protocol backing Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization."]
US general linked to Abu Ghraib abuse guardian.co.uk 5/22/4 ["is a potential "smoking gun" linking prisoner abuse to the US high command. It represents hard evidence that the maltreatment was not simply the fault of rogue military police guards."]
Arab leaders to condemn attacks on Israelis in unprecedented move haaretzdaily.com 5/22/4 ["under heavy U.S. pressure and that the Americans, in exchange, will ease their pressure on Arab states to adopt political reforms."]
Iran threatens Australia with sanctions abc.net.au 5/22/4 ["By cooperating with the American led forces, demonstrated a hostile attitude towards us."]
Skipped autopsies in Iraq revealed denverpost.com 5/22/4 ["United Nations and Geneva Convention standards for handling war prisoners call for official inquiries into prisoner deaths. United Nations rules mandate that autopsies be performed in suspicious deaths."]
Homosexuals promise to continue to pressure for same sex marriage in Illinois illinoisleader.com 5/22/4 ["Several hundred protestors jammed into Orr's office to support a lesbian couple that wanted to get married in Illinois...  has publicly declared his support for issuing licenses to same sex couples several times... but state law prevents him from issuing marriage certificates to gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender couples."]
Withdrawal From Lebanon Led To Oslo War israelnationalnews.com 5/22/4 ["Palestinian spokesmen themselves emphasize that it was the withdrawal from Lebanon that sparked the violence..."]
US force 'risks catastrophe' theage.com.au 5/22/4 ["unless it repaired international alliances, expanded trade and encouraged global economic development...  If not, he said, 'we are likely to experience acts of catastrophic terrorism that would undermine our economy, damage our society, and kill hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people'"]
100,000 pilgrims expected in Austria to pray for reconciliation eubusiness.com 5/22/4 ["100,000 Catholic pilgrims from eight central European countries were to begin arriving Friday at Mariazell, a basilica nestled in the Austrian Alps, for a weekend of events promoting reconciliation in the newly enlarged Europe Union."]
Alaskans Sue to Stop CAPPS II wired.com 5/22/4 ["Four Alaskans filed a legal challenge Friday to the federal government's proposed new airline passenger-profiling plan, charging the program could prevent ordinary Alaskans from being able to travel to their state capital...  On government websites seeking public comment about the program, CAPPS II has received thousands of critical comments, some of which can be found on the Department of Homeland Security's privacy office's homepage."]
Autism and MMR Vaccine or Mercury Based Preservative in Vaccines No Link Says US Health Panel medicalnewstoday.com 5/22/4 [disinformation?]
On Religion: 'Passion' aftershocks are already being felt naplesnews.com 5/22/4 [talks about the growing trend to legitimize violence and sex if it is "meaningful"]
Russia has ended capital flight: Gref washingtontimes.com 5/22/4 ["has successfully ended its era of ruinous loss of scores of billions of dollars a year in capital flight, a top minister said Friday."]
Hindu temple in Georgia nearly ready for consecration indystar.com 5/22/4 ["the weeks before the summer solstice are an auspicious time for temple consecration.  ...one of the few with an accompanying traditional temple to the deity Balagi, also known as Vishnu, right beside it."]
 

 


Fresh images fuel Arab anger over Abu Ghraib news.scotsman.com 5/21/4 ["they could be portrayed as showing Americans gloating over the death of an Arab, nonetheless were likely to ensure more condemnation of the United States by Arabs already outraged by the prison abuse scandal. "]
US general admits abuse of prisoners widespread news.scotsman.com 5/21/4 ["THE United States military has investigated 75 cases of abuse of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan since late 2002, suggesting that mistreatment has been more widespread than previously acknowledged, the head of the US Central Command said yesterday. "]
China urges US not to be deceived by Taiwan authority news.xinhuanet.com 5/21/4 ["and should realize the vital threat to cross-Straits peace and stability that may be brought about by "Taiwan independence" activities"]
Only Saudis have spare oil output capacity news.ft.com 5/21/4 ["With non-Opec suppliers pumping oil at maximum volumes, any further increase in output has to come from Saudi Arabia, which on Friday said it was willing to pump all the oil it could."]
Last Spanish Troops Leave Iraq, Snubbing Bush reuters.com 5/21/4 ["but a popular move among Spaniards."]
Bulldozers keep up demolition in Rafah smh.com.au 5/21/4 ["despite reports that they were withdrawing after 41 people were killed in three days of fighting."]
UN: Israel must stop demolishing Rafah homes jpost.com 5/21/4 ["calling on Israel to halt the demolition of Palestinian homes in Rafah. The resolution was adopted after the United States abstained from the vote, declining to exercise its veto on an Israel-related resolution for the first time since September 2002."]
Mass. Clerks Told Not to Wed Gay Couples guardian.co.uk 5/21/4 ["The Massachusetts attorney general said Friday that he has warned clerks in four communities to stop issuing marriage licenses to out-of-state gay couples."]
Military shrugs off attack on wedding party smh.com.au 5/21/4 ["deputy director of operations for the US military in Iraq, said an investigation was "the only prudent thing to do" because of the gravity of allegations made by people interviewed on television."]
Red Cross condemns US 'excessive' force in Iraq abc.net.au 5/21/4 ["The excessive use of force violates international human rights"]
'US soldiers started to shoot us, one by one' guardian.co.uk 5/21/4 ["The celebration at Mukaradeeb was to be one of the biggest events of the year for a small village of just 25 houses ...had finally arranged a long-negotiated tribal union that would bring together two halves of one large extended family..."  "How many people go to the middle of the desert ... to hold a wedding 80 miles (130km) from the nearest civilisation?"]
Iraqis see U.S. army's ignorance of local culture at heart of occupation woes cnews.canoe.ca 5/21/4 ["In a wider context, some Iraqis claim the U.S. military knows but intentionally ignores local traditions, swelling the ranks of insurgents and deepening distrust of the occupation."  "Ironically, the U.S. occupation and the freedoms that came with it have inspired a greater awareness of the country's Arab and Islamic roots, casting off vestiges of secularism promoted by Saddam's Baathist party."]
U.S. Seeks Exemption for U.S. Peackeepers grandforks.com 5/21/4 ["from international prosecution, but human rights groups said Thursday that the prisoner abuse scandal showed America needs global oversight."]
COMEX gold jumps to two-week high as dollar slumps forbes.com 5/21/4 ["Comments by Federal Reserve Governor Ben Bernanke late Thursday suggesting the Fed would not rush to raise interest rates knocked the dollar to two-week lows against the euro and yen, making gold cheaper overseas. "]
 

 


Pro-Beijing lawmakers foil Hong Kong bill seattlepi.nwsource.com 5/20/4 ["pressed ahead with a motion in the legislature criticizing Beijing for ruling out quick democratic reforms here, but it was defeated by pro-Beijing legislators."]
AP: Database Measured 'Terrorism Quotient' apnews.myway.com 5/20/4 ["Before helping to launch the criminal information project known as Matrix, a database contractor gave U.S. and Florida authorities the names of 120,000 people who showed a statistical likelihood of being terrorists - sparking some investigations and arrests."]
Taiwan leader is sworn in for second term seattletimes.nwsource.com 5/20/4 ["promised at his inauguration today to focus on improving ties with rival China in his second term, but also cautioned that Taiwan must bolster its defense against the mainland's threats."]
Russia Will Not Enter EU — Deputy Foreign Minister mosnews.com 5/20/4 ["He explained that Russia is an “all-sufficient” country, both in the area of war strategy and economy."]
Israel Says It Won't Demolish Gaza Homes guardian.co.uk 5/20/4 ["With President Bush's unflagging support for Israel ebbing, the nation has assured Secretary of State Colin Powell it will not widen the area in Gaza where it is demolishing Palestinian homes in a campaign against weapons smuggling to terror groups."]
Bush Rushing to Show Iraq Handover Strategy news.myway.com 5/20/4 ["senior Bush administration officials said the interim government would have limited authority in some areas and Iraqi forces, while overseen by fellow Iraqis, would still fall under a U.S.-led command."]
Najaf's hallowed cemetery news.bbc.co.uk 5/20/4 ["For centuries, Muslims from across the Shia world have sought to be buried here...  Known as the Valley of Peace, it is said to be one of the largest, if not the largest, graveyards on the planet...  among the estimated five million graves."]
China moves to crush millions-strong Christian House Church freedomhouse.org 5/20/4 ["Leader Reported Kidnapped, Over 90 Coworkers Arrested, and 1 Tortured to Death; 2 Catholic Priests Also Arrested in Separate Incident"]
Breakneck pace of RFID becomes unstoppable ferret.com.au 5/20/4 ["Last month, US retail giant Wal-Mart insisted its target date of January 2005 for its top 100 suppliers to adopt RFID chips on all cases and pallets would be met, refuting rumours that many suppliers could not make the deadline."]
Britain opens world's first stem cell bank cbc.ca 5/20/4 ["will hold human embryonic, fetal and adult stem cells...  In Britain, researchers can apply for a licence to create human embryos by cloning to extract stem cells. In Canada, stem cells cannot be cloned but surplus embryos from assisted reproduction can be used in research. Opponents say using embryonic stem cells is unethical."]
How India funds Bush's campaign atimes.com 5/20/4 [""]
U.S. Allows U.N. Council to Rebuke Israel on Gaza wireservice.wired.com 5/20/4 ["by abstaining rather than using its veto power to kill the measure."]
Iraq's rebel cleric gains surge in popularity financialtimes.com 5/20/4 ["Conducted before the Abu Ghraib prisoners' scandal, it also suggests a severe erosion of American credibility even before Iraqis were confronted with images of torture at the hands of US soldiers."]
Third HK Talk Show Host Quits As Pressure On Media Rises sg.biz.yahoo.com 5/20/4 ["as concerns grow Beijing is upping its pressure on the media after clamping down on the city's democratic aspirations."]
Eastern Temple wall in danger of immediate collapse jpost.com 5/20/4 ["The rare public warning, made at a meeting of the Knesset's Interior Committee, came one month after a team of senior Egyptian and Jordanian engineers began to carry out tests to determine the stability of the eastern wall...  New cracks and movements in the already fragile wall were discerned by archaeologists following the earthquake, the report states."]
Senate wants Gitmo 'torture' videos, too washtimes.com 5/20/4 ["guards beating prisoners at the U.S. military detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have been reviewed by the inspector general of the Navy and will be provided to senate investigators"]
 

 


Thousands rally in Iran against occupation of Iraq stuff.co.nz 5/19/4 ["Tens of thousands of Iranians took part in a state-sponsored rally yesterday to demand US-led forces leave Iraq."]
Iran leader condemns US 'stupidity' news.bbc.co.uk 5/19/4 ["what he described as the "stupid" and "shameless" actions of US troops in the Iraqi Shia holy cities of Najaf and Karbala."]
Security Council debates response to Rafah action jpost.com 5/19/4 ["Arab nations introduced a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding that Israel stop the demolition of homes in the Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza Strip."]
Israeli Forces Fire on Crowd in Gaza, Killing 8 reuters.com 5/19/4 ["raising the death toll in Israel's heaviest raid in the Gaza Strip in years to 31."]
G.L.S.E.N. TO ESTABLISH HOMOSEXUAL CLUBS ON ALL SCHOOL CAMPUSES newswithviews.com 5/19/4 ["holding diversity seminars for teachers and students and ensuring that only positive discussions about homosexuality are allowed into elementary school classrooms, including kindergarten.""]
Morning-after pill will be easier to buy in Canada seattletimes.nwsource.com 5/19/4 ["The Canadian government announced plans yesterday to make the morning-after birth-control pill more widely available without a prescription."]
Seoul calms fears over US troop transfer to Iraq straitstimes.asia1.com.sg 5/19/4 ["US and South Korean officials said the reduction in troop numbers would not weaken the ability of American forces, based in South Korea for more than 50 years, to deter the communist North."]
China reveals massive smart ID card plan news.zdnet.co.uk 5/19/4 ["China's 960 million citizens will be issued with digital smart ID cards, starting from next year"]
Rumsfeld says it wasn't necessarily sarin wtkr.com 5/19/4 ["the bomb was apparently left over from the Saddam era"]
U.S. Reportedly Kills 40 Iraqis at Party guardian.co.uk 5/19/4 ["A U.S. helicopter fired on a wedding party in the remote desert near the border with Syria"]
Iraq War Weakens Bond Between Bush, Evangelicals reuters.com 5/19/4 ["Some academics estimate evangelical Christians represent 25 to 30 percent of the 105 million people who voted in the last presidential election. Evangelical Christians are concentrated in Southern and Midwestern states considered by many political analysts to be the battleground of the 2004 campaign."]
No Wizard Left Behind slate.msn.com 5/19/4 ["Harry Potter and Left Behind are more alike than you might think." - Secular perspective]
Senate fails to delay closings of military bases set for '05 azcentral.com 5/19/4 ["The Senate narrowly defeated an attempt to delay next year's round of base closings, after the White House said President Bush may veto a $422 billion defense bill over the issue."]
Commission: Fire, Police Rivalry Hurt 9/11 Rescue reuters.com 5/19/4 ["evacuees were told to return to their offices" - blame shifting]
Plan for [Venezuelan] civilian military training decried cnn.com 5/19/4 ["plan to give civilians military training as a thinly disguised attempt to create pro-government militias."]
Venus is set to traverse face of Sun iht.com 5/19/4 ["The last such occurrence, called a transit of Venus, was in 1882."]
Greenspan Nominated To 5th Term As Fed Chief technewsworld.com 5/19/4 ["to serve a fifth term as chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, providing financial markets with a source of stability at a time of economic transition."]
Biotech, vaccine stocks rise on BioShield bill forbes.com 5/19/4 ["In all, Project BioShield will provide $5.6 billion in funding over 10 years."]
Chen's inauguration speech 'to pacify China' straitstimes.asia1.com.sg 5/19/4 ["Following a stern warning from Beijing, the Taiwan President is likely to adopt a conciliatory stance, his policymakers say"]
 


 US should adopt same human rights standards as they hold others: UK expert news.xinhuanet.com 5/18/4 ["referring to the US annual promotion of human rights report that summarizes its actions in 101 countries to promote freedom and to end abuses."]
 The Criminalization of Dissent Still a Problem Nationwide news.ncmonline.com 5/18/4 ["The combination of new laws, presidential privilege and Justice Department policy increased government surveillance power, lessened judicial oversight, crafted a new broad “domestic terror” crime category, approved military tribunals, and indefinite detention and immediate deportation of non-citizens."]
 US rebukes China for Taiwan threat straitstimes.asia1.com.sg 5/18/4 ["The United States has rebuked China for threatening Taiwan and promised to fulfil its obligations to aid in the island's defence."]
 UK under fire for trying to water down EU constitution news.ft.com 5/18/4 ["France and Germany are becoming increasingly vocal in their criticism of Tony Blair, who is committed to defending national vetoes in areas including tax, foreign policy and EU funding."]
 CARA (Get Out Act) Will Kill Rural America magic-city-news.com 5/18/4 ["Only the Endangered Species Act comes close to imposing as much damage on you as HR 4100, and HR 4100 will make the Endangered Species Act even more dangerous and more powerful."]
 E.U. seeks quantum cryptography response to Echelon security.itworld.com 5/18/4 [" invest €11 million (US $13 million) over the next four years to develop a secure communication system based on quantum cryptography, using physical laws governing the universe on the smallest scale to create and distribute unbreakable encryption keys"]
 Religion: The Pop Prophets msnbc.msn.com 5/18/4 ["The 'Left Behind' series gives old-time religion a sci-fi twist"]
 Outsourcing speeding up, report finds iht.com 5/18/4 ["U.S. employers will increase the number of white-collar service jobs shipped overseas to about 588,000 this year from 315,000 last year"  "...with most of the jobs going to China, India, Mexico, the Philippines and Russia."]
 House rejects bill requiring hospitals to ask alien status usatoday.com 5/18/4 ["The Homeland Security Department would have been required to initiate deportation proceedings against illegal aliens.  In addition, employers of illegal aliens would have been responsible for the cost of unreimbursed emergency room care, and hospitals would not have had to provide care for an illegal alien who could safely be sent back to his or her own country for treatment."]
 Mass. puts U.S. on map by allowing gays to wed detnews.com 5/18/4 ["State joins Begium, Netherlands as areas where gays can marry"]
 Russia Pledges to Finish Iran Reactor themoscowtimes.com 5/18/4 ["despite technical complications, unresolved commercial issues and strong objections from the United States"]
 Chavez to set up “people’s militia” as opponents push for recall khaleejtimes.com 5/18/4 ["to counter what he called foreign interference after an alleged coup plot by Colombian paramilitaries Caracas claims was financed by Washington."]
 Cambridge plays host to a giant celebration boston.com 5/17/4 ["What was missing were the protesters, save for a small group of sign-carrying opponents from Topeka, Kan. Shirley Phelps Roper, a lawyer with the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, said the group traveled to Massachusetts because it was the first state to legalize same-sex marriages."  "police ushered Roper and her crew across Massachusetts Avenue to the designated "First Amendment" zone, the crowd let out a loud, mocking whoop."]
 Dollar, Stocks Fall After Crude Surges, Iraqi Leader Is Killed bloomberg.com 5/17/4 ["Investors may be asking, is the dollar really that attractive?"]
 Asian Stocks Slide, Led by Samsung Electronics; India Halted quote.bloomberg.com 5/17/4 ["Crude oil has jumped 12 percent in three weeks....  China is aiming to preempt Chen from pushing for Taiwan's independence."]
 China orders TV stars to stop 'queer' western behaviour raidersnewsupdate.com 5/17/4 ["Chinese television presenters have been told to stop dyeing their hair, exposing too much flesh and using English words in a government campaign to shelter young Chinese minds from the pernicious influences of sex, violence and foreign ideas."]
 George Orwell must have written the EU constitution handbook opinion.telegraph.co.uk 5/17/4 ["The rights of many groups are spelled out but I could not find any protection of private property."]
 Hundreds of Rafah homes slated for demolition haaretz.com 5/17/4 ["the first time they have conducted a division-level operation in Gaza."]
 Israel urged to attack Iran nuke plant worldnetdaily.com 5/17/4 ["Strategic report calls for second-strike capability"]
 Sarin, Mustard Gas Discovered Separately in Iraq foxnews.com 5/17/4 ["may have been one of 550 projectiles for which former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein failed to account"]
 Iraqi Silence Indicts U.S. Occupiers news.yahoo.com 5/17/4 ["To many Iraqis, the abuse of prisoners came as no surprise."]
 Colombia has biggest humanitarian crisis in Western Hemisphere, UN says un.org 5/17/4 ["The South American country had the world's third largest internally displaced population"]
 Data Scant for Watchlist Usage wired.com 5/17/4 ["a centralized terrorist watchlist of 120,000 names. But the public knows little about how the list is compiled and used, or how individuals can remove their names if they're wrongfully targeted."]
 Israelis call for Gaza withdrawal news.bbc.co.uk 5/16/4 ["More than 100,000 Israelis have attended a rally calling for an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip."]
 Israel threatens to destroy hundreds of homes reuters.co.uk 5/16/4 ["The United Nations says Israel has made more than 12,000 people homeless in Rafah since the start of a Palestinian uprising when peace talks failed in September 2000, and further demolitions would be in "grave breach" of international law."]
 Hesitant at first, a movement raced to 'we do' boston.com 5/16/4 ["Only 14 years ago, the nation's leading group of gay advocacy lawyers, dedicated to creating a civil rights movement with the scope, emotion, and cultural resonance of the legendary court fights that established civil rights for racial minorities, didn't want to take a case pushing for gay marriage."  "It was too fast, too soon, too big a step, too much to foist on a society that couldn't tolerate even one gay character on mainstream TV, recalled one of the lawyers."]
 Massachusetts Prepares for Gay Wedding Rush firstcoastnews.com 5/16/4 ["It's almost like we're the gay Niagara Falls," says Patricia Fitzpatrick, the town's director of tourism."  "It's difficult to predict how many gay couples will get married in Massachusetts. The state has 17,100 same-sex households, according to the 2000 Census."]
 Wedding option energizes teenagers at Youth Pride rally boston.com 5/16/4 ["they said the move to legalize gay marriage will help them to be more comfortable with who they are."]
 Pope Makes Saint of Woman Who Died for Unborn Child reuters.com 5/16/4 ["Among the other new saints were... Nimatullah al-Hardini, who was renowned for his tolerance...  'In his mission he made no distinction between Muslims, Druses or Christians,' Father Paolo Azzi, the man who promoted his sainthood, told Vatican Radio"]
 Two DAs say they won't charge clerks who defy 1913 law boston.com 5/16/4 ["that Republican Govornor Mitt Romney says bars out-of-state same-sex couples from marrying in Massachusetts"]
 Immigration Before & After: Putting it in Perspective immigration.about.com 5/16/4 ["What has changed as a result of the events that rocked the United States on 9/11? And what hasn't?"]
 Moscow 'has most billionaires' news.bbc.co.uk 5/16/4 ["The Russian capital Moscow now boasts more billionaires than any other city in the world, according to a survey by Forbes magazine."  "'Appearing on such a list is bound to make the entrepreneur a prime target for the law enforcement authorities,' another businessman said. In the spring of 2003 Forbes published a list of 100 richest people in China, which, reportedly, led to some of them being arrested."]
 Castro Leads Six-Hour Anti-US Protest voanews.com 5/15/4 ["against a U.S. plan to tighten economic sanctions against Cuba...  more than one million people took part in Friday's demonstration"]
 Cuba goes on war footing, plans anti-US protest today straitstimes.asia1.com.sg 5/15/4 ["has put in place plans for the evacuation of children and the elderly and created 1,400 defence zones with militia brigades made up of those ineligible for Cuba's regular armed forces.  Militias are armed with small anti-aircraft rocket launchers and fields have been sowed with landmines"]
 UN calls for new nuclear controls news.bbc.co.uk 5/15/4 ["Addressing a seminar of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Mr ElBaradei... first step towards better international control could be a global moratorium on the right of any country to develop plutonium and highly-enriched uranium."]
 Law enforcement to share intelligence in new plan chron.com 5/15/4 ["there are currently hundreds of different computer networks used... new software would be created to connect the data bases so that an officer in New York could tap into the system used in Texas."  "do everything possible to connect the dots, whether it be a set of criminal dots or a set of terrorist dots," Ashcroft said."]
 Gay activists cheer same-sex marriage in Massachusetts but want it here newsday.com 5/15/4 ["Instead of gathering to fete New Jersey's domestic partnership law, people planning to attend a rally Monday say it will be tinged with envy as gay marriage becomes legal in Massachusetts. "]
 The FBI's power to snoop in a person's Internet records shouldn't go unchecked newsday.com 5/15/4 [" the FBI never has to disclose to anyone what it has done."]
 Taipei writer's democracy call draws barbs from all straitstimes.asia1.com.sg 5/15/4 ["What raised hackles from Beijing to Singapore was her call on ethnic Chinese throughout the world to support Taiwan's democracy - and her disparaging of China."]
 Israel hits Islamic Jihad sites swisspolitics.org 5/15/4 ["after attacks led by the Palestinian militant group killed 13 soldiers and dealt the Middle East's mightiest army its worst blow in two years."]
 Musharraf wants review of strict Islamic laws timesofindia.indiatimes.com 5/15/4 ["that human rights groups say are discriminatory against women and non-Muslim minorities."]
 Chavez Suspects 'Pinocchio' U.S. Lying Over Plot story.news.yahoo.com 5/15/4 ["We have serious doubts about the U.S. government. I'd like to believe them, but the U.S. government is like Pinocchio, its nose is longer than the earth's diameter,' Chavez told foreign correspondents."]
 Oil prices pushed to all-time high chron.com 5/15/4 ["And these prices suggest a lot of influential players in the oil markets are in a panic over oil supplies."]
 U.S. tipped off early to Holocaust tucsoncitizen.com 5/15/4 ["American intelligence officials learned soon after the United States entered World War II that Nazi Germany planned mass killings to eliminate Jews..."]
 America's military coup guardian.co.uk 5/15/4 ["William Odom, a retired general and former member of the National Security Council..."  "It was never in our interest to go into Iraq," he told me. It is a 'diversion' from the war on terrorism; the rationale for the Iraq war (finding WMD) is 'phoney'; the US army is overstretched and being driven "into the ground"; and the prospect of building a democracy is 'zero'."]
 US Court Strikes Attempt to Block Gay Marriage reuters.com 5/14/4 ["rejected on Friday a last-ditch effort to block gay marriage, which is to become legal in Massachusetts on May 17, pushing the issue to the U.S. Supreme Court."]
 Bishop Issues Strong Anti-Abortion Edict guardian.co.uk 5/14/4 ["The Roman Catholic bishop of Colorado Springs has said Catholics should not receive Communion if they vote for politicians who support abortion rights, stem-cell research, euthanasia and gay marriage."]
 Eurozone in surprise growth spurt news.bbc.co.uk 5/14/4 ["The eurozone has posted stronger than expected growth for the first three months of the year."]
 China's proliferation serves to rouse Japan japantimes.co.jp 5/14/4 ["China's support for North Korea has backfired. What would China prefer to see -- a Japan armed with nuclear weapons, or Japan's alliance with the United States strengthened by its participation in missile defense?"]
 Libya Won't Sell Arms to Iran, Syria, N.Korea -US reuters.com 5/14/4 ["President Bush on April 23 rewarded Libya for its decision to give up unconventional weapons by suspending U.S. sanctions to let U.S. companies buy Libya's oil and invest in its economy for the first time since 1986."]
 15 Anomalies Surrounding Death Of Nick Berg rense.com 5/14/4 [""]
 Chávez rhetoric raises fears of Colombia clash news.ft.com 5/14/4 ["as President Hugo Chávez amplified allegations of a Colombian-led plot to invade and topple his government.  Mr Chávez on Wednesday said the Colombian armed forces - and the US military, which backs them..."]
 Slain man 'held because of Jewish name' theage.com.au 5/14/4 ["Nicholas Berg... held on suspicion of being a spy because he had a Jewish name and an Israeli stamp in his passport, it has emerged."]
 More violence in Gaza stirs pullout debate seattletimes.nwsource.com 5/14/4 [" Yesterday's flashpoint was the Rafah refugee camp in southern Gaza, on the border with Egypt."]
 Cells in a dish, or suffering people? wilmingtonstar.com 5/14/4 ["Nancy Reagan... Others do not share her moral outlook; for them, the fate of a few cells in a dish is more important than the fate of a human being suffering from crippling and killing diseases."]
 Rise in birth deformities blamed on Allies' deadly weaponry news.independent.co.uk 5/14/4 ["The number of babies born deformed and children suffering leukaemia have soared because of the "deadly legacy" of depleted uranium shells used by British and American forces in Iraq, human rights campaigners claimed yesterday."]
 Saudi oil policy shift driven by politics straitstimes.asia1.com.sg 5/14/4 [" Fears for the safety of Saudi oil supplies and attacks on Iraqi oil facilities around the same time sent prices to a 13-year high. 
Yesterday, oil prices shot above US$41 a barrel - a 21-year high."]
 Tens of thousands of Nigerians flee sectarian violence  sfgate.com 5/14/4 ["On Thursday, President Olusegun Obasanjo accused Christian and Muslim leaders of fanning the violence."  "had accused Obasanjo -- a Christian -- of siding with Muslims. 'What did Christianity teach you? Revenge?'"]
 Booming Death Cult Draws Mexican Gangsters, Police reuters.com 5/14/4 ["Santa Muerte, or Saint Death"]
  
 Syrian president refuses to expel Palestinian militants haaretzdaily.com 5/13/4 ["the United States had provided no proof to warrant imposing sanctions on his country and added he would not bow to U.S. demands to expel Palestinian militants."]
 US lawmakers protest morning-after pill ruling forbes.com 5/13/4 ["Anger over the U.S. rejection of over-the-counter sales of a "morning-after" pill simmered in Congress on Wednesday as 41 lawmakers urged regulators to immediately reconsider the decision."]
 Venezuela evicts US military abc.net.au 5/13/4 ["asked the US military mission to leave liaison offices at armed forces bases in the country"]
 Israel's Attacks in Gaza 'Justified' - Minister news.scotsman.com 5/13/4 ["In three days of rapidly escalating violence, 11 Israeli soldiers and 26 Palestinians have been killed. At least 235 Palestinians have been wounded."]
 Second Hong Kong Radio Host Leaves Airwaves voanews.com 5/13/4 ["accusing pro-Beijing forces of trying to silence his frequent criticism of the mainland government."]
 Death Toll in Nigeria Riots 500-600 - Christians reuters.com 5/13/4 ["in two days of rioting this week to avenge the slaying of hundreds of Muslims."]
 Most mainstream denominations ban same-sex marriage heraldtribune.com 5/13/4 ["with the majority of mainstream congregations barring their clergy from performing gay or lesbian wedding ceremonies."]
 Syrian president refuses to expel Palestinian militants haaretzdaily.com 5/13/4 [""]
 Cuba steps up military preparations fearing US invasion near spacewar.com 5/13/4 [""]
 N.Korea Rejects U.S. Demand for Nuclear Dismantlement reuters.com 5/13/4 ["it would not be able to continue discussing possible solutions to a nuclear standoff unless the United States dropped demands"]
 Scientists say U.S. missile shield won't work swisspolitics.org 5/13/4 ["The Pentagon's initial deployment involves 10 interceptor missiles in silos in Alaska and California. It is designed to protect all 50 U.S. states against a limited strike from North Korean missiles that could be tipped with nuclear, chemical or biological warheads."]
 OPEC Powerless to Stem Oil Price Surge reuters.com 5/13/4 ["World growth forecast represents the largest absolute increase in global oil demand..."]
 Call for 'union of unions' to replace G8 euobserver.com 5/12/4 ["including the EU, the African Union and South American trade bloc Mercosur."  "We need a global political response capable of rivalling the globalised market in which we are living. One way to achieve this goal is to replace the G8 of rich countries with a G8 of regional groupings"]
 Terri Schiavo's Husband May Remove Feeding Tube Despite Appeal .lifenews.com 5/12/4 ["However, attorneys for Michael Schiavo say he may not wait for an appeals court or a state Supreme Court decision in the case. Michael may ask the courts to lift the stay. If that happens, Terri's life could be over."]
 Tenn.: Bill sparked by lottery would fight gambling addictions tennessean.com 5/12/4 ["Playing the state lottery can lead to bankruptcies, divorce, even suicide for compulsive gamblers, and the state has a responsibility to treat gambling addiction as it does other diseases, a Nashville lawmaker said."]
 Shalom: Israel must bring about new Palestinian leadership haaretzdaily.com 5/12/4 ["in part by removing Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat from power."]
 Cuba halts most sales in U.S. dollars seattletimes.nwsource.com 5/12/4 ["saying the Bush administration's "brutal" sanctions enacted last week will require prices to be raised on fuel and other commodities."]
 Why the EU will be no US slovakspectator.sk 5/12/4 ["There are fundamental cultural differences between the old and the new world. Religion is perhaps the most important."]
 China: No Talks With Taiwan Unless 'One-China' Principle Respected voanews.com 5/12/4 ["unless its President Chen Shui-bian accepts Beijing's thesis that the island is an inseparable part of the mainland."]
 Iran Warns Israel of Nuclear Retaliation newsmax.com 5/12/4 ["that his country would retaliate if the Jewish state were to attack Iranian nuclear facilities."]
 Rabbis criticize evangelical support for Israel jpost.com 5/12/4 ["The rabbis fear the Christians' real intent is to convert Jews"]
 Oklahoma: Group starts fight against proposed gay marriage amendment fox23.com 5/12/4 [claims amendment will hurt economy]
 Gay-friendly town in Mass. votes to issue marriage licenses to gay out-of-staters sfgate.com 5/12/4 ["Romney spokeswoman Shawn Feddeman said an enforcement action could include referring cases to district attorneys or the state attorney general."]
 US proposes maritime security cooperation for Asia-Pacific abc.net.au 5/12/4 ["present the plan to a meeting of officials from the 23-member ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) security grouping, which includes Australia, later on Wednesday."]
 Americans and Panamanians agree on ship searches for terrorist activities sfgate.com 5/11/4 ["is similar to an accord the State Department reached in February with Liberia, the world's No. 2 shipping registry. Panama is No. 1."]
 The Real Thing biz.yahoo.com 5/11/4 ["Diet Coke sold through store fountains is different from the same product sold in cans and bottles."  "the company uses a saccharin and aspartame mix rather than just aspartame in the fountain version of the world's most popular diet soda"]
 U.S. to impose sanctions on Syria this week haaretzdaily.com 5/11/4 ["for supporting terrorism and not doing enough to prevent militant fighters from entering neighboring Iraq,"]
 Venezuela soldiers raid U.S. Embassy warehouse, detain more suspects in alleged paramilitary plot sfgate.com 5/11/4 ["said the embassy used the warehouse to store furniture and denied any U.S. involvement in efforts to oust Chavez."]
 Judge Who Ruled Terri Schiavo Should Die Faces Election Challenge lifenews.com 5/11/4 ["While Govan is careful to not directly say that he disagrees with Judge Greer's decisions in the years-long legal battle over Terri's life, the case prompted him to run."]
 Jesus Chic Is Latest Fashion Trend foxnews.com 5/11/4 ["Obviously, fashion influences movies and movies influence fashion."  "Jesus wear has long been available in Christian apparel stores, but now it’s popping up in mainstream chains like Urban Outfitters." editor - can anyone say Constantine?]
 Markets falter amid fears over US rate rises news.ft.com 5/11/4 ["caused by fears of higher US interest rates and a slowdown in the world economy."]
 Commodities - Oil at 13-year high, gold pares decline forbes.com 5/11/4 ["Barring any surprises from the Middle East and the U.S. war on terror that would rekindle safe-haven buying, traders said gold would take its cues from dollar/euro movements. "]
  
 Million Mom March wric.com 5/10/4 ["major rally this Mother's Day weekend in the nation's capitol saw thousands come out in support of gun control."]
 Chirac, Blair agree to work together in UN on Iraq story.news.yahoo.com 5/10/4 ["insisted on the need for a true break on June 30, and on a real transfer of power"]
 Chechen Future Uncertain as Leader Buried wireservice.wired.com 5/10/4 ["Kadyrov's death has left a political vacuum in Chechnya"]
 Bush backs Rumsfeld guardian.co.uk 5/10/4 ["Mr Bush told Mr Rumsfeld he was doing a superb job leading the war on terror."]
 The Devil is All Around Us raidersnewsupdate.com 5/10/4 ["Religious relativism borne from a desire to be ecumenical is a classic example."]
 Chaos theory boston.com 5/10/4 ["A terrorist attack on presidential candidates could throw the US into unprecedented political turmoil. So why do so few people want to talk about it?"]
 Venus to give stargazers once-in-a-lifetime treat as it crosses sun nzherald.co.nz 5/10/4 [""]
 Gas Prices Make Biggest Jump Since August apnews.myway.com 5/10/4 ["Tight gasoline supplies and rising demand at a time when seasonal environmental regulations cause a price adjustment are responsible for increase, Lundberg said."]
 Losing Our Technical Dominance nytimes.com 5/9/4 ["The number of articles published in scientific and technical journals by American authors has flattened out for the past decade after three previous decades of growth. Western Europeans now publish substantially more papers than Americans do. The American researchers' share of Nobel Prizes has fallen to about half."]
 Nancy Reagan speaks for stem cell research washingtontimes.com 5/9/4 ["stem cell research must be pursued to stop illnesses"]
 Report recommends blacking out cell phone use at LA landmarks to foil terrorists mercurynews.com 5/9/4 ["Cell-phone jamming equipment is currently banned in the United States, and a Federal Communications Commission spokeswoman said it would be up to the agency's Washington office to decide whether to grant an exception to local law enforcement."]
 Chechen president dies in stadium blast boston.com 5/9/4 ["The Kremlin-backed president of Chechnya and more than 20 other people were killed"]
 Bush now says Israel should withdraw from land gained in 1967 war thedesertsun.com 5/9/4 ["and to turn the land over to the Palestinians for a state."]
 Bush courts religious voters detnews.com 5/8/4 [National Day of Prayer]
 Bush Says Palestinian State by 2005 Not 'Realistic' news.myway.com 5/8/4 ["Palestinians fear Sharon's plan is a ruse to annex large tracts of West Bank land they want for their state. Israel captured the West Bank and Gaza in the 1967 Middle East war.  Bush enraged the Arab world by announcing during an April 14 White House meeting with Sharon that Israel could not be expected to vacate all its large West Bank settlements or re-admit Palestinian refugees under any final treaty."]
 China and EU will have world’s biggest trade relationship, predicts Prodi euobserver.com 5/8/4 ["Mr Prodi announced today that officials will be drawing up ideas for a 'completely new agreement' between the EU and China, to reflect what he called 'the new level of relations'."]
 China is buying a record amount of African crude oil businessreport.co.za 5/8/4 ["West African oil exports to China and other Asian buyers are rising at seven times the rate of the region's sales to the US"]
 Top U.S. officials, human rights groups repeatedly warned Pentagon to stop mistreatment detnews.com 5/8/4 ["From U.S.  Sun Microsystems Opens Smart-Tag Plant bizreport.com 5/8/4 [" Sun will give manufacturers a stamp of approval if their shipments can be tracked successfully by the stores, he said.  Sun's technology partners in the venture include Nortel Networks, Texas Instruments Inc. and i2 Technologies Inc."]
 UK: Public 'happy to carry ID cards' bbc.co.uk 5/8/4 ["David Blunkett has pledged to push ahead with ID card legislation after an opinion poll said most people would be happy to carry one."]
 Knesset Land-of-Israel Bills israelnationalnews.com 5/8/4 ["The proposal calls for defining Israel's borders as including all of the area currently under Israeli jurisdiction, from the Golan, through parts of the Shomron, the Jordan Valley, Judea and Gaza. In addition, the bill rules out the creation of any other sovereignty within those borders."]
 Half a billion people affected by natural disasters in China last year channelnewsasia.com 5/8/4 ["with more than 2,000 dying and some seven million displaced, statistics showed."]
 One World, One Alert Messaging Protocol internetnews.com 5/8/4 ["modernize emergency communications networks around the globe."]
 Stocks to Fret About Size of Rate Hike wired.com 5/8/4 ["Investors are still keeping a look out for more signs of inflation, casting a keen eye on economic data and oil prices."]
 
 Putin enters new term of office on nationalistic note straitstimes.asia1.com.sg 5/7/4 ["tells the Russians they must rely on their own resources in future, without outside help"  "his inward-looking speech was devoid of references to cooperation with the West or Western institutions."]
 United Methodist Church Says 'No' to Split at this Time wsfa.com 5/7/4 ["our commitment to work together for our common mission of making disciples throughout the world."]
 FDA Adds New Hurdle to 'Morning-After' Pill news.yahoo.com 5/7/4 ["that it can't be sold over the counter until more studies are done."]
 Bush Vows to Hasten End to Castro's Rule in Cuba boston.com 5/7/4 ["such as stepping up anti-Castro propaganda and bolstering dissidents groups"]
 U.S. announces nuclear security overhaul upi.com 5/7/4 ["consider federalizing guard forces, consolidating dangerous materials and revising threat estimates"]
 Afghanistan starting to look like Iraq dawn.com 5/7/4 [""]
 Karachi Mosque Blast Kills at Least 14, Wounds 125 reuters.com 5/7/4 ["in a crowded Shi'ite mosque"]
 Thousands of Muslims Flee Nigeria Town After Attack reuters.com 5/7/4 [""]
 'It all belongs to the Palestinians' - UN jnewswire.com 5/7/4 [""]
 Israel proposes land swap with Egypt to enlarge Gaza dailystar.com.lb 5/7/4 ["proposing to increase the size of the Gaza Strip threefold"]
 Dollar Surges; Job Growth Spurs Speculation of June Rate Boost bloomberg.com 5/7/4 ["The U.S. currency jumped more than a cent against the euro within a minute of the Labor Department report, which showed the economy added 288,000 jobs in April. Job creation exceeded the highest forecast in a survey of economists by Bloomberg News, and compared with the 170,000 median estimate."]
  
 Gaza Pullout Plan Won't Be Scaled Back-Official reuters.com 5/6/4 ["pledged to move forward with a virtually unchanged U.S.-backed Gaza plan within weeks"]
 Papal envoy breaks ranks on gay couples guardian.co.uk 5/6/4 ["has hinted that the church should "acknowledge" gay partnerships - a significant crack in the Vatican's resolute opposition to "evil and deviant" gay relationships."]
 China tells EU not to link trade, rights seattlepi.nwsource.com 5/6/4 ["Wen told European Commission President Romano Prodi that the 25-nation EU should drop its human rights stance, noting that other countries have already done so and stood ready to benefit from more trade."]
 Retreat plan set to become official policy jnewswire.com 5/6/4 ["US President George W. Bush insisted Israel proceed with the Gaza withdrawal, officials reported."]
 UN mission disarms over 18,000 ex-rebels in Liberia un.org 5/6/4 ["estimating that there are some 60,000 combatants that are expected to be disarmed"]
 Florida Judge Overturns Law in Terri Schiavo Case, NYT Reports quote.bloomberg.com 5/6/4 ["ruled that Bush violated Schiavo's ``right to privacy, due process and the separation-of-powers doctrine,'' the newspaper said."]
 House panel says no to terror amendment detnews.com 5/6/4 ["on replacing lawmakers killed or incapacitated in a terrorist attack was sent to the House by a committee that urged its defeat."]
 US Lawmakers Sharply Criticize Sudan for Human Rights Violations in Darfur voanews.com 5/6/4 ["calls a campaign of displacement and killing that "has the look of genocide.""]
 The September 11 Recollections of Air Controllers' Destroyed by Supervisor abclocal.go.com 5/6/4 ["The air traffic controllers who had been handling two of the flights on Sept. 11, 2001, recorded their experiences just after the planes crashed, but a supervisor destroyed the tape months later."]
 N Korea to test new weapon theage.com.au 5/6/4 ["set to test engines for a new ballistic missile with a range of up to 6,000km - far enough to hit US territory."]
 Division of Methodist Church proposed over gay rights freep.com 5/6/4 ["launched a campaign to split their church, the second largest Protestant denomination in the United States, in the wake of several decades of agonizing debate over gay rights."]
47,000 US soldiers told they will go to Iraq as clashes continue news.scotsman.com 5/5/4 ["had decided to keep an increased US military presence there into the autumn because of resurgent violence and mounting American casualties. "]
Greek capital hit by triple blast news.bbc.co.uk 5/5/4 ["Three bombs have exploded outside a police station in the Greek capital, Athens"]
Iran: Israel to reveal nuclear secrets to Baradei jpost.com 5/5/4 [""]
Oil prices surge to fresh 13-year highs chron.com 5/5/4 ["on worries about Middle East supply security and fears for summer gasoline shortages in the United States."]
U.S. Troops Hunting Militants Stray Into Pakistan reuters.com 5/5/4 ["in a rare violation of the border, Pakistan's military spokesman said Tuesday."]
Bush Renews Support for Gaza Pullout Plan reuters.com 5/5/4 ["despite Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's failure to win party support for an Israeli withdrawal"]
Coast Guard Chief Sees Post-Sept. 11 Shortfalls reuters.com 5/5/4 ["aging fleet is decaying faster than expected due to its increased activity since Sept. 11"]
Total eclipse to paint Moon red news.bbc.co.uk 5/5/4 [""]
Blessed Are the Lukewarm christianitytoday.com 5/4/4 ["Religion is okay with the courts, so long as it doesn't mean anything."]
Bush under fire from US ex-envoys news.bbc.co.uk 5/4/4 ["About 50 retired US diplomats have written to President George W Bush to criticise current American policy towards the Middle East."]
What if Christian had used homosexual's 'hate/torture' speech? Christian jailed? michnews.com  5/4/4 [""]
Hundreds killed in Nigerian ethnic attack reuters.co.uk 5/4/4 ["Hundreds of Muslims have been killed by Christian militia in ethnic fighting in the central Nigerian town of Yelwa,"]
Price of Oil Hits Highest Level Since 1990 newsmax.com 5/4/4 ["as traders responded to the weekend killing of five Westerners working for an oil contractor"]
Kan. lawmakers reject gay marriage ban seattlepi.nwsource.com 5/4/4 ["The proposal would have also denied legal benefits associated with marriage to other domestic arrangements, such as civil unions."]
Priest indicted for 'satanic' nun murder news.com.au 5/4/4 ["what's been described as a ritualistic slaying."]
North Korea to Deploy Intermediate-Range Missiles, Chosun Says bloomberg.com 5/4/4 ["North Korea is building two underground missile bases... are as much as 80 percent complete and U.S. satellites detected about 10 new missiles and mobile launch pads at the bases between last year and early this year"]
Chinese warships sail into Hong Kong uk.news.yahoo.com 5/3/4 ["appeared aimed as a warning to Taiwan after the re-election of a pro-democracy president in March and as a show of force to Hong Kong, where many in the city have been calling for greater democratic freedoms."]
China Shows Off U.N. Peacekeeping School news.yahoo.com 5/3/4 ["The three-month course includes police techniques, land mine detection, driving and English."  - why are they learning English?]
China's military buildup raises concerns in US channelnewsasia.com 5/3/4 ["China's military prowess increasingly appears to be shaped "to fit a Taiwan conflict scenario and to target US air and naval forces that could become involved"]
Troops 'Swapped Hundreds of Abuse Pictures' news.scotsman.com 5/3/4 ["But tonight the soldiers who made the pictures public told the Mirror: 'We stand by every single word of our story.' "]
An empire in moral crisis smh.com.au 5/3/4 ["I didn’t believe the man’s story. Now I do"  "The war is lost. They longer we stay, the worse it will get, for the world and for the long-suffering Iraqis."]
Milestone in U.S. secret terror surveillance sfgate.com 5/3/4 ["the number of secret surveillance warrants issued in federal terrorism and espionage cases last year exceeded the total number of wiretaps approved in criminal cases nationwide"]
Expulsion Of Gaza's Jews Is Illegal israelnationalnews.com 5/3/4 ["any Israeli government decision to expel people from their homes, even in the context of a diplomatic move, would represent a wanton violation of basic human rights and civil liberties protected under Israeli and international human rights law."]
U.S. Military Concerned About Pakistani Counter-Terrorism Strategy ap.tbo.com 5/3/4 ["Says Foreign Fighters Must Be Eliminated"]
Wal-Mart Begins RFID Rollout rfidjournal.com 5/3/4 ["begins tracking pallets and cases of product with EPC tags at one of its distribution centers and seven of its stores in Texas as part of a test being conducted with eight suppliers."]
Eyes to the sky for a celestial fiesta spacedaily.com 5/3/4 ["in June, Earth, Venus and the Sun will all be directly aligned, staging a cosmic eclipse that no human alive today has seen."]
US Sides With Mexico, Peru in Diplomatic Dispute With Cuba voanews.com 5/3/4 ["over the Fidel Castro government's human rights record."]
  
  U.S.: Under accountability act, sanctions against Syria to be implemented `soon' haaretz.com 5/2/4 ["would soon face sanctions for harboring and supporting terrorist organizations. "]
 Thousands Protest Gay Marriage in Seattle ap.org 5/2/4 [note the reaction from the homosexuals]
 On world stage, critics of US grow louder boston.com 5/2/4 ["What should bother Americans are the quiet feelings of anger and disgust filling the hearts of people who normally would be your best friends. America is becoming such a bully and a boor -- deaf to every voice except its own. Demanding its own way"]
Northampton gays march, many ready to marry boston.com 5/2/4 ["carried balloons, rainbow flags, and signs celebrating the upcoming legality of gay marriage in Massachusetts."]
 Massachusetts Town Becomes 300th Jurisdiction to Denounce Patriot Act story.news.yahoo.com 5/2/4 ["even as President George W. Bush was campaigning for Congress to make the Act permanent before its expiration next year."]
 Alabama Won't Reinstate Ten Commandments Judge reuters.com 5/1/4 ["Seven stand-in members of the Alabama Supreme Court voted unanimously to uphold the state's decision to sack the fundamentalist Christian judge for his defiance last summer, according to a statement from Moore and his lawyers."]
 Turkey now grapples with question of recognizing Cyprus - an EU member eubusiness.com 5/1/4 ["how to deal with the Republic of Cyprus, whose government it does not recognize but which as a new member of the European Union will have a say on whether Ankara joins the European club."]
 Top Methodist court says homosexuality is incompatible with church teaching kait8.com 5/1/4 [editor - calling it sin and abomination, instead of 'incompatible', would certainly clear us some things]
 U.N. approves peacekeepers for Haiti baltimoresun.com 5/1/4 ["a peacekeeping force of 8,300 soldiers and police"  "Deployment will begin June 1 to replace the 3,600-strong U.S.-led multinational force now in the country"  "New peacekeeping missions expected... could drive the number of blue-helmeted peacekeeping troops from 49,000 to 72,000,"]
 Europe, America face a 'depth integration'  peopledaily.com.cn 5/1/4 ["Without the active participation and efforts of the United States after World War II, it would have been impossible to realize Europe's integration of today"  "Some American experts are worried that with the rise of a giant Europe, there will be more conflicts of interests between Europe and America, and contradictions will keep deepening, Europe will challenge the leadership position of the United States in diplomacy, economy and many other aspects."]
 Europe celebrates as gates open to the east theage.com.au 5/1/4 ["One of the fathers of European unification, a tearful former German chancellor Helmut Kohl, told thousands at the ceremony: "The message is there will never again be war in Europe.  "We want to honour our war dead and tend their graves, but we never again want to build new war cemeteries,"  "EU enlargement "symbolises the healing of Cold War rifts across Europe"]
 California Bans E-Vote Machines wired.com 5/1/4 ["he was decertifying all electronic touch-screen voting machines in the state due to security concerns and lack of voter confidence."]
 'Bring back the USSR' news24.com 5/1/4 ["with banners calling for a return to the Soviet Union and denouncing privatisation of the Russian economy."]

 Workers, war protesters, Soviet nostalgics stage May Day demos channelnewsasia.com 5/1/4
 More HIV detected, porn filming stops thestar.com 5/1/4 ["and dozens of producers in the multibillion-dollar U.S. porn industry have halted production until more tests are conducted for the virus that causes AIDS."]
 Panama's new president will make tough decision on canal expansion detnews.com 5/1/4 ["Should Panama launch a multibillion dollar canal expansion project aimed at keeping the waterway competitive?"]