Yemen kills militants it says threatened embassies2010-01-04 The Star SANAA (Reuters) - Yemeni forces on Monday killed at least two al Qaeda militants they said were behind a threat that forced the U.S. and European embassies to close, as concern grew about the poor Arab country's stability. A police patrol vehicle is positioned near a roadblock in the diplomatic quarters in the Yemeni capital Sanaa January 4, 2010....
Gaza Siege: Ours and Theirs2010-01-04 Khaleej Times Something odd is going on in Egypt these days. About 1400 activists from all over the world gathered there on their way to the Gaza Strip. On the anniversary of the so-called Operation Cast Lead, they intended to participate in a non-violent demonstration against the ongoing blockade, which makes the life of 1.5 million inhabitants of the Strip...
World Agenda: Spain's plans for its presidency raise fears of Brussels turf war2010-01-04 The Times Spain has launched a series of ambitious goals for its six-month leadership of the European Union, but faces hurdles at home and in Brussels if it is to make its mark on the first presidency of post-Lisbon treaty era. There has already been private dismay in Madrid that it will be the first rotating presidency to play second fiddle to the new...
Afghan president orders parliament to suspend recess2010-01-04 BBC News Afghan President Hamid Karzai has suspended parliament's winter recess until a new cabinet has been approved. Most of Mr Karzai's cabinet nominees were rejected at the weekend, so he must offer a new selection before his government can begin fully operating. Parliament's six-week break was due to begin on Tuesday. Mr Karzai is expected to propose a...
Guantanamo Yemen transfers queried2010-01-04 Al Jazeera The US administration is coming under pressure from legislators to reconsider the repatriation of Yemenis held at Guantanamo Bay, amid an increasing focus on al-Qaeda-linked activity in their home country. The White House, though, has signalled it intends to continue with the transfers and of an estimated 90 Yemenis being held at the controversial...
Major-General Andrew Mackay says MoD is 'institutionally incapable' in Afghanistan2010-01-03 The Times The Ministry of Defence is "institutionally incapable" of running a successful campaign in Afghanistan, a top Army commander has claimed in a critical assessment of the operation in Helmand province. Major-General Andrew Mackay, who commanded 52 Infantry Brigade in Helmand when he was a brigadier, resigned in September after voicing personal doubts...
Bloody fighting grips Somali town of Dhuusa Marreeb2010-01-03 BBC News At least 47 people have been killed and 100 injured in fighting in the central Somali town of Dhuusa Marreeb, a human rights official has told the BBC. Ali Yasin Gedi, of Somali human rights group Elman, said many people had fled the town where allies of the government fought to drive out Islamist...
Spotty enforcement for new US air screening rules2010-01-05 The Press Democrat The United States demanded more careful screening for people who are citizens of, or are flying from, 14 nations deemed security risks. But enforcement of the U.S. rules appeared spotty. "Everything is the same. There is no extra security," said an aviation official in Lebanon, one of the countries on the list. The official spoke on condition of...
US takes risk on Yemen president to fight al-Qaida2010-01-05 The Press Democrat Washington is embracing Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh in the battle against al-Qaida's offshoot here, but it may be making a risky bet. The mercurial Saleh has held onto power for 31 years in this fragmented nation by relying on a system of manipulation - centralizing power within his family while buying off rivals and unruly tribesmen,...
Dubai opens half-mile-high tower, world's tallest2010-01-05 The Press Democrat Long known as Burj Dubai - Arabic for "Dubai Tower" - the building rises 2,717 feet (828 meters) from the desert. The $1.5 billion "vertical city" of luxury apartments and offices and a hotel designed by Giorgio Armani also plans to have the world's highest mosque (158th floor) and swimmingpool (76th floor). Its backers wanted the skyscraper to be...
AP News in Brief2010-01-05 The Press Democrat On the first day of what was supposed to be tighter screening ordered by the U.S. for airline passengers from certain countries, some airports around the world conceded Monday they had not cracked down. The United States demanded more careful screening for people who are citizens of, or are flying from, 14 nations deemed security risks. But...
US court rejects Zacarias Moussaoui's appeal2010-01-05 The Press Democrat Moussaoui, 41, is serving life in a federal prison in Colorado, after pleading guilty to helping plan the attacks. Since his sentencing, he has said he lied when testifying that he plotted to hijack a fifth jetliner on Sept. 11, 2001. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals...
For car buyers, lending market sees signs of thaw2010-01-05 The Press Democrat They are being uttered more often these days, spurred by a trillion-dollar government program that provides guarantees when those loans are sold to investors. That is helping banks, credit unions and autofinance companies make auto loans at a quickening pace. And consumers are paying less to borrow. Interest rates have been at record lows since...
Report: Apple tablet device coming in January2010-01-05 The Press Democrat The Wall StreetJournal reported that Apple is planning to take the wraps off such a device this month and begin shipping it in March. That jibes with several online reports that the company has scheduled an event for Jan. 26 or 27 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, one of Apple's customary spaces for...
Business Highlights2010-01-05 The Press Democrat Tax preparers to face new regulation, IRS scrutiny WASHINGTON (AP) - The IRS plans to require tax preparers to pass a test and register with the government to better police a largely unregulated industry used by most taxpayers. The Internal Revenue Service says there could be more than a million people offering tax preparation services. Most offer...
Colts getting healthy as they head into playoffs2010-01-05 The Press Democrat He tossed away a chance at a perfect season by pulling Colts starters in the third quarter against the Jets. On Sunday, in a Buffalo snowstorm, he yanked most of Indianapolis' key contributors after three series. The reason: Staying healthy for a Super Bowl run was more important to the Colts than going 16-0. So on a day other playoff teams,...
Giants fire defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan2010-01-05 The Press Democrat Coach Tom Coughlin dismissed the rookie coordinator late Monday afternoon, just hours after saying that Sheridan's future with the team was going to be evaluated in the wake of an 8-8 season that ended with losses in eight of the final 11 games. The firing also came the same...
Kubiak planning for Kyle Shanahan's departure2010-01-05 The Press Democrat Kubiak worked for the elder Shanahan in Denver for many years. He spoke of Kyle Shanahan's departure as inevitable, even though Jim Zorn was fired as coach of the Redskins only hours before. "That's part of the business and with Kyle, and nothing's official yet, but obviously it looks like Mike's...
Fujimori 25-year sentence upheld by Peru Supreme Court BBC News2010-01-03 Peru's Supreme Court has upheld a 25-year jail sentence imposed on former President Alberto Fujimori. The term was handed down last April for ordering the security forces to carry out killings and...
California faces more budget pain, cuts in 2010 The Guardian2010-01-03 JUDY LIN Associated Press Writer= SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) â During last summer's fiscal crisis, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger borrowed the title of a filmclassic to describe California's budget, saying it contained "the good, the bad and the ugly." He was referring to welfare reforms and the streamlining of state boards that he was able to broker,...
Afghan parliament rejects most of Karzai nominees Yahoo Daily News2010-01-02 KABUL (AFP) – Afghanistan's parliament on Saturday rejected the majority of President Hamid Karzai's nominees for cabinet posts, state television showed. Of a total of 24 nominees, only seven were approved in a secret ballot by more than 200 parliamentarians, in a process that appears to have undermined the president's authority....
Murder attempt charges for Danish cartoonist 'attacker' BBC News2010-01-02 An axe-wielding man shot by police after breaking into the house of a Danishcartoonist is in court facing two charges of attempted murder. The 28-year-old Somalian was taken to hospital after the incident at the home of Kurt Westergaard, whose 2005 cartoon of Prophet Muhammad caused uproar. The suspect is being charged with trying to kill Mr...
Obama: Al-Qaida Link to Christmas Terror Suspect ABC News2010-01-02 By PHILIP ELLIOTT Associated Press Writer HONOLULU January 2, 2010 (AP) The Associated Press President Barack Obama, center, smiles as he get in the car after going to the movies in Kaneohe, Hawaii Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009. The Obamas are in Hawaii for the holidays.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (AP) President Barack Obama laid blame Saturday on an...
Sir John Major criticises Tony Blair over Iraq war BBC News2010-01-02 Former Prime Minister Sir John Major has criticised Tony Blair's handling of the Iraqwar and his presentation of the case for invasion in March 2003. Sir John said he had reluctantly backed the war because he believed what Mr Blair had said as prime minister. But now, he said, big questions had been raised by the unfolding evidence to the Chilcott...
Irish atheists challenge blasphemy law BBC News2010-01-02 An atheist group in the Irish Republic has defied a new blasphemy law by publishing a series of anti-religious quotations on its website. Atheist Ireland says it will fight any action taken against it in court....
Mousavi seeks end to Iran crackdown Al Jazeera2010-01-01 Mir Hossein Mousavi, the Iranian opposition leader, has called for an immediate end to the government crackdown on opposition activists, saying he was ready to die in defence of people's rights. In a statement on his Kaleme website on Friday, Mousavi also said that the Islamic Republic was in "serious crisis" following the disputed presidential...
