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NEWS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012 NEWS
Bloomberg Reloads In Push For Gun Control
Among the slick, million-dollar ads for the likes of Pepsi and Honda during the Super Bowl this Sunday, viewers in Washington will see a far more modest spot. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino will be sitting on a couch touting an issue most politicians avoid like the plague: gun control. The two mayors, whose local teams face off in the big game, are making the pitch for Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG), the organization they co-founded in 2006. Murder has been on the decline in New York and other major American cities for years, but the mayors say they still see too many dead cops and teens. On Tuesday night, Bloomberg was at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan visiting a New York police officer who had just been shot in the face in Brooklyn. Reuters
Colorado Rocky For Republicans In 2012
Note to Republican presidential contenders: Colorado's political terrain is as rocky as its mountains. Once solidly Republican, the state turned just as solidly Democratic in the 2000s as the population swelled with people moving into the state. Colorado's traditional bases of conservatism _ evangelical Christians and Western individualists _ became less influential. Democrats rolled up big victories statewide and, in 2008, Barack Obama became the first Democrat in two decades to carry Colorado's nine electoral votes. Las Vegas Sun
Egypt To Try 19 Americans In Case Straining Ties
Ignoring a U.S. threat to cut off aid, Egypt on Sunday referred 19 Americans and 24 other employees of nonprofit groups to trial before a criminal court on accusations they illegally used foreign funds to foment unrest in the country. Egypt's military rulers had already deeply strained ties with Washington with their crackdown on U.S.-funded groups promoting democracy and human rights. Newsday
Obama Dinner To Mark End Of Iraq War
With U.S. forces still fighting in Afghanistan, the Obama administration has chosen to mark the end of the Iraq War with something more modest than a ticker-tape parade — a state-dinner-like event at the White House later this month feting a select group of combat veterans and their spouses or guests. The core theme is the common fighting man or woman, said Douglas Wilson, Pentagon public affairs chief. The intent is for those invited — with guests, numbering more than 200 — to represent the 1.5 million who fought in a nine-year-war that left nearly 4,500 dead and 32,000 wounded, he said. "The dining room that night will look like the America that served in Iraq," Wilson said. "State dinners honor heads of state and I think the feeling was that this type of dinner is an appropriate way to honor men and women who … merit the same degree of respect as a head of state," he said. The black-tie White House event to be called "A Nation's Gratitude" may be unprecedented, Wilson said. USA Today
Obama Seeks Diplomatic Resolution To Iran Crisis
President Barack Obama said Sunday he does not think Israel has decided whether to attack Iran over its disputed nuclear program, a standoff that has the Middle East on edge. The president sought to assure allies and foes alike that the United States was working with Israel to solve the crisis, "hopefully diplomatically." Obama's comments came as Israel's major allies in the West are working hard to talk it out of a unilateral military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, arguing forcefully that an attack ultimately would only strengthen the regime in Tehran. Detroit News
Giant Step Giants’ Last-Minute Score Dooms Patriots Again
Eli Manning now can say he did not get lucky the first time around. And Tom Coughlin now can be called a coach every bit as great as Bill Belichick, whom he has beaten twice in the Super Bowl. The Giants, who squeaked into the NFL playoffs, put a stamp on another miracle run through the postseason with a 21-17 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. With the victory, the Giants became the first team that went 9-7 in the regular season to emerge as Super Bowl champion. And at 65, Coughlin passed Dick Vermeil (63) as the oldest coach to win the Super Bowl. The Patriots could not avenge their loss to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, when Manning pulled off the upset of the century with a game- winning drive that ruined New England’s shot at a perfect season. Philadelphia Inquirer
Just Call Him Tax-Hike Mike
Pay up, America. Mayor Bloomberg took his call for the expiration of the Bush tax cuts to the national stage yesterday, saying all Americans — not just the wealthy — should pay to get the federal government out of its fiscal hole. "We should all pony up and help close the deficit.” He also called on elected officials to end rhetoric that he said is creating “class warfare.” Hizzoner disagreed with President Obama, who has called for higher taxes only on the very wealthy. “If you only raise taxes on the rich, you don’t get that much money,” Bloomberg, a billionaire himself, insisted. “The only way you get $4 trillion — which is half the deficit that we need to close — is if you make sure the Bush tax cuts go away for everybody.” He explained that the rich do pay their share — “but the bottom line is there aren’t many of them.” He added that all Americans benefit from the government. NY Post
Ambassador Rice: Egypt Must Release Americans
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is keeping up the Obama administration's pressure on Egypt to release 19 Americans facing trial on allegations of encouraging unrest in the country. Susan Rice tells the "CBS This Morning" show the U.S. citizens involved in the dispute have been working with efforts to build a more democratic society and "have done absolutely nothing wrong." Her statement comes in the wake of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's warning Saturday that Egypt could face a cutoff of U.S. financial aid because of the problem. Asked about what efforts remain under way to resolve the problem, Rice said Washington has been talking to Cairo constantly, including "in the last days and hours." She also said the situation "has serious consequences for our bilateral relationship." Houston Chronicle
Congress Appears To Be Trying To Get Around Earmark Ban
Members of Congress may no longer be able to direct federal money to projects back home because of a moratorium on legislative earmarks, but that has not stopped them from trying. A one-stop destination for the latest political news — from The Times and other top sources. Plus opinion, polls, campaign data and video. A coalition of budget watchdog groups says that in the absence of the age-old practice of Congressional earmarks, the legislative tools that let members attach pet projects to bills, lawmakers appear to have found a backdoor method: special funds in spending and authorization bills that allow them to direct money to projects in their states. NY Times
Defense Cuts Test Lawmakers Resolve On Deficits
Lawmakers who came to Washington demanding budget cuts face a tough test now that President Barack Obama and military leaders want to shrink the force, shut down bases and cancel weapons to achieve them. A new national security strategy reflecting an end to decade-long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan offers the opportunity to reduce defense spending and government deficits by hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 10 years -- but at a cost of thousands of jobs in lawmakers' states and districts. Democrats as well as Republicans are resisting, looking to protect home turf from California, where the Global Hawk unmanned aircraft is built, to Wisconsin, home to speedy Littoral combat ships, to military installations all across the country. Boston Globe
Israeli Premier To Visit US To Address Lobby
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office says he will visit the U.S. next month for the annual conference of AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobby. A statement by Netanyahu's office Sunday said the prime minister would speak at the conference. It was not immediately clear if Netanyahu would meet U.S. President Obama during his visit. The visit comes at a time of deadlock in Israel-Palestinian talks and growing international concern that Israel could soon launch an attack on Iran's nuclear program. The U.S. has urged Israel not to attack, saying that economic sanctions on Iran and international diplomacy should be given time to work. ABC
Romney Latest Pol To Join Wait-Let-Me-Explain Club
Mitt Romney's remark that he's not worried about the very poor, the latest gaffe in a campaign rich with blunders, joins a long list of wait-let-me-explain episodes in presidential election history. It's been a banner year for campaign misfires: Rick Perry had his "oops" moment when he forgot one of the three government departments he wanted to eliminate. Herman Cain only made things worse after he fumbled a question about Libya when he explained that he had "all this stuff twirling around in my head." Michelle Bachmann launched her campaign with a cringe-worthy misfire, declaring that both she and actor John Wayne had lived in Waterloo, Iowa, when it was actually serial killer John Wayne Gacy Jr. who'd lived there. Atlanta Journal
Pushing Kagan Out Of The Healthcare Case
The clamor for Justice Clarence Thomas to withdraw from hearing the challenge to President Obama's healthcare reform law appears to have died down for the moment but the pressure on Justice Elena Kagan has been relentless. The U.S. Supreme Court hears the challenge to the law, brought by 26 states, in late March. Supporters of the law want the conservative Thomas to take a hike. Opponents of the law want Kagan home watching college basketball instead of sitting in the courtroom for the healthcare argument. The move to pry Thomas from the case centers on his wife, who founded and received income from a group dedicated to the repeal of the healthcare reform law. UPI
Gingrich: Super Tuesday Is The Goal
Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich on Sunday brushed off his loss to Mitt Romney a day earlier in Nevada’s Republican caucuses, saying his campaign will go forward and he is looking ahead to Super Tuesday. “Our goal is to get to Super Tuesday, where we’re in much more favorable territory,” Mr. Gingrich, a former House speaker, said in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” The March 6 Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses will include contests in 10 states, including Georgia, where Mr. Gingrich once served as a congressman. Washington Times
Gingrich Suggests Covert Action In Syria
The day after a government-directed assault allegedly left more than 200 people dead in Syria, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich called for the U.S. to supply covert weapons and assistance there, as well as to put together a coalition to "get rid" of Syrian President Bashar Assad. In an interview with CBS' Bob Schieffer on "Face the Nation," Gingrich said he thinks there's "a lot of things we could do covertly" in Syria, such as "supplying weapons... helping people in the region supply advisers. The former House Speaker said he didn't think it would be necessary to send in U.S. troops, but rather, "I think you can put together a coalition to get rid of him." CBS
U.S. Trade Gap Likely Widened As Imports Grew
The trade deficit in the U.S. probably widened in December to a six-month high as imports climbed faster than exports, economists said a report this week will show. The gap grew to $48.5 billion from the $47.8 billion shortfall in November, according to the median of 61 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey ahead of Commerce Department figures on Feb. 10. Consumer sentiment held close to a one-year high and firings were little changed, other reports may show. Imports will probably keep rising as an improving job market underpins consumer spending, and businesses rebuild inventories and replace outdated equipment. At the same time, demand from emerging markets is boosting sales at companies like General Electric Co. (GE) and Caterpillar Inc. (CAT), buffering the fallout from Europe’s debt crisis and helping to sustain exports. Bloomberg
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Chevron Rig Burns Off Nigeria As Damage Hits Shore
As a fire at a Chevron Corp. gas rig off Nigeria's coast continues to burn, locals say they're seeing signs of its effects on the environment and the health of those living nearby. A nearby 12-bed clinic remains overrun with patients and swarms of dead fish have surfaced around the polluted waters that feed Ikebiri Creek in Nigeria's Bayelsa state. Meanwhile, Chevron officials decline to give an estimate of when the fire will stop as residents say the flames threaten their livelihood. The fire began Jan. 16 from a shallow-water gas well for Chevron's Nigerian subsidiary near its North Apoi oil platform. It destroyed the rig and a nearby support vessel, causing tens of millions of dollars in damage. Seattle Times
Romney Leaves Las Vegas Holding All The Cards
He may be a non-gambler, but Mitt Romney had a good night in Vegas. He left town as the night's big winner, capturing his second strong victory in a row. The result was no surprise; but the blocs he won on his way to a majority of the vote were. This is a state where nearly half of Republicans describe themselves as not just conservative, but "very conservative." It's also a closed primary, where the only voters weighing in are part of the Republican base. But Romney decisively captured conservatives, tea partiers and evangelicals on his way to a win. Just how big was Romney's win? It was so dominant he drew more support than the rest of the field combined. A quarter of Saturday's voters were Mormon, and 9 in 10 of those voters backed Romney. CNN
US, Japan Agree To Partial Marine Transfer From Okinawa
The United States and Japan have agreed to tweak a six-year-old agreement on Marines based on the southern island of Okinawa, allowing Washington to deploy forces to the Pacific island of Guam regardless of the debate over moving a disputed airbase. The Guam deployment had been held hostage by a political stalemate in Japan over the shifting of the Futenma base to another site on Okinawa, an issue given added importance in recent years by China's growing military might in the region. Japanese newspapers said the new plan would allow Washington to shrink the expensive Guam relocation plan at a time when it is under pressure to cut defense spending because of deficit woes even as it turns its attention to China. Reuters
Fla. Bill Would Ban Buying Sweets With Food Stamps
Florida's poor can use food stamps to buy staples like milk, vegetables, fruits and meat. But they can also use them to buy sweets like cakes, cookies and Jell-O and snack foods like chips, something a state senator wants stopped. Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, also wants to limit other welfare funds, known as Temporary Assistance For Needy Families, from being used at ATMs in casinos and strip clubs and anywhere out of state. The bill comes after reports that the debit cards welfare recipients now receive were used in those places, as well as locations in Las Vegas and the Virgin Islands in a small percentage of cases, but the state does not track what items were purchased. The bill recently passed a committee. A companion bill in the state House companion is being considered by a subcommittee. MSNBC
Obama: US Has 'Very Good' Intelligence On Iran
President Barack Obama says the U.S. has a "very good estimate" of when Iran could complete work on a nuclear weapon. However, Obama says there are still many unanswered questions about the internal dynamics in Iran, including who in the Islamic republic is making decisions. Obama says the U.S. has done extensive planning and preparation on all potential options for combatting Iran's nuclear program. While the White House says no options are off the table when it comes to dealing with Iran, Obama says he still wants to solve the conflict through diplomacy. Obama spoke during an interview with NBC. San Diego Union
Colleges Caught In Obsession Over Rankings
When US News & World Report debuted its list of "America's Best Colleges" nearly 30 years ago, the magazine hoped its college rankings would be a game-changer for students and families. But arguably, they've had a much bigger effect on colleges themselves. Yes, students and families still buy the guide and its less famous competitors by the hundreds of thousands, and still care about a college's reputation. But it isn't students who obsess over every incremental shift on the rankings scoreboard, and who regularly embarrass themselves in the process. It's colleges. It's colleges that have spent billions on financial aid for high-scoring students who don't actually need the money, motivated at least partly by the quest for rankings glory. MSNBC
Stocks: Let The Good Times Roll?
Stocks surged last week to their highest levels in years, but there are few key economic reports slated for the week ahead to sustain the rally. The big news last week was Friday's report from the U.S. Labor Department, which showed a much larger-than-expected increase in hiring and a surprise drop in the unemployment rate. Investors cheered the jobs data, which came on the heels of upbeat reports on auto sales, construction spending and manufacturing activity. The Dow rose 1.6% last week, ending at its highest point since May 2008. The Nasdaq jumped 3.2% over the last five trading days, climbing to its highest level since December 2000, and the S&P 500 added 2.2%. Next week, investors will take in reports on consumer sentiment and the nation's trade balance, both coming on Friday. CNN
Hunted Hackers Spy On FBI, Scotland Yard
Hackers being hunted by police worldwide eavesdropped on FBI and Scotland Yard officers investigating them. The Internet outlaws, part of a loose coalition called Anonymous, got access to a telephone conference call between U.S. and British investigators and then posted a recording of their conversation on Friday. “The FBI might be curious how we’re able to continuously read their internal comm[unication]s for some time now,” boasted Anonymous in a tweet last week. In the 16-minute conference call, FBI agents, including one from the Los Angeles field office, and officers from Scotland Yard’s Internet crimes unit discuss confidential and sensitive details of their ongoing investigation into Anonymous. On the Jan. 17 call, investigators briefly refer to their work developing a possible informant in the ranks of Anonymous, the loose international coalition of pranksters, anarchists and free-floating radicals that repeatedly have embarrassed American law enforcement agencies. Washington Times
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Bigger US Role Against Companies' Cyberthreats?
A developing Senate plan that would bolster the government's ability to regulate the computer security of companies that run critical industries is drawing strong opposition from businesses that say it goes too far and security experts who believe it should have even more teeth. Legislation set to come out in the days ahead is intended to ensure that computer systems running power plants and other essential parts of the country's infrastructure are protected from hackers, terrorists or other criminals. The Department of Homeland Security, with input from businesses, would select which companies to regulate; the agency would have the power to require better computer security, according to officials who described the bill. They spoke on condition of anonymity because lawmakers have not finalized all the details. ABC
Summers Says U.S. Economy On ‘Right Road’
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said the latest jobs report shows the economy is “on the right road” while Glenn Hubbard, an adviser to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, said he’s skeptical about the meaning of the January numbers. “Unlike many of the favorable past reports, if you look beneath the surface of this one almost every indicator within it is favorable,” Summers said today on ABC’s “This Week,” where he appeared with Hubbard, dean of the Columbia Business School. Employers added 243,000 jobs in January, the biggest gain in nine months, and the unemployment rate dropped to 8.3 percent from 8.5 percent in December, the Labor Department reported last week in Washington. The improvement exceeded the most optimistic forecasts in a Bloomberg News survey of economists. Summers, director of the National Economic Council under Democratic President Barack Obama until last year, said the administration needs to build on the momentum of the easing unemployment. Bloomberg
Lawmakers Reach Agreement On $63 Billion FAA Bill
An agreement on a bill to provide operating authority for the Federal Aviation Administration over the next four years and to boost the agency's air traffic modernization effort was reached Tuesday by House and Senate negotiators, culminating a five-year struggle that included a partial shutdown of the agency. The bill authorizes $63 billion for the FAA through the 2015 budget year. It includes compromises on several difficult issues that divided lawmakers along party lines and by region, including air service subsidies for rural communities, safety regulation of cargo shipments of lithium batteries, and rules governing the formation of airline and railroad unions. The last details of the agreement were hammered out behind closed doors over the past week. Negotiators met Tuesday afternoon to congratulate each other on reaching what they said was a major victory, and to receive a copy of the final bill. Las Vegas Sun
As Debit Card Fees Disappear, Banks Look For Ways To Recoup Revenue
Three months after banks scrapped plans for debit-card fees, it's becoming clearer how they intend to recoup money lost in the Dodd-Frank financial reform law. Instead of one new fee, prepare to be sold more products, offered new service packages, lose debit rewards and face more fees in general. Banks' fourth-quarter earnings provided the first definitive look at what they lost after a cap took effect on the fees merchants pay banks when you use your debit card. Combined, Bank of America Corp. and Wells Fargo & Co. reported losing nearly $800 million in swipe-fee revenue in the fourth quarter. Regional banks felt a deep impact as well.
Banks were on pace to lose the $6 billion that had been predicted. McClatchy
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Egypt's Hosni Mubarak To Be Moved To Prison For First Time
Egyptian officials say Hosni Mubarak will shortly be moved to a prison hospital as soon as the facility is upgraded to house the 83-year-old former president. The officials said Sunday the hospital in Tora prison in Cairo will be upgraded in "record time," but that there is no set date for the move. Since his arrest last April, Mubarak has been held in custody first at a hospital in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh and later at a military hospital outside Cairo. The officials said nearly 50 stalwarts of Mubarak's regime held at Tora would also be dispersed to five different jails in the Cairo area. They include Mubarak's two sons. Fox News
TSA Trains Super Bowl Vendors To Spot Terror Threats
Thousands of stadium workers set to serve at Super Bowl XLVI have been trained by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to spot terror threats at Sunday's big game, The New York Post reports. From parking-lot attendants to hot-dog sellers, the government has put some 8,000 employees and volunteers at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis through their First Observer training program. . Fox News
Lack Of Demand, Not Regulations, Holding Businesses Back
We've all heard the arguments: Regulations are strangling U.S. businesses. It's been a staple in the Republican playbook for years. But a funny thing happened last week. The American Sustainable Business Council, the Main Street Alliance and the Small Business Majority released a survey blaming the stagnant economy not on onerous regulations but on weak consumer demand. "The level of government regulation came in [way below] weak demand. When asked what they believe would do the most to create jobs, the majority cited eliminating incentives for employers to move jobs overseas. Next was cutting taxes and then increasing consumer purchasing power. Reducing regulations ranked fifth on their list, behind improving infrastructure," the survey's executive summary said. UPI
Hearing To Determine Tucson Suspect's Competency
A federal judge is set to determine whether the suspect in the Tucson shooting rampage that killed six people and wounded several others, including then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, should remain at a federal prison facility where officials are forcibly medicating him. U.S. District Court Judge Larry Burns said in his court filing that he is inclined to extend the suspect's stay after learning the chief federal psychologist of Jared Lee Loughner believes the 23-year-old is still not competent to stand trial. He said that the psychologist noted, however, that his mental state has made "measurable progress" during the roughly six months he has been at the facility in Springfield, Mo., and she believes he will continue to improve. Charlotte Observer
Syrian Forces Bombard Restive City
Government forces shelled the central Syrian city of Homs on Monday, striking a makeshift medical clinic and residential areas and killing at least 17 people in the third day of a new assault on the epicenter of the country's uprising, activists said. The government denied shelling the city, however, and said "armed terrorist groups" were attacking civilians and police in several neighborhoods. The state-run news agency also said Monday that gunmen killed three soldiers and captured others at a checkpoint in the Jabal al-Zawiyah region of Idlib province, which borders Turkey. Syria has blocked access to trouble spots in the country and prevented independent reporting, making it nearly impossible to verify accounts from either side as the conflict spirals out of control and turns increasingly violent. Indy Star
Too Many Kids Breathe Secondhand Smoke In Cars
Texting while driving, speeding and back-seat hanky-panky aren't all that parents need to worry about when their kids are in cars: Add secondhand smoke to the list. In the first national estimate of its kind, a report from government researchers says more than 1 in 5 high school students and middle schoolers ride in cars while others are smoking. This kind of secondhand smoke exposure has been linked with breathing problems and allergy symptoms, and more restrictions are needed to prevent it, the report says. With widespread crackdowns on smoking in public, private places including homes and cars are where people encounter secondhand smoke these days. Anti-smoking advocates have zeroed in on cars because of research showing they're potentially more dangerous than smoke-filled bars and other less confined areas. Tampa Tribune
China, Russia Responsible For Syrian Bloodshed
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad must step down and China and Russia, with their veto against a U.N. resolution pressing a regime change, are responsible for continued bloodshed, a German government spokesman said on Monday. "President Assad has no business being at the helm of his country anymore. We urge him to free up the way to a peaceful transformation in Syria," the spokesman told a regular news conference. "With this (veto), both countries take on the responsibility for violence and bloodshed continuing unchecked." Sun Sentinel
China Stresses Need To Keep Tibet Stable
China on Monday warned government officials in Tibet that failing to maintain stability could result in job loss or criminal prosecution, the latest sign of heightened ethnic tensions in the remote Himalayan region. The warning comes four years after deadly riots erupted in Tibet's capital, Lhasa, and as China enters a politically sensitive period with the top leaders of the ruling Communist Party changing by the end of the year. There has also been a recent wave of unrest in ethnic Tibetan areas of Sichuan, a province adjoining Tibet, with more than a dozen monks and nuns setting themselves of fire over the last year and clashes erupting between Tibetans and security forces in recent weeks. Miami Herald
Putin Promises Russians Bigger Say In Politics
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is running for a third term as president, on Monday promised Russians a bigger say in politics amid the growing public discontent with his dominance of power. In a campaign article published in the Kommersant daily on Monday, Putin said the government must turn around its institutions to accommodate the increasingly vocal grass roots. "The quality of our public governance is lagging behind the willingness of civil society to take part in it," he said. Putin, who was Russia's president in 2000-2008, is facing a wave of public discontent over widespread election fraud in the Dec. 4 parliamentary election. Tens of thousands of people have rallied in Russian cities since December. Sunday's protest in Moscow drew as many as 120,000 people despite temperatures plummeting to 4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 20 degrees Celsius). SF Gate
In Breakthrough For Reconciliation, Palestinian Rivals Choose Abbas To Head Unity Government
The main Palestinian political rivals took a major step Monday toward healing their bitter rift, agreeing that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would head an interim unity government to prepare for general elections in the West Bank and Gaza. The agreement, brokered by Qatar, was signed by Abbas and Khaled Mashaal, chief of the Islamic militant Hamas. Both leaders said they are serious about moving forward. “We promise our people to implement this agreement as soon as possible,” Abbas said. “We inform our people that we are serious about healing the wounds ... to reunite our people on the foundation of a political partnership, in order to devote our effort to resisting the (Israeli) occupation,” added Mashaal. Washington Post
Justice Ministry Closes Nabi Salih Protest File
The Justice Ministry has closed its investigation into the actions of Border police officers during a demonstration a May 13th demonstration in the West Bank Palestinian village of Nabi Salih, in which activists were injured by tear gas projectiles. A letter to this effect was sent Sunday to activists who had pressed charges against the police. The secretary of the division which investigates such complains wrote that following an initial inquiry, it was determined that there was not enough evidence to press criminal charges, and as a result, the matter had been closed. A number of videos of the incident posted on YouTube, however, show extensive scenes in which the Border Police appear to be shooting tear gas at peaceful protesters and assaulting them. In one instance an officer can be seen hitting a demonstrator with his baton as the man sat on the ground. Jerusalem Post
Hague Attacks China And Russia Over UN Syria Veto
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has said China and Russia will be "held responsible" for violence in Syria after vetoing a UN resolution condemning government repression. He said the countries were making a "great mistake" which would damage their standing in the Middle East. The document was rejected hours after activists accused troops of killing at least 55 people in the city of Homs. But Russia and China said the proposed draft was "unbalanced". Violence is continuing to escalate in Syria, with the government attempting to stifle an ongoing rebellion. The struggle has claimed at least 5,400 lives, according to the UN. BBC
Panama Ex-Leader Manuel Noriega Taken To Hospital
Former military leader of Panama Gen Manuel Noriega has been moved from his prison cell near Panama City to a hospital. Police said Noriega had hypertension, and had possibly had a stroke. Noriega, 77, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for the murder of political opponents. He led the country for six years before being removed from power when the United States invaded Panama in 1989. He was extradited to Panama in December after serving lengthy sentences in France and the United States for money laundering and drug trafficking. BBC
Greece's Economic Future In Balance As 'Razor's Edge' Talks Try To Avert Default
Greece's economic future hung in the balance on Sunday as the debt-laden country's technocrat prime minister, Lucas Papademos, met party leaders in a last-ditch effort to rally support for the stringent reforms Athens must enact in return for aid. With at least one political leader in the coalition government publicly refusing to endorse the rescue package, it was far from sure whether Papademos would win the backing to keep bankruptcy at bay. Before the meeting, the Greek finance minister, Evangelos Venizelos, described negotiations with foreign lenders as being "on a razor's edge". To avert a disorderly default Greece must secure financial support by 20 March when it faces €14.5bn (£12bn) of loan repayments. Guardian
Obama-Appointed US Trade Adviser Linked To Illegal Deal In Congolese Gold
A US trade adviser appointed by Barack Obama orchestrated a deal to buy gold worth millions of dollars from a wanted Congolese warlord, according to a UN report. Kase Lawal, a Nigerian-born US oil tycoon, transferred millions of dollars to the notorious rebel leader Bosco Ntaganda between December 2010 and February 2011 as part of the deal, the report by the UN's Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) states. If true, this would be a contravention of UN resolutions banning individuals or organisations from financing illegal armed groups in the wartorn eastern DRC. The UN report says Lawal, the chairman and chief executive of the Houston-based oil firm Camac, was aware he was paying Ntaganda. Guardian
Two Glasses Of Wine A Night Triples Risk Of Mouth Cancer, Government Warns
Television adverts which start running on Sunday evening will say that drinking "just a little bit more" than recommended daily limits for alcohol increases the risk of serious health problems. Government advice states that men should drink no more than four units a day and women should have no more than three. A large 250ml glass of wine is classed as three units, as is a pint of continental lager. The adverts will say that those who regularly drink six units in a day double their chance of high blood pressure and triple the risk of developing mouth cancer. Mouth cancer is diagnosed in more than 5,000 people a year, leading to about 1,800 deaths, while about 12 million people have high blood pressure, increasing their chances of strokes and heart attacks. Telegraph
Falkland Manoeuvres Are 'Entirely Routine'
The Foreign Secretary said that the decision to send the Navy's most powerful warship, HMS Dauntless, to the Islands was not provocative, but rather part of "entirely routine military movements. "They are entirely routine – of course our ships regularly visit the South Atlantic. We don't normally make any comment on the deployment of our nuclear submarines. "But our Naval vessels regularly visit the South Atlantic." Mr Hague also commented on the deployment of Prince William, saying the tour of duty to the Falklands "is part of his job". Flight Lieutenant Wales, as Prince William is known, will be spending six weeks on the islands as a RAF helicopter pilot, in a tour of duty which the Ministry of Defence insists is a routine deployment. Telegraph
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