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Older News Archivescom0116
NEWS THURSDAY,
MARCH 11, 2010 NEWS
EARLY EDITION
2
Republican Senators Call On Obama To Stop 'Attacks' On Supreme Court
Two Republican senators on Wednesday called on President Obama to stop
attacking the Supreme Court, lending support to Chief Justice John Roberts,
who took umbrage at the president's criticism of the court's controversial
campaign finance decision during his State of the Union address. Utah Sen.
Orrin Hatch told Fox News that he agrees with Roberts, who said Tuesday
that Obama's address was "very troubling" and that the annual State of
the Union speech has "degenerated into a political pep rally." Fox
News
VOA VIEW: Obama criticizes everyone who
disagrees with his maniacal plans and ideas.
Unruly
Passenger Forces Plane Back At MIA
Police had to respond to Miami International Airport after reports
of an unruly passenger on board an American Airlines plane. This incident
unfolded on American Airlines Flight 683, bound to Santigao in the Dominican
Republic, from Gate D37, at around 11:40 Wednesday morning. The flight
left the gate when the incident occurred but did not take off. The pilot
turned around and called for police assistance. Miami-Dade Police responded
to the airport and questioned the passenger. Authorities said, the passenger
refused to turn off his cell phone when asked, and he traded words with
a crew member. CNN
Unemployment
Rises In 30 States In January
Unemployment rose in 30 states in January, the Labor Department said
Wednesday, evidence that jobs remain scarce in most regions of the country.
The data is somewhat better than December, when 43 states reported higher
unemployment rates, but worse than November, when rates fell in most states.
Still, five states reported record-high joblessness in January: California,
at 12.5 percent; South Carolina, 12.6 percent; Florida, 11.9 percent; North
Carolina, 11.1 percent; and Georgia, 10.4 percent. MSNBC
VOA VIEW: Unemployment is actually over
15%.
Sebelius
Piles Pressure On Insurers
Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius ratcheted up the pressure on health
insurance companies on Wednesday, urging them to forgo short-term profits
to make coverage more affordable and to stop fighting the Obama administration's
reform effort. She told a health insurance industry group that costs and
premiums would rise to unsustainable levels and more Americans and businesses
would drop coverage if the Democratic-written overhaul of the $2.5 trillion
healthcare system were killed. Reuters
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Gates
And Clinton Lobby Congress For Aid Money
The world’s two most famous Bills (Clinton and Gates) lobbied the US
Congress today for more money to combat poverty and disease in countries
worldwide. They told lawmakers that more should be done and more money
spent by the United States on programs like PEPFAR, which targets
AIDS and malaria, and the Global Health Initiative. Clinton said he thinks
most Americans are unaware how much the US spends to help poor foreign
countries. ABC
VOA VIEW: American has its own poverty
issues to deal with.
Study
Suggests Too Many Invasive Heart Tests Given
A troublingly high number of U.S. patients who are given angiograms
to check for heart disease turn out not to have a significant problem,
according to the latest study to suggest Americans get an excess of medical
tests. The researchers said the findings suggest doctors must do better
in determining which patients should be subjected to the cost and risks
of an angiogram. The test carries a small but real risk _ less than 1 percent
_ of causing a stroke or heart attack, and also entails radiation exposure.
Las
Vegas Sun
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BofA
Ends Overdraft Fees On Debit Cards
Bank of America customers will soon be unable to spend more than they
have in the accounts linked to their debit cards. It's a step that may
become a common move ahead of new regulations limiting overdraft fees.
Rules set by the Federal Reserve that will ban banks from charging such
fees, without first getting permission from the customer, are set to take
effect July 1. But Bank of America is going a step further than the regulations
require. It will simply no longer allow debit card purchases to go through
if there isn't enough money in the account. CBS
Senate
Passes $149 Billon For Jobless Aid, Tax Breaks
The Senate on Wednesday passed a $149 billion package of jobless aid
and tax breaks, as Democrats continued efforts to lower the 9.7 percent
unemployment rate before congressional elections in November. The measure,
approved by a vote of 62 to 36, now heads to the House of Representatives,
where many Democrats have pushed for more aggressive job-creation measures
in the face of the worst U.S. economic downturn since the 1930s. Democrats
say job creation is their top priority this year as they head into an election
season that could possibly cost them control of Congress. Reuters
VOA VIEW: Foolish bill that will make
matters worse by creating higher deficits.
Tropicana
Shrinks OJ Cartons, Raises Prices
Pepsico Inc. is raising prices on its popular Tropicana orange juice
because of the deep freeze that hurt much of Florida's citrus crop. The
company said Wednesday it is shrinking its most popular size by about 8
percent — while maintaining its price — and raising the price on another
size starting in May. The 64-ounce container of orange juice drop to 59
ounces. The suggested retail price remains at $3.59. MSNBC
Forecast:
U.S. Hurricane Season Looks Busy
The coming North Atlantic hurricane season will bring above-average
threats to the U.S. coastline, AccuWeather.com's chief hurricane forecaster
said Wednesday. In his preliminary forecast, Joe Bastardi predicted 16-18
storms in the six-month season that runs June through November. Of those,
he expects 15 to affect the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. An average season
sees 11 named storms, of which two or three impact the U.S. coast. UPI
Congressman
Tells Geithner To Expect GOP "Tidal Wave" In November Due To Soaring Deficits
Only hours after the Obama administration announced a record monthly
budget deficit of $220 billion in February, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner
was beating back criticism from Republican lawmakers railing against the
rising amount of red ink. “It just defies common sense for this administration
to pretend that you’re paying any attention at all to deficit reduction,”
Rep. John Culberson, R-TX, told Geithner. “It doesn’t square with reality.”
ABC
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Obama
Pledges To Continue Haiti Aid, Says Situation 'Remains Dire'
President Obama met Wednesday with Haitian President Rene Preval to
discuss relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts in Haiti. The two leaders
pledged to continue working for a more coordinated, sustained global relief
effort to help Haiti recover from a massive 7.0-magnitude earthquake that
struck January 12. CNN
Senate
Health Care Bill Dead On Arrival, Say Pro-Life House Democrats
The health care reform bill passed by the Senate on Christmas Eve is
dead on arrival in the House because it lifts a decades-old ban on federal
funding for abortion services, pro-life House Democrats said Wednesday.
Fox
News
Durbin Implies
Obama Not ‘Telling The Truth’ About Health Care Premiums
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Wednesday contradicted
President Barack Obama on whether the health care reform bill will lead
to a decrease in health care premiums. Durbin claimed that rates would
go up, while the president said the rates would go down. “Anyone who would
stand before you and say well, if you pass health care reform, next year's
health care premiums are going down, I don't think is telling the truth.
I think it is likely they would go up, but what we are trying to do is
slow the rate of increase,” Durbin said, speaking on the Senate floor.
CNS
News
VOA VIEW: It is well known that Obama
is a liar.
Gates
Keeps Up Pressure On Iran
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Saudi leaders Wednesday that
the US effort for diplomatic engagement with Iran had come to naught and
he asked for the influential kingdom's help to win wide backing for biting
economic penalties against Tehran. The offer of talks with Iran to resolve
doubts about the intent of its nuclear program remains on the table, US
officials said, but the United States has moved away from making outreach
to Iran the primary goal. Jerusalem
Post
Kansas City School
Board To Decide: Close Half Of Public Schools Or Face Bankruptcy
The Kansas City school board is facing a stark choice: close nearly
half its public schools or face a potential bankruptcy. The board was scheduled
to vote Wednesday night on its superintendent's proposal to shut down 29
out of 61 schools in a bid to erase a projected $50 million budget shortfall.
Teachers at six other low-performing schools would be required to reapply
for their jobs, and the district would sell its downtown central office.
CNS
News
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Whites
In U.S. Edge Toward Minority Status
Minorities make up nearly half the children born in the U.S., part
of a historic trend in which minorities are expected to become the U.S.
majority over the next 40 years. In fact, demographers say this year could
be
the "tipping point" when the number of babies born to minorities outnumbers
that of babies born to whites. The numbers are growing because immigration
to the U.S. has boosted the number of Hispanic women in their prime childbearing
years. Minorities made up 48 percent of U.S. children born in 2008, the
latest census estimates available, compared to 37 percent in 1990. CBS
VOA VIEW: Minorities are less responsible
in controlling poverty births.
Obama Still
Wants US Trial For Some Gitmo Suspects
White House aides are increasingly convinced that accused 9/11 mastermind
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will never face trial in a civilian court and are
trying to cut a deal that would still transfer Guantanamo Bay terrorism
suspects to the U.S., where many would faces criminal charges, a senior
administration official said Monday. President Barack Obama is trying to
keep a campaign pledge to close the U.S. military prison in Cuba, a promise
that has attracted criticism from Republicans who say it would jeopardize
national security. Las
Vegas Sun
Wal-Mart
Restores 300 Items After Store Visits Fall
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, returned about
300 items to its U.S. stores after their removal last year hurt shopper
traffic. Wal-Mart restored some flavors and package sizes of food products
and other consumable goods, even though they didn’t sell well when they
were previously on the shelves, Bill Simon, chief operating officer of
U.S. stores, said today. The items accounted for a small percentage of
the merchandise varieties the retailer removed last year, he said. Bloomberg
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Biden
Says Israel, Palestinians To Answer For Acts
Vice President Joe Biden said Israel and the Palestinians will be held
accountable for actions jeopardizing peace efforts, such as Israeli approval
of a plan for new homes in east Jerusalem. “It is incumbent on both parties
to build an atmosphere of support for negotiations and not to complicate
them,” Biden said today in the West Bank city of Ramallah after meeting
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Bloomberg
VOA VIEW: Palestinians haven't given or
sacrificed anything for peace - not even giving up mayhem.
Brand
Evolution Sweatshirts Recalled
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall
of Brand Evolution boys' sweatshirts with drawstrings due to a strangulation
hazard. The Locks All Over Boys' Hoody, All Over Skaters Boys' Hoody and
Rock Mask Boys' Hoody include drawstrings that violate a voluntary industry
standard banning drawstrings in upper garments -- shirts, jackets and sweatshirts
-- to reduce threat of strangulation. UPI
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'Palestinians
Deserve Viable State'
US Vice President Joe Biden said Wednesday the Palestinians deserve
a "viable" independent state with contiguous territory, seeking to reassure
them of US support after the Interior Ministry on Tuesday approved a plan
to expand the Jewish Ramat Shlomo neighborhood in east Jerusalem. Biden
said that the approval of a plan to build 1,600 new housing units in the
east Jerusalem neighborhood "undermines peace efforts." Jerusalem
Post
Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad Attacks US For Afghan 'Double Game'
Mr Ahmadinejad said the US had "created terrorists and now say they
are fighting them", as he appeared with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in
Kabul. US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, who is also in Kabul, has accused
Iran of giving the Taliban low-level support. Later, Mr Karzai flew to
Pakistan for talks with another key neighbour. This is Mr Ahmadinejad's
first visit to Afghanistan since both he and Mr Karzai were re-elected
last year. BBC
US
Hid Torture Tactics From UK
A former head of MI5 has accused intelligence services in the US of
deliberately hiding the mistreatment of terror suspects from their British
allies. Baroness Manningham-Buller, giving a lecture in London last night,
said the US was "very keen" to prevent Britain discovering how they were
getting vital intelligence. She cited the case of Binyam Mohamed, a British
resident, who was held at Guantanamo Bay after the 9/11 attacks and provided
his captors with useful intelligence which was passed on the the UK security
services. She was unaware until 2007, she said, that he had been subjected
to waterboarding. Independent
Gordon
Brown Stands Firm In Defence Spending Row
The Prime Minister insisted again today that all urgent operational
requests for equipment for troops fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq had
been met. In furious Commons question time exchanges, Tory leader David
Cameron accused Mr Brown of failing in his "duty of care" to the armed
forces. He said the Government had fought two wars "on a peacetime budget"
and the Treasury had "massively underestimated" the cost of the conflict
in Afghanistan. Independent
Britain
To Hamid Karzai: Start Afghanistan Peace Talks Now
Britain will today urge the Afghan government to put more effort into
the pursuit of peace talks amid fears that the war could be prolonged –
and more British lives lost – as a result of incompetence and lack of political
will in Kabul. A speech to be delivered in the US by the foreign secretary,
David Miliband, will reflect growing anxiety in London that President Hamid
Karzai's professed desire for a political solution has not been backed
up by any serious planning or concrete proposals. Guardian
Frail
Economy Needs Another Stimulus
The Conservative party's calls for immediate cuts to the economy have
been met by a growing chorus of criticism, warning that this risks sending
the economy back into recession (Report, 8 March). The government was right
to stimulate the economy with a variety of measures last year and so offset
some of the worst effects of the recession. Yet, as some of the world's
leading economists have pointed out, the fragile nature of the recovery
means that fiscal stimulus is still required. However, according to the
IMF, Britain is one of only two G20 countries not currently planning any
such fiscal stimulus in 2010. Guardian
France
Vows Retaliation Against US In Air Tanker Dispute
France has vowed to retaliate against the United States for allegedly
shutting Europe's aviation giant EADS out of a $50bn (£33.4bn) defence
contract, warning of potential damage to the Atlantic alliance. "This is
a serious affair," said France's Europe minister Pierre Lellouche. "I can
assure you that there will be consequences." "You cannot expect Europeans
to contribute to global defence if you deny their industries the right
to work on both sides of the Atlantic," he said, adding that French president
Nicolas Sarkozy would take action "at the appropriate time". The escalating
spat comes after EADS withdrew this week from a joint bid with Northrop
Grumman to supply the Pentagon with A330 air refuelling tankers, alleging
that the procurement terms had been rigged to favour Boeing. Telegraph
Common
Osteoporosis Drugs 'Could Make Limbs Weaker If Used For Too Long'
Common drugs used to treat the brittle bone disease osteoporosis could
make limbs easier to break if used for too long, research suggests. Scientists
found that bisphosphonates improve quantity at the expense of quality.
Although the medicines helped preserve bone, over time they appeared to
impair its structure. As a result, it is believed treatment with the drugs
may increase the risk of unusual fractures after four or more years. An
estimated three million people in the UK suffer from osteoporosis, many
of whom take bisphosphonates. Telegraph
Obama
Supports DNA Sampling Upon Arrest
Josh Gerstein over at Politico sent Threat Level his piece underscoring
once again President Barack Obama is not the civil-liberties Knight In
Shining Armor many were expecting. Gerstein posts a televised interview
of Obama and John Walsh of America’s Most Wanted. The nation’s chief executive
extols the virtues of mandatory DNA testing of Americans upon arrest, even
absent charges or a conviction. Obama said, “It’s the right thing to do”
to “tighten the grip around folks” who commit crime. Wired
No-Fly
List Includes The Dead
You may be dying, figuratively, to get off the government’s no-fly
list, but death won’t guarantee removal. The government’s no-fly list includes
the names of dead suspects to help catch people who may try to assume the
suspect’s identity, according to government officials who spoke with The
Associated Press. The no-fly list has been shrouded in mystery since it
was first developed after the 9/11 attacks. How people get on the list
or get off it has been a closely guarded secret, with only bits of information
made public during congressional hearings. Wired
Ban
Announces Independent Review Of UN-Backed Climate Body
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the head of the United Nations-backed
panel tasked with preparing regular scientific reports on the impact of
climate change today announced that the body, which is facing growing attacks
from global warming sceptics, will undergo an independent and comprehensive
review. In 2007, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC) issued its Fourth Assessment Report, which found
the warming of the climate is outpacing natural variability, driven largely
by human activity. UN
News
Ban
Speaks Out Against Israeli Plans To Expand Settlements
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who has repeatedly called for Israel’s
settlement construction to come to a halt, has condemned its announcement
that it is building 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem. “He reiterates
that settlements are illegal under international law,” according to a statement
by his spokesperson issued last night in New York. “Furthermore, he underscores
that settlement activity is contrary to Israel’s obligations under the
Roadmap, and undermines any movement towards a viable peace process,” it
added. UN
News
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