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Wednesday, October 12
Al Qaeda letter called 'chilling'
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Senior U.S. intelligence officials call a letter from al Qaeda's No. 2 man to its leader in Iraq "chilling" because of how "calm, clear and well argued" it is in urging preparation for a U.S. departure from Iraq.
U.S. keeps Israel out of new fighter-jet development program
The United States is continuing to delay Israel's participation in its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, despite the resolution of the crisis in the security ties between the two countries, and despite the personnel changes at the Defense Ministry.
Israel Locks Down for Yom Kippur Holiday
Israel prepared Wednesday to lock down for Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, when borders close, streets empty of traffic and Jews fast, pray and ask for forgiveness. In a sweep through West Bank towns before the holy day, Israeli forces arrested six Palestinians, including a teenage boy allegedly coerced by militants into becoming a suicide bomber and a senior Hamas fugitive who was on the run for eight years, the army said.
Syria warns 'gates of hell will open' if U.S. attacks
BEIRUT: In the latest official Syrian comment on the increasing pressure on Damascus, Premier Naji Otari said "all the gates of hell will open on the U.S. if it attempts to attack Syria." Otari was replying to a report this week in Newsweek magazine revealing that Washington had debated launching military strikes inside Syria against camps used by insurgents operating in Iraq.
LEBANON ORDERS SECURITY SHAKEUP
NICOSIA [MENL] -- Lebanon's new government has ordered a restructuring of the security services amid placing the military on high alert. Officials said the government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora has decided to reorganize the security services as the military sought to end the influx of Palestinian insurgents from Syria. They said the restructuring was meant to ensure a security apparatus free of Syrian control.
Syria: Interior Minister Commits Suicide
Syria's interior minister, one of several top officials caught up in the U.N. investigation into the slaying of Lebanon's former prime minister, died Wednesday. The country's official news agency said he committed suicide in his office.
Global Warming Could Overwhelm Storm Drains
Scientists at a modest university in a small town in New Hampshire offered today a big tip to city planners around the world: Prepare your culverts for global warming.Nearly a foot of rain this weekend in Keene, NH, overwhelming the storm drains.
EU to Force Telecoms to Keep Records
The European Union agreed Wednesday to legally require telecommunications companies to keep records of phone and e-mail traffic for up to one year as part of the bloc's anti-terrorist campaign.
Rain Returns to New England
ALSTEAD, N.H. — Help continued pouring into the small New Hampshire (search) towns devastated by flooding during the weekend, with so many people volunteering their time, experience, equipment and food that local officials were hard-pressed to figure out where to send them all.
Amazon hit by worst drought for 40 years
Warming Atlantic linked to both US hurricanes and rainforest drought. Parts of the Amazon rainforest are enduring the worst drought for 40 years, prompting local government to declare several cities in the Brazilian state of Amazonas as disaster areas. Researchers say that rising sea temperatures in the North Atlantic, perhaps prompted by climate change, are probably to blame.
Chinese astronauts blast off
JIUQUAN, China (AP) -- A rocket carrying two Chinese astronauts has blasted off from a base in China's desert northwest, returning the country's manned space program to orbit two years after its history-making first flight. The mission, reportedly due to last up to five days, is an effort by the communist government to declare its status as a rising world power with technological triumphs to match its rapid economic growth. It is only the third country to launch a human into orbit on its own, after Russia and the United States.
Alaska volcanoes show signs of unrest
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) -- Anchorage residents could see a cloud of steam over the weekend from a volcano 75 miles away -- one of three Alaska volcanoes showing signs of unrest. The three volcanoes, including two located on remote Aleutian islands distant from any population centers, are setting off frequent tremors and minor bursts of ash or steam, seismologists said on Tuesday.
The Mysterious Origin and Supply of Oil
It runs modern society and fuels serious political tension. But where does oil really come from, and how much is left? The far-out possibilities might surprise you.
American Internet dominance challenged by EU
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - An EU proposal to wrest governing control over the Internet from the US is gathering support around the globe. A few weeks before an important UN summit, the EU is claiming backing from everybody in the world apart from the US for a proposal to internationalise control of the World Wide Web.
Brussels to launch citizens charm offensive
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – The European Commission is to announce a major "listening exercise" in a bid to curry favour with citizens who have become disillusioned with the EU.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Senior U.S. intelligence officials call a letter from al Qaeda's No. 2 man to its leader in Iraq "chilling" because of how "calm, clear and well argued" it is in urging preparation for a U.S. departure from Iraq.
U.S. keeps Israel out of new fighter-jet development program
The United States is continuing to delay Israel's participation in its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, despite the resolution of the crisis in the security ties between the two countries, and despite the personnel changes at the Defense Ministry.
Israel Locks Down for Yom Kippur Holiday
Israel prepared Wednesday to lock down for Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, when borders close, streets empty of traffic and Jews fast, pray and ask for forgiveness. In a sweep through West Bank towns before the holy day, Israeli forces arrested six Palestinians, including a teenage boy allegedly coerced by militants into becoming a suicide bomber and a senior Hamas fugitive who was on the run for eight years, the army said.
Syria warns 'gates of hell will open' if U.S. attacks
BEIRUT: In the latest official Syrian comment on the increasing pressure on Damascus, Premier Naji Otari said "all the gates of hell will open on the U.S. if it attempts to attack Syria." Otari was replying to a report this week in Newsweek magazine revealing that Washington had debated launching military strikes inside Syria against camps used by insurgents operating in Iraq.
LEBANON ORDERS SECURITY SHAKEUP
NICOSIA [MENL] -- Lebanon's new government has ordered a restructuring of the security services amid placing the military on high alert. Officials said the government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora has decided to reorganize the security services as the military sought to end the influx of Palestinian insurgents from Syria. They said the restructuring was meant to ensure a security apparatus free of Syrian control.
Syria: Interior Minister Commits Suicide
Syria's interior minister, one of several top officials caught up in the U.N. investigation into the slaying of Lebanon's former prime minister, died Wednesday. The country's official news agency said he committed suicide in his office.
Global Warming Could Overwhelm Storm Drains
Scientists at a modest university in a small town in New Hampshire offered today a big tip to city planners around the world: Prepare your culverts for global warming.Nearly a foot of rain this weekend in Keene, NH, overwhelming the storm drains.
EU to Force Telecoms to Keep Records
The European Union agreed Wednesday to legally require telecommunications companies to keep records of phone and e-mail traffic for up to one year as part of the bloc's anti-terrorist campaign.
Rain Returns to New England
ALSTEAD, N.H. — Help continued pouring into the small New Hampshire (search) towns devastated by flooding during the weekend, with so many people volunteering their time, experience, equipment and food that local officials were hard-pressed to figure out where to send them all.
Amazon hit by worst drought for 40 years
Warming Atlantic linked to both US hurricanes and rainforest drought. Parts of the Amazon rainforest are enduring the worst drought for 40 years, prompting local government to declare several cities in the Brazilian state of Amazonas as disaster areas. Researchers say that rising sea temperatures in the North Atlantic, perhaps prompted by climate change, are probably to blame.
Chinese astronauts blast off
JIUQUAN, China (AP) -- A rocket carrying two Chinese astronauts has blasted off from a base in China's desert northwest, returning the country's manned space program to orbit two years after its history-making first flight. The mission, reportedly due to last up to five days, is an effort by the communist government to declare its status as a rising world power with technological triumphs to match its rapid economic growth. It is only the third country to launch a human into orbit on its own, after Russia and the United States.
Alaska volcanoes show signs of unrest
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) -- Anchorage residents could see a cloud of steam over the weekend from a volcano 75 miles away -- one of three Alaska volcanoes showing signs of unrest. The three volcanoes, including two located on remote Aleutian islands distant from any population centers, are setting off frequent tremors and minor bursts of ash or steam, seismologists said on Tuesday.
The Mysterious Origin and Supply of Oil
It runs modern society and fuels serious political tension. But where does oil really come from, and how much is left? The far-out possibilities might surprise you.
American Internet dominance challenged by EU
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - An EU proposal to wrest governing control over the Internet from the US is gathering support around the globe. A few weeks before an important UN summit, the EU is claiming backing from everybody in the world apart from the US for a proposal to internationalise control of the World Wide Web.
Brussels to launch citizens charm offensive
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – The European Commission is to announce a major "listening exercise" in a bid to curry favour with citizens who have become disillusioned with the EU.
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