Surviving Buddist Statue in Sri Lanka
The Washington Post
Pentagon Scales Back Arms Plans
Current Needs Outweigh Advances in Technology
By Jonathan Weisman and Renae Merle
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, January 5, 2005; Page A01
Rising war costs and a stubborn budget deficit have forced the Pentagon to propose billions of dollars in cuts to advanced weapons systems, as the military refocuses spending from its vision of a transformed fighting force to the more down-to-earth needs of its ground troops.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48425-2005Jan4.html
Gonzales Helped Set the Course for Detainees
Justice Nominee's Hearings Likely to Focus on Interrogation Policies
By R. Jeffrey Smith and Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, January 5, 2005; Page A01
In March 2002, U.S. elation at the capture of al Qaeda operations chief Abu Zubaida was turning to frustration as he refused to bend to CIA interrogation. But the agency's officers, determined to wring more from Abu Zubaida through threatening interrogations, worried about being charged with violating domestic and international proscriptions on torture.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48446-2005Jan4.html
Get Over The Gadgets and Deal the Cards
By Steven Pearlstein
Wednesday, January 5, 2005; Page E01
In the past, the conversation at my monthly poker game would turn to politics, or sports or real estate or . . . well, you know. But no longer. These days, my card-playing pals are so busy showing off their new BlackBerrys or boasting about the newest features on the Palm Pilot that we can hardly get in a decent game of Follow the Queen.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A48743-2005Jan4?language=printer
The Cheney Observer
Odor in the Court
January 4, 2005
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas insists that because he reported the sometimes lavish gifts he has received over the years, he should be off the hook. Legally, perhaps, but not ethically.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-thomas4jan04,1,3577327,print.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials
Supreme Court judges should turn aside gifts
Published: Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005
KEY POINTS
BACKGROUND: A recent news article showed how U.S. Supreme Court justices are allowed to accept gifts from entities that don’t have an issue before the court.
CONCLUSION: A panel of the American Bar Association is recommending tighter controls over the receipt of such gifts and it’s high time they were adopted.
A recent news article by The Associated Press presented an aspect of the U.S. Supreme Court that is seldom discussed but should be.
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050104/OPINION01/101040032/-1/opinion
Pension group asks SEC to deny Halliburton request
JUDITH BURNS
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - A leading pension fund has asked the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission to deny a request by Halliburton Co. to block shareholders from voting on a plan that would allow them to nominate their own candidates to the company's board.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/financial_markets/10563470.htm
Canada finds suspected new case of mad cow
By COLIN MCCLELLAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
Dr. Gary Little of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, addresses the media at a news conference in Ottawa, Thursday, Dec. 30, 2004, concerning another possible case of mad cow disease. Little said Thursday none of the animals parts made their way into the food or feed systems. (AP PHOTO/Tom Hanson, CP)
OTTAWA -- Canada has found what may be a second case of mad cow disease, officials said Thursday, just a day after the United States said it planned to reopen its border to Canadian beef.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apcanada_story.asp?category=1101&slug=Canada%20US%20Mad%20Cow
Russia and China to hold joint maneuvers
By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
MOSCOW -- Once-bitter rivals Russia and China will hold a massive joint military exercise on Chinese territory next year involving submarines and possibly strategic bombers, Russia's defense minister said Monday as the two nations move to bolster already burgeoning military ties.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/printer/ap.asp?category=1103&slug=Russia%20China
Court denies the appeal of Schiavo's parents to reopen case
The Associated Press
TAMPA -- An appeals court Wednesday denied a request from Terri Schiavo's parents to reopen the severely brain-damaged woman's case, based upon a recent statement of Pope John Paul II, according to the court clerk's office.
The Lakeland-based 2nd District Court of Appeal issued the denial without a written opinion.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-1230schiavo,0,4345161.story?coll=sfla-news-florida
Reilly says he wants control of Big Dig cost recovery effort
By Associated Press
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
BOSTON - Attorney General Tom Reilly says it's time for him to take control of the Big Dig's cost recovery effort.
Reilly says the Turnpike's in-house cost recovery program, which his office participates in, isn't working.
Governor Romney criticized Reilly, saying that as attorney general, Reilly could have tackled Big Dig cost overruns much earlier if he wanted. Reilly is a likely Democratic candidate for governor in 2006.
Turnpike Chairman Matt Amorello issued a written statement hinting he might support transferring the cost recovery effort to Reilly.
The proposal to give Reilly full control of cost recovery was included in a report issued today by The Senate Post Audit and Oversight Committee.
The report made several other recommendations, including threatening to bar Big Dig contractor Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff from any future state contracts.
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=60991
Independent Media TV
Under Reported
December 14, 2004
Prince Neil Bush - Far From Charming
By: Evelyn Pringle
Independent Media TV
Once upon a time, Prince Neil Bush was best-known for his role in the collapse of the Silverado Savings and Loan. But here come to find out, he is actually the romeo of the Bush Royal Family.
http://www.independent-media.tv/itemprint.cfm?fmedia_id=10144&fcategory_desc=Under%20Reported
Environmental agency files complaint over oil spill by Mexican oil monopoly
ASSOCIATED PRESS
8:23 p.m. December 28, 2004
MEXICO CITY – Mexico's federal environmental prosecutor's office on Tuesday said it has filed a complaint as investigations continue into the cause of an oil spill by the country's state oil monopoly that sent 5,000 barrels of petroleum into a river feeding the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/20041228-2023-mexico-oilspill.html
GOP begging Democrats for inauguration tickets
December 29, 2004
BY JESSE J. HOLLAND
Advertisement
WASHINGTON -- It's one of the hottest tickets in Washington this winter, and unlike most of the parties planned for President Bush's second inauguration, it's free and the dress is come-however-you-can-stay-warm. But getting one of the 250,000 tickets to Bush's swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the Capitol won't be easy, particularly for people from so-called red states that voted Republican in November.
For most people, the only way they can get a ticket is through their senator or representative and the demand for them in GOP-majority states is running high.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-inaug29.html
EDITORIAL
Bush's activist bench
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
WHEN IT comes to picking bad judges, President Bush would rather fight than switch. In a move that clearly revealed his ideological stripe, Bush announced last week that he was renominating 20 judges to the federal bench that couldn't pass muster with the previous Senate.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/12/29/EDG13AHP971.DTL
No honeymoon for Bush as approval slumps
By Peter Wallsten
Washington
December 30, 2004
Despite a clear-cut re-election and the prospect of lasting Republican dominance in Congress, President George Bush will begin his second term with polls showing he has the lowest approval ratings of any just-elected sitting president in half a century.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/No-honeymoon-for-Bush-as-approval-slumps/2004/12/29/1103996610162.html
The Japan Times
Hundreds of Japanese yet to be verified safe
BANGKOK (Kyodo) Rescue workers and Japanese diplomats said Tuesday that information and evidence suggest more than 30 Japanese citizens may have been swept away in southern Thailand by the tsunamis generated by the magnitude 9 earthquake off Indonesia on Dec. 26.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20050105a1.htm
Team in South Asia to assess SDF aid role
By NAO SHIMOYACHI
Staff writer
The Defense Agency sent a 20-member team Tuesday to South Asia to assess what the Self-Defense Forces can do to help survivors of the Dec. 26 earthquake and widespread killer tsunamis.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20050105a2.htm
Marital expectations help ensure singles ranks soar
By AKEMI NAKAMURA
Staff writer
She's a 38-year-old Tokyo working woman, enjoys single life, drives a sports car and dines at gourmet restaurants.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20050104f1.htm
Aged care, drivers' license woes and an alert
By KEN JOSEPH JR.
'Kaigo hoken'
I have been in Japan many years but have never applied for permanent residence. I had personal insurance under Pacific Star until last year. Their present carrier will not insure past renewal at age 64. I do not know how much longer I will be in Japan but I am positive that at the time I should need nursing care I would return to the U.S.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?fl20050104kj.htm
Wheeler-dealers can always go home if the going gets dicey
By JEFF KINGSTON
UGLY AMERICANS: The True Story of the Ivy League Cowboys Who Raided the Asian Markets for Millions, by Ben Mezrich. William Morrow, 2004, $24.95 (cloth).
The financial tycoons depicted in "Ugly Americans" were once dubbed Masters of the Universe, but they emerge here as hedonistic clowns. Their story is something like "Animal House" meets "Bonfire of the Vanities," with adolescent frat boys prowling Japan for babes, booze and big bucks.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?fb20041219a1.htm
The Los Angeles Times
Powell Surveys Area Devastated by Tsunami
By Paul Richter
Times Staff Writer
...The airport at Banda Aceh has become a crucial distribution point for food, while authorities tried to funnel other supplies into Sumatra's interior, where hundreds of thousands were without basic necessities.
But after the visit by the U.S. delegation to the area around Banda Aceh, officials said they believe an inadequate air traffic control system was restricting the flow of American C-130 cargo planes.
Indonesian authorities do not have an air controllers working at Banda Aceh. They rely instead on controllers about 240 miles to the southeast, in Medan.
"The air traffic control system probably could be refined to increase significantly the number of C-130s coming in," said Andrew Natsios, director of the U.S. Agency for International Development. "We think a lot more could be landing."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-010505powell_lat,0,5036340,print.story?coll=la-home-headlines
50-Year War of Words Tactics shift and ideology has softened, but China and Taiwan still aim radio propaganda at each other 24 hours a day.
By Mark Magnier, Times Staff Writer
TAIPEI, Taiwan — The radio show called "Special Communications" was an unlikely hit, given that it consisted of announcers reading strings of numbers for 15 minutes.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-propaganda5jan05,0,4760345.story?coll=la-home-headlines>
Castaic's Busy Snow Days
Closure of part of Interstate 5 turns the sleepy community into a temporary boom town as truckers and travelers wait out the storms.
By Amanda Covarrubias, Times Staff Writer
Most of the time, Castaic is a mountain hamlet of a few hundred residents pressed hard against Interstate 5 at the southern end of the Grapevine.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-grapevine5jan05,0,5856933.story?coll=la-home-local>
SWEET CHARITY: Taiping prison
State Proposes HMO Drug Regulations
The rules are meant to implement a 2002 law protecting prescription coverage. Co-payment size remains an issue.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-drugs5jan05,0,7037593.story?coll=la-home-business
Clarence Thomas Is in the Right Seat
As chief justice, he'd lose clout.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-yoo5jan05,0,5780145.story>
The New Strait Times
Taiping prisoners chip in to help tsunami victims
Jaspal Singh
IPOH:
Behind bars for crimes against society, Taiping Prison’s internees only have money paid to them for work done while in jail.
It is not a great deal, but it is all they have to start a new life when they are released. And they are giving it up for victims of the Dec 26 tsunami.
Prison director Narander Singh was awed when some of the longer serving prisoners, "seniors" as he refers to them, spoke to him about putting their money together to help the tsunami victims.
More than half the 1,900 inmates will donate between RM20 and RM50 today.
A small sum it may seem, but this represents the total of all that some prisoners have accumulated while serving sentence.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/Frontpage/20050105080741/Article/indexb_html
TSUNAMI RELIEF:: MRCS relief team contacts hq
Lee Siew Lian reporting from Banda Aceh
Jan 4:
CRACKLING through the static came the heartening words: "We are proud of you."
The Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) relief team here had their first direct communication with headquarters in Kuala Lumpur last night, on their seventh day here and the ninth day after the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Aceh.
Wan Johari Wan Osman, an amateur ham radio operator, had arrived late on Sunday with his long-range radio equipment.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/National/NST32198835.txt/Article/indexb_html
COVER STORY: A home for every pawed friend
LOKE POH LIN
Jan 5:
Stray-free and responsible ownership of pets. These humane goals are SPCA Selangor’s vision for Malaysia in five years, writes LOKE POH LIN.
WOULDN’T it be heavenly if one could sit at a warong sipping a teh tarik without stray cats milling about picking food off the table next to you? Wouldn't it be wonderful if there were no more stray dogs barking at your car and messing up the neighbourhood garbage cans? Wouldn't it be great if there were no more sickly, mangy animals run over by cars and hurt by abusive human beings?
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/Features/20050104164640/Article/indexb_html
The Seattle Post Intelligencer
GOP may object to ratification of governor vote
Legislative tradition poised to fall
By CHRIS McGANN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT
OLYMPIA -- It's usually no more than a formality.
State House and Senate leaders who gather here next week will announce that, hearing no objection, the Legislature hereby ratifies the 2004 election.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/206605_governor05.html
Study flunks state's math, English criteria
Foundation describes standards as 'poorly written, pretentious'
By GREGORY ROBERTS
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Washington state ranks almost dead last nationwide when it comes to setting worthwhile standards for student achievement in public schools, an educational research group said in a study released yesterday.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/206601_standards05.html
Aceh inmates stood no chance in tsunami
By CHRIS BRUMMITT
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
This photo shows the destruction left the Dec. 26 tsunami near the sea coast of Banda Aceh, Indonesia Wednesday, Jan.5, 2005. US Secretary of State Colin Powell toured Indonesia's tsunami-ravaged Aceh province Wednesday and said the devastation wrought by the disaster was the worst he had ever seen. (AP Photo/Choo Youn-kong, PoolL)
BANDA ACEH, Indonesia -- Soon after the earthquake shook Banda Aceh prison, wardens released the inmates into the central courtyard, fearing a second, more powerful temblor might collapse the cells.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apasia_story.asp?category=1104&slug=Tsunami%20Nowhere%20to%20Run
The Jakarta Post
Strong earthquake aftershock strikes Banda Aceh
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (Antara): A strong aftershock from theearthquake that triggered the Asian tsunami disaster has hit the devastated province of Aceh on Wednesday, but caused no major damage, an official said.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillatestnews.asp?fileid=20050105130635&irec=7
Low coordination breeds chaos
The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh/Lhokseumawe/Jakarta
The massive relief operation for tsunami-hit areas in Aceh is on the brink of chaos with the absence of a single authority directing the aid effort.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20050105.@01&irec=0
At least 1,000 teachers missing in Aceh, 50% of schools destroyed
JAKARTA (Antara): At least 1,000 teachers have been reported missing in Aceh and over 50 percent of school buildings devastated by last week's tsunamis, an official said on Wednesday.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillatestnews.asp?fileid=20050105191157&irec=0
Heavy punishment sought for tsunami-aid embezzlers
JAKARTA (Antara): President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono demanded on Wednesday the heavy punishment of those swindling both foreign and domestic assistance for tsunami survivors in Aceh.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillatestnews.asp?fileid=20050105190328&irec=1
'Rainbow Warrior' joins Aceh relief
… Working with environmental organization Greenpeace, the Rainbow Warrior vessel departed Singapore on Monday with an MSF team and is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday in Medan, North Sumatra.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20050105.B02&irec=9
Helicopter drops aid load over Medan, damaging car at shopping mall
MEDAN, North Sumatra (AP): A load of relief supplies slung under a U.S. military helicopter fell and slammed into a car parked at a shopping mall in the Indonesian city of Medan early Wednesday, local officials said.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillatestnews.asp?fileid=20050105150024&irec=3
Holiday delirium and lack of public civility
B. Herry-Priyono, Jakarta
A colossal catastrophe caused by the gigantic earthquake and tsunami has befallen us on the days we were preparing all kinds of glittery parties and delirious merrymaking to ring in the year 2005.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20050105.E02&irec=1
Indonesia, ASEAN and Australia trapped by sense of superiority
S.P. Seth, Sydney
Indonesia is understandably upset over Australia's recent announcement of its plan to establish a 1,000-mile maritime identification zone to fight terrorism and other international crimes. (Under the plan, Canberra will be able to intercept foreign vessels once they pass within 1,000 nautical miles of Australia's coastline.) According to Indonesia's Foreign Minister, Hassan Wirayuda, the plan is unacceptable because "it breaches our maritime jurisdiction." He added, "We view this concept as having the potential for violating international maritime law."
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20050105.E03&irec=2
Aceh students find scholastic help
Sari P. Setiogi and Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Yogyakarta
For university students in Aceh, the tsunami disaster did not only take away the lives of their families, but also their future, as they might have to give up their studies.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20050105.A03&irec=5
Anti-Semitism
ADL Notes Increase in Percentage of Anti-Jewish Hate Crimes in LA County
Los Angeles, December 16, 2004….The Hate Crimes Report released by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations today shows that, while hate crimes are down from their post-9/11/2001 highs, Jews continue to be the most frequently targeted religious group, now accounting for 84% of religious-based hate crimes.
http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASUS_12/4608_12.htm
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