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Another defeat for UK Labour Party
The SNP has pulled off a stunning by-election victory by winning Glasgow East, one of Labour's safest seats. The Nationalists overturned a Labour majority of 13,507 to win by only 365 votes with a swing of 22.54%.
The result was declared at Glasgow's Tollcross Leisure Centre in the early hours of Friday, after a re-count was requested by Labour, which won 10,912 votes in the contest.
Defeated Labour candidate Margaret Curran said she did not regret standing in the by-election, but added: "I regret that I did not win this for Labour tonight.
The SNP has pulled off a stunning by-election victory by winning Glasgow East, one of Labour's safest seats. The Nationalists overturn... more -
Karadzic to run own defence, gets shave, haircut
Radovan Karadzic will conduct his own defence at the Hague tribunal and is convinced he will be cleared of charges of genocide, relatives and associates of the war crimes suspect said on Wednesday.
Karadzic, leader of the Bosnian Serbs in the 1992-95 Bosnia war, was arrested in Serbia on Monday after 11 years on the run. He was one of three remaining war crimes fugitives from the Yugoslav wars, their arrest a condition for Serbia to move towards European Union membership.
He is now in a Belgrade prison awaiting extradition to The Hague, which could come this weekend.
Karadzic is twice indicted for genocide for the massacre of 8,000 Bosnians in the town of Srebrenica in 1995 and for the 43-month siege of Sarajevo. Some 11,000 people died in the city from sniper fire, mortar attacks, starvation and illness.
Radovan Karadzic will conduct his own defence at the Hague tribunal and is convinced he will be cleared of charges of genocide, relati... more -
Google opens Knol, it's own version of Wikipedia
Google opened its website Knol to the public on Wednesday, allowing people to write about their areas of expertise under their bylines in a twist on encyclopedia Wikipedia, which allows anonymity.
"We are deeply convinced that authorship -- knowing who wrote what -- helps readers trust the content," said Cedric DuPont, product manager for Knol.
The name of the service is a play on an individual unit of knowledge, DuPont said, and entries on the public website, knol.google.com, are called "knols". Google conducted a limited test of the site beginning in December.
Knol has publishing tools similar to single blog pages. But unlike blogs, Knol encourages writers to reduce what they know about a topic to a single page that is not chronologically updated.
Google opened its website Knol to the public on Wednesday, allowing people to write about their areas of expertise under their bylines... more -
Obama arrives in Afghanistan
Democrat Barack Obama arrived today in Afghanistan on his first overseas trip since he began his successful run for his party's presidential nomination.
The trip, which is expected to include stops in Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and three European capitals, is the centerpiece of Obama's efforts to focus his presidential campaign on foreign policy issues, considered an area of strength for Republican rival John McCain.
In the Afghan capital, where constant power cuts limit people's access to radio and television news reports, many Afghans were unaware of Obama's lightning visit. The presumptive Democratic nominee had caused a stir with remarks this month about the struggles of the government of President Hamid Karzai. Democrat Barack Obama arrived today in Afghanistan on his first overseas trip since he began his successful run for his party's presid... more -
Phil Gramm quits after 'whiners' comment
Former Republican Sen. Phil Gramm said Friday that he is stepping down as co-chairman of Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign amid criticism for saying last week that "we have sort of become a nation of whiners."
Democrats blasted Gramm for the comments, made in a Washington Times interview published July 10, and McCain forcefully repudiated the remarks.
In a written statement released Friday, Gramm said his comments had become a distraction for McCain.
Gramm, who advised presumed Republican nominee McCain on economic matters, made the controversial comments while discussing the economy. "We have sort of become a nation of whiners. You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline," the former Texas senator said.
Former Republican Sen. Phil Gramm said Friday that he is stepping down as co-chairman of Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign amid... more -
Loud bar music makes customers drink more
Customers of bars that play loud music drink more quickly and in fewer gulps, French researchers said on Friday.
Their study, published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, found that turning up the music spurred drinkers to down a glass of beer about three minutes more quickly.
To gauge the effect of sound levels on drinking, the team spent three Saturday nights visiting two bars, where they observed 40 men aged between 18 and 25 drinking beer.
With help from the bars' owners, the team turned the music up and down and then recorded how much and how fast people drank. The men did not know they were being observed.
Louder music spurred more consumption, with the average number of drinks ordered by patrons rising to 3.4 drinks from 2.6 drinks, Gueguen found. The time taken to drink a beer fell to an average 11.45 minutes from 14.51 minutes.
They said it was not clear why louder music appeared to increase alcohol consumption but said it might make conversation more difficult, forcing people to drink more and talk less.
Customers of bars that play loud music drink more quickly and in fewer gulps, French researchers said on Friday. ... more -
Al-Qaida draws more foreign recruits to Afghan war
Afghanistan has been drawing a fresh influx of jihadi fighters from Turkey, Central Asia, Chechnya and the Middle East, one more sign that al-Qaida is regrouping on what is fast becoming the most active front of the war on terror groups.
More foreigners are infiltrating Afghanistan because of a recruitment drive by al-Qaida as well as a burgeoning insurgency that has made movement easier across the border from Pakistan, U.S. officials, militants and experts say.
For the past two months, Afghanistan has overtaken Iraq in deaths of U.S. and allied troops, and nine American soldiers were killed at a remote base in Kunar province Sunday in the deadliest attack in years.
Afghanistan has been drawing a fresh influx of jihadi fighters from Turkey, Central Asia, Chechnya and the Middle East, one more sign ... more -
Banging Peace Raw Ruff Cut Footage
Daude Sherrrills tells John Van Zante the owner of the largest cosmetic manufacturer in the hole continent of Africa, Paul Darafeev the owner of a furniture manufacturing company in California, Rosell Newbill a hair product manufacturer how peace politics work in LA. This clip is part of the documentary Daude Sherrrills tells John Van Zante the owner of the largest cosmetic manufacturer in the hole continent of Africa, Paul Darafeev t... more
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Ashcroft: Waterboarding doesn't constitute torture
The controversial interrogation technique of waterboarding has served a "valuable" purpose and does not constitute torture, former Attorney General John Ashcroft told a House committee Thursday.
Testifying on the Bush administration's interrogation rules before the House Judiciary Committee, Ashcroft defended the technique while answering a question from Rep. Howard Coble, R-North Carolina.
"Waterboarding, as we all know, is a controversial issue. Do you think it served a beneficial purpose?" the congressman asked.
"The reports that I have heard, and I have no reason to disbelieve them, indicate that they were very valuable," Ashcroft said, adding that CIA Director George Tenet indicated the "value of the information received from the use of enhanced interrogation techniques -- I don't know whether he was saying waterboarding or not, but assume that he was for a moment -- the value of that information exceeded the value of information that was received from all other sources."
Ashcroft, who stated his opposition to torture, said the Justice Department has determined that waterboarding, as defined and described by the CIA, doesn't constitute torture.
"I believe a report of waterboarding would be serious, but I do not believe it would define torture," Ashcroft said, responding to questions from Rep. Maxine Waters, D-California.
The controversial interrogation technique of waterboarding has served a "valuable" purpose and does not constitute torture, former Att... more -
EU launches crackdown on rogue mobile services
The European Union's consumer chief on Thursday launched a crackdown on websites offering mobile phone services such as ringtones after a probe found most were ripping people off, notably teenagers.
An initial investigation by EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva into 500 websites providing ringtones, wallpapers, news feeds or videogames worth hundreds of millions of euros found that 80 percent were "misleading" consumers.
"Far too many people are falling victim to costly surprises from mysterious charges, fees and ringtone subscriptions they learn about for the first time when they see their mobile phone bill," Kuneva told a news conference.
The European Union's consumer chief on Thursday launched a crackdown on websites offering mobile phone services such as ringtones afte... more -
EU moves to free up music rights
Music download stores like Apple's iTunes could soon be able to operate one shop for the whole of Europe, under new rules brought in by EU regulators.
Currently, iTunes has to negotiate the right to sell music with a different society in every European state.
The European Commission says musicians should be free to choose from among the many collecting societies that handle music royalties in the 27-nation EU. The ruling will also let the societies license music in more than one country.
Music rights are sold separately in each EU member state. As a result, the US market for internet music downloads is much bigger. The commission wants the collecting societies to compete with each other in Europe and end restrictive clauses in their cross-border contracts.
The anti-trust decision should also make it easier for broadcasters to get EU-wide licences for the internet, cable television and satellite, using a single collecting society of their choice.
Music download stores like Apple's iTunes could soon be able to operate one shop for the whole of Europe, under new rules brought in b... more -
raq eyes full security control by year-end
Iraq hopes to have security control of all its provinces by the year-end, the national security adviser said on Wednesday, underscoring the government's growing confidence in its own forces.
Iraq's forces have grown, totaling around 560,000, including army, police and other units. But many units can only function with U.S. military assistance.
When provincial security control is handed back in Iraq, U.S.-led forces generally withdraw from major population centers but can be called on to intervene in an emergency.
National security adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie was speaking at a ceremony where U.S.-led troops handed security responsibility for southern Shi'ite Qadisiya province to Iraqi forces. The handover puts Baghdad in control of security in 10 of the country's 18 provinces, all mainly Shi'ite or Kurdish areas.
In a sign of the challenges ahead, a car bomb killed 15 people and wounded 90 at a market in the northern town of Tal Afar, the town's mayor said. The U.S. military said initial reports put the death toll at 12, with 18 wounded. The attack followed several bombings on Tuesday which killed around 40 people in northern areas, where al Qaeda militants are still feared despite a series of military offensives.
Iraq hopes to have security control of all its provinces by the year-end, the national security adviser said on Wednesday, underscorin... more -
US official to attend nuclear talks with Iran
A top US official is to attend talks aimed at persuading Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment program.
Under Secretary of State William Burns will travel to Switzerland with the EU foreign envoy Javier Solana to receive Iran's response to a UN offer.
The US said Mr Burns would not hold separate talks with Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili, and was there to listen.
In the past, the Bush administration has insisted that no talks will be held with Iran until it suspends its uranium enrichment program. Now, in a clear shift in policy, it seems a meeting is going to take place without that precondition being met.
The Bush administration says Mr Burns's presence is designed to demonstrate the West's unity and to reiterate that the terms of negotiations remain the same - namely that Iran must first halt its uranium enrichment programme for further talks to take place.
A top US official is to attend talks aimed at persuading Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment program. ... more -
Obama and McCain turn focus toward Afghanistan
John McCain and Barack Obama are turning their foreign policy focus toward the war in Afghanistan, as new poll results show Americans consider that battleground more critical to the overall war on terror than Iraq.
The presidential contenders gave back-to-back addresses Tuesday on national security and foreign policy. Obama restated his pledge to end the Iraq war by the summer of 2010, while McCain and his surrogates accused Obama of wanting to concede defeat.
But both candidates devoted much of their speeches to staking out their strategies for Afghanistan, where violence is on the rise.
Obama and McCain both said they would send more brigades to Afghanistan as troops are removed from Iraq — but they differed over the details and over how they would pursue terrorists operating next door in Pakistan.
Offering fresh criticism of Afghanistan, McCain told reporters Tuesday that there is serious corruption in the Afghanistan government and that President Hamid Karzai has not been the leader he would have hoped.
Obama said he, too, would send at least two more brigades to Afghanistan, but said the Iraq war, which he called a distraction, has prevented the United States from making progress in the region. He said in the 18 months since the troop surge in Iraq began, “the situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated — June was our highest casualty month of the war.”
John McCain and Barack Obama are turning their foreign policy focus toward the war in Afghanistan, as new poll results show Americans ... more -
Italian officials jailed over G8 protesters abuse
An Italian court has found 15 officials guilty of mistreating protesters following violent demonstrations at G8 meeting in the city of Genoa in 2001.
A judge handed down prison sentences ranging from five months to five years to the accused. They include include police, prison officials and two doctors.
Another 30 defendants were cleared of charges, including assault.
Protesters said they were beaten after being strip-searched by police. The prosecution said they were tortured.
The Italian government will be forced to pay out millions of pounds to those who were victims of police brutality during their detention.
An Italian court has found 15 officials guilty of mistreating protesters following violent demonstrations at G8 meeting in the city of... more -
Mediterranean Union is launched
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has launched a new international body with 43 member nations aimed at ending conflict in the Middle East.
The Union for the Mediterranean will tackle issues such as regional unrest, immigration to pollution.
Comprising 27 EU members with states from north Africa, the Balkans, Israel and the Arab world, the union's membership will include 756m people from Western Europe to the Jordanian desert.
But critics have dismissed the new union as lacking substance, and diplomats say there are continuing disagreements over key issues such as how to address the Middle East peace process and a possible role for the Arab League.
The only leader boycotting the Paris meeting was Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, who has described the union as a new form of colonialism.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has launched a new international body with 43 member nations aimed at ending conflict in the Middle E... more -
The second coming of the iPhone
Massive demand for the device which offers faster internet access than its predecessor has caused computer glitches in some UK stores, leading to frustrating delays for some consumers. Massive demand for the device which offers faster internet access than its predecessor has caused computer glitches in some UK stores,... more
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Ancient bones could help combat TB
Ancient bones from the city of Jericho are to be used by British scientists to develop treatments for tuberculosis. The project is part of a new scientific discipline in which archaeologists and medical researchers are cooperating to gain insights into modern ailments.
The team, which also includes Israeli, Palestinian and German researchers, will be following up pioneering work by British archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon. In the Fifties she made a series of important digs at Jericho and found bones from thousands of humans, some dating back 8,000 years.
When these bones were examined, it was discovered many had lesions, indicating that the city's men and women had suffered from tuberculosis. The walls of Jericho may have come down, not with a trumpet blast, but with epidemic of coughing, it seems.
TB infects nine million people a year - 450,000 with a strain that is resistant to first-line drugs, according to the World Health Organization.
Ancient bones from the city of Jericho are to be used by British scientists to develop treatments for tuberculosis. The project is par... more -
Regular cars can run on hydrogen
A group from Sheffield, UK has unveiled what they believe is the frontrunner in the race to provide a renewable, green fuel for motoring.
ITM Power has developed a fuel station called an 'electrolyser', which is designed to be used in the home, and can turn water and electricity into Hydrogen, which produces zero emissions as a fuel, as well as Oxygen.
Previous attempts to do this have been succesful, but ITM claims that their way will massively reduce the costs involved.
A full tank of Hydrogen, which can be filled overnight, will allow around 25 miles of driving: not enough for long distance journeys, but ample for the commuters who make up a large proportion of UK drilvers.
If the unit can be mass produced, its makers say that it will not only provide a clear fuel for motorists, but could also power a range of items around the home. A group from Sheffield, UK has unveiled what they believe is the frontrunner in the race to provide a renewable, green fuel for motori... more -
Archbishop of Wales "would consecrate gay Bishop", slams conservatives
Despite the major divisions that this issue has recently caused within the Anglican church, the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, has said he believes that "practicing homsexuals should not be barred from becoming Bishops." He reasoned that "There are a huge number of gay clergy” and that there was "no reason why they shouldn’t be bishops and they will be."
He also launched an attack on conservative Anglican groups, branding them as "exclusive" and "narrow-minded".
These comments are sure to inflame the already bitter debate over the reading of the Bible concerning homosexuality. Despite the major divisions that this issue has recently caused within the Anglican church, the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, ... more
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