Yangtze in peril

China's Yangtze river in peril (AFP)

AFP - China's longest and most important river, the Yangtze, is under serious pressure from human activity with long stretches in "critical condition".

Nigeria violence after poll

Violent clashes in Nigeria after poll

Nigeria held crucial state government elections, amid concern chaotic scenes of ballot stuffing and violent clashes could be repeated in presidential polls to be held next weekend.

300 flights canceled

Storms cancels flights in N.Y and N.J. (AP)

AP - Airlines canceled 300 flights Sunday as a hard-blowing nor'easter gathered strength along the East Coast and threatened to deliver some of the worst flooding to coastal Long Island in 14 years.

Nurse union: Job cuts caused by NHS deficits

Nurse union attacks NHS job cuts

A nurses' union is claiming that 22,000 job cuts have been caused by NHS deficits in the last 18 months.

Nigerians elect their officials

Millions Vote in Nigeria, but Intimidation Is Widespread

Voting in the first stage of what is to be a landmark election for Africa’s most populous nation was marred by unrest and violence across the country.

Moscow violence

Moscow police beat anti-Putin protesters (AP)

AP - Riot police beat and detained protesters as thousands defied an official ban and attempted to stage a rally Saturday against President Vladimir Putin's government, which opponents accuse of rolling back freedoms Russians have enjoyed since the end of Soviet communism.

Earthquake in Japan

Moderate quake jolts central and western Japan

TOKYO (Reuters) - A moderate earthquake jolted central and western Japan on Sunday, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage.

Globalisation is good.

Globalisation is good: the words not heard in French presidential campaign (AFP)

AFP - Globalisation for French presidential candidates is all about factories closing and moving to China. They don't like to mention that Paris-based Carrefour, the world's second largest retailer after Wal-Mart, is making a killing there, and that France is one of the richest countries in the world thanks to free trade.

Taliban video shows aid worker hostages

Taliban video shows aid worker hostages (AP)

AP - Two French aid workers and three Afghans kidnapped by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan appeared in a video broadcast Saturday by the pan-Arab satellite channel Al-Arabiya.

170 anti-Kremlin protesters arrested

Russia police arrest 170 anti-Kremlin protesters

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian police detained at least 170 people, including chess champion Garry Kasparov, on Saturday as they snuffed out an attempt by opponents of President Vladimir Putin to protest near the Kremlin.

   

Heavy rain, snow

Northeast prepares for heavy rain, snow (AP)

AP - A severe weather system blamed for two deaths plowed eastward Saturday, rattling the Gulf states with strong thunderstorms as the Northeast prepared for possible coastal flooding.

In Opposition to Turkey's Leader

200,000 march against Turkey's leader

ANKARA, Turkey — More than 200,000 Turks protested against Turkey's Islamic-rooted prime minister Saturday, demonstrating the intense opposition he could face from Turkey's secular establishment if he decides to run for president next month.

Commander Suspended on Human Shields

Israel 'human shield' suspension

The Israeli army says it has suspended a commander after his unit allegedly used human shields in a West Bank raid.

Like WW2

Iraqis are lined up against a wall as a soldier stands guard ...

(AFP/File) - Iraqis are lined up against a wall as a soldier stands guard in Baghdad. A car bomb slaughtered 40 people near a revered Shiite shrine in Iraq's pilgrimage city of Karbala on Saturday, two months to the day after US-led troops launched a security crackdown in Baghdad(AFP/File/Joseph Eid)

Spring too slow

Spring's slow arrival hits crops, baseball (Reuters)

Reuters - Wheat fields ruined by freezing temperatures, snowed-out baseball games in Cleveland and Chicago, and shivering vacationers have made this spring one to forget across much of the United States.

China farmland shrinks to 0.3 percent

China's farmland shrinks to near warning level (AFP)

AFP - China's farmland shrank 0.3 percent in the year to 2006, putting it just above the warning level set by the government, state press reported Friday.

Solar Power: Not Yet

Your Money: Financially, Solar Power for the Home Is a Tough Sell

Even with federal and state credits, installing a home solar power system can mean waiting years for savings on energy bills.

Probe points to maltreated errand boy as army camp shooter

Probe points to maltreated errand boy as army camp shooter

MANILA, Philippines -- An informal probe conducted by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) appears to confirm reports that a maltreated, vengeful ''errand boy'' set off last week's Black Saturday shooting rampage in an Army camp in Sulu that left nine soldiers and a civilian dead.

Niño Muhlach loses bail over busted fan belt

Niño Muhlach loses bail over busted fan belt

MANILA, Philippines -- It was a bad omen. A busted fan belt prevented former child actor Niño Muhlach from arriving at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court in time for his arraignment Friday, prompting the judge to revoke his bail bond and issue a warrant of arrest against him.

Blogged with Flock

Interracial Marriages surge in US

Interracial marriages surge across U.S. (AP)

AP - The charisma king of the 2008 presidential field. The world's best golfer. The captain of the New York Yankees. Besides superstardom, Barack Obama, Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter have another common bond: Each is the child of an interracial marriage.

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3D puzzles to amuse you

Interesting 3D puzzles to amuse yourself with at work

The idea is to build up the solid shape indicated by the views to the left - but only using the number of cubes given. There are 10 problems, called figuur1 to figuur10. Be warned: they are not easy.

35 suspected Taliban killed

35 suspected Taliban killed in Afghanistan (AP)

AP - Afghan security forces clashed with suspected Taliban insurgents in southern Afghanistan, and a subsequent airstrike in the area left 35 militants dead, an Afghan official said Thursday.

New Nuclear Treaty

Experts Prepare New Nuclear Treaty

Independent arms control experts from 15 countries are drafting a treaty to ban production of uranium and plutonium for nuclear weapons that could rival a U.S. text under consideration by the U.N.'s top disarmament body.

***Yeah.  Anything more than the US is illegal.  Sheesh. 

China poses risk to key US satellites

China poses risk to key U.S. satellites: top general (Reuters)

Reuters - China's use of a missile to destroy a satellite in January put vital U.S. national-security satellites at risk, the top U.S. Air Force general said on Wednesday.

Surveillance Law Needs Update

Spy Chief: Surveillance Law Needs Update

National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell said Wednesday that a landmark surveillance law needs to be updated to accommodate advances in technology.

***It needs to be repealed

AIDS victims blocked from protesting

Chinese AIDS victims blocked from protesting

BEIJING -- About 350 people infected with HIV/AIDS were blocked by police in central China Wednesday from protesting over drug treatments they are receiving from the government, a leading activist said.