A U.S. Visa, Shouts of Corruption, and Barrels of Oil
Several times every year, Teodoro Nguema Obiang arrives at the doorstep of the United States from his home in Equatorial Guinea, on his way to his $35 million estate in Malibu, Calif., his fleet of luxury cars, his speedboats and private jet. And he is always let into the country.
Shorts (left)
During the best of the times, Miguel Salcedo’s son, an illegal immigrant in San Diego, would be sending home hundreds of dollars a month to support his struggling family in Mexico. But at times like these, with the American economy out of whack and his son out of work, Salcedo finds himself doing what he never imagined he would have to do: wiring pesos north.
GM Shows Signs of Recovery Despite Quarterly Loss
General Motors, whose very survival was in doubt earlier this year, is showing signs of life after its brief tour through bankruptcy this summer.
When the Budget Director Talks, People Will Listen
Most people have never heard of Douglas W. Elmendorf. But all of official Washington is waiting to hear what he has to say.
U.N. Inspectors Fear Iran Is Hiding Nuclear Plants
On Monday, International inspectors who gained access to Iran’s newly revealed underground nuclear enrichment plant voiced strong suspicions in a report, saying that the country was concealing other atomic facilities.
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The number of Americans who lived in households that lacked consistent access to adequate food soared last year, to 49 million, the highest since the government began tracking what it calls “food insecurity” 14 years ago, the Department of Agriculture reported Monday.
Sun, Sun, Sun
High pressure builds into the area today, providing light winds and a sunny sky and letting meteorologists let down their guard for a few days. Light winds and a lack of clouds is a win-win combination for winter cold at night, since these are the circumstances that allow the ground to radiate heat efficiently to space once the sun goes down.
Obama Takes Part in a Town Hall, Chinese Style
The event was called a town hall, but President Barack Obama’s meeting with a group of about 500 students in this Chinese city on Monday had little in common with the sometimes raucous exchanges that have become a fixture of American politics.
In Remote Afghan Area, A Model Development Program
A plan for grass-roots aid using small sums of money and village councils has nurtured modest but important changes in this corner of Afghanistan, raising hopes that it could become a model in a country where official corruption and a Taliban insurgency have frustrated many large-scale development efforts.
Housing Agency Tightens Rules as Reserves Dwindle
The Federal Housing Administration, the government agency whose loan-insurance programs have become a crucial source of support for the housing market, said Thursday that its cash reserves had dwindled significantly in the last year as more borrowers defaulted on their mortgages.
Shorts (left)
Many Americans do not think twice about taking medicines to prevent heart disease and stroke. But cancer is different. Much of what Americans do in the name of warding off cancer has not been shown to matter, and some things are actually harmful. Yet the few medicines proved to deter cancer are widely ignored.
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German prosecutors have abandoned investigations into one of the main figures suspected of involvement in the killing of a former KGB officer in London three years ago without bringing charges, according to accounts on Thursday by the prosecutors and the man in question.
Settlement Between AMD and Intel Will Not End Their Woes
The giant chip maker Intel, facing antitrust challenges around the world, announced Thursday that it would pay $1.25 billion to settle its long-running disputes with its smaller rival, Advanced Micro Devices.
Pfizer To Leave City That Won Land-Use Suit
From the edge of the Thames River in New London, Conn., Michael Cristofaro surveyed the empty acres where his parents’ neighborhood had stood, before it became the crux of an epic battle over eminent domain.
Will the Remnants of Ida Greet New England?
As you may have noticed, the above average temperatures from early this week have given way to more seasonable temperatures for New England. Highs today will be near 50°F (10°C) with some gusty east winds developing. The winds will result from a departing high pressure centered near Nova Scotia, along with a broad low pressure center located just off the Virginia coast.
Major Held in Fort Hood Rampage Charged with Murder
Military officials charged Maj. Nadil Malik Hasan on Thursday with 13 counts of premeditated murder, accusing him of a brutal one-man attack here at America’s largest Army post last week and setting in motion what promises to be a historic court-martial proceeding that could end in the death penalty.
Shorts (right)
Three American hikers who were arrested in Iran this summer after straying across its border with Iraq have been accused of spying, an Iranian state news agency reported Monday.
Skepticism Over Whether Health Bills Really Cut Costs
As health care legislation moves toward a crucial airing in the Senate, the White House is facing a growing revolt from some Democrats and analysts who say the bills Congress is considering do not fulfill President Barack Obama’s promise to slow the runaway rise in health care spending.
Leaders in Berlin Retrace The Walk West
Chancellor Angela Merkel led a gathering of world leaders in Germany’s capital Monday for a celebration of the night 20 years earlier when the Berlin Wall fell.