Analysis Finds Iran Stopped Nuclear Arms Effort in 2003
A new assessment by American intelligence agencies released Monday concludes that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 and that the program remains frozen, contradicting a judgment two years ago that Tehran was working relentlessly toward building a nuclear bomb.
Sudanese President Pardons British Schoolteacher for Teddy Bear Incident
The British schoolteacher jailed in Sudan for allowing her 7-year-old pupils to name a class teddy bear Muhammad was pardoned Monday by the Sudanese president and left for England later in the evening.
Former Prime Ministers Might Boycott New Pakistani Election
Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, the two former prime ministers who have long bitterly opposed each other, joined with an opposition alliance on Monday to denounce what they saw as an unfair environment ahead of parliamentary elections planned for January.
State-Financed Christian Program Barred by Federal Appeals Court
A federal appeals panel ruled Monday that a state-financed evangelical Christian program to help prisoners re-enter civilian life fostered religious indoctrination and violated the constitutional separation of church and state.
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Although Rudolph W. Giuliani is campaigning as President Bush’s staunch ally in the war on terror, his law office has lobbied Congress on behalf of legislation that the Bush administration calls a threat to anti-terrorism efforts in the Horn of Africa.
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Gas mileage would go up under the compromise reached by congressional leaders last week, but not as high as the trumpeted numbers. And despite the tougher 35-mpg standard, a growing population of drivers would push up total fuel use, as well as greenhouse gas emissions — but not as rapidly as it would without the legislation.
The First Winter’s Snow
After a bitterly cold weekend, conditions were primed for our first accumulating snowfall of the season. Although only a couple inches fell on campus early Monday morning, it was enough to change the landscape from fall’s dying colors to a layer of white.
Lebanon Presidential Vacancy Broken After Support Voiced for Army Chief
The political logjam over Lebanon’s vacant presidency was broken Thursday when a leader of the Syrian-backed opposition announced his support for the compromise candidate accepted by the pro-Western alliance. The deal follows Syria’s participation in the American-sponsored Middle East peace conference.
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Food banks around the country are reporting critical shortages that have forced them to ration supplies, distribute staples usually reserved for disaster relief and in some instances to close.
Shorts (right)
Ben S. Bernanke PhD ’79, chairman of the Federal Reserve, acknowledged on Thursday that a “fresh wave of investor concern” had led to tougher credit conditions that posed new risks to the economy, reinforcing the view that the Fed is likely to cut interest rates again when it meets on Dec. 11.
The Day After Tomorrow
Yesterday, the first of two cold fronts passed through the New England area. The second rolls through today, accompanied by a blast of polar air. A strong upper level jet will fuel significant cold air advection, resulting in gusty winds on a very cold weekend. Make sure to bundle up when you go out Saturday night, as temperatures will plummet into the low 20s°F. High pressure and a lack of cloud cover means clear skies through tomorrow, so look forward to a brisk, sunny day.
Thousands Protest Thursday As Chavez Seeks More Power
Three days before a referendum that would vastly expand the powers of President Hugo Chavez, this city’s streets were packed on Thursday with tens of thousands of opponents to the change. The protests signaled that Venezuelans may be balking at placing so much authority in the hands of one man.
Broadway Bustling Again After Stagehands Strike for 19 Days
At “Chicago,” the cast had to do a run-through because the new leading man and two other stars joining the show — Vincent Pastore and Aida Turturro, of “The Sopranos” — had never rehearsed together.
Emergency Rule to Be Lifted on Dec. 16, Musharraf Announces
Hours after being sworn in to a second term, President Pervez Musharraf announced Thursday that he would lift his state of emergency on Dec. 16, leaving barely three weeks for election campaigning and setting the stage for further confrontation with his opposition.
In Slovakia, Three Arrested After Attempt to Sell Enriched Uranium
Two Hungarians and a Ukrainian were arrested Wednesday after trying to sell highly enriched uranium, Slovak diplomats and police authorities said Thursday. The quantity, however, was far too small to make a crude warhead.
Market Fears Prompt Sell-Off; Treasuries Hit 3-Year Low Point
Concerns that problems in the credit market could push the economy into a recession drove investors to the safety of Treasuries on Monday and led to a sell-off of stocks.
Fall This Week, Winter Next Week
Now that Thanksgiving is in the rear view mirror, I have started wondering when that first accumulating snow of the season will arrive and really enhance the holiday feel. The first flakes of the season last week were somewhat of a surprise and also seemed sudden because of all the warm weather preceding it, but the average date for the first trace of snow in Boston is actually Nov. 4. For measurable snow, the average date for the first 0.5 inch is Dec. 5. I’m not sure if we will make it by that date this year, but the weather pattern looks to be favorable for chances of snow in the coming weeks. Until then, however, the forecast looks seasonally cool but not frigid.
Israelis and Palestinians Try to Plan Peace Talks as Bush Outlines Speech
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators made progress on Monday toward completing a joint statement for the planned Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Md., and President Bush appeared ready to paper over remaining differences between the two sides with his planned speech on Tuesday.
Youths Clash With Paris Police After Teens Die in Car Accident
Dozens of youths clashed with police on Monday for the second night in a row in a working- and lower-class suburb north of Paris, throwing stones, glass and firebombs against large contingents of heavily armed riot police officers and moving nimbly from target to target on several fronts, torching cars and a garbage truck.
Defense Secretary Urges Increase In Diplomatic Efforts, Negotiation
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called Monday for the U.S. government to commit more money and effort to “soft power” tools, including diplomacy, economic assistance and communications, because the military alone cannot defend America’s interests around the world.