Shorts (right)
The two pro-Western political parties in Ukraine that united in triumph in the Orange Revolution of 2004, but then quarreled and lost control of Parliament, reached a coalition agreement on Monday to retake power.
Turkey Seeks Approval to Raid Iraq to Pursue Kurdish Rebels
Tensions mounted along the Iraqi-Turkish border on Monday as the Turkish government sought parliamentary approval for military raids into northern Iraq. The vote in Parliament would permit Turkish armed forces to cross the border in pursuit of Kurdish rebels who launch attacks into Turkey from Iraqi Kurdistan.
Sunny Skies and Fall Foliage
Will today’s sunny skies help produce intense colors for the autumn leaves? Or is it the cold temperatures and the soil moisture that matter? While there is still some debate in the scientific community on the exact details, it seems to be a combination of the three. Cool temperatures (but not below freezing) and lots of sunlight in the preceding weeks help to kill the chlorophyll and setup the formation of anthocyanins, which create the sharp red and purplish colors our eyes are accustomed to seeing. Obviously, plenty of soil moisture will keep the tree “healthy” and help it hold onto its leaves. So with our somewhat rainy summer, sunny Septembers (climatologically the sunniest month of the year for Boston) and a rapid transition to cooler temperatures, the color intensity of our autumn leaves is one of the best in the world.
Shorts (left)
Chinese President Hu Jintao promised to address social fissures, a degraded environment and rampant corruption during his second term as China’s top leader, but he all but ruled out more than cosmetic political reform in his opening address on Monday at the ruling Communist Party’s 17th National Congress.
Citigroup’s Dramatic Profit Decline Surprises Chairman
Citigroup, the global banking giant, said Monday that third-quarter profit dropped 57 percent after it faced heavy blows to its fixed-income and consumer businesses.
Cuban Immigrants Go Through Mexico, Avoid U.S. Coast Guard
Cubans are migrating to the United States in the greatest numbers in over a decade, and for most of them the new way to get north is first to head west –to Mexico – in a convoluted route that avoids the U.S. Coast Guard.
No Child Left Behind Law Up for Renewal, Prescribing Harsh Rules
As the director of high schools in the gang-infested neighborhoods of East Los Angeles, Guadalupe Paramo struggles every day with educational dysfunction.
Shiites Grow Disillusioned With Baghdad’s Local Mahdi Militia
In a number of Shiite neighborhoods across Baghdad, residents are beginning to turn away from the Mahdi Army, the Shiite militia they once saw as their only protector against Sunni militants. Now they resent it as a band of street thugs without ideology.
Turkey Angry Over Congress’ Vote on Armenian Genocide
Turkey reacted angrily Thursday to a House committee vote in Washington to condemn the mass killings of Armenians in Turkey during World War I as genocide, recalling its ambassador from Washington and threatening to withdraw its support for the Iraq war.
Shorts (left)
Last November, immigration officials began a crackdown at Smithfield Foods’ giant slaughterhouse here, eventually arresting 21 illegal immigrants at the plant and rousting others from their trailers in the middle of the night.
Shorts (right)
There are bagels and fruit in the morning, sandwiches at lunch, fresh cookies in the afternoon and an occasional restaurant dinner, but many of the doctors who routinely accept these goodies from pharmaceutical sales representatives say they meet with sales people for the educational messages they bring, not the food.
Iraq, Gay Rights Prompt Tensions Between Dems., Loyal Party Base
Of the three most recognizable Barneys in America, one is a singing purple dinosaur, another is a prehistoric cartoon character and the third is a gay congressman from Massachusetts.
Lessing, Who Inspired a Generation Of Feminists, Wins Literature Nobel
Doris Lessing, the Persian-born, Rhodesian-raised and London-residing novelist whose deeply autobiographical writing has swept across continents and reflects her engagement with the social and political issues of her time, Thursday won the 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Drug Companies Remove Infant Cold Medications From Market
Major makers of over-the-counter infant cough and cold medicines announced Thursday that they were voluntarily withdrawing their products from the market for fear that they could be misused by parents.
Many Happy Returns
Following the overcast Columbus Day holiday, a lingering low pressure system has been responsible for our recent spate of showers. Later today, the storm will migrate into Maine, but its effects will still be felt: cyclonic winds will remain gusty into Saturday. These strong winds will pull in dry air from Canada, and by early next week a high pressure ridge will cover New England, ushering in clear autumn skies.
Bill Passed: U.S. Contractors In Iraq to Be Under U.S. Law
With the armed security force Blackwater USA and other private contractors in Iraq facing tighter scrutiny, the House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a bill that would bring all U.S. government contractors in the Iraq war zone under the jurisdiction of U.S criminal law. The measure would a require the FBI to investigate any allegations of wrongdoing.
South Africa Closes Mine That Trapped 3,200 Below Ground
One day after a freak accident stranded 3,200 gold miners more than a mile underground, South African officials said Thursday that they had closed the huge Elandsrand mine for up to six weeks to determine the cause of the mishap.
Musharraf-Bhutto Deal Struck In Pakistan as Elections Loom
The government of Gen. Pervez Musharraf announced Thursday an accord that includes amnesty for the opposition leader and former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, clearing the way for the general to run for re-election as president on Saturday and for Bhutto to return to Pakistan for parliamentary elections at the end of the year.
Congressional Debate Erupts Over Interrogation Techniques of CIA
The disclosure of secret Justice Department legal opinions on interrogation on Thursday set off a bitter round of debate over the treatment of suspected terrorists in American custody and whether Congress has been adequately informed of administration legal policies.
Unseasonably Warm Weather Continues
Boston continues to be treated to unseasonably warm autumn temperatures. In fact, yesterday’s high temperature of 86°F (30°C) at Logan Airport (where official weather measurements for Boston are taken) exceeded the previous record high of 85°F (29°C) set in 1983. The average high temperature for the first week of October is 66°F (19°C). Our warm trend will continue with pleasantly warm temperatures Friday and Saturday. A weak cold front will move through the region on Saturday night, bringing cooler temperatures and a slight chance of showers. No heavy rain is expected at least through the beginning of next week. In terms of precipitation, Boston has been on the dry side the past month, with September seeing only half of its normally measured rainfall.