Shorts (right)
Bringing a six-week hostage ordeal closer to an end, the Taliban released 12 of 19 remaining South Korean hostages on Wednesday. The seven still in Taliban custody were widely expected to be released Thursday.
Mother Nature Complies
As summer fades into fall, the days will get shorter, the weather will become more changeable, and the Red Sox magic number will continue to shrink. Despite the chaotic nature of the atmosphere and Terry Francona’s bullpen usage, I can say all of those things with near certainty. Furthermore, I can be very confident that Mother Nature will comply with most, if not all, of our plans as the recent nice stretch of weather continues. The week won’t be without changes (as always), but thankfully we will not see temperature extremes like the 55°F to 96°F jump we saw from last Monday to Saturday.
Foreign Investors Call For More Oversight of American Markets
Politicians, regulators and financial specialists outside the United States are seeking a role in the oversight of American markets, banks and rating agencies in the wake of recent problems related to subprime mortgages.
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Each year since Sept. 11, 2001, Rudolph W. Giuliani has spoken at New York City’s commemorations of the attacks. At past ceremonies he has read off the names of some of the dead, given readings by Lincoln and Churchill, and recited poetry.
People Direct Criticisms at Greek Leaders Over Forest Fire Handling
The fires that tore omnivorously through scores of villages and olive groves here may now also be changing Greece’s political landscape: The government of Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, facing national elections next month, came under increasing criticism Tuesday, not only over its handling of the fires but also over whether it stoked Greeks’ fears about who might be to blame.
Iraqis Who Aided United States Have Trouble Attaining Refugee Standing
Despite a stepped-up commitment from the United States to take in Iraqis who are in danger because they worked for the U.S. government and military, very few are signing up to go, resettlement officials said.
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The resignation of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales does not mean an end to several investigations into his actions and truthfulness during his tenure at the Justice Department, with congressional Democrats vowing on Tuesday to press ahead with their inquiries.
Clash Between Shiite Groups Result in At Least 50 Deaths
A power struggle between rival Shiite groups erupted during a religious festival in Karbala on Tuesday, as gunmen with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades fought street battles amid crowds of pilgrims, killing at least 50 people and wounding 200, Iraqi officials said.
Observant Muslim Voted In as Turkey’s Newest President Tues.
An observant Muslim with a background in Islamic politics was voted in on Tuesday as president, breaking an 84-year grip on power by the secular establishment and ushering a new religious middle class from Turkey’s heartland into the center of the staunchly secular state.
Wind and Weather
Wind is an important parameter in determining the weather. Not only is the wind strength a factor (as it turns out, Boston is the windiest major city in America), but so is the wind direction. As you might expect, when the wind blows from the north or south, the temperature becomes colder or warmer, respectively.
Gonzales Resigns Following Criticism, Perjury Accusation
Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales announced his resignation on Monday, ending a stormy tenure at the Justice Department that was marked by repeated battles with Congress over whether he had allowed his intense personal loyalty to President Bush to overwhelm his responsibilities to the law.
Sarkozy Says Non-Nuclear Iran Must Be International Priority
In his first major foreign policy speech as president, Nicolas Sarkozy of France said Monday that Iran could be attacked militarily if it did not live up to its international obligations to curb its nuclear program.
Shorts (left)
The political deadlock over Kosovo’s future is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon despite the start of new negotiations on the province this week, according to two leading politicians involved in the talks.
Shorts (right)
Opium cultivation in Afghanistan grew by 17 percent in 2007, reaching record levels for the second straight year, according to a U.N. report released Monday.
Federal Gov’t Plans Improvements At Immigration Detention Center
The federal government and lawyers for immigrant children have announced an agreement to improve living conditions at the nation’s main family detention center for illegal immigrant suspects.
China to Restrict Foreign Acquisitions Citing Growing Nat’l Security Concerns
After a quarter-century of welcoming and even courting foreign investors, Beijing officials are starting to show considerably more caution. Chinese lawmakers are set to pass legislation this week that would limit foreign acquisitions in China on national security grounds.
Ten Arrested For Assassination Of Prominent Russian Reporter
Russia’s prosecutor general said Monday that 10 people had been arrested in the contract killing of Anna Politkovskaya, the prominent journalist and Kremlin critic. Those arrested included a Chechen crime boss and career officers from the country’s police and intelligence services, he said.
Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan Prompt Criticism of NATO, U.S.
Afghan elders said Sunday that airstrikes had killed 12 civilians in the southern province of Helmand on Saturday night, but an American military spokesman blamed Taliban militants for the civilian deaths.
Bush Defends Iraq Occupation Despite Its Low Public Approval
President Bush’s Iraq strategy faces a crisis of faith these days — from the American public. And he is confronting it the way he has previous crises: with a relentless campaign to persuade people to see things his way.
Aides to Pakistani Pres. Reported In Talks With Two Main Opponents
Close aides to Pakistan’s president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, and the chief of the country’s intelligence agency are in London to hold talks with Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, the president’s two main political opponents, generally reliable Pakistani newspapers reported Sunday.