Cameron details arguments against Scottish independence
LONDON — Arguing that the centuries-old “ties that bind” Britain together were under threat from Scottish separatism, Prime Minister David Cameron traveled to Edinburgh on Thursday to meet with First Minister Alex Salmond in what was seen here as the first sparring bout of a longer battle over an independence referendum.
Egypt uses Israeli treaty as bargaining chip
CAIRO — The Islamist party that leads the new Egyptian Parliament is threatening to review the 1979 peace treaty with Israel if the United States cuts off aid to the country over a crackdown on U.S.-backed nonprofit groups here.
Seven arrested in Olympus accounting cover-up
OSAKA, Japan — The Japanese authorities arrested seven central figures in the huge accounting scandal at Olympus — including the camera-maker’s former chairman and executive vice president — on Thursday as part of investigations into a decade-long cover-up that has prompted concern over what critics say is lax corporate governance at Japanese companies.
Athens shaken by riots after vote for austerity
ATHENS, Greece — The acrid stench of tear gas permeated central Athens on Monday and the husks of burnt-out buildings still smoldered after a night of rioting following the Greek Parliament’s vote to approve austerity measures in exchange for more rescue financing.
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TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey state Senate voted Monday to legalize same-sex marriage, a significant shift in support from two years ago, when a similar measure failed.
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Warde J. Manuel, who raised expectations on the playing field and in the classroom in six years as the athletic director at Buffalo, was introduced Monday as Connecticut’s new AD at a time when the Huskies’ Men’s Basketball team is dealing with the fallout from academic issues and the health concerns of its Hall of Fame coach, Jim Calhoun.
Warmth and lack of snow will continue this week
With the exception of a few cold spurts (like this past Sunday), this winter has been marked by a general trend of above average temperatures. This weather will continue this week, with high temperatures in the mid to upper 40s (8°C); 10°F (-12°C) above normal. It has also been a dry winter, with only 2.74" of precipitation occurring since Jan. 1, compared to a climatological value of 4.67". The first two weeks of February have also been unusually dry, with only 0.07" of precipitation compared to a usual month-to-date value of 1.31". Not only has this winter featured a lack of precipitation — Boston has had a lack of snowfall in particular. Since Dec. 1, Boston has recorded 6.8" of snow, far less than the climatological value of 26.5" (and miniscule, compared with last season’s 71.2"). Unfortunately for those hoping for snow, it doesn’t appear to be in the cards this week. There is a system coming through on Thursday and Friday that should bring measurable precipitation, but it looks to be only in the form of rain.
House Republicans yield on a payroll tax cut
WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans on Monday backed down from a demand that a payroll tax holiday be paid for with reductions in other programs, clearing the way for an extension of the tax cut for 160 million Americans through 2012.
American active on Internet recounts beating in China
The Chinese Communist Party has long felt threatened by overseas websites and social media outlets, but the recent detention of a California physicist who says he was beaten by Chinese security agents seeking the password for his Twitter account suggests how far the government will go in its battle against a freewheeling Internet.
Apple, in shift, pushes an audit of sites in China
Responding to a growing outcry over conditions at its overseas factories, Apple said Monday that an outside organization had begun to audit working conditions at the plants where the bulk of iPhones, iPads and other Apple products are built, and that the group would make its finding public.
Snow in Store for Saturday
After several weeks of recurring sunny skies and unseasonably warm temperatures, it appears Boston will finally get a taste of typical New England winter this weekend. A low pressure system is forecast to develop tonight off the coast of the Carolinas, moving up the East Coast in the classic pattern of a Nor’easter storm. As the storm intensifies and passes to the southeast of the Massachusetts coast tomorrow, the Boston area is likely to receive at least 2-4 inches of snow accumulation. The snowstorm could be the largest of the season to date this season, with the largest previous accumulation clocking in on January 21st at 2.9 inches. However, as the surface low has yet to develop, there is still considerable uncertainty in the projected track of the storm, and relatively small perturbations in its track could end up resulting in vastly different snow totals here.
Church battle over birth control coverage was well planned
When after much internal debate the Obama administration finally announced its decision to require religiously affiliated hospitals and universities to cover birth control in their insurance plans, the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops were fully prepared for battle.
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Individual homeowners will probably have to wait months before they know if they will benefit from the $26 billion mortgage settlement announced Thursday.
India explores opportunities in Iran, denting sanctions
India emerged as a major new irritant Thursday in Western efforts to isolate Iran, announcing that it was sending a large trade delegation there within weeks to exploit opportunities created by U.S. and European anti-nuclear sanctions that are increasingly disrupting Iran’s economy.
In Europe, stagnation as a way of life
PARIS — For all the struggles that Greece has gone through to satisfy its demanding lenders, Europe’s troubles are not going away.
Demonstrations whisper of an Arab spring in Jordan
KARAK, Jordan — Beneath a statue of a glowering Saladin, a medieval Islamic warrior, a crowd unfurled banners and began chanting protests against the country’s leadership in its palaces and government offices far below the precipices of this ancient fortress town.
Siege paralyses Syrian city as shelling and toll mount
BEIRUT — The embattled Syrian city of Homs remained under siege for a sixth day Thursday, with sporadic tank shells ripping into contested neighborhoods, residents cowering at home and medical supplies dwindling, according to telephone interviews with residents.
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FRANKFURT, Germany — The European Central Bank left its main interest rate unchanged Thursday, as policymakers waited to see whether signs of improving growth meant that the eurozone economy had already put the worst behind it.
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BRUSSELS — The European Commission said Monday that it would continue charging airlines for their greenhouse gas emissions, despite an announcement from China that its carriers would be forbidden to pay without its permission.
Ski slopes barren as lack of snowfall continues; Boston to stay temperate
This season of below average snowfall looks to continue through this week. Computer models indicate no threat of significant snowfall over the next 7 days. This is not good news for skiers and boarders who wouldn’t mind a little fresh powder. These conditions are in stark contrast to last year. According to the National Weather Service, the average depth of snow in ME, NH, VT, and upstate NY is currently 9 inches, which is 16 inches less than last year.