Khalid Sheikh Mohammed gets Navy defense attorney; famed Venice bar gives Americans 20% off for weak $; WH urges lenders to reduce homeowner debt...

9 April :: Reuters reporting: "The self-described mastermind of the September 11 attacks on New York City and the Pentagon [Khalid Sheikh Mohammed] has been assigned a U.S. military lawyer to defend him in the Guantanamo war court, where he could face execution if convicted, The Miami Herald reported"... Famed Harry's Bar, owned by Cipriani family, in Venice, offers 20% discount to Americans hit by plummeting dollar exchange; bar made famous by Ernest Hemingway, sees significant portion of business from American travelers... Bush admin. urging lenders to erase portion of homeowner debts to avoid swell in foreclosures; borrowers will be permitted to pay off lower total amount, lenders to secure money lost in revaluation by "other arrangements"... Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama now within 6 percentage points of Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania, according to latest Quinnipiac University poll; Clinton supporters have said she must win PA handily to stay in race... Protesters gather in San Francisco as Olympic torch set to pass through, IOC says no detour for torch relay; protests in Paris, London marred by aggressive protests, heavy police presence... Fmr. VP Al Gore becomes "green" political commodity for Dem candidates: both Obama, Clinton regularly phone Gore, consult on ecological issues; Gore has yet to endorse either candidate, will cast a "super-delegate" vote at DNC...

4,000th US soldier killed in Iraq, 5 years into war; NASA scientist says administrations have tried to "control" release of scienctific data...

23 March :: US military has reported 4,000th soldier killed in Iraq conflict; BBC reports 4 US soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in southern Baghdad, "In Baghdad, the heavily-fortified Green Zone suffered sustained mortar and rocket fire, which killed at least 15 civilians"... Dr. James Hansen, NASA's leading climate scientist, says both Republican and Democratic administrations have slowed the release of vital scientific findings, seeking to "control" science in line with political goals... US VP Dick Cheney has said the establishment of a Palestinian state is "long overdue", as some expect he will apply pressure to Israel to cease settlments in the West Bank; Financial Times reports "Dick Cheney, US vice-president, on Sunday met Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, as part of his tour of the Middle East. He criticised Hamas for the rocket attacks launched from Gaza on Israeli cities, saying they posed a threat to peace talks"...

9/11 Comm. says CIA tape destruction impeded probe; US army unit refused combat orders fearing their anger could lead to massacre...

22 December :: The two chairmen of the investigatory commission for the 9/11 attacks, Lee Hamilton and Thomas Kean, have said their review of classified evidence suggests the CIA made a concerted effort to "impede" the inquiry by hiding evidence of abusive interrogation techniques; according to Reuters, "Among statements that the memo suggested were misleading was a June 2004 assertion by John McLaughlin, deputy director of central intelligence, that the CIA had "taken and completed all reasonable steps necessary to find the documents in its possession, custody or control" in response to the panel's requests and "has produced or made available for review" all such documents"... Democracy Now reports "After an IED attack killed five more members of Charlie 1-26, members of 2nd Platoon gathered for a meeting and determined they could no longer function professionally. Several platoon members were afraid their anger could set loose a massacre"; the action is described as "mutiny", but framed as a responsible attempt to ensure that the revenge instinct not be permitted to filter into their battlefield performance, report based on a 4-part Army Times series, aimed at showing the war from the soldiers' perspective... "Secretive" Russian oil firm Gunvor denies Pres. Putin has any stake in its ownership, saying he is "not a beneficiary", that "None of the shares of this organisation are held by President Putin or anyone allied by him", though media reports suggest he may be hiding a $40 billion fortune; reports based on research by a Russian political analyst have suggested that a "non-transparent scheme of successive ownership of offshore companies and funds", leading to accounts in Switzerland and Lichtenstein, gives 75% ownership to Putin... Havana-based blogger sneaks critical articles onto restricted web through luxury hotel internet cafes, putting herself at risk of persecution, having to spend nearly a week's wages for the 30 minutes of access to post her stories... Guardian reporting that UK "Ministers have been instructed to factor into their calculations a notional 'carbon price' when making all policy and investment decisions covering transport, construction, housing, planning and energy"; move means global warming risk will be considered in long-term economic measures for UK gov't projects, for first time...

Bali conference ends with drama, compromise, possible emissions 'roadmap'; Bush moves to limit JAG's ability to disagree with White House...

16 December :: Bali climate change conference goes into extra day, as EU, US reach agreement on language for roadmap to global emissions rules; CNN reports "The European Union and the United States reached agreement on a compromise for a global warming pact Saturday, setting the stage for intense negotiations in the next two years aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions worldwide"... The White House is moving to ensure that military lawyers must follow presidential opinions on legal powers and limits on executive power; IHT reports "The administration has proposed a regulation requiring "coordination" with politically appointed Pentagon lawyers before the promotion of any member of the Judge Advocate General Corps, the military's 4,000-member uniformed legal force", with Bush appointee Haynes to oversee examination of lawyers' degree of 'coordination' with White House policy; "One of Haynes's allies on the Bush administration legal team is John Yoo, who as a Justice Department lawyer wrote a series of legal opinions asserting a presidential power to bypass the Geneva Conventions and ignore laws against torture", Yoo also suggested 'punishing' JAGs who disagree with the legality of administration policy... Truthdig questions whether CIA destruction of interrogation tapes hid vital facts tied to 9/11 plot from 9/11 Commission, reporting "Videos were made of those “sensitive” interrogations, which were accurately described as “torture” by one of the agents involved, John Kiriakou, in an interview with ABC News. Yet when the 9/11 Commission and federal judges specifically asked for such tapes, they were destroyed by the CIA, which then denied their existence"... British agency grants £140,000 to four women who suffered human trafficking, sexual enslavement, says it will recognize 'pain and suffering' related to such crimes, continue payouts; some critics have asked what's being done to prevent the trafficking itself... Rep. Ted Poe, a Texas Republican, says he believes one of his constituents who alleges she was gang-raped by coworkers at KBR in Iraq is not alone; Poe has called for other victims to come forward and says he will push for a federal criminal probe, with the attorney general intervening to speed the process...

NJ Assembly passes death penalty ban; US accused of trying to derail Bali climate talks; US may be engaging Iran via Arab allies...

14 December :: New Jersey Assembly has passed death penalty ban, Gov. Corzine says he may sign within one week; 8 men currently awaiting execution will have sentences commuted to life in prison, observers comment some states may begin to follow suit, after DNA evidence has demonstrated high rate of erroneous convictions... The Bush admin. has been accused of trying to derail action on climate change at Bali conference, by proposing that all Kyoto-related regulations be voluntary, not binding; Guardian reports "The proposed text, tabled late last night and leaked at about midnight local time, would effectively allow any country to opt out of the next round of the Kyoto agreement. Observers said last night it could take climate change negotiations back more than a decade"... EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas has said there's some progress toward a 'Bali roadmap', which could lead to more aggressive action after a US-led climate summit in January, though EU ministers say they will boycott the summit if the Bush admin. does not back hard numerical targets in Bali... US appears to be pushing diplomatic initiative to engage Iran, by way of close Arab allies like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, in hopes nuclear weapons program remains frozen, relations improve with Islamic Republic... Oil industry, utilities have won major legislative battle as Senate passes trimmed down energy policy reform bill; according to the NY Times, "The legislation still contains a landmark increase in fuel-economy standards for vehicles and a huge boost for alternative fuels. But a $13 billion tax increase on oil companies and a requirement that utilities nationwide produce 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources were left on the floor to secure Republican votes for the package"... Fmr. Sen. Mitchell's report on steroid use in Major League Baseball names raft of top players, all-time legends, raising serious questions about MLB complicity and future Hall of Fame awards, record books, even recent World Series titles... UK gov't reportedly preparing for 'nationalization' of troubled Northern Rock bank, as feeling takes hold that only state ownership will prevent total collapse of lending institution, potential economic repercussions across Great Britain...

Justice, CIA, at least one Congressional committee to probe CIA destruction of video evidence; Obama camp hosts 30,000 in SC, with Oprah...

9 December :: LA Times reporting "The Justice Department and the CIA's Office of the Inspector General said Saturday that they had launched a joint inquiry into the CIA's controversial destruction of videotaped interrogations of two Al Qaeda suspects"; unnamed staffer for Senate judiciary committee said probes could lead to charges of obstruction of justice, false testimony before Congress, both federal crimes; House intelligence committee has also announced its own probe into the matter... Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), with Oprah Winfrey at his side, hosts crowd of 30,000 in SC, the largest gathering of prospective voters to date in the already long-running 2008 presidential campaign... Bali conference to face task of mobilizing global resources to combat acceleration of climate change; TIME reports that the US gov't sticking point that developing nations should be reined in on emissions also could undermine Bali negotiations: "Beijing and New Delhi both argue that the vast majority of historical carbon emissions came from the developed nations (CO2 stays in the air for up to 200 years), so action should come from the rich first — a contention arguably supported by the UNFCCC itself, which calls for "common but differentiated responsibilities" between nations on climate change"...

UN praises US Senate effort to cap greenhouse gas emissions; IMF to calculate climate costs; Ukraine pres. backs Tymoshenko for PM...

6 December :: UN says US Senate plan to cap greenhouse gas emissions is step in right direction for US, for public health worldwide, in effort to reduce climate change impact; after new Australian gov't ratified Kyoto Protocol at Bali talks, US is only developed nation not signed on, while Bush admin. representative at Bali says the Senate proposal will not alter gov't policy at present... IMF to publish data and analysis on costs of climate change in 2008, in connection with talks about ways to "climate-proof" economies against the ill effects of volatile climate conditions... Reuters reports "Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko accepted on Thursday the leader of a pro-Western 'orange' coalition, Yulia Tymoshenko, as prime minister"; Tymoshenko and Pres. Yuschenko were allies in the 2004 'Orange revolution' that brought their pro-Western gov't to power, she was his first PM, but split after intense infighting; Parliament now needs to vote on her candidacy... Italian politician has shocked nation, outraged Jews, by saying gov't should treat immigrants according to a Nazi policy that punished 10 Italians for every one Nazi killed; policy is infamous throughout Italy, because Italians who opposed Nazis were brutally killed by Hitler regime, the 10-to-1 concept obviously asserting that group persecution or targetting of innocents, however light the punishment, violating democratic principles fundamentally; a front-page editorial in Il Giornale, a conservative paper that often sides with Bettio's party wrote "Even if he was drunk or his brain short-circuited [...] he must be condemned without appeal"... Fmr Mass. governor and fmr. GOP frontrunner, Mitt Romney, has used a speech in Texas to assure voters his Mormon faith will not intervene in his decisions as president; some analysts have attributed Romney's slipping poll numbers to skepticism about the Mormon church and the perception that he would take advice from church leaders...

NIE says no Iran nuclear weapons program, for now; calls for climate refugee assistance at Bali summit, as sea-levels rising...

4 December :: Revised US National Intelligence Estimate says Iran halted nuclear weapons program in 2003, no current work being done to pursue bomb; NIE is consensus report from 16 US intelligence agencies, current analysis contradicts White House policy, as well as 2005 NIE citing Iran's determination to build bomb; according to current NIE, Iran would require up to 8 years to finalize building of weapon, if program were restarted; report does say uranium enrichment is ongoing, apparently for civilian use; Democrats have called for White House to launch "diplomatic surge", using Reagan negotiation with USSR as example... Pressure expected to increase on White House to moderate Iran policy, amid unpopular Iraq war, wariness from powerful allies about counter-productive military intervention; TIME magazine in August published analysis warning US might be "isolated" on the issue, with close allies favoring diplomacy and IAEA process... Islanders already affected by rising sea levels call for international assistance for climate refugees; testimony from affected populations, scientists and the Europe-based Global Governance Project, at Bali conference, will push for fund to resettle climate refugees...

Putin leads exit polling in Russian parliamentary vote; Venezuelans reject Chávez constitutional reforms; Annapolis may warm US-Syria relations...

3 December :: With 54.5% of vote counted, Putin's 'United Russia' party has reportedly gathered 62.9% of the vote, the Communist party a distant 2nd with 11.6%; NY Times reporting "Across Russia in recent weeks, members of opposition parties said they had been subjected to intense harassment from the authorities, and people who worked for government agencies and companies that received state financing reported that they had been ordered to vote for United Russia"... Observers around world say Putin gov't manipulated parliamentary elections, European observers say there is "no doubt" the elections were "[not] free, fair nor democratic", US calls on Kremlin to investigate allegations of media bias, widespread voter intimidation; opponents say Putin plan to become 'national leader' with no clear constitutional role, no clear limit to power, dangerous for Russia's fledgling democracy... Official results show Venezuelan pres. Hugo Chávez has suffered a major political defeat, as population votes 51% to 49% against his proposed constitutional reforms; Venezuelan gov't ministers, speaking anonymously, had claimed Chávez won referendum, by as much as 6% margin; "If approved, the referendum vote on a raft of reforms would allow Chavez —in office since 1999— to run for reelection indefinitely, control foreign currency reserves, appoint loyalists over regional elected officials and censor the media if he declares an emergency", according to Reuters; VP says election results are too close to call, are already in dispute, opposition has called for calm, but says its numbers show Chávez victory not assured... Speculation spreads US may be considering talks with Syrian gov't in new post-Annapolis worldview; CSM reports US may be tacitly backing Syrian favorite for Lebanese presidency, despite opposition from US allies in Lebanon, who now appear to also approve Gen. Michel Suleiman's rise as president... UN climate change policy conference opens on Indonesian island of Bali, to draft successor protocols to Kyoto treaty; with 180 nations in attendance, hopes are US will support accord, push global emissions regulations... Facing mounting international pressure, and after meetings with muslim members of the British parliament, Sudan pres. Omar al-Bashir pardons British schoolteacher jailed for allowing pupils to name teddy bear 'Muhammad', she will be sent home in coming days...

40 nations gather at Annapolis summit; Sarkozy calls for calm as riots strike Paris suburb; Bush, Gore privately discuss climate change...

27 November :: 40 nations to gather at Annapolis summit for Mideast peace negotiations; Israel, Palestinian leaders express hope for progress on comprehensive peace deal, while Hamas leader, ex-Palestinian PM, Haniyeh, says the Palestinian people will not be bound by what his rival Abbas agrees to... French pres. Nicolas Sarkozy has urged calm as riots spread through Paris suburb Villiers-le-Bel in wake of hit and run death allegedly involving police; residents allege the police involved fled on foot after being unable to start their car, damaged by the accident, opposition leader François Hollande, condemning the violence, said it sprung from a "social and political crisis" the gov't was unable to handle; similarity to situation that sparked 2005 riots across France leads some to fear more violence will ensue... In first private meeting since 2000 presidential election, US pres. Bush, fmr. rival Al Gore discussed climate change for 30 min. while Gore attended White House dinner for Nobel laureates... US, Iraq leaders sign non-binding bilateral cooperation agreement, via video conference; document is attempt to "codify" a relationship that would see phase out of US combat mission, conduct parallel security policy to UN mandate for occupation, stabilization troops...

Blair proposes jobs plan for West Bank, Gaza; oil nears $100/barrel, fears of widespread recession; Senate bill bars telecom immunity in wiretap...

19 November :: Fmr UK PM Tony Blair, envoy for 'Quartet' —UN, US, EU, Russia— to Middle East, has proposed a sweeping economic regeneration, job-creation plan for Palestinian territories, to dissuade militancy, get territories on path to viable statehood, long-term peace; plan to include Jericho trade-park, a checkpoint-free Jordan-Jericho trade corridor, public works projects like new sewage system for beleaguered Gaza strip... Oil nearing $100/barrel, observers worry record price could cause recession in several economies around the globe; CSM report suggests OPEC, created to stabilize oil prices, has lost control of pricing due to market, political factors... US Senate committee has voted to strip telecommunications firms of immunity from prosecution for collaborating in illegal NSA wiretaps; telecoms have contended they were forced by gov't to cooperate, while critics charge the companies knowingly violated the law, aided in assault on Constitutional liberties... Transport strike deepens in France, as unions oppose Sarkozy's proposed pension reforms across nation; as more groups join work stoppages, threat of real national 'general strike' looms for president... AP reports "Everyone will feel its effects, [said Yvo de Boer, director of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change] but global warming will hit the poorest countries hardest and will 'threaten the very survival' of some people", as UN scientists gather at Valencia IPCC talks to prepare language, agenda for Bali climate meetings...

Mukasey takes helm as AG; 4,000-year-old temple found in Peru; IPCC expected to push binding emissions cuts...

12 November :: Judge Mukasey was sworn in Friday as US attorney general, after key senators said they were re-assured by his promises not to endorse any interrogation practices beyond the law... "A 4,000-year-old temple filled with murals has been unearthed on the northern coast of Peru, making it one of the oldest finds in the Americas, a leading archaeologist said on Saturday" according to Reuters news service... IPCC meeting in Valencia, Spain, gathers representatives and scientists from 140 countries "to draft a report that could increase pressure on countries like the United States and China to make binding cuts in greenhouse gas emissions"; meeting comes just weeks before Bali conference expected to begin draft for replacement to Kyoto Protocol... Texas legislature caught violating rules, multiple members franticly voting multiple times for absent colleagues; rules already propose penalties, new law would make such abuse criminal offense... Oil spill spreads across San Francisco Bay as weather condiditons make containment, clean-up hazardous, unpredictable; state officials continue to call for probe into lax response in early stage of spill... At least 7 were killed, 80 injured in Gaza demonstration when gunfire broke out, allegedly between supporters of rival Fatah, Hamas factions; Hamas said to be planning crackdown on Fatah after deaths...

US Senate subcommittee approves emissions cap bill; London police found guilty in shooting death of innocent man in 2005...

3 November :: Senate subcommittee approves America's Climate Security Act, legislation aimed at capping greenhouse gas emissions, now to be voted by full Environment and Public Works committee; bill touted as milestone in US climate policy; Sen. Lieberman has said it is the "Manhattan Project" for climate change that activists have long called for, bill also supported by senators from coal-rich states... London police as a group have been found guilty in the shooting death of innocent Brazilian immigrant on London Tube in 2005; no individuals have been singled out, and punishment beyond fine has been imposed... Antiwar activist faces jury trial for raising hands in "peace sign" during Congressional hearing, in which secretary of State Condoleezza Rice testified, was confronted by another activist... Mukasey nomination facing stiff opposition, even as two key Democrats express support; Pres. Bush has defended the retired judge, along with his refusal to qualify simulated drowning as a form of torture... CSM reports 13 majority-Sunni Muslim nations have declared their ambition to gain nuclear energy, just this year, likely as response to Shi'a-dominated Iran's high-profile nuclear pursuits, which some fear are weapons program in disguise... Minuteman anti-immigrant group, which includes armed militia in border states, spreading to interior states amid lack of legislation to reform immigration process; critics call group dangerous vigilante operation, while Minutemen say they are only trying to ensure that less people "break the law" by entering without papers... Reuters reporting "A federal judge on Friday approved subpoenas for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley in the case of two former pro-Israel lobbyists accused of disclosing national defense information"... Habitat for Humanity project in Los Angeles aims to build environmentally-friendly homes, as demand for low-emissions, fuel-efficient housing models on rise...

Half million Californians forced to flee wildfires; fossil record shows high temps correspond to mass extinction; China launches lunar probe...

24 October :: More than 500,000 Californians have been evacuated as wildfires blaze out of control, more than 1,000 structures destroyed; firefighters admit they cannot control the fires, can only hope at present to protect people; Gov. Schwarzenegger has warned the White House the fires are too vast to be dealth with by state agencies... UK researchers have found link between elevated global temperatures and mass extinction throughout fossil record; findings suggest escalating global temperatures could lead to a new mass extinction; Le Monde Diplomatique has reported UN figures showing high concentrations of CO2 correspond to highest temperature spikes... Sentence for Pinochet security forces chief extended 15 years; he has been found guilty of masterminding, ordering abduction of dissident last seen at Villa Grimaldi detention center in 1974... China launches unmanned orbiter, its first lunar probe; Japan has just put its first satellite into lunar orbit, with India planning to follow; some worry 'nationalism' in region fueling new 'space race', though for now there does not appear to be a plan to militarize... Turkey has admitted it launched airstrikes against PKK positions inside Iraqi Kurdistan, crossing as far as 20km into Iraqi airspace; pres. of Kurdish regional assembly, Iraqi pres. Talabani, also a Kurd, have called on PKK to renounce the use of violence; Turkish ground forces have allegedly made isolated incursions as well, through for now no large-scale ground invasion has occurred... NYT reports "In a report made public on Tuesday, a review panel found that there were too few American officials in Iraq to enforce the rules that apply to Blackwater and other security contractors. It also found that the conduct of the contractors had undermined the broader mission of ending the insurgency and establishing a democratic government in Iraq"... China, world's #2 oil consumer, tells OPEC oil prices are too high; contacts were part of OPEC-China 'roundtable' to help steer OPEC policy with regard to China's explosive growth in petroleum demand...

UN Security Council unanimously 'deplores' Burma crackdown; Gore wins Nobel Peace Prize; Afghanistan closes 2 security firms, probing 10 more...

12 October :: UN Security Council passes unanimous non-binding declaration that it "strongly deplores" the violence used by Burma's military gov't against peaceful demonstrators; statement also calls for release of "all political prisoner and remaining detainees", as well as urging direct talks with opposition, pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, significant action to move Burma toward a lasting democratic process; statement is first ever Council action on Burma's military junta... Fmr US VP Al Gore and the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to raise global awareness of the climate change crisis; since spring 2007, Gore has won an Academy Award, an Emmy and now the Nobel, he said in response "We face a true planetary emergency. The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity", two advisers told the press the award does not make it more likely he will run for US presidency... CNN reported yesterday "Afghan authorities this week shut down two private security companies and said more than 10 others —some suspected of murder and robbery— would soon be closed, Afghan and Western officials said Thursday"; move comes amid growing concerns over role of private security firms in Iraq violence, UN urging US to investigate alleged crimes... Crude oil hits record high trading price of $84/barrell, just after noon New York time; cost for alternative fuels expected to drive adoption of new fuel sources, transport costs straining overall economic output... Russian Soyuz rocket launched from Kazakhstan carrying American, Russian, Malaysian to Int'l Space Station; Peggy Whitson to be first woman to command Space Station, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor 9th Muslim in space, 1st Malaysian...

Northwest passage open across Arctic Ocean for the first time; Calderón says border fence will harm both Mexico, US; Olmert vows to work for peace...

9 October :: The fabled 'Northwest Passage' through northern Canada was ice-free this summer for the first time in recorded history, and is being explored by a Canadian Coast Guard ice-breaker, whose journey will be far easier than any before through the glacial route; climate models had not foreseen such intense Arctic-wide ice-melt until one or two decades further into the future; Canada, Denmark, the US and Russia, may now compete for the right to use or control parts of what may become a seasonal shipping route as the planet keeps warming... Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) proposes national cap on greenhouse gas emissions, auction system that would force polluters to pay, saying "No business will be allowed to emit any greenhouse gases for free"; plan would bring US emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, to 80% below that by 2050... Mexico pres. Felipe Calderón has criticized US pres. Bush for building security barrier between two countries, saying nations should "build bridges, not fences", says he believes economic expansion in Mexico is best way to solve problem of mass economically-driven migration to the north... Israel PM Ehud Olmert has told MPs he will devote the coming year to security a lasting peace with Palestinians; while conservative ministers berated him, Olmert said he believed the Abbas gov't was devoted to peace and its commitment to that end should not be squandered; senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat welcomed the remarks saying it showed Olmert understood that "time is of the essence"... CA group reported to be collecting signatures to put former VP Al Gore's name on ballot for 5 February primary elections; 2000 Democrat candidate for presidency has repeatedly said running is not in his plans, but has never fully ruled out running... Burmese junta names retired general as liaison to Nobel-laureate opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, under house arrest; move is direct response to suggestion by UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari, opposition worries it is "cosmetic" step meant to deflect attention from violent crackdown; Singapore arrested 6 demonstrators who criticized Burma's military gov't, as it does not allow gathering of more than 5 people in public without permission...

Sarkozy campaign against 'sans papiers' includes police storming homes, woman killed, child in coma, public mounts 'resistance'...

3 October :: Guardian newspaper reports Sarkozy campaign against immigrants has led to police "storming" private residences, people falling from balconies —at least one woman killed, one youth in coma—, new underground network of conscientious citizens hiding children to prevent parents' deportation, estimated 20,000 have joined 'new resistance' to prevent rounding up of neighbors... Intense ice-melt across Canadian Arctic has split Ayles Ice Island —iceberg the size of Manhattan— in half, with one section traveling up to 98km in one week; record ice-melt has startled climatologists, Coast Guard... Chinese scientists and officials have warned Three Gorges dam project will cause "environmental catastrophe unless accumulating threats are quickly defused, senior officials and experts have warned"; according to the Environmental News Network, even top officials at the dam itself, who have formerly defended its safety, now say local ecosystems are facing calamitous stresses and action needs to be taken...

Bush says US "will do its part" to curb climate change; Pfizer faces $8.5 billion suit for Nigeria drug test...

1 October :: US pres. George W. Bush has promised in a speech at his climate change conference in Washington, DC, the US "will do its part" to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce risk of dangers caused by human-induced climate change; critics continue to say his approach is designed to postpone any comprehensive global regime limiting carbon emissions... Fmr US House Speaker Gingrich says he will not run for president because campaign finance laws would bar him from having any contact with a political organization he founded, says "The McCain-Feingold Act criminalizes politics"; on prospective rivals, ABC quotes him as saying of Hillary Clinton, "I believe she is very professional. I think the Clinton machine is the most powerful political machine in modern America. I think her husband is the smartest politician in our generation"... Pfizer facing $8.5 billion lawsuit by Nigerian gov't, Nigerian state of Kano, which allege the company tested a drug on meningitis patients without their permission, leading to at least 11 deaths, during 1996 outbreak... Putin may seek premiership after term limits end his tenure as president of the Russian Federation; he has said he would accept the post of PM on two conditions: that his party win the parliamentary elections, and that his successor as president be a "respectable, capable, effective and modern person whom I could work with as a team"... Yuliya Tymoshenko, fmr ally and PM to Ukrainian pres. Viktor Yuschenko, leads opponents 32.59% to 31.62%, appears poised to form coalition to take control of parliament, despite rival pro-Russia party spending $400 million to return Yanukovich to premiership; some observers predict "rift" between fmr Orange Revolution allies so deep Pres. Yuschenko could offer arch-foe Yanukovich coalition and premiership by year's end...

Burma crackdown reportedly leaves hundreds dead, satellite images may show proof; Bush pushes 'voluntary' emissions caps...

29 September :: 2 thousand gathered in Rangoon to call for end to military rule, bystanders applauding protesting students; US bars 3 dozen members of military gov't, their families from travel to US, in response to mounting violence in Burma; pressure mounting as demonstrations thin, calls for general to cede power spread; CNN reports "British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he believes the death toll in the Myanmar crackdown to be 'far greater' than has so far been reported, The Associated Press has said"; one eyewitness has told of 35 bodies in one location lined up with mourners praying, while opposition groups have said at least 200 have been killed... Satellite cameras have shown proof Burmese junta burned villages earlier this year, with "square-shaped burn scars the size of houses"; now activist groups are calling on satellite imaging companies to release satellite images that may show proof of junta's violence against demonstrators... US pres. Bush lays out plan to create climate change regime of voluntary emissions limits; critics say Washington climate conference has been a "charade"; fmr. US pres. Clinton says there is immense public support for "aggressive" action to curb carbon emissions, combat global warming... Bush has told House Speaker Pelosi he will veto Congress' expansion of funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP); the pres. called the plan "irresonsible" in his radio address and called for a different approach that would cover only the poorest families...

Burmese junta threatens "extreme action", fires on demonstrators, as protests grow; Georgia accuses Russia of interference in Abkhazia...

27 September :: Reports emerge from Rangoon military junta has raided monasteries in effort to end pro-democracy rallies; UN Security Council has urged regime to meet with special envoy, China says it views Burma crisis as "internal affair"; reports suggest 70 monks were abducted from one monastery alone by security forces; junta has warned demonstrators to cease protests or face "extreme action"; today, on 10th day of demonstrations, reports from Rangoon suggest thousands of "very angry" ordinary citizens "spontaneously" began gathering to demand end to violence against monks; security forces have again opened fire on protesters in Rangoon... China, Russia have blocked UN Seceurity Concuil actions to condemn violence against civilians; Russia reportedly suggested it would use the logic of western powers to bring France before the Security Council next time there are riots or police violence there... Georgian pres. accuses Russian military of direct involvement in Abkhazia independence movement, says Russian officer was among militants killed in firefight in Abkhazia; Georgian gov't spokesman broadcast on BBC saying "Is there not enough territory in Russia, are there not enough forests in Russia for Russian officers to die in Russian territory and Russian forests?"... US defense sec. Gates says he is not pleased with regulation of private security firms in Iraq, has ordered a comprehensive investigation of their activities in Iraq... Bush to host 2-day meeting with world's most prolific carbon emitters (China, India, western Europe) to discuss possible terms for future greenhouse-gas controls; opponents warn they believe Bush may be seeking to stall global emissions regime or ensure that major powers support only voluntary limits; China, Russia have called for all future global regimes to be constructed through the UN... According to the NY Times, in an apparent move to stop pro-choice group communicating with its membership, "Last week, Verizon rejected a request from the abortion rights group Naral Pro-Choice America for a five-digit 'short code.' Such codes allow people interested in hearing from businesses, politicians and advocacy groups to sign up to receive text messages"; Verizon has since apologized, calling the refusal "incorrect", and granted the request...