BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Two suicide car bombers attacked a police station Sunday in western Baghdad, killing at least 13 people and wounding 82, police said.
The bombs exploded as Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki arrived in Cairo, Egypt, on the first stop of a four-nation regional tour aimed at winning Arab support for his embattled government.
The first driver raced through a police checkpoint guarding the station and exploded his vehicle just outside the two-story building, police said. Moments later, a second suicide car bomber aimed for the checkpoint's concrete barriers and exploded just outside them, police said.
The blasts collapsed nearby buildings, smashing windows and burying at least four cars under piles of concrete. Metal roofs were peeled back by the force of the explosions. Pools of blood made red mud of a dusty driveway. Website guide (http://www.sitefol.com）
An unidentified man with wounds to his hands and one eye staggered through the wreckage.
"All our belongings and money were smashed and are gone. What kind of life is this? Where is the government?" he exclaimed. "There are no jobs, and things are very bad. Is this fair?"
Iraqi police stations often are the target of attacks by insurgents who accuse the officers of betraying Iraq by working in cooperation with its U.S.-backed Shiite government and the American military.
46 police officers injured
The blasts occurred at about 10 a.m. in Baiyaa, a mixed Sunni-Shiite area of western Baghdad, a policeman said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.
He said 13 people died -- five policemen and eight civilians -- and that 82 were wounded: 46 police officers and 36 civilians.
The casualty toll could rise as rescue workers sifted through rubble for more victims. Thick black smoke billowed up into the sky and ambulances raced to the location with sirens wailing.
A top U.S. general said Sunday that American forces had no technology capable of detecting all suicide bombers before they strike. Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, who is in charge of training Iraqi troops, said the only solution is for Iraqi forces, government officials and civilians to work together to stop the terrorist cells that plan such attacks.
"The unfortunate reality of suicide bombers is that there is no ... magic formula for solving that problem. There is no technological solution that will guarantee that we can prevent ... either a suicide bomber or a suicide car bomber from entering into the populated areas," Dempsey told reporters in Baghdad's Green Zone.
Al-Maliki's trip came at a precarious time for his regime. He suffered a blow last week when six Cabinet ministers allied to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr quit the government to protest the prime minister's failure to back calls for a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. forces. Al-Maliki is expected to name replacements in the coming days.
On Sunday, al-Maliki was received by his Egyptian counterpart, Ahmed Nazif, and was scheduled to meet later in the day with President Hosni Mubarak and the head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa.
The meetings come just 10 days before two conferences on Iraq are to be held in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik. They will be attended by Iraq's neighbors as well as Bahrain and Egypt, and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, as well as other developed countries.
After Egypt, al-Maliki is scheduled to visit Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Oman
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Wash. gov. signs domestic partner bill
By RACHEL LA CORTE - Associated Press Writer
Elaine Thompson
Charlene Strong, right, puts her head on the shoulder of Rep. Joe McDermott, D-Seattle, as she cries during the signing by Gov. Chris Gregoire of a bill that will allow same-sex and elderly couples to register as domestic partners, Saturday, April 21, 2007, in Olympia, Wash. Strong testified during public hearings about how she was initially barred from the hospital room and in planning the funeral of her partner, Kathryn Fleming, who died in December after she became trapped by rising water in her basement studio in Seattle. Eligible couples will be able to register as domestic partners starting this summer, after Gregoire signed into law a measure giving them some of the rights that come with marriage.
OLYMPIA, Wash. --Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law Saturday a measure to create domestic partnerships, giving gay and lesbian couples some of the same rights that come with marriage. Website Guide (http://www.sitefol.com)
The law creates a domestic partnership registry and provides enhanced rights for same-sex couples, including hospital visitation rights, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations and inheritance rights when there is no will.
"It offers the hope that one day, all lesbian and gay families will be treated truly equal under the law," said state Sen. Ed Murray, who is one of five openly gay lawmakers in the Legislature.
To be registered, couples have to share a home, not be married or in a domestic relationship with someone else and be at least 18.
Unmarried, heterosexual senior couples will also be eligible to register if one partner is at least 62. Lawmakers said that provision, similar to one in California law, was included to help seniors who are at risk of losing pension rights and Social Security benefits if they remarry.
Gregoire received a standing ovation from about 200 people in the ornate reception room at the state Capitol.
"This is a very proud moment for me as governor, to make sure the rights of all of our citizens are equal," Gregoire said.
People in the crowd cried as Gregoire relayed stories of couples who testified before lawmakers this year about how they have been denied hospital access to dying partners, or were not allowed to plan their funerals.
"It is time we put an end to these stories," she said. "This simply allows our seniors and our same sex partners to rely on each other and to care for each other when they are faced with life and death situations. These are the rights of all Washingtonians."
The new law will take effect in July. It comes nearly a year after the state Supreme Court upheld Washington's ban on same-sex marriage in a 5-4 decision, ruling that state lawmakers were justified in passing the 1998 Defense of Marriage Act, which restricts marriage to unions between a man and woman.
Couples can register in person with the secretary of state's office in Olympia, or by mail.
Opponents argued the new law will dilute traditional marriage.
"I think it's an unfortunate step backward, not knowing where it will lead us culturally," said Joseph Fuiten, a Bothell pastor who is the leader of Positive Christian Agenda, a state group of Christian organizations opposed to gay marriage. "Giving marriage-lite benefits without the benefit of marriage strikes me as not a good idea."
Elaine Thompson
Charlene Strong, right, puts her head on the shoulder of Rep. Joe McDermott, D-Seattle, as she cries during the signing by Gov. Chris Gregoire of a bill that will allow same-sex and elderly couples to register as domestic partners, Saturday, April 21, 2007, in Olympia, Wash. Strong testified during public hearings about how she was initially barred from the hospital room and in planning the funeral of her partner, Kathryn Fleming, who died in December after she became trapped by rising water in her basement studio in Seattle. Eligible couples will be able to register as domestic partners starting this summer, after Gregoire signed into law a measure giving them some of the rights that come with marriage.
OLYMPIA, Wash. --Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law Saturday a measure to create domestic partnerships, giving gay and lesbian couples some of the same rights that come with marriage. Website Guide (http://www.sitefol.com)
The law creates a domestic partnership registry and provides enhanced rights for same-sex couples, including hospital visitation rights, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations and inheritance rights when there is no will.
"It offers the hope that one day, all lesbian and gay families will be treated truly equal under the law," said state Sen. Ed Murray, who is one of five openly gay lawmakers in the Legislature.
To be registered, couples have to share a home, not be married or in a domestic relationship with someone else and be at least 18.
Unmarried, heterosexual senior couples will also be eligible to register if one partner is at least 62. Lawmakers said that provision, similar to one in California law, was included to help seniors who are at risk of losing pension rights and Social Security benefits if they remarry.
Gregoire received a standing ovation from about 200 people in the ornate reception room at the state Capitol.
"This is a very proud moment for me as governor, to make sure the rights of all of our citizens are equal," Gregoire said.
People in the crowd cried as Gregoire relayed stories of couples who testified before lawmakers this year about how they have been denied hospital access to dying partners, or were not allowed to plan their funerals.
"It is time we put an end to these stories," she said. "This simply allows our seniors and our same sex partners to rely on each other and to care for each other when they are faced with life and death situations. These are the rights of all Washingtonians."
The new law will take effect in July. It comes nearly a year after the state Supreme Court upheld Washington's ban on same-sex marriage in a 5-4 decision, ruling that state lawmakers were justified in passing the 1998 Defense of Marriage Act, which restricts marriage to unions between a man and woman.
Couples can register in person with the secretary of state's office in Olympia, or by mail.
Opponents argued the new law will dilute traditional marriage.
"I think it's an unfortunate step backward, not knowing where it will lead us culturally," said Joseph Fuiten, a Bothell pastor who is the leader of Positive Christian Agenda, a state group of Christian organizations opposed to gay marriage. "Giving marriage-lite benefits without the benefit of marriage strikes me as not a good idea."
Court ruling stirs debate anew
Probably no issue in America arouses more passion or extreme division than abortion. That's why the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision Wednesday upholding Congress' ban on so-called "partial birth" abortions touched such a nerve with Americans, even as the nation focused on the tragedy at Virginia Tech.
As soon as the court issued its decision in Gonzales v. Carhart, we invited readers to share their reactions to the ruling. At right is a representative sampling of the responses we received, both by e-mail and on our online community discussion board dedicated to the topic. Many of these responses eloquently outline the strong pro-choice and pro-life positions that have dominated this debate. please visit the website guide
The legal issue was whether Congress' specific ban was unconstitutionally vague or overbroad, whether it was an "undue burden" on a woman's right to choose, and whether it was a violation of the exceptions made for the health of the woman. The majority found that it was not. It held that Congress had shown that this procedure's use is extremely limited, that other medical options are available, and that exceptions can be decided on a case-by-case basis.
The ruling will spur both sides to launch various legal challenges on abortion law. But little is likely to change for the forseeable future. Challenges will take years to work their way through the legal system, and any changes they bring could be small ones. Still, for most Americans abortion will continue to be a contentious issue. We hope the debate will be a civil one in which both sides respect the other's right to express its views freely - and in which the many Americans who occupy a "middle ground" of ambivalence on abortion have a voice as well.
This is possible. As we noted in an editorial last week, groups at Northern Kentucky University found a way to set up competing pro-life and pro-choice displays side-by-side on campus, fostering a genuine, respectful dialogue. We can all learn from that.
As soon as the court issued its decision in Gonzales v. Carhart, we invited readers to share their reactions to the ruling. At right is a representative sampling of the responses we received, both by e-mail and on our online community discussion board dedicated to the topic. Many of these responses eloquently outline the strong pro-choice and pro-life positions that have dominated this debate. please visit the website guide
The legal issue was whether Congress' specific ban was unconstitutionally vague or overbroad, whether it was an "undue burden" on a woman's right to choose, and whether it was a violation of the exceptions made for the health of the woman. The majority found that it was not. It held that Congress had shown that this procedure's use is extremely limited, that other medical options are available, and that exceptions can be decided on a case-by-case basis.
The ruling will spur both sides to launch various legal challenges on abortion law. But little is likely to change for the forseeable future. Challenges will take years to work their way through the legal system, and any changes they bring could be small ones. Still, for most Americans abortion will continue to be a contentious issue. We hope the debate will be a civil one in which both sides respect the other's right to express its views freely - and in which the many Americans who occupy a "middle ground" of ambivalence on abortion have a voice as well.
This is possible. As we noted in an editorial last week, groups at Northern Kentucky University found a way to set up competing pro-life and pro-choice displays side-by-side on campus, fostering a genuine, respectful dialogue. We can all learn from that.
Monday, April 16, 2007
$13.3bn a year lost to fraud - AME Info
Wed, 28 Mar 2007 09:43:20 GMT
The information comprised in this section is not, nor is it held out to be, a solicitation of any person to take any form of investment decision.
· A Cautionary Tale - Norwalk Citizen
· Network-based CCTV surveillance reduces
· Two Plead Guilty To Investment Fraud - U
· FBI & IRS Investigation Uncovers
· Investment broker accused of fraud appea
· Dubai warns of fraud involving large gol
· 10-year Sentence in Elderly Investment F
· DANVILLE MAN CHARGED WITH MULTIMILLION D
· DANVILLE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MULTIMILLI
· Beazer Homes shares drop after feds conf
The information comprised in this section is not, nor is it held out to be, a solicitation of any person to take any form of investment decision.
· A Cautionary Tale - Norwalk Citizen
· Network-based CCTV surveillance reduces
· Two Plead Guilty To Investment Fraud - U
· FBI & IRS Investigation Uncovers
· Investment broker accused of fraud appea
· Dubai warns of fraud involving large gol
· 10-year Sentence in Elderly Investment F
· DANVILLE MAN CHARGED WITH MULTIMILLION D
· DANVILLE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MULTIMILLI
· Beazer Homes shares drop after feds conf
A Debt Consolidation Company Can Offer Better Alternatives To
Sun, 08 Apr 2007 02:48:29 GMT
These companies help people by providing different debt solutions that can prevent consumers from filing bankruptcy. Before using a bankruptcy alternative,
· Key Retirement Solutions Report Shows UK
· Mezzanine Associate - eFinancialCareers
· Mortgage Crisis Hits Million-Dollar Home
· Important Income Tax Advice for the US M
· Tax Attorney Roni Deutch To Help Hispani
· InCharge Announces Appointment of Greg G
· Debt Counselors Say Credit Cards Are Out
· Don fall for false advertising regardi
· Downtown Theater's Debt Solution
· A Debt Consolidation Company Can Offer B
These companies help people by providing different debt solutions that can prevent consumers from filing bankruptcy. Before using a bankruptcy alternative,
· Key Retirement Solutions Report Shows UK
· Mezzanine Associate - eFinancialCareers
· Mortgage Crisis Hits Million-Dollar Home
· Important Income Tax Advice for the US M
· Tax Attorney Roni Deutch To Help Hispani
· InCharge Announces Appointment of Greg G
· Debt Counselors Say Credit Cards Are Out
· Don fall for false advertising regardi
· Downtown Theater's Debt Solution
· A Debt Consolidation Company Can Offer B
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