FBI Agent Says Bosses Ignored Warnings

The AP reported today:

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The FBI agent who arrested Zacarias Moussaoui in August 2001 testified Monday he spent almost four weeks trying to warn U.S. officials about the radical Islamic student pilot but "criminal negligence" by superiors in Washington thwarted a chance to stop the 9/11 attacks. FBI agent Harry Samit of Minneapolis originally testified as a government witness, on March 9, but his daylong cross examination by defense attorney Edward MacMahon was the strongest moment so far for the court-appointed lawyers defending Moussaoui.

The complete story may be found here:
http://news.yahoo.com/fc/US/Terrorism

Calabasas California City Council Demonstrates Stupidity and Police State Mentality....The World Monitor Recommends, Boycott, Calabasas

A California City With Upscale Pretensions, Recently enacted what most objective observers feel is the stupidest ordinance ever promulgated by a local body.
Story highlight and link follow:

CALABASAS, Calif. - No more smoking in the park. Lighting up on the sidewalk could bring a fine. Dining on the restaurant patio? Don't bother asking for matches.

One of the strictest tobacco bans in the nation went into effect in the Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas last week, making smoking off limits in public places where someone else might be exposed to secondhand smoke: indoor businesses, outdoor businesses, parks, outdoor cafes, even apartment building common areas.

"We just don't want anyone blowing smoke in someone's face. Unfortunately, what smokers do is harmful to everybody else. People should have the right to breathe clean air," said Mayor Pro Tem Dennis Washburn.

Link to complete story here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060319/ap_on_re_us/smoking_ban

(What's next Washburn....no autos in Calabasas? No barbecue grills? No restaurants blowing exhaust into the air from the kitchen? What are you guys on the council smoking? Editorial comment from our polling board at the World Monitor)

Judge Refuses U. S. Government Request for Individual Google Search Info

The AP reported today that:

SAN FRANCISCO - A federal judge on Friday ordered Google Inc. to give the Bush administration a peek inside its search engine, but rebuffed the government's demand for a list of people's search requests — potentially sensitive information that the company had fought to protect.

In his 21-page ruling, U.S. District Judge James Ware told Google to provide the U.S. Justice Department with the addresses of 50,000 randomly selected Web sites indexed by its search engine by April 3.

The government plans to use the data for a study in another case in Pennsylvania, where the Bush administration is trying to revive a law meant to shield children from online pornography.

Ware, though, decided Google won't have to disclose what people have been looking for on its widely used search engine, handing a significant victory to the company and privacy rights advocates.

The complete story may be found here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060318/ap_on_hi_te/google_justice_department

Chili Peppers May Kill Prostate Cancer Cells, New Report

THURSDAY, March 16 (HealthDay News) -- Capsaicin, the component that gives jalapeno peppers their heat, may also kill prostate cancer cells, a new study suggests.

Initial experiments in cancer cells and mice show that capsaicin causes prostate cancer cells to undergo a kind of suicide. Researchers speculate that, in the future, pills containing capsaicin might be used as therapy to prevent prostate cancer's return.


According to their report, capsaicin caused almost 80 percent of prostate cancer cells in the mice to die. In addition, prostate cancer tumors treated with capsaicin were about one-fifth the size of tumors in untreated mice.

The complete story may be found

here:http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20060316/hl_hsn/chilisheatkillsprostatecancercells

ACLU Urges Court To Reject Government "Fishing Expedition"

ACLU Urges Court to Reject Government’s Bid for Google Records (3/14/2006)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: media@aclu.org

Defense of Controversial Internet Law Does Not Justify “Fishing Expedition,” ACLU Tells Federal Judge

SAN JOSE, CA – At a hearing today before a federal judge, the American Civil Liberties Union will urge the court to reject the government’s demand for millions of Google search records, saying that it has not justified the need for obtaining massive amounts of consumer information.

“The government is not entitled to go on a fishing expedition through millions of Google searches any time it wants, just because it claims that it needs that information,” said ACLU staff attorney Aden Fine. “Given the government’s continued vagueness about why it needs these vast quantities of consumer records, Google has rightly denied the request.”

In legal papers filed before Judge James Ware of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the ACLU argued in favor of the Internet search giant’s effort to block the government’s subpoena for information about its customers’ online behavior.

The Google controversy arose in connection with the ACLU's challenge to the "Child Online Protection Act" (COPA), which would impose draconian criminal sanctions, with penalties of up to $50,000 per day and up to six months imprisonment, for online material acknowledged as valuable for adults but judged "harmful to minors."

A federal district court in Philadelphia and a federal appeals court found the COPA law unconstitutional, and the Supreme Court upheld the ban on enforcement of the law in June 2004. The Justices, however, also asked the Philadelphia court to determine whether there had been any changes in technology that would affect the constitutionality of the statute, such as whether commercially available blocking software was still as effective as the banned law in blocking material deemed "harmful to minors."

The government has claimed it needs the Google records for its defense of the law. But the ACLU said that the government has failed to describe how the millions of Google user records will help it to determine whether the software is effective and if the law is constitutional. Government papers filed recently in response to the ACLU and Google briefs still do not explain how the customer information will be used and why it is necessary, the ACLU said.

The ACLU’s clients in the COPA challenge, ACLU v. Gonzales, include Salon.com, Urbandictionary.com, Nerve.com, Condomania, Philadelphia Gay News and Dr. Mitch Tepper's “Sexual Health Network,” among others.

The ACLU has brought other successful challenges to state "harmful-to-minors" laws in Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Arizona and Vermont. A case brought in Virginia also resulted in a "harmful-to-minors" law being struck down. The ACLU noted that the state challenges were successful because of the impossibility of verifying the age as well as location of Internet users, as the law requires.

The law firm Latham & Watkins has been representing the ACLU on the COPA case since 1998 and also participated in the successful challenges to similar laws in New York and Arizona. The firm is serving as counsel in today’s Google filing as well.

The ACLU's legal papers opposing the government's demand for Google's records is online at www.aclu.org/privacy/internet/24211lgl20060217.html

More information on ACLU v. Gonzalez is online at www.aclu.org/freespeech/internet/14985res20040629.html

Google to be Ordered to Turn Over Records, Judge Stresses He is "Particularly Concerned"

The AP Reported today that:

SAN FRANCISCO - A federal judge said Tuesday he intends to order Google Inc. to turn over some of its Internet records to the U.S. Justice Department, but expressed reservations about requiring the company to divulge some of its most sensitive data — the actual requests that people enter into its popular search engine.

U.S. District Judge James Ware told the Justice Department it can expect to get at least some of the information sought from Google as part of the Bush administration’s effort to revive a law meant to shield children from online pornography.

But Ware stressed he was “particularly concerned” about the Justice Department’s demand for a random sample of search requests entered into Google’s Internet-leading search engine.

The complete story may be found here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11824987

Judge Excoriates U. S. Prosecutors For Coaching Witnesses, Calls Conduct "Egregious Violation"

The Times On Line reported today that:

Al-Qaeda death trial halted
From Tom Baldwin in Washington

THE death penalty trial of a confessed al-Qaeda conspirator was unexpectedly halted yesterday by a judge who criticised government lawyers for violating Zacarias Moussaoui’s constitutional rights by “coaching” witnesses.

Leonie Brinkema, the federal judge hearing the case, said: “In all the years I’ve been on the bench, I have never seen such an egregious violation of a rule on witnesses.” Her intervention represents a humiliating setback for the Administration, which has spent more than four years trying to bring someone to justice for the September 11, 2001, attacks.

Moussaoui, a 37-year-old French Moroccan, is the only person tried for direct involvement in the attacks, even though he was already under arrest for immigration violations.

the complete story may be found here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-2084238,00.html

Catholic Religious Orders in Canada Unhappy with Rome

As reported by Catholic World News

CANADIAN RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP QUESTIONS CHURCH TEACHINGS

Ottawa, Mar. 09 (CWNews.com) - The Canadian Religious Conference (CRC), an umbrella group representing over 200 religious orders, has released an open letter to the Canadian bishops voicing dissatisfaction with Church teachings on a number of controversial issues and calling for a radical re-examination of Catholic teaching and practice. As the Canadian bishops prepare to make their ad limina visits to Rome, Father Alain Ambeault, CSV, the CRC president, released a 26-page letter, approved by the administrative council of the religious group, urging the bishops to work for change in the Church. In a covering letter, Father Ambeault said that he recognized the statement would "evoke criticism perhaps even strong criticism." But he claimed that the CRC statement, dissenting from Church teaching on many issues, "reflects the thinking of the leadership of religious communities in Canada as well as the majority of the men and women religious throughout the country." The lengthy CRC critique of Church teaching begins with that statement that the group wants to "express our creative fidelity to the Canadian Church," adding that the bishops should understand "our perception of its reality." The statement goes on to: question moral teachings "that do not reflect human experience (divorce, contraception, protection against AIDS, alleviation of suffering at the end of life)." protest the "lack of freedom of speech among Christians; in the universal Church, the quick condemnation of theologians." charge that the Church "often gives priority to the reaffirmation of dogma and traditional morals rather than listening to the people’s search for meaning and journeying alongside them" call for change in "intransigent stands on sexual morals; its lack of openness regarding access to the sacraments for divorced and remarried Catholics, its lack of compassion for them; its unwelcoming attitude towards homosexuals insist on the use of "inclusive language" in liturgical translations" demand a return to the practice of general absolution-- a practice that has been widespread in Canada despite repeated Vatican statements opposing the practice recommend liturgical "rites and symbols be more relevant to the world of today" question why the Eucharist is not open to Catholics who are divorced and remarried, and to Christians of other faiths urge "dialogue" on the questions of ordination for women and acceptance of same-sex unions. The full text < http://www.crc-canada.org/bd/fichierNouveaute/284_2.pdf> of the CRC statement, which will be delivered to all pastors throughout Canada, is available on the group's web site.

Defense Secretary Rumsfeld Reaps Profits From Bird Flu

According to a report published in the Independent Online:

By Geoffrey Lean and Jonathan Owen
Published: 12 March 2006

Donald Rumsfeld has made a killing out of bird flu. The US Defence Secretary has made more than $5m (£2.9m) in capital gains from selling shares in the biotechnology firm that discovered and developed Tamiflu, the drug being bought in massive amounts by Governments to treat a possible human pandemic of the disease.

More than 60 countries have so far ordered large stocks of the antiviral medication - the only oral medicine believed to be effective against the deadly H5N1 strain of the disease - to try to protect their people. The United Nations estimates that a pandemic could kill 150 million people worldwide.

Britain is about halfway through receiving an order of 14.6 million courses of the drug, which the Government hopes will avert some of the 700,000 deaths that might be expected. Tamiflu does not cure the disease, but if taken soon after symptoms appear it can reduce its severity.

The drug was developed by a Californian biotech company, Gilead Sciences. It is now made and sold by the giant chemical company Roche, which pays it a royalty on every tablet sold, currently about a fifth of its price.

Mr Rumsfeld was on the board of Gilead from 1988 to 2001, and was its chairman from 1997. He then left to join the Bush administration, but retained a huge shareholding .

The firm made a loss in 2003, the year before concern about bird flu started. Then revenues from Tamiflu almost quadrupled, to $44.6m, helping put the company well into the black. Sales almost quadrupled again, to $161.6m last year. During this time the share price trebled.

Mr Rumsfeld sold some of his Gilead shares in 2004 reaping - according to the financial disclosure report he is required to make each year - capital gains of more than $5m. The report showed that he still had up to $25m-worth of shares at the end of 2004, and at least one analyst believes his stake has grown well beyond that figure, as the share price has soared. Further details are not likely to become known, however, until Mr Rumsfeld makes his next disclosure in May.

The 2005 report showed that, in all, he owned shares worth up to $95.9m, from which he got an income of up to $13m, owned land worth up to $17m, and made $1m from renting it out.

He also had illiquid investments worth up to $8.1m, including in partnerships investing in biotechnology, issuing reproductions of paintings, and operating art galleries in New Mexico and Wyoming. He also has life insurance with a surrender value of up to $5m, and received up to $1m from the DHR Foundation, in which he has assets worth up to $25m, and $773,743 from the Donald H Rumsfeld Trust, in which he has assets of up to $50m.

Late last week no one at Gilead Sciences was available to comment on Mr Rumsfeld's sale of its stock. In a statement to The Independent on Sunday the Pentagon said: "Secretary Rumsfeld has no relationship with Gilead Sciences, Inc beyond his investments in the company. When he became Secretary of Defence in January 2001, divestiture of his investment in Gilead was not required by the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Office of Government Ethics or the Department of Defence Standards of Conduct Office.

"Upon taking office, he recused himself from participating in any particular matter when the matter would directly and predictably affect his financial interest in Gilead Sciences."

Donald Rumsfeld has made a killing out of bird flu. The US Defence Secretary has made more than $5m (£2.9m) in capital gains from selling shares in the biotechnology firm that discovered and developed Tamiflu, the drug being bought in massive amounts by Governments to treat a possible human pandemic of the disease.

More than 60 countries have so far ordered large stocks of the antiviral medication - the only oral medicine believed to be effective against the deadly H5N1 strain of the disease - to try to protect their people. The United Nations estimates that a pandemic could kill 150 million people worldwide.

Britain is about halfway through receiving an order of 14.6 million courses of the drug, which the Government hopes will avert some of the 700,000 deaths that might be expected. Tamiflu does not cure the disease, but if taken soon after symptoms appear it can reduce its severity.

The complete story can be found at:

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article350787.ece

Bush Poll Numbers in the Tank...No Surprise to Most Americans

According to a story written by RON FOURNIER of the AP today

- More and more people, particularly Republicans, disapprove of
President Bush's performance, question his character and no longer consider him a strong leader against terrorism, according to an AP-Ipsos poll documenting one of the bleakest points of his presidency.


Nearly four out of five Americans, including 70 percent of Republicans, believe civil war will break out in Iraq — the bloody hot spot upon which Bush has staked his presidency. Nearly 70 percent of people say the U.S. is on the wrong track, a 6-point jump since February.

"I'm not happy with how things are going," said Margaret Campanelli, a retiree in Norwich, Conn., who said she tends to vote GOP. "I'm particularly not happy with Iraq, not happy with how things worked with Hurricane Katrina."

Republican Party leaders said the survey explains why GOP lawmakers are rushing to distance themselves from Bush on a range of issues — port security, immigration, spending, warrantless eavesdropping and trade, for example.

the complete story may be found here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060310/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_ap_poll

Catholic Conference of Bishops President Accused of Abuse

Today the Associated Press reported that:

SPOKANE, Wash. - A woman has filed a claim that she was sexually abused more than 40 years ago by Bishop William Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic bishops and leader of the Spokane Diocese.

Skylstad issued a statement Wednesday categorically denying the accusation, saying he has not violated the vow of celibacy he took 47 years ago.

The claim was filed against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane on Dec. 27 by a woman who said she was under the age of 18 when Skylstad sexually abused her at St. Patrick's Parish and at Gonzaga University from December 1961 to December 1964.

the complete story may be found here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060308/ap_on_re_us/church_abuse_spokane

Senate Passes Patriot Act, Some Senators and Many Civil Rights Advocates, Question Country's Direction

The Senate on Thursday gave its blessing to the renewal of the USA Patriot Act after adding new privacy protections designed to strike a better balance between civil liberties and the government's power to root out terrorists.

The 89-10 vote marked a bright spot inPresident Bush's troubled second term as his approval ratings dipped over the war in Iraq and his administration's response to Hurricane Katrina. Renewing the act, Bush and congressional Republicans said, was key to preventing more terror attacks in the United States.

Bush applauded the Senate for overcoming "partisan attempts to block its passage." The House was expected to approve the two-bill package next week and send it to the president, who would sign it before 16 provisions expire March 10.

The complete story may be found here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060303/ap_on_go_co/patriot_act

We're Back! After a Vacation

Just a note to all our readers, to let them know that we are back with more coverage from around the world. Your editors took a brief time-out to finish some other pressing projects.
We will once again be updating regularly!