In The News - Jan. 31

Thirsty people feel more pain - 31 Jan 2006 at 6:29pm - Going without a drink can make you more sensitive to pain, a study has found.


Courts reject ban on partial-birth abortion - 31 Jan 2006 at 6:16pm - The rulings from the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York and the 9th Circuit in San Francisco were setbacks to abortion foes. The decisions could be appealed to the Supreme Court, which has two new justices recently appointed by President Bush.


Cohen tells NBC Bush must seek coalitions - 31 Jan 2006 at 5:56pm - Former Secretary of Defense William Cohen spoke with NBC Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell about world events prior to  President Bush's State of the Union address. Here is an edited transcript of the interview.


Connecticut rebels against Bush education policy - 31 Jan 2006 at 5:28pm - NEW HAVEN, Connecticut (Reuters) - The Bush administration's "No Child Left Behind" policy will lead to "dumbing down" tests in public schools because Washington has not fully funded the policy, the state of Connecticut said in a court hearing on Tuesday to try to block the program.


US food aid seen squeezed by Bush budget: NGOs - 31 Jan 2006 at 2:06pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush will not ask Congress to increase U.S. food aid when he presents his 2007 budget next week and some countries will be cut from donation programs to make funds go further, NGO sources said on Tuesday.


Antiwar mom gets invite to speech - 31 Jan 2006 at 8:06pm - President Bush's State of the Union speech will focus on the everyday concerns of ordinary Americans and the role of the United States on the world stage. He will say "our Nation is committed to an historic, long-term goal -- we seek the end of tyranny in our world... the future security of America depends on it," according to excerpts released by the White House. In the House chamber, the audience is expected to include Cindy Sheehan, the woman who became a symbol of the anti-Iraq war movement after her son was killed in Iraq.


'Peace mom' cuffed in House chambers - 31 Jan 2006 at 9:28pm - Peace activist Cindy Sheehan was arrested Tuesday in the House chambers after she unfurled an anti-war banner just minutes before President Bush gave his State of the Union address. Capitol police arrested Sheehan and questioned her for about an hour in a separate area of the House, a senior House official said.

For an hour??? That must have been a productive interview. "Ms. Sheehan, it seems from your behaviour tonight that you're against the Iraq war." "That's right." "And this anti-war banner you displayed in there, this seems consistent with your anti-war stance." "Yes." "You're not just pretending to be against the war, so as to exploit in some sick way your own son's death, are you?" "Umm, no." An hour?????

Text of President Bush's State of the Union Address - 31 Jan 2006 at 9:28pm - Text of President Bush's State of the Union address on Tuesday, prepared for delivery, as released by the White House: Mr. Speaker, Vice President Cheney, members of Congress, members of the Supreme Court and diplomatic corps, distinguished guests and...