On the Run

General says al-Qaida on the run in Iraq - 22 Jan 2008 at 11:17am - WASHINGTON -- A top U.S. military commander in Iraq said Tuesday that troops have al-Qaida on the run but will never completely be finished chasing them "because they may always come back."

Maryland Scraps Diebold Voting System - January 21, 2008 04:42:00 PM - beadfulthings writes "After eight years and some $65 million, the state of Maryland is taking its first steps to return to an accountable, paper-ballot based voting system. Governor Martin O'Malley has announced an initial outlay of $6.5 million towards the $20 million cost of an optical system which will scan and tally the votes while the paper ballots are retained as a backup. The new (or old) system is expected to be in place by 2010 — or four years before the state finishes paying off the bill for the touch-screen system."

Jose Padilla is sentenced to 17 years - 22 Jan 2008 at 12:04pm - MIAMI -- Jose Padilla, once accused of plotting with al-Qaida to blow up a radioactive "dirty bomb," was sentenced Tuesday to 17 years and four months on terrorism conspiracy charges that don't mention those initial allegations.

Court refuses to hear Enron case - 22 Jan 2008 at 11:52am - WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court dealt a blow Tuesday to Enron investors who sued major investment banks to recover money lost when the Texas energy giant collapsed amid a massive accounting fraud.

Court Rules Against Muslim Inmate - 22 Jan 2008 at 10:37am - The Supreme Court said Tuesday that a Muslim inmate cannot sue the government over the disappearance of the prisoner's copies of the Quran and a prayer rug. In a 5-4 ruling, the justices said the federal law the inmate relied on prohibits lawsuits.

US central bank slashes interest rates to 3.50 percent - 22 Jan 2008 at 9:26am - WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Federal Reserve slashed its key federal funds short-term interest rate by three quarters of a percentage point to 3.50 percent Tuesday amid sharp falls on global stock markets.

B.C. rights group releases documents alleging Afghan prison abuse - 22 Jan 2008 at 9:20am - A B.C. civil rights group says it has obtained government documents that detail reports of torture of detainees in Afghanistan after they were transferred to Afghan authorities by Canadian troops.

Bank of Canada cuts key rate by 1/4 percentage point - 22 Jan 2008 at 9:08am - The Bank of Canada on Tuesday cut its key lending rate by a quarter of a percentage point to four per cent in a bid to keep the effects of a U.S. slowdown from spilling over into Canada.

Thought for the day:
The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive. -Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826)