In the News: Feb-19

Judge may hold reporter in contempt - 19 Feb 2008 at 3:09pm - WASHINGTON -- A federal judge said Tuesday he will hold a former USA Today reporter in contempt if she continues refusing to identify sources for stories about a former Army scientist under scrutiny in the 2001 anthrax attacks.

Oil hits record 100.10 dollars - 19 Feb 2008 at 2:54pm - NEW YORK (AFP) - The price of oil in New York spiked to a record 100.10 dollars a barrel Tuesday on supply concerns.

Amtrak to step up security measures - 19 Feb 2008 at 10:52am - Amtrak will start randomly screening passengers? carry-on bags this week in a new security push that includes officers with automatic weapons and bomb-sniffing dogs patrolling platforms and trains.

Court rejects ACLU challenge to wiretaps - 19 Feb 2008 at 10:42am - WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court rejected a challenge Tuesday to the Bush administration's domestic spying program.

Musharraf urged to go as rivals win Pakistan poll - 19 Feb 2008 at 9:19am - ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's opponents won a big election victory on Tuesday as voters rejected his former ruling party, raising doubts whether the U.S. ally who has ruled since 1999 can keep power.

Al-Sadr Faces Pressure to Call Off Truce - 19 Feb 2008 at 7:53am - Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is expected to announce his decision in the next few days about whether to maintain the ceasefire he ordered six months ago. There has been pressure from the rank-and-file members of his militia to call off the truce.

Fidel Castro retires - 19 Feb 2008 at 8:20am - HAVANA (Reuters) - Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro said on Tuesday that he will not return to lead the communist country, retiring as president 49 years after he seized power in a revolution and became a central figure of the Cold War.

Thought for the day:
If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. -J. R. R. Tolkien (1892 - 1973)