In the News: Jun-13

Fed faces quandary as energy prices boost inflation - 13 Jun 2008 at 2:46pm - WASHINGTON — Soaring energy prices punished ordinary Americans in May, triggering the highest run-up in inflation in six months and exceeding the expectations of economic forecasters, the government reported Friday.

Lawmaker threatens contempt vote for EPA chief - 13 Jun 2008 at 2:57pm - WASHINGTON -- A House committee chairman on Friday threatened to hold the head of the EPA and a White House budget official in contempt of Congress for not handing over documents about new smog requirements and a decision blocking California greenhouse gas limits.

May's combat deaths in Afghanistan outnumber Iraq - 13 Jun 2008 at 2:14pm - BRUSSELS, Belgium -- American and allied combat deaths in Afghanistan passed the toll in Iraq for the first time last month.

U.S. general questions Pakistan plan for militants - 13 Jun 2008 at 2:32pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. general who recently handed over command of NATO troops in Afghanistan cast doubt on Friday on the ability of Pakistan's Frontier Corps paramilitary force to combat Islamist militants.

Obama wants payroll tax on incomes above $250,000 - 13 Jun 2008 at 1:07pm - COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Democrat Barack Obama said Friday he would apply the Social Security payroll tax to all annual incomes above $250,000, which would affect the wealthiest 3 percent of Americans.

Study sees discrepancies in VA care for men, women - 13 Jun 2008 at 11:03am - WASHINGTON -- Women veterans aren't receiving the same quality of outpatient care as men at many Department of Veterans Affairs' facilities, according to an agency review.

Big powers to offer Iran "generous" deal - 13 Jun 2008 at 10:25am - TEHRAN (Reuters) - The EU's top diplomat said he would hand Iran a generous offer on Saturday aimed at resolving a deepening dispute over its nuclear ambitions that has helped push up oil prices to record highs.

Gates: Detainee abuses gave US 'black eye' - 13 Jun 2008 at 7:42am - Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday that reports of detainee abuse in the early years of the Guantanamo Bay prison operation ...

Iraq says talks with U.S. on pact deadlocked - 13 Jun 2008 at 8:09am - AMMAN (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Friday talks with the United States on a new long-term security pact were deadlocked because of U.S. demands that infringed Iraq's sovereignty.

World poll: Obama more likely to 'do the right thing' - 12 Jun 2008 at 4:06pm - WASHINGTON — The matchup between John McCain and Barack Obama is close in nationwide surveys in the USA, but around the world it's no contest: Obama prevails. A survey of 24 nations taken by the Pew Global Attitudes Project finds high levels of interest in the U.S. presidential election and broad optimism that American foreign policy "will change for the better" after the inauguration of a new president next year.

Thought for the day:
I believe that truth is the glue that holds government together, not only our government but civilization itself. -Gerald R. Ford (1913 - 2006), Inaugural Address, 9 August 1974