In the News: Jun-26

White House says spy bill telecom protection vital - 26 Jun 2008 at 1:06pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday urged the U.S. Senate to reject any bid to deny liability protection to telecommunication companies that participated in President George W. Bush's warrantless spying program. "Failure to provide retroactive liability protection would undermine the private sector's willingness to cooperate," the White House said in a statement. "Such cooperation is essential to protecting the country from another terrorist attack."

This has been said a million times, but: if the private sector hasn't been engaging in illicit conduct -- or isn't planning to -- how is liability protection expected to impact its willingness to cooperate?

Oil crosses 140 dollars for first time - 26 Jun 2008 at 2:44pm - NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices crossed 140 dollars a barrel for the first time in New York and London Thursday amid a declining dollar and after OPEC warned prices could hit 170 dollars this year.

Iraqi bomber kills 20 at meeting between sheiks, Americans - 26 Jun 2008 at 12:12pm - A suicide bomber entered a municipal council headquarters near Baghdad on Thursday and detonated an explosive belt as tribal sheiks were holding a meeting.

U.S.-led patrol says attack in Afghanistan kills 3 - 26 Jun 2008 at 12:18pm - The U.S.-led coalition says an attack in Afghanistan has killed three service members.

California unveils ambitious climate plan - 26 Jun 2008 at 10:26am - LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California on Thursday took a major step forward on its global warming fight by unveiling an ambitious plan for clean cars, renewable energy and stringent caps on big polluting industries.

Court rules in favor of Second Amendment gun right - 26 Jun 2008 at 10:30am - WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Americans have a right to own guns for self-defense and hunting, the justices' first major pronouncement on gun rights in U.S. history.

Thought for the day:
Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others. -Groucho Marx (1890 - 1977)