In the News: Aug-12

Study says most corporations pay no U.S. income taxes - 12 Aug 2008 at 12:54pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most U.S. and foreign corporations doing business in the United States avoid paying any federal income taxes, despite trillions of dollars worth of sales, a government study released on Tuesday said.

IRAQ: Group of NGOs warn against “premature” refugee return - August 12, 2008 6:27:00 PM - BAGHDAD, 12 August 2008 (IRIN) - The Iraqi government is encouraging the return of refugees from Middle Eastern countries by laying on free flights, but a group of over 100 Iraqi and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has issued a statement warning of the dangers.

Ohio sues e-voting company, can't ditch faulty machines - August 12, 2008 9:19:00 AM - Ohio is suing Diebold's e-voting subsidiary, demanding that the company pay for problems the state says are caused by glitch-ridden software. The state says it's stuck with the machines for the fall election, but says Ohians "should not be alarmed."

Mukasey: No prosecutions in Justice hiring scandal - 12 Aug 2008 at 11:09am - NEW YORK -- Attorney General Michael Mukasey on Tuesday said former Justice Department officials will not face prosecution for letting improper political considerations drive hirings of prosecutors, immigration judges and other career government lawyers.

US court won't resurrect lawsuit in CIA leak case - 12 Aug 2008 at 11:06am - WASHINGTON -- A federal appeals court has refused to resurrect a lawsuit that former CIA operative Valerie Plame brought against members of the Bush administration.

Presidents endorse plan for troop withdrawls in Georgia - 12 Aug 2008 at 10:44am - Russia ordered a halt to military action in Georgia on Tuesday, after five days of air and land attacks that sent Georgia's army into headlong retreat and left towns, military bases and homes in the U.S. ally smoldering. Georgia insisted that Russian forces were still bombing and shelling.

Israel wants to annex 7.3% of the West Bank - 12 Aug 2008 at 9:40am - sraeli negotiators have told their Palestinian counterparts they want to annex 7.3% of the West Bank as part of a final peace deal, Palestinian officials said Tuesday. In exchange, Israel would cede Israeli territory near the Gaza Strip that is equivalent to 5.5% of the West Bank, and would open a passage to allow Palestinians to travel between the West Bank and Gaza.

Medvedev orders halt to Russian military action in Georgia - 12 Aug 2008 at 8:39am - Russian President Dmitri Medvedev ordered a halt to his country's military action in Georgia on Tuesday, saying "the aim of the operation has been realized."

Georgia conflict 'a threat to strategic energy supplies' - 12 Aug 2008 at 8:31am - PARIS (AFP) - Fighting in Georgia threatens a strategic energy hub, the IEA warned on Tuesday, shortly before Georgia said Russia had attacked a pipeline normally carrying up to a million barrels of oil a day westwards.

Senior al Qaeda leader killed in Pakistan - 12 Aug 2008 at 8:06am - PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Senior Al Qaeda commander Abu Saeed al-Masri was killed in recent clashes with Pakistani forces near the Afghan border, a security official said on Tuesday.

Thought for the day:
Behind every great fortune there is a crime. -Honore de Balzac (1799 - 1850)