In the News: Nov-13

Bush, Out of Office, Could Oppose Inquiries - 13 Nov 2008 at 2:44pm - A precedent set by Harry S. Truman suggests that former presidents wield lingering powers to keep matters from their administration secret.

First Pictures Taken of Extrasolar Planets - 13 Nov 2008 at 2:37pm - Images released on Thursday are believed to be the first pictures of planets orbiting stars other than the sun.

Chinese imports of food for babies, pets to be held at U.S. border - 13 Nov 2008 at 1:57pm - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued detention orders on Chinese imports including dairy products, candy, and food for babies and pets.

Jobless claims hit 25-year high, imports plunge - 13 Nov 2008 at 12:47pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of U.S. workers drawing jobless benefits hit a 25-year high this month and imports suffered a record fall in September, according to reports on Thursday that underscored a rapid drop-off in the U.S. economy.

Bush: government not 'cure-all' for economic woes - 13 Nov 2008 at 11:18am - NEW YORK (AFP) - US President George W. Bush said Thursday that the global economic crisis was not "a failure of the free market system" and warned against seeing government intervention as "a cure-all."

But as a last resort, why not intervene?

Jobless claims reach 7-year high - 13 Nov 2008 at 9:22am - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of workers filing new claims for jobless benefits rose last week to 516,000, the highest level since the weeks following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Labor Department reported on Thursday.

Gates rejects Russian pressure on missile plans - 13 Nov 2008 at 8:26am - TALLINN, Estonia -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates says Russia's proposal that Washington scrap its missile defense plans in Eastern Europe is unacceptable.

US general urges Obama to keep missile defense - 12 Nov 2008 at 4:49pm - WASHINGTON -- The Air Force general who runs the Pentagon's missile defense projects said Wednesday that American interests would be "severely hurt" if President-elect Obama decided to halt plans developed by the Bush administration to install missile interceptors in Eastern Europe.

Thought for the day:
Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star. -Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC)