In the News: Feb-12

Official: Economic crisis tops list of US threats - 12 Feb 2009 at 2:49pm - WASHINGTON -- The economic crisis has trumped bullets and bombs in the intelligence chief's latest assessment of the top security threats to the United States.

Pakistan admits internal link to Mumbai attacks - 12 Feb 2009 at 2:39pm - Pakistan acknowledged the Mumbai attacks were partly plotted on its soil and announced criminal proceedings against eight suspects, including three alleged ringleaders, in a sign it is heeding U.S. and Indian demands to punish those responsible for the deaths of 164 people. India called Thursday's announcement a "positive development" and the news was welcomed by Washington, which had feared tensions the attacks triggered between the nuclear-armed neighbors would distract Pakistan from its struggle against the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

Pentagon investigators head to Afghanistan - 12 Feb 2009 at 2:35pm - WASHINGTON -- A team of Pentagon auditors will travel to Afghanistan next month to determine whether the U.S. is doing enough to train and equip local security forces.

Is Obama following Bush's lead on official secrecy? - 12 Feb 2009 at 2:30pm - WASHINGTON — The Obama administration, which vowed to usher in a "new era of openness in our country," either has delayed action on requests for access to government records or refused to disclose them in three early, high-profile tests of the pledge.

TVA: Cleaning Tenn. spill could cost $825 million - 12 Feb 2009 at 2:04pm - KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- It could cost as much as $825 million to clean up a river and a rural neighborhood after a massive spill of coal ash sludge from a Tennessee Valley Authority power plant, the utility's chief executive said Thursday.

New RCMP policy says Tasers potentially lethal, limits use - 12 Feb 2009 at 12:53pm - The RCMP is restricting how officers can use Tasers through a new policy that recognizes the stun guns can cause death, especially when fired on "acutely agitated" individuals, the head of the Mounties said Thursday.

Elections Canada collects personal info on teens too young to vote - 12 Feb 2009 at 11:17am - Elections Canada has been collecting personal information about Canadians under 18, even though it has no authority to do so because they are too young to vote, says a new report from Canada's auditor general and privacy commissioner.

Thought for the day:
Change is the process by which the future invades our lives. -Alvin Toffler