In the News: Feb-26

U.S. expected to charge suspected al Qaeda agent - 26 Feb 2009 at 2:50pm - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors are expected to bring criminal charges against Ali al-Marri, a suspected al Qaeda "sleeper" agent who has been held for 5-1/2 years at a U.S. military prison in South Carolina, someone involved in the case said on Thursday.

Officials: Pentagon OKs media photos of war dead - 26 Feb 2009 at 12:57pm - WASHINGTON -- News organizations will be allowed to photograph the homecomings of America's war dead under a new Pentagon policy, defense and congressional officials said Thursday.

Obama asks $130B for Iraq, Afghan wars next year - 26 Feb 2009 at 11:03am - WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama says the true costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will no longer be "left off the books."

W. House's Volcker wants tighter bank oversight - 26 Feb 2009 at 10:24am - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Banks that are big enough to destabilize markets should be subjected to tighter regulatory oversight, and some rules ought to be internationally agreed, White House economic adviser Paul Volcker said on Thursday.

U.S. workers on jobless benefits at record high - 26 Feb 2009 at 9:18am - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of U.S. workers continuing to receive state jobless aid jumped to record high in mid-February, data showed on Thursday, as the 14-month recession ravaged the economy and squeezed companies.

Don't create new Guantanamo elsewhere, EU tells U.S. - 26 Feb 2009 at 9:01am - BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The United States must not allow its Bagram military base in Afghanistan to become a new Guantanamo Bay if it wants European Union help to close the prison on Cuba, a confidential EU policy document says.

Review of Bellingham immigration raid ordered by Napolitano - 26 Feb 2009 at 7:38am - Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has ordered a review of a Tuesday, Feb. 24, raid at Yamato Engine Specialists in Bellingham that resulted in the arrests of 28 workers believed to be in the country illegally.

Thought for the day:
Get all the fools on your side and you can be elected to anything. -Frank Dane