Sunday, January 02, 2005

Newshog 02-01-2005

Well, here it is, the first Newshog news brief of the New Year. Enjoy.

  • The person in charge of enforcing railroad safety in the United States is stepping down following an investigation of her too close ties with Union Pacific.

  • The 109th Congress convenes on Tuesday with Republicans flexing more political muscle. Yet it is unclear how far they can, or in some cases want to, push President Bush's ambitious second-term agenda.

  • Temples and mosques take a central role in UK citizen's aid effort for tsunami victims.

  • A peaceful transition to a new president and government in the Ukraine looks more assured as the outgoing head of state told the nation that everyone must accept its democratic choice.

  • During a visit to Brazil last month, Russia's President Vladimir Putin signed cooperation agreements with Brazil in the oil, natural gas, power, and renewable energy sectors that could have a value in excess of $3 billion. Thanks for the link, Gina

  • The unprecedented crisis over the Asian tragedy has left governments struggling to catch up with public opinion.

  • Documents released in Britain show that African despot Idi Amin offered to bail the UK out of it's economic crisis in the 70's.

  • Freedom of information files released to the Guardian reveal how the media tycoon Rupert Murdoch (News International, Fox, Weekly Standard, Sky TV etc) wields extensive lobbying clout over the Blair government. I was so shocked...

  • Leading experts on law and order have dismissed a claim by a right-wing think tank that Britain has one of the highest crime rates in the developed world, caused by a decline in faith and moral values.

  • The question of torture: an open letter to Alberto Gonzales signed by over 200 US religious leaders so far.

  • The European Central Bank will this year be forced to intervene in the foreign exchange markets, economists predicted yesterday, as the dollar narrowly avoided hitting a new all-time low against the euro.

  • The Democrats are arguing again. Liberals and centrists trading magazine salvos reopen disputes on the war and economics. The debate could affect the next presidential race.

  • The word "underprivileged" has fallen out of use as the Republicans mount an assault on the very idea of what it is to be rich or poor.

  • AlterNet's 25 dumbest quotes of 2004.

Quote of the Day:

Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.
President Bush

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