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With municipal bond investigations spreading to Europe from the United States, Italian authorities have seized about $300 million in assets of four global banks — JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, UBS and Depfa — whose officials have been accused of fraud.
Americans Shifing Religious Affiliations
Catholics who leave their faith say they drifted away from the church because it did not meet their spiritual needs or they stopped believing in its teachings, according to a new study, while Protestants often tend to cite circumstantial factors, a move, a marriage, or a problem with a particular minister or congregation.
High Court Considers Whether a Voting Rights Rule is Still Needed
Ellen D. Katz is a liberal law professor and a big fan of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which she calls the most effective civil rights legislation in American history. “It’s sacred,” she said. “It’s holy.”
US Jet Frightens New York In Photo Op Gone Wrong
It was supposed to be a photo opportunity, a showcase of Air Force One alongside the sweep of New York City skyline.
Obama Nudging Views on Race, a Survey Finds
Barack Obama’s presidency seems to be altering the public perception of race relations in the United States. Two-thirds of Americans now say race relations are generally good, and the percentage of blacks who say so has doubled since last July, according to the latest <i>New York Times</i>/CBS News poll.
Forecasting: Just Half the Battle
A TV meteorologist can make a perfect prediction, but yet, on days like yesterday, the public can be outraged by what they perceive as a “busted forecast.”
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In 1971, flush with the nation’s success in putting a man on the moon, President Richard Nixon announced a new goal. Cancer would be cured by 1976, the bicentennial.
Shorts (right)
A long-awaited U.N. report that was presented Wednesday to senior Iraqi officials proposes several options for Kirkuk province, including making it an autonomous region as a way to defuse simmering tensions between Kurds and Arabs over its oil wealth.
Record Warmth This Weekend
It’s that time of year again, when you no longer need your coat outside, but instead must wear it inside. I am referring to a series of warm, summer-like days, followed by the inevitable switch from heat to air conditioning in MIT’s buildings. This weekend looks to do the trick, with Saturday’s forecasted high of 82°F approaching the record high of 83°F (set in 1982), and Sunday’s high of 85°F challenging the current record of 85°F (set way back in 1872).
U.S. Questions Pakistan’s Will to Stop Taliban
As the Taliban tightened their hold over newly won territory, Pakistani politicians and U.S. officials on Thursday sharply questioned the government’s willingness to deal with the insurgents and the Pakistani military decision to remain on the sidelines.
Plight of Carmakers Could Upturn All Pension Plans
Decisions that the government will make soon on the future of General Motors and Chrysler could accelerate the decline of traditional pension plans, which have sheltered generations of workers from an impoverished old age.
New York Governor Offers Bill To Legalize Same-Sex Marriage
Gov. David A. Paterson introduced a bill on Thursday to legalize same-sex marriage, vowing to personally involve himself in the legislative debate at a level that is rare for a New York governor.
Ties to AIG Put Dodd on Bumpy Road to Re-Election
HARTFORD - The election is still more than 18 months away, but US Senator Chris Dodd is barnstorming Connecticut this week like an incumbent in trouble. Voters who have supported him for 29 years are showing anger over his personal finances and for legislation that allowed federal bailout money to be used for executive bonuses.
Pediatric Heart Surgery on Hold at Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital has suspended its pediatric cardiac surgery program after two babies recently suffered serious complications following errors made during open-heart surgery.
Obama Releases Torture Memos that Guided CIA
The Justice Department made public detailed memos on Thursday describing brutal interrogation techniques used by the CIA, as President Barack Obama sought to reassure the agency that CIA operatives who carried out the techniques would not be prosecuted.
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The era of personal genomic medicine may have to wait. The genetic analysis of common disease is turning out to be a lot more complex than expected.
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French forces detained 11 people suspected of being pirates during an assault on what they described as a pirate “mother ship” in the Indian Ocean off Somalia on Wednesday.
Study Finds Mega-Droughts in Africa in Past
For at least 3,000 years, a series of potent droughts, far longer and more severe than any experienced recently, have seared a belt of sub-Saharan Africa that is now home to tens of millions of the world’s poorest people, climate researchers report in a new study.
Stormy Out West, Quiet Over East
Today will feature two extremes over the eastern two-thirds of the country: a strong spring storm will be slow to move over the eastern Rockies/southern Plains, while the East Coast will experience a pleasantly warm day. The exact track of the spring storm out west is still uncertain, but the potential exists for a foot to over two feet of heavy wet snow over the mountains and along the foothills and adjacent plains in Colorado. Imagine trying to shovel that! Meanwhile. on the warm side of the storm, areas of Texas will receive beneficial heavy rain. The entire storm-affected area is currently in a moderate to severe drought, so any precipitation will be helpful.
Militants Joining Forces To Advance Into Pakistan
Taliban insurgents are teaming up with local militant groups to make inroads in Punjab, the province that is home to more than half of Pakistanis, reinvigorating an alliance that Pakistani and American authorities say poses a serious risk to the stability of the country.