Shorts (right)
Russia’s guided missile cruiser Moskva appeared suddenly on the horizon, dark and imposing like a fortress in the twilight, and steamed on Saturday into this Black Sea port, where its sailors were given a hero’s welcome.
Georgian President Vows To Rebuild Army, Unite Enclaves
President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia said Sunday that he planned to rebuild his country’s shattered army, and that even after its decisive defeat in the war for control of one of Georgia’s two separatist enclaves he would continue to pursue a policy of uniting both enclaves under the Georgian flag.
After Glow of Olympic Games, China Faces Uncertain Future
The elaborate closing ceremony that ended the Beijing games on Sunday also ended nearly a decade in which the ruling Communist Party had made the Olympics an organizing principle in national life. Almost nothing has superseded the Olympics as a political priority in China.
Democrats Convene in Denver To Plan Election Strategies
Democrats gathering here for their nominating convention are significantly more nervous about Sen. Barack Obama’s prospects this fall than they were a month ago, and are urging him to use the next four days to address weaknesses in his candidacy and lingering party divisions from the bitter primary fight.
Biden’s Son Drew Consulting Fees While Senator Pushed for Bill
During the years that Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. was helping the credit card industry win passage of a law making it harder for consumers to file for bankruptcy protection, his son received more than ($400,000 ) in consulting fees from one of the largest companies pushing for the changes, aides to Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign acknowledged Sunday.
At U.S. Prodding, Switzerland Destroyed Kahn Network Data
The president of Switzerland stepped to a podium in Bern in May and read a statement confirming rumors that had swirled through the capital for months. The government, he acknowledged, had indeed destroyed a huge trove of computer files and other material documenting the business dealings of a family of Swiss engineers suspected of helping smuggle nuclear technology to Libya and Iran.
Thunderstorm Today, But Sunny Stretch to Continue
Welcome Class of 2012! From moving into to your dorm to outdoor events, the weather (so far) has shown its sunny side. The weather machine (the dome ball atop the Green Building) has provided five straight virtually cloud-free days. However, this afternoon will mark a short disruption to this pattern (a reboot), in the form of a cold front.
Coalition Moves to Impeach Musharraf, Raising Fears of Crisis
A move by Pakistan’s usually fractious governing coalition on Thursday to impeach President Pervez Musharraf left the country on the brink of a political crisis that threatened to paralyze the government at a critical moment when the United States is demanding greater action against militants based here.
Separatist Fighting Worsens in Georgia Border Region
Fighting in the border region between the former Soviet republic of Georgia and a breakaway Georgian enclave has reached its highest level in years, with Georgia saying that up to 10 civilians and soldiers had been killed in violence that erupted overnight on Wednesday and lasted throughout the day on Thursday.
Shorts (right)
Americans sought out more bargains and cheaper goods in July, leaving the nation’s biggest retailers bracing for a painful back-to-school shopping season.
Ex-Bin Laden Aid Sentenced To Five and a Half Years
Rejecting a prosecution request for a severe sentence, a panel of military officers on Thursday sentenced a former driver for Osama bin Laden convicted of a war crimes charge to five and a half years in prison. The sentence means that the first detainee convicted after a war crimes trial here could complete his punishment by the end of this year.
Shorts (left)
The Environmental Protection Agency rejected on Thursday a request to cut the federal government’s quota for the use of ethanol in cars, concluding, at least for now, that the national goal of reducing oil use trumps any effect on food prices from making fuel from corn.
Unlikely Partners Produce Olympic Spectacle
For much of the past quarter century, the Chinese director Zhang Yimou made films that showcased his country’s struggle against poverty, war and political misrule to the outside world — films that Chinese, for the most part, never saw.
Cool Pattern Continues
Those without air conditioning may rejoice — high temperatures for this weekend and next week look to remain near or below the average high of 80°F for this time of year. Today, the wind continues to blow from the east, bringing cold air from above the ocean. Temperatures will top out in the low 70s, accompanied by clouds and a chance for more thunderstorms. Saturday looks to be quite pleasant, as winds change to westerly and we get the warmer inland air. We should finally get some sunshine, as well as lower dew points (the dew point is a measure of the absolute moisture content of the air). The chance for thunderstorms returns Sunday night, with a chance of showers each day next week.
From Helper to Top Suspect In Anthrax Case
In December 2002, federal investigators scoured an icy pond on a snow-covered mountain near Frederick, Md., hunting for clues that would lead to the anthrax killer.
Oil Prices Plunge for Second Consecutive Day Yesterday
Oil prices headed in an unusual direction — down — for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, leaving energy experts to wonder whether the drop is the beginning of a lasting trend or just a brief pause before another surge.
Fed Sees Turmoil Lasting Longer Than Expected
Federal policymakers have concluded that the turmoil plaguing the housing and financial markets is likely to spill deep into 2009, becoming one of the most significant domestic problems to confront the next president when he steps into the Oval Office in January.
Shorts (left)
A senior Iranian official was quoted Tuesday as threatening that Iran would respond to any military attack by striking Israel and America’s vital interests around the globe.
Shorts (right)
The suicide bombing on Monday outside the Indian Embassy in Kabul was the latest and most audacious attack in recent months on Indian interests in Afghanistan, where New Delhi, since helping to topple the Taliban in 2001, has staked its largest outside aid package ever.
U.S. and Czechs Sign Accord on Ballistic Missile Shield
The United States and the Czech Republic signed a landmark accord on Tuesday to allow the Pentagon to deploy part of its widely debated anti-ballistic missile shield on territory once occupied by Soviet troops.