Early January
We continue today under the influence of a very cold high pressure, the same system that has being giving us unseasonably cold temperatures over the last week. In fact, yesterday, we experienced temperatures that are normal for the beginning of January rather than early December.
CIA Destroyed Tapes Showing Severe Interrogation Methods
The CIA in 2005 destroyed at least two videotapes documenting the interrogation of two Qaida operatives in the agency’s custody, a step it took in the midst of congressional and legal scrutiny about the CIA’s secret detention program, according to current and former government officials.
Bush Signals New Approach With Letter to North Korea
President Bush, directly engaging the man he publicly called a “tyrant,” wrote a letter to North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-il, in which he held out the prospect of normalized relations with the United States if North Korea fully discloses its nuclear programs and dismantles its nuclear reactor, administration officials said Thursday.
U.S. Foreign Aid Agency Delays Distribution of Approved Funds
The Millennium Challenge Corp., a federal agency set up almost four years ago to reinvent foreign aid, has taken far longer to help poor, well-governed countries than its supporters expected or its critics say is reasonable.
A Leading Asian Utility to Commit To Cutting Down Carbon Emissions
CLP, one of Asia’s largest power utilities, plans to commit itself on Friday to sharply reducing its emissions of carbon dioxide.
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Mitt Romney asked the nation on Thursday not to reject his presidential candidacy because of his religion, assuring evangelical Christians and other religious voters that his values matched theirs in a speech that used the word Mormon only once.
Britain Cuts Interest Rate Because of Inflation; ECB Keeps Rate Constant
The European Central Bank, caught between fears of rising inflation and subsiding economic growth, walked a middle ground on Thursday, leaving interest rates unchanged.
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U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Thursday that security progress in Iraq was significant yet still fragile, an assessment echoed by the senior U.S. commander in Baghdad, who strongly cautioned against a premature declaration of victory.
Following Loss of Referendum, Chavez’s Support Is Dwindling
The surprising defeat of a referendum this weekend to accelerate President Hugo Chavez’s socialist-inspired revolution has given new energy to his long-suffering opposition.
Analysis Finds Iran Stopped Nuclear Arms Effort in 2003
A new assessment by American intelligence agencies released Monday concludes that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 and that the program remains frozen, contradicting a judgment two years ago that Tehran was working relentlessly toward building a nuclear bomb.
Sudanese President Pardons British Schoolteacher for Teddy Bear Incident
The British schoolteacher jailed in Sudan for allowing her 7-year-old pupils to name a class teddy bear Muhammad was pardoned Monday by the Sudanese president and left for England later in the evening.
Former Prime Ministers Might Boycott New Pakistani Election
Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, the two former prime ministers who have long bitterly opposed each other, joined with an opposition alliance on Monday to denounce what they saw as an unfair environment ahead of parliamentary elections planned for January.
State-Financed Christian Program Barred by Federal Appeals Court
A federal appeals panel ruled Monday that a state-financed evangelical Christian program to help prisoners re-enter civilian life fostered religious indoctrination and violated the constitutional separation of church and state.
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Although Rudolph W. Giuliani is campaigning as President Bush’s staunch ally in the war on terror, his law office has lobbied Congress on behalf of legislation that the Bush administration calls a threat to anti-terrorism efforts in the Horn of Africa.
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Gas mileage would go up under the compromise reached by congressional leaders last week, but not as high as the trumpeted numbers. And despite the tougher 35-mpg standard, a growing population of drivers would push up total fuel use, as well as greenhouse gas emissions — but not as rapidly as it would without the legislation.
The First Winter’s Snow
After a bitterly cold weekend, conditions were primed for our first accumulating snowfall of the season. Although only a couple inches fell on campus early Monday morning, it was enough to change the landscape from fall’s dying colors to a layer of white.
Lebanon Presidential Vacancy Broken After Support Voiced for Army Chief
The political logjam over Lebanon’s vacant presidency was broken Thursday when a leader of the Syrian-backed opposition announced his support for the compromise candidate accepted by the pro-Western alliance. The deal follows Syria’s participation in the American-sponsored Middle East peace conference.
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Food banks around the country are reporting critical shortages that have forced them to ration supplies, distribute staples usually reserved for disaster relief and in some instances to close.
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Ben S. Bernanke PhD ’79, chairman of the Federal Reserve, acknowledged on Thursday that a “fresh wave of investor concern” had led to tougher credit conditions that posed new risks to the economy, reinforcing the view that the Fed is likely to cut interest rates again when it meets on Dec. 11.
The Day After Tomorrow
Yesterday, the first of two cold fronts passed through the New England area. The second rolls through today, accompanied by a blast of polar air. A strong upper level jet will fuel significant cold air advection, resulting in gusty winds on a very cold weekend. Make sure to bundle up when you go out Saturday night, as temperatures will plummet into the low 20s°F. High pressure and a lack of cloud cover means clear skies through tomorrow, so look forward to a brisk, sunny day.