Shorts (left)
MOSCOW — Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor living in asylum in Russia, now has a job at one of the country’s major Internet companies, a lawyer who has represented him since he arrived here as a fugitive from U.S. prosecution four months ago said Thursday.
Voter’s anger over shutdown is inspiring Democrats to run
OMAHA, Neb. — Nebraska has not elected a Democrat to the House of Representatives since 1994, and until this month, prospects for changing that were dim at best. Of the state’s three House seats, a Democrat has a fighting chance only in the district encompassing Omaha and its suburbs. And the party’s sole hope there, Omaha’s popular City Council president, had declared that he was not going to run.
Senate Republicans block two Obama nominees
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked the confirmation of two of President Barack Obama’s nominees, one to a powerful appeals court and another to a housing lending oversight post, setting up a confrontation with Democrats that could escalate into a larger fight over limiting the filibuster and restricting how far the minority party can go to thwart a president’s agenda.
Bodies of dozens of migrants found in Niger’s desert
DAKAR, Senegal — The decomposing bodies of 87 migrants from the impoverished West African nation of Niger were discovered in the Sahara this week just a few miles from a well, apparently stranded after a desperate search for water, said the head of a local humanitarian organization who helped bury many of the bodies.
Cold front brings warmer temperatures and rain
Grab an umbrella instead of a sweater today: today’s temperatures will be among the warmest we’ve experienced in recent days, but we will also see rain for most of the day. The source of the rain is a powerful cold front which has been moving across the Midwest this week, producing strong winds and up to several inches of rain. Here in Boston, we will likely see about a quarter of an inch of rain. Winds may gust as high as 30 miles per hour. The cold front will then move off the coast tonight into tomorrow morning.
Judge blocks major part of Texas abortion law
A federal judge in Texas on Monday blocked an important part of the state’s restrictive new abortion law, which would have required doctors performing the procedure to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.
US at odds with Afghans on overtures to Taliban
KABUL, Afghanistan — A bungled attempt by the Afghan government to cultivate a shadowy alliance with Islamist militants escalated into the latest flashpoint in the troubled relationship between Afghanistan and the United States, according to new accounts by officials from both countries.
Shorts (left)
Penn State has agreed to pay $59.7 million to 26 sexual abuse victims of former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky in exchange for an end to their claims against the university, Penn State announced Monday. Of the 26 settlements, 23 are fully signed and three are agreed to in principle, with final documentation expected within the next few weeks.
Shorts (right)
NEW DELHI — Investigators believe that Indian Mujahedeen, an outlawed Islamic group, was behind a series of explosions Sunday that killed at least six people and disrupted a huge political rally in Patna, a senior official said Monday.
Storm lashes northern Europe, stalling travel in parts of Britain
LONDON — One of the most powerful storms in Europe in years left at least 13 people dead, hundreds of thousands without power and many stranded Monday when trains, planes and ferries were canceled after high winds battered the northern part of the Continent.
Japanese autos lose ground in consumer reliability ratings
After results of Consumer Reports Annual Auto Reliability ratings were released Monday, there appeared to be a crack in the dominance of Japanese brands over automotive reliability. Two of America’s most popular cars, the V-6-equipped Honda Accord and the Nissan Altima, no longer have the consumer advocacy publication’s coveted “Recommended” rating, according to the report.
Chilly fall temperatures continue
It certainly felt more like fall this past weekend, with daily high temperatures in the mid 50s°F (10s°C) and winds gusting close to 30 mph, thanks to the jet stream over the eastern U.S.
Shorts (right)
SEOUL, South Korea — In an surprise move that could help ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea said Thursday that it would release six South Koreans it has been holding in detention, according to South Korean officials.
Cold and dry weekend ahead for Cambridge
Unusually cold temperatures will remain in Cambridge over the next week. A high pressure system brings with it clear skies. The days will be sunny but the mornings will be cold because of high levels of radiative cooling at night.
Shorts (left)
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea has increased activity at its main underground nuclear test site, digging new tunnel entrances in what could be preparations for another nuclear test, a Washington-based research institute reported Thursday.
Credit Suisse to streamline and shrink its operations
Credit Suisse said Thursday that it planned to shrink its investment bank and other businesses as it grappled with stricter regulatory requirements and a challenging fixed-income market.
Drone politics take the center stage, even as strikes decrease
LONDON — For years, U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal belt have been the subject of what might be termed a wink-and-keep-moving approach between the leaders of both countries.
Civil war creates increased hardships for Syrians
DAMASCUS, Syria — Some 5 million Syrians are now refugees in their own country, many living hand-to-mouth in vacant buildings, schools, mosques, parks and the cramped homes of relatives. Others are trapped in neighborhoods isolated by military blockades, beyond the reach of aid groups. Already desperately short of food and medicine as winter closes in, they could begin to succumb in greater numbers to hunger and exposure, aid workers say.
Accusation of spying on Merkel puts Obama at crossroads
WASHINGTON — The angry allegation by the German government that the National Security Agency monitored the cellphone of Chancellor Angela Merkel may force President Barack Obama into making a choice he has avoided for years between continuing the age-old game of spying on America’s friends and undercutting cooperation with important partners in tracking terrorists, managing the global economy and slowing Iran’s nuclear program.
FDA endorses tighter control for painkillers
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday recommended tighter controls on how doctors prescribe the most commonly used narcotic painkillers, changes that are expected to take place as early as next year.