WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama blocked large pay raises slated for tens of thousands of federal employees Monday, overriding statutory formulas to hold pay increases to 2% in 2010. Invoking the “national emergency” declared after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the president said in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that under pay [...]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. and its allies need to change course in Afghanistan to salvage the faltering war effort and prevent the Taliban from extending their recent gains, the top American commander in Afghanistan warned in a highly anticipated strategic assessment. Gen. Stanley McChrystal said that conditions on the ground were “serious,” but expressed [...]
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Disney is acquiring a batch of new characters Entertainment giant Walt Disney is to buy Marvel Entertainment in a shares and cash deal valued at $4bn (£2.5bn).The deal means Disney will take over ownership of 5,000 Marvel characters, such as Spider-Man and the [...]
Alan Turing is said to be the founder of computer science Thousands of people have signed a Downing Street petition calling for a posthumous government apology to World War II code breaker Alan Turing.Writer Ian McEwan has just backed the campaign, which already [...]
Researchers say hospital patients do not consume enough good food Researchers have claimed the food provided in prisons is better than in NHS hospitals.Experts from Bournemouth University examined the quality of food offered to prisoners and NHS patients. They say people in hospital [...]
Megrahi, 57, was convicted of the Lockerbie bombing in 2001 The UK government will publish all correspondence with Scottish ministers on the Lockerbie bomber, Downing Street sources have said.Information will be made public on Tuesday afternoon, when the Scottish Government also releases documents. [...]
Jo Tanner, Freight Transport Association: "It could be the end of the road" A two pence rise in fuel duty will come into effect from midnight, the third increase in nine months.Stephen Glaister, director of road users’ pressure group RAC [...]
The general’s report will not carry a direct call for extra troops A top US general in Afghanistan has called for a revised military strategy, suggesting the current one is failing.In a strategic assessment, Gen Stanley McChrystal said that, while the Afghan situation [...]
Two British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.The soldiers, from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, were killed in an explosion north of Lashkar Gah, in Helmand. They were on a foot patrol [...]
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‘Serious questions’ over NZ spill
Libyans claim gains in Gadhafi hometown offensive
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Fierce street fighting in Sirte
Snipers in last-ditch bid to defend Gaddafi hometown
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FBI searches for missing Mo. baby in Kan. landfill
(AP)
Libyans face heavy resistance in Gadhafi hometown
(AP)Snipers slow government attack on Gaddafi hometown
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Libyan government forces launch big assault on Sirte
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Libya troops renew Sirte assault
Doubtful social conservatives giving Romney chance
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Libya troops renew push for Sirte
Split in cultural conservatives could help Romney
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Tank fire hits Gaddafi stronghold
Discord Riddles Libyan Factions
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Libya battle hits heart of Sirte
Nobel honors African, Arab women for peace
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Economy adds 103,000 jobs, but it’s not enough
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