AP Newsbreak: Nobel jury defends decision to give Obama the Peace Prize in face of criticismOctober 13th, 2009 AP Newsbreak: Nobel jury defends Obama decisionOSLO — Members of the Norwegian committee that gave Barack Obama the Nobel Peace Prize are strongly defending their choice against a storm of criticism that the award was premature and a potential liability for the U.S. president. Asked to comment on the uproar following Friday's announcement, four members of the five-seat panel told The Associated Press that they had expected the decision to generate both surprise and criticism.
President Obama vows to allow gays into military serviceOctober 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama repeated his past pledges to overturn the military's policy of expelling troops who express homosexual orientation, in a speech Saturday to a national gay rights group. He told the Human Rights Campaign's annual black-tie gala, held in downtown Washington: "I will end, 'Don't ask, don't tell'," as the policy in force since 1993 is known.
Calif. court weighs whether gang tattoo on 7-year-old boy warrants life sentence for fatherOctober 1st, 2009 Child's tattoo: disfigurement or poor parenting?FRESNO, Calif. — A judge is set to decide whether mayhem charges carrying a potential life sentence will remain against a Fresno man who had a gang tattoo etched onto his 7-year-old son's hip.
Across the Web, regard for Polanski the artist clashes with disdain for the man and his actSeptember 30th, 2009 Polanski: Regard for his art, disdain for his actNEW YORK — If a truly great artist engages in a truly awful crime, should our feelings about the art mitigate our feelings about the crime?
That is just one of the gut-churning questions being asked across the Web, as people consider the predicament of Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski, sitting now in a Swiss jail and facing possible extradition to the United States for fleeing the country more than 30 years ago after he pleaded guilty in a sex case involving a 13-year-old girl. And to many people, the answer is clear: Brilliant filmmaker or not, the man violated a young girl and needs to face justice for it.
Justice reconsidering when and how state secrecy privilege can be invokedSeptember 23rd, 2009 Justice reconsidering state secrecyWASHINGTON — The Justice Department will continue Bush administration attempts to block certain lawsuits by claiming they threaten state secrets, but the agency says it will try to curb the use of such claims in the future. A Justice Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the issue before the announcement, said the change would be announced Wednesday.
Bellingham, Wash., business owners avoid prison time in closely watched immigration caseSeptember 21st, 2009 No prison for business owners in immigration caseSEATTLE — Two owners of a Bellingham, Wash., company won't have to go to prison for hiring undocumented workers, but the business must pay a $100,000 fine. A guilty plea was entered Monday in U.S.
Obama refuses to stop probe into CIA torturesSeptember 20th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama rejected Sunday a request by several former heads of the country's intelligence community to end investigations into the alleged torture of terrorist suspects. Speaking to US broadcaster CNN, Obama said in rejecting the request that no one was above the law.
White House offers $25M in grants to explore alternatives to costly medical malpractice suitsSeptember 17th, 2009 White House seeks ways to curb malpractice suitsWASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Thursday announced $25 million in grants for states and health care systems to experiment with alternatives to costly medical malpractice lawsuits, an issue that long has divided Washington. The grants, up to $3 million each for three years, can cover a range of ideas, including programs in which doctors and hospitals quickly acknowledge a mistake, offer an apology and restitution, and pledge to take corrective action.
Judge hears closing arguments in penalty phase of ex-Kmart CEO's civil fraud trial; no rulingSeptember 17th, 2009 No penalty yet in ex-Kmart CEO's civil fraud trialANN ARBOR, Mich. — A judge has heard closing arguments in the penalty phase of a civil trial against the former head of Kmart Corp., who was found liable of misleading investors eight years ago.
3,939 posters down, more to go in anti-defacement driveSeptember 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Tuesday said it had removed 3,939 posters and that many more would go in its drive against defacement of the city's walls, launched together with trader organisations and several Resident Welfare Associations (RWA). Additional District Commissioner (ADC) Amiya Chandra said 400 MCD staffers in 12 zones in coordination with 14 traders and resident welfare associations had galvanised into action.
Obama should meet Chinese president first: Tibetan leaderSeptember 15th, 2009 DHARAMSALA - US President Barack Obama must meet Chinese President Hu Jintao first and then the Dalai Lama as cordial relations between the two countries are very important, said the prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile here. "No meeting between the two has been fixed yet.
Lawyers: Uighur detainees at Guantanamo agree to go to PalauSeptember 9th, 2009 Lawyers: Uighurs agree to go to PalauKOROR, Palau — Three Chinese Muslims imprisoned for years at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay have agreed to be released to the tiny Pacific nation of Palau, their lawyers told The Associated Press.
White House to make visitor logs public; move comes after lawsuit, internal reviewSeptember 4th, 2009 White House will publicly release visitor logsWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says his administration will make public a listing of visitors to the White House, reversing a long-standing policy transcending presidents and party affiliations. The move could shed light on the people who influence White House decision-making.
Attorney General Eric Holder tells Hispanic lawyers their influence in profession is risingSeptember 3rd, 2009 AG Holder says Hispanic lawyers' influence growingALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The head of the Justice Department told a crowd of Hispanic lawyers and others from the legal profession that their influence is greater than ever before.
NC man facing probation for threatening to kill President Obama in call to 911 dispatcherSeptember 3rd, 2009 NC man sentenced for threatening to kill presidentSTONEVILLE, N.C. — A North Carolina man has pleaded guilty to saying he was going to assassinate President Barack Obama.
