A CLOSER LOOK: the questionable cost of America's spy games
By Stephen Engelberg, ProPublicaThere's nothing like a spy story to get the journalistic juices flowing. They have all the elements. High stakes. Betrayal. And, if you're lucky, sexual intrigue. The true import of spy stories is more difficult for readers to weigh. The facts are invariably spooned out by intelligence agencies...
2010 worst year for Afghanistan since US invasion
The Afghanistan Rights Monitor (ARM), an Afghan human-rights group, stated yesterday that 2010 was the worst year in terms of violence for the country since US-led troops occupied the country in 2001.The ARM says that civilian deaths have risen and that Taliban insurgents have not been defeated despite a surge in troops in ...
Gaza Strip aid ship departs Greece, diverts to Egypt
he Amalthea, renamed the Hope for its mission as an aid ship carrying goods bound for the Gaza Strip, departed the Greek port of Lavrio yesterday, but is reportedly diverting away from its original destination and now plans to dock at the Egyptian port of el-Arish.The ship was chartered by Gaddafi International Charity and...
Severe heat wave blankets northeastern US
The Northeastern region of the United States has been blanketed by a severe heat wave since Sunday, with temperatures predicted to reach over a hundred degrees Fahrenheit Tuesday.The US National Weather Service (NWS) issued warnings of severe heat for most of the East Coast as well as some inland states, which are predicted...
Blast at BP Texas refinery in 2005 foreshadowed Gulf disaster
by Ryan Knutson, ProPublicaThis story is part of an ongoing collaboration between ProPublica and FRONTLINE (PBS).TEXAS CITY, TEXAS -- Ever since the Deepwater Horizon exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, David Senko has been tallying the similarities between what he calls "my blast" in 2005 and this new BP disaster.Anonymous...
Obama dismisses US military commander in Afghanistan
General Stanley McChrystal, the top military commander for the US army in Afghanistan, was dismissed by president Barack Obama Wednesday, over controversial comments he made in an interview with a magazine.McChrystal will be replaced by General David Petraeus. The move was made after McChrystal and the president held a...
Obama to ask for special BP claims fund over oil spill
US president Barack Obama, in response to criticism over his handling of the ongoing Gulf of Mexico oil spill, has asked the oil company BP to create a special fund with "substantial" amounts of money to pay claimants over the disaster.Obama is to make his fourth visit to the Gulf Coast tomorrow, and on Tuesday is scheduled...
Bellingham, WA first municipality to shun tar sands oil
The city of Bellingham, Washington has resolved to avoid fuel from refineries connected to the tar sands, becoming the first city in North America to take action against the controversial fossil fuel.Bellingham’s city council unanimously passed two resolutions on Monday, Jun. 7 with the aim of eliminating tar sands in their...
Large fireball observed after object strikes Jupiter
A large object, possibly an asteroid or a meteor, hit the planet Jupiter Thursday, resulting in a large fireball. The fireball was seen on June 3 at 2031 UTC by two independent amateur astronomers, Christopher Go in the Philippines and Anthony Wesley in Australia. Wesley, who posted the news onto an Internet forum, is known...
Tainted Chinese Drywall Concerns Went Unreported for Two Years
by Joaquin SapienA leading East Coast homebuilder learned four years ago that the Chinese-manufactured drywall it had installed in several Florida homes was emitting foul odors, according to documents obtained by ProPublica and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.The company, WCI Communities, was so concerned that it started planning...
