SPB News for Sunday

Records refute Palin's Sudan statement

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin fought to protest atrocities in Sudan by dropping assets tied to the country's brutal regime from the state's multi-billion-dollar investment fund, she claimed during Thursday's vice presidential debate.

Not quite, according to a review of the public record – and according to the recollections of a legislator and others who pushed a measure to divest Alaskan holdings in Sudan-linked investments.

"The [Palin] administration killed our bill," said Alaska state representative Les Gara, D-Anchorage. Gara and state Rep. Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage, co-sponsored a resolution early this year to force the Alaska Permanent Fund – a $40 billion investment fund, a portion of whose dividends are distributed annually to state residents – to divest millions of dollars in holdings tied to the Sudanese government.

Palin Didn't Pay Taxes On Per Diems
Sarah Palin's tax returns show that she did not pay taxes on the per diems that she was paid by the state of Alaska for living at home -- which experts say should have been listed as taxable income.

Franken bypasses Coleman as voters react to attack ads

SEC backs down on short-selling disclosure rule --U.S. regulator extends short-sale ban pending bailout bill becoming law The Securities and Exchange Commission backed down on a major part of its effort to limit short selling. Late Wednesday, the regulator said that institutional investors' short positions won't be made public, a major change from an earlier ruling that had upset several prominent hedge-fund managers and short sellers including James Chanos. Chanos, head of leading short-selling hedge-fund firm Kynikos Associates LP, said at the time that forcing such public disclosure would be like asking Coca-Cola to reveal the super-secret formula for its popular fizzy beverage.

Senior Al Qaida leader killed in Iraq A senior leader of Al Qaida has been killed in Iraq, according to the US military. Officials said the man and his wife were killed by troops acting in 'self-defence' in a firefight yesterday evening. The man, known as Abu Assad or Abu Rami, is believed to have been behind car bombs and suicide attacks that killed eight people in Baghdad on Thursday.

German FM wants special forces out of Afghanistan Germany's foreign minister says he wants to lift the mandate keeping German special commandos in Afghanistan. Frank-Walter Steinmeier is quoted by Der Spiegel magazine on Saturday as saying German military commandos stationed in Afghanistan have not participated in a single mission.

Bush to provide $6.4 billion in arms to Taiwan The U.S. government is to sell $6.4 billion of weapons to Taiwan, the State Department announced on Friday. State Department deputy spokesman Robert Wood said Congressional approval was required, but believes this will come quickly. A submission went to Congress on Friday afternoon. The sales involve a range of U.S.-made weapons systems, including Patriot III anti-missile missiles, Apache attack helicopters, Harpoon missiles, and Javelin anti-tank missiles.

The Obamas Celebrate Their Wedding Anniversary Senator Barack Obama "suspended" his campaign and returned home to Chicago on Friday night for personal reasons: to celebrate the 16th anniversary of his marriage to Michelle.

Palin to make a stop in Omaha on Sunday — Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is planning an Omaha visit on Sunday evening, according to GOP officials. — Details of the visit were still being worked out. — The Palin visit is further evidence that the Omaha-based 2nd …

Headzup give us a look at the first day of a McCain presidency. It's funny -- and scary.