Tuesday, March 17, 2009

SPB News for Tuesday.



Fearing she will flee the country, federal investigators plan to freeze $93 million of Ruth Madoff's assets, the New York Post reported Sunday. According to a source close to the investigation, the SEC will ask to freeze Madoff's funds because they were likely acquired dishonestly. Mrs. Madoff has denied any wrongdoing associated with her husband's $50 billion Ponzi scheme. But she was implicated because she withdrew $15.5 million immediately before her husband was arrested in December and recently purchased $1 million of jewelry in defiance of a court order. Though Mrs. Madoff has agreed to a voluntary asset freeze, the deal is not legally binding. (Reuters)

Obama: I'll Request $1B For Food Safety

Economists, activists seek CNBC overhaul

Congressman: Probe 'Cheney assassin ring'

UPDATE: CUOMO SUBPOENAS AIG

Seattle P-I to publish last edition Tuesday — The Seattle Post-Intelligencer will roll off the presses for the last time Tuesday. — The Hearst Corp. announced Monday that it would stop publishing the 146-year old newspaper, Seattle's oldest business, and cease delivery to more than 117,600 weekday readers.

CIA director taps retired GOP senator for advice on Bush-era interrogation and detention policies CIA Director Leon Panetta has tapped a retired Republican senator to help guide him through a Senate Intelligence Committee investigation into the agency's Bush-era interrogation and detention practices. Former Sen. Warren Rudman of New Hampshire will be Panetta's special adviser for the Senate 'inquiry.'

Greek extremists threaten more bombings after Citibank attacks A Greek 'extremist' group known for its violent attacks has threatened to carry out more bombings in the wake of two recent strikes targeting US banking group Citibank. In an eight-page proclamation published in Greek weekly Pontiki, far-left group Revolutionary Struggle said its aim remained to foment "revolution" and use the global economic crisis against capitalism.

Obama lawyers: Ex-Guantánamo detainees have no rights --The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal for the District of Columbia unanimously ruled against them early last year, saying because the men were foreigners held outside the United States, they are not covered by the definition of ''person'' protected by the act. The Obama administration argued in court documents filed Friday that four former prisoners at the Guantánamo Bay detention camp who have sued over their treatment have no constitutional rights. The suit was brought by four British men who say they were beaten, shackled in painful stress positions, threatened by dogs and subjected to extreme medical care [?] during their time in the lockup at the U.S. Navy base in southeast Cuba. They also say they were harassed while practicing their religion, including forced shaving of their beards, banning or interrupting their prayers, denying them prayer mats and copies of the Koran and throwing a copy of the Koran in a toilet.

Barack Obama told: help Pakistan or risk a repeat of 9/11 in America or Britain --The US president is to be told that to avoid a repeat of the devastating 9/11 attacks on America or Britain he must dramatically step up aid to Pakistan. A team headed by Bruce Riedel, a former CIA Middle East expert, asked to overhaul US policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan, has concluded that stabilising Pakistan is now the higher priority, a source familiar with the discussions has revealed. The report, prepared in conjunction with the National Security Council... will also urge a sharp increase in military and civil assistance. But The Sunday Telegraph has learned that the need to prevent a repeat of the September 11 attacks has become the driving force behind the review, which could be published as early as this week

All travel plans to be tracked by Government The travel plans and personal details of every holidaymaker, business traveller and day-tripper who leaves Britain are to be tracked by the Government, the Daily Telegraph can disclose. Anyone departing the UK by land, sea or air will have their trip recorded and stored on a database for a decade. Passengers leaving every international sea port, station or airport will have to supply detailed personal information as well as their travel plans.

Airport leader Tobias files for divorce Randall Tobias, president of the Indianapolis Airport Authority board, has filed for divorce from his wife of 13 years, according to Hamilton Superior Court records. According to court documents filed Jan. 30, Tobias and his wife, Marianne Tobias, have separated. Randall Tobias, who is the petitioner in the divorce, resigned in 2007 as deputy secretary of state and head of the U.S. Agency for International Development. That action was taken after ABC News reported that Tobias had patronized a Washington, D.C., escort service that was under investigation for racketeering.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Yes, newspapers going out of business is very sad. True most people get their news on the internet, but when you have so many paid reporters who attend all those long drawn out City Council meetings, County meetings etc. that is where you get a lot of information, information that is needed for the responsible voting public.