Entries

Fifty Years Of Human Spaceflight

BBC News reports: Yuri Gagarin's single orbit of Earth 50 years ago this month ushered in the era of human spaceflight. Gagarin's 108-minute flight was another major propaganda coup for the Soviet Union, which had successfully launched the first satellite - Sputnik - in 1957. "I was a …

Written by FrumForum News on Monday April 11, 2011

Fukushima: The Story Thus Far

BBC News reports: One way of looking at the drama that has unfolded around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors is as a narrative with one central plot, and a number of sub-plots distracting the attention. The main story is well established. At 14:46 local time on 11 March, a magnitude 9 …

Written by FrumForum News on Monday April 11, 2011

Syria Seals Rioting Port City

The Washington Post reports: CAIRO — Violent protests continued to roil Syria on Sunday as human rights activists reported that President Bashar al-Assad was using soldiers and tanks for the first time against demonstrators and sealing off the port city of Baniyas. A day after the Interior …

Written by FrumForum News on Monday April 11, 2011

GOP Reps Don't Like 2012 Field

Politico reports: A presidential primary favorite is emerging among the ranks of congressional Republicans: none of the above. The dissatisfaction with the likely GOP field — long whispered among party activists, operatives and elected officials — is growing more audible in the House and …

Written by FrumForum News on Monday April 11, 2011

French Veil Ban Enters Force

BBC News reports: A law has come into force in France which makes it an offence for a Muslim woman to conceal her face behind a veil when in public. Anyone caught breaking the law will be liable to a fine of 150 euros (£133, $217) and a citizenship course. People forcing women to wear …

Written by FrumForum News on Monday April 11, 2011

Feds Fight Over Google Probe

Politico reports: The Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission both want a piece of Google. And like prizefighters gearing up for a bout, both are bulking up on their Google muscles and preening for the crowds. They’re hiring experts and attorneys and brokering blockbuster …

Written by FrumForum News on Monday April 11, 2011

A GOP Game Plan for the Next Budget Fight

Republicans were wise to secure a deal and avert a shutdown. But will they remember what they learned in the coming budget battle? Friday night, the GOP reached a budget deal with Senate Majority Leader Reid and the White House. I’m pleasantly surprised Republicans actually took my advice “to …

Written by Andrew Pavelyev on Monday April 11, 2011

Pence Might Not Back Budget Deal

Politico reports : Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), a staunch advocate of picking a fight on spending in the latest budget dust-up said on Sunday that he would probably not support the compromise. “From what I know, it sounds like John Boehner got a good deal,” Pence said on ABC’s “This …

Written by FrumForum News on Sunday April 10, 2011

Obama to Unveil Deficit Cut Plan

Politico reports : President Barack Obama will lay out a long-term deficit reduction plan this week, White House senior adviser David Plouffe said Sunday. “The president will be laying out his approach to long-term deficit reduction later this week,” Plouffe said on NBC's "Meet the …

Written by FrumForum News on Sunday April 10, 2011

GOP Pushes for Audit of AARP

The Hill reports : Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee asked federal tax authorities Friday to look into AARP's finances. The request was widely expected after the committee released a report last week raising questions about the hundreds of millions of dollars the …

Written by FrumForum News on Sunday April 10, 2011

2012 GOP Favorites: Too Wonky to Win?

Jonathan Chait thinks the GOP has a "Dukakis problem": none of the candidates being drafted to run looks very presidential. Will wonkiness hurt the GOP in 2012? In Sunday's New York Times Magazine , Jonathan Chait argues that the GOP has a "Dukakis problem": none of the candidates being …

Written by Andrew Gelman on Sunday April 10, 2011

Congress Gets Ready for the Next Budget Battle

Congress may have averted a shutdown, but their handling of budget negotiations left bond markets with more questions than answers. The 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week coverage of the fiscally trivial work of the past 3 months is over. The Continuing Resolution for Appropriations for FY11, …

Written by Steve Bell on Sunday April 10, 2011

Arab League Wants Gaza No-Fly Zone

According to reports coming out of the Middle East, the Arab League will request that the U.N. Security Council impose a no-fly zone over Gaza. According to reports coming out of the Middle East, the Arab League said it will request that the U.N. Security Council impose a no-fly zone over Gaza. …

Written by Arsen Ostrovsky on Sunday April 10, 2011

Mississippi GOP's Embarrassing Interracial Fears

PPP released a survey last week that should cause stomachs to churn: among GOP primary voters in Mississippi, 46% believe interracial marriage shouldn't be legal. Public Policy Polling released a survey last week that should cause stomachs to churn throughout polite society; among Republican …

Written by Corey Chambliss on Sunday April 10, 2011

Battles Thunder Over Libyan Town

The New York Times reports: AJDABIYA, Libya — Military forces loyal to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi pressed a coordinated ground attack on Ajdabiya on Saturday, bringing the front lines of the battle with the Libyan opposition forces back to the doorstep of this strategically vital rebel …

Written by FrumForum News on Sunday April 10, 2011

Israel Offers Ceasefire In Gaza

BBC News reports: Israel says it is willing to observe a ceasefire after days of military exchanges in Gaza, if Palestinian militants there end rocket attacks. Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said on Sunday: "If they stop firing on our communities, we will stop firing." A …

Written by FrumForum News on Sunday April 10, 2011

Iraqis Protest More US Troops

The New York Times reports: BAGHDAD — A day after Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates suggested that American troops could remain here for years, tens of thousands of protesters allied with Moktada al-Sadr , the radical anti-American Shiite cleric, flooded the streets demanding an end to …

Written by FrumForum News on Sunday April 10, 2011

Pro-Life Groups Just Begun To Fight

Politico reports: Social conservatives lost Round One against Planned Parenthood, but they got a taste of what’s possible and vowed Saturday to return for more. “We’re not finished with this, ” Penny Nance, CEO of Concerned Women for America, said in an interview. “The fiscal year 2012 …

Written by FrumForum News on Sunday April 10, 2011

China: US Needs To Stop Preaching On Rights

BBC News reports: China has told the US to stop preaching on human rights, after the state department's annual report on the issue criticised China. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the US should concentrate on its own rights issues and stop interfering. Chinese authorities have …

Written by FrumForum News on Sunday April 10, 2011

Egyptian Army To Replace Governors

BBC News reports: Egypt's interim military government has said it will remove some provincial governors appointed by former President Hosni Mubarak. The move is an apparent concession to protesters who want Mr Mubarak and his allies tried for corruption. It follows an army move on …

Written by FrumForum News on Sunday April 10, 2011