Friday, November 1, 2013

Mike Nova comments: Чем кумушек считать трудиться ("Иа-Иа!"), Не лучше ль на себя, кума, оборотиться? (!) | California driver gets ticket for wearing Google Glass | In front of the East Wing garden, 14 carved pumpkins spelled out the words 'HAPPY HALLOWEEN': Barack Obama and wife Michelle have celebrated Halloween with children and parents at a spooky event at the White House in Washington DC



» California driver gets ticket for wearing Google Glass - Hindu Business Line
01/11/13 10:13 from Top Stories - Google News
Hindu Business Line California driver gets ticket for wearing Google Glass Hindu Business Line A southern California woman has the dubious distinction of being the first driver cited for wearing Google Glass smartglasses while operating ...

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» Diplomatic Memo: One Casualty of Eavesdropping on Merkel: A Warm Rapport
01/11/13 06:30 from NYT > International
For President Obama, the collateral damage the National Security Agency surveillance has inflicted on his relationship with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany is, perhaps, a more painful cost of the episode.



But Ms. Merkel, declaring last week that “spying between friends is simply unacceptable,” said there had been a breach of trust that would have to be repaired. That may be hard, given how angry she is said to be, according to those who know her. A permanent chill would undoubtedly dismay Mr. Obama, for whom Ms. Merkel had become a sort of BFF in Europe.

Theirs is not a relationship of backslapping or bonhomie. When Mr. Obama and Ms. Merkel talk on the phone, aides say, they dispense with small talk and pick up where they left off in previous calls, speaking in English and dissecting the issue at hand with a matter-of-fact logic that comes naturally to a former law professor and a physicist.
... 
A year earlier, Mr. Obama awarded the chancellor the Presidential Medal of Freedom. At a state dinner in the Rose Garden, Ms. Merkel was served apple strudel and serenaded by James Taylor, who sang — what else? — “You’ve Got a Friend.” 
...
For Mr. Obama, there is a silver lining in that experience. It shows that Ms. Merkel is, above all, a pragmatist — a master tactician, in fact, who for the second time will preside over a coalition with her chief opponents, the Social Democratic Party. Just as she did not succumb to American pressure during the European crisis, she is not about to allow personal grievances to hinder projects that she considers high priorities.
...
Administration officials said the president would probably spend more time in Europe next year than he usually does. With a nuclear security summit meeting in the Netherlands, a Group of 8 meeting in Russia (-?! - Oh, Gosh; this glitch in a schedule gives me a toothache... - M.N.), and a NATO summit meeting in Britain, he will have several opportunities.
For now, though, his relationship with Ms. Merkel may be limited to formal encounters at those meetings. The days of apple strudel and “You’ve Got a Friend” in the Rose Garden seem a long time ago.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: November 1, 2013
Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this article referred to a meeting of the Group of 9 in Russia. It is the Group of 8.
Mike Nova comments: And who is "The Ninth" of the circle in this NYT "Freudian slip"? A little Snow White aka Masha Rybkina? Or some "mysterious apparition"? It could not possibly be me: I do not ware tails (and have just one, as the Very Special Agent At Large With No Charge) and do not always behave myself in a proper gastro-intestinal way (what else is there to do, though?). I would decline anyway: don't have time for all that nonsense, especially in the company of Russian bears. "Ekhe-ekhe...", with the well toasted upper crust's tongue in check or in chick's cheeks (- which-whose ones?)... 

Links and References: 

BFF - GS


  1. Urban Dictionary: bff

    www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bff

    Acronym - Best Friends Forever... Yo dude, that guy is my BFF, we have been friends our whole lives and we will until we die. Man that girl is such a BFF, she is ...


    apple strudel and apple pie


    Group of 8 meeting in Russia 2014 - GS



    1. G8, G20, BRICS Calendar - G20 Civil

      www.g20civil.com/calendar/

      10-12, Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting, Paris ... 

      2014. January. 1, Russia begins G8 Presidency. (Oh, Orror-or-or-or... - M.N.): 



      February. 22-23, G20 Finance Ministers and Central ...




      Italian libretto:

      Sola, perduta, abbandonata, Manon's aria from Manon Lescaut

      Sola, perduta, abbandonata...
      in landa desolata!
      Orror! Intorno a me soscura il ciel...
      Ahimè, son sola!
      E nel profondo deserto io cado,
      strazio crudel, ah! sola abbandonata,
      io, la deserta donna!
      Ah! non voglio morir!
      No! non voglio morir!
      Tutto dunque è finito.
      Terra di pace me sembrava questa...
      Ahi! Mia beltà funesta,
      ire novelle accende...
      Strappar da lui mi si volea; or tutto
      il mio passato orribile risorge,
      e vivo innanzi al guardo mio si posa.
      Ah! di sangue sè macchiato.
      Ah! tutto è finito.
      Asil di pace ora la tomba invoco...
      No! non voglio morir... amore, aita!


      Lyrics & English Translation

      Lonely forsaken and abandoned 

      All my hope then is over. 

      And in the heart of this desert 

      I'm dying. O wretched hapless woman! 

      I sought this region as a peaceful haven. 

      Ah! Through my fatal beauty 

      Torments afresh surround me 
      They would have severed me from him; 
      Mow all my past does haunt me 
      With fearful pangs of anguish, 
      And rises straight before 
      My eyes to rend me. 
      New dangers come to threaten 
      Only the tomb can release me from my burden. 
      No! Let me not die dearest help me!
         
    Published on Oct 8, 2009
    Maria Callas, soprano.
    Philharmonia Orchestra.
    Dir. Tullio Serafin.



    June
    4-5G8 SummitRussia, Sochi
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» China's Xinhua says "Peeping Tom" U.S. risks own security by spying on allies
01/11/13 10:10 from Reuters: International
BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States country risks its own security by refusing to trust even its own friends and spying on its allies, China's official Xinhua news agency said on Friday, labeling the latest revelations heart-stoppingly...



"Peeping Tom" - GS 


peep·ing Tom (ppng)
n.
A person who gets pleasure, especially sexual pleasure, from secretly watching others; a voyeur.

[After the legendary Peeping Tom of Coventry, England, who was the only person to see the naked Lady Godiva.]
Word History: In an age when we can speak of peeping Tom cameras or electronic peeping Toms we have indeed come far from the time of the legendary peeping Tom. Godgifu (fl. 1040-1080), Lady Godiva to us, pledged her legendary ride as a means of persuading her husband, Leofric, Earl of Mercia, to lower taxes. In the original version of the story she was observed by all the townspeople as she disrobed, but in a much later version of the story a tailor or butcher named Tom was the only person to observe her as she rode by, everyone else having shuttered their windows as they had been asked. Peeping Tom, first recorded around 1796, has become a term for a voyeur, not at all a pleasant fate for this legendary fellow. As W.H. Auden has said, "Peeping Toms/are never praised, like novelists or bird watchers,/for their keenness of observation."

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Mike Nova comments: Чья бы корова мычала, а твоя бы молчала! (Ha! That's the pot calling the kettle black!) And now share this with your Russian friends and translate it into your simplified Mandarine - Orangerine for better digestion, and consume it with your chopsticks or from your melamine milk bottle. 

» China blames East Turkestan movement for Beijing attack, but offers no details - Fox News
01/11/13 09:58 from Top Stories - Google News
BBC News China blames East Turkestan movement for Beijing attack, but offers no details Fox News BEIJING – China's top security official blamed a little-known militant group for this week's suicide car crash that killed five peop...

» China security chief blames Uighur Islamists for Tiananmen attack
01/11/13 09:31 from Reuters: International
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's domestic security chief believes a fatal vehicle crash in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in which five died was planned by a Muslim Uighur separatist group, designated a terrorist organization by the United States...

» Israeli planes strike Syrian military base, US official says - CNN
01/11/13 10:00 from Top Stories - Google News
National Post Israeli planes strike Syrian military base, US official says CNN (CNN) -- Israeli warplanes struck a military base near the Syrian port city of Latakia this week, an Obama administration official told CNN on Thursday. An ex...

» Israeli airstrikes target Syria military bases - CBS News
01/11/13 07:57 from Top Stories - Google News
The Hindu Israeli airstrikes target Syria military bases CBS News Israeli warplanes conducted two strikes on military bases in Syria, U.S. officials tell CBS News national security correspondent David Martin. The airstrikes were conducte...



Syrian air defense base near Latakia - GS






» The White House Celebrates Halloween
01/11/13 09:57 from Voice of America
Ghastly webs with giant black spiders adorned an orange-hued White House on Thursday for the annual White House Halloween event in Washington.   Clad in orange and black, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama spent an hour...

News / USA

The White House Celebrates Halloween

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The White House Celebrates Halloween
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VOA News
Ghastly webs with giant black spiders adorned an orange-hued White House on Thursday for the annual White House Halloween event in Washington.

Clad in orange and black, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama spent an hour passing out treats to thousands of kids from military families and local elementary schools as music, sometimes creepy and sometimes silly, played in the background.

Thousands of packages of jelly beans, dried fruit and White House cookies were given to children as they walked across the South Lawn, past stilt-walkers, jugglers and a giant.

Mingling with the children and their parents were White House staffers dressed as football players, vampires and princesses.


» President Obama Swaps Politics For Pumpkins
01/11/13 03:42 from Sky News | World News | First For Breaking News
Barack Obama and wife Michelle have celebrated Halloween with children and parents at a spooky event at the White House in Washington DC.



Barack Obama and wife Michelle have celebrated Halloween with children and parents at a spooky event at the White House in Washington DC.


















Obama and first lady give Halloween treats to visiting children at the White House in Washington

The President and First Lady mingled with stilt-walkers, jugglers and White House staff dressed as vampires and princesses as they gave out Halloween treats to children on the South Lawn as a brass band set the mood playing creepy Halloween tunes.


















Obama and first lady give Halloween treats to visiting children at the White House in Washington

The celebrations marked the return of the annual tradition that was scrapped last year after Superstorm Sandy slammed into the East Coast.


















The White House glows orange with special lighting to celebrate Halloween in Washington

For the event the White House was lit in orange and adorned with giant spiders and webs as the President emerged in the evening to hand out jelly beans and dried fruit.


















Obama and first lady give Halloween treats to visiting children at the White House in Washington

In front of the East Wing garden, 14 carved pumpkins spelled out the words 'HAPPY HALLOWEEN' while other costumes present included Zebras, Snow White, Scooby-Doo, Indiana Jones, and the Wicked Witch and Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz. 


















Obama gives a high five as he and first lady give Halloween treats to visiting children at the White House in Washington

The Obama's helped some 5,000 parents and children get into the spooky spirit, according to White House staffers.


» Deep cuts to country's food stamp program kick in as Congress debates more - Fox News
01/11/13 09:54 from Top Stories - Google News
Washington Post Deep cuts to country's food stamp program kick in as Congress debates more Fox News FILE: Feb. 4, 2010: A California family waiting to apply for food stamps at the Sacramento County Economic Development Department in ...

» US ends food stamp benefits as Congress debates more cuts - BBC News
01/11/13 05:14 from Top Stories - Google News
BBC News US ends food stamp benefits as Congress debates more cuts BBC News US food aid benefits are being cut from Friday as an extension of the government programme expires, while legislators fight over further cuts. Benefits to the su...


» Grenade blast in Russian courthouse kills 2: Interfax
01/11/13 09:50 from Reuters: International
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A man detonated a grenade in a courthouse in Russia on Friday, killing himself and a court officer and wounding two other people, the Interfax news agency reported.

» UN Envoy: Syria Peace Talks Impossible Without Opposition
01/11/13 09:48 from Voice of America
International envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is making a fresh appeal for Syria's divided opposition to attend a proposed peace conference. Speaking in Damascus Friday, Brahimi said it would be impossible for the long-delayed Geneva talks to take...


» Islamist Rebels Take Fight to Suburbs of Syrian Capital
01/11/13 09:31 from WSJ.com: World News
Islamist rebels, including some with links to al Qaeda, are fast gaining strength in suburbs encircling the Syrian capital, despite a chemical-weapons attack two months ago on one of their strongholds.

» Political tension flares in Thailand over amnesty bill
01/11/13 09:00 from Reuters: International
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the Thai capital on Friday after lawmakers approved a draft political amnesty bill that could allow the return of self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, one of Th...

» Kerry: US Surveillance Went 'Too Far'
01/11/13 08:57 from Voice of America
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the nation's surveillance activities went "too far" in some cases, and promised that it would not happen again. Kerry made the comments Thursday in Washington while speaking to a conference in Lond...

» Boy Who Killed Neo-Nazi Dad Sent to Lockup - ABC News
01/11/13 08:57 from Top Stories - Google News
San Francisco Chronicle Boy Who Killed Neo-Nazi Dad Sent to Lockup ABC News The boy, dressed up for court with his unruly blond hair slicked down, whispered with his lawyer but showed no reaction when a judge decreed that he be confined ...

A woman is arrested in Montreal after pumpkins she was carrying in her luggage are split open and drugs found inside.

» Halloween surprise: Woman arrested at airport with 3 pumpkins allegedly stuffed ... - Washington Post
01/11/13 06:32 from Top Stories - Google News
Montreal Gazette Halloween surprise: Woman arrested at airport with 3 pumpkins allegedly stuffed ... Washington Post MONTREAL — Canada's border services agency says it has stumbled upon a different kind of Halloween surprise in some ...

» Russian PM plays down talk of gas wars, warns Ukraine on EU
01/11/13 08:26 from Reuters: International
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said he saw no reason for Moscow to cut gas supplies to Ukraine over an unpaid bill for now, playing down talk of an imminent "gas war" that might disrupt gas flows to Europe.

» Russia's PM says U.S. hurt by evidence of "cynical" spying
01/11/13 08:16 from Reuters: International
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The United States faces a tough task undoing the damage inflicted by allegations it has spied on leaders of allied countries, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.

Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev speaks during an interview with Reuters in Moscow, October 31, 2013. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor


Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev speaks during an interview with Reuters in Moscow, October 31, 2013.

Credit: Reuters/Grigory Dukor
MOSCOW | Fri Nov 1, 2013 4:16am EDT

(Reuters) - The United States faces a tough task undoing the damage inflicted by allegations it has spied on leaders of allied countries, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.

The snooping scandal is a result of disclosures of U.S. secrets made to media organizations by Edward Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor who fled the United States and has been living in asylum in Russia since August.
Spy scandals strained relations between Russia and the United States during Medvedev's 2008-2012 presidency and have continued to do so since Vladimir Putin returned to the Kremlin last year.
Former KGB spy Putin said Russia would shelter Snowden only if he stopped harming the United States, but the president ignored U.S. pleas to send the American home to face espionage charges.
The decision to grant Snowden asylum seemed to underscore Putin's accusations that the United States preaches to the world about rights and freedoms it does not uphold at home.
A German lawmaker said he met Snowden in Moscow on Thursday and that the former NSA contractor was willing to come to assist investigations into alleged U.S. surveillance of Merkel.

(Reporting by Stephen Adler and Timothy Heritage; Writing by Steve Gutterman, editing by Elizabeth Piper)

Medvedev told Reuters in an interview on Thursday - GS


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  1. Dmitry Medvedev - Events -The Russian Government

    premier.gov.ru/en/

    Dmitry Medvedev sends his greetings to participants and guests of 10th World ....OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev speaks in an interview with Reuters - 

Dmitry Medvedev: Strictly speaking, we are already taking such measures. They are designed to stimulate economic growth to the extent to which we are able to influence economic growth at all. Of course, the problems in the world economy and in European economies are clear. Russia is an export economy, so this inevitably affects our economic development. Our GDP growth target for this year was initially 3%, or perhaps a bit higher. But actual growth is unlikely to exceed 2%.  This may seem quite good given that a number of European economies are in recession, but to us it’s not enough because our economic base is not as strong as other countries. And to be able to develop, we need to grow at a faster pace.

The important thing now is to make sure that Russian companies can access decent loans at decent interest rates. This is our primary task. Another high priority is changing the structure of the Russian economy as a whole.

But let me return to a point I made at the beginning: there’s no silver bullet or a single and unique method to revive economic growth.

I believe this is a matter of responsible economic policies: to ensure a normal balance of revenue and expenditures and an inflow of investment, at least for a predictable period, in order to guarantee macroeconomic stability...

We have adopted other decisions that should encourage people to abide by the law, because corruption is not only a set of violations and crimes but also a mindset – can or can’t I [do something unlawful]? Why is it believed that the level of corruption in Russia and many other countries is so high? Because many people say to themselves: Yes I can do it because I won’t get caught and because everyone else does it anyway.

So I believe that we have made progress in this area, though it would be premature to speak about any major achievements. 

Some forms of corruption that were widespread in 1990s and even the early 2000s have disappeared: officials no longer extort money for some things which they are obliged to do, or demand part of someone’s business for their assistance. However, new forms of corruption have appeared which we must fight

You see, I believe what we occasionally hear in this sense, I mean proposals to remove President Assad from power as a prerequisite to reaching an agreement, these proposals are unrealistic as long as President Assad remains in power. He is not a madman, and he should receive some guarantees, or at least some proposals concerning the development of a political dialogue in Syria itself, possible elections and his personal fate. As you might expect, when he thinks about the fate of President Mubarak or the fate of Col. Muammar Gaddafi, the leader of the Libyan revolution, he is unlikely to feel elated. This is why it’s impossible to simply tell him to get lost...

No one likes being spied on, so the European leaders’ grudge is very understandable. I hear they tried to tap my telephones as well when I attended summits as president. You know, when they say this is common practice, everyone understands there is interest in the activities of foreign leaders and foreign countries, and that’s what secret services are for, but I don’t suppose this should be done in such a blatant and cynical manner. The situation you are talking about has simply exposed the problem, so Europe’s leaders took offense. Once again, I perfectly understand their feelings. Can this situation be resolved? I think so. Although, frankly, simple reassurances won’t work here.

Everyone is sweating, the secret services, and the government: the whole country is working hard to ensure absolute security during the Olympics.

Question: Thank you! Thank you for sparing time for this interview. Thanks again.
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Mike Nova comments: 



Russia Denies Reports It Spied on Group of 20 Officials

It rejected an Italian newspaper’s report that Russian spy agencies distributed special USB thumb drives to eavesdrop on participants at last month’s meeting in St. Petersburg.

» Russia denies G20 spying claims - BBC News
30/10/13 22:02 from Top Stories - Google News
BBC News Russia denies G20 spying claims BBC News President Putin's spokesman has denied that Russia spied on delegates at the G20 summit in St Petersburg in September. Dmitri Peskov said Italian newspaper reports that Russia had han...

31/10/13 01:00 from Top Stories - Google News
Toronto Star Russia denies Italy media reports over spying on delegates at G20 Oman Tribune ROME/ MOSCOW/ PARIS Russia has denied reports that its intelligence services spied on hundreds of foreign delegates at a Group of 20 summit in St...


Links and References: 

ЗЕРКАЛО И ОБЕЗЬЯНА

Мартышка, в Зеркале увидя образ свой
Тихохонько Медведя толк ногой:
«Смотри-ка», говорит: «кум милый мой!
Что́ это там за рожа?
Какие у нее ужимки и прыжки!
Я удавилась бы с тоски,
Когда бы на нее хоть чуть была похожа.
А, ведь, признайся, есть
Из кумушек моих таких кривляк пять-шесть:
Я даже их могу по пальцам перечесть».— 

«Чем кумушек считать трудиться, 
Не лучше ль на себя, кума, оборотиться?»

Ей Мишка отвечал.
Но Мишенькин совет лишь попусту пропал.

Таких примеров много в мире:
Не любит узнавать ни кто себя в сатире.
Я даже видел то вчера:
Что Климыч на-руку нечист, все это знают;
Про взятки Климычу читают.
А он украдкою кивает на Петра.

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» Russian PM sees Syria peace talks by end of year
01/11/13 08:07 from Reuters: International
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia hopes an international peace conference on Syria will be held before the end of this year, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said, despite reported differences with the United States over opposition representation.

» Developing Economies Outpace West in Attracting Investment
01/11/13 07:25 from WSJ.com: World News
A U.N. report found the lion's share of foreign direct investment in the first half of 2013 went to developing countries, although the U.K. jumped to the head of the list.

» NATO stages exercise as rearming Russia worries some allies
01/11/13 07:15 from Reuters: International
LONDON (Reuters) - When NATO forces start a major exercise in Latvia and Poland this weekend, they will be rehearsing how to oust an anonymous invading enemy from a fictional region.

» Toronto mayor: No reason to resign over 'drug video' - BBC News
01/11/13 07:08 from Top Stories - Google News
BBC News Toronto mayor: No reason to resign over 'drug video' BBC News Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has refused to quit after police said they recovered a video appearing to show him smoking from a crack pipe. Mr Ford, who has denied s...

» Rob Ford scandal: Toronto Police have video apparently showing mayor ... - Toronto Star
01/11/13 05:39 from Top Stories - Google News
Toronto Star Rob Ford scandal: Toronto Police have video apparently showing mayor ... Toronto Star Toronto Police have recovered the video that appears to show Mayor Rob For smoking crack cocaine, Toronto police Chief Bill Blair said Thu...

» US, Mexico unearth new 'sophisticated' border drug tunnel
01/11/13 06:26 from Uploads by AFP
US, Mexico unearth new 'sophisticated' border drug tunnel US and Mexican authorities unearth a "highly sophisticated" tunnel used to smuggle drugs beneath their common border. Duration:01:09. From: AFP Views: 0 0 rating...

» Authorities Uncover Sophisticated Tunnel Linking US, Mexico
01/11/13 05:06 from Voice of America
U.S. officials have disrupted a major drug smuggling operation by shutting down a sophisticated tunnel linking warehouses in San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico.   Federal officials say three arrests have been made and they're targeting more s...

» Cross-border drug tunnel equipped with rail system - Houston Chronicle
01/11/13 04:49 from Top Stories - Google News
BBC News Cross-border drug tunnel equipped with rail system Houston Chronicle SAN DIEGO (AP) — A tunnel designed to smuggle drugs from Tijuana, Mexico, to San Diego was equipped with lighting, ventilation and an electric rail system, U.S...

» Tijuana Drug Smuggling Super Tunnel Found
01/11/13 03:34 from Sky News | World News | First For Breaking News
A drug smuggling "super tunnel" has been discovered by US officials linking Tijuana in Mexico to San Diego.

» US-Mexico drug tunnel with rail system found - USA TODAY
01/11/13 03:11 from Top Stories - Google News
Washington Post US-Mexico drug tunnel with rail system found USA TODAY A tunnel designed to smuggle drugs from Tijuana, Mexico, to San Diego is equipped with electricity, ventilation and a rail system, U.S. authorities said Thursday. The...

» Tunnel for Smuggling Found Under Border; Tons of Drugs Seized
01/11/13 01:08 from NYT > International
The sophisticated underground passageway featured electricity, ventilation and an electronic rail system and took about a year to build, officials said.

» Border tunnel: 3 arrested; 8 tons of pot, 325 lbs. of cocaine seized - Los Angeles Times
01/11/13 00:52 from Top Stories - Google News
New York Times Border tunnel: 3 arrested; 8 tons of pot, 325 lbs. of cocaine seized Los Angeles Times SAN DIEGO — U.S. authorities said Thursday they have shut down a major cross-border drug tunnel that traffickers had recently completed...

» Syria conflict: Israel 'carries out Latakia air strike' - BBC News
01/11/13 07:06 from Top Stories - Google News
BBC News Syria conflict: Israel 'carries out Latakia air strike' BBC News Israeli aircraft have carried out a strike near the Syrian coastal city of Latakia, a US official has said. The official said the strike targeted Russian-m...

» Israel Said to Strike Syrian Base to Destroy Missiles - Bloomberg
01/11/13 04:51 from Top Stories - Google News
BBC News Israel Said to Strike Syrian Base to Destroy Missiles Bloomberg Israel carried out air strikes in Syria, according to a U.S. official who asked not to be identified discussing security matters. Israeli warplanes struck a Syrian ...

» Israeli Warplanes Strike Assad Base
01/11/13 02:19 from WSJ.com: World News
Israeli warplanes struck a military base near the Syrian city of Latakia in a bid to prevent weapons transfers to the regime's Lebanese allies Hezbollah.

» Syria Destroys Chemical Sites, Inspectors Say - New York Times
01/11/13 06:06 from Top Stories - Google News
New York Times Syria Destroys Chemical Sites, Inspectors Say New York Times BEIRUT, Lebanon — Syria's ability to produce chemical weapons has been destroyed and its remaining toxic armaments secured, weapons inspectors said Thursday,...

» Syria Could Turn Into Somalia if Peace Talks Fail, Says UN - TIME
01/11/13 03:21 from Top Stories - Google News
The Guardian Syria Could Turn Into Somalia if Peace Talks Fail, Says UN TIME When Syrian President Bashar Assad met with the UN-Arab League envoy on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of peace talks that might bring an end to a civil w...

» Prosecutors Make Their Case in U.K. Phone-Hacking Trial
01/11/13 05:17 from WSJ.com: World News
Tabloid editors Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson had a multiyear affair, prosecutors said during the U.K. phone-hacking trial, seeking to show the extent to which the two shared information about newsroom operations.

» NotW phone hacking trial to resume - Belfast Telegraph
01/11/13 04:36 from Top Stories - Google News
Belfast Telegraph NotW phone hacking trial to resume Belfast Telegraph Prosecutors will continue to lay out the case against former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and ex-News of the World editor Andy Coulson and other ...

» Amid NSA spying revelations, tech leaders call for new restraints on agency - Washington Post
01/11/13 05:03 from Top Stories - Google News
ZDNet Amid NSA spying revelations, tech leaders call for new restraints on agency Washington Post Mounting revelations about the extent of NSA surveillance have alarmed technology leaders in recent days, driving a renewed push for signif...

» Australia ambassador summoned amid Asia US spying reports - BBC News
01/11/13 04:48 from Top Stories - Google News
BBC News Australia ambassador summoned amid Asia US spying reports BBC News Indonesia has summoned Australia's ambassador amid reports that Australian embassies have been used as part of a US-led spying network in Asia. The Sydney Mo...

» FAA Says Fliers Can Use Devices During All Phases of Flight - Wall Street Journal
01/11/13 04:38 from Top Stories - Google News
Washington Post FAA Says Fliers Can Use Devices During All Phases of Flight Wall Street Journal FAA Administrator Michael Huerta discusses portable electronic device rules for flights on Thursday during a press conference at Ronald Reaga...

» Iraq Blames Violence on Civil War Next Door
01/11/13 03:34 from WSJ.com: World News
Iraq's prime minister said terrorism in his country is escalating because the Arab Spring failed. Some U.S. military officials attribute the rise to government missteps.

» Apparent security threat diverts United Express flight - CNN
01/11/13 03:25 from Top Stories - Google News
NewsNet5.com Apparent security threat diverts United Express flight CNN (CNN) -- United Express Flight 5573 from San Francisco to San Antonio was diverted to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Thursday afternoon when a crew member ...

» FBI: Plane diverted because of unspecified security threat - CNN
01/11/13 02:16 from Top Stories - Google News
Business Insider FBI: Plane diverted because of unspecified security threat CNN (CNN) -- The FBI has been called to Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport because of a threat discovered on United Express Flight 5573 from San Fran...

» Japan rejects Chinese protests over sea drills, denies interference
01/11/13 03:19 from Reuters: International
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan on Friday denied interfering with Chinese military exercises in the western Pacific after Beijing lodged a formal diplomatic protest, saying China's objections were unacceptable and it had acted in line with inter...

» At War Blog: Share Your Views for Veterans Day
01/11/13 03:17 from NYT > International
Our colleagues at Home Fires invite veterans, or friends or relatives of someone who served in the military, to share recollections, photographs and messages for a post on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2013.

» Venezuelan leader says construction workers see Chavez apparition
01/11/13 03:13 from Reuters: International
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said an image of his political idol and predecessor, the late socialist leader Hugo Chavez, had appeared miraculously in the wall of an underground construction site.

» Contested Amnesty Bill Advances to Let Thai Ex-Leader Return
01/11/13 03:13 from WSJ.com: World News
Thailand's lower house rushed through a controversial amnesty bill in predawn voting on Friday that would allow former leader Thaksin Shinawatra to return home without serving a prison term.

» German Politician Meets With Snowden
01/11/13 03:04 from NYT > International
A member of the parliamentary committee that oversees German intelligence met Edward J. Snowden to explore whether he would testify in an inquiry of the N.S.A.’s monitoring of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s calls.

» Syria meets deadline to destroy chemical production facilities
01/11/13 02:42 from Reuters: International
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria has destroyed or rendered inoperable all of its declared chemical weapons production and mixing facilities, meeting a major deadline in an ambitious disarmament program, the international chemical weapons watchdo...

» Müller, an Architect of the Holocaust, Is Said to Be Buried in Jewish Cemetery in Berlin
01/11/13 01:51 from NYT > International
The head of an association that watches over memorials to German resistance fighters says a document indicates that Heinrich Müller was killed and eventually buried in a mass grave in the heart of the German capital.

» Europe Sparks Growth Fears
01/11/13 01:45 from WSJ.com: World News
The euro zone's inflation rate fell to its lowest in almost four years in October, raising pressure on the European Central Bank to ease the money supply and support the region's recovery.

» Batista's Empire Soared, Then Melted Into Bankruptcy
01/11/13 01:27 from WSJ.com: World News
The collapse of oil firm OGX, Latin America's biggest-ever bankruptcy, punctuates the Brazilian titan's breathtaking rise and fall.

» Finland Says Foreign Ministry Hacked
01/11/13 01:23 from WSJ.com: World News
A sophisticated cyber-espionage campaign had infiltrated the communications network of Finland's foreign ministry for a lengthy period, Finland's foreign minister said Thursday.

» Recovered Video of Mayor Roils Toronto
01/11/13 00:59 from NYT > International
The police said that technicians had recovered from deleted computer files a video that apparently showed Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine.

» Senate bill would approve NSA program but try to curb it - Washington Post
01/11/13 00:35 from Top Stories - Google News
The Guardian Senate bill would approve NSA program but try to curb it Washington Post The Senate Intelligence Committee voted Thursday to advance legislation that would endorse a National Security Agency program to collect the phone reco...

» Big tech companies fight for new privacy laws - NBCNews.com
01/11/13 00:26 from Top Stories - Google News
New York Daily News Big tech companies fight for new privacy laws NBCNews.com Six major technology companies, including Facebook, Yahoo, Google and Apple, are calling for new privacy laws to stop U.S. intelligence agencies from breaking ...

» Two Nominees Of Obama Are Blocked In the Senate - New York Times
01/11/13 00:22 from Top Stories - Google News
Washington Post Two Nominees Of Obama Are Blocked In the Senate New York Times WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans on Thursday thwarted the confirmation of two of President Obama's nominees, one to a powerful appeals court and another to...

» Official: Kansas school bus goes off bridge; children in water - CNN
01/11/13 00:20 from Top Stories - Google News
WXIA-TV Official: Kansas school bus goes off bridge; children in water CNN (CNN) -- A school bus went off a bridge into a creek near Douglas, Kansas, on Thursday evening, authorities said. The bus driver and children are being pulled fro...

» U.S. feels pressure to show progress in peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians
01/11/13 00:18 from World: World News, International News, Foreign Reporting - The Washington Post
Six months before an unofficial deadline for a final peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, the Obama administration is feeling pressure to show progress in U.S.-sponsored peace talks that both sides say have not made much headw...

China security chief blames Uighur separatists for Tiananmen attack 1:09am EDT - Reuters

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Prosecutor reviewing case of teen found dead in gym mat - USA TODAY

» Prosecutor reviewing case of teen found dead in gym mat - USA TODAY
31/10/13 19:12 from Top Stories - Google News
ABC News Prosecutor reviewing case of teen found dead in gym mat USA TODAY A federal prosecutor in Georgia said Thursday he will conduct a formal review in the case of a Valdosta teen found dead in January inside a rolled-up wrestling ma...

James R. Clapper Jr., the director of national intelligence, testified Tuesday about American spying on foreign leaders

» Tap on Merkel Provides Peek at Vast Spy Net
31/10/13 06:36 from NYT > International
Phone monitoring by the National Security Agency is hardly limited to leaders like Angela Merkel of Germany, and also includes their top aides and the heads of opposing parties.

The New York Times
October 31, 2013    
Susan Walsh/Associated Press

James R. Clapper Jr., right, the director of national intelligence, testified Tuesday about American spying on foreign leaders.

The revelation that the N.S.A. was monitoring Ms. Merkel’s calls has set off a controversy in Germany.
Helmut Schmidt, the German chancellor from 1974 to 1982, told the weekly Die Zeit he was certain that Ms. Merkel’s calls had been monitored, but that it was impossible to know what secrets might have been stolen.
Mr. Schmidt, who told the German publication that he had always assumed his phone calls had been tapped, had some advice for Ms. Merkel.
“I advise the chancellor to remain calm,” he said.

» Merkel envoys at White House to sort out U.S.-German tensions
30/10/13 22:32 from Reuters: International
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - American and German officials sought to overcome tension between their governments on Wednesday following reports that the U.S. National Security Agency monitored German Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone.

» Europe Re-Examines U.S. Spy Ties
31/10/13 01:02 from WSJ.com: World News
The Spanish foreign minister called 'cooperation' between allies crucial, while French officials stood by demands for an explanation and President Obama's national security team briefed visiting German officials.

» Spain Dials Back Over U.S. Spying
30/10/13 21:43 from WSJ.com: World News
The Spanish foreign minister called 'cooperation' between allies crucial, while French officials stood by demands for an explanation and President Obama's national security team briefed visiting German officials.


» US Says It Is Not Spying on UN Communications
31/10/13 00:05 from Voice of America
The United Nations says it has received assurances from the U.S. government that U.N. communications networks "are not and will not be monitored'' by American intelligence agencies. But chief U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky would not comme...


» NSA reportedly collecting data secretly from Google, Yahoo - Los Angeles Times
30/10/13 21:27 from Top Stories - Google News
Philly.com NSA reportedly collecting data secretly from Google, Yahoo Los Angeles Times WASHINGTON -- The National Security Agency has been secretly collecting Internet data -- almost certainly including American email traffic -- as it t...


» U.K. Creates New Regulator for the Press
31/10/13 00:44 from WSJ.com: World News
The British government's plan to regulate the press cleared its final hurdle by gaining the formal consent of Queen Elizabeth. Her consent came hours after a publishers group failed to halt the plan in court.

Russia Denies Reports It Spied on Group of 20 Officials

It rejected an Italian newspaper’s report that Russian spy agencies distributed special USB thumb drives to eavesdrop on participants at last month’s meeting in St. Petersburg.

» Russia denies G20 spying claims - BBC News
30/10/13 22:02 from Top Stories - Google News
BBC News Russia denies G20 spying claims BBC News President Putin's spokesman has denied that Russia spied on delegates at the G20 summit in St Petersburg in September. Dmitri Peskov said Italian newspaper reports that Russia had han...


» Russia denies Italy media reports over spying on delegates at G20 - Oman Tribune
31/10/13 01:00 from Top Stories - Google News
Toronto Star Russia denies Italy media reports over spying on delegates at G20 Oman Tribune ROME/ MOSCOW/ PARIS Russia has denied reports that its intelligence services spied on hundreds of foreign delegates at a Group of 20 summit in St...

» Activists Feel Powerful Wrath as Russia Guards Its Arctic Claims
31/10/13 01:21 from NYT > International
The detained crew of the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise appears to have grossly underestimated Russia’s readiness to assert — and even expand — its sovereignty in an Arctic region potentially rich with natural resources.

Multimedia
In Russia, Conflating Journalism and ‘Hooliganism’
LENS BLOG
In Russia, Conflating Journalism and ‘Hooliganism’
The Russian journalist Denis Sinyakov, detained while photographing Greenpeace activism in the Arctic Circle, is sitting in a cell 23 hours a day and may face seven years’ imprisonment.


Alexandra Harris, one of 30 people from a Greenpeace ship who are being detained by Russia.
Dmitri Sharomov/Greenpeace, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Activists Feel Wrath of Russia in the Arctic

The crew of a Greenpeace ship has underestimated Russia’s readiness to assert its sovereignty in the Arctic. Above, Alexandra Harris is one of 30 being detained.




Israel Gets a Mixed Message on American Jews


JERUSALEM — The Pew Research Center released a comprehensive and nuanced study on Oct. 1 about the character of the American Jewish community. The reaction here was typical Israeli apprehension about Jews’ place in the world, mixed with a general sense of confusion over how to interpret the results. Most discussions focused on two aspects: The high percentage of interfaith marriages and the vast support among American Jews for Israel.

» Iraqi tribes say Lukoil project must fuel better life
31/10/13 06:08 from Reuters: International
Al-Toraba, BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) - Sheikh Mansour Hamid al-Imara clutches his prayer beads and watches a huge new oil facility nearing completion across the road from his village, hoping that Russian operator Lukoil will offer his poor t...

» Antibodies Showing Promise Against HIV
31/10/13 03:21 from WSJ.com: World News
Researchers have identified a potentially powerful new treatment for HIV that would use antibodies to disable the virus, a finding that promises to energize research in both prevention and treatment.


» Study: Bat-to-Human Leap Likely for SARS-Like Virus
31/10/13 01:07 from WSJ.com: World News
A decade after SARS swept through the world and killed more than 750 people, scientists have made a troubling discovery: A very close cousin of the SARS virus lives in bats and it can likely jump directly to people.


» U.S. Accuses Germany of Causing Instability
31/10/13 02:06 from NYT > International
A Treasury Department report accused Germany of hindering economic growth by relying too heavily on exports and by failing to build up its domestic economy.


» U.S. Treasury Targets German Economic Policies
30/10/13 22:33 from WSJ.com: World News
Using sharp language, the semiannual report says Germany's export-led growth is creating problems for the euro zone and the global economy.


» Federal Inquiry Into Indian Firm Puts a Focus on Widespread Visa Abuses
31/10/13 01:03 from NYT > International
A federal investigation into visa use by Infosys has resulted in a $34 million settlement and prompted investigations into other foreign outsourcing firms, federal officials said Wednesday.


» Sebelius Apologizes for Health Site's Malfunctions - New York Times
31/10/13 01:02 from Top Stories - Google News
New York Daily News Sebelius Apologizes for Health Site's Malfunctions New York Times WASHINGTON — Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, gamely defended the problem-plagued rollout of President Obama's he...


» First Take: For Obama, the value of a lightning rod - USA TODAY
31/10/13 00:09 from Top Stories - Google News
Washington Post First Take: For Obama, the value of a lightning rod USA TODAY WASHINGTON — Despite Republican demands for her resignation, Kathleen Sebelius is likely to keep her job as secretary of Health and Human Services and her role...


 Obama stands by promise that "you can keep your plan" - CBS News
31/10/13 01:00 from Top Stories - Google News
Washington Post Obama stands by promise that "you can keep your plan" CBS News Amid reports of millions of Americans losing their insurance because of new Obamacare regulations, President Obama on Wednesday stood by his promise...


» President Obama visits Boston to defend health law, says Bay State experience ... - Boston.com
31/10/13 00:32 from Top Stories - Google News
Washington Post President Obama visits Boston to defend health law, says Bay State experience ... Boston.com President Obama gave a vociferous defense of his signature health care law on Wednesday in Boston, returning to the intellectual...


» President Obama tries to sell Obamacare: Can you hear me now? - Los Angeles Times
30/10/13 22:41 from Top Stories - Google News
Politico President Obama tries to sell Obamacare: Can you hear me now? Los Angeles Times As he tried to reframe the national discussion about healthcare reform on Wednesday, President Obama uttered an outright fib: “This debate has never...


» Obama takes responsibility for healthcare website problems - Chicago Tribune
30/10/13 22:28 from Top Stories - Google News
Politico Obama takes responsibility for healthcare website problems Chicago Tribune President Barack Obama said on Wednesday that "bad apple" insurance companies, not his signature healthcare law, are to blame for hundreds of t...


» UPDATE 1-Obamacare website security at 'high risk' before launch -memo - Reuters
30/10/13 22:03 from Top Stories - Google News
San Francisco Chronicle UPDATE 1-Obamacare website security at 'high risk' before launch -memo Reuters Wed Oct 30, 2013 6:02pm EDT. By Jim Finkle. BOSTON Oct 30 (Reuters) - The security of the Obama administration's healthcar...


» Contrite White House Spurns Health Law's Critics - New York Times
31/10/13 00:51 from Top Stories - Google News
New York Times Contrite White House Spurns Health Law's Critics New York Times BOSTON — The White House on Wednesday blended expressions of contrition for the troubled rollout of its health care law with an aggressive rejection of Re...


» Kathleen Sebelius, punching bag - Washington Post
30/10/13 22:40 from Top Stories - Google News
Washington Post Kathleen Sebelius, punching bag Washington Post Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius spent Wednesday morning doing a star turn as the Obama administration's latest piñata of the season, stepping in fo...



» Obama Vows to Fix Health Site and Rebuff Critics - New York Times
30/10/13 21:40 from Top Stories - Google News
New York Times Obama Vows to Fix Health Site and Rebuff Critics New York Times BOSTON — President Obama on Wednesday offered an impassioned defense of his Affordable Care Act, promising to fix the malfunctioning health care website but p...


» Deficit under $1T for first time in five years - USA TODAY
30/10/13 23:11 from Top Stories - Google News
Washington Post Deficit under $1T for first time in five years USA TODAY The budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2013 dropped to $680.3 billion, the government reported Wednesday -- the first time in five years the shortfall has been below $1...


» U.S. Budget Deficit Falls Under $1 Trillion; Lowest Since 2008 - KRCU
30/10/13 23:07 from Top Stories - Google News
Washington Post U.S. Budget Deficit Falls Under $1 Trillion; Lowest Since 2008 KRCU The U.S. government ran a deficit of $680 billion in the financial year that ended last month — the first time since 2008 that the annual shortfall has b...


» US Lawmakers Begin Another Search for Budget Deal - Voice of America
30/10/13 21:43 from Top Stories - Google News
Voice of America US Lawmakers Begin Another Search for Budget Deal Voice of America CAPITOL HILL — A select group of U.S. lawmakers from both political parties and both houses of Congress began work Wednesday to end a budget stalemate th...


Politics & Policy - WSJ

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Spying Known at Top Levels, Officials Say

» Spying Known at Top Levels, Officials Say
30/10/13 09:02 from NYT > International
The White House has long been aware in general terms of the National Security Agency’s overseas eavesdropping, the nation’s top spymaster told a House hearing on Tuesday.

» US intelligence chief Clapper defends spying policy - BBC News
30/10/13 08:46 from Top Stories - Google News
BBC News US intelligence chief Clapper defends spying policy BBC News The head of US intelligence has told lawmakers that discerning foreign leaders' intentions is a key goal of the nation's spying operations. Director of Nationa...


» NSA Chief Labels European Spy Claims 'False'
30/10/13 07:58 from Sky News | World News | First For Breaking News
General Keith Alexander tells Congress the agency acts within legal boundaries and information leaked by Edward Snowden is untrue.


» US espionage chiefs hit back in a row over mass spying
30/10/13 06:07 from Uploads by AFP
US espionage chiefs hit back in a row over mass spying US espionage chiefs hit back in a row over mass spying, saying reports American eavesdroppers scooped up millions of phone records in Europe, were "completel... From: AFP Views:...


» NSA chief defends its spying programs - USA TODAY
30/10/13 05:23 from Top Stories - Google News
Bloomberg NSA chief defends its spying programs USA TODAY WASHINGTON — Army Gen. Keith Alexander, director of the National Security Agency, defended his agency, saying what his staff does "is bring back more U.S. soldiers, airmen an...


» Officials Say White House Knew of Spying - New York Times
30/10/13 03:42 from Top Stories - Google News
Washington Post Officials Say White House Knew of Spying New York Times WASHINGTON — The nation's top spymaster said on Tuesday that the White House had long been aware in general terms of the National Security Agency's overseas ...


» As It Denounces U.S. Spying, Europe Delays Privacy Protection at Home
30/10/13 01:02 from NYT > International
Germany’s acquiescence in a British-led effort to freeze the privacy measures highlighted what appear to be contradictions between the verbal support for privacy among European leaders and their policy decisions.


» Dancer admits affair with Costa Concordia captain
30/10/13 08:41 from Uploads by ITN
Dancer admits affair with Costa Concordia captain A Moldovan dancer who was on the bridge of the Costa Concordia with Captain Francesco Schettino has admitted she was his lover. Report by Sarah Johnston. From: ITN Views: 0 0 ratings Time...


» Sebelius to Face Congress Over Obamacare
30/10/13 08:28 from Voice of America
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will face tough questions Wednesday from a Congressional committee regarding the troubled launch of the website of President Barack Obama's health care reform law. Sebelius is ex...



» Obama accused of breaking promise to consumers as health plans cancel policies - Washington Post
30/10/13 01:24 from Top Stories - Google News
San Francisco Chronicle Obama accused of breaking promise to consumers as health plans cancel policies Washington Post A new controversy over the president's health-care law is threatening to overshadow the messy launch of its Web si...

» Maliki Urges US Military Aid as Senators Criticize 'Sectarian' Leadership
30/10/13 07:16 from Voice of America
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is asking the United States for help in fighting what he says are terrorists exploiting sectarian tensions. Meanwhile, a group of influential U.S. senators say his leadership is driving a wedge betwee...

» Senators Warn Obama Before Iraq Leader’s Visit
30/10/13 04:04 from NYT > International
An influential group of senators sent a strongly worded letter to warn that the Iraqi premier’s “mismanagement” of the country’s politics had contributed to the surge of violence there.


» Syrian Official Fired After Talks With U.S.
30/10/13 06:57 from WSJ.com: World News
Syria's deputy prime minister was fired by President Bashar al-Assad after announcing from Russia that he had met with U.S. officials in Geneva to discuss preparations for a proposed peace conference there next month.


» Starvation in Syria: a war tactic
30/10/13 06:35 from Reuters: International
DAMASCUS (Reuters) - One Syrian security official called it the "Starvation Until Submission Campaign", blocking food and medicine from entering and people from leaving besieged areas of Syria.


» Once turned away, Jesse Jackson Jr. finally in prison - Reuters
30/10/13 00:47 from Top Stories - Google News
Washington Post Once turned away, Jesse Jackson Jr. finally in prison Reuters By Mary Wisniewski. CHICAGO | Tue Oct 29, 2013 8:45pm EDT. CHICAGO (Reuters) - Former U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. began his first day of a 30-month s...



Six people, including two children, were found shot to death Tuesday night in an apparent murder-suicide in South Carolina home

» Six people found shot to death in South Carolina home - NBCNews.com
30/10/13 09:36 from Top Stories - Google News
NBCNews.com Six people found shot to death in South Carolina home NBCNews.com By M. Alex Johnson, Staff Writer, NBC News. Six people, including two children, were found shot to death Tuesday night in an apparent murder-suicide in South C...