The Obama administration is to pledge $1.15 billion over the next two years to help with Haiti’s post-earthquake reconstruction, according to a senior U.S. official.
Source:U.S. pledges $1.15 billion for Haiti recovery
The Army secretary says he would not discharge gay personnel who admitted their sexual orientation to him, despite the “don’t ask, don’t tell” stance that remains official military policy.
Source:Army chief: I won’t discharge gay personnel
President Barack Obama threw open a huge swath of East Coast waters and other protected areas in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico to drilling Wednesday.
Source:Obama calls for new Atlantic, Gulf oil drilling
Switzerland’s decision on extraditing Roman Polanski will be made after a California court rules whether he can be sentenced in absentia in a 33-year-old sex case, a Swiss official said Wednesday.
Source:Swiss to decide on Polanski after Calif. ruling
Technicians at the Russian-leased space center in Kazakhstan hoisted a rocket onto its launch pad ahead of Friday’s blastoff of a NASA astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts to the International Space Station.
Source:Rocket prepared for Soyuz space launch
AFP - An Islamist group from Russia’s restive Caucasus region has claimed responsibility for this week’s deadly twin suicide bombings in Moscow, while two more attacks on Wednesday left 12 dead.
Source:Islamist group claims Russian metro attacks
(AFP)
AP - When it comes to predicting earthquakes, toads — warts and all — may be an asset.
Source:Study suggests toads can detect coming earthquakes
(AP)
AP - An upcoming Fox News Channel special hosted by Sarah Palin is titled “Real American Stories.” But rapper-actor LL Cool J says his participation in the show was bogus. In response, the network has snipped him from the program.
Source:Palin's show drops LL Cool J after he complains
(AP)
Reuters - The Republican National Committee has been spending big to win key elections and regain momentum under chairman Michael Steele — maybe too big, according to political analysts and federal records.
Source:RNC outlays may be problem for 2010 races: analysts
(Reuters)
Reuters - International donors met on Wednesday to pledge some $4 billion to Haiti, launching a worldwide effort to rebuild the country after January’s shattering earthquake.
Source:Donors pledge billions for Haiti aid
(Reuters)
