Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Restless nation

John Simpson on 60 years of Chinese communism http://bit.ly/zJFqy

University 'complacency' warning

Universities have been warned against "complacency" on standards, in a report urging greater transparency on maintaining quality. http://bit.ly/1Aglgf

Expert dementia support 'crucial'

Expert support which could take much of the pain out of dealing with dementia should be made more accessible, a report says. http://bit.ly/4lKm9l

Afghan sacking 'sends bad signal'

The UN Afghan envoy apparently dismissed in a row about election fraud tells the BBC the move sent "a terrible signal" about the UN. http://bit.ly/9V6JE

Guinea calls for unity government

Guinea's military ruler calls for a unity government and an international enquiry into violence which left many dead. http://bit.ly/NHDkh

Richest Americans hit by downturn

The collective wealth of the richest 400 Americans has fallen by $300bn over the past year, the latest Forbes rich list says. http://bit.ly/ph8y3

An expert's view on Afghanistan strategy talks

A meeting between President Obama and his national security team Wednesday could be a turning point in the war in Afghanistan, says someone who's been in similar meetings.


http://bit.ly/3kyrC

China set for mass celebrations

Security is high as China prepares to stage an extravaganza in Beijing marking 60 years since of Communist rule. http://bit.ly/nJpEG

Tsunami rescue begins in Pacific

A major relief operation begins after a Pacific tsunami killed more than 100 people in Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga. http://bit.ly/17tjj8

Cold comfort

Troubling findings for Georgia in Russia war report http://bit.ly/3Wtpk

SFO to rule on BAE Systems case

The SFO is expected to announce on Thursday whether it wishes to prosecute BAE Systems over alleged bribery. http://bit.ly/1PPDrs

Cooling 'cuts baby brain damage'

Babies starved of oxygen at birth have a much lower risk of brain damage if they are given mild hypothermia, research suggests. http://bit.ly/oxgEE

American stance

US climate change legislation will have worldwide impact http://bit.ly/2Zeq2J

Actor Dennis Hopper hospitalized

Actor Dennis Hopper was taken to a New York City area hospital Wednesday morning for an undisclosed ailment, according to a publicist.


http://bit.ly/1irW8T

Convicted child killer Couey dies in prison

A Florida death-row inmate convicted of abducting and murdering 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford in 2005 has died, prison officials said Wednesday.


http://bit.ly/12oWVg

Galanos: When school football turns deadly

We love our football in this country, don't we? Whether it's watching the pee-wees or the pros, there's nothing like taking in a game on a crisp fall afternoon.


http://bit.ly/17eM3F

Man and woman found dead in flat

Two people are found stabbed to death at an address in south London. http://bit.ly/dyyYA

Earthquakes weaken distant faults

A major earthquake in Sumatra in 2004 may have weakened California's San Andreas fault 8,000km away. http://bit.ly/h1hAt

American Samoans pull together after tsunami

Residents of close-knit American Samoa are pulling together to help Pago Pago recover from Tuesday's devastating earthquake and tsunami, one resident told CNN today. "That's how we operate over here in American Samoa -- basically everyone is related," said iReporter Maneafaiga Lagafuaina, of Lu'uuli. "We have pulled together as one."


http://bit.ly/11vszE

Pressure increases on Obama over Afghanistan

President Obama is under increasing pressure to decide whether the United States will commit more troops and resources to the conflict in Afghanistan.


http://bit.ly/4EuhM4

Fighter jets chased plane with unresponsive pilot

A small plane crashed outside Muncie, Indiana, as military F-16s trailed it Wednesday after its pilot failed to respond to radio calls, the North American Aerospace Defense Command said.


http://bit.ly/3hW2My

Former French PM takes the stand

Former French PM Dominique de Villepin takes the stand in Paris, denying any role in a plot to discredit President Sarkozy. http://bit.ly/z988x

Live - Wednesday football

Man Utd host German champions Wolfsburg while Chelsea are in Cyprus to face Apoel Nicosia in the Champions League. http://bit.ly/1cKSn4

Fujimori sentenced for corruption

Peruvian ex-President Alberto Fujimori has been sentenced to six years in jail for corruption by a court in Lima. http://bit.ly/Fswn9

UK banks accept curbs on bonuses

Britain's five largest banks are to accept the curbs on bonuses agreed by G20 leaders, Alistair Darling announces. http://bit.ly/11Q4kt

Backlash over Polanski supporters

The French government drops its public support for Roman Polanski, who is being held in a Swiss jail on a US arrest warrant. http://bit.ly/2Q18oe

Japan-Tennessee custody fight not so clear cut

The case of a Tennessee man jailed in Japan for trying to snatch back his children from his estranged wife is not as clear-cut as it's been made out to be, authorities here said Wednesday.


http://bit.ly/ex1EQ

Being a bad guy can be good for career

In film and literature, the villains are the most entertaining characters. We root for good to triumph over evil and we're connected to the protagonist, but we're most interested in the bad guy.


http://bit.ly/1OLaRB