Pakistani Gangs Riot In Karachi After Politician's Murder
September 20th, 2010 by Chloe
KARACHI, Pakistan — Gangs torched vehicles and a shop in Pakistan's largest city on Friday after a senior politician from the local ruling party was stabbed to death in London.
Gas stations, schools and markets in Karachi were closed and no public transport was running as news of the stabbing of Imran Farooq spread. The city has a history of political violence, and revenge attacks and acts of arson often follow killings.
Farooq was a member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, one of Pakistan's major parties and the largest in the coalition governing Karachi. The MQM is also an important member of the federal government in Islamabad.
The slaying could have implications for national political stability, especially if the MQM accuses its rivals of being involved.
On Friday, an MQM leader said the party thought Farooq, 50, was killed in response to controversial statements made by the leader of party, who himself lives in self-imposed exile in London. London's Metropolitan Police said no arrests had been made and did not speculate on the motive.
Farooq's body was found in north London on Thursday with multiple stab wounds and head wounds.
The area's lawmaker at Britain's House of Commons, Matthew Offord, said police were meeting late Friday to discuss developments in the case, but said he believed that the killing was likely to have been politically motivated. "That's my understanding at the moment, and we wait to see if there's any evidence to contradict that," said Offord.
Murad Qureshi, a lawmaker on the London Assembly, the capital's municipal authority, said he also believed Farooq had been targeted by opponents. "I wouldn't be surprised at all if it turns out that this is an assassination," he said.
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Bill Clinton To Campaign For Jerry Brown
September 18th, 2010 by Chloe
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Former President Bill Clinton will campaign for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown next month in what will be a show of unity between the past political rivals.
Brown's campaign announced the visit Friday, less than a week after Brown apologized for questioning Clinton's honesty and mocking his relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
In a statement released Friday, Brown said he looks forward to campaigning with Clinton and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who is running for lieutenant governor.
Clinton, who endorsed Brown earlier this week, is scheduled to campaign for both candidates Oct. 15 and Oct. 17.
A Clinton spokesman declined comment, referring inquiries back to the Brown campaign.
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Kelly Ayotte Defeats Ovide Lamontagne In GOP Senate Primary: New Hampshire Election Results
September 16th, 2010 by Chloe
MANCHESTER, N.H. — The Republican winner of a nail-biter of a primary election says she'll stress fiscal responsibility in her campaign to represent New Hampshire in the Senate.
Former state Attorney General Kelly Ayotte (AY'-aht) beat Manchester lawyer Ovide Lamontagne (LAH'-mohn-tayn) by about 1,600 votes. Lamontagne conceded the race Wednesday after a long night of vote-counting.
Ayotte had the backing of former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, while Lamontagne had the backing of local tea party activists. She'll face Democratic Rep. Paul Hodes (HOHDZ') in the race to replace retiring Republican Sen. Judd Gregg.
Ayotte told supporters at her campaign headquarters that she wants "to finish what Sen. Gregg has started" by advocating lower spending and personal responsibility.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – Tea party ally Ovide Lamontagne (LAH'-mohn-tayn) has conceded New Hampshire's Republican Senate primary to former state Attorney General Kelly Ayotte (AY'-aht).
He congratulated Ayotte on Wednesday and says he is disappointed but humbly accepts the result. He had the option of asking for a recount because his loss margin was within 1.5 percent of the total votes cast.
The secretary of state's office said Wednesday that Ayotte had won by 1,667 votes. She had been backed by former Alaska Gov. and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.
Lamontagne is a conservative Manchester lawyer.
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EXCLUSIVE! Sophia Bush Is Directing Another Episode Of ‘One Tree Hill’ & The Show Might Get A Full Season Order!
September 15th, 2010 by Chloe
Sophia’s One Tree Hill co-star gave us all the details!
Notorious fashionista Sophia Bush was surprisingly MIA from this year’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week — but don’t worry, she had a good reason! “We’re shooting episode six [of One Tree Hill] and Sophia is directing it, which is why she can’t be here in New York,” co-star Shantel VanSanten told HollywoodLife.com exclusively Sept. 11 during the Jill Stuart show at NYC’s Lincoln Center.
This will be the second episode of One Tree Hill Sophia directed. The first was a season even episode titled “Now You Lift Your Eyes To The Sun.”
But Sophia getting another turn behind the camera isn’t the ONLY good news Shantel shared with us!
Though The CW only ordered 14 episodes of One Tree Hill for its eighth season, Shantel told us there’s a good chance it’ll get picked up for a full 22!
“In October we’ll find out if we’re doing a full season,” she said. “We think we’re getting a full order.”
Yay! We’ll definitely be keeping our fingers crossed. We LOVE One Tree Hill, and we can’t wait for the season premiere at 8 p.m. TONIGHT (Sept. 14) on The CW.
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Michelle Obama, Laura Bush Honor Flight 93 Heroes At Crash Site
September 13th, 2010 by Chloe
SHANKSVILLE, Pa. (AP)— The victims of Flight 93 are an inspiration and all who visit the rural field where they died on Sept. 11, 2001, will now "see how a scar in the earth has healed," first lady Michelle Obama said Saturday at a memorial service at the crash site honoring the 40 passengers and crew.
Former first lady Laura Bush joined Obama in the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania, marking a rare joint public speaking appearance by two first ladies. Obama thanked her predecessor for helping the country through the difficult days following the attacks.
"May the memory of those who gave their lives here continue to be an inspiration to you and an inspiration to all of America," Obama said to the thousands gathered on a wind-whipped temporary memorial for the annual service.
Many in the crowd toted American flags or bunches of flowers. Family members wore buttons bearing their loved ones' pictures.
"It was clear that these 40 individuals were no strangers to sacrifice," Obama told the crowd, citing the presence of veterans, coaches and volunteers among them.
"Being a hero is not just a matter of faith, it's a matter of choice."
Future generations would come to the site, she said, to "see how a scar in the earth has healed."
"It is truly my prayer today that all who come here will be filled with hope," she said.
Obama and Bush met privately with the victims' families before the service. Obama greeted each one with a hug and her condolences.
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Duke College Republicans See Funds Cut, May Lose Charter Over Former Gay Leader's Dismissal
September 11th, 2010 by Chloe
At a four-hour meeting Wednesday, the Duke University Student Government Senate voted to deny the school's College Republicans chapter funding for the remainder of the academic year -- and took steps to possibly de-charter the organization that they say has exhibited a "culture of discrimination."
The College Republicans came under fire earlier this year when Duke student and chapter chair Justin Robinette was impeached. The group's members said it was due Robinette's "unprofessional conduct." But Robinette claimed he was ousted for being gay.
Robinette and former College Republicans Vice Chair Cliff Satell presented the student senate with several incendiary e-mails as evidence, the Duke Chronicle reports:
Although the Senate's actions were against the club as a whole--and not individual members--Robinette and Satell presented the Senate with e-mail evidence sent from DCR Chair Carter Boyle, a senior. The e-mails include a derogatory "homosexual image," gay remarks and racist and anti-Semitic messages, all allegedly sent by Boyle. The packet also includes e-mail evidence of death threats mostly directed at Robinette and images of vandalism painted on the East Campus bridge during the summer.
A College Republicans executive board member told the Chronicle that the e-mails did "not represent the members of the [group's] executive board as it stands now."
In April, Robinette told the Chronicle that he believed his "sexual orientation had a reason as to [his] impeachment." College Republicans members cited a flawed election and Robinette's "unbecoming conduct" as reason for his dismissal.
Duke's Student Organization Finance Committee will decide the group's charter status in the next few weeks.
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Gibbs: Final Resolution On Bush Tax Cuts Won't Require Obama's Veto
September 10th, 2010 by Chloe
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs stressed on Thursday that it essentially pointless to discuss whether President Obama will support or veto a temporary extension of Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. Congress, he implied, is likely to pass the president's preferred package: an elimination of those cuts with an extension of the tax rates for those making less than $250,000.
During an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America", President Obama refused on four separate occasions to commit himself to vetoing legislation that would temporarily extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy -- leaving the impression that he could in the end be willing to keep rates in place for a short period of time.
It's a moot point, said Gibbs. On "the question about veto," he emailed the Huffington Post, "our belief is that this never comes to that."
The confidence from the press secretary will be welcome news to those who see a full extension of the Bush tax cuts as a massive waste of federal funds. Obama himself made the argument during his ABC sit-down that there are much better uses for the $700 billion that will be lost if the tax cuts for the wealthy are extended. But in recent days the outlines of a compromise agreement have begun to emerge.
First there was former OMB Director Peter Orszag's column calling for a two-year freeze on the current rates. Then Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's office told the Huffington Post that the Kentucky Republican would be willing to talk about a temporary extension.
The math of the Senate may still result in the consideration of some compromise proposal. But by going on the record to predict that the president's veto pen won't be used, Gibbs is suggesting that the White House is confident that it will have the votes to get the outcome the president wants.
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Montana Tea Party Members Resign In Protest After President's Firing
September 9th, 2010 by Chloe
HELENA, Mont. — A Montana tea party association's board will reconsider kicking its president out of the group for an anti-gay exchange on Facebook after several members resigned over his dismissal, a board member said Wednesday.
The Big Sky Tea Party Association board of directors will vote on reinstating Tim Ravndal's membership, most likely Monday, after a rancorous meeting on Tuesday night in which several people defended Ravndal, according to board member and former association president Roger Nummerdor.
But bringing Ravndal back into the fold could mean even worse consequences for the group's unity, Nummerdor warned.
"I feel strongly that the comments he made were very detrimental not only to the local tea party but other tea party organizations in Montana and across the nation," Nummerdor said. "I actually believe that if he was reinstated we would lose a lot more members than if we keep him away from the organization."
Ravndal was kicked out of the Helena-based group on Sunday after the board learned of the Facebook exchange that appeared to joke about the death of Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student who was beaten, tied to a fence and left to die in 1998.
Ravndal has apologized and said he did not make the connection between the Facebook exchange and Shepard's death. Ravndal did not return calls and e-mails for comment on Wednesday.
The Big Sky Tea Party Association's board of directors decided to vote again after the meeting on Tuesday night in which a number of Ravndal supporters defended the former president, and one board member resigned, along with the group's secretary and several rank-and-file members.
Many people who showed up Tuesday don't normally attend the association's meetings, and most in the group don't condone the comments Ravndal made, Nummerdor said.
"If he stays a member, I will have to step down from the organization," Nummerdor said.
State Democratic leaders observing the division are hopeful they can capitalize in legislative and statewide races this fall by attracting voters who are turned off by Ravndal's comments and the subsequent intraparty strife.
Even though the conservative tea party movement does not claim Republican affiliation, Democratic spokesman Martin Kidston said it's a blurry line and is often hard to separate the GOP from the tea party groups.
"They may be a flash in the pan," Kidston said. "Everybody's out to balance the budget, create jobs – the tea party doesn't have the corner on that."
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Anna Nicole's Last Days: Lists Of Drugs, Bloody Syringes, Burnt Spoons
September 8th, 2010 by Chloe
LOS ANGELES — A second nanny testifying at the drug conspiracy trial of Anna Nicole Smith's two doctors and lawyer-boyfriend said Tuesday that she kept a list of drugs given to the model and that it numbered 18 at one point.
Nadine Alexie told the jury that she was vigilant about the medications Smith was taking because she was then studying to be a pharmacy technician. She made lists of drugs Smith was taking, she said, and one such list displayed in court Tuesday showed 18 different medications that included multiple sedatives and opiates.
She said Smith's boyfriend, Howard K. Stern, and Dr. Khristine Eroshevich told her Smith was sick, but she remembered times when Smith was not medicated and seemed fine.
"She would be talking to you and smiling. She would dance," Alexie recalled. "... We would talk and watch TV and read the Bible together."
She also remembered a time when Smith was so involved in making a baby book for her newborn daughter that she refused Stern's orders to take her medication.
Alexie said Stern regularly prompted Smith to take an array of pills left by Eroshevich. After taking the drugs, Smith "would be groggy and drowsy, her speech would be slurred," Alexie said.
Sometimes, she said, Smith became too weak to hold her baby.
Alexie was one of two former nannies who cared for the model and her then-infant daughter in the last months of Smith's life before her drug overdose death. Quethlie Alexie, Nadine's sister-in-law, also worked for Smith for more than three months in the Bahamas.
The two nannies testified in the drug conspiracy trial of Stern, Eroshevich and Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, all of whom have pleaded not guilty. They are not charged with causing Smith's death in 2007.Story continues below
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Meatless Monday: The Vegan Kickstart
September 7th, 2010 by Chloe
Hoisin Mushrooms With Bok Choy
So, without meat and eggs, what's for dinner? This quick and sexy Asian dish, full of funghi, because it's also National Mushroom Month. Serve over brown rice or Asian noodles.
1 pound bok choy, chopped
3/4 pound shiitakes or other mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon canola or peanut oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce, divided use
1 pound firm tofu, cut into cubes
2 tablespoons hoisin*
2 tablespoons sesame oil*
2 tablespoons sherry
dash red pepper flakes, if desired
Heat peanut or canola oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped ginger and garlic and saute for 3 minutes. Add sliced mushrooms and 1 tablespon of the soy sauce. Stir until mushroom just soften, 1 to 2 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium and cover, letting mushrooms cook for 5 minutes.
Remove lid, add chopped bok choy to wok or skillet, stirring gently, about 5 to 7 minutes.
In a small bowl, mix together remaining tablespoon of soy sauce, the hoisin, sesame oil and sherry.
Add the soy-hoisin mixture and the tofu cubes to the mushrooms and bok choy. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until bok choy is tender and the tofu is heated through.
*available in Asian markets, natural food stores and most grocery stores
Serves 4 to 6.
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