December 13, 2007 4:07

Central Banks Big Bailout

The Federal Reserve, along with the UK, Swiss and Canadian central banks agreed yesterday to pump more than $50 billion into the world money markets "in a move designed to prevent the worsening credit crunch derailing the world economy," writes the Guardian. The move says the New York Times is the "most aggressive infusion of capital into the banking system since the terrorist attacks of September 2001".

The Bush administration, allied with Canada and India, is intent on blocking language calling for mandatory CO2 emissions cuts at the UN climate change talks in Bali.

The head of the UN climate convention, Yvo de Boer, told reporters "he was 'very concerned' about the glacial pace of talks," writes the BBC. Mmm.....it might want to reconsider that description.

Is Congo on the brink of another war that could ignite pan-regional Hutu and Tutsi bloodshed all over again?

Seventy years after Nanking massacre, China remembers the hundreds of thousands killed while Japan still struggles to "admit its brutality," says the Independent.

Finally in world news, famed and aging Brazilian soccer star Romario has tested positive for the banned substance finasteride. But the 41-year old prolific goal scorer has a good excuse - he says he used it to prevent hair loss.

Politics - CIA Contrition Over Tapes

It was a contrite CIA director who appeared on Capitol Hill yesterday. Michael Hayden admitted that his agency had failed to keep lawmakers fully informed that interrogations of Al-Qaeda suspects had been recorded on video and that the tapes had then been destroyed.

A more contrite CIA? - REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

The Republican candidates got together for another debate yesterday and proved that they can be civil to one another. The closest anyone came to vitriol was Fred Thompson and he directed his bile not at his competitors but at the debate guidelines laid out by the Des Moines Register moderator. Mike Huckabee even apologized to Mitt Romney for comments that "appear to disparage the Mormon faith," says CNN.

Even Hillary Clinton didn't warrant a bashing, which must be a serious worry for her as it means she is no longer viewed as the one to beat. It's also a problem for Rudy Giuliani says the Politico which writes: "Giuliani's unspoken pitch, according to GOP pollster Tony Fabrizio, goes something like this: 'You need me to protect you from her. And no matter how bad you think I am, she is far worse.'"

How worried is Hillary about the Barack Obama surge? Enough for one of her top advisers to suggest the Illinois Senator might have more skeletons in his closet than simply his past admissions of illegal drug use. "There are so many openings for Republican dirty tricks. It's hard to overcome," said a very concerned for the health of the Democratic Party Bill Shaheen before quickly apologizing for speaking out of line. Job done, no?

Iraq - War Budget Deal in the Making?

The House voted to authorize $$696 billion in military programs, including $189 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Senate is expected to follow suit next week. The news comes as Democrats seem resigned to the need to compromise on a broader budget that would give President Bush the funds he says he needs for Iraq without any provision to withdraw most U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2008.

The Mahdi army of Shi'ite cleric of Moqtada al-Sadr is getting younger and more radical says the Washington Post. With many of its senior and mid-level leaders dead, arrested or having fled, a new cadre of teenage militants has taken their place and are imposing strict Islamic rule through a campaign of threats and fear.

"Some Iraqis returnees face uncertain lives," is the headline of a Los Angeles Times feature today. Hate to quibble but surely all Iraqis face uncertain lives, no?

National - Ice Storms Kill 32 Across Midwest

Thirty-two people are now known to have died in the massive ice storm that has frozen a large part of the central U.S. Oklahoma is particularly badly hit with 400,000 homes still lacking power in freezing conditions.

The Ice Storm - AP Photo/The Joplin Globe, T. Rob Brown

CSI Fresno scriptwriters pay attention: A local biochemist was convicted of First Degree murder yesterday for knocking out her husband and pouring hydrochloric acid on him.

Never mind reds under the bed, have you checked for Venezuelans on the veranda? CNN reports that four alleged agents of that nation have been arrested in Miami and charged with trying to persuade a U.S. citizen to keep quiet about the origin of $800,000 he recently tried to smuggle into Argentina. Investigators say the cash was destined for the campaign of Argentina's new leader Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

Celebrity - Ike Turner Dead at 76

Ike Turner, the influential and infamous musician perhaps best known for his abusive marriage and creative partnership with Tina Turner had died aged 76. Here's a clip of Ike performing just two years ago:

"Britney deposed" we wrote yesterday....well we spoke too soon. Miss Spears was too ill to attend court.

It's been a few days since our last L.A. celeb DUI case but Scott Weiland has saved our barren patch.

Jessica Alba is pregnant. Surely that now marks the death of "lad's mags"?