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"Most newspaper article events happen anywhere from days, to months, to years before they reach publication. Consequently, most newspaper articles on this timeline are preceeded by the date of the newspaper in which they appear." [E.M.] *Color Code
April 2006
2006 - Astronomic Configuration - April 1st, 2006: "Sun [11 Aries+], Moon [19 Taurus], Mercury [15 Pisces], Venus [25 Aquarius], Mars [22 Gemini], Jupiter [17 Scorpio R.], Saturn [4 Leo R], Uranus [12 Pisces], Neptune [19 Aquarius], Pluto [26 Sagittarius R.], Chiron [8 Aquarius]."
[Based on: http://www2.bitstream.net/~bunlion/bpi/ephm/E200604.html]
2006 - Solar Prominence - April 1st, 2006: "Got a solar telescope? Take a look at the sun today. An enormous flame-like prominence is dancing along the sun's northeastern limb [....]."
[Based on: http://spaceweather.com/] - [04/01/06]
*Link: http://spaceweather.com/images2006/01apr06/latest_eit_304_med.gif2006 - Status / Sunspot 865 - April 1st, 2006: "Sunspot 865 has continued to grow and is now the biggest sunspot of 2006." [Based on: http://spaceweather.com/] - [04/01/06]
*Trivia: "At least 4 strong earthquakes (6.0 or above) have taken place since sunspot 865 started to grow on March 28th, 2006." [D.R.D.]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - April 1st, 2006: "Stocks slide a second day [03/31/06] on interest rate fears" [Based on: Title for Bloomberg News article, p. A34, S.L.P.D., 04/01/06]
2006 - Guilty Plea / Tony Rudy - April 1st, 2006: "A former top aide to Rep. Tom DeLay pleaded guilty Friday [03/31/06] to conspiracy and promised to help with an investigation of bribery and lobbying fraud that has netted three convictions and sparked calls for ethics reform in Congress. Tony Rudy, DeLay's former deputy chief of staff, admitted conspiring with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff - both while Rudy worked for the Texas congressman and after he left the lawmaker's staff to become a lobbyist himself. He is the second former DeLay staffer to plead guilty to federal charges in connection with the lobbying investigation. The plea agreement makes no allegation that DeLay did anything wrong. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Ex-aide to delay admits conspiracy), p. A24, S.L.P.D., 04/01/06]
2006 - Test-Fired Missle / Iran - April 1st, 2006: "Iran successfully test-fired a missle [Fajr-3] that can avoid radar and hit several targets simultaneously using multiple warheads, the military said Friday [03/31/06]. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Military says test-fire of missle is successful), p. A25, S.L.P.D., 04/01/06]
2006 - Retirement / Doe Run CEO - April 1st, 2006: "Doe Run Resources Corp. Chief Executive Jeffery I. Zelms, who oversaw the company's expansion into South America, will retire as chief executive and vice chairman on April 1. He'll be replaced by Bruce Neil, now head of Doe Run's Peruvian unit. Neil, who joined the St. Louis-based company in 1998, will shift into the role as chief executive by taking over Zelm's responsibility as president on Jan. 1. Doe Run also said Chief Administrative Officer Marvin Kaiser is retiring effective Feb. 1, and Juan Carlos Huyhua will take over the role of president of Doe Run Peru on April 1." [Based on: Business Page article (Doe Run CEO will retire on April 1), p. B2, S.L.P.D., 12/21/05]
2006 - Mumps Epidemic? / Iowa - April 1st, 2006: "A mumps epidemic is sweeping across Iowa in the nation's biggest outbreak in at least 17 years, baffling health officials and worrying parents. As of Thursday [03/30/06], 245 confirmed, probable or suspected cases of mumps had been reported to the Iowa Department of Public Health since mid-January." [Based on: News Services article (Mumps outbreak is biggest in years), p. A26, S.L.P.D., 04/01/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Taiwan Region - April 1st, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 10:02:19 (UTC) on Saturday, April 1st, 2006. The magnitude 6.1 event has been located in the TAIWAN REGION."
[Based on: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/uskzaw.php]
2006 - Join CAFTA / Honduras & Nicaragua - April 1st, 2006: "A free trade agreement with Honduras and Nicaragua will take effect Saturday, the Bush administration said. Those two nations will join El Salvador as countries that have fully implemented the requirements needed to make the Central American Free Trade Agreement operational. [....]" [Based on: Article (Honduras, Nicaragua join CAFTA effort), p. A30, S.L.P.D., 04/01/06]
2006 - Restated Earnings / H&R Block Inc. - April 1st, 2006: "H&R Block Inc. on Friday [03/31/06] said it was restating earnings for 2005 and 2004 to reflect previously reported mistakes on its own income taxes, and it was lowering third-quarter earnings because of added legal expenses. [....]" [Based on: Article (Block restates earnings for 2004 and 2005), p. A30, S.L.P.D., 04/01/06]
2006 - Powerful Winds / Midwest, U.S.A. - March 02, 2006: "[....] Severe storms also struck parts of Iowa, Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Storms cut lethal path in western Tenessee; 23 perish / Scores are injured and more than 1,000 buildings are seriously damaged. The governor is seeking federal disaster declarations for two counties.), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06]
*Trivia: "A fast moving storm packing powerful winds tore through the St. Louis area Sunday afternoon [04/02/06], killed at least two people, damaged buildings and cut electricity to more than 270,000 customers across Missouri and Illinois. [....] The storm's fury spared few parts of the bistate area. It carried winds gusting up to 70 mph in St. Charles County and formed what may have been tornadoes in Randolph County, Ill., according to the National Weather Service. [....]" [Based on: S.L.P.D. article (Two killed as storm batters metro area), p. A1, 04/03/06]
2006 - Prescient - April 3rd, 2006:
"Now all my lies are proved untrue; And I must face the men I slew. What tale shall save me here among; Mine angry and defrauded young?"
Rudyard Kipling died before President George W. Bush was even born. How strangely prescient is this quatrain of his.[Based on: Opinion Page article (Prescient) by Donn S. Miller, p. B10, S.L.P.D., 04/03/06]
2006 - Solar Activity - April 3rd, 2006: "The biggest sunspot of the year [865] is crossing the sun's disk, but yesterday [04/03/06] solar astronomers couldn't take their eyes off something else - this spectacular prominence [see link]: [....] The plume collapsed shortly after Andy Dodson of New Zealand photographed it. Before long, however, another should rise to take its place. The sun is active at present and capable of producing such vistas on a daily basis. Meanwhile, sunspot 865 poses a threat for strong solar flares; an eruption could produce spectacular vistas here on Earth." [Based on: http://spaceweather.com/] - [04/04/06]
*Link: http://spaceweather.com/swpod2006/03apr06/dodson1.jpg
2006 - Bombings / Pakistan - April 3rd, 2006: "Bombings and shootings killed at least nine people in Pakistan's southwestern Baluchistan region on Sunday [04/02/06]. Islamic militants gunned down a cleric near the Afghan border on suspicion he was spying for the United States and Britain. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (6,500 in region have fled flooding), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 04/03/06]
2006 - Record Rainfall / Hawaii - April 3rd, 2006: "Hawaii residents awoke to sun this weekend after more than 40 days of downpours that broke records for rain at the wettest place on Earth. Nearly 92 inches - or about 7 1/2 feet - of rain were recorded during March at Mount Waialeale, considered one of the rainiest spots on the planet. The previous record was about 90 inches in April 1971, according to the National Weather Service. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Sun peeks out after record rainfall), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 04/03/06]
2006 - Flooding / Czech Republic - April 3rd, 2006: "The Czech Republic has ordered the evacuation of five towns threatened by swollen rivers. Hungarian volunteers filled sandbags along the Danube on Sunday [04/02/06]. The rivers are swollen from rains and melting snow. The flooding forced the evacuation of Olomouc, 150 miles southeast of Prague, three small towns near the border with Austria, and Hrensko in the north on the border with Germany, officials said. At least 6,500 people had to leave their homes, the local authorities said." [Based on: News Services article (6,500 in region have fled flooding), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 04/03/06]
2006 - Missle [Torpedo] Test / Iran - April 3rd, 2006: "Iran conducted its second major test of a new missle within days Sunday [04/02/06], amid increased tension with the United States over Iran's nuclear program. The Iranians fired a high-speed torpedo [called the 'Hoot' or 'whale'] that they said no submarine or warship could escape. [....] The Hoot's speed [223 mph?] would make it about three or four times faster than a normal torpedo and as fast as the world's fastest known underwater missle, the Russian-made VA-111 Shkval, developed in 1995. It was not immediately known whether the Hoot was based on the Shkval. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Iran conducts second missle test within days), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 04/06/06]
2006 - Victims of Identity Theft / U.S.A. - April 3rd, 2006: "An estimated 3.6 million U.S. households - or about three out of every 100 - reported being victims of identity theft, according to a government study that counted misuse of someone else's cell phone, credit card or personal information. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (3.6 million households report stolen identities), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 04/03/06]
2006 - Alcatel to Aquire Lucent Technologies Inc. - April 3rd, 2006: "France's Alcatel said Sunday [04/02/06] that it had agreed to acquire Lucent Technologies Inc. for about $13.4 billion in stock. Analysts said the deal would create the largest equipment supplier to telephone and wireless carriers around the world. [....]" [Based on: Washington Post article (French telecom company to acquire Lucent), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 04/03/06]
2006 - Signs Youth Jobs Law / Jacques Chirac, France - April 3rd, 2006: "President Jacques Chirac signed into law Sunday [04/02/06] a fiercely contested new measure meant to make hiring more flexible. Students and unions vowed to carry on strikes and protests. [....]. [Based on: News Services article (Chirac signs measure that prompted protests), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 04/03/06]
2006 - Status / Ariel Sharon - April 04, 2006: "Still in coma, Sharon will have surgery [04/04/06 - to restore part of his skull removed in previous operations]" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A10, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06] - [Brackets text added for clarity - D.R.D.]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - April 04, 2006: "Stocks ended mixed Monday [04/03/06] as a rally sparked by a number of merger and acquisition deals prompted some investors to cash in their gains in late-day trading. The Dow Jones industrial average was up more than 100 points at lunchtime, but closed up 35.62 at 11,144.94. [....]" [Based on: MARKETWATCH article (Wall Street's early rally succumbs to profit taking), p. C6, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06]
2006 - Smoke screen continues - April 04, 2006:
President George W. Bush said he will not end the war in Iraq. One must conclude then that he uses both the war and the pursuit of an elusive enemy as a smoke screen to distract the nation from his true agenda.
With the help of the Republican Congress, he has diverted American money, resources and rules of law in ways that are now viewed as irresponsible and reckless. These contrivances were, are now and will continue to be extremely beneficial to a highly select group of individuals and businesses, both here and abroad.
For these maneuverings and mismanagements that betray Americans, he deserves to be impeached.[Based on: Opinion Page article (Smoke screen continues) by Lois Kendall, p. B6, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06]
2006 - Power Loss / U.S. Capitol - April 04, 2006: "Capitol is evacuated after power loss [04/03/06]" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06]
2006 - Rebuilt Bladders / U.S.A. - April 04, 2006: "The once-fanciful dream of regrowing the heart and other failing organs has suddenly edged closer to reality. The first complex organ, the bladder, has been rebuilt in seven patients from living tissue cultivated in the lab. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Scientists rebuild bladders in lab, journal [The Lancet] reports), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06]
2006 - Second Torpedo Test / Iran - April 04, 2006: "Iran successfully tested its second new torpedo in as many days Monday [04/03/06], the latest weapon to be unveiled during war games in the Gulf. [....] Gen. Mohammad Ebrahim Dehghani told state television the ship-launched weapon can target submarines at any depth and is powerful enough to 'break a heavy warship' in two. He did not give the name of the new torpedo or any details of its speed or range. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Second torpedo test is called successful), p. A10, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06]
2006 - Trivia / Rep. Cynthia McKinney - April 04, 2006: "Capitol Police seek warrant after scuffle [03/29/06] with lawmaker [Rep. Cynthia McKinney]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06]
2006 - Trivia / U.N. Human Rights Council - April 04, 2006: "[....] The new council will be elected by the General Assembly on May 9 and hold its first meeting on June 19 in Geneva." [Based on: News Services article (21 countries in running for rights commission), p. A10, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06]
2006 - New Busch Stadium / St. Louis, Mo. - April 4th, 2006: "Fans admire the St. Louis skyline before the start of Tuesday night's [04/04/06] minor league game at the new Bush Stadium. The Cardinals will play their first game in the stadium on Monday [04/10/06]." [Based on: Photo (by Richard Mach) Caption, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 04/05/06] - [Brackets text added for clarity - D.R.D.]
2006 - May Cut Risk of Cancer? / Celebrex - April 04, 2006: "Celebrex may cut risk of cancer, studies say / But the drug's link to heart trouble means some shouldn't take it, experts say." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article by marilynn Marchione, p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06]
2006 - Eligible for Death / Zacarias Moussaoui - April 04, 2006: "Eligible for death / Jurors say the actions of Zacarias Moussaoui merit the death penalty. Now they will decide whether he will die." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Los Angeles Times article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06]
2006 - Likely to Leave Congress / Tom DeLay - April 04, 2006: "DeLay to drop out of race, officials say / Texas Republican reportedly is likely to leave Congress by mid-June." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06]
2006 - Dying Comet / 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann - April 4th, 2006:
"Dying comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann is falling apart. Astronomers are now tracking twenty fragments approaching Earth for a close encounter in May: [....]" [Based on: http://spaceweather.com/] - [04/04/06]
*Link: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/24mar_73p.htm
2006 - Military Plane Crash / Dover Air Force Base - April 04, 2006: "Military plane [C-5B Galaxy] crash-lands [Dover, Del.]; all survive [04/03/06]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06]
2006 - Tops Forbes 500 List / Exxon Mobil Corp. - April 04, 2006: "Exxon overtakes Wal-Mart at the top of the Forbes 500 list" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. C3, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06]
2006 - Pleads Not Guilty / Charles Taylor, Sierra Leone - April 04, 2006: "Former Liberian president [Charles Taylor] pleads not guilty of war crimes" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A12, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06]
2006 - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra? / Taiwan - April 04, 2006: "Thailand's prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, claimed victory Monday [04/03/06] in elections after winning 57 percent of the votes cast Sunday. The elections were held after weeks of demonstrations demanding his resignation for alleged corruption and abuse of power. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Prime minister claims victory in election), p. A10, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06]
*Trivia: "Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced Tuesday [04/04/06] he would resign in an effort to end months of demonstrations that have shaken Thailand. [....] He said he was anxious to relinquish his office but would remain in power until a new prime minister was selected by parliament." [Based on: News Services article (Prime minister says he will resign), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 04/05/06]
2006 - Sentenced / Former CEO, Westar Energy Inc. - April 04, 2006: "A judge on Monday [04/03/06] sentenced David Wittig, the former chief executive of Westar Energy Inc., to 18 years in prison for looting millions from the Kansas utility. U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson also sentenced Wittig's co-defendant, Douglas Lake, the former executive vice president of Westar, to 15 years in prison. [....] Lake and Wittig ... were found guilty Sept. 12 of conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering and circumventing internal controls during their tenures at Topeka-based Westar, the largest electric utility in Kansas. [....] The federal Probation Office recommended life in prison for both men, but their lawyers argued their clients' crimes were not serious enough to warrant that sentence." [Based on: A.P. article (Former Westar CEO gets 18 years for looting utility), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06]
2006 - Agrees to Sell Majority Stake in GMAC / General Morors Corp. - April 04, 2006: "General Motors Corp., which needs cash to pay for butouts and plant closings linked to its restructuring, said Monday [04/03/06] that it will sell a 51 percent stake in its finance arm in a deal to generate $14 billion. [....] The stake is being purchased by a consortium of investors led by Cerberus Capital Management LP, a private investment firm. The group includes Citigroup Inc. The sale is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2006. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (GM agrees to sell majority stake in GMAC), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06]
2006 - Won't Rule on Holding Americans as "Combatants" / U.S. Supreme Court - April 04, 2006: "The Supreme Court refused Monday [04/03/06] to decide whether the president can detain Americans classified as 'enemy combatants' indefinitely and without charges, saying the issue was now irrevelant to the case of terrorism suspect Jose Padilla. In a 6-3 vote, the justices said that although Padilla had been held for more than three years in legal limbo in a military brig, he had now been charged with criminal conspiracy and was awaiting trial in a Florida prison. [....]." [Based on: Knight Ridder Newspapers article (Court won't rule on holding Americans as 'combatants' / Terrorism suspect Jose Padilla was held for more than 3 years in a military brig before he was criminally charged.), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 04/04/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - April 5th, 2006: "A rally Tuesday [04/04/06] in stocks propelled the Nasdaq composite index to a five-year high. [....] The Nasdaq advanced 8.62, or 0.4 percent, to 2,345.36, its highest close since February 2001. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article, p. C4, S.L.P.D., 04/05/06]
2006 - Trivia / Iranian Weapons - April 5th, 2006: "Did Iran get help on new weapons? / Expert cites similarities in design of the Hoot and Russian torpedo." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/05/06]
2006 - Jobs Law Protest / France - April 5th, 2006: "Scattered violence [04/04/06] mars protest of French jobs law" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 04/05/06]
2006 - Cheap Computers for Children? - April 5th, 2006: "The Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor [Nicholas Negroponte] who hopes to give $100 laptops to the world's children dismissed criticisms and said the project could begin Tuesday [04/04/06] distributing the computers by early next year. [....] Negroponte previously had said the devices would have a 7-inch screen. It will save on costs by using the Linux operating system, peer-to-peer wireless connectivity and a 500-megahertz processor, which was top of the line in the late 1990s. [....] Last week, Intel announced its own plans to sell an inexpensive desktop PC in developing countries. Negropointe plans to begin distributing 5 million to 10 million of the laptops in China, India, Egypt, Brazil, Thailand, Nigeria and Argentina by early 2007." [Based on: A.P. article (Cheap-laptop proponent pushes for launch in 2007 / MIT professor wants world's children to get $100 machines.), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 04/05/06]
2006 - Trivia / Nuclear Dumping, U.S.A. - April 5th, 2006: "The federal government wants to bury tens of thousands more tons of nuclear waste at the Yucca Mountain dump in Nevada than is now allowed. Legislation unveiled Tuesday [04/04/06] proposes lifting the 77,000-ton storage cap on the dump, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, and allowing as much waste as the mountain can safely hold. That figure has been estimated by federal environmental impact studies at 132,000 tons. Some 55,000 tons of nuclear waste are already sitting at utility reactors around the country. Lifting the waste limit would postpone indefinitely the need for the Energy Department to find a site for a second nuclear waste dump, the department said. [....] Yucca Mountain was approved by Congress in 2002, and officials wanted it to open in 2010. Energy Department officials now say they hope to open it by 2020, but they won't give an exact date." [Based on: News Services article (Bill would expand nuclear dumping), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 04/05/06]
2006 - Causes no Cancer Risk? / Aspartame - April 5th, 2006: "[....] No increased risk was seen even among people who gulped down many artificially sweetened drinks a day, said researchers who studied the diets of more than half a million older Americans. [....] Findings were reported Tuesday [04/04/06] at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research." [Based on: A.P. article (Study says sweetener causes no cancer risk / U.S. study of more than 500,000 people disputes Italian study involving 1,800 lab rats.), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 04/05/06]
2006 - Back into Acquisition Mode / Citigroup Inc. - April 5th, 2006: "The Federal Reserve has cleared Citigroup Inc. to make large acquisitions for the first time in a year, citing 'significant progress' in its effort to clean up a culture of lax controls at the world's largest financial-services company. [....] From 1986 to 1998, when Travelers Group Inc. bought Citicorp to create Citigroup, Weill [Sanford Weill] made more than 100 purchases, transforming a Baltimore-based consumer lender into a bank, brokerage, securities firm and insurer with operations around the globe. Prince [Charles Prince] took over as chief executive in 2003. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Federal Reserve lets Citigroup go back into acquisition mode), p. C3, S.L.P.D., 04/05/06]
2006 - Cresting? / Red River, North Dakota - April 5th, 2006: "The Red River began cresting here [North Dakota] Tuesday [04/04/06] afternoon, just over 2 feet shy of the 1997 flood, the city's worst in a century. The river, which runs north along the North Dakota-Minnesota line, was peaking in Fargo at 37 feet, or 19 feet above flood stage, about 5 p.m. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Red River's crest nears epic level), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 04/05/06]
2006 - Arrested / Homeland Security Press Aide - April 5th, 2006: "The deputy press secretary [Brian J. Doyle] for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was arrested Tuesday [04/04/06] on charges of using the Internet to seduce who he thought was a teenage [15 yrs. old] girl. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Homeland Security press aide arrested in Internet sex case), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 04/05/06]
2006 - Faces Genocide Charges / Saddam Hussein - April 5th, 2006: "Saddam now faces genocide charges" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 04/05/06]
2006 - Tropical Cyclone Hubert / Off Coast of Australia - April 5th, 2006: "Tropical Cyclone Hubert formed off the northwestern coast of Australia on April 5, 2006. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13471]
2006 - Mandatory Health Coverage? / Massachusetts - April 5th, 2006: "Massachusetts to require health coverage / Measure approved by Legislature aims to cover all residents, with penalties for noncompliance." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Washington Post article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 04/05/06]
*Trivia: "In the historic confines of Faneuil Hall, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney signed groundbreaking universal health care legislation Wednesday [04/12/06] that promises to cover nearly all the state's 515,000 uninsured residents by 2010. [....]" [Based on: Knight Ridder Newspapers article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 04/13/06]
2006 - U.S. Military Tribunal / Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - April 5th, 2006: "Tribunal judge [U.S. Marine Col. Robert Chester] refuses to say what laws apply in proceeding / Suspected terrorist [Abdul Zahir] enters no plea." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/05/06]
2006 - Israeli Missle Fire / Abbas' Gaza City Compound - April 5th, 2006: "Israeli jets fire missles [in response to Palestinian rocket fire] at Abbas' Gaza City compound [04/04/06]" [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A10, S.L.P.D., 04/05/06]
2006 - Eruption / Barren Island Volcano, Andaman Islands - April 5th, 2006: "The Barren Island Volcano erupted on April 5, 2006, sending a plume of volcanic ash and steam toward the northeast over the Andaman Sea. [....] Just 3 kilometers wide with a 2-kilometer wide caldera, Barren Island is the summit of a volcano that rises about 2,250 meters from the sea floor, poking 354 meters above the water line. About 135 kilometers northeast of Port Blair in the Andaman Islands, the volcanic island is uninhabited. It is the only historically active volcano in the north-south volcanic arc between Sumatra and Myanmar (Burma). Mid-March 2006 news reports assured India’s citizens that the volcano’s activity in early 2006 was no cause for alarm as seismologists surmised that it did not indicate an increased risk of earthquakes."
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13466]
2006 - Will Sell 5 Million Acres of Forest Land / International Paper Co. - April 5th, 2006: "International Paper Co., the world's largest forest products company, announced an agreement Tuesday [04/04/06] to sell about 5.1 million acres of forest land for $6.1 billion. [....] IP said it will sell approximately 3.8 million acres of forest-lands located across the southern U.S. and 440.000 acres in Michigan to an investor group led by Resource Management Service LLC (RMS) for approximately $5 billion in cash and notes. IP will sell about 900,000 acres in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas to an investor group led by TimberStar for approximately $1.1 billion in cash and notes." [Based on: Article (International paper will sell $6 billion in land), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 04/05/06]
2006 - Prehistoric Dentists? - April 6th, 2006: "[....] Dentists drilled nearly perfect tiny holes in the teeth of live patients between 7,500 and 9,000 years ago, according to carbon-dating of skulls unearthed in a graveyard in Pakistan. [....] The discovery of the dental work is described today in the journal Nature. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Prehistoric dentists used drills, scientists find), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 04/06/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - April 6th, 2006: "Tech stocks help lead the way on Wall Street" [Based on: Title for MARKETWATCH article, p. B8, S.L.P.D., 04/06/06]
2006 - Found Liable / Merck & Co. - April 6th, 2006: "A jury on Wednesday [04/05/06] found Merck & Co. liable for one of two Vioxx users' heart attacks in a split verdict that awarded $4.5 million in damages to one of the plantiffs. [....] Merck, which faces about 9,650 suits over Vioxx, said it will continue to fight each one. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Merk gets split Vioxx verdict / Drug maker must pay at least $4.5 million to one plantiff, $45 to another.), p. B2, S.L.P.D., 04/06/06]
*Trivia: "Jury adds $9 million in Vioxx case award / Merck says it will appeal verdict that increases amount to New Jersey man to $13.5 million." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 04/12/06]
2006 - Broke? / Hamas Government - April 6th, 2006: "The new Hamas-led government is broke and missed the April 1 monthly pay date for tens of thousands of Palestinian public workers, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Wednesday [04/05/06]. [....] A collapse in the Palestinian Authority would devestate an economy where 44 percent of the population lives under the poverty line of about $2 a day and nearly one-quarter of the work force is unemployed, according to the World Bank." [Based on: A.P. article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 04/06/06]
2006 - Sentenced / Robert Creamer - April 6th, 2006: "Congresswoman's [Rep. Jan Schakowsky] husband [Robert Creamer] gets 5 months [04/05/06] for rubber checks" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 04/06/06]
2006 - Record Sales / Monsanto Co. - April 6th, 2006: "Monsanto Co. of Creve Coeur [Mo.] on Wednesday [04/05/06] reported record net sales of $2.2 billion in the second quarter, driven by the strength of its biotech corn and branded seed businesses as well as sales from an acquired fruit and vegetable seed company. [....]" [Based on: S.L.P.D. article (Net sales grow for Monsanto), p. B4, S.L.P.D., 04/06/06]
2006 - Bankruptcy not an Option / Ford Motor Co. - April 6th, 2006: "Ford Motor Co's chairman and chief executive, Bill Ford, said Wednesday [04/05/06] that bankruptcy is not an option for the nation's No. 2 automaker. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Bankruptcy not an option, Ford says), p. B2, S.L.P.D., 04/06/06]
2006 - Found? / Fossil Link Between Fish & Animals - April 6th, 2006: "An international team of scientists has discovered [2004?] a long-sought missing link between fish and the first animals to walk on land. [....] It would have been able to haul itself out of shallow water and push itself along the shore, like an awkward seal, in what's now Artic Canada about 375 million years ago, the scientists report in this week's Nature magazine. [....] The scientists named the new species Tiktaalik (tick-TAH-lick), a native Inuit word for 'large freshwater fish.' They think it was able to survive on land for short periods but had to return to the water to stay alive. [....]" [Based on: Knight Ridder Newspapers article (Fossil link between fish and land animals is found in Canada / The creature had scales and fins like a fish, but a neck, ribs and limbs like a land creature. It could breathe through both its snout and gills.), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 04/06/06]
2006 - Plans to Consolidate Weapons research / U.S.A. - April 6th, 2006: "The Energy Department announced plans Wednesday [04/05/06] to consolidate virtually all of the government's weapons research involving plutonium at a single location to enhance security. No site has yet been chosen. The plan is part of an overhaul of the weapons program over the next two decades. Plutonium is now kept at several locations around the country, posing difficult and expensive security issues at some of them. One site is the Livermore National Laboratory, which is in a heavily populated suburban area 40 miles from San Francisco." [Based on: News Services article (Government will merge plutonium research), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 04/06/06]
2006 - Linked to Fungal Eye Infections? / Contact Lenses - April 6th, 2006: "Contact lenses linked to fungal eye infections" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 04/06/06]
2006 - Insurgents' Video / Dragging of U.S. Pilot's Burning Body? - April 6th, 2006: "Insurgents' video [04/05/06] outrages U.S. / 'Despicable' footage: Film on Internet purports to show dragging of pilot's burning body" [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 04/06/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - April 7th, 2006: "Stocks dropped for the first time this week on Thursday [04/06/06] after gold surged to a 25-year high and oil climbed, igniting concern that inflation will accelerate. [....] Gold futures for June delivery rose $7.20, or 1.2 percent, to $599.70 as investors bought the commodity to reap greater gains than those found in stocks and bonds and as a hedge against inflation. Crude oil prices increased 87 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $67.94 a barrel." [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Gold hits 25-year high; stocks stumble), p. D10, S.L.P.D., 04/07/06]
2006 - Jobs Law Protest / France - April 7th, 2006: "Some 2,000 students massed on railroad tracks in Paris on Thursday [04/06/06], halting international train traffic in a fresh push to force a new youth labor law off the books. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Students again protest new law), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 04/07/06]
2006 - Cooling Economy? / U.S.A. - April 7th, 2006: "Cooling weather, economy give retailers the shivers / Wal-Mart, J.C. Penny, Sharper Image all report disappointing sales." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. D3, S.L.P.D., 04/07/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Fiji Region - April 7th, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 08:30:54 (UTC) on Friday, April 7th, 2006. The magnitude 6.4 event has been located in the FIJI REGION."
[Based on: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/uslfal.php]
2006 - Suicide Blast / Shiite Shrine, Iraq- April 7th, 2006: "Bombs packed inside a minibus exploded Thursday [04/06/06] outside one of the holiest shrines [Imam Ali shrine] in Shiite Islam, shattering ancient tombs and enveloping pilgrims in balls of flame. [....]" [Based on: Washington Post article (Blast kills at least 13 at Shiite shrine), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 04/07/06]
2006 - Trial / Ex-Fleishman-Hillard Officials - April 7th, 2006: "Ex-Fleishman-Hillard official [Douglas Dowie] used LA as 'cash cow,' prosecutor says)" [Based on: Title for Bloomberg News article (Students again protest new law), p. D2, S.L.P.D., 04/07/06]
2006 - Outer Rings Detected / Planet Uranus - April 7th, 2006: "Two outer rings, one red, the other blue, have been observed around the planet Uranus. The rings were found by a team led by Imke de Pater of the University of California at Berkeley, and reported in today's issue of the journal Science." [Based on: News Services article (Two outer rings detected around Uranus), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 04/07/06]
2006 - OK'd Leak? / President George W. Bush - April 7th, 2006: "[....] Former vice presidential chief of staff Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, who was indicted on obstruction of justice charges in the broad investigation of the leaked identity of a CIA agent, has testified that the president authorized him to release parts of a National Intelligence Estimate to offset criticism of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, according to court documents filed Wednesday [04/05/06]. [....]" [Based on: Chicago Tribune article (Bush OK'd leak, filing says / President George W. Bush told Vice President Dick Cheney to leak intelligence about Iraq, according to Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Cheney's former chief of staff, as quoted in a court document. Libby told New York Times reporter Judith Miller. The disclosure of Valerie Plame's CIA identity was not connected to Bush in the document.), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 04/07/06]
2006 - Senators Cut Deal? / U.S. Border Control - April 7th, 2006: "Senators cut deal on border control / Compromise would give many illegal immigrants a chance to stay and work legally in U.S." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Washington Post article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 04/07/06]
*Trivia: "Senate compromise on immigration bill collapses" [Based on: Title for Knight Ridder Newspapers article, p. A26, S.L.P.D., 04/08/06]
2006 - Jurors Moved by 911 Stories / Moussaoui Trial - April 7th, 2006: "Jurors seem moved by stories, images of 9/11" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 04/07/06]
2006 - Jesus' Most Trusted Disciple? / Judas Iscariot - April 7th, 2006: "[....] The Gospel of Judas [discovered by looters in the 1970s] was originally written in Greek about 140 years after Jesus and Judas died. The current manuscript is a copy of the original text translated into the Coptic language by a professional scribe in a group known as the Gnostics. Extensive analysis of the paper, ink, writing style and text all indicate that the copy was made about A.D. 300, according to Terry Garcia of the National Geographic Society. 'We are confident that this is a genuine piece of ancient Christian apocryphal literature,' he said. [....] In a key passage, Jesus compares Judas to the other disciples, saying: 'You will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me.' By helping Jesus get rid of his flesh, Judas will help liberate the divine being within. [....]" [Based on: Los Angeles Times article (Traitor or friend? / Manuscript portrays Judas as Jesus' most trusted disciple), pp. A1 & A8, S.L.P.D., 04/07/06]
2006 - Won't try for a Seat on U.N. Human Rights Council? / U.S.A. - April 7th, 2006: "U.S. says it won't try for seat on U.N. Human Rights Council / The U.S. was virtually alone in opposing the 47-nation council's creation last month." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 04/07/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - April 8th, 2006: "Solid employment data renewed Wall Street's inflation worries and sent stocks skidding Friday [04/07/06]. The major indexes ended the week little changed. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Stocks tumble as job growth fans inflation fears), p. A34, S.L.P.D., 04/08/06]
2006 - Suicide Bombers / Iraq - April 8th, 2006: "Suicide bombers, one dressed as a woman, blasted worshippers as they left a Shiite mosque after Friday prayers [04/07/06], killing at least 79 people and wounding more than 160 in the deadliest attack in Iraq this year. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (79 killed in Iraq blasts), p. A28, S.L.P.D., 04/08/06]
2006 - Suicide Bomber / Turkey - April 8th, 2006: "A suicide bomber blew herself up Friday [04/07/06] in front of a mosque in the Black Sea city of Ordu, injuring two other people in the explosion, including a suspected accomplice, police said. In a separate incident, a small bomb left on a road close to a military headquarters in the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir went off, slightly injuring two people inside a car, an official from the mayor's office said. The explosions followed the worst street rioting in Turkey in a decade. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (2 explosions follow rioting in Turkey), p. A29, S.L.P.D., 04/08/06]
2006 - Trivia / U.S. Federal Reserve, 2000 - April 8th, 2006: "When Wall Street's bubble burst and the economy hit a brick wall in 2000, then-Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and other Fed officials reflected great concern in closed-door meetings about where things might be headed. Transcripts of those discussions, made public on Tuesday [04/04/06], showed the officials were groping to determine what the sharp declines in the stock market might do to the broader ecomomy. Many major market indexes began 2000 by hitting record highs, with the Dow Jones industrial average peaking at 11,722.98 on Jan. 14, 2000. Then the market began a sharp drive as the Internet stock bubble burst. At the lows two years later, more than $7 trillion in paper wealth had been wiped out. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Fed went through hand-wringing in 2000 market drive), p. A33, S.L.P.D., 04/08/06]
2006 - Did Not Plagiarize / Dan Brown - April 8th, 2006: "Author of 'Da Vinci Code' did not plagiarize, judge rules in lawsuit" [Based on: Title for Los Angeles Times article, p. A29, S.L.P.D., 04/08/06]
*Trivia: "[....] The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a five-page order this week that upheld the decision by U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels in favor of author Dan Brown. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Court rules for author of 'The Da Vinci Code'), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06]
2006 - Defrocked Priests / Philadelphia - April 8th, 2006: "Three more priests accused of sexually abusing children have been defrocked, bringing to 17 the number of priests in the Philadelphia Archdiocese who have been defrocked since the clergy abuse scandal broke four years ago. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Three more priests are defrocked in abuse cases), p. A27, S.L.P.D., 04/08/06]
2006 - Storms & Tornadoes / Tennessee - April 8th, 2006: "A line of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes marched across the South on Friday [04/07/06], peeling away roofs, overturning cars and killing at least 11 people in Tennessee, officials said. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Violent storms hit South, kill 11 in Tennessee), p. A27, S.L.P.D., 04/08/06]
2006 - The Rolling Stones / Shanghai, China - April 8th, 2006: "The Rolling Stones gave a concert [04/08/06], their first, in mainland China on the Shanghai Grand Stage."
2006 - Disapproval Rating / George W. Bush & Co. - April 8th, 2006: "[....] The AP-Ipsos survey shows that nearly 70 percent of Americans believe the nation is headed in the wrong direction - the largest percentage during Bush's presidency and up 13 points from a year ago. [....]." [Based on: A.P. article (Bush, GOP hit new lows in poll), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 04/08/06]
2006 - Trivia / U.S. 2003 Prewar [Iraq] Intelligence Leak - April 8th, 2006: "[....] In a tense briefing [04/07/06], White House spokesman Scott McClellan was asked repeatedly to explain his statement from three years ago that portions of a prewar intelligence document on Iraq were declassified on July 18, 2003. Ten days earlier, Cheney's top aide had leaked snippets of intelligence from the document to New York Times reporter Judith Miller to rebut allegations by Bush administration critic Joseph Wilson, the aide has told prosecutors, according to documents revealed this week [April 3-7, 2006]. I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, Cheney's former chief of staff, said he had passed the information to Miller after being told to do so by Cheney, who advised Libby that Bush had authorized it, stated a court filing by Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald. McClellan told reporters on July 18, 2003, that the material being released on Iraq, 'was officially declassified today.' On Friday [04/07/06], McClellan interpreted his own words to mean that's when the material was 'officially released.' Asked when it was declassified, McClellan refused to answer, saying the matter was part of Fitzgerald's ongoing CIA leak inquiry, which has resulted in Libby's indictment. [....] This is the second time in the CIA leak inquiry that the White House's previous public statements have been called into question. After checking with Libby and presidential adviser Karl Rove, McClellan said in 2003 that neither aide was involved in the leak of Plame's CIA identity. Rove remains under investigation." [Based on: A.P. article (White House grilled on intelligence leak), p. A26, S.L.P.D., 04/08/06] - [Paragraph indents untranscribed - D.R.D.]
2006 - Foriegn Relations / Atomic Energy Agency & Iran - April 8th, 2006: "Atomic agency to seek [next week] concessions from Iran" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A28, S.L.P.D., 04/08/06]
2006 - "The Gospel of Judas?" - April 9th, 2006: "National Geographic Channel debute: The Gospel of Judas."
2006 - "Undeclared Civil War" / Iraq - April 9th, 2006: "A car bomb killed six people Saturday [04/08/06] near a Shiite shrine south of Baghdad, and the death toll from the deadliest attack of the year rose to 85. A senior official warned Iraq was in an 'undeclared civil war' that can be curbed only by a strong government and greater powers for security services. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Iraq cites 'undeclared civil war'), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/09/06]
2006 - Suicide Bomber / Afghanistan - April 9th, 2006: "A suicide car bomb exploded Saturday morning [04/08/06] outside a NATO base in the western town of Herat, killing an Afghan police guard and a passer-by and wounding seven others, officials said. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Iraq cites 'undeclared civil war'), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/09/06]
2006 - Solar Wind Stream / Planet Earth - April 9th, 2006: "A brief but strong geomagnetic storm on April 9th sparked auroras as far south as Colorado: gallery [see link]. More auroras are possible tonight, mainly over Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia, due to the ongoing effects of a solar wind stream blowing past Earth."
[Based on: http://spaceweather.com/] - [04/10/06]
2006 - Back Bush Impeachment / Democratic Leaders - April 9th, 2006: "Leaders of the state Democratic Party voted Saturday [04/08/06] to urge Congress to begin impeachment proceedings against President George W. Bush. The vote makes Vermont's Democratic Party committee the fifth to do so, following New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina and Wisconsin, party officials in Vermont said. Committee member Margaret Lucenti said the president had misled the country into war, conducted illegal electronic spying on Americans and violated international torture treaties." [Based on: News Services article (Democratic leaders back Bush impeachment), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 04/09/06]
2006 - Plans for Attacking Iran? / U.S.A. - April 10th, 2006: "Plans for attacking Iran are played down / One published report raises prospect of hitting underground sites with nuclear arms." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 04/10/06]
2006 - Threatens to Expel U.S. Ambassador / Hugo Chavez - April 10th, 2006: "Chavez threatens to expel American diplomat [U.S. ambassador]" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 04/10/06]
2006 - Seeks More White House Leak Details? / U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter - April 10th, 2006: "Specter seeks more details from White House on leak" [Based on: Title for Washington Post article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 04/10/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - April 11th, 2006: "Initial rally stumbles over rising oil prices" [Based on: Title for Bloomberg News article, p. C4, S.L.P.D., 04/11/06]
2006 - Initial Orbit / Venus Express Probe - April 11th, 2006: "For the first time in more than ten years, a spacecraft from Earth is orbiting Venus. The European Space Agency's Venus Express probe reached the 2nd planet today on a mission to study Venus's atmosphere and volcanoes: [....]" [Based on: http://spaceweather.com/] - [04/11/06]
*Link: http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Venus_Express/index.html
2006 - Abandons Job Law Changes? / France - April 11th, 2006: "French government abandons changes in rules on labor / Reversal is profound embarrassment for president, premier." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Los Angeles Times article, p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/11/06]
*Trivia: "French angst reflects anxiety elsewhere in Western Europe" [Based on: Title for Knight Ridder Newspapers article, p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/11/06]
2006 - Files for Bankruptcy / Verilink Corp. - April 11th, 2006: "Verilink lays off 20 pct. and files for bankruptcy" [Based on: Article title, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 04/11/06]
2006 - Tied to Blood Clots? / Estrogen-Only Pills - April 11th, 2006: "Estrogen-only pills tied to blood clots / Study adds to list of complications associated with hormone supplements." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 04/11/06]
2006 - Election Trivia / Italy - April 12th, 2006: "Center-left economist Romano Prodi emerged the winner of Italy's election by a razor-thin margin Tuesday [04/11/06]. But premier Silvio Berlusconi charged voting irregularities and demanded a recount. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Tight vote spells rocky times ahead for Italy), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/12/06]
2006 - No-Bid Deals / Alaska - April 12th, 2006: "Poor oversight has let Alaska Native corporations capitalize on multimillion-dollar no-bid deals at a potential cost to taxpayers and small businesses, a federal audit says." [Based on: A.P. article (No-bid deals in Alaska questioned), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 04/12/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - April 12th, 2006: "Stocks fall to 4-week lows on inflation concerns" [Based on: Title for Bloomberg News article, p. C4, S.L.P.D., 04/12/06]
2006 - Suicide Bombing / Pakistan - April 12th, 2006: "At least 55 die in bombing [04/11/06] at prayer service [Sunni Muslim prayer service] in Pakistan park / In the chaos after the explosion in Karachi, mobs torched cars and hurled rocks at police, who fired warning shots in the air." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/12/06]
2006 - Has Enriched Uranium? / Iran - April 12th, 2006: "Nuclear milestone? Iran says it has enriched uranium / Big plans - "Iran has joined the club of nuclear nations. ... We will continue our path until we achieve production of industrial-scale enrichment," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Knight Ridder Newspapers article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 04/12/06]
2006 - Deal to Reseal Records / U.S.A. - April 12th, 2006: "The national Archives agreed to seal previous public CIA and Pentagon records and to keep silent about U.S. intelligence's role in the reclassification. The agreement was reached in 2002. Details were released this week to The Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act. [....] National Archivist Allen Weinstein applauded the release of the agreement and said an internal agency review on how best to handle reclassification requests should be completed by the end of this month. The number of documents that have been removed from public view has soared since 2001, when President George W. Bush took office and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks took place. About 55,000 pages within 10,000 documents have been removed from public view. The pages range from information about anti-American riots in Columbia in 1948 to a telegram in 1962 containing a translation of a Belgrade news article about China's nuclear capabilities." [Based on: A.P. article (Agency releases details of deal to reseal records), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 04/12/06]
2006 - Stalled? / Unity Government, Iraq - April 12th, 2006: "Feuding clans stall unity government [Iraq]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A11, S.L.P.D., 04/12/06]
2006 - Insider Trading Ring? / U.S.A. - April 12th, 2006: "Three arrested [Eugene Plotkin, Stanislav Shpigelman, & Juan Renteria], accused of being in insider-trading ring" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 04/12/06]
2006 - Geomagnetic Storm / Planet Earth - April 12th, 2006: "Last night [04/12/06], the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) tilted south, opening a crack in Earth's magnetic defenses. Solar wind poured in and energized a strong (Kp=7) geomagnetic storm." [Based on: http://spaceweather.com/] - [04/13/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Taiwan Region - April 12th, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 01:06:59 (UTC) on Wednesday, April 12th, 2006. The magnitude 6.0 event has been located in the KOMANDORSKIYE OSTROVA, RUSSIA REGION."
[Based on: http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/uslkac.php]
2006 - Denies Conspiracy / Jeffrey Skilling - April 12th, 2006: "Former CEO Skilling denies he led an Enron conspiracy" [Based on: Title for article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 04/12/06]
2006 - 25th Anniversary / 1st Space Shuttle Flight - April 12th, 2006: "NASA marks 25 years [04/12/06] since first shuttle flight [April 1981]" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 04/13/06]
2006 - First Indictments / 2004 Madrid Train Bombings - April 12th, 2006: "29 are charged [04/11/06] in 2004 Madrid train bombings" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A12, S.L.P.D., 04/12/06]
2006 - Declared Permanently Incapacitated / Ariel Sharon - April 12th, 2006: "Cabinet declares [04/11/06] Sharon [Ariel Sharon] permanently incapacitated" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A12, S.L.P.D., 04/12/06]
2006 - 9th Anniversary / Hardball with Chris Matthews - April 12th, 2006: "Television show ninth anniversary: Hardball with Chris Matthews."
2006 - Tornadoes / Iowa - April 13th, 2006: "Tornadoes tore across the University of Iowa campus, ripped walls off a downtown church and killed a woman in a mobile home outside of town on Thursday [04/13/06]. The National Weather Service said five tornadoes touched down in Johnson County on Thursday night, the most destructive carving a 3 1/2-mile path of damage through downtown and the university. High wind, hail and at least one tornado hit Illinois as well. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Tornadoes hit Iowa, killing woman), p. A26, S.L.P.D., 04/15/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - April 13th, 2006: "Stocks advanced Wednesday [04/12/06] after quarterly earnings reports boosted optimism that companies can sustain profit growth even as commodity prices and interest rates increase." [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Earnings reports give stock market optimism), p. C4, S.L.P.D., 04/13/06]
2006 - Trivia / U.S. Trade Deficit - April 13th, 2006: "Trade deficit [U.S.A.] narrows to $65.7 billion [February 2006]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. C3, S.L.P.D., 04/13/06]
2006 - Trivia / Trans Fat, U.S.A. - April 13th, 2006: "[....] Trans fats: Levels of artery-clogging trans fat in fries and chicken at McDonald's and KFC are higher in the U.S. than in many other countries, Danish researchers report. [....] The danger: Just 5 grams of trans fat a day raises the risk of heart disease 25 percent - and a large order of fries and nuggets in New York City can contain double that. [....]" [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article (Fat-food disparity / Items at McDonald's, KFC found to contain higher trans fat in U.S.), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 04/13/06]
2006 - Trash Collectors' Strike / Greece - April 13th, 2006: "[....] ... protestors were demanding better better wages and benefits [....] Greek garbage collectors have staged six strikes this year." [Based on: News Services article (Trash collectors' strike stretches to ninth day), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 04/13/06]
2006 - Mudslides / Northern California - April 13th, 2006: "Mudslides strike Northern California [04/12/06] / Up to 6 inches of rain was recorded in a 24-hour period in the region around the San Francisco Bay Area." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 04/13/06]
2006 - Trivia / Peabody Coal, Kentucky - April 13th, 2006: "Peabody plan takes a step ahead / Official upholds permit for $2 billion coal-fired power plant project in western Kentucky." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for article, p. C1, S.L.P.D., 04/13/06]
2006 - Profit Leap / Circuit City Stores Inc. - April 13th, 2006: "Circuit City Stores Inc. finished 2005 with a flourish, reporting a 65 percent leap in profit and solid sales growth." [Based on: News Services article (Circuit City's 65 pct. profit zooms past expectations), p. C3, S.L.P.D., 04/13/06]
2006 - Vows to Expand Nuclear Effort / Iran - April 13th, 2006: "A senior Iranian official [Muhamad Saeedi] said Wednesday [04/12/06] that Iran would defy international pressure and rapidly expand its ability to enrich uranium. [....]" [Based on: New York Times article (Iran vows to expand nuclear effort) by William J. Broad, Nazila faith and Joel Brinkley, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 04/13/06]
2006 - Resists Nuclear Talks / North Korea - April 13th, 2006: "A barrage of diplomatic meetings in Japan have failed to win a commitment from North Korea to return to stalled six-party talks on dismantling its nuclear weapons program, officials said Wednesday [04/12/06]. [....] But as delegates prepared to leave Tokyo on Wednesday, some officials said the North Koreans were still refusing to rejoin the talks to protest U.S. sanctions imposed on North Korean companies for alleged financial crimes. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (N. Korea resists new nuclear talks), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/13/06]
2006 - Calls for Rumsfeld to Quit / Retired U.S. General - April 13th, 2006: "Another retired general [Maj. Gen. John Batiste] joins chorus calling for Rumsfeld to quit" [Based on: Title for Washington Post article, p. A10, S.L.P.D., 04/13/06]
2006 - Photos / Planet Venus - April 14th, 2006: "European scientists released photos of Venus' south pole Thursday [04/13/06]. They show a swirling mass of sulfuric acid clouds powered by 220 mph winds. The clouds, 13 miles deep, completely enclose Venus. Although the planet's south pole is turned away from Earth, the images closely resemble those of its more familiar north pole. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Photos show swirling mass at Venus' south pole), p. A10, S.L.P.D., 04/14/06]
2006 - Trivia / AT&T & NSA - April 14th, 2006: "AT&T Inc. and an Internet advocacy group are waging a privacy battle in federal court that could expose the reach of the Bush administration's secret wiretapping program. The advocacy group, The Electronic Frontier Foundation, said it had obtained documents from a former AT&T technician showing that the National Security Agency is capable of monitoring all communications on AT&T's network. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Whistle-blower says AT&T gave NSA access to its network), p. B2, S.L.P.D., 04/14/06]
2006 - Insurgent Activity / Iraq - April 14th, 2006: "Gunmen ambushed a large police convoy in a rural area north of the capital Thursday [04/13/06], killing at least 17 officers, according to a police lieutenant. Elsewhere, an attack on a Shiite shrine and the assassination of a Sunni Arab politician's brother threatened to further enflame sectarian tension as Iraqi factions struggle to form a national government. [....]" [Based on: Washington Post article (Insurgents rout large Iraqi police convoy), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 04/14/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - April 14th, 2006: "Stocks rose Thursday [04/13/06] as anticipation of better-than-expected earnings from technology companies tempered concern about higher interest rates and oil prices. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Earnings optimism overcomes interest rate, oil worries), p. B10, S.L.P.D., 04/14/06]
2006 - Flooding / Danube River - April 14th, 2006: "The Danube River reached record levels in Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria on Thursday [04/13/06], flooding fertile farmland as authorities in southeastern Europe considered ordering evacuations. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Flooding on Danube imperils wide swath), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 04/14/06]
2006 - Monthly Shot for Alcoholism? - April 14th, 2006: "FDA OKs [04/13/06] monthly shot [Vivitrol, etc.] for alcholics" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 04/14/06]
2006 - Trivia / Uranium Enrichment, Iran - April 14th, 2006: "Iran rejects request from U.N. to cease uranium enrichment" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 04/14/06]
2006 - Bomb Scares / The White House - April 14th, 2006: "The Secret Service shut down Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House three times Thursday [04/13/06] because of suspicious packages. All turned out to be harmless. [....]" [Based on: Title for News Services article (Three bomb scares at the White House), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 04/14/06]
2006 - Rebel Attack / N'Djamena, Chad - April 14th, 2006: "Government forces used helicopters and tanks Thursday [04/13/06] to beat back rebels who had driven 600 miles in pickups from Darfur, in western Sudan, Chad's government reported. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Chad reports attack by rebels on capital), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/14/06]
*Trivia: "Chad breaks ties with Sudan after rebel attack" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A30, S.L.P.D., 04/15/06]
2006 - SEC Settlement / Garner Anthony - April 14th, 2006: "A former chief executive of media conglomerate Cox Enterprises Inc. [Garner Anthony] has agreed to pay more than $100,000 to settle federal regulators' charges that he used advance knowledge of Cox's 2004 offer to buy out its publicly held cable TV unit to illegally profit from sales of company stock. [....] Anthony neither admitted nor denied the SEC's allegations." [Based on: Article (Ex-Cox CEO, SEC settle), p. B2, S.L.P.D., 04/14/06]
2006 - Secret Loans to Political Party? / Britain - April 14th, 2006: "Police made their first arrest Thursday [04/13/06] in a probe of allegations that Britain's government awarded nominations to seats in the House of Lords in exchange for loans to the ruling Labor Party. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Secret loans to political party yields first arrest), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/14/06]
2006 - 1st Quarter Profit / General Electric Co. - April 14th, 2006: "General Electric Co. said Thursday [05/13/06] its first-quarter profit rose 9 percent as strong sales of aircraft engines, locomotives, medical equipment and financial services offset weaknesses in energy and its NBC television network. [....] Its NBC Universal unit, which has lost popular television shows such as 'Friends' in recent years, had profits of $654 million, down 8 percent from $709 million a year ago. The television network lost about $70 million in the quarter from its coverage of the Olympics, but expects a slight profit for the year. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (General Electric profit rises 9 percent to $4.3 billion), p. B3, S.L.P.D., 04/14/06]
2006 - Sale of U.S. Military Data? / Afghanistan - April 14th, 2006: "The American military said Thursday [04/13/06] that it had ordered an investigation into reports that military data was being sold in Afghan bazaars outside the main American air base at Bagram, north of Kabul. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Reported sale of military data spurs U.S. inquiry), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/14/06]
*Trivia: "Military buys back stolen computer drives" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A29, S.L.P.D., 04/15/06]
2006 - Volcanic Eruption Trivia / Ubinas Volcano, Peru - April 14th, 2006: "A Peruvian volcano spewed acid-laden ash and vapors Thursday [04/20/06], killing livestock and forcing aboput 260 people from their homes. Nearly 80 families in the village of Querapi were ordered to evacuate as the Ubinas volcano's crater grew, a sign that a larger eruption could be on the way. A thick plume of white smoke billowed from the crater, about 470 miles southeast of the capital, Lima. The volcano erupted last Friday [04/14/06], sending a plume of ash some 2,600 feet into the air." [Based on: News Services article (Volcano shows sign of larger eruption), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06]
2006 - ECK Springtime Seminar / Spiritual Renewal in A Year of HU - April 14th-16th, 2006: "ECKANKAR, Religion of the Light and Sound of God, Springtime Seminar held in Minneapolis Minnesota."
*Link: http://www.eckankar.org/
2006 - Trivia / Palestinian Aid - April 15th, 2006: "Aid cut won't break Palestinians, leader vows / 'We are prepared to eat thyme, salt and olives,' prime minister says." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A32, S.L.P.D., 04/15/06]
2006 - U.S. Casualties / Western Iraq - April 15th, 2006: "Two U.S. Marines were killed and 22 wounded - two of them critically - in fighting in western Iraq [04/13/06], the U.S. military said today. It was the biggest number of American casualties reported from a single engagement in weeks. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (2 Marines killed in western Iraq), p. A29, S.L.P.D., 04/15/06]
2006 - Foreign Relations / Israel & Iran - April 15th, 2006: "The president of Iran again lashed out at Israel on Friday [04/14/06]. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called Israel a 'permanent threat' to the Middle East that will 'soon' be liberated. 'Like it or not, the Zionist regime is heading toward annihilation,' Ahmadinejad said at the opening of a conference in support of the Palestinians. 'The Zionist regime is a rotten, dried tree that will be eliminated by one storm.' Ahmadinejad provoked a world outcry in October when he said Israel should be 'wiped off the map.' " [Based on: News Services article, p. A32, S.L.P.D., 04/15/06]
2006 - Mosque Bombing / New Delhi, India - April 15th, 2006: "Two bombs detonated in New Delhi's main mosque [Jama Masjid] Friday [04/14/06] shortly before worshippers gathered for evening prayers. The blasts injured at least 13 people. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (New Delhi mosque is bombed), p. A31, S.L.P.D., 04/15/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Offshore Coquimbo, Chile - April 15th, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 23:50:14 (UTC) on Saturday, April 15th, 2006. The magnitude 6.0 event has been located OFFSHORE COQUIMBO, CHILE."
[Based on: http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/uslnbl.php]
2006 - Easter Sunday - April 16th, 2006: "Easter Sunday observed."
*Trivia:
The pagan Easter was a sun reincarnating festival, coinciding with the vernal equinox when nature gloriously reawakens; the word easter itself being derived from Ostara, the Scandinavian goddess of spring. Easter eggs were called eggs of Ostara.
Was it for a similar reason that the Church of the fifth century settled on the anciently honored solstice cycle for the birth of Jesus - when most of the sun gods were believed to be reborn? Jesus now shares his birth time with the Persian Mithra, Egyptian Osiris, Greek Bacchus, the Roman and Greek Apollo, and the Phoenician Adonis. Previous to the fifth century a wide variety of dates had been used for "Christmas."[Based on: Reincarnation The Phoenix Fire Mystery, by Joseph Head & C.L. Cranston, Third Printing, December, 1978, p. 29]
*Trivia:
"The popular Cult of Mithra [or Mithras] was indeed an embarrassment to the early church. Its roots are probably in Syria and it is believed to be an offshoot of the Persian cult of Zoroaster. It seems to have been introduced into the Roman Empire around 67 B.C. Born in a stable to a virgin, birthday celebrated on 25 December, died and reborn, Passover celebrated around Easter, whose rites of worship involved the ingestion of food and drink that were symbolic of eating the flesh of Mithra, and all this 600 years before the birth of Christ. Also included were rites of baptism, the belief in immortality, resurrection, a judgement at the end between Heaven and Hell, and a saviour who died and was resurrected to act as a mediator between man and God.' It is important to remember that the popular definitions of Mithraism have mutated over the centuries to conform with the molds of contemporary society. The popular definitions in circulation today are most likely far from the mark compared to what people understand about 'Mithra' in the beginning."
*Further Reading ...
2006 - Palestinian Aid / Russia - April 16th, 2006: "Russia said it has pledged urgent financial assistance to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority government despite an international boycott. The Russian Foreign Ministry did not say how much money it offered. Last week, the European Union froze hundreds of millions of dollars in annual direct aid to the Palestinian government. The United States and Canada have also halted government aid." [Based on: News Services article (Russia pledges aid to Palestinian Authority), p. A14, S.L.P.D., 04/16/06]
2006 - Mad Cow / Canada - April 17th, 2006: "Canada confirms 5th case of mad cow / The U.S. closed its border to Canadian beef in May 2003." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 04/17/06]
2006 - Palestinian Aid / Iran - April 17th, 2006: "Iran promises to give $50 million to Palestinians" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 04/17/06]
2006 - Flood Trivia / Danube River - April 17th, 2006: "[....] Overnight, the Danube reached an all-time high of 31 feet near Veliko Gradiste, 60 miles east of Belgrade. In the eastern town of Smederevo, authorities dispatched all city workers to fight flooding. In northern Vojvodina province - known as Serbia's breadbasket for its wheat and corn production - the flooding and heavy rains submerged about 25,000 acres of farmland and turned 500,000 more acres into mud and slush." [Based on: A.P. article (Danube flood forces evacuations, other actions), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 04/17/06]
2006 - Health News Review / U.S.A. - April 17th, 2006: "Web site [see link] offers checkup on media health coverage" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 04/17/06]
*Link: www.HealthNewsReview.org
2006 - Pro-Democracy Rallies / Nepal - April 17th, 2006: "Nepal's capital sees shortages as protestors, police clash / pro-democracy rallies Sunday [04/16/06] attracted tens of thousands of people." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 04/17/06]
2006 - Remains Adrift? / Iraq Government - April 17th, 2006: "Amid unrest, Iraq's government remains adrift / Politicians fail again to agree on a prime minister while violence, anarchy continue." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Los Angeles Times article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 04/17/06]
2006 - Prepares Bird Flu Response / U.S.A. - April 17th, 2006: "U.S. prepares response for worst-case scenario of bird flu" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 04/17/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Santa Cruz Islands - April 17th, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 23:50:06 (UTC) on Monday, April 17th, 2006. The magnitude 6.1 event has been located in the SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS."
[Based on: http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/uslqbv.php]
2006 - Medicine Chest for the World / Birch Bark? - April 17th, 2006: "[....] behold the birch tree, the noble Northland native that someday could serve as a medicine chest for the world. [....] Later this month, a NaturNorth Technologies factory in Two harbors, Minn., will begin making birch bark pellets that laboratories can refine into betulin, the active compound in birch that holds so much promise. [....] It appeared betulin's first success could be a herpes virus medicine. Lab and animal research showed betulin was incredibly effective at treating herpes. [....] But because it wasn't synthetic, pharmaceutical companies balked. While you can patent processes, you can't patent nature. [....] According to the World Health Organization, nearly 70 percent of the world's 6.2 billion people still rely on plant-based traditional medicine to relieve pain, heal wounds and cure diseases." [Based on: Knight Ridder Newspapers article (Unlocking birch's bounty: Bark may help cure diseases), p. H6, S.L.P.D., 04/17/06]
2006 - Tropical Cyclone Monica / Off Coast of Australia - April 17th, 2006: "Tropical Cyclone Monica formed off the northeastern coast of Australia on April 17, 2006. This is the same general area that Cyclone Larry formed a month earlier, which caused devastation to Queenland’s coastal communities and destroyed a large fraction of the banana trees in the region. Cyclone Monica was not predicted to be anywhere near as destructive as Larry, and according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Monica was expected to cross Cape York in northern Queensland well away from most settled areas, limiting the damage it was predicted to cause. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13501]
2006 - Suicide Bomber / Israel - April 18th, 2006: "A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up in front of a popular fast-food restaurant Monday [04/17/06], killing nine other people, injuring nearly 60 and sharply heightening hostilities between Israel and the new Hamas-dominated Palestinian government. [....] Its toll was the highest in a suicide bombing since August 2004. [....]" [Based on: Los Angeles Times article (Palestinian government's stance enrages Israelis), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 04/18/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - April 18th, 2006: "Stocks fell to their lowest levels in a month Monday [04/17/06] as oil surpassed $70 a barrel and gold rose the most since September 2001, increasing concern that higher commodity prices will hurt the economy. [....] Gold jumped 3.1 percent to $618.80 an ounce in New York after reaching the highest since December 1980 amid the Iran dispute. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Stocks fall after being hit by commodity prices), p. C4, S.L.P.D., 04/18/06]
2006 - Found Guilty / George Ryan - April 18th, 2006: "In a stunning verdict that sent tremors through this year's political landscape in Illinois, a federal jury found former Gov. George Ryan guilty Monday [04/17/06] on all counts of a wide-ranging corruption case. [....]" [Based on: Post-Dispatch Springfield Bureau article (Ex-Illinois governor guilty), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 04/18/06]
2006 - Fined / Tyco International Ltd. - April 18th, 2006: "Tyco International Ltd. will pay the Securities and Exchange Commission a $50 million civil penalty to settle allegations the high-tech conglomerate's previous management violated securities laws, cooked the books and overstated results by at least $1 billion. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Tyco deal requires $50 million penalty), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 04/18/06]
2006 - Record High Oil Prices / U.S.A. - April 18th, 2006: "Crude-oil prices on Monday [04/17/06] settled at a record high above $70 a barrel, rising more than $1 on concerns about disruptions in Nigeria and tensions between the West and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Global fears pump up oil above $70 / Light sweet crude for May delivery settles at a record $70.40 a barrel.), p. C3, S.L.P.D., 04/18/06]
2006 - Fined / N.Y. City Transit Union - April 18th, 2006: "A judge fined the city [New York] transit union $2.5 million Monday [04/17/06] for the illegal strike that brought buses and subways to a standstill for three days just before Christmas. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Transit union is fined $2.5 million over strike), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 04/18/06]
2006 - Trivia / Nuclear Enrichment, Iran - April 18th, 2006: "Iran says it is testing device to speed nuclear fuel output / Announcement comes as U.N. deadline looms to suspend enrichment." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/18/06]
2006 - Breast Cancer Drug? / Raloxifene - April 18th, 2006: "Drug [raloxifene] said to prevent breast cancer with less risk" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 04/18/06]
2006 - 500th Anniversary / St. Peter's Basilica - April 18th, 2006: "The Vatican is marking the 500th anniversary of St. Peter's Basilica with an exhibit featuring Michelangelo's model of the church dome and an ancient inscription reading 'Peter is here' - a reference to the tomb of the apostle Peter on which the basilicas is believed built. This year [2006] also marks the 500th anniversaries of the formation of the Swiss Guards and the creation of the Vatican Museums. Pope Julius II laid the first stone of St. Peter's on April 18th, 1506, erecting the new church over one built in the fourth century by Constantine, the Roman emperor who was a strong supporter of Christianity." [Based on: News Services article (Exibit marks basilica's 500th anniversary), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06]
2006 - Nerve Agent Scare / Washington D.C. - April 18th, 2006: "Police closed off entries and exits at the Senate's Dirksen Office Building for several hours Monday [04/17/06] after something set off an alarm for the presence of nerve agents. An all-clear was declared about 8:15 p.m., after tests proved negative. It was not known what set off the sensors, a spokeswoman said." [Based on: News Services article (Senate office building sealed amid false alarm), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 04/18/06]
2006 - "Brain Food" Trivia - April 19th, 2006: "Consume chocolate, nuts and red wine. Who could argue with that? According to the Alzheimer's Association, such eating habits also reduce your risk of developing dementia. [....] Red wine, nuts and chocolate are high in antioxidants, which appear to protect brain cells. [....] Supplements containing vitamin E, vitamins E and C together, vitamin B-12 or folate also may be important in lowering your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. [....]" [Based on: Let's Eat page article (Dark chocolate, red wine and nuts win raves as brain food) by Joe Bonwich, p. L1, S.L.P.D., 04/19/06]
2006 - Fined / Freddie Mac - April 19th, 2006: "The home loan giant Freddie Mac has agreed to pay a record $3.8 million fine to settle allegations it made illegal campaign contributions. The fine announced Tuesday [04/18/06] is by far the biggest ever levied by the Federal Election Commission. Because the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., widely known as Freddie Mac, agreed to pay the fine and stop breaking the law, the FEC said it would not take further action against corporate officials. [....] U.S. law bars federally chartered corporations such as Freddie Mac from contributing to campaigns and bans companies from using corporate resources and employees to help raise money for congressional and presidential candidates." [Based on: A.P. article (Election Commission fines Freddie Mac), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/19/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - April 19th, 2006: "Stocks staged their biggest rally in a year Tuesday [04/18/06] after the latest Federal Reserve minutes encouraged speculation that the 21-month-old policy of higher interest rates may be coming to an end. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Stocks surge as hopes rise on Fed rate hikes' end), p. B5, S.L.P.D., 04/19/06]
2006 - Trivia / CIA Leak Case - April 19th, 2006: "Lawyers for NBC News, The New York Times and Time Inc. accused a former White House aide Tuesday [04/18/06] of threatening the integrity of their news gathering operations by seeking access to a wide range of documents in the CIA leak case. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Libby's requests exceed need, media lawyers say), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 04/19/06]
2006 - Bank Fees Increase / U.S.A. - April 19th, 2006: "[....] Bankrate.com said a survey of banks and thrifts in the nation's 25 largest markets found that the average fee for a bounced check rose to $27.04 this spring from $26.90 last fall. That's the second-highest on record, behind the average $27.13 a year ago, according to Bankrate.com, an online financial information service." [Based on: Article (banks raise their fees), p. B2, S.L.P.D., 04/19/06]
2006 - Artificial Rainmaking / China - April 19th, 2006: "Beijing will use artificial rainmaking to clear the air after a choking dust storm coated China's capital and beyond with yellow grit, state media said Tuesday [04/18/06]. Children were urged to stay indoors because of the dust. [....] The government was preparing to seed clouds to make rain to clear the air, state TV said, citing the Central Meteorological Bureau. It did not elaborate. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Artificial rainmaking to clear air after storm), p. A10, S.L.P.D., 04/19/06]
2006 - U.S. Budget Chief / Rob Portman - April 19th, 2006: "[....] The new budget chief is Rob Portman, a former six-term Republican congressman from Ohio who now serves as trade representative. Portman's nomination may help calm GOP anxieties about administration misteps. [....] The president tapped Portman's deputy, Susan Schwab, to move up and replace her boss as the administration's top trade negotiator with other nations. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (President reshuffles his economic team), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 04/19/06]
2006 - Growing / Black-Owned Businesses, U.S.A. - April 19th, 2006: "Black-owned businesses are among the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. economy, the government said Tuesday [04/18/06]. The number of black-owned businesses grew by 45 percent from 1997 to 2002, more than four times the national rate for all businesses, according to a Census Bureau report. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Black-owned businesses grow at four times the national rate) by Stephen Ohlemacher, p. B7, S.L.P.D., 04/19/06]
2006 - Philly Cheesesteak Thickburger / Hardee's - April 19th, 2006: "Hardee's is on a roll with health-defying burgers and expects its young male audience to melt over its newest fat-laden product, the Philly Cheesesteak Thickburger. [....] The burger, which contains 930 calories and 63 grams of fat, is available now at participating Hardee's. It sells for $3.99 by itself and $5.79 for a small combo meal. [....]" [Based on: Article (Hardee's newest burger gives health critics plenty to chew on), p. B2, S.L.P.D., 04/19/06]
2006 - First-Quarter Profit / Peabody Energy Corp. - April 19th, 2006: "Peabody Energy Corp. shares posted their biggest gain in almost five years Tuesday [04/18/06] after the company said first-quarter profit more than doubled on increased output and rising coal prices. St. Louis-based Peabody, the world's largest publicly traded coal producer, said revenue rose 22 percent to $1.31 billion, mostly because of higher prices for coal. [....]" [Based on: Article (Peabody climbs on mountain of coal), p. B1, S.L.P.D., 04/19/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / West Coast of Northern Sumatra - April 19th, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 20:36:46 (UTC) on Wednesday, April 19th, 2006. The magnitude 6.2 event has been located OFF THE WEST COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA."
[Based on: http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/uslsbw.php]
2006 - Sun in Taurus - March 20th, 2006: "Reported date when the Sun entered the constellation Taurus."
[Based on: http://www2.bitstream.net/~bunlion/bpi/ephm/E200604.html]
2006 - Job Shift / Karl Rove - April 20th, 2006: "Job shift frees Rove to focus on easing Bush's political woes" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 04/20/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - April 20th, 2006: "Stocks gained for a second day Wednesday [04/19/06] as enthusiasm about earnings outweighed an inflation report that suggested the Federal Reserve may keep raising interest rates." [Based on: Bloomberg News article, p. C4, S.L.P.D., 04/20/06]
2006 - Mumps Trivia / U.S.A. - April 20th, 2006: "Mumps cases expand in worst outbreak in nearly 20 years / U.S. promises extra vaccine." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 04/20/06]
2006 - First Quarter Earnings / U.S.A. - April 20th, 2006: "Pfizer, Abbott and Schering all post higher earnings for first quarter" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. C3, S.L.P.D., 04/20/06]
2006 - Decrease? / U.S. Mortality Rate - April 20th, 2006: "In what appears to be an amazing success for American medicine, preliminary government figures released Wednesday [04/19/06] showed that the annual number of deaths in the U.S. dropped by nearly 50,000 in 2004 - the biggest decline in nearly 70 years. [....] The center said declines in the death rates for heart disease, cancer and stroke accounted for most of the decline. [....] The preliminary number of U.S. deaths recorded for 2004 was 2,398.343. That represents a decline of 49,945 from the 2,448,288 recorded in 2003. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Fewer Americans are dying, despite all the fat) by Mike Stobbe, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 04/20/06]
2006 - Hyundai Scandal / South Korea - April 20th, 2006: "Hyundai Motor Co. said Wednesday [04/19/06] its chairman and his son will donate $1.1 billion worth of personal assets to the public amid a slushfund scandal engulfing South Korea's largest automaker. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Hyundai chief, son embroiled in scandal will give up $1.1 billion), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 04/20/06]
2006 - Fossil Record / Snake With Legs? - April 20th, 2006: "A newly discovered fossil - found in Argentina - of the most primitive snake known, shows a crawling creature with two legs, and it provides new evidence, researchers say, that snakes evolved on the land rather than in the sea. The creature, which lived about 90 million years ago, wasn't more than 3 feet long, researchers say. It's the first time scientists have found a snake with a sacrum, a bony feature supporting the pelvis. That feature was lost as snakes evolved from lizards, and since this is the only known snake that hasn't lost it, it must be the most primitive known, the researchers say." [Based on: A.P. article (Primitive snake had legs), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 04/20/06]
2006 - Trivia / Diet & Alzheimer's Disease - April 20th, 2006: "[....] The idea that a heart-healthy diet could also help fight Alzheimer's fits in with growing evidence that 'the kinds of things we associate with being bad for our heart turn out to be bad for our brain,' said Dr. Marilyn Albert, a Johns Hopkins neurology professor and spokeswoman for the Alzheimer's Association. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Mediterranean-style diet may cut risk of Alzheimer's, study says), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 04/20/06]
2006 - Massive Explosion / Afghan Capital - April 20th, 2006: "A massive explosion believed to have been caused by a rocket shook the Afghan capital late Wednesday [04/19/06] near the U.S. Embassy compound, wounding an Afghan security contractor, officials said. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Explosion shakes U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/20/06]
2006 - Leaving Big Cities / American Population - April 20th, 2006: "Nearly every large metropolitan area [U.S.A.] had more people move out than move in from 2000 to 2004, with a few exceptions in the South and Southwest, according to a report being released today by the Census Bureau. Many Americans are moving from large metropolitan areas to bordering counties for cheaper homes and more space. [....]" [Based on: Article (Americans leaving nation's big cities), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 04/20/06]
2006 - In the Red [$46 million] / Boston Archdiocese - April 20th, 2006: "Boston Archdiocese is $46 million in the red" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A10, S.L.P.D., 04/20/06]
2006 - U.S. Prisoner List Release / Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - April 20th, 2006: "U.S. releases [04/19/06] list of people held at Guantanamo Bay" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 04/20/06]
2006 - Car Bomb / Nigeria - April 21st, 2006: "Militants battling for a bigger cut of Nigeria's oil revenue set off a car bomb inside a military base, ending weeks of relative calm with a blast that killed at least two people and sent a fireball into the night sky. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Bomb kills 2 at Nigerian military base), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06]
2006 - Trivia / Life on Mars - April 21st, 2006: "Today's cold, dry climate on Mars evolved about 3.5 billion years ago, ending a period when that planet had seen moist conditions, research indicates. An international team of scientists developed a timeline for Mars' geological evolution, reporting in today's issue of the journal Science that the planet had three distinct eras. If Mars had been hospitable to life, it would only have been in its early, wet years, according to the researchers led by JeanPierre Bibring of France's Institute for Space Astrophysics. The planet formed about 4.6 billion years ago. During the first era, clay materials, which need abundant water and moderate temperatures, formed, the researchers said. Then, starting about 4 billion years ago a second era began, marked by volcanic activity spewing sulfur into the environment. That was the start of the drying out of the planet. Between 3.2 billion years ago and 3.5 billion years ago, the third era began. It was marked by minerals dominated by ferric oxides, which have not been formed or altered by water, the researchers said. The researchers from France, Italy, Russia, Germany and the United States developed their timetable by studying data from Mars Express. This mission by the European Space Agency carried an instrument capable of determining the mineral composition of the planet's surface. The research was funded by the space and research agencies in all five countries." [Based on: A.P. article (Scientists: Mars could have supported life only eons ago), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06] - [Paragraph indents untranscribed - D.R.D.]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - April 21st, 2006: "The Dow Jones industrial average rallied Thursday [04/20/06] to its highest level since January 2000 after earnings reports from General Motors Corp. and Merck & Co. beat analysts' estimates and oil slid from a record. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Dow hits highest level since January 2000), p. B8, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06]
2006 - Massive Protest / Nepal - April 21st, 2006: "Nepalis [tens of thousands] defy royal orders in massive protest [04/20/06] / The demonstrations vary from festive to violent. At least three protestors are killed." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A12, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06]
2006 - Settlement / H&R Block Inc. - April 21st, 2006: "H&R Block Inc. has agreed to settle a long-standing class-action lawsuit over its refund anticipation loans for $39 million." [Based on: Article (H&R Block agrees to pay $39 million), p. B2, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06]
2006 - No Proof? / Secret CIA Prisons - April 21st, 2006: "The European Union's anti-terrorism chief said at a hearing on Thursday [04/20/06] that he had not been able to prove that secret CIA prisons existed in Europe. 'We've heard all kinds of allegations,' the official, Gijs de Vries, said before a committee of the European parliament. 'It does not appear to be proven beyond reasonable doubt.' [....]" [Based on: New York Times article (European official says he found no proof of CIA prisons), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06]
2006 - Uranium Enrichment Center / Brazil - April 21st, 2006: "Brazil quietly prepares uranium enrichment center / Like Iran, the country has insisted its nuclear technology program is for peaceful purposes." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A14, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06]
2006 - Still Claiming Lives? / 911 Incident - April 21st, 2006: "An autopsy linking the death of a police officer [police Detective James Zadroga] to dust at the World Trade Center site was chilling confirmation to many 9/11 rescuers that more than four years later, the disaster is still claiming lives. [....] Zadroga died in January of what was listed as pulmonary disease and respiratory failure. The autopsy found material 'consistent with dust' in Zadroga's lungs. Gerard Breton, a pathologist at the Ocean County, N.J., medical examiner's office concluded: 'It is felt with a reasonable degree of medical certainty that the cause of death in this case was directly related to the 9/11 incident.' [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Some believe death shows 9/11 is still exacting toll), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06]
2006 - Foreign Relations / U.S.A. & China - April 21st, 2006: "Bush [George W. Bush], Hu [Hu Jintao] cover broad agenda but make no progress on issues" [Based on: Title for Knight Ridder Newspapers article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06]
2006 - 80th Birthday / Queen Elizabeth II - April 21st, 2006: "Britain celebrates [04/21/06] queen's [Queen Elizabeth II] 80th" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A28, S.L.P.D., 04/22/06]
2006 - Lyrid Meteor Shower / Planet Earth - April 21st, 2006: "Earth is now entering the dusty tail of Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1), and this will cause the annual Lyrid meteor shower. Forecasters expect the shower to peak on April 22nd, producing about 10 meteors per hour - modest, but pretty. The best time to look is during the hours before dawn on Saturday morning. Go to a dark site away from city lights, if possible."
[Based on: http://spaceweather.com/] - [04/21/06]
*Links: http://spaceweather.com/meteors/lyrids/lyrids.html2006 - Major Earthquake / Koryakia, Russia - April 21st, 2006: "A major earthquake occurred at 23:25:04 (UTC) on Friday, April 21st, 2006. The magnitude 7.6 event has been located in KORYAKIA, RUSSIA."
[Based on: http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usltbt.php]
2006 - Settlement / JPMorgan Chase & Co. - April 21st, 2006: "JPMorgan Chase & Co., the nation's third-largest bank, has agreed in principle to pay $425 million to settle lawsuits accusing the institution - and dozens of other Wall Street underwriters - of manipulating the market for initial public offerings of stock. [....] The civil suits against JPMorgan Chase are among more than 300 that allege companies that underwent IPOs and their underwriters manipulated the market." [Based on: Article (JPMorgan agrees to pay $425 million in IPO suits), p. B2, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06]
2006 - Second-Quarter Income / Lee Enterprises Inc. - April 21st, 2006: "Post-Dispatch owner Lee Enterprises Inc. said Thursday [04/20/06] that net income sank 20 percent in its fiscal second quarter, largely due to higher finance costs related to the acquisition of Pulitzer Inc. [....]" [Based on: Article (Lee Enterprises reports 20% drop in income), p. B3, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06]
2006 - Stepping Aside / Ibrahim al-Jaafari, Iraq - April 21st, 2006: "Interim Iraqi premier [Ibrahim al-Jaafari] steps aside / U.S. officials were among those pressuring him to give up his nomination." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Knight Ridder Newspapers article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06]
2006 - Alleged Plot / Riverton High School, Kansas - April 21st, 2006: "Five teenage boys accused of plotting a shooting rampage at their highschool [Riverton] on the anniversary of the Columbine massacre were arrested Thursday [04/20/06] after a message authorities said warned of a gun attack appeared on the Web site MySpace.com. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (5 Kansas teens arrested in alleged plot), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06]
2006 - Possible Health Risks? / Teflon-Coated Products - April 21st, 2006: "Owners of teflon-coated pots and pans in 15 states want to have their cases combined in a $5 billion class-action lawsuit alleging that DuPont Co. failed to disclose possible health risks from using the nonstick cookware. [....] The plaintiffs won't seek to show that anyone has been injured as a result of using Teflon-coated cookware, according to Baer [Des Moines lawyer, Kim Baer]. Instead, the case probably will center on DuPont's failure to notify people of the possible health risks of using Teflon-coated products. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Plaintiffs seek class-action status for teflon lawsuits), p. B2, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06]
2006 - Government-Sanctioned Bible Classes? / Georgia - April 21st, 2006: "Georgia became what is believed to be the first state to offer government-sanctioned elective classes on the Bible, with Gov. Sonny Perdue signing a bill into law Thursday [04/20/06]. [....] The new law allows elective classes on the Bible to be taught to high school students. The governor also signed a bill permitting the display of the ten Commandments at courthouses, an issue that has raised thorny constitutional questions." [Based on: News Services article (State endorses elective classes on the Bible), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06]
2006 - Signs of Larger Eruption? / Ubinas Volcano, Peru - April 21st, 2006: "A Peruvian volcano spewed acid-laden ash and vapors Thursday [04/20/06], killing livestock and forcing aboput 260 people from their homes. Nearly 80 families in the village of Querapi were ordered to evacuate as the Ubinas volcano's crater grew, a sign that a larger eruption could be on the way. A thick plume of white smoke billowed from the crater, about 470 miles southeast of the capital, Lima. The volcano erupted last Friday [04/14/06], sending a plume of ash some 2,600 feet into the air." [Based on: News Services article (Volcano shows sign of larger eruption), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 04/21/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Near East Coast of Koryakia, Russia - April 21st, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 04:32:45 (UTC) on Friday, April 21st, 2006. The magnitude 6.1 event has been located NEAR EAST COAST OF KORYAKIA, RUSSIA."
[Based on: http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usluau.php]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Koryakia, Russia - April 21st, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 11:14:19 (UTC) on Friday, April 21st, 2006. The magnitude 6.1 event has been located in KORYAKIA, RUSSIA."
[Based on: http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usluay.php]
2006 - Price of Oil / U.S.A. - April 22nd, 2006: "Price of oil settles [04/21/05] above $75 a barrel [$75.17]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A33, S.L.P.D., 04/22/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - April 22nd, 2006: "Stocks ended mixed Friday [04/21/06], but higher on the week after the Federal Reserve raised hopes of an end to interest-rate increases, and the first-quarter earnings season got off to a good start. [....]" [Based on: MARKETWATCH article, p. A34, S.L.P.D., 04/22/06]
2006 - Fired / Mary McCarthy - April 22nd, 2006: "CIA fires officer [Mary McCarthy] for leaking secrets to news media" [Based on: Title for Washington Post article, p. A24, S.L.P.D., 04/22/06]
2006 - Vows Democracy / King of Nepal - April 22nd, 2006: "Nepal's king vows democracy [04/21/06] / But his promise in a speech shows little sign of pacifying protestors." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A27, S.L.P.D., 04/22/06]
2006 - Another Vioxx Defeat / Merck & Co. - April 22nd, 2006: "Texas jury hands Merck another Vioxx defeat / $32 million award will be appealed, trimmed because of cap." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A30, S.L.P.D., 04/22/06]
2006 - First-Quarter Loss / Ford Motor Co. - April 22nd, 2006: "Ford suffers $1.2 billion loss as restructuring begins" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A33, S.L.P.D., 04/22/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Koryakia, Russia - April 22nd, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 07:21:58 (UTC) on Saturday, April 22nd, 2006. The magnitude 6.0 event has been located in KORYAKIA, RUSSIA."
[Based on: http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/uslvai.php]
2006 - Trivia / IMF - April 23rd, 2006: "International Monetary Fund will revamp its mission" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 04/23/06]
2006 - Sunspot 875 - April 23rd, 2006: "A large sunspot, about the size of the planet Neptune, has appeared over the sun's eastern limb. It does not yet pose a threat for strong solar flares, but merits watching: [....]"
[Based on: http://spaceweather.com/index.cgi] - [04/23/06]
*Trivia: "At least six strong [6.0 or above] earthquakes will occur during the life [04/23-30/06] of this sunspot." [D.R.D.]
2006 - Riot Police / Nepal - April 23rd, 2006: "In Nepal, riot police scatter protestors [04/22/06] defying curfew / After protestors ran in panic, the street was covered with blood and abandoned shoes and sandals." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Washington Post article, p. A11, S.L.P.D., 04/23/06]
2006 - Obedience to Papacy? / Jesuits - April 23rd, 2006: "Pope Benedict XVI reminds Jesuits of pledge of obedience to papacy" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A9, S.L.P.D., 04/23/06]
2006 - Foreign Relations / Hamas & Fatah - April 23rd, 2006: "Hamas, Fatah rivals clash in Gaza [04/22/06] / Hamas leader's remark about Abbas touches off violence." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A14, S.L.P.D., 04/23/06]
2006 - In Dander? / Coral Reefs, Caribbean - April 23rd, 2006: "[....] In the waters around the U.S. Virgin Islands, as much as 40 percent of coaral died in some reefs last year, and the coral that survived probably isn't healthy enough to survive another hot summer, said Caroline Rogers, a U.S. Geological Survey biologist. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Coral reefs in Caribbean are in danger), p. A14, S.L.P.D., 04/23/06]
2006 - Moves Toward Unity Government / Iraqi Parliament - April 23rd, 2006: "[....] On Saturday [04/22/05], Iraq's Parliament reappointed Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, as president. Talabani then appointed Jawad al-Maliki, a Shiite Muslim, to the key position of prime minister designate. Parliament also elected two vice presidents, a parliamentary speaker and two deputies. Much of the U.S. hope of a military withdrawal is riding on the success of Jawad al-Malaki. He promised Saturday to finish assembling an inclusive government with 'all components of Iraqi society.' [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Iraqi Parliament moves toward unity government), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 04/23/06]
2006 - Defense & Trade Deals / Saudi Arabia & China - April 23rd, 2006: "Oil-rich Saudi Arabia and energy-starved China signed defense, security and trade agreements Saturday [04/22/06] on the first day of Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Saudis, China reach defense and trade deals), p. A12, S.L.P.D., 04/23/06]
2006 - Insurgent Attacks / Iraq - April 24th, 2006: "Insurgents killed three American soldiers in the Baghdad area Sunday [04/23/06] and fired mortars near the Defense Ministry in a surge of violence that killed at least 27 Iraqis. The attacks cast a cloud over politicians beginning to work on forming a new government. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (3 U.S. soldiers, 27 Iraqis are killed), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 04/24/06]
2006 - Protests Continue / Nepal - April 24th, 2006: "Nepali police fired rubber bullets at thousands of protestors Sunday [04/23/06], struggling to enforce a curfew imposed to keep persistent pro-democracy demonstrators off the streets in the Himalayan country's deepening crisis. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Thousands clash with police in capital city), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 04/24/06]
2006 - Videotape / Osama Bin-Laden - April 24th, 2006: "Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden urged his followers in a new audiotape broadcast Sunday [04/23/06] to prepare for a drawn-out conflict with the Western world, blaming what he called 'a Crusader-Zionist war' for attacks on Islam in places from Darfur to Denmark. [....]" [Based on: Washington Post article (War will be long, bin Laden warns / Al-Jazeera network airs audiotape attributed to the al-Qaida leader.), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 04/24/06]
2006 - Ash Plume / Soufriere Hills Volcano - April 24th, 2006: "A faint, tan plume of ash drifted west from the Soufriere Hills Volcano on April 24, 2006. Located on the Caribbean Island of Montserrat, the volcano had been quiet since 1630 until it erupted spectacularly starting on July 18, 1995. The tragic eruption caused fatalities and forced the evacuation of the southern half of the island, including the capital city, Plymouth, which was destroyed in the eruption. The activity at the volcano captured in April 2006 was nowhere near as dramatic. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13523]
2006 - Tropical Cyclone Mala / Bay of Bengal - April 24th, 2006: "Tropical Cyclone Mala formed in the Bay of Bengal on April 24, 2006. The cyclone has been gradually building strength and size. As of April 26, it was projected to head towards Myanmar, possibly coming ashore there on or around April 29, after grazing along the Andaman Islands. It was not projected to become a particularly powerful storm before reaching the mainland. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13528]
2006 - Car Bombs / Iraq - April 25th, 2006: "10 killed as car bombs explode in Baghdad / Bodies of 28 people, including 15 Iraqi police recruits, are found." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A11, S.L.P.D., 04/25/06]
2006 - Bombings / Egypt - April 25th, 2006: "Bombings [04/24/06] kill 23 in Egypt / More than 60 hurt: Streets of resort were packed with tourists / Officials suspect al-Qaida: Near-simulatneous blasts are hallmark" [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Los Angeles Times article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 04/25/06]
*Trivia: "Motive for terror blasts in Egypt remains mystery" [Based on: Title for Knight Ridder Newspapers article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 04/26/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - April 25th, 2006: "Stocks closed lower Monday [04/24/06] after positive earnings from Dow component Caterpillar Inc. were overshadowed by dollar weakness and overnight selloffs in Asian markets. The G7, the seven leading industrialized nations, called on China to allow greater flexibility in the value of its currency, prompting the Japanese yen to rally against the U.S. dollar. The U.S. dollar fell to a three-month low against the Japanese yen, prompting some nervousness about how the move would affect U.S. economic growth. [....]" [Based on: MARKETWATCH article (Weaker dollar gives investors the willies), p. C3, S.L.P.D., 04/25/06]
2006 - Trivia / Kenneth Lay - April 25th, 2006: "Kenneth Lay, Enron Corp's founder and former chairman and CEO, on Monday [04/24/06] denied committing the fraud that destroyed his company, instead blaming a thieving subordinate, short sellers and journalists. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Accused of massive fraud, Kenneth Lay takes the stand to give his side of the story on the downfall of Enron. 'This is the performance of his life'), p. C1, S.L.P.D., 04/25/06]
*Trivia: "Kenneth Lay's Missouri ties - Born: April 15, 1942 in Tyrone, Mo. University of Missouri at Columbia: *Bachelor's degree in economics, 1964 *Master's degree in economics, 1965 *A frequent contributor to the university's school of business, the Lay Family Foundation in 1998 donated $1.1 million to the school's department of economics to found the Kenneth L. Lay Chair in Economics. The chair is vacant."
[Sources: www.kenlayinfo.com; University of Missouri at Columbia]
2006 - Feuding / Abbas & Hamas - April 25th, 2006: "Hamas-Abbas feuding intensifies / President says he could dismiss government; militants say they would scrap truce with Israel" [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A12, S.L.P.D., 04/25/06]
2006 - Guilty Plea / Sanjay Kumar - April 25th, 2006: "Sanjay Kumar, former chief executive officer of Computer Associates International Inc., pleaded guilty to charges he led a $2.2 billion accounting fraud at the company, two weeks before he and an ex-colleague were to begin trial in U.S. District Court. Kumar, 44, and former sales executive Stephen Richards, 41, were charged with illegally inflating revenue at Islandia, New York-based Computer Associates in 2000 by backdating contracts. In 2004, the company agreed to make corporate governance changes and pay $225 million in restitution to avoid criminal prosecution. CA is the No. 2 maker of mainframe computer software." [Based on: Article (Computer Associates' former CEO pleads guilty), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 04/25/06]
2006 - Parliament Reinstated / Nepal - April 25th, 2006: "Nepalese king relents, reinstates parliament / Opposition groups planned to meet today to call off protest." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 04/25/06]
*Trivia: "Nepalese rebels declare [04/27/06] cease-fire [for 3-months]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A13, S.L.P.D., 04/27/06]