The jihadist leading the ISIS’s bloody tear through the heart of Iraq was in US custody from 2005 to 2009. His name is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and the only reason he is fighting today is because the Obama administration let him go.
THE federal government has seized a record $360 million from household bank accounts that have been dormant for just three years, prompting outrage in some quarters amid complaints that pensioners and retirees have lost deposits.
Figures from the Australian Security and Investments Commission (ASIC) show almost $360 million was collected from 80,000 inactive accounts in the year to May under new rules introduced by Labor. The new rules lowered the threshold at which the government is allowed to snatch funds from accounts that remain idle from seven years to three years. Continue reading “Australian Government grabs $360 million from idle household bank accounts”
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services says it will enforce its plan to eliminate state support for undocumented immigrants who apply for or receive General Assistance benefits.
The department’s announcement, made Wednesday in a news release, appears to defy Attorney General Janet Mills’ finding last month that denying benefits to immigrants violates the equal protection clauses of the state and federal constitutions. Continue reading “Maine to halt funds for illegal immigrants’ aid”
Exercise is one of the most important factors for optimal health, and there are countless ways to get your exercise each day. Even if you struggle with conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis (MS), or chronic back pain that limits your mobility, there are exercises that can help.
You’re probably thinking that inflationary devaluation of your savings or paying negative interest rates on cash deposits is about as far as government is willing to go in its efforts to keep funding its debt-laden endeavors. They certainly wouldn’t consider touching the bank accounts of hard working Americans. Only the Europeans have the audacity to go after the savings of the average depositor.
Residents of Slavyansk and its suburbs were awoken overnight on Thursday by what they say were incendiary bombs that were dropped on their city by Kiev’s military. Witnesses and local media reports suggested that the bombs might be phosphorous.
Iran deployed its Revolutionary Guard to help Iraq battle insurgents from a group inspired by Al-Qaeda, according to a recent report. In the meantime, the US is mulling airstrikes to support the Iraqi government.
On Wednesday, Al-Qaeda affiliate insurgents from the armed group Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) conquered former dictator Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit, marking the second major loss for the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Earlier this week, insurgents captured Mosul, the second-largest city in the country. With jihadists threatening Baghdad and security forces unable resist the Sunni Islamists’ assault, Maliki turned to foreign powers for help, getting responses from two unlikely allies, Iran and the US. Continue reading “US airstrikes to support Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s offensive in Iraq?”
Venezuelan consumer prices rose at the second-fastest pace in at least six years in April and May as tighter dollar supplies to companies crimped output, while street protests continued.
Prices rose 5.7 percent in both April and May, up from 4.1 percent in March, the central bank said yesterday in a statement posted on its website. Annual inflation accelerated to 61.5 percent in April from 59.3 percent in March, then slowed to 60.9 percent for May. Continue reading “Venezuela Prices Rise Most This Year as Industry Stalls”
WASHINGTON — Uncle Sam is putting out an urgent call for a platoon of baby sitters who can help deal with the crushing influx of children illegally crossing the border.
A federal judge in Nevada has ordered a competency evaluation for a woman charged with throwing a shoe at former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during an April speaking appearance in Las Vegas, according to court papers released on Thursday.
Alison Michelle Ernst is accused of getting past security at an event at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Hotel where Clinton was speaking and hurling a soccer shoe and several papers at Clinton from the audience.
KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine (AP) — Former President George H.W. Bush celebrated his 90th birthday by making a tandem parachute jump near his summer home, fulfilling a goal he made five years ago after a similar jump even though he can no longer use his legs.
The nation’s 41st president jumped from a helicopter Thursday at about 6,000 feet while harnessed to retired Sgt. 1st Class Mike Elliott, a former member of the Golden Knights, the Army’s parachute team, who guided Bush to a safe landing on his 85th birthday. Continue reading “90-year-old ex-president makes parachute jump”
WASHINGTON (AP) — Political polarization in America has broken out of the voting booth.
A new survey from the Pew Research Center finds Americans are divided by ideology and partisanship not only when they cast ballots, but also in choosing where to live, where to get their news and with whom to associate. Continue reading “In US, political split outgrows the voting booth”
WASHINGTON (AP) — Less than three years after pulling American forces out of Iraq, President Barack Obama is weighing a range of short-term military options, including airstrikes, to quell an al-Qaida inspired insurgency that has captured two Iraqi cities and threatened to press toward Baghdad.
“We do have a stake in making sure that these jihadists are not getting a permanent foothold,” Obama said Thursday in the Oval Office. However, officials firmly ruled out putting American troops back on the ground in Iraq, which has faced resurgent violence since the U.S. military withdrew in late 2011. A sharp burst of violence this week led to the evacuation Thursday of Americans from a major air base in northern Iraq where the U.S. had been training security forces. Continue reading “Obama: US will send fresh help to beleaguered Iraq”
PHOENIX (AP) — A badly injured priest managed to administer last rites to his dying fellow clergyman who was fatally shot in a nighttime attack at their Roman Catholic church in downtown Phoenix as police rushed to the scene after the man also called 911.
Authorities had no suspects or solid leads as of Thursday afternoon. They searched the neighborhood, interviewed the injured priest and examined physical evidence from the scene. Investigators said they are unsure how many attackers were involved or if robbery was the motive. Continue reading “Police: Priests attacked at Phoenix church, 1 dies”