http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/breaking-news/ en-us Sun, 5 Jul 2009 20:41:12 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286091/posts TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Honduras' exiled president took off for home in a Venezuelan jet in a high-stakes attempt to return to power, even as the interim government told its military to turn away the plane. Zelaya won wide international support after his ouster a week ago by the military, but the only prominent escort aboard his plane was the U.N. General Assembly president after Latin American leaders backed out, citing security concerns. Honduras' civil aviation director said Zelaya's plane was being redirected to El Salvador. Fox News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286091/posts#comment Sun, 5 Jul 2009 20:41:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285926/posts U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Sunday that the Obama administration would not stand in Israel's way should the latter chooses to take military action to eliminate Iran's nuclear threat. Israel has the right to determine its own course of action with regard to the Iranian nuclear threat regardless of what the Obama administration chooses to do, Biden told ABC reporter George Stephanopoulos. When asked whether the Obama administration would restrain Israeli military action against Iran, Biden responded: "Israel can determine for itself - it's a sovereign nation - what's in their interest and what they decide to do... Haaretz http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285926/posts#comment Sun, 5 Jul 2009 14:42:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285918/posts The interim government in Honduras says it will block any attempt by ousted President Manuel Zelaya to return. Mr Zelaya, who was removed by troops a week ago, has promised to fly home to the Central American nation later on Sunday. But Foreign Minister Enrique Ortez said that any plane carrying Mr Zelaya would not be allowed to land. The stand-off comes a day after the top regional body, the OAS, suspended Honduras over the crisis. Supporters of the ousted leader were said to be gathering in the capital, Tegucigalpa, in order to meet him at the airport. The BBC's... BBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285918/posts#comment Sun, 5 Jul 2009 14:25:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285853/posts The Talk Shows Sunday, July 5th, 2009 Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows: FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Reps. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and John Boehner, R-Ohio.MEET THE PRESS (NBC): Pre-empted by coverage of Wimbledon tennis.FACE THE NATION (CBS): Adm.Mullen; Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Chuck U. Schumer, D-N.Y. THIS WEEK (ABC): Vice President Joe Biden. STATE OF THE UNION (CNN): Former Secretary of State Colin Powell; Adm.Mullen; Queen Noor of Jordan.. Various driveby media television networks http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285853/posts#comment Sun, 5 Jul 2009 12:14:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285767/posts The head of Mossad, Israel’s overseas intelligence service, has assured Benjamin Netanyahu, its prime minister, that Saudi Arabia would turn a blind eye to Israeli jets flying over the kingdom during any future raid on Iran’s nuclear sites. Earlier this year Meir Dagan, Mossad’s director since 2002, held secret talks with Saudi officials to discuss the possibility. The Israeli press has already carried unconfirmed reports that high-ranking officials, including Ehud Olmert, the former prime minister, held meetings with Saudi colleagues. The reports were denied by Saudi officials. “The Saudis have tacitly agreed to the Israeli air force flying through their... The Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285767/posts#comment Sun, 5 Jul 2009 05:01:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285768/posts Reporting from Washington -- A day after Alaska Gov. Sara Palin resigned, a federal official in her home state dismissed one potential explanation for her sudden and unexpected resignation -- a rumored FBI investigation into the former Wasilla mayor on public corruption charges. Despite rumors of a looming controversy after Palin's surprise announcement Friday that she will leave office this month, some of them published in the blogosphere, the FBI's Alaska spokesman said the bureau had no investigation into Palin for her activities as governor, as mayor or in any other capacity. "There is absolutely no truth to those rumors,... L A Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285768/posts#comment Sun, 5 Jul 2009 05:03:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285743/posts MOSCOW, July 4 (RIA Novosti) - The speaker of the Russian parliament's upper house said Saturday the United States could give up its plans to deploy a missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. RIANOVOSTI http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285743/posts#comment Sun, 5 Jul 2009 03:17:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285573/posts WASHINGTON (AP) — The Organization of American States is meeting in Washington to consider suspending Honduras' membership because of the military coup that ousted President Manuel Zelaya. The group's assistant secretary-general, Albert Ramdin, said Zelaya planned to attend Saturday's emergency meeting. Zelaya is expected to address foreign ministers Ramdin says the OAS does not regard the current Honduran government as legitimate — so it can't withdraw from the OAS. Ministers agreed Tuesday on a 72-hour ultimatum for the Honduran government to reinstate Zelaya or face an OAS suspension. But Honduras' interim president calls the OAS "a political organization, not a... Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285573/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 19:28:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285479/posts Honduras rebuffed demands by the international community to reinstate President Manuel Zelaya and pulled out of the Organization of American States AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285479/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 16:37:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285346/posts North Korea fired seven ballistic missiles off its eastern coast Saturday, South Korea said, a violation of U.N. resolutions and an apparent message of defiance to the United States on its Independence Day. The launches, which came two days after North Korea fired four short-range cruise missiles, will likely further escalate tensions in the region as the U.S. tries to muster support for tough enforcement of the latest U.N. Security Council resolution imposed on the communist regime for its May nuclear test. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said three missiles were fired early Saturday, a fourth around noon... fox http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285346/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 11:38:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285178/posts Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin plans to remain extremely visible and will give serious consideration to running for president in 2012, but has made no decision, a close friend said after her startling announcement Friday that she will resign her office. Friends say Palin plans to spend time writing her book, which is due this fall, then promote it heavily when it comes out in spring 2010. Palin is by far the Republican Party's biggest draw for fund-raisers and conservative events, and the friends say she plans to spend a lot of time traveling in "the lower 48" states, as Alaskans... Politico http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285178/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 00:26:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285168/posts Exposure by Free Republic has forced the Huffington Post to take down an article attacking Sarah Palin over her Down Syndrome afflicted child, Trig, within ninety minutes of the offensive article being written about at Free Republic.Clicking on the source link at the Huffington Post now brings a page devoid of the article and headline. The keywords referencing Trig remain, however the original 'Comedy news' tag has been changed to 'Home news'The article, entitled "Palin Will Run In '12 on More Retardation Platform" was written by Huffington Post writer Erik Sean Nelson.Link to Huffington Post page.Link to Free Republic article... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285168/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 00:10:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284989/posts Are you ready for a FReepathon? This is going to be a great quarter for us! First a nationwide Independence Day Tea Party, then we'll be caravanning across country on the Tea Party Express culminating at the 9-12 March on Washington and National Tea Party in DC, then the First Annual Free Republic National Convention! It's time we stand up and loudly say NO to the Marxist B. Hussein Obama before he completely destroys our country and replaces freedom with socialism! The guy thinks he's a dictator and he's running amok without even seeking the approval of the congress or... Click here to pledge your support http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284989/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 18:51:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284436/posts WASHINGTON -- Spending by lawmakers on taxpayer-financed trips abroad has risen sharply in recent years, a Wall Street Journal analysis of travel records shows, involving everything from war-zone visits to trips to exotic spots such as the Galápagos Islands. The spending on overseas travel is up almost tenfold since 1995, and has nearly tripled since 2001, according to the Journal analysis of 60,000 travel records. Hundreds of lawmakers traveled overseas in 2008 at a cost of about $13 million. That's a 50% jump since Democrats took control of Congress two years ago. The cost of so-called congressional delegations, known among... Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284436/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 21:57:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284446/posts Senate bill fines people refusing health coverageBy RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR – 58 minutes ago WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans who refuse to buy affordable medical coverage could be hit with fines of more than $1,000 under a health care overhaul bill unveiled Thursday by key Senate Democrats looking to fulfill President Barack Obama's top domestic priority. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the fines will raise around $36 billion over 10 years. Senate aides said the penalties would be modeled on the approach taken by Massachusetts, which now imposes a fine of about $1,000 a year on individuals who refuse to get coverage.... AP via Google http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284446/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 22:18:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284389/posts WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama said Thursday that he remains confident the economy will turn around in the short term and the nation will prosper in the long term despite another dose of bad unemployment news. "And I'm absolutely confident that we can, at this period of difficulty, prove, once again, what this nation can achieve when challenged," Obama said in the Rose Garden after a meeting with executives from energy companies. Earlier, the government reported that employers cut a larger-than-expected 467,000 jobs in June. The unemployment rate climbed to a 26-year high of 9.5 percent. Obama called that report... AP via YahooNews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284389/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 20:26:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283992/posts WASHINGTON -- Employers cut a larger-than-expected 467,000 jobs in June, driving the unemployment rate up to a 26-year high of 9.5 percent, suggesting that the economy's road to recovery will be a bumpy one. Economists had expected 363,000 job cuts last months, and that the jobless rate would rise to 9.6 percent from 9.4 percent in May. If laid-off workers who have given up looking for new jobs or have settled for part-time work are included, the unemployment rate would have been 16.5 percent in June, the highest on records dating to 1994. Out-of-work with no place to land, the... Foxnews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283992/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 12:42:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283960/posts KABUL, Afghanistan -- The U.S. military said today that insurgents have capture an American soldier in eastern Afghanistan. Spokeswoman Capt. Elizabeth Mathias said the soldier went missing Tuesday. LA Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283960/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 11:08:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283934/posts SEOUL, July 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korea test-fired a pair of what appears to be short-range missiles off its east coast on Thursday, a South Korean official said. "One was fired at 5:20 p.m. and the other at 6:00 p.m. from Sinsang-ni" near the eastern coastal city of Wonsan, South Korean defense ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae said. Yonhap News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283934/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 09:32:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283839/posts WASHINGTON, July 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. government voiced concern on Wednesday over actions taken by Niger's President Mamadou Tandja to extend his rule in the West African country. "These decisions undermine Niger's efforts over the last ten years to advance good governance and the rule of law," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement. Tandja responded to the rejection by Niger's highest court of his plan to seek at least another three years in power by sacking the judges and naming a new Cabinet. ....U.S. concern about the situation in Niger comes at a time when Washington... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283839/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 03:57:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283686/posts U.S. Marines and Afghan security forces moved into Taliban-infested villages Wednesday evening in one of the Obama administration's first major military operations in the previously forgotten war in Afghanistan. The offensive was launched shortly after 1 a.m. local time in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province. More than 4,000 Marines and an estimated 650 Afghan soldiers and police sought to clear insurgents from towns and villages along the Helmand River Valley before the nation's Aug. 20 presidential election. Dubbed Operation Khanjar, or "Strike of the Sword," the military push was described by officials as the largest and fastest-moving of the war's newest... Fox News/AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283686/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 23:31:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283495/posts SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The California governor's office says federal officials are threatening to seize six state parks if they are closed to help balance the state's budget. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed closing 220 state parks. But the National Park Service warned in a letter to Schwarzenegger that six of those parks are on former federal land that could revert to the U.S. government if they are not kept open as parks. ap on Sac bee http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283495/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 19:41:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283396/posts Are you ready for a FReepathon? This is going to be a great quarter for us! First a nationwide Independence Day Tea Party, then we'll be caravanning across country on the Tea Party Express culminating at the 9-12 March on Washington and National Tea Party in DC, then the First Annual Free Republic National Convention! It's time we stand up and loudly say NO to the Marxist B. Hussein Obama before he completely destroys our country and replaces freedom with socialism! The guy thinks he's a dictator and he's running amok without even seeking the approval of the congress or... Click here to donate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283396/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 17:29:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283281/posts WASHINGTON (AP) - A powerful House committee chairman with a central role in President Barack Obama's global warming and health care legislation has been hospitalized. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., was not feeling well Tuesday and was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for "routine testing," spokeswoman Karen Lightfoot said Wednesday. WTOP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283281/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 14:53:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283193/posts NEW YORK, July 1 (Reuters) - U.S. private employers cut 473,000 jobs in June, more than expected but down from the 485,000 jobs lost in May, a report by a private employment service said on Wednesday. al-Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283193/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:09:23 GMT