NEW YORK—The FBI says it has arrested New York state Sen. Malcolm Smith and a New York City councilman as part of a public corruption probe.The agency says Smith and City Councilman Dan Halloran were arrested without incident at 6 a.m. Tuesday at their homes.The FBI declined to provide other details.Representatives for the politicians did not immediately respond to comment requests.Continue Reading… … Read More
North Dakota sends three extreme antiabortion measures to governor’s desk
The North Dakota Legislature has made a sport out of denying women their reproductive rights. And they have gotten very, very good at it.Three of the four extreme abortion bills state lawmakers passed in recent weeks are expected to reach Gov. Jack Dalrymple on Monday. Dalrymple has not indicated whether or not he intends to sign the measures, but the state House and Senate may have the votes necessary to override any veto he issues.Once the bills arrive on his desk, the governor has three days to sign or veto them. If he fails to act, they will automatically become law.The first of the three measures Dalrymple will consider is House Bill 1456, the “fetal heartbeat ban.” The measure would make all abortions illegal after a fetal heartbeat is detected which, if a trans-vaginal probe is used, can be as early as five or six weeks after fertilization. If signed into law, doctors could face up to five years in prison if they perform an abortion after the cut-off date. After passing the state Legislature earlier in March, the measure beat out Arkansas’ 12-week abortion ban to become the most extreme in the nation.Continue Reading… … Read More
FTC settlement likely following lengthy Google antitrust probe
US regulators scheduled an announcement Thursday on their lengthy antitrust probe of Google, amid reports a voluntary settlement was likely. Federal Trade Commission chairman Jon Leibowitz was to make the announcement at 1800 GMT “concerning the investigation of Google, one of the largest…
How NASA gave us the images that shine new light on Earth – and beyond
It’s 50 years since the first interplanetary probe, and this year’s stunning pictures from across the solar system show how far space technology has come This image gives us an unprecedented view of Earth at night. Ribbons of light from cities stretch across the shadows of the…
NASA Announces New Twin Rover for Curiosity Launching to Mars in 2020
NASA’s Curiosity rover is getting a younger brother. A new robotic probe built from spare parts from the original rover will be launched to Mars in 2020 and begin exploring the planet. … Read More
Senate committee passes email privacy bill
A US Senate panel approved a bill to boost email privacy protections in a vote Thursday that followed widespread uproar over the FBI probe that toppled CIA director David Petraeus. The measure, which if enacted would require police to obtain a warrant in most cases to access email accounts, drew…
French court to rule on Strauss-Kahn sex party probe
A French court will Wednesday rule on whether to drop pimping charges against former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn in the latest sex crime case against him in France. Strauss-Kahn’s lawyers have asked the appeals court in the northern town of Douai to stop a judicial inquiry into claims…
