Israeli warplanes bombed the outskirts of Damascus early Sunday for the second time in recent days, according to Syrian state media and reports from activists, signaling a sharp escalation in tensions between the neighboring countries that had already been exacerbated by the conflict raging in Syria.
Though there was no official confirmation that Israel had carried out the attack, the Israeli military later announced that it had deployed two of its Iron Dome rocket defense batteries near its northern border, in response to what it called “ongoing situational assessments.”
Syrian report: Israel bombs outskirts of Damascus for second time in recent days
Appeals court says NY towns can ban fracking
A mid-level appeals court on today said local governments in New York can ban hydraulic fracturing and shale-gas drilling within their borders, delivering a major blow to the natural-gas industry and landowners who had sought to have the bans overturned.
The state Appellate Division ruled unanimously in favor of the Tompkins County town of Dryden and the Otsego County town of Middlefield, both of which passed zoning laws that prohibit natural-gas drilling. The rulings upheld decisions last year from a lower court.
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Florida restores early voting days, moves back primary
Still smarting from jokes about Florida's inability to run statewide elections, Florida lawmakers approved a package of revisions on Friday to give voters more time and locations to cast their ballots.
"We all took a lot of flak for elections last year," said Senator Jack Latvala, a Republican who chairs the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee. "We were the butt of jokes on late night TV."
Karzai acknowledges CIA payments
Afghan President Hamid Karzai acknowledged Saturday that he has frequently received money from the CIA and that he had been promised the agency would continue making such payments.
At a news conference, Karzai said the payments amounted to “a government institution helping another government institution, and we appreciate all this assistance and help.”
Solar-powered plane embarks on day-and-night journey across US
The ultralight plane, named Solar Impulse, took off from San Francisco on Friday morning.
It will take pilot Bertrand Piccard 19 hours to reach Phoenix, the first stop as his Solar Impulse aircraft hops across America, with stops in Dallas, St Louis, Washington DC and New York.
Priest at center of Newark Archdiocese scandal quits ministry
The Roman Catholic priest at the center of a public furor enveloping Newark Archbishop John J. Myers has resigned from ministry, a spokesman for the archdiocese said tonight.
The Rev. Michael Fugee, who attended youth retreats and heard confessions from minors in defiance of a lifetime ban on such behavior, submitted his request to leave ministry this afternoon, said the spokesman, Jim Goodness. Myers promptly accepted the resignation, Goodness said.
N.C. fracking rule pulled after Halliburton objects
A new rule set for approval by the North Carolina Mining and Energy Commission requiring some disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing has been withdrawn at the request of industry giant Halliburton.
The state commission had been set to vote on the new rule Friday. The standard spells out which chemicals operators must publicly disclose when drilling natural gas wells.
Vatican 'orders Cardinal Keith O'Brien to leave Scotland'
Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Britain's most senior priest, has been ordered by the Vatican to leave Scotland, it has been reported.
The cardinal, who retired from the leadership of the church in Scotland after admitting inappropriate sexual conduct with priests, has been advised against going ahead with his plan to move to a house in Dunbar in East Lothian after vacating his official residence in Edinburgh, according to the Herald.
Judge approves $2.43 billion Bank of America settlement
A federal judge in New York approved a $2.43 billion settlement to end claims Bank of America misled shareholder when it purchased Merrill Lynch & Co.
Bank of America closed on the purchase of Merrill Lynch in January 2008, having announced it had reached a deal to buy the financial giant in September 2008, one day before Lehman Brothers announced it was bankrupt, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.
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