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After Decades of Tension, U.S. Military Base In Okinawa To Relocate

Archives for December 2013

$0.60 For Cake: Al-Qaida Records Every Expense

Clues from Al-Quaida’s “meticulous bookkeeping techniques” point to a highly-structured multinational organization.

Rukmini Callimachi, the Associated Press
By Rukmini Callimachi, the Associated Press

 TIMBUKTU, Mali (AP) — The convoy of cars bearing the black al-Qaida flag came at high speed, and the manager of the modest grocery store thought he was about to get robbed. Mohamed Djitteye rushed to lock his till and cowered behind the counter. He was dumbfounded when instead, the al-Qaida commander gently opened the grocery's glass door and

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Investigation Reveals Rampant Fraud by Privatized Hospice Groups

Siphoning billions of Medicare dollars, for-profit hospice companies found recruiting non-dying patients.

Lauren McCauley
By Lauren McCauley

A Washington Post investigation into the world of hospice care published Thursday found that what was initially intended to be a peaceful end-of-life alternative led by religious and community organizations, has now evolved into a $17 billion for-profit industry ripe with scams and abuse. Hospice care, which focuses on providing comfort to the

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McDonald’s Ditches Worker Advice Website Due To ‘Unwarranted Scrutiny’

After a year of bad publicity, McDonald’s is making it harder for outsiders to see the advice it gives its employees.

Alan Pyke for Think Progress
By Alan Pyke for Think Progress

McDonald’s is making it harder for outsiders to see the advice it gives its employees on how to get by on the poverty wages the company pays. The company’s “McResource Line” for workers will remain accessible by phone, but the fast food chain took its McResource website offline indefinitely this week according to CNBC. The website was taken down

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Judge on NSA Case Cites 9/11 Report, But It Doesn’t Actually Support His Ruling

U.S. district court Judge William Pauley makes faulty reference to 9/11 report, while experts say the NSA could have avoided the pre-9/11 failure even without the metadata surveillance program.

Justin Elliot
By Justin Elliot

Update Dec. 28, 2013: In a new decision in support of the NSA's phone metadata surveillance program, U.S. district court Judge William Pauley cites an intelligence failure involving the agency in the lead-up to the 9/11 attacks. But the judge's cited source, the 9/11 Commission Report, doesn't actually include the account he gives in the ruling.

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Saudi Arabia To Give Lebanon $3 Billion To Strengthen Army

The deal, called the largest military grant in Lebanon’s history, includes weapons purchase from France.

Associated Press
By Associated Press

BEIRUT (AP) — Saudi Arabia has pledged $3 billion to Lebanon to help strengthen the country's armed forces and purchase weapons from France, Lebanon's president said Sunday, calling it the biggest grant ever for the nation's military. Michel Sleiman, who made the surprise announcement in a televised national address, did not provide any further

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Israel Prepares To Free Palestinian Prisoners

With Netanyahu expected to accompany the releases with plans to build hundreds of new homes in Jewish settlements, criticism comes from some unlikely quarters.

Associated Press
By Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a public uproar Monday over the impending release of more than two dozen Palestinian prisoners convicted in deadly attacks as part of a U.S.-brokered package to restart Mideast peace talks. With Netanyahu expected to accompany the releases with plans to build hundreds of new homes in

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