31 May: Several US Marines to face courts martial in connection with killing of 24 unarmed civilians at Haditha, Iraq, last November, according to numerous media reports; the move comes after Iraq PM Al-Maliki declared he would launch an investigation, criticized worrying number of such casualties... White House has pledged to release in full the report on internal Pentagon investigations into the massacre... More than 50 people reported killed yesterday in bomb attacks across Iraq, including 25 in a crowded street market in Baghdad... NYT reports Darfur conflict still leaving tens of thousands in squalor, suffering from dehydration, malnutrition, disease; unless security situation dramatically improves, aid will not increase enough to save many of those who have lived already for years in such conditions... Afghanistan wrestling with aftermath of Monday riots which killed 11, wounded 130, threatened to destabilize capital amid worst unrest since 2001 war... Chilean police use teargas, water cannon in attempt to disband student strike calling for increased education funding... Reluctant watchdog, US House Judiciary Comm. Chair James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), has called 1st in series of probes into FBI raid on congressional office 11 days ago, the first such raid in US history; Sensenbrenner has said the raid was a "reckless justice" and a violation of the constitutional separation of powers, vows to pass legislation banning such raids... New satellite may test for 4th spatial dimension, could help demonstrate existence of tiny primordial black holes within our solar system... Pope Benedect XVI, reflecting on his visit to Poland, has said no one should ever forget the horrors of Auschwitz or the other factories of death, that humanity should never give way to racist hatred, and also prayed for the people of East Timor, currently undergoing a period of intense inter-ethnic hostility... American author Paul Auster has won Spain's Príncipe de Asturias award for literature for 2006, beating finalists Philip Roth and Amos Oz; Auster was cited for his literary innovations, adaptation of literary techniques to cinema, exploration of new realities...

30 May: East Timor pres. Gusmao has claimed emergency powers, taking control of armed forced, national security in effort to stem rising tide of violence... CNN reports Pentagon plans to file charges of murder, cover-up against US Marines after investigation into killing of 24 unarmed Iraqi civilians in Haditha on 19 November 2005; Pentagon sources told CNN investigation appears to conclude massacre was result of rampage by a small group of soldiers after one of their own was killed by improvised explosive device; members of Congress, including ex-Marine, calling for investigation at higher level, harsh punishment to reinforce values of American military... New reports from Central Java put death toll for last week's earthquake at more than 5,700; BBC reports finding numerous residents of remote villagers who complain they still haven't received any assistance or any contact with officials... New research in France shows autism may be linked to exposure to heavy metals, new treatments could emerge from medicines designed to cleanse body of heavy metal residues... Chinese media have reported Yangtze River "cancerous" with toxic pollutants; reports suggest failure to clean river, cease pollution risks degrading river ecology, possibly leaving "dead river" within 5 years... US court rules online reporters enjoy same press freedom, same right to gather information, use anonymous sources, as traditional print and TV journalists... EU judges have ruled against agreement by EU gov'ts to force airlines to turn over passenger information on transatlantic flights to US authorities; policy overturned for lacking legal basis, guarantee of passenger privacy... CBS reporter transferred to Germany for treatment; doctors are seeking to save patient's life as she is still in critical condition after bomb attack... After devaluing assets acquired in several years of buying, Vodafone reports losses of £14.9 billion, the largest corporate loss in UK history...

29 May: CBS news team hit by roadside bomb attack in Iraq; soundman James Brolan, cameraman Paul Douglas killed, correspondent Kimberly Dozier critically wounded... US calls in reinforcement troops from Kuwait to help "police" western regions of Iraq... Week of student protests have frozen high schools in Chilean capital, Santiago, as students demand gov't use windfall copper revenues to expand funding for education, assistance for students... Riots seize Afghan capital Kabul after US military truck crashes into civilian vehicles; reports of injuries, deaths associated with worst Kabul violence since fall of Taliban unclear; protesters complained coalition forces no longer apologize or pay compensation as Afghan conflict has lost visibility... Iraq sees one of worst days of violence in recent upsurge in bombing attacks... CNET reports 'bits, atoms, neurons, and genes' (BANG) could revolutionize technology's relation to humanity, as organic matter, computing converge to create new class of organic machines... Catalunya's regional gov't will appeal to Spain's supreme court the electoral commission ruling that it cannot promote voter turnout for the referendum on its new draft regional Estatut... BMW, the maker of luxury German automobiles, has announced it will move into the UK financial services sector, providing lending, credit-card services to mainstream customers...

28 May: East Timor rebel leader has offered peace deal on condition Pres. Xanana Gusmao take control of military from PM, whom rebels blame for wave of violence... NYT reports NYPD used "Police Intelligence Division's clandestine programs, developed since the Sept. 11 attack, to infiltrate mosques and Muslim gatherings" in NYC as counter-terrorism measure... Australia, New Zealand, US, issue joint declaration rejecting UN declaration on indigenous rights, which provides for sovereignty, self-determination in use by indigenous peoples of "ancestral lands"; UN, US in dispute over plans to test "bunker buster" bombs on Shoshone holy grounds... Reform to livestock auctioning processes designed to help small farmers in Namibia, allowing them access to quality animals otherwise available only the the wealthier or conglomerate farmers; move intended to protect quality of farm products in poorer areas, sustain agricultural competition... Up to 20,000 injured, 4,611 killed by Indonesia quake in Central Java, as search continues, int'l aid begins arriving... Despite top execs convictions, real legacy of Enron lives on, in world "where practically anything can be traded, from weather predictions to broadband Internet connections"... Colombians vote in national elections today; sitting pres. Álvaro Uribe seen by media, some polling organizations as heavy favorite; Uribe had framed campaign as choice between himself or chaos...

27 May: Major earthquake in Indonesia kills hundreds—gov't initially says 1,325, but toll rises to over 3,000 killed as worst-hit areas are searched; the epicentre was in Central Java near the southwest city Yogyakarta and "triggered heightened activity" in Mt Merapi volcano, which has been releasing ash and lava for weeks... Bush admin. has said that $2 billion in military aid to Egypt not to be withdrawn or reduced, despite major recent crackdown against pro-reform groups, opposition parties, jailing of dissidents, political activists... Military junta's detention order against Burmese pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi expires today; junta has announced it will extend Suu Kyi's house arrest indefinitely, heightening security around her home, despite appeals from UN, neighboring gov'ts to release the Nobel laureate... UN pulls staff from East Timor as violence escalates, 20 dead in last week; Australian tank divisions attempting to halt ethnic violence between militia wielding guns, machetes; more int'l troops to arrive from Malaysia, New Zealand, Portugal in coming days... Bush orders documents seizes in FBI's unprecedented raid on Congress sealed for 45 days, after Attorney General Alberto Gonzales his deputy, Paul J. McNulty and FBI Director Robert Mueller threaten to resign if documents were returned due to complaints from House Speaker raid was unconstitutional; White House source tells press FBI did not inform Bush of raid until after it had begun... Media reports now suggest "gunshots" heard yesterday in US House of Representatives office building garage could have been routine construction-related sounds...

26 May: Top Enron execs Lay, Sklling found guilty on numerous counts of fraud in Enron accounting debacle; each could face life in prison, with Skilling's total maximum penalty 175 years... New Scientist reports UN Millennium Development goals ignore indigenous groups, failure to address special needs could lead to "slow death", permanent disappearance of indigenous people's, who comprise estimated 6% of world population... US Senate votes to approve AF Gen. Michael Hayden, seen as "architect" of NSA domestic spying to head CIA; Hayden expected to resign from military before assuming civilian post... Numerous sources reporting "gunshots" heard in the garage area of the Rayburn House office building on Capitol Hill; reports say Capitol police ordered Capitol sealed, members of Congress to remain in offices until situation assessed... Slate reports Enron convictions not "end of the chapter", corporate corruption still rife, even "beefed-up" regulatory system not catching major offenses, new investigations ongoing... Study concludes HIV originates at Chimpanzee colony in southeast Cameroon; report finds strikingly similar virus likely transferred to human hunters in butchering of chimps sometime before 1930s; disease then carried along river system to Kinshasa, where first human outbreak occurred; by 1960s some 2,000 people in region were likely infected... Australian PM Howard has ordered full deployment of troops to East Timor, to try to quell inter-ethnic violence that threatens to undermine the young nation's security... 33 earthquakes between 3 Jan, 23 May along Pacific Rim's volcanic faultlines not sign of supervolcano or tsunami event, say scientists: one large seismic event releases geologic pressure, but may produce pressure on adjacent faults, triggering a follow-on event; they are not expected to build or to produce any subsequent global event... US Senate passes landmark immigration reform legislation; bill declares English the national language of the US, enacts "3-tiered" system allowing some undocumented workers to become citizens, deporting others; critics say 3-tiered system will leave immigration problem unchanged, English-language provision, punitive measures could undermine basic freedoms...

25 May: VP Cheney to be called as witness in Libby prosecution; Libby told grand jury Cheney was personally angered by critique of Iraq WMD evidence, repeatedly mentioned Wilson's wife worked for CIA, ordered Libby to "get all the facts out"... Immigration bill moves toward passage in Senate, with 73 to 25 vote to close debate; bill would establish English as national language, build a fence on Mexico border, require nearly half of current undocumented workers to leave US before applying for work permits; National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights opposes bill, says it will force millions into the shadows, failing to resolve major contributing factor in prolonged undocumented status, fear of persecution... Hamas, Fatah to meet to discuss means of abating factional crisis which has turned violent in recent days, taking at least 10 lives; reports suggest Hamas plans special security force to protect its gov't, membership, while pres. Abbas, of Fatah, urges Hamas to sign document of joint policy for negotiation with Israel on Palestinian state... Amnesty criticizes EU for "minimalist" action on human rights, says gov'ts still committing human rights abuses in name of security... Zimbabwe bans marches lamenting plight of those left homeless by Mugabe's purge of poorest barrios, urban squatters; Christian group tells of pastors being ordered to meet with state police, told to cancel prayer meetings... HRW says brutality by Côte d'Ivoire gov't forces against citizens threaten October elections; report cites widespread impunity permitting flaring of attacks against citizens by gov't linked militia, gov't forces, rebels... Rep. Sensenbrenner, known for punitive immigration bill, has called hearing titled "Reckless Justice: Did the Saturday Night Raid of Congress Trample the Constitution?" to examine FBI raid on Capitol Hill which has provoked constitutional confrontation over separation of powers...

24 May: Iran has requested direct dialogue with US over its nuclear program; move signals shift from policy of zero contact with Washington; gov't sources say pressure is being exerted on White House to respond to Ahmadinejad's personal letter, the first sign of a willingness to negotiate directly in nearly 3 decades, despite its contents... US AG Gonzales has threatened to prosecute journalists for revealing the Bush admin.'s secret, extralegal domestic spying program, saying it was obligatory to follow a WWI-era statute making it illegal to "possess" secret national security information, despite the law applying only to gov't officials sworn not to disclose such information, despite systematic efforts by AG to find ways to circumvent legal obligations... House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) has demanded the FBI return documents seized in Saturday night raid of Rep. Jefferson's (D-LA) office, also asking that agents involved be removed from the case due to the possibly unconstitutional way in which they conducted the search; as many members of both parties, including the Speaker question, the constitutionality of the raid, House Majority Leader Boehner said he believes the Supreme Court may have to examine the possibility the raid violated the Constitution's separation of powers... Despite pressuring Olmert to delay unilateral redrawing of boundaries in West Bank, Bush tells Israeli PM withdrawal from West Bank settlements is a good step forward... Spain's economy reported to be growing at 3.5% over the last two quarters, fully 1.5 percentage points higher than overall EU growth... Commission on Assistance to a Free Cuba to issue report advising Bush on how to bring democracy to Cuba after Castro dies; critics say total embargo of island has strengthened possibility of communist succession... Watchdog group cites media reluctance to report past Bush support for extreme punitive measures in House immigration bill, quotes sponsor Rep. Sensenbrenner assailing Bush for "turn[ing] his back on provisions of the House-passed bill, a lot of which we were requested to put in the bill by the White House"... Brazilian gang responsible for wave of violence, killing in São Paulo reportedly had "mole" in secret gov't meeting devising plan to weaken gang's hierarchy by transferring prisoners; information leaked by that collaborator sparked the wave of killings besieging region... Republican chair of Federal Communications Commission says agency will not investigate extrajudicial NSA spying because it cannot obtain access to classified information; move criticized for obstructing investigative process wilfully, based on "prediction" of gov't argument against probe...

23 May: GAO investigation suggests Deep Space Network, key to maintaining communications with NASA probes into deep space, at risk, underfunded as money diverted to Bush plan to return people to Moon... Greek, Turkish fighter jets collide over Aegean Sea; Greek jets had been sent to locate aircraft entering "Athens Flight Information Region" unannounced... Speaker on audio tape purporting to convey voice of Bin Laden says Zacarias Mousaoui not involved in 9/11 plot, despite being convicted as 20th co-conspirator... Bush urges Israel PM Olmert to resume direct talks with Palestinian pres. Abbas, delay West Bank withdrawal/border definition plan to facilitate negotiation; Bush also conveyed pledge to defend Israel in case of Iran attack... Armed men in northern border region of Mali seize 3 military facilities; Pres. Toumani urges population not to seek reprisals against ethnic Touareg minority, amid suspicions attacks could be linked to earlier secessionist movement... Energy resources prof. speaking at China-US Climate Change Conference says projections suggest snows of Kilimanjaro will vanish by 2020; speaks also of risks of intensified tropical storm activity, disappearance of low-lying islands, whole nations... Microsoft unveils pay-per-use computer, with goal being to lower initial fee, allow payment per time of use, with possible limited usage or full blockage if remaining balance not paid; device, payment system designed to allow introduction of computing technology, internet to poor countries...

22 May: Projections on Montenegro independence referendum reportedly indicate country has chosen to split from Serbia; 88% turnout resulted in over 56% yes vote, 1% over threshold required, according to Center for Free Elections and Democracy and the Center for Monitoring; celebrations, fireworks across capital Podgorica as news circulated that independence had been decided... Uganda to destroy 57,000 weapons collected from illicit sources during 5-year period; other out-of-use artillery also to be dismantled, in keeping with protocol to halt weapons poliferation in African Great Lakes region... NYT reporting US aerial assault on Afghan village, targeting Taliban militia, killed at least 16 civilians, wounding 15 more; regional governor has complained about high civilian death toll; assault was aimed at curbing recent upsurge in Taliban attacks against towns across Afghanistan; attack may have killed "dozens" of Taliban... UK PM Tony Blair in Iraq arranges troop withdrawal plans, which could begin in "weeks"; further details expected to be decided in meeting with Bush in Washington, later this week... Fmr US Rep., House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) has said Saturday night raid on Democratic congressional office, unprecedented in US history, "the most blatant violation of the constitutional separation of powers in my lifetime", that agents involved or repsonsible for ordering search, should be fired... New 3D seismic imaging shows massive magma plume welling up under Yellowstone, revealing new information about suspected source of supervolcano eruption 600,000 years ago; scientists say no new super-eruption due in region for 1 million years... FTC finds extreme rise in gasoline prices since summer 2005 likely not result of collusion, despite admitting at least 15 cases fit the technical description of "price gouging"... Reuters reporting pirated DVD copies of The DaVinci Code already for sale on Shanghai streets, just days after film debuted...

21 May: Montenegro votes today on independence; 55% in favor would mean new state independent from Serbia... Mugabe regime detains opposition party Movement for Democratic Change leader, 60 followers; had granted permission to march in election campaign, but later revoked it to appear himself, arresting anyone tied to opposition found in area where he chose to campaign... ICG says new Haitian pres. René Préval must use the first 100 days of his term to begin reform in policing, economic renewal and strengthening of independent judiciary, but warns "Deep structural challenges still threaten" to undermine Haiti's efforts "to extricate itself from chaos and despair"... Iraq swears in new cabinet; PM al-Maliki says his gov't "will destroy terrorism and tyranny"; 1st constitutional gov't post Hussein achieved only after months of negotiations to satisfy 3 main ethnic factions: Shi'a, Sunni, Kurdish... Gunfight erupts at Indian Congress party rally in Kashmir; reports suggest gunman opened fire from crowd, police returned fire, police injured, witnesses report "hundreds of Congress party workers were lying down on the ground", as of 9:01am GMT, gunfight was still raging... Protests continue in Europe against police attack on demonstrating flower vendors at San Salvador Atenco, México... Swedish ambassador criticizes western countries for not cooperating in Kenya's efforts to eliminate corruption... Burmese opposition leader, Nobel peace prize winner, Ang San Suu Kyi, receives UN envoy in home where she is confined by military junta, first visit from foreign official in 3 years; reports she is in good health, but unable to carry on pro-democracy activities...

20 May: US has proposed new nuclear weapons treaty, to ban future construction of any nuclear weapons; though treaty seems soft on enforcement, would allow existing nuclear powers to build weapons using whatever materials they already have; some worry its provisions could provoke Iran to race to acquire technology to build weapons, enabling both signing, future building; signatories would be empowerd to use spy agencies to detect violations, report violators to UNSC... Sectarian conflict in Iraq spiralling out of control as death toll mounts: Guardian newspaper reports "The bodies are dumped in sewage plants or irrigation canals, or just in the middle of the street. Many show signs of torture"; Baghdad morgue receives so many bodies, it cannot let families in to identify them, so it shows a slideshow outside of the dozens of dead bodies; a "slow day" is said to mean 40 or more new victims of violence arriving at morgue... Angola wrestling with cholera outbreak, more than 36,700 cases, 1,335 reported deaths; one oil company is reported to have barred employees from dining out, consuming fish; bottled water sought as means to avoid infection; WHO monitor Jordi Sacristan says "It's following the commercial roads, the truck routes"... Nigerian pres. Olusegun Obasanjo accepts Assembly vote against constitutional amendment to facilitate 3rd term; though defeated, Obasanjo called the decision "a victory for democracy", said he would seek a 3rd term for his party, but not for himself... New strategy to stop drivers at Iraq checkpoints includes use of laser to obstruct drivers' vision; lasers were banned internationally for combat in 1995, due to risk of permanent blindness; these modified lasers are expected to cause permament eye damage if used at range of less than 70 meters... US Congress has issued itself 8 pay raises since 1997, bringing salary to 165,200/yr., without increasing minimum wage once, still at $5.15/hr., or $10,712 for a full year of full-time work; the US poverty line stood at $19,157 in 2004, for a family of 4, and was moved to $19,806 for 2005, according to the US Census Bureau; new research shows nationwide support among public for raising minimum wage...

19 May: Senate passes Inhofe amendment to immigration reform bill, which would declare English the United States' national language; critics say measures is racist, violates First Amendment; new provision denies any right to federal gov't communications in any language other than English, unless already guaranteed under the law; eparate amendment was blocked that would have denied the possibility of citizenship to anyone receiving temporary work permits in future; Senate then passed Salazar amendment, which re-classifies English as "common unifying language of the United States", but forbids any gov't move to "diminish or expand existing rights"... UN report demands US close Guantánamo Bay prison camp, expose and reveal all its secret prison camps across world, prosecute anyone involved in torture; UN Committee Against Torture (UNCAT) says war does not soften universal ban on torture, US must act to make detention facitilities comply with int'l law, treaty obligations; Bush admin. has so far refused to confirm or deny secret prisons, though EU investigation cites CIA sources as having confirmed their existence, the transfer of detainees across borders without legal process, charge or legal representation... Reports emerge of new Iranian law to require all Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians wear colored armbands, so muslims can identify them and avoid contact; Simon Wiesenthal center in Los Angeles has written to Kofi Annan, saying after Ahmadinejad comments calling for destruction of Israel, law could signal slide toward Nazism; Tehran has told AFP the story itself is a fabrication, that no such law exists... Gen. Hayden, named to head CIA, answers barrage of tough questions from senators opposed to his nomination: Hayden claimed that NSA spying he engineered was legal because president's lawyers told him it was, senators took issue, asking if he would deliberately violate laws whose language contradicted president's legal opinions, despite having justified his own past actions with such language, he said no...

18 May: House ethics committee opens three probes into corruption, rules violations relating to two Republicans, one Democrat... Federal jury considers allegations against Lay, Skilling that the pair conspired to "cook the books" at Enron, before company collapsed amid massive accounting fraud... Bush to enlist aid of major defense contractors in building "virtual fence" on Mexican border, despite characterization that plans do not constitute "militarization" of border... Egypt police attacked demonstrators outside court hearing where judge was reprimanded for criticizing electoral fraud in last year's elections; an estimated 260 members of one opposition group were detained, while some 160 were injured by police violence; US pres. Bush had recently asked Hosni Mubarak to curb anti-opposition actions, move twd reform; in another case, a judge ruled against the release of jailed opposition leader Ayman Nour... Several hundred Taliban reported to have launched offensives against Afghan towns in Herat, Helmand, killing dozens, including police, civilians; clashes also left at least 13 police, 40 Taliban insurgents dead in Mosa Qala, near Kabul... Amid ongoing factional clashes in Mogadishu, secular bands claim foreign mercenaries fighting with Islamist militia; US suspected of backing secular alliance of Somali warlords against fundamentalist groups, but Washington has "refused Wednesday to confirm or deny"... US House passes 2007 budget with $2.7 trillion in total spending, hours after Bush signs extension of tax cuts; budget includes record $558 billion in military spending and projects a deficit of $348 billion... New Italian PM Romano Prodi in platform address to senate says Iraq war was "a grave error"...

17 May: EU parliament minister in charge of investigation into CIA detentions, "extraordinary renditions" on EU soil has said CIA sources confirmed bet. 30 and 50 extralegal detentions and prisoner transfers to other countries were carried out on EU soil... US Supreme Court to hear Environmental Defense case in support of Clean Air Act regulations, appealing ruling by lower court that more lax EPA regulations did not violate Act... Venezuela has accused Bush admin. of preparing political climate for a military attack against Chávez gov't, noting arms embargo against one of US' largest suppliers of crude oil... Constraints on acquisition of parts to maintain a fleet of US-built F-16 fighter jets has reportedly motivated a top Venezuelan general to ask minister of defense to examine sale of jets to Iran... Gov't of Vicent Fox does not see Guard deployment on US-Mexico border as militarization, provocation... CNN criticized by media watchdog for not airing Democratic response to Bush immigration speech, not including any Democrat, Latino or progressive voice on its panel discussion and for airing only interviews or comments with Republican congressmen; Fox Newsm ABC, CBS, and NBC were also cited for ignoring the Democrats' response... Son of Egypt pres. Mubarak reportedly met in Washington amid father's crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations; VP, other top US officials reportedly made it clear steps must be taken to institute pro-democracy reforms... Colombian police fired tear gas into a crowd of tens of thousands of indigenous Colombians demonstrating against signing of new free trade pact with US; gov't accused demonstrators of associating with FARC rebels, march leaders... UN resolution under Chapter 7 gives Sudan one week to approve deployment of UN security forces in Darfur region, in part to enforce tentative peace deal achieved with largest rebel faction; Russia, China say peacekeepers should not be deployed without Khartoum approval, but backed resolution imposing deadline... EU president to ask parliament to recognize co-official languages of Spain in certain areas of offical parliamentary procedure...

16 May: US removes Libya from list of "state sponsors of terrorism", will restore full diplomatic relations, upgrade liaison office in Tripoli to full embassy... Palestinian pres. Abbas has hardened security after reportedly having been informed by his intelligence teams that militant groups may try to assassinate him; even top members of the Hamas gov't cannot approach is compound in vehicles... Venezuela pres. Chávez warns US attack on Iran could push oil soaring past $100/barrel; Chávez told London audience energy crisis will deepen, has offered to provide low-cost heating oil to low-income Europeans, as he did for parts of the US this past winter; he also said he believes Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons, affirmed right of any nation to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; Guardian newspaper publishes comment that Chávez is not properly a socialist, but rather a populist in the Peronista mold, perhaps friendly to friends in gov't, and/or an unimaginative economist, but certainly not a dictator, says "verbal cold war" between Caracas, Washington hurts both... Bush has cited Venezuela for "not cooperating" in counterterrorism measures and has imposed a full arms sale embargo against the Chávez gov't; the US has also said it will pressure other nations to reduce or eliminate arms sales worth billions of dollars... Bush announces plans to station Nat'l Guard troops on Mexico border, raising controversy across DC, nation; Ohio representatives were critical of move, suggesting economic solutions to prevent downward pressure on wages from fueling influx of undocumented workers... Value of US dollar falling on world markets, amid concerns about record trade deficit (now $742 billion) and the $400 billion budget deficit; according to the BBC, warnings have been issued by the IMF and other bodies that such imbalances could destabilize the global economy... UK to build "new generation" of nuclear power plants, according to announcement by PM Blair... Report reveals British water utilities losing immense amounts of water to waste, by one estimate one company alone lost more water in one day than could be needed for 20 million baths; this as Britain suffers worst drought in decades... Bolivia yesterday gave 3 days to Spanish bank BBVA and Swiss Zurich to hand over stock they hold through pension funds in oil and gas businesses nationalized by Evo Morales, at no charge to the state...

15 May: Bush expected to announce plans to deploy several thousand National Guard troops along Mexico border; critics say move is cave-in to armed militia calling itself the "Minuteman Project"; members of the group have threatened to shoot border-crossers, though its founder has said militiamen are required to have no direct contact with suspected illegal immigrants except to offer them medical care, food or water... Mexico pres. Fox has expressed concern personally to Mr. Bush about apparent "militarization" of border, which seems to echo radical House plans for a permanent separation barrier patrolled by military personnel; Bush says deployment would only be temporary; Sen. Hagel (R-NE) says with Guard already fighting in Iraq, border patrol is inappropriate mission... At least 52 now known dead in two days of violent assaults by organized crime in São Paulo, Brazil; group implicated had been linked to reported planned rebellion in prisons across region... Group of Katrina evacuees says it prefers the use of the term "refugee" if it will bring Federal dollars to assist them in their time of need; groups many had previously objected, saying it put New Orleanians on par with foreign asylum seekers, giving impression of "demoting" them from citizenship status... Tony Blair to back possible new legislation to allow companies involved in animal testing to hide identities of shareholders, to avoid extortion tactics from radical animal rights groups; PM also signs up to online petition to favor animal testing... Venezuela pres. Hugo Chávez finds welcoming audience in London's Camden Centre, giving 3-hours speech with London mayor Ken Livingstone in attendance; Chávez refused to meet with Tony Blair during visit, calling him a "pawn of imperialism"; during speech he criticized policies of US pres. Bush, praised London's mayor, and the Pope, ", he managed to refer to everyone from George Bernard Shaw to Rosa Luxemburg, Pythagoras to Thomas Jefferson, CLR James to his mother"... Handwritten notes by VP Cheney seen by prosecutor as necessary evidence for "establishing some of the facts that were viewed as important by the defendant's immediate superior" —the VP—, who may still face charges in connection with leak investigation... Volkswagen "car towers" reach 20 storeys high, could be new model for new car storage, retrieval; futuristic look gives element of surreality to car buying...

14 May: 30 people, including 19 police, killed in São Paulo, Brazil, in wave of violence linked to organized crime group; attacks were followed by violent uprisings in 20 prisons across the state, despite efforts by authorities to move dangerous inmates involved with group to maximum security location away from general population... Embattled UK PM Tony Blair has privately assailed a human rights law designed to ensure fair trial, says he wants to establish PM power to overrule courts, incarcerate or deport at discretion... NYT reports VP Cheney "pushed" to broaden NSA eavesdropping to include calls entirely within US, between US citizens; NSA reportedly refused on grounds move would be serious violation of law, opted to monitor only calls involving one overseas number... Violent street combat continues in Mogadishu, Somalia; estimated 150 people killed in 7 days of armed conflict... Iran says it will not accept any accord that requires it to halt uranium enrichment... Estimated 30 people killed as militants reportedly assault 6 Shi'a shrines across Iraq... Bush reportedly has asked Pentagon to review possible deplyment of 10,000 troops along US border with Mexico; acknowledging he is considering plans to deploy full-time National Guard troops to the US-Mexico border, US pres. Bush reportedly assures Mexico pres. Vicente Fox he does not intend to "militarize" border, deployment not permanent...

13 May: Reports from Lagos, Nigeria, starting yesterday, say oil pipeline burst into flames, killing 100 people; incident comes after week in which assaults on oil company facilities, individual tied to foreign oil companies, have escalated; the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) denied responsibility, though attacks on pipelines and infrastructure earlier this year disrupted supply, holding back as much as 631,000 barrels per day... HRW calls on Vietnam gov't to stop attacks aimed at undermining "fledgeling democracy movement"; since earlier this year, an array of prominent figures and ordinary citizens, including priests, Buddhist monks, fmr political prisoners, laywers, writers and fmr Communist party members, have signed two major appeals for greater freedom of association and expression in Vietnam, to which the gov't has responded with effort to halt the reformist campaign... Under cover of night, US Dept. of Justice files motion to dismiss EFF class-action lawsuit against AT&T for illegal NSA spying program, on grounds that national controversy is in fact a "state secret" (there is no "state secrets" law in the US Constitution or federal law; the concept dates to pre-Enlightenment absolutist British monarchy)... US military to test 'liquid-coal' and fortified gasoline fuels, in effort to reduce dependency on petroleum-based jet-fuel; Air Force uses half of all gov't fuel burned each year... Estimated 5,000 Palestinians gather to donate personal money, jewelry, paychecks to Hamas gov't, short of cash due to int'l boycott...