Worldwide News

The proportion of veterans in the prison population has more than doubled in six years, according to a report published today highlighting the hidden cost of recent military action. About 12,000 veterans are on probation or parole, representing 6 per cent of the total, while 8,500 are in prison, representing 8.5 per cent of the jail population, according to the report by the National Association of Probation Officers (Napo). The figures suggest that more ex-servicemen and women are in the criminal justice system of England and Wales than there are troops serving in Afghanistan. Misuse of alcohol and drugs are key factors behind offending by…

AP - The House on Friday passed legislation to head off a government shutdown next week by temporarily extending spending on most federal programs at current levels — but at the same time boosted the office budgets of lawmakers by more than 8 percent.

Agencies NEW YORK: The Palestinians cannot return to peace talks at this time because of “fundamental disagreements” with Israel on what should be on the agenda, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in an interview, rebuffing an appeal by President Barack Obama that both sides get back to the table promptly. Abbas said he wants to avoid a crisis with the Obama administration at any cost, but that “there is no common ground for discussion” with Israel’s hard-line leader, Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu has…

AFP - The United States, Britain, France and Germany on Friday demanded immediate access to a previously secret Iranian nuclear site and threatened to impose tough new sanctions on Tehran.

AP - As dozens of buoyant Michael Jackson fans queued up in the Nokia Plaza to be among the first to see their idol’s last performance, others watching the scene expressed mixed emotions.

Reuters - Protesters smashed shop windows and threw rocks at police on Thursday as police used pepper gas and batons to disperse marches against capitalism at the Group of 20 summit in Pittsburgh.

Reuters - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was released Friday from a Washington hospital, a day after she experienced lightheadedness and fatigue, and plans to be back at work in the afternoon, a spokeswoman said.