Political News from Yahoo

Water, wine to lubricate Russian talks with war foe Georgia

BORJOMI, Georgia (Reuters) - If there's a way to dilute the bitterness in relations between Russia and Georgia after a 2008 war, it may lie in a lush valley south of the Caucasus Mountain border between the feuding former Soviet republics. Here flows Borjomi, a naturally carbonated mineral water of volcanic origin that had been popular in Russia since the 19th century until it was swept off the shelves when Moscow banned Georgian beverages and other products in 2006 as tensions built toward the five-day war. ...


Harkin campaign aide gave Iowa State a donor list

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin's campaign fundraiser gave Iowa State University a list of possible donors to his namesake research institute, records show, though university officials have promised the powerful Democrat would have no influence over the center.

Assassination attempt in Armenia threatens stability

YEREVAN (Reuters) - An assassination attempt on a presidential candidate in Armenia has thrown this month's election into doubt and could threaten stability in the volatile Caucasus region that carries oil and natural gas to Europe. Paruyr Hayrikyan, an outsider in the February 18 presidential vote, was shot in the shoulder on Thursday night close to his home in the capital Yerevan. Doctors removed the bullet on Friday and said his life was not in danger. ...


Ed Koch, New York's feisty mayor, dies at 88

NEW YORK (AP) — When Ed Koch was mayor, it seemed as if all of New York was being run by a deli counterman. Koch was funny, irritable, opinionated, often rude and prone to yelling.


Chu praises Gregoire, possible choice for Obama energy team

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu resigned on Friday, he singled out for praise a former governor who has worked to clean up nuclear waste, a move that raised Christine Gregoires' profile as a possibility for the Obama administration's energy and climate team. Chu lauded Gregoire, a Democrat who served as governor of Washington state from 2005 until mid-January and is long-time backer of President Barack Obama. "I am especially appreciative of Governor Gregoire for her trust and support over the past six months," Chu said in a lengthy resignation letter on Friday. ...

Scott Brown not seeking Kerry's seat

BOSTON (AP) — Former Sen. Scott Brown has confirmed he won't run in a Senate special election, dealing a blow to Republicans who hoped to steal the seat formerly held by Democrat John Kerry.


Factbox: Mexico's oil giant Pemex at reform crossroads

(Reuters) - An explosion on Thursday at the headquarters of Mexican state oil giant Pemex killed at least 32 people, dealing a blow to the company's image as the government prepares a reform to draw in more private investment. The following are key facts about Pemex: * Mexico is the world's No. 7 oil producer and a top exporter to the United States. Output has slumped from a peak of 3.4 million barrels per day in 2004 as major fields aged to stabilize around 2.55 million bpd. * The Mexican government relies on oil revenues to fund about a third of the federal budget. ...

Don't Believe the Big Data Hype

Opinion by Matthew Dowd: Confirmation bias is the sociological condition where we, as human beings, seek out information that confirms what we already believe or think and ignore (or don’t seek out) information that disputes our opinions. It makes us more comfortable to find “facts”...


Top Monte Paschi investor piled on debt under Treasury's eye

MILAN/SIENA (Reuters) - The charitable foundation that controls Italy's scandal-hit Monte dei Paschi bank took on excessive debt and entered into risky derivative trades with the tacit consent of the Treasury, sources with direct knowledge of the situation said. Not-for-profit foundations like Monte dei Paschi's are major stakeholders in all of Italy's main banks and are meant to use their dividends for social and cultural projects. ...

WH Offers Contraception Insurance Compromise

The Obama administration, trying to address the moral objections of some groups, is proposing to allow  religious institutions to opt out of the requirement under the health care law that they provide insurance that covers birth control. “Today, the administration is taking the next step...


Scott Brown Won't Run in Election

Former Massachusetts Republican senator Scott Brown will not seek out his old job in the June 25 special election to fill John Kerry’s seat, sources tell ABC News. Brown, 53, was considered the strong favorite to win his party’s nomination if he had wanted to...


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