President Bush today blamed Congress for many of the nation's economic woes, charging that lawmakers have blocked his proposals for dealing with problems ranging from soaring gasoline prices to the increasing cost of food.

Any doubt that David Hicks was charged with war crimes for purely political reasons has gone, his father and his lawyer say. 

The former chief prosecutor of the US military commissions at Guantanamo Bay said overnight he would not have pursued Hicks because the case against the Australian was not serious enough.  

BP has reported a 63 percent jump in profits in the first quarter compared to the same period a year ago. The oil company on Tuesday reported a profit of $7.6 Billion compared to $4.4 billion in the first quarter of 2007. First-quarter profit was up 73 percent compared to the previous quarter.

from Crikey ….. 

Iemma's dilemma: privatise or count the Costa

 Alex Mitchell writes: 

The mortgage industry, facing the prospect of tougher regulations for its central role in the housing crisis, has begun an intensive campaign to fight back. 

Bush pokes fun at his successors …..

Referring to Republican candidate John McCain's absence, he said: "He probably wanted to distance himself from me."  

The annual dinner dates back to 1924 and is attended by media personalities, celebrities and politicians.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has hailed the dedication of a statue of a Kiwi soldier on Sydney's Anzac Bridge but expatriates are angry they were barred from the ceremony.

The granddaughter of a NZ soldier who died at Gallipoli was one of about 100 expatriate New Zealanders refused entry to today's ceremony after officials closed traffic and pedestrian access for more than five hours.

Sydneysiders’ goodwill towards World Youth Day has been eroded by revelations of large-scale city road closures and an $86 million bill to taxpayers. 

A Sun-Herald/Taverner poll found that 64 per cent of Sydneysiders were in favour of World Youth Day being held in Sydney. But that number fell to 47 per cent when taking into account the disruption to traffic and road closures announced by Deputy Premier John Watkins. 

Of course, the Pentagon has long poured U.S. tax dollars into private coffers to arm and outfit the military and enable it to function.  

As many historians have written, Europeans in the Middle Ages lived with an almost childlike emotional intensity. There were stark contrasts between daytime and darkness, between summer heat and winter cold, between misery and exuberance, and good and evil. Certain distinctions were less recognized, namely between the sacred and the profane. 

A Los Angeles-based firm "is pouring millions of dollars into developing the Baghdad Zoo and Entertainment Experience, a massive American-style amusement park that will feature a skateboard park, rides, a concert theatre and a museum."  

A vicar is to apply for a drinks licence so he can sell wine and beer at his small village church. 

The Reverend Geraint ap Iorwerth could be made licensee of St Peter ad Vincula Church in Pennal, near Machynlleth, close to the Powys-Gwynedd border. 

from Crikey ….. 

Cardinal Pell throws thank you bash for Howard 

Alex Mitchell writes: