US – Thursday, March 18

Congress passes job-creation bill

A package of tax breaks and highway spending cleared Congress yesterday, the first of what Democrats hope will be several efforts to bring down the 9.7 percent unemployment rate.

Pakistan charges U.S. 5 with terror

A Pakistani court formally charged five young Americans of plotting terrorism in the country yesterday, their lawyer said, in a case that has raised alarm over the danger posed by militants using the Internet.

Bullock gets ‘Blind Side’d by alleged affair

It seemed too crazy to be true — America’s sweetheart Sandra Bullock fell for Jesse James, a heavily tattooed former bodyguard for Slayer turned custom motorcycle maker who was once married to a porn star.

‘The age of the freak is almost here’

For the past few years the tourist shops near where the SXSW Music Conference takes place have been selling goods emblazoned with the axiom “Keep Austin Weird.” And if the first night of live music was any indication, visitors, revelers and performers are taking the sentiment to heart. Here are a few of the highlights from Wednesday

‘Free’ ad leads to fraud suit

NEW YORK. A Wisconsin college student is suing credit firm Experian — the brains behind the ubiquitous FreeCreditReport.com jingles — for fraudulent advertising after she inadvertently signed up for a monthly $14.95 monitoring service.

The key to Kyoto

Kyoto’s temples and Geisha culture are legendary, but this city is no slouch when it comes to mixing in a large slice of contemporary, too.

Published 01:08, November the 20th, 2009

Much of New Orleans was under water.

Much of New Orleans was under water.

Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Hurricane Katrina: U.S. gov’t liable for damage

A U.S. judge ruled that the Army Corps of Engineers was negligent in maintaining a key navigational channel in New Orleans and was liable for some damage caused by massive flooding from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

It was the first time a U.S. court has found the federal government directly responsible for some of the damage caused on Aug. 29, 2005, when Katrina flooded 80 percent of New Orleans and caused about $80 billion in damage.

If upheld, the ruling could set a precedent for thousands of other plaintiffs to sue the government for billions of dollars in damages.

REUTERS