The International Monetary Fund is writing off $82 million owed by Cambodia, which is struggling to revive its economy after decades of armed conflict.
The move amounts to 100 percent relief of all money lent to Cambodia by the IMF up until January 1, 2005, the multilateral lending institution said in a Dec. 23 statement seen […]

Two reviews of recent Democratic victories:
Christian Science Monitor.
Guardian.
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This is a cheap political ploy to create the illusion of progress. Regardless, fewer troops over there is a good thing.
Full Story: Christian Science Monitor.
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From Hotline on Call:

Within the past few weeks:
1. The election supervisor for the county encompassing Tallahassee, FL saw voting results hacked before his eyes. He decertified Diebold. Jeb Bush noticed and wants a full review of Florida’s voting machines.
2. Diebold chief Wally O’Dell — he of “deliver the election” to Bush fame — resigns.
3. CA […]

In a WWRL poll, 71% of respondents blamed the MTA and only 14% blamed the transit workers,.
[…]
Ken Rosato reported at Noontime that Toussaint quoted from an Eyewitness News survey USA poll of 800 people in the area. It showed that 52 percent of the people say they were on the side of the Transport Workers […]

Pain can be mysterious, untreatable and debilitating, and its causes can be unknown. But if you could see the pain — or, at least, your brain’s reaction to it — you might be able to master it.
The researchers asked people in pain to try to control a pain-regulating region of the brain by watching activity […]

The Senate blocked oil drilling in an Alaska wildlife refuge Wednesday, rejecting a must-pass defense spending bill where supporters positioned the quarter-century-old environmental issue to garner broader support.
Full Story: MSNBC .
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A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the “intelligent design” explanation for the origin of life cannot be taught in biology classes in a Pennsylvania public school district.
The Dover Area School Board violated the Constitution when it ordered that its biology curriculum must include “intelligent design,” the notion that life on Earth was produced by an […]

According to Reason’s Jacob Sullum, there is no meth epidemic.

None of these increases was statistically significant. As I’ve mentioned before, the picture is similar in surveys of adults: flat or falling use during the last several years. After seeing the latest numbers, I’m sure Congress will relent and let us have easy access to cold […]

The U.N. General Assembly approved the establishment Thursday of a new $500 million emergency fund aimed at providing swift relief following natural disasters.
The new Central Emergency Response Fund is 10 times larger than an existing standby relief fund of $50 million. U.N. officials hope the creation of a standing account will allow for relief […]