The insurgency is raising tens of millions of dollars a year from oil smuggling, kidnapping, counterfeiting, corrupt charities and other crimes, a report concluded.
'Tis the season to start shopping. The day after Thanksgiving–called Black Friday because of the oppressive crowds and their encouraging effects on retailers' profits–is shaping up, as always, to be your local mall's most crowded day of the year.
Everyone loves opening a perfectly wrapped package with a shiny bow. But sometimes once you open that gift, it's not exactly what you expected – or even something you want. And after you feign excitement for the obligatory amount of time, what do you do with it? Well, if you're like most Americans, you regift or pass the less-than-stellar present on to someone else who might enjoy it more. A recent Tassimo survey found that a whopping 78 percent of Americans feel that it is acceptable to regift some or most of the time.
AP - Israel and the Palestinians agreed to a cease-fire Saturday to end a five-month Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip and the firing of rockets by Palestinian militants into the Jewish state, but early violations by Palestinian militants tempered hopes the accord would help revive long-stalled peace talks.
AP - Police fired 50 rounds Saturday at a car of unarmed men leaving a bachelor party at a strip club, killing the groom on his wedding day in a shooting that drew a furious outcry from family members and community leaders.
AP - A suicide bomber attacked a restaurant in southeastern Afghanistan on Sunday, leaving seven Afghans dead and 20 injured, the provincial governor said.
The insurgency in Iraq is financially self-sustaining, pulling in millions of dollars a year from illegal activities and ransom payments, The New York Times reported on its Web site Saturday.
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