The other world news stories of the day in brief
Attempt to safeguard benefits fails
WASHINGTON – An effort to continue assistance for millions of jobless people who will see their benefits run out in coming weeks failed in the US House of Representatives yesterday.
By a vote of 258 to 154, the proposal to extend jobless benefits for three months fell short of the two-thirds margin needed to pass the House under special rules that limit debate.
The House could take up the measure again under normal rules that require only a simple majority for passage, but Congress has little time to act before benefits expire on November 30th. Politicians are not expected to be in town next week and the senate has not scheduled a vote.
Congress has let jobless benefits lapse twice already this year as Republicans insisted that their cost – $160 billion in the last fiscal year – be offset with cuts elsewhere to prevent the nation’s $14 trillion debt from growing further. – (Reuters)
Police investigate forest explosion
LONDON – British police have launched an investigation after reports of an explosion in a remote forest in Scotland.
Police said they were alerted to reports of a blast in Garadhban Forest near Loch Lomond, north of Glasgow, at about 12pm yesterday. Officers found some damage to the wooded area, suggesting there had been an explosion.
Chief Supt Calum Murray of Strathclyde Police said the site was secure and there was no likelihood of a risk to the public.
“As you would expect,” he added, “when we are dealing with a situation where we suspect that explosives may be involved, it is our immediate priority to assess the situation and to call on expertise where we think it is appropriate . . . we are currently being assisted by agencies from across the UK.” – (Reuters)
Malaysian on hacking charge
NEW YORK – A Malaysian man was charged with hacking into the computer network of the US Federal Reserve Bank and possessing more than 400,000 stolen credit cards and debit cards, US prosecutors said yesterday.
The man, identified as Lin Mun Poo by prosecutors in New York City’s borough of Brooklyn, was arrested on October 21st hours after his arrival in the United States. He is being held pending the hearing of his case.
“The defendant made a career of compromising computer servers belonging to financial institutions, defence contractor and major corporations, among others, and selling or trading the information contained therein for exploitation by others,” Loretta Lynch, the US attorney in Brooklyn, said.
She said Lin was believed to be planning to obtain more stolen financial account information. – (Reuters)