The ESL Free Press

U.S. Freezes Government Workers' Pay

Workers for the U.S. government will not get any pay raises in 2011 or 2012.

President Obama has ordered this as a way to cut government spending. It should save $2 billion in 2011.

The White House says, "This freeze is not to punish federal workers or to disrespect the work that they do." It says everyone must give things up to help the country's economy.

Soldiers and other servicemembers will not have their pay frozen -- only civilian workers.

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printable:Download U.S. Freezes Government Workers' Pay.pdf (20.0K)

Albanian Extradited

An Albanian man charged with drug dealing and violent crimes has been extradited (sent for trial) to the U.S.

Almir Rrapo had been in the U.S., then gone back to Albania to get away from the charges. He had gotten a job as assistant to Albania's Deputy Prime Minister.

His country's police arrested him in July.

Rrapo is charged with belonging to a criminal gang, the Krasniqi Organization. The charge says this group sold marijuana and used violence to protect its business. For example, Rrapo and other members are said to have kidnapped a rival drug dealer and threatened to kill him. They are also accused of killing another dealer, Erion Shehu, in a drive-by shooting in New York.

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ISAF Says Helicopters Didn't Fly Into Pakistan

China's Xinhua news agency says two NATO helicopters crossed the border from Afghanistan to Pakistan on Friday. It says they fired at a village and injured three people. But the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan says this is not true.

ISAF says no aircraft crossed into Pakistan, no one was hurt -- and Xinhua did not talk to ISAF before making its report.

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Somali Pirates Convicted

A jury in Virginia, USA, has found five Somali men guilty of piracy. This is the first time this has happened in over 190 years, the U.S. Attorney says.

The five men fired at the USS Nicholas in April, near the Horn of Africa. They thought it was a merchant (commercial) ship. It is actually a U.S. Navy warship. The pirates used assault weapons and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher in the attack.

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printable:Download Somali Pirates Convicted.pdf (18.9K)

"More Work to be Done" Between Pakistan and U.S.

The head of the Pakistani Army met with U.S. military leaders in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani spoke with Admiral Mike Mullen, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and others. They talked about the border with Afghanistan, and how to work together there.

Gates apologized for the American attack that accidentally killed three Pakistani soldiers last month. He said it shows "there is more work to be done".

He also thanked Pakistanis for fighting terrorism in their country.

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printable:Download _More Work to be Done_ Between Pakistan and U.S..pdf (21.0K)

 

U.S. and Germany Agree on Israel

President Obama spoke with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany by phone on Friday. They both agreed that Israel should not build settlements in the West Bank of Gaza during peace talks with the Palestinians. They also say the talks should go on until they are complete.

The two leaders also spoke about Afghanistan.

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printable: Download U.S. and Germany Agree on Israel.pdf (19.1K)

Defense Department Wants Book Burning Canceled

A church in Florida, USA, plans to burn copies of the Koran on Saturday, the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The U.S. Department of Defense wants this canceled.

General David Petraeus, commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, says it would put his troops in danger.

Geoff Morrell, Pentagon press secretary, spoke of a time in 2005 when there were mistaken reports that Korans had been dishonored. That caused violent protests around the world. Fifteen people were killed.

Morrell says his boss, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, is thinking about talking to the leader of the church. He will have to talk this over with his advisers.

Morrell also says the media has given too much attention to this story.

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printable Download Defense Department Wants Book Burning Canceled.pdf (22.0K)

Somali Pleads Guilty to Piracy Charges

A Somali man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to planning a pirate attack.

Jama Idle Ibrahim went to court in Washington, DC. The charges said he and other Somalis took over the ship Future in the Gulf of Aden in 2008. They held the ship, crew, and cargo until the owners paid a ransom.

The Future is Danish, but the cargo belonged to a Texas company.

Ibrahim has also pleaded guilty to firing at a U.S. Navy ship. He and others mistook it for a cargo ship.

He could be sentenced to 25 years.

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printable: Download Somali Pleads Guilty to Piracy Charges.pdf (20.3K)

Time is Running Out for Israel and Palestinians, Secretary Clinton Says

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke with an Israeli reporter and a Palestinian reporter just before Labor Day weekend.

They asked why the Middle East peace talks are different this time. Mrs. Clinton said time was running out.

They asked if the U.S. was agreeing to do something about Iran's nuclear weapons -- in return for a Palestinian country. She said, "I think that there are some who make that case."

Once, before the last election, Mrs. Clinton had said Jerusalem should be the capital of Israel alone. Later, she changed her view. The reporters asked her what she thought now. She said she wanted "the outcome that the parties can agree to".

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Printable:Download Time is Running Out for Israel and Palestinians, Secretary Clinton Says.pdf (20.9K)

Obama Announces Building Projects

U.S. President Barack Obama spoke to workers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Monday -- Labor Day.

He began by saying, "You deserve to sit down for a day.  You’ve been on your feet all year working hard."

Obama also spoke about the economy, and said, " I am announcing a new plan for rebuilding and modernizing America’s roads and rails and runways for the long term."

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White House Photo by Pete Souza

Printable: Download Obama Announces Building Projects.pdf (19.8K)