Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/234144
8A Daily News – Saturday, December 28, 2013 WORLD BRIEFING Police file on Newtown massacre yields chilling portrait of gunman NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut police released thousands of pages Friday from their investigation into the Newtown massacre, providing the most detailed and disturbing picture yet of the rampage and Adam Lanza's fascination with murder, while also depicting school employees' brave and clear-headed attempts to protect the children. Included in the file were photographs of the home the 20-year-old Lanza shared with his mother. They show numerous rounds of ammunition, gun magazines, shot-up paper targets, gun cases, shooting earplugs and a gun safe with a rifle in it. A former teacher of Lanza's was quoted as telling investigators that Lanza exhibited antisocial behavior, rarely interacted with other students and obsessed in writings ''about battles, destruction and war.'' ''In all my years of experience, I have known (redacted) grade boys to talk about things like this, but Adam's level of violence was disturbing,'' the teacher told investigators. The teacher added: ''Adam's creative writing was so graphic that it could not be shared.'' The documents' release marks the end of the investigation into the Dec. 14, 2012, shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School that left 20 first- graders and six educators dead. Officials say Iran nuke talks hit bump VIENNA (AP) — Iran is taking steps to improve its ability to speed up uranium enrichment that could delay implementation of a nuclear deal with six world powers because Tehran's moves are opposed by the United States and its allies. Iran's nuclear chief, Ali Akbar Salehi, said late Thursday that his country is building a new generation of centrifuges for uranium enrichment but they need further tests before they can be mass produced. His comments appeared aimed at countering criticism from Iranian hardliners by showing their country's nuclear program is moving ahead and has not been halted by the accord. But two officials familiar with Iran's nuclear activities said Tehran has gone even further by interpreting a provision of the interim Geneva nuclear deal in a way rejected by many, if not all, of the six powers that sealed the Geneva deal with Iran. They told The Associated Press Friday that Iranian technical experts told counterparts from the six powers last week that some of the cutting-edge machines have been installed at a research tract of one of Iran's enriching sites. They gave no numbers. Iran argued that it had a right to do so under the research and development provisions of the Nov. 24 Geneva accord, said the officials, who represent countries that are members of the Vienna-based U.N. nuclear agency monitoring Tehran's atomic activities. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the closed meetings. Federal judge finds NSA phone surveillance is legal NEW YORK (AP) — The heated debate over the National Security Agency's bulk collection of millions of Americans' telephone records fell squarely into the courts Friday, when a federal judge in Manhattan upheld the legality of the program and cited its need in the fight against terrorism just days after another federal judge concluded it was likely not constitutional. The ruling by U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III and an opposing view earlier this month by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington D.C. sets the stage for federal appeals courts to confront the delicate balance developed when the need to protect national security clashes with civil rights established in the Constitution. Pauley concluded the program was a necessary extension of steps taken after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He said the program lets the government connect fragmented and fleeting communications and ''represents the government's counterpunch'' to the al-Qaida's terror network's use of technology to operate decentralized and plot international terrorist attacks remotely. ''This blunt tool only works because it collects everything,'' Pauley said. ''The collection is broad, but the scope of counterterrorism investigations is unprecedented.'' Pauley's decision contrasts with Leon's grant of a preliminary injunction against the collecting of phone records of two men who had challenged the program. The Washington, D.C. jurist said the program likely violates the U.S. Constitution's ban on unreasonable search. The judge has since stayed the effect of his ruling, pending a government appeal. stipend of $1,166. Jobless rates could drop, but analysts say the economy may suffer with less money for consumers to spend on everything from clothes to cars. Having let the ''emergency'' program expire as part of a budget deal, it's unclear if Congress has the appetite to start it anew. An estimated 1.3 million people will be cut off when the federally funded unemployment payments end Saturday. WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 1 million Americans are bracing for a harrowing, post-Christmas jolt as extended federal unemployment benefits come to a sudden halt this weekend, with potentially significant implications for the recovering U.S. economy. A tense political battle likely looms when Congress reconvenes in the new, midterm election year. Nudging Congress along, a vacationing President Barack Obama called two senators proposing an extension to offer his support. From Hawaii, Obama pledged Friday to push Congress to move quickly next year to address the ''urgent economic priority,'' the White House said. For families dependent on cash assistance, the end of the federal government's ''emergency unemployment compensation'' will mean some difficult belttightening as enrollees lose their average monthly prominent Lebanese politician critical of Syria and its ally Hezbollah, hitting his SUV Friday as it drove through a ritzy business district near Beirut's waterfront, shredding trees and scattering glass and twisted scraps of metal across the pavement. Allies of the slain politician, former finance minister Mohammed Chatah, indirectly blamed the Shiite Hezbollah group for the bombing, raising tensions between Lebanon's two main political camps at a time when the country's factions are already deeply at odds over the civil war in neighboring Syria. The morning explosion echoed across Beirut and threw a pillar of black smoke above the city's skyline. The force of the blast punched a nearly 2-meter (yard) wide crater in the street, set at least three cars on fire and shattered windows in office buildings and apartment towers up to a block away. The 62-year-old Chatah, who was also a former Lebanese ambassador to the United States and a senior aide to ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri, was killed along with his driver and four others, the National News Agency reported. The Health Ministry said at least 70 people were wounded. In a statement, the 15 members of the U.N. Security Council strongly condemned the attack and ''reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of any attempt to destabilize Lebanon through political assassinations.'' Powerful car bomb in Lebanese 1.3 million capital kills a Americans prominent losing jobless politician BEIRUT (AP) — A benefits powerful car bomb killed a Numbers tell a tale behind rollout of health care WASHINGTON (AP) — The government churns out tons of numbers, but here's one you won't see: 0.0002. That's the percentage of estimated online visitors to healthcare.gov who actually signed up for coverage the first day. Altogether, that's six people out of just over 3 million. Amazing Finds NEW & USED FURNITURE & MUCH, MUCH MORE! 50% Red Tag Sale Antiques, Unique Fall Sale Two Locations - 30,000 square feet RED BLUFF 530-917-1138 REDDING 530-917-7797 22660 Antelope Blvd. amazingfindsredbluff.com 9am – 7pm Sun.-Fri. 3351 S. Market St. amazingfindshome.com 9am – 7pm Sun.-Fri. Need a Physician? Doctors who listen ... Doctors who care. A FREE SERVICE PROVIDED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE Call toll free 888.628.1948 www.redbluff.mercy.org Not all the figures associated with the rollout of President Barack Obama's health care law are so ridiculously dreary. Three million tells a happier tale, too. That's how many young adults have been able to get coverage under their parents' plan thanks to the law's rule that people up to age 26 can do so. South Sudan agrees to end hostilities against rebels JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — South Sudan's government agreed Friday at a meeting of East African leaders to end hostilities against rebels accused of trying to overthrow the young country, but the cease-fire was quickly thrown into doubt because the head of the rebellion was not invited. An army spokesman suggested the fighting could go on despite the announcement by politicians in a faraway capital. At the meeting in Kenya, South Sudan agreed not to carry out a planned offensive to recapture Bentiu, the capital of oil-producing Unity state, which is controlled by troops loyal to Riek Machar, the former vice president vilified by the government as a corrupt coup plotter. ''We are not moving on Bentiu as long as the rebel forces abide by the ceasefire,'' said Michael Makuei Lueth, South Sudan's information minister. But no one representing Machar was at the Nairobi meeting — a move possibly meant to deny him any elevated status that could also slow the search for peace. And Machar told the BBC that conditions for a truce were not yet in place. 'Duck Dynasty' patriarch to resume filming LOS ANGELES (AP) — The A&E channel said it's reversing its decision to drop ''Duck Dynasty'' patriarch Phil Robertson from the show for his remarks about gays. In a statement Friday, A&E said it decided to bring Robertson back after discussions with the Robertson family and ''numerous advocacy groups.'' The channel had put Robertson on what it called ''hiatus'' following his comments in a magazine article about how the Bible informs his view of gays. His comments were slammed by groups including GLAAD, the gay media watch organization. But A&E's decision drew a backlash from those who said they supported Robertson's comments and others who defended him on the basis of freedom of speech.