Free Republic

There are claims of government attempts at tightening its grip on industry and business In the official language, such terms as "excessive earnings," "speculative earnings," and "fair prices," are more and more repeated to condemn speculation. Some of them will take legal shape. Mario Isea, the president of the National Assembly Economic Development Commission, confirmed it on January 20. In addition to the fast approval of the reform to the Law on Indepabis (Institute for the Defense of People in the Access to Goods and Services), the government will take steps towards a new Commercial Code, a law to regulate...

Nine bricklayers detained by security forces on suspicion of involvement with Iraqi insurgents have suffocated to death while held for over 14 hours in a police van. An Interior Ministry official says three other suspects, who survived being locked up in the van in the sun, have been taken to hospital. He says they will be interviewed by authorities who are investigating the case. The incident started on Sunday in the Ameriyah district of western Baghdad when one of 12 bricklayers sustained gunshots during a firefight between insurgents and police. His colleagues rushed him to a hospital in the Shuala...

Senate OKs highway-spending billSpending of $295 billion tops White House request By Stephanie I. Cohen, MarketWatch Last Update: 7:54 PM ET May 17, 2005 WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed a six-year highway-spending bill that would exceed the Bush administration's budget target, setting the stage for a showdown with the White House. The bill, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, would authorize $295 billion for highway and transportation programs through fiscal year 2009. The White House has warned lawmakers not to cap the bill at $284 billion. "We have made it very clear, and we...

80 Thai Muslims suffocate after arrest at protest By Sebastien Berger in Bangkok (Filed: 27/10/2004) Almost 80 Muslim demonstrators arrested in southern Thailand suffocated after being crammed into army lorries, the Thai authorities admitted yesterday. Only six people were previously believed to have died when security forces opened fire to quell rioting on Monday in the Muslim-majority region adjoining the border with Malaysia. Thai soldiers arrested hundreds after clashes outside a police station The huge new toll, and the manner of the deaths, are bound to add to tensions and highlight methods to quell a 10-month rebellion that has claimed...

Three girls crawl into chest, suffocate By MEG JONES and GINA BARTON of the Journal Sentinel staff Last Updated: Aug. 5, 2002 Three young sisters crawled into a cedar chest while playing in their central Wisconsin home and suffocated Monday, authorities said. Anne, Darlene and Carla Oberholtzer - ages 2, 4 and 6, respectively - were playing outside as their mother did farm chores Monday morning at their home in rural Clark County near Unity, Sheriff Louis Rosandich said. Shirley Oberholtzer, 32, went inside the home in the Town of Beaver around 11 a.m. to make lunch, he said. "As...