Kabul (EON) - According to a United Nations report, the level of illegal opium production in Afghanistan is at an all time high setting records.
Production of opium rose by 34% this year alone according to th report. Afghanistan now produces 93% of the world’s opium which is an impressive and alarming number all in itself.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime Director Antonio Maria Costa stated that Afghanistan may be the source of a lot of the heroin in the world as well as opium is the raw ingredient in heroin.
Costa stated “The intensive cultivation and production in the south is clearly linked to the insurgency and to the fact that the government has lost control of that part of the country.”
The report states that Taliban insurgents are playing a huge role in the drug trade in the Middle East, especially in Afghanistan. Local drug cartels are woring and making millions and millions of dollars each year.
The drug money is the leading source of revenue for the insurgents and is fueling their fight.
New York (EON) - Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta has punished 3 FDNY officers until an outcome is reached. They are being punished due to the fire at the Deutsche Bank building near Ground Zero.
Inspections have been ordered for other structures which are currently being torn down throughout the city in hopes of avoiding such fires.
The fire at the Deutsche building took place on August 18th. 2 firefighters were killed trying to fight the blaze. Many have blamed the fire on a lack of inspections by the FDNY.
All buildings in the area have since been ordered to be fully inspected to avoid future problems. This goes for all buildings either being built or demolished.
Fire plans of all structures within their jurisdiction will also be fully looked over once again.
It is sad that this had to occur with a fire that took the lives of two firefighters before something was done to get the FDNY to simply do their job and prevent these tragedies.
Washington (EON) - Apparently President George W. Bush is not all that pleased with the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
Bush stated that he “reluctantly” accepted the resignation of Gonzales officially on Monday.
Bush stated that “As attorney general, and before that, as White House consel, Al Gonzales has played a critical role in shaping our policies in teh war on terror and has worked tirelessly to make this country safer.”
The President stated that Paul Clement who is the U.S. Solicitor General will serve as acting attorney general when Gonzales leaves in the middle of September.
This will be the temporary fix until the Senate fills the spot with a nominee.
Washington (EON) - Idaho Senator Larry Craig was the co-chair of the Mitt Romney campaign has resigned after his incident where he was arrested due to bad behavior in the restroom.
A police officer who was wearing street clothes caught the former Senator in acts of sexual activity in a men’s public bathroom at the Minnesota airport.
Craig pleaded guilty to the charge of disorderly conduct and has also paid a $500 fine.
Craig stated that he should not have pled guilty as he was “not involved in any inappropriate conduct. I was trying to handle this matter myself quickly and expeditiously.”
Romney’s campaign has already stated that Craig has stepped down from his post in the Republican camp as they are quickly trying to distance the Romney camp from him.
Los Angeles - Owen Wilson was hospitalized on Sunday night, according to People magazine.
Various tabloid reports are saying that Wilson tried to commit suicide, though other sources are saying that he was rushed to St. John’s Health Centre in California due to “dehydration.”
His family, including his brother Luke, were reportedly on hand at the hospital.
Owen issued a statement to gossip website TMZ.com Monday afternoon, saying: “I respectfully ask that the media allow me to receive care and heal in private during this difficult time.”
Washington - After months of controversy over the firing of U.S. Attorneys and his testimony regarding the NSA’s terrorist surveillance programs, as well as accusations of perjury by congressional Democrats, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has reportedly resigned. An announcement is forthcoming later this morning, according to reports.
According to the New York Times: “Mr. Gonzales, who had rebuffed calls for his resignation, submitted his to President Bush by telephone on Friday, the official said. His decision was not announced immediately announced, the official added, until after the president invited him and his wife to lunch at his ranch near here. Mr. Bush has not yet chosen a replacement but will not leave the position open long, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the resignation had not yet been made public.” (more…)
Los Angeles - NBC affiliate WFLA has confirmed that Hulk Hogan’s children have been in a serious car accident.
It happened Sunday night in Clearwater, Florida.
WFLA does not know how many of his kids - Nick or Brooke - were involved, or the extent of their injuries.
Medical helicopters were sent to the scene. (more…)
Los Angeles - “High School Musical” and its star Zac Efron were top favorites at the Teen Choice 2007 Awards last night. His appearance was greeted with deafening screams from fans seated in the audience when he joined Jessica Alba to pick up their surfboards for winning the “hotties” category. Jessica joked, “I was pigeon-toed, I was cross-eyed, I sucked my thumb. Look at me now! … And I get to stand next to gorgeous boys like this one.”
Zac and co-star Vanessa Hudgens apparently haven’t broken up - they were holding hands during the show.
Among other winners, selected by teens via online vote, who showed up: Steve Carell, Dane Cook, Shia LaBeouf, America Ferrera, Miley Cyrus, Avril Lavigne and Fergie.
Justin Timberlake was honored for most Teen Choice wins ever with 21. He accepted via video
Hollywood (EON) - Britney Spears was pulled over on a Los Angeles freeway for speeding on Sunday night as she stated she thought she was being chased by a paparazzi who was not there.
The cop pulled over two male dancers speeding down the street with Spears all in one car. The police officer stated that the driver was a woman wearing a blond wig and it was none other than Britney Spears.
She was speeding at around 12:30 a.m. on Interstate 10 headed east in her Mercedes convertible.
She kept driving for a mile almost before finally pulling over. That mile was while the cop was directly behind her with the lights flashing. She stopped at a gas station and was apparently very cooperative, friendly, and talkative.
The officer let her off with a warning.
Boston (EON) - The baby girl of the late Anna Nicole Smith, Dannielynn, celebrated her 1st birthday in style.
Dannielynn and her dad Larry Birkhead celebrated the birthday celebration at a Kentucky mansion with 200 invited guests.
There is also another celebration planned for September 8th at the location where Birkhead and Anna Nicole Smith met at the Tricia Barnstable Brown’s Louisville mansion.
The party was a princess theme and according to the designer of the party, he got exactly what he wanted.
There was a tiara and wand invitation which called the birthday girl, Princess Dannielyn.