Nation and World 11/17/2010

NATION

Katrina victims in Mississippi to receive more housing aid

Five years after Hurricane Katrina, Federal and state officials and housing advocates on Monday announced the launch of a $133 million program to address the housing needs that remain for Mississippi residents. This comes after months of wrangling among officials from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Mississippi governor's office and housing advocates. These advocates have long since criticized the state for not spending enough federal grant money on low-income residents, who this program targets.

Supreme Court rules gun possession in drug crimes adds five years

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that people convicted of gun possession while selling drugs are subject to a mandatory five-year minimum sentence, in addition to other sentences. The first signed decision of the term, the ruling was unanimous; however, Justice Elena Kagan self-disqualified due to her work as United States solicitor general, and did not participate.

WORLD

E.U. talks on budget for 2011 stalled again

Talks on the European Union's 2011 budget broke down the second in a week on Monday, when key governments and the bloc's directly elected Parliament came to a stalemate. If they fail to reach a consensus before the end of this calendar year, the 2010 could possibly be rolled over to apply to next year, therefore putting the funding of some programs at risk. Members of the European Parliament and officials said that a failure to agree could delay reimbursement to national governments who have already paid out farm subsidies.

Seven people charged in organ-trafficking based in Kosovo

At least seven people have been charged with participation in an international organ-trafficking network based in Kosovo. The network sold kidneys and other organs for up to $200,000 to patients around the world, in countries such as Israel and Canada, reported police and senior E.U. officials. According to the indictment, traffickers promised impoverished people in Istanbul, Moscow, Moldova and Kazakhstan up to $20,000 for their organs, but law enforcement officials say that many never received any compensation whatsoever.