Haiti Constructive Plans, Somalia Destructive Scams

Author — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:44:12 +0000

The Haitian government presents a new plan for the reconstruction of Haiti.

Iran criticizes the US’s involvement in Afghanistan saying that there will never be stability in Afghanistan as long as the United States has troops there.

Transonic Combustion, a new company out of California, has created a fuel injection system that can be incorporated into current engines, resulting in a significant increase in fuel economy.

Austrian scientists have proved that computers can eventually work faster than the speed of light.

WebMD explains differences in sleeping habits between different ethnicities.

Half of all aid to Somalians is being diverted to corrupt contractors, UN workers, and local militias.

Israeli Anti-Peace Hints Through Jerusalem Settlements; US Slammed With Trade Sanctions

Author — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:56:27 +0000

The Brazilian government has announced trade sanctions against a variety of American goods in retaliation for illegal US subsidies to cotton farmers.

The EU warned the United States against protectionism after a European-led consortium pulled out of the bidding for an Air Force contract, saying the terms had been altered to favor a US company.

Israel’s decision to approve new East Jerusalem houses effectively prevents any peace negotiations from taking place, the Palestinian Authority said, following an Interior Ministry statement released earlier authorizing 1,600 new housing units.

Timeline: Israeli military operations abroad.

China, the world’s biggest holder of foreign exchange reserves, renewed its commitment to the US Treasury market but said it would be wary of substantially boosting its gold holdings.

US researchers estimate that an 18 percent tax on pizza and soda can push down US adults’ calorie intake enough to lower their average weight by 5 pounds (2 kg) per year.

US Health Premium Increases Unjustified; Israel Pushes The Divide

Author — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:26:51 +0000

US President Barack Obama has criticised insurance firms for denying coverage to some and raising rates for their remaining customers.

Israel ‘risking peace talks’ with West Bank building by authorizing the building of 112 new apartments in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank.

Hundreds of people, including many women and children, were killed in ethnic violence near the city of Jos in Nigeria at the weekend, officials say.

Health insurers took more heat over rising premiums as US Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius called on managed-care companies to publicly justify rate increases and US President Barack Obama cited a recent Wall Street conference call as evidence that the industry is willing and able to price out some customers.

A pre-dawn magnitude-5.8 earthquake collapsed homes and killed at least 38 people while injuring about 100 in a mountainous region of southeastern Turkey.

NATO diplomatic sources have told The Times that the Chinese have become very active with cyber attacks, that China has declared a cyber war. In the US, an official report released on Friday said the number of attacks on Congress and other government agencies had risen exponentially in the past year to an estimated 1.6 billion every month.

Sino-American Interests Off Track, Iraq’s Rare Parliamentary Election Attacked

Author — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:41:55 +0000

Iraq’s second parliamentary election since the 2003 invasion has been hit by multiple attacks, with at least 35 people being killed.

US President Barack Obama warns of more health insurance premium hikes to come without up or down vote as he receives no “straight answer” from health insurance CEOs.

The European Commission is planning an EU-wide minimum tax on carbon as part of the EU’s green energy agenda, but the UK opposes such a move.

A raid on suspected militants in the West Bank was cancelled yesterday after an Israeli soldier updated his Facebook status to read “On Wednesday we clean up Qatanah, and on Thursday, god willing, we come home.” The solider will spend 10 days in prison for his update.

Walmart’s intention to acquire VUDU’s on-demand video service may seem like a curious move for a big-box brick-and-mortar retailer, but Walmart is making a bid to own the customers’ zone of attention through their TV.

China’s Foreign Minister said new sanctions on Iran will not solve the standoff over its nuclear program, while chiding the United States after two months of tensions between the big powers.

UK academic institutions have unwittingly become the accomplices of criminals selling fake drugs online.

Saturday Mail Under Doubt; Global Middle Class Losing Capitalist Clout

Author — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:59:49 +0000

Newsweek discusses how the global middle class is not as stable and liberal as western capitalist enthusiasts hoped they would be.

Stepping up its fight against Microsoft Corp., Google Inc. acquired DocVerse, a technology startup that allows people to edit Microsoft Office files online.

The US House of Representatives Thursday approved a $15 billion bill aimed at stimulating private-sector job creation, a day before what is expected to be another tough employment picture when official figures are released Friday.

Newsweek is reporting that Fidel Castro is “back in charge” of Cuba to curb the “reform” efforts of his brother and current president, Raúl Castro.

The current president of Togo has won re-election in a disputed vote, electoral authorities say. The election commission said Faure Gnassingbe, son of a late dictator, had beaten opposition challenger Jean-Pierre Fabre.

Another strong aftershock has jolted Chile, nearly a week after the deadly 8.8 magnitude earthquake caused widespread destruction in the South American country.

The United States Postal Service may say goodbye to Saturday mail.

Hi-Tech Mind Initiatives; Birth Alternatives

Author — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:36:35 +0000

A New York air traffic controler is in hot water after he took his son to work last month and allowed him to direct planes at New York’s JFK airport.

The world’s largest high-tech fair is the place to go to find out how you can play games or do daily chores all by just using the power of your mind.

Toyota has for years blocked access to data stored in devices similar to airline “black boxes” that could explain crashes blamed on sudden unintended acceleration, according to an Associated Press review of lawsuits nationwide and interviews with auto crash experts.

CNN lists the world’s most admired companies.

The mad dash to the hospital after a pregnant woman’s water breaks has become pretty well established in the birthing lore of the United States. But there’s been an uptick in births at home, suggesting that an alternative to childbirth in hospitals is getting some traction.

Same sex couples who are looking to get married are making their way to Washington D.C., where a law allowing gay marriage has just gone into effect.

Children are being increasingly exposed to sexual imagery and their parents have limited opportunities to stop it, a report for the Home Office in England warns. The report calls for tougher regulation of sexual imagery in adverts and a ban on selling “lads’ mags” to under-16s.

Protests In Sunny Cali; Investments From Grey Beijing

Author — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:56:14 +0000

Beijing is using its accumulation of billions of American dollars to step up its investments around the globe. In the last year, Chinese acquisitions in the U.S. have ranged from a relatively obscure theater in Branson, Mo., to stakes in such famous brands as Coca-Cola and Johnson & Johnson.

Automakers are revealing plans for plug-in hybrids, and it was only a matter of time before Porsche jumped on board. The 918 Spyder Hybrid concept car, revealed this week at the Geneva Auto Show, supposedly goes 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, gets 78 miles per gallon, and can go 16 miles on pure electric charge.

Wally - a company that makes stunning modern yachts–and the French fashion house Hermes have teamed up to design a new boat: The appropriately named WHY, a full-blown solar-powered island.

Greece has seen strong demand for its latest government bond issue in a vote of confidence for the country’s debt-ridden economy.

Threatened by Apple Inc.’s growing stable of portable devices, Sony Corp. is developing a new lineup of handheld products, including a smart phone capable of downloading and playing videogames, according to people familiar with the matter.

Angered by increases in tuition and cuts in state financing, thousands of students, parents and faculty members protested across California on Thursday at colleges, universities and even elementary schools to plead for help with the state’s education crisis.

Modest Improvements; Financial Winners Highlighted

Author — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:09:52 +0000

Checkout the mobile browser market share worldwide.

The Feb. 27 magnitude 8.8 earthquake in Chile may have shortened the length of each Earth day says NASA.

As Android’s growth continues to explode since the release of the Droid, only the most foolish of app shops are not planning to expand beyond Apple’s walled garden. One developer, in fact, wrote that his app, which was showing modest, double-digit daily sales late last year, now reports that his app is making $13,000 a month.

Hoping to improve the city’s chances of being the test site for Google’s ultra-fast broadband experiment, the Mayor of Topeka, Kansas has issued a proclamation that his city be known as ‘Google, Kansas–the capital city of fiber optics’ for the month of March.

Is Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock the most powerful man in finance?

Chile is to investigate why its tsunami warning system failed.

General Motors grew its sales by double digits in February in what could be a sign the auto giant is turning around its long slide.

Browsers Galore for EU; Apple Says Time To Sue

Author — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:32:46 +0000

Some 100 million Europeans using Microsoft software will be asked to choose among rival Web browsers by mid-May under a deal the company struck to settle antitrust action, the European Union said Tuesday.

Prosecutors seeking to indict five Americans on terrorist charges submitted their case to a Pakistani judge Tuesday, accusing the men of waging war against Pakistan and plotting to attack the country. All young Muslims from the Washington, D.C., area, the five were arrested in December in Punjab province not long after reaching Pakistan. They were reported missing by their families in November after one left behind a farewell video showing scenes of war and casualties and saying Muslims must be defended.

In a dramatic morning’s trading, the UK’s Pound Sterling fell 4 1/2 cents against the Dollar to trade below $1.48 for the first time since May.

It’ll grow back: 10 creatures that can re-grow body parts.

At least 160 people have been arrested for looting in Concepción, the second-largest city in earthquake-ravaged Chile. Nearly half of the 708 people killed by the 8.8 earthquake in Chile are from Constitución, a small town that was devastated by a tsunami moments after the quake.

Colombia’s high court to President Alvaro Uribe: “Sorry, you can’t be President one more time.”

Apple has filed suit against mobile phone company HTC—maker of Google’s Nexus One and a longtime Microsoft Windows Mobile supporter—alleging that it’s infringing on 20 patents related to the iPhone’s user interface, hardware, and underlying technology.

Small Business Stress; Prudential Cleans Up AIG Mess

Author — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:29:38 +0000

Financial stress may be coming down hard on entrepreneurs and small business owners across America.

Newsweek discusses Iraq’s effort at setting up a democracy.

British insurer Prudential PLC said Monday it will buy the Asian unit of American International Group Inc. in a deal worth $35.5 billion that will allow AIG to pay back some of the money it owes U.S. taxpayers.

In the teen brain; nerve cells that connect teenagers’ frontal lobes with the rest of their brains are sluggish. Teenagers don’t have as much of the fatty coating called myelin, or “white matter,” that adults have in this area, and their decision making skills may be poor as a result.