Category: News Desk

Global Money Laundering OK w Governments ???


Recently, a federal district judge approved a deal to allow Barclays, the British bank, to pay a $298 million fine

for conducting transactions with Cuba, Iran, Libya, Myanmar and Sudan in violation of United States trade sanctions.

Barclays was discovered to have systematically disguised the movement of hundreds of millions of dollars through wire transfers

that were stripped of the critical information required by law that would have enabled the world to know that

Flash Crash Update: Even Less Reassurance


Here’s a later version of the mainstream media version of what happened on May 6.

As you can see, there’s a bit more detail in terms of WHO and HOW,

but the outlines remain pretty much the same as we described them in our first “scanning” of the various media accounts …

You will note, however, that at least SOME of the questions WE raised initially were also raised by other observers,

and are — minimally — addressed in this updated version …

Enjoy — if you have the stomach for it … 😉 …

“Flash Crash” Report: No Model of Clarity, Explanation, Future Prevention


We long ago identified Friday afternoon – or even better – night as the best time to release anything an organization considers “bad news”,

and, sure enough, the joint Securities & Exchange Commission [ SEC ] / Commodity Futures Trading Commission [ CFTC – think “derivatives” ] did just that

China Halting Export of High-Tech-Vital Rare Earth Metals ???


As part of our Feature on the China / Japan dispute, which, thankfully, seems to be simmering down,

we noted that not only has China apparently stopped exporting rare earth metals —

which are key to the production of many advanced high tech products

like high-definition elevisions, cell phones, computers, guided missiles, hybrid cars, satellites, wind turbines, batteries, magnets,

“Peak Oil” Major Strategic Concern for German Military


The term “peak oil” is used by energy experts to refer to a point in time when global oil reserves pass their zenith and production gradually begins to decline.

This would result in a permanent supply crisis — and fear of it can trigger turbulence in commodity markets and on stock exchanges.

Indian Peace Initiative in Kashmir: Is It Real – Will It Work ???


The Indian government announced a major policy shift in Kashmir on Saturday,

calling for the release of jailed student protesters, easing security strictures in major cities, reopening schools and universities,

and offering financial compensation to the families of the more than 100 civilians killed since the restive region erupted in protests in June.

China / Japan Crisis Indicates US Importance in East Asia


For the last several years, one big theme has dominated talk of the future of Asia:

As China rises, its neighbors are being inevitably drawn into its orbit, currying favor with the region’s new hegemonic power.

The presumed loser, of course, is the United States,

whose wealth and influence are being spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

and whose economic troubles have eroded its standing in a more dynamic Asia,

Airline Profits Surge w Higher Prices & Fees, Worse Service


Air fares have marched steadily upward in recent months and are now close to pre-recession levels —

and that’s not even counting all the fees that airlines have introduced lately.

The increase in fares is the result of a remarkable discipline shown by the airlines –

anti-competitive / anti-trust / oligopolization, anyone 😉 ??? –

which have generally not added more flights this year

Global Food Price Hikes = Uncertainty, De-stabilization


Food prices rose 5 percent globally during August, according to the United Nations, spurred mostly by the higher cost of wheat,

and the first signs of unrest erupted as 10 people died in Mozambique during summer clashes ignited partly by a 30 percent leap in the cost of bread.

“You are dealing with an unstable situation,” said Abdolreza Abbassian, an economist at the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome.

China’s Big Push Into Hybrids, Electric Cars


The Chinese government, determined to become a world leader in green technology,

says it plans to invest billions of dollars over the next few years to develop electric and hybrid vehicles.

It said a group of 16 big state-owned companies had already agreed to form an alliance

to do research and development, and create standards for electric and hybrid vehicles.