Author: Admin

Tech Dirt – by Mike Masnick

We’ve talked a few times about how the USTR and the administration are asking Congress for “trade promotion authority,” which would effectively let it bypass Congressional oversight of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. In fact, in many ways the USTR has been acting as if it already has this. The specifics of “trade promotion authority” or “fast track authority” are a bit down in the weeds, but the short version is that it’s the administration asking Congress to completely abdicate its authority and mandate in overseeing international trade agreements. Basically, it removes the ability of Congress to seek any fixes or amendments to a trade agreement — only allowing them to give a yes or no vote.    Continue reading “President Obama Asks Congress To Give Up Its Oversight On Secret TPP Agreement”

Reuters – by Richard Lough and Matthew Mpoke Bigg

Powerful explosions sent thick smoke billowing from the Nairobi mall where militants from Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group threatened to kill hostages on the third day of a raid in which at least 59 have already died.

The blast was followed by other smaller detonations and volleys of gunfire but there was no indication of the fate of people whom the authorities say are being held by 10 to 15 Islamist gunmen who took the complex by storm on Saturday.   Continue reading “Blasts shake Nairobi mall, smoke pours from building”

France 24

AFP – President Barack Obama used a memorial service for the victims of America’s latest mass shooting on Sunday to make another impassioned appeal to reform gun ownership laws.

“No other advanced nation endures this kind of violence. None,” he declared, at a ceremony in the Washington Navy Yard, where a contractor killed 12 people in a gun rampage on Monday.   Continue reading “Propaganda Alert: Obama: Navy Yard shooting must inspire gun law change”

Huffington Post – by ALICIA A. CALDWELL

WASHINGTON — Within hours of the Navy Yard shootings, the FBI had traced the gunman’s recent shotgun purchase and sent agents to the shop in northern Virginia where he bought it. Left out of the loop was the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a surprising snub between top U.S. law enforcement agencies that comes as the ATF struggles to show its relevance in Washington.   Continue reading “ATF Kept Out Of The Loop After Navy Yard Shooting”

Yahoo News

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Helicopters circling overhead, Kenya’s military launched a major operation Sunday at an upscale Nairobi mall and said it had rescued “most” of the hostages being held captive by al-Qaida-linked militants during a two-day standoff that killed at least 68 people and injured 175.

The military assault began shortly before sundown, with one helicopter skimming very close to the roof of the shopping complex as a loud explosion rang out, far larger than any previous grenade blast or gunfire volley.   Continue reading “Kenyan forces say they rescued ‘most’ hostages”

Intelligence Briefings – by Tom Heneghan

UNITED STATES of America  –   It can now be reported that the U.S. Federal Reserve remains trapped in a toxic derivative box.

The derivative holdings of major worldwide banks are about to go binary. Derivative separation will lead to more asset deleveraging as a major 2008-style liquidity crisis beckons.   Continue reading “Gary Best Inc is Back as the Fed Goes Broke”

KEYE TV

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says he’s open to sending National Guard troops or state police to assist Chicago police with curbing violence if city officials want the help.

He says state police have helped in places like East St. Louis, but only when local authorities coordinate things.   Continue reading “Illinois Governor Open To Send State Troops To Combat Chicago Violence”

BCC News

The Venezuelan government has taken over a toilet paper factory to avoid any scarcity of the product.

The National Guard has taken control of the plant, and officers will monitor production and distribution.

Earlier this year officials ordered millions of toilet rolls to be imported to counter a chronic shortage. Continue reading “Venezuela seizes toilet paper factory to avoid shortage”

The Age – by David Wroe

Australia’s new Defence Minister, David Johnston, says he wants to keep the military battle-ready for further possible conflicts in the unstable Middle East and south Asia.

Senator Johnston said that after 14 years of involvement in overseas conflicts from East Timor to Afghanistan, the Australian Defence Force had a strong fighting momentum that should not be lost as troops return from Afghanistan.  Continue reading “Australia’s defence forces to be maintained at battle-ready status”

The Dissenter – by Kevin Gosztola

Common Dreams – by Sarah Lazare

The UN nuclear agency crushed an effort of Arab states to reign in nuclear Israel, rejecting a non-binding resolution on Friday that would have compelled Israel to join the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and place its arsenal under International Atomic Energy Agency supervision.

“Israel has once again become the exception to international norms to reduce the potential of nuclear war and reduce nuclear weapons,” Deborah Agre from the Middle East Children’s Alliance told Common Dreams.   Continue reading “UN Stamps Out Measure to Reign In Nuclear Israel”

It is becoming more and more meaningless to compare the performance of the Dow 30 from one period to another with the continuing replacement of constituent companies with underperforming and lower priced stocks (losers out) with companies with higher priced stocks with greater future prospects for price appreciation (winners in). We explain below exactly what this reconfiguring (and the further change in the Dow Divisor) encompasses and exactly how it will affect the performance of the index. Read on, its significance is absolutely dramatic! This manipulation of the performance of the Dow 30 has been going on since 1928 and it was further denigrated this week with a 3 constituent swap which will, in effect, assure that the Dow 30 continues to rise in the long term.   Continue reading “Dow Jones Index injected again with epo and growth hormones”

Detroit Free Press – by Kathleen Gray

USA Today

A fire and early morning explosion Thursday at an industrial facility rocked the area around the small town of Thomas, Okla., in Custer County, but caused no injuries, according to local media.

KWTV News 9, citing police, said about 10 families living near the Danlin plant were evacuated. KOCO reports that a four-mile area around the plant was cleared.   Continue reading “Fire, explosion rock Okla. chemical plant”

The Columbus Dispatch – by Martin Crutsinger

WASHINGTON — In a surprise, the Federal Reserve has decided against reducing its stimulus for the U.S. economy because its outlook for growth has dimmed in the past three months.

The Fed said yesterday that it will continue to buy $85 billion a month in bonds while it awaits conclusive evidence that the economy is strengthening. The Fed’s bond purchases are intended to keep long-term borrowing rates low to boost spending and economic growth.   Continue reading “Stocks soar as the Fed continues its stimulus”