15 Feb 11
George Soros, Google tagged for starting Islamic uprisings
T. Monroe-Hamilton of The Noisy Room writes, "Google exec Wael Ghonim utilized Facebook to bring thousands into the streets and set himself up as a political martyr if need be. Youth groups along with Ghonim support ElBaradei and, by default, the Muslim Brotherhood. And who is financing such groups? Well, our old friend George Soros of course.
San Diego Port Security Says WMD Found on American Soil
Assistant Director of the Port of San Diego admitted to a KGTV reporter that officials have found, in the past, weapons of “mass effect.” A public affairs official interrupted the officer during the interview saying they would provide more information later. The Department of Homeland Security, responding 23 days later, said the officer was “confused” and “nervous”.
All children to be registered in national biometric records
Below the radar of public opinion, Mexico has started to assemble the type of biometric national identity database that could be used to document names for a North American Trusted Traveler border pass card, a plan already being developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for Mexican citizens.
GOP mocks Obama budget, House weighs spending cuts
Republicans are mocking President Obama's $3.73 trillion budget for 2012 for waving feebly at historically huge federal deficits. As if to show how it should be done, they are ready to start muscling their own package of deep cuts in domestic spending through the House.
Festering Debt Crisis Pressures Euro Downwards
After a week when it appeared that the euro was entering into calmer waters, the tension and weakness returned.
Days of Arab Rage Spread to Bahrain
On Tuesday morning, Bahraini security forces shot and killed a protestor at the funeral procession of another person killed in protests the day before. As a result, Bahraini groups issued a Facebook call for a mass march at the upcoming funeral of Tuesday's victim, Fadhel Ali Almatrook.
Yemenis trying to oust leader protest for 5th day
Yemenis scuffled with police Tuesday as thousands marched in the capital for a fifth consecutive day in Egypt-inspired protests demanding political reforms and the ouster of the country's U.S.-allied president. Police tried to disperse the demonstrators using tear gas and batons, but some 3,000 protesters defiantly continued their march from Sanaa University toward the city center, chanting slogans against President Ali Abdullah Saleh, including "down with the president's thugs."
Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood to set up party once restrictions are lifted
The Islamist group said in a statement it had declared its desire to a set up a party many years ago but was stopped by the political parties law, one of many curbs on political activity during Mr Mubarak's rule. "When the popular demand for the freedom to form parties is realised, the group will found a political party," said the statement, posted on the group's website and dated Feb. 14.
France wants new global finance system
France, as current head of the Group of 20 countries, will help the transition to a global financial system based on 'several international currencies', French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said today. Lagarde, speaking ahead of a G20 finance ministers meeting in Paris on Friday and Saturday, said the world had to move on from the 'non-monetary system' it now has to one 'based on several international currencies'.
Federal deficit on track for a record this fiscal year
President Obama‘s budget, released Monday, was conceived as a blueprint for future spending, but it also paints the bleakest picture yet of the current fiscal year, which is on track for a record federal deficit and will see the government’s overall debt surpass the size of the total U.S. economy. Mr. Obama‘s budget projects that 2011 will see the biggest one-year debt jump in history, or nearly $2 trillion, to reach $15.476 trillion by Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year.
Egypt crisis: Protests switch to demands on pay
Fresh protests and strikes have flared in Egypt as demonstrators demand better pay and conditions from the country's new military rulers. Bank, transport and tourism workers all demonstrated in Cairo after 18 days of protests succeeded in removing President Hosni Mubarak. In a TV statement, the military urged all Egyptians to go back to work.
Tunisia migrants: Italy puts Europe on alert
Italy has warned that an influx of Tunisian migrants arriving on its shores could have devastating consequences for all European nations. Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said migrants who have landed on the island of Lampedusa threaten the institutional and social structures of Europe. Italy is asking the EU for about 100m euros (£84m) to tackle the influx.
Barack Obama unveils US budget plans for 2012
US President Barack Obama has unveiled his 2012 budget, describing the proposal as a "down payment" on future cuts to the US budget deficit. The budget aims to cut $1.1tn (£690bn) from the US deficit over a decade. He said the US must live within its means and called for some reductions, but said "we can't sacrifice our future" with drastic cuts.
EU ministers to double lending power of bail-out fund
Eurozone finance ministers have backed a doubling of the full lending capacity of a future EU bail-out fund. As of 2013, the European Stability Mechanism, a permanent rescue mechanism to replace the bloc's current bail-out arrangement, will have an effective lending capacity of €500 billion, Luxembourgish Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, the chief of the group of EU member states that use the single currency, said late on Monday (14 February) night.
Iran confirms 1 killed, dozens injured in protests
Iranian police on Tuesday confirmed that one person was killed during clashes between security forces and protesters a day before. The official IRNA news agency quoted acting police commander Gen. Ahmad Reza Radan who said dozens of people, including nine members of the security forces, were also wounded in Monday's protests. Radan said one of the injured was in a critical condition.
'Maximum security' at 4 Israeli embassies due to threats
Foreign Ministry officials on Tuesday reported that security at four Israeli embassies abroad has been increased to the maximum level following "a number of unusual events against Israeli locations." In addition, the Foreign Ministry said that the four embassies were at risk of being closed due to the threats aimed at them.
Iran blames Israel, US for supporting protests
Lawmakers in Iran on Tuesday blamed the US and Israel for supporting the demonstrations which left one person killed and dozens injured a day before and urged the country's judiciary to issue death penalties to opposition leaders who incite civil unrest, Reuters reported. "The main aim of Americans was to simulate the recent events in the Middle East in Iran to divert attentions from those countries," parliament speaker Ali Larijani told state radio.
Greece Again Sovereign Debt Flash Point
The debate over the fate of Europe’s poorer nations continues to return to Greece. It has become the canary in the coal mine as capital markets investors and other EU nations contemplate the region’s sovereign debt problems.
Tunisians vote with their feet, flee the country
A month after massive protests ousted Tunisia's longtime dictator, waves of Tunisians are voting with their feet, fleeing the country's political limbo by climbing into rickety boats and sailing across the Mediterranean to Europe. More than 5,000 illegal immigrants have recently washed up on Italy's southern islands — an unintended consequence of the "people's revolution" that ousted autocrat Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and inspired the uprisings in Egypt and beyond.
Chinese inflation hits 4.9% pushed by high food prices
Inflation in China has accelerated in January despite three interest rate rises in the past four months. Consumer prices rose by 4.9% in January from a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics said. In December, the annual figure was 4.6%
