| World News |
Lloyd's insurer sues Saudi Arabia for 'funding 9/11 attacks'
A Lloyd's insurance syndicate has begun a landmark legal case against Saudi Arabia, accusing the kingdom of indirectly funding al-Qa'ida and demanding the repayment of £136m it paid out to victims of the 9/11 attacks. The Brighton-based Lloyd's 3500 syndicate, which paid $215m compensation to companies and individuals involved, alleges that the oil-rich Middle Eastern superpower bears primary responsibility for the atrocity because al-Qa'ida was supported by banks and charities acting as "agents and alter egos" for the Saudi state.
In UN week, Saudi says to ease Palestinian crisis
(Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will pay $200 million to the Palestinian Authority, the official Palestinian news agency said on Monday, funds that will ease a financial crisis faced by the authority as it prepares to apply for full U.N. membership this week.
AP Exclusive: Police investigate Iran nuke expert
VIENNA (AP) — A colleague of a nuclear scientist shot dead recently in Tehran is being investigated by Iranian security services who suspect him of leaking information leading to the killing, says an intelligence summary shared with The Associated Press. The report by an International Atomic Energy Agency member nation identifies the colleague as Mojtaba Dadashnejad. It says he worked with the victim, Darioush Rezaeinejad, on suspected Iranian attempts to make a component used in nuclear weapons.
Libyan fighters take airport near pro-Gadhafi city
TRIPOLI, Libya — Facing little resistance, revolutionary fighters captured the airport and other parts of a southern desert city that is one of the last remaining strongholds of Moammar Gadhafi's forces Monday, even as military offensives stalled to the north. The capture of Sabha would be a welcome victory for Libya's new rulers, who have struggled to rout forces loyal to Gadhafi a month after sweeping into Tripoli and forcing the ousted leader into hiding. He has not been found.
Yemen protesters storm elite military base; 50 die
SANAA, Yemen (AP) - Thousands of protesters backed by military defectors seized a base of the elite Republican Guards on Monday, weakening the control of Yemen's embattled president over this poor, fractured Arab nation. His forces fired on unarmed demonstrators elsewhere in the capital, killing scores, wounding hundreds and sparking international condemnation. The protesters, joined by soldiers from the renegade 1st Armored Division, stormed the base without firing a single shot, according to witnesses and security officials. Some carried sticks and rocks.
S&P cuts Italy ratings one notch, outlook negative
Sept 20 (Reuters) - Standard and Poor's downgraded its unsolicited ratings on Italy by one notch to A/A-1 and kept its outlook on negative, a major surprise that threatens to add to concerns of contagion in the debt-stressed euro zone.
Palestinian push for statehood jeopardizes US aid
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Palestinian Authority and President Mahmoud Abbas have repeatedly been warned: Pursue statehood recognition at the United Nations and risk losing millions in U.S. aid. For months, congressional Republicans and Democrats have threatened to cut off some $500 million in economic and security assistance to the Palestinians if they defy the United States and Israel by seeking statehood.
Greece seeks to avoid ‘humiliation’ with more cuts
Greece will try to avoid international "blackmail and humiliation" by speeding up reforms and civil-service staff cuts, the finance minister said Monday, hours before holding an emergency teleconference with creditors. Greece's international bailout creditors stepped up the pressure at the start of a crucial week in the nearly two-year debt crisis, urging the government to do more to heal its finances. Global markets were skeptical, however, and stocks fell sharply on fears Athens will default on its mountain of debt.
UBS starts probe into $2.3 billion rogue trade loss
ZURICH (Reuters) - UBS has kicked off an internal investigation into the catastrophic failure of its risk systems after rogue equity trades cost the Swiss bank $2.3 billion, raising the pressure on top management.
| U.S. News, Politics & Government |
Three Quarters of "Homeland Security" Grant Money Goes to Jewish Causes
"There’s good reason for the Jewish community to be proud. A Forward analysis of the 995 grants distributed through the national program from 2007 to 2010 found that 734, or 73.7%, went to Jewish organizations. DHS announced its grants for 2011 in late August, and here, too, Jewish groups were the big winners, with 81% of those awards."
Google / Fox News Debate, Thursday 9/22
On September 22, the Republican primary candidates will meet in Orlando, Florida for the Fox News/Google Debate - and they’ll be answering YOUR questions. Submit your question now for the chance to have it asked live during the debate!
American Military is too top-heavy
Some serious restructuring in the United States military has led to the US hiring more and more highly paid senior officers to oversee fewer and fewer low-ranking personnel. POGO told a Senate panel on Thursday that admirals and generals, who start off with a base salary of over $227,000 annually, are doing work that could easily be carried out by junior officers.
New 24-hour hotline unveiled in Illinois -- to help illegal immigrants facing deportation
Modeled after those for the homeless or victims of domestic violence, the "first-in-nation" crisis hotline will serve callers 24 hours a day. It launches Monday afternoon at Jane Addams Hull House. Volunteers will take calls and direct people facing deportation to lawyers and social service agencies by asking them a checklist of questions to help determine the right course of action.
Ron Paul Cheated Out of Texas Straw Poll Win?
Ron Paul is riding high again after his California Straw Poll victory yesterday, but some Paul supporters are questioning why the Texas Straw Poll was cancelled for “lack of interest,” and whether it was actually killed because the Congressman would have inflicted an embarrassing defeat on Governor Rick Perry in his own state.
Blackout: CNN, Fox, and MSNBC Ignore Thousands Of US Day Of Rage Protesters
Even though estimates have varied from hundreds to as many as 50,000 protesters flooded into Manhattan and others cities to take part in events around the country to, “nonviolently disrupt the disloyal, incompetent, and corrupt special interests which have usurped our nation’s civil and military power, spawning a host of threats to our liberty, lives and national security,” the three cable news networks have devoted no airtime to the story.
Wall Street Protests Continue, With at Least 6 Arrested
In a continuation of the demonstrations that began on Saturday, nearly 200 protesters marched along Wall Street and other parts of the financial district Monday morning, brandishing American flags and signs denouncing the economic system. At least six of them were arrested.
| Economy |
Geithner: US has 'huge stake' in Euro crisis
Geithner, just back from a trip to Poland in which he reportedly expressed concern of a "catastrophic risk" to markets from the Greek debt crisis, said at the White House that Europe had the will to combat its challenges.
Obama's urgent jobs plan: Right now, 'right now' means sometime next month maybe
Well, here we are on the next Monday after that next Monday and we've just learned from the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, Dick Durbin, that actually it seems that body won't really be seriously getting into the legislation for a while yet. The Senate has some other more important business to handle. And then there's this month's congressional vacation, which in Washington is called "a recess," like elementary school.
Obama Proposes New Czar
Instead, in the American Jobs Act, Obama is proposing a new group of czars as a part of his "jobs" act-- the American Infrastructure Financing Authority (AIFA) czars. President Obama’s newest czars will be given the authority to manage over a trillion dollars of federal funding for roads, bridges, buildings, waterways, dams and other infrastructure.
President Obama deficit plans back ending Saturday mail
President Obama supports allowing the U.S. Postal Service to stop delivering mail on Saturdays and to start selling items other than stamps and shipping supplies at post offices nationwide, according to his deficit reduction proposals released Monday.
To save money, federal government buying in bulk
Starting this week, several federal agencies and departments will pool their purchases of office printers, copiers and scanners in hopes of collectively saving $600 million in the next four years, administration officials said late Friday. The move, known as “strategic sourcing” in government contracting circles, is also forcing agencies to take a serious inventory of their supplies.
The Real Reasons That NWO Buffett Supports Higher Taxes and Obama
The reason Buffet likes more taxes is that he is a billionaire. Does Buffet make income off his investments; sure he does. Yet the great bulk of Buffett's, Bill Gate's and the International Bankers great wealth is NOT in income -its in assets. Do you ever hear Obama or Buffett or even the Communists championing an asset tax (not that they should)? When you are a billionaire you are worried about protecting assets-not income.
Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne announces support for Rep. Ron Paul's 2012 presidential candidacy
(NaturalNews) In a recent interview on FOX Business, Overstock.com (which was recently rebranded as O.co) founder and CEO Patrick Byrne had a lot to say about the flailing economy, and the fake "recovery" that so many in the business community and in the public naively bought into. And when asked about who he supports in the 2012 presidential election, Byrne vocalized his support for Rep. Ron Paul.
| Housing Market |
America's homeless crisis washes up in Obama's birthplace
Hawaii currently has the third-highest ratio of homelessness of any state in the nation, behind Oregon and Nevada. A recent study by the research firm SMS found that 96,648 Hawaiians are now members of the "hidden homeless" community, a demographic which contains people squatting, living in temporary accommodation, or staying with friends or family members. Another 262,000 people – a staggering one in five residents of the seven islands – are classed as being "at risk" of homelessness.
US mortgage finance head: shift risk from Treasury
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The chief regulator of mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac says restructuring the country's housing finance system may require more mortgage insurance and charging lenders more, steps that could increase borrowing costs.
Paralyzed Oregon man, living on $22,000 a month and able to pay, fights foreclosure
Robert Galanida was a skinny teenager when a drunken driver rammed the pickup he was riding in, hurtling him to the blacktop and paralyzing him from his shoulders down. With the help of multimillion-dollar legal and insurance settlements, he and his mother now live comfortably on annuity payments of $22,000 a month. So they are at a loss as to why his mortgage servicer, Bank of America, has repeatedly tried to evict him from his Tualatin home.
| Energy & Environment |
Breaking News: 60,000 people stood up against nuclear (photos)
An anti-nuc demonstration was held in Tokyo, from Meiji koen. 50,000 people were assumed to attend but at least 60,000 people are in the demonstration for now. From an unconfirmed report, over 100,000 people are in the demonstration at this moment. This time, a lot of lawyers attended at the demonstration, also, they have learnt to take videos of police, so police could not touch the demonstration. Video report here.
4 earthquakes rock Guatemala, 1 confirmed dead
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) - Four earthquakes struck the southeastern part of Guatemala in less than two hours Monday afternoon, causing at least one death as some walls collapsed, authorities said. At least three people were reported missing. President Alvaro Colom urged calm after the temblors were felt across much of the Central American country, the largest a 5.8 magnitude. All were centered in an area about 30 miles (51 kilometers) southeast of the capital, Guatemala City, according to the U.S. Geological Survey
Life After An EMP Attack: No Power, No Food, No Transportation, No Banking And No Internet
Most Americans do not know this, but a single EMP attack could potentially wipe out most of the electronics in the United States and instantly send this nation back to the 1800s. Just imagine a world where nobody has power, most cars will not start, the Internet has been fried, the financial system is offline indefinitely, nobody can make any phone calls and virtually all commerce across the entire country is brought to a complete stop.
New Database Shows Spate of Congressional Attacks on the Environment
Dubbing it the “most anti-environment House in history,” Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), ranking member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released a new searchable database last week listing a staggering 125 pieces of legislation that will reduce environmental protection. The bills, introduced and passed by the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives, are aimed at limiting the authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal institutions tasked with upholding environmental laws set in place to protect human and environmental health.
White House Blocks EPA Chemical Health Review
Bowing to pressure from the chemical industry, the administration of President Barack Obama recently blocked a new and desperately needed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) review of chemical health hazards which was developed under the agency’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), according to Daniel Rosenberg of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Thousands march against nuclear power in Tokyo
TOKYO (AP) — Chanting "Sayonara nuclear power" and waving banners, tens of thousands of people marched in central Tokyo on Monday to call on Japan's government to abandon atomic energy in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear accident.
| Health |
Contents, Benefits and Uses of the Bay Leaf
The bay leaf is an astringent, diuretic and antiseptic, and has a number of health benefits. The antioxidants in the leaf impart it with anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, these phytonutrients protect against cardiac problems. The antioxidant vitamin C gives the bay leaf anti-viral properties; it also boosts immunity, heals wounds and neutralizes the harmful effects of free radicals. Vitamin A is required for healthy skin and membranes, good vision.
Resveratrol and vitamin D synergistically team to boost metabolism and prevent obesity
(NaturalNews) Resveratrol has been on the nutritional radar of researchers because of its proven ability to mimic some of the life-extending characteristics provided by calorie restriction as seen in animals and humans alike. Scientists publishing in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research draw a solid link between resveratrol, vitamin D and other phytonutrients as agents that may lend a helping hand in the life-threatening battle against overweight and obesity.
Researchers find side effect-free natural way to slash stroke risk by half
(NaturalNews) It is common sense that eating a healthy diet should help prevent disease. But Big Pharma must surely have superior elixirs, pills, potions and shots when it comes to serious prevention of the big killer diseases like stroke, right?
Warning of more cases of flu vaccine disorder
A SUPPORT group for parents who believe their children developed a chronic sleeping disorder after receiving the swine flu vaccine Pandemrix has said there are “a lot more” undiagnosed cases.
Nanoparticles Cause Brain Injury In Fish
Scientists at the University of Plymouth have shown, for the first time in an animal, that nanoparticles have a detrimental effect on the brain and other parts of the central nervous system.
Study shows increased mammograms result in more mastectomies
The study drew on data from Norway's national breast cancer screening program for 35,000 women aged 40 to 79 diagnosed with early or invasive breast cancers. Oslo researchers discovered a 31% increased risk of mastectomy among women invited to receive mammograms compared with a non-invited younger age group.
The idea that one can get proper nutrition from diet alone is largely a myth
Decades of over-farming has left the world's top soils severely depleted of essential minerals. For the most part, the only minerals replaced have been those needed for optimal growth and not vital minerals such as magnesium which are needed for optimal health.
VIDEO: Gardasil – If A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words, Then A Video Report, Or Two, Or Three, Or SEVEN
MUST be worth an indictment, Right? Somebody going to jail? Or at least being arrested and tried for crimes against Humanity? Or at least the deaths of these People? Somebody needs to be held accountable…Rick Perry might know who those somebodies are.
Prescription Drug Deaths Now Outnumber Traffic Fatalities in U.S.
In 2009, drugs exceeded the amount of traffic-related deaths, killing at least 37,485 people nationwide. According to information provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the very pharmaceuticals that are prescribed to treat life-endangering conditions are now ending lives. The death toll is partially due to an increase in mental illness medication known as psychotropics, which have been criticized by health experts as being oftentimes unnecessarily prescribed.
| Science & Technology |
Man faces $675k in fines again for downloading music
A 2009 copyright case aimed at Tenenbaum found him responsible for a $675,000 verdict to be awarded to five record labels after he admitted to illegally sharing music online. The Obama administration has supported the fines of nearly $700,000 and have also taken the side of the appeals court in that Judge Gertner should not have questioned the constitutionality, reports Wired.
| Gardening, Farming & Homesteading |
USDA Seizes 1,000 Personal Lemon Trees, Threatens Fed Raid
Donovan never imagined that buying a simple lemon tree three years ago would come back to haunt her. The lemon tree was under a quarantine at the time of purchase but three years later, the USDA demanded seizure with tedious instructions for removal although there were no signs of disease. The original article made it sound as though Donovan was glad to comply but actually she protested the USDA’s intrusion. She was threatened with a search warrant and visit from the feds, if she did not comply! The USDA made 1,000 similar seizures.
Northeast Having A Pumpkin Shortage
If you live in the Northeast you'll want to buy your pumpkins early this year because they're going to run out fast, as we guessed last week. A rainy summer and flooding from Irene have ruined many pumpkin crops. Now that the official harvest has come in, it looks like instead of hunting for The Great Pumpkin, most people will just be hunting for "a" pumpkin.
As ranchers in drought areas sell cows, others buy
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — The drought in the Southwest may help 29-year-old Chad Bicker get to his goal of being a full-time farmer and rancher by the time he's 40. As farmers in Texas and other bone-dry areas sell cattle because they can't grow hay or afford to buy feed, Bicker has been buying animals for his farm in Illinois. Cattle experts in areas not affected by drought say they're seeing a lot of farmers like Bicker take advantage of rising beef prices and cattle sales in dry areas to expand their businesses. Beef prices have risen because of strong export demand from Asia and a relatively low supply in the U.S.
| Miscellaneous |
Finnegan the Squirrel
For about as long as she can remember, Debby Cantlon says, friends and strangers have brought her animals in need. So it wasn't much of a surprise when someo
