| World News |
Lawyer: Iran to release 2 jailed Americans today
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Two Americans jailed as spies in Iran will be released on Wednesday, their lawyer said, after the court approved a $1 million bail-for-freedom deal that cleared the way for the release of the men after more than two years in custody.
Israel Floats 'Interim Solution' To Palestinian Statehood Debate
Israel floated the possibility of an “interim solution” to allow the Palestinians to establish a state within existing borders in Gaza and the West Bank and deal with all the tough stuff later, reports CBS 2’s Marcia Kramer.
VIDEO: Obama sends more ground troops to Libya
WASHINGTON (AP) – Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the Pentagon has sent another dozen troops to Tripoli to help the State Department lay plans for reopening the U.S. Embassy.
USA building secret drone bases in Africa, Arabian Peninsula
The Obama administration is assembling a constellation of secret drone bases for counterterrorism operations in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula as part of a newly aggressive campaign to attack al-Qaeda affiliates in Somalia and Yemen, U.S. officials said.
Ex-Afghanistan president Burhanuddin Rabbani killed by 'turban bomb'
The former president of Afghanistan - a major figure who was leading peace talks aimed at ending the war - was killed in his home Tuesday by a suicide attacker wearing an exploding turban. Burhanuddin Rabbani died when he hugged his assassin, who triggered the bomb, officials said. The slaying threatened to destroy fragile hopes of ending the Afghan war with a negotiated settlement.
Greek Default Could Tip US Into Recession
Despite being more than 5,000 miles from Washington D.C., a default in Athens could trip up the global banking system just enough to tip the U.S. into a recession, investors and economists said. “Due to financial trading relationships and off-balance sheet exposure to European banks, the U.S. banking system will not go unscathed,” said Michelle Meyer, a Bank of America Merrill Lynch economist, in a note to clients Friday. “If the crisis in Europe escalates, it could be the shock that pushes the U.S. economy into recession
Israel PM departs for UN, says does not expect 'warm welcome'
Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at Likud conference, says has tried to approach Palestinian President Abbas several times for negotiations, to no avail.
Israel Has Dumped 46 Percent of Its U.S. Treasury Bills; Russia 95 Percent
Foreign ownership of U.S. government debt declined in July for the second straight month, according to Treasury Department data released Friday. Overall, foreign holdings of U.S. debt dropped from an all-time high of $4.5115 trillion in May to 4.4956 trillion in June and then to $4.478 trillion in July.
Palestinians: we are already recognized as a state by two-thirds of the globe
Almost two-thirds of the UN's member states – representing more than 75% of the world's population – already formally recognise the Palestinian state in some form, according to analysis by the Guardian.
Israel & Palestine: The Maps Tell The True Story
The following maps show what Israel has actually done. Photos and videos also included.
VIDEO: AIPAC conference - DON'T MENTION THE SPYING!
AIPAC conference 4th Jun 08.
Massive 750 Million Dollar U.S. Embassy In Iraq Will Expand Further As Soldiers Leave
The embassy compound is by far the largest the world has ever seen, at one and a half square miles, big enough for 94 football fields. It cost three quarters of a billion dollars to build (coming in about $150 million over budget).
OPEC's $1 Trillion Insurance Policy
Sept. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Saudi Arabia will spend $43 billion on its poorer citizens and religious institutions. Kuwaitis are getting free food for a year. Civil servants in Algeria received a 34 percent pay rise. Desert cities in the United Arab Emirates may soon enjoy uninterrupted electricity. Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries members are poised to earn an unprecedented $1 trillion this year, according to the U.S. Energy Department, as the group’s benchmark oil measure exceeded $100 a barrel for the longest period ever.
News Corp. Said to Pay $4.7 Million in Dowler Family Settlement
Sept. 19 (Bloomberg) -- News Corp.’s U.K. unit will pay 3 million pounds ($4.7 million) to settle claims that the News of the World tabloid hacked the mobile phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, a person with knowledge of the matter said.
U.S-Canada Perimeter Security and the Consolidation of North America
The U.S. and Canada are very close to unveiling a North American perimeter security deal that would promote greater integration between both countries. This includes expanding collaboration in areas of law enforcement and intelligence sharing which could dramatically affect sovereignty and privacy rights. While there is a need for more public scrutiny, incrementalism has been used to advance North American integration.
| U.S. News, Politics & Government |
What withdrawal? Obama wants $100 million prison in Afghanistan
While President Obama insists that the US will save $1 trillion over the next decade by pulling out of the Afghan War, he has devoted little time to discuss his plans to build a new prison in Afghanistan — at a cost of $100 million.
Drug cartels throw parties for US officials
Both Greg Gonzales and Wesley Dutton say they spent around 18 months working as informants for the Federal Bureau of Investigation along the US/Mexico border. It was there that they stumbled upon a slew of unjust activity carried out by of the big names in that part of America. Despite their findings, however, they tell the El Paso Times in Texas today that top-brass in the FBI won’t investigate their allegations.
Whistleblowers reveal tight-knit relationship between U.S. officials and drug cartels
The relationship between the global drug trade and the government of the United States of America is a long, complicated and irrefutable one. Some of the most infamous dealings that have come to light have involved the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and various drug trafficking rings throughout the world. However, it now appears that the CIA involvement in drug trafficking is just one aspect of an incredibly close relationship between so-called authorities in America and the drug cartels they pretend to fight.
VIDEO: Battle over First Amendment waged in San Francisco
Critics say BART has now violated four of five freedoms in the First Amendment: speech, assembly, petition and free press. San Francisco is already changing its policies, but the FFC is reviewing whether BART broke the law in shutting down its cell phone service.
Air Force Resends Grounded Stealth Fighters Into Action … Without Fixing Them
Four months after grounding its entire force of F-22 Raptors, the Air Force has cleared the roughly 170 high-tech stealth fighters to resume flying. Just one little problem: The brass still doesn’t know why a dozen Raptor pilots blacked out and one fatally crashed, prompting the May 3 no-fly order. Officials suspected the oxygen system aboard the $300-million, radar-evading superfighter. Ground crews starting up the jets in sealed, garage-like hangars might also have been a factor. After months of study, the Air Force still can’t say for sure.
Ron Paul Issues Open Letter to President Obama Concerning Cuts to Veterans` Benefits
"We have put our troops in harm’s way, and we must honor our promises. And, our troops have paid a heavy price these past ten years. Over 5,000 have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, 40,000 have seen crushing injuries, and hundreds of thousands more suffer from brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder."
GOP-led states change voting rules ahead of 2012
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- After years of expanding when and how people can vote, state legislatures now under new Republican control are moving to trim early voting days, beef up identification requirements and put new restrictions on how voters are notified about absentee ballots.
The List Of Congressional Representatives Who Took Trips To Israel
Do they represent you or Israel? Voters need to tell these men and women you cannot serve two masters. You must either serve America or serve Israel and the New York and London banks. You cannot serve us and them. You might also ask them when will they get around to forcing the Attorney General to arrest and convict the bankers who stole tens of trillions of dollars from us.
Major Synagogue in New York Occupied by Catholics
For the third time this year the Fifth Avenue Synagogue in upper Manhattan was invaded and occupied by parishioners from the nearby St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This disturbance made it impossible for the observant Jewish congregants to take part in pre New Year Selichot, special prayers for forgiveness.
Occupy Wall Street Photos
Cryptome photos, taken around Noon, 19 September 2011. Thank you Andy!
| Economy |
Nervous Breakdown? 21 Signs That Something Big Is About To Happen In The Financial World
Will global financial markets reach a breaking point during the month of October? Right now there are all kinds of signs that the financial world is about to experience a nervous breakdown. Massive amounts of investor money is being pulled out of the stock market and mammoth bets are being made against the S&P 500 in October.
GOP leaders: Fed should resist new stimulus
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In an unusual move, Republican leaders of the House and Senate are urging Federal Reserve policymakers against taking further steps to lower interest rates. On the eve of the Fed's two-day policy meeting, the leaders sent a letter to Chairman Ben Bernanke warning that the Fed's policies could harm an already weak U.S. economy.
Reid threatens gov't shutdown
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday there is a chance that the government could shutter at the end of this month. Criticizing House Republicans for the disaster relief provisions in their budget bill, Reid told reporters, "We're not going to cave on this." Reid, however, said, "I'm not that sure" there won't be a shutdown. He added, "I am not as certain as McConnell." Related article here.
VIDEO: IMF and Boehner both brace for recession
The latest report from the International Monetary Fund warns America that a double-dip recession could be very much a reality. In their just released six-month World Economic Outlook, the IMF cautions America that the global economy is currently “in a dangerous place” and could pose serious problems for the United States. As crippling conditions sweep across the globe, the IMF warns that another recession for the US shouldn’t be unexpected.
The Obama Tax Plan: Is Barack Obama Plotting To Use Class Warfare As A Tool To Win The 2012 Election?
Most of these tax increases would hit the wealthy, and Obama keeps insisting that it is time for them "to pay their fair share". Of course Obama knows that the Republicans will never go for this. You see, what is going on is that Obama is laying a trap. First, he laid out a 447 billion dollar "jobs plan" that contained all kinds of goodies for the poor and the middle class. Now he has introduced a massive tax plan which specifically targets millionaires in order to pay for it.
Former adviser defends Obama's decision-making
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A former White House economics adviser is backing the administration's denial of an assertion that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner ignored President Barack Obama's order to consider dissolving Citibank.
| Housing Market |
Housing starts drop underscores economic woes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New construction of homes fell more than expected in August, dragging on economic growth and keeping pressure on President Barack Obama to do more to help the sputtering economy. Housing starts dropped 5 percent, the most since April, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 571,000 units, the Commerce Department said on Tuesday.
New High: 37% Say Their Home Is Worth Less Than Remaining Mortgage Payments
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of 753 homeowners finds that 37% say their home is not worth as much as what they still owe on their mortgage. Forty-seven percent (47%) say the value of their home exceeds the amount left on their mortgage. But that’s down seven points from last month and is just two points above the all-time low of 45% in June.
| Energy & Environment |
Powerful Typhoon Roke hits Japan
BBC's Roland Buerk: "There are concerns that rain could force radioactive water into the sea". Typhoon Roke is on course to hit Fukushima, where engineers are still struggling to bring a nuclear plant under control after the March tsunami. There are concerns that rain could force radioactive water into the sea. Across Japan more than a million people were urged to evacuate their homes; an advisory was later lifted in one area but 330,000 people remain at risk. The typhoon made landfall on Wednesday afternoon (0500GMT) in Hamamatsu, scouring its way up the main island of Honshu, bringing high winds and torrential rain.
Update: CA Rep Issa to Investigate Obama’s Admin and Solyndra
Republicans claim they have emails showing the White House pressuring Department of Energy bureaucrats to hand out government loans. The White House has responded that nothing improper occurred. Related article here.
NWS: Many in Joplin ignored 1st tornado warnings
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Many Joplin residents either ignored or were slow to react to the first warning sirens about a massive and deadly tornado this spring, partially because of years of false alarms, the government said Tuesday.
Order barring Ecuador from collecting $18B vacated
NEW YORK (AP) -- A federal appeals court vacated an order Monday by a New York judge that barred an $18 billion judgment in Ecuador against Chevron Inc. for contaminating the Amazon. The three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had previously expressed skepticism that a New York judge could wield jurisdiction outside the U.S.
US scientists testing earthquake early warning
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- After years of lagging behind Japan, Mexico and other quake-prone countries, the U.S. government has been quietly testing an earthquake early warning system in California since February.
Typhoon Roke Nears Japan on Track for Leaking Nuclear Plant
Sept. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Typhoon Roke brought evacuation orders and fears of floods to Nagoya city in central Japan today as it approached the main island of Honshu on a course toward the crippled Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant. More than 1 million people in Nagoya have been advised to evacuate because of Roke and almost 80,000 have been ordered to leave due to flood risk, said Katsuya Kobayashi in the city's disaster prevention center.
| Health |
New Ron Paul Bill Would Restore Some First Amendment Rights for Supplement Producers
It’s the latest in a series of the candidate’s bills supporting health freedom and our access to natural health remedies. The Testimonial Free Speech Act, HR 2908, is a brief bill that would allow the dissemination of testimonials “containing a consumer’s actual perception of the mitigative, preventive, or curative properties of any food or dietary supplement based on the consumer’s experience with that food or dietary supplement.”
Perry and the Texas State Medical Board
The HPV vaccine is not the only issue which ties Governor Perry to special interests and “dirty deals” in medicine. Another scandal involves the Texas State Medical Board. Many people have wondered why the TMB has been able to harass integrative doctors so aggressively and in such an underhanded way. This too involves Perry quite directly.
VIDEO: OBAMASCARE: Dr. Dean predicts companies will drop private health coverage for employees
Former Democratic National Committee Chairman, and doctor, Howard Dean backed a McKinsey & Co. survey today that found that almost a third of private-sector employers will drop their employee health insurance coverage when Obamacare's government-managed insurance exchanges come online.
Vaccine Lobby Launches Gardasil Safety Hoax
In the aftermath of Rep. Michele Bachmann’s comments about the Gardasil shot causing mental retardation, vaccine lobbyists and the pharmaceutical-friendly establishment media have launched a new hoax claiming the vaccine is completely safe, despite the CDC’s own figures confirming over 18,000 cases of adverse reactions.
Five foods for healthy skin
(NaturalNews) Although the cosmetic industry would have us believe otherwise, beautiful skin doesn't come from a jar full of perfumed chemicals. Beyond being born with great genes, the best thing you can do for your skin is to eat a healthy diet. Learn how to enhance your skin from the inside out by eating foods that will make your epidermis glow with health. Try adding these foods to your diet to both feel and look better.
pH Food Chart
Alkalizing the body is probably the best thing that a person can do to ensure good health and well being. There is a direct relationship between a person's pH and the oxygen content of his blood, and a tiny change in pH can have dramatic effects upon a person's oxygen intake. An alkaline body pH will prevent diseases, and will cure existing ones by exponentially boosting a body's oxygen intake. As a general rule, pathogens and cancers cannot survive in an oxygen-rich, alkaline environment.
Increased vitamin D in blood adds years to life and helps prevent colon cancer
(NaturalNews) Just in case you needed more proof that low blood levels of vitamin D represent a significant health concern, researchers publishing in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition demonstrate that small increases in the sunshine vitamin can add precious years to your life. For nearly a decade scientific evidence has been mounting to show that the vast majorities of adults (and many children) are grossly deficient in circulating blood levels of vitamin D.
Essential First Aid Item: Activated Carbon
Activated carbon in powdered form should be in every medicine cabinet and first aid kit. It is also called activated charcoal. Activated charcoal is used around the world as a universal antidote for hundreds of poisons, including arsenic, mercury, pesticides, strychnine, warfarin, hemlock, E. Coli endotoxin, and petrol (gasoline).
Bioethicist challenges Bachmann on vaccine claim
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- A prominent bioethicist has offered $10,000 to charity if Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann can prove her claim that a vaccination caused mental retardation.
Calif. bill aimed at breast cancer worries docs
About 40 percent of women over 40 have breast tissue dense enough to mask or mimic cancers on mammograms, but many of them don't know it. Mammogram providers in California will be required to notify those patients, and suggest that they discuss additional screenings with their doctors based on their individual risk factors, if Gov. Jerry Brown signs a bill that the Legislature passed this month.
Real-time tracking of diseases improves diagnosis
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Today, hundreds of hospitals, clinics and health departments automatically report certain symptoms and diagnoses to the government. That practice has a wonky name - biosurveillance - but it's how officials track the spread of flu, detect the latest whooping cough outbreak, and watch for weird symptoms that might signal a brand-new
disease or even bioterrorism.
| Science & Technology |
UFO Sightings Ramp-Up As Government Plans Staged Invasion
There has been a recent rash of UFO outbreaks (sightings) across the United States, including heightened activity in and around Phoenix Arizona. The Intel Hub has had reports of black helicopters in several cities chasing UFO’s with strange beams of light, or possibly projecting them in a holographic fashion.
Russia, China, Tajikistan propose UN "code of conduct" for the 'Net
Quick show of hands: which four countries would you most trust to introduce a United Nations-backed “international code of conduct for information security” on the Internet? If your list included China, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, then you'll love the new code of conduct (PDF) introduced at the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week.
Smartphone on wheels for a fascinating ride in the back seat
FORGET ''I spy'' and hand-held video games, a team of developers is working on technology that will entertain little ones in the back seat with holograms controlled by motion sensors. Three-dimensional images are projected into the back seat to entertain passengers, who control the action with gestures rather than hand-held devices.
| Gardening, Farming & Homesteading |
Whose Side Is the USDA Really On?
Last week, USDA secretary Tom Vilsack gave a clear directive to his department’s new Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21): come up with a plan to compensate organic and conventional farmers whose crops become contaminated because of genetically engineered foods. Monsanto might now have to treat organic farmers fairly and pay them for the damage caused by the contamination? Or does the USDA actually have in mind a new protection scheme for Monsanto—a legal shelter that will limit Monsanto’s future monetary damages?
E. Coli Concern Prompts Washington Raw Milk Recall
Pride & Joy Creamery, a dairy farm in Eastern Washington state, has recalled its raw milk because it may be contaminated with E. coli, a bacteria that can cause serious illness, according to a news release issued by the state's Agriculture Department at the dairy's request. Tim Church, spokesman for the state's Health Department, told Food Safety News that since August, there have been four cases of children sickened with E. coli, possibly caused by raw milk. All of the children said they drank raw milk.
Second Go at Animal Disease Traceability Hits Bumps
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is experiencing a hailstorm of opposition to its new animal disease traceability system as the proposal reaches the halfway point in the comment period that ends November 9. If most of more than 160 comments sent to APHIS to date are any indication, the new plan is roughly as unpopular as NAIS was. "What part of 'NO' is beyond your comprehension?" asks Laura Richardson of Deer Lodge, TN. "This latest salvo from USDA is NAIS all over again."
Get Your Hands Dirty: 9 excellent blogs for beginning gardeners
There's something about getting your fingers into the soil, planting seeds, and watching as things magically start to grow. Whether you've got several acres to play with or plan on borrowing space from a gardening co-op like Hyperlocavore, you can find tons of gardening apps to help you get started.
| Miscellaneous |
A 'Mike Tawse Original' Thought For The Day - Make The Best Of Every Opportunity
From our good friend Mike Tawse in the UK.
Law Firm Investigating Animal Feed Flavoring Plant
Pet Food Flavoring, seen on labels as 'natural flavor', is another one of those little secrets of pet food manufacturing. An investigation by a law firm could provide us with a little more information as to what 'natural flavor' really is.
