Sonntag, 9. August 2009

The 56 Trillion Dollar Deficit



Bill Maher Interviews Fmr. Comptroller General David Walker about the huge deficit in America.Source: YouTube(CNN) — The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act contains plenty to make lawmakers on the left and right shudder. On the right, it’s the apparent abandonment of free-market principles. On the left, it’s the absence of punishment for high-flying Wall Street CEO’s.Looking [...] continue reading the breaking news

Samstag, 8. August 2009

Secret White House memo endorsed waterboarding



A paper trail on the use of waterboarding and other controversial interrogation techniques by the CIA is emerging in the USThe Bush administration sent two secret memos endorsing the use of waterboarding against al-Qaida suspects, according to today’s Washington Post. They were prompted by worries within the CIA that the administration might later distance itself [...] continue reading the breaking news

Freitag, 7. August 2009

Smaller Banks Resist Federal Cash Infusions



Community banking executives around the country responded with anger yesterday to the Bush administration’s strategy of investing $250 billion in financial firms, saying they don’t need the money, resent the intrusion and feel it’s unfair to rescue companies from their own mistakes.But regulators said some banks will be pressed to take the taxpayer dollars anyway. [...] continue reading the breaking news

Donnerstag, 6. August 2009

Chicago mayor to shut down government for six days



CHICAGO (Reuters) - Facing a huge hole in Chicago’s current and upcoming budgets, Mayor Richard Daley announced on Tuesday a plan to partially shut down city government for six days.Along with several other measures, the mayor’s plan was aimed at saving $62 million for the city’s corporate or operating fund, which currently faces a $469 [...] continue reading the breaking news

Mittwoch, 5. August 2009

Unemployment to hit three million within a year as it rises at fastest rate for 17 years



Cuts: Unemployment rose by 164,000 in the three months up to August and could hit two million by Christmas as the credit crunch hits homeUnemployment could hit three million by the end of next year to levels not seen since John Major was in power as Britain battles recession, it was warned today.The rate [...] continue reading the breaking news

Dienstag, 4. August 2009

Whistleblower: Oil watchdog agency ‘cult of corruption’



HONOLULU, Hawaii (CNN) — Bobby Maxwell kept a close eye on the oil industry for more than 20 years as a government auditor. But he said the federal agency he worked for is now a “cult of corruption” — a claim backed up by a recent government report.Bobby Maxwell, a long-time auditor of the [...] continue reading the breaking news

Montag, 3. August 2009

Sonntag, 2. August 2009

Switzerland Bails Out UBS; Credit Suisse Raises Funds



Pedestrians walk past a branch of the UBS bank in Bern, Switzerland, on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008. Photographer: Adrian Moser/Bloomberg NewsOct. 16 (Bloomberg) — Switzerland gave UBS AG, the European bank with the biggest losses from the credit crisis, a $59.2 billion rescue and pushed Credit Suisse Group AG to raise funds, joining authorities around [...] continue reading the breaking news

Samstag, 1. August 2009

Afghan strike kills at least 18 civilians



The issue of civilian casualties is hugely controversialAt least 18 civilians have been killed in an air strike by foreign forces in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, reports say.A BBC reporter in the provincial capital Lashkar Gah saw the bodies - three women and the rest children - ranging in age from six [...] continue reading the breaking news