Thursday, February 05, 2009

Stimulus Bill's Price Tag Approaches $900B as Obama Stands by Feb. 16 Deadline
$900,000,000,000.00

Cops look to identify people following riot

Army Brigades Train for Homeland Security Mission

Obama administration keeps Bush official involved with Iran sanctions

Eni Makes New Hydrocarbon Discovery In Gulf Of Mexico

Mariner Energy Announces Three Discoveries in the Gulf of Mexico

Obama: 'I screwed up' on Daschle appointment

Protests Stop New York Mayor Bloomberg's Speech

14 cited for trespassing during coal mine protest

Kentucky Governor Raises Storm Death Toll To 55

Ice Storm Leaves Over Quarter Million Without Power in Kentucky

Bitter cold settles over southeast U.S.

Obama Declares Major Disaster in Kentucky Over Ice Storm
Only after a week and a half and more than 50 dead.

Fire burns through roof of iconic Chicago church

Riot heavily damages West Texas prison

Car Explosion Wounds Arkansas Medical Official

Border-Fence Project Hits a Snag

FBI says New Mexico man sent hoax powder mail after collapse of Washington Mutual

American Thinker: Obama may become a disaster
May become? Already is.

US Treasury in plans for record debt sale
As if foreign powers didn't own enough of our debt.

Obama seeking deep nuke cuts with Russia
U.S. President Barack Obama is seeking to slash the nuclear stockpiles of the United States and Russia by as much as 80 percent, sources say.

Gross Says U.S. Must Spend to Avoid Mini Depression
Yeah, 'cause it worked do well last time.

Political Punch: Today's Qs for O's WH -- 2/5/09
ROTFL! In fact, watch it on YouTube.


Fannie Mae to Loosen Rules for Home-Loan Refinancing

Feb. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Fannie Mae, the mortgage-finance company under U.S. government control, will loosen rules for homeowners seeking to lower their loan payments by refinancing.

Fannie Mae will drop some credit-score requirements, reduce income-documentation standards and waive the need for appraisals in some cases, according to a notice yesterday to lenders posted on the Washington-based company’s Web site. The changes apply to loans that the company owns or guarantees.

So, basically, they're going to do the same thing that got us in this mess in the first place--lending money to people without making sure they can pay it back.

This is way beyond mere incompetence.


None of which is surprising if you've read the Book-- it's all written there.

The best way to beat out the world is to stay in the Word.


*****
Brazil c.bank says dollar auction call was test

Cuban president very satisfied with Moscow's $354 mln

Mexico launches effort to teach its students English

Ecuadoran man with $2M detained in Mexico

36 people die in Mexico due to cold weather

Brazil’s Industrial Output Plunges Most in 17 Years

Colombia’s FARC Frees Jara Held Almost Eight Years

Former general becomes casualty in Mexico drug war

Bolivia leader to visit Russia, sign Gazprom deal

Brazil ups infrastructure spending by 142 bln reais




Zimbabwean currency reduced by trillion to one

Somali pirates seeking 6 million dollars for German ship

Money feud leaves two Somali pirates dead

Madagascan armed forces say 76 killed, 86 injured in riot

Zimbabwe cholera cases up to almost 65,000: WHO

New Somali leader feted in capital of former enemy

Ethiopia’s Meles Warns Crisis May Cause African States to Fail

High returns expected from Africa’s lowest point

Somali pirates free another Turkish cargo ship, crew safe


Belgium, DR Congo agree to reopen consulates

WHO: Ebola virus outbreak in Congo stabilized

Fear grows in Congo: There will be blood

Uganda Army Rescues 119 Civilians Abducted by LRA

Piracy, high charges force shippers out of Suez route

Mwana Africa May Return to Profit on New Zimbabwe Bullion Rules

Missing UAE ship feared seized by pirates off Somalia

Aid group slams UN after Ugandan rebels kill 900

Gunmen abduct wife of former OPEC President, Daukoru

Somali pirates 'free arms ship'

Zimbabwe Judge Refuses To Consider Bail Request For Rights Activist Mukoko

Zimbabwe's False Hope



Greek Farmers Clash With Riot Police

Governments growing nervous at increased social tensions

Germany Pushes for Gas Pipeline with Russia

Gazprom Neft wins FAS fine appeal

Can Europe Be Taken Hostage by Russia’s Natural Gas Supply?
YES.

Russia denies Ukraine gas system move

China condemns 'despicable' British shoe protest

Waitrose's delivery company goes Islamic
What could be more middle England than Waitrose? So it was intriguing to learn that the delivery company most closely associated with it - Ocado - has accepted a 10 million investment from the Bank of London and the Middle East BLME, which advertises itself as shariaa compliant.

Russia, Belarus vow to step up economic integration efforts

Ukraine and Romania to get ruling on oil-rich waters

Petrom: We are going after a big fish in Black Sea exploration with Exxon

Bulgaria wants guarantees in new Russia gas deal

RTS: Gazprom and Slovenia might discuss South Stream this month

Police Clash With Greek Farmers for Second Day

Helicopter crash kills three in Russia

Arms control to start U.S.-Russia thaw
Goes back to the Obama 80% reduction talk.

Snow continuing to close schools

Calls for Pope to Resign, Accused of Allowing Holocaust Denial
Benny got some 'splainin' to do.

Jewish Center in Amsterdam Attacked, No Injuries

The Purposed Turkmenistan-Russia Planned Gas Pipeline Will Be a Direct Competition to the Nabucco Pipeline Project
Duh.

Poland to end 3 military missions to save money

Russia ponders $33 bln help for banks - paper

Russia says it wants to help US in Afghanistan
'Help'. Ha ha.

Pan-European Oil Pipeline in doubt -Croatia's Janaf

Gazprom sees haste on Nord Stream

Crisis Proves Convenient As Russia Seeks To Restore Control Over Industry
It's 'convenient' here, too.


CSTO: joining forces in a crisis

MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti military commentator Ilya Kramnik) - The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is gradually transforming itself into a full-blooded military set-up.

A key factor here has been the decision taken just now at the organization's Moscow summit to set up a collective rapid-response force to help bloc members to repulse aggression or in an emergency.



NHS staff face sack if they discuss religion

The Big Freeze Part II: Thousands of schools shut and drivers stranded... and there's more to come




Iraq still receiving ballots

Iraq says captures woman who trained female bombers
Iraq's 'female bomber recruiter'
She also explained, in a separate interview with the Associated Press, how insurgents used rape as a tool, with the "shamed" women persuaded to redeem themselves through suicide attacks.

Revival of Iraq National Oil Co 'key to output boost'

Lebanon's Daily Star is back on newsstands

Martin to visit Syria, Lebanon and UAE this week

BNP sees big growth in Sharia business

Turkish president expects to boost ties with Saudi Arabia
Gul Meets with King Abdullah as Turkey Seeks Saudi Investments

Turkey still ready to seek Mideast peace: Erdogan

Turkey's PO buys gas production rights from Toreador

Turkey, India and Israel Plan Oil Pipeline to the Red Sea

S. Korea Seeks Ties With Syria

Senator says Iran may want to swap for missing ex-FBI agent

US cmdr: Iran still supporting extremists in Iraq

U.S. brands anti-Iran Kurdish group terrorist

Sudan seeks Turkey's support in UN Security Council to save al Bashir

Can Obama Break Turkey's EU Impasse?

Turkey joins forces with Syria for tourism

Iranian president invited to Gaza ceremony in Syria

British Council suspends operations in Iran after local staff 'intimidated'
UK culture body halts Iran work

Washington to rethink policy within six weeks

Hamas official to 'Post': Deal likely this week

Ancient jar burials discovered near Persian Gulf coast

FM: Iran not to hold talks with U.S. in Munich conference
Until they say they will.

Cyprus awaits UN decision on suspect Iran ship

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Arabs tell Iran to stop interfering

Iran's missiles: Don't go ballistic
Apparently the CFR thinks we shouldn't worry. And that worries me even more.

Mounting water scarcity stirs old feud in Bekaa town

Expert: Damascus to remain without water this year

Russia plans to start up Iran nuclear plant in 2009


End part one.

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