Feb 17, 2014: News Updates

*Possible radiation leak at New Mexico military nuclear waste site

Sun Feb 16, 2014 5:34am EST
(Reuters) - Unusually high levels of radioactive particles were found at an underground nuclear waste site in New Mexico on Saturday in what a spokesman said looked like the first real alarm since the plant opened in 1999.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/16/us-radiation-leak-newmexico-idUSBREA1F06Y20140216

Further info: http://removingtheshackles.blogspot.com/2014/02/radiation-leak-carlsbad-nm-nuclear.html

 Georgia jails former PM for corruption

Vano Merabishvili sentenced to five and half years in prison in a verdict that opposition dubs as government witch-hunt.
Last updated: 17 Feb 2014 14:22

A Georgian court has sentenced a former prime minister to five and a half years in prison for corruption in a verdict that opposition politicians branded as part of a government witch-hunt against its foes.

Vano Merabishvili was convicted on Monday of abuse of power and other crimes at the trial in the western city of Kutaisi, according to the Reuters news agency.


http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/02/georgia-jails-former-pm-corruption-2014217125232299241.html

"Off The Charts" How China Fooled The World

02/16/2014
China is now the second largest economy in the world and for the last 30 years China's economy has been growing at an astonishing rate, wowing the world, as spending and investment has been undertaken on a scale never seen before in human history - 30 new airports, 26,000 miles of motorways and a new skyscraper every five days have been built in China in the last five years. But as we (and Michael Pettis, George Soros, and Jim Chanos - among many others) have warned, it is all eerily reminiscent of what happened in the West... the vast majority of it has been built on credit. This has now left the Chinese economy with huge debts and questions over whether much of the money can ever be paid back (spoiler alert: it can't and it won't).

The BBC's Robert Peston travels to China to investigate how this mighty economic giant could actually be in serious trouble.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-02-16/charts-how-china-fooled-world

Ex-Barclays bankers charged with Libor rigging

By Mark Thompson  @MarkThompsonCNN February 17, 2014:
Prosecutors have charged three former Barclays bankers in connection with the rigging of global interest rates.

The U.K.'s Serious Fraud Office, which prosecutes complex cases of fraud, said Monday that it's started criminal proceedings against Peter Charles Johnson, Jonathan James Mathew and Stylianos Contogoulas in connection with manipulating the London interbank offered rate, or Libor.

http://money.cnn.com/2014/02/17/news/libor-barclays-charges/index.html?iid=SF_BN_Lead&hpt=hp_bn1

NATO seeks to capitalize power vacuum in CAR: Analyst

Mon Feb 17, 2014 6:40PM GMT
A political analyst says a huge power vacuum in the mineral rich Central African Republic is the root cause of many problems, warning that NATO seeks to capitalize mineral riches in the crisis-hit country.
“The country has uranium; they have gold; they have diamonds and they have other strategic minerals that are indispensable to the overall world economic system. And the US of course with their allies in NATO wants to control those resources in alliance with their partners on the African continent,” Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of Pan African News Wire, Detroit,

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/02/17/351132/nato-capitalizes-car-power-vacuum/





Feb. 16, 2014, 9:45 p.m. EST

Australian bourse set to offer yuan payments

MELBOURNE, Australia--Australia's securities exchange will offer a service settling trade in yuan as part of a venture with Bank of China Ltd., a further push by financial companies Down Under to tap rising capital flows between Australia and its biggest trading partner.
The settlement service will allow Australian companies to take or make payments with Chinese investment and trading partners through ASX Ltd.'s (ASX.AU) Austraclear market infrastructure.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/australian-bourse-set-to-offer-yuan-payments-2014-02-16-214854449?dist=markets

"Money Launderer Until Proven Innocent" - Italy Imposes 20% Tax Withholding On All Inbound Money Transfers

02/16/2014
While the propaganda surrounding Europe's "recovery" has reached deafening levels, what is going on behind the scenes is quite the opposite, and in the latest example that Europe is increasingly formalizing a regime of implicit capital controls, we learn that Italy has just ordered banks to withhold a 20% tax on all inbound wire transfers: a decree which on to of everything will apply retroactively to February 1. As Il Sole reports, "the deductions will be automatic (unless prior request for exclusion), and then it will be up to the taxpayer to prove that the money is not in the nature of compensation "income." In other words, as of this moment, but really starting two weeks ago, all Italians are money launderers unless proven innocent.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-02-16/money-launderer-until-proven-innocent-italy-imposes-20-tax-withholding-all-inbound-m




 Feb. 17, 2014, 12:55 a.m. EST

China's Goldleaf eyes Texas energy company

02/17/2014
SHANGHAI--A Chinese gold retailer said it plans to acquire a Texas-based oil and gas operator for at least $665 million, part of a strategy to diversify into overseas energy markets.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/chinas-goldleaf-eyes-texas-energy-company-2014-02-17-04855519?dist=countdown

Venezuela’s Maduro expels 3 US consular officials, alleging conspiracy

Published time: February 17, 2014 10:59
After days of protests led by students and opposition forces, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has ordered the expulsion of three US consular officials whom he accused of conspiracy and meeting students involved in anti-government protests.

http://rt.com/news/maduro-expels-conspiring-opposition-358/

Venezuela opposition leader on run amid rallies

Sun Feb 16, 2014 2:20AM GMT
Venezuelan opposition leader wanted for vandalism has been on the run as pro and anti-government rallies continue in the South American country.
Addressing thousands of supporters during a demonstration in the capital Caracas on Saturday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said a police operation is underway to arrest opposition leader Leopaldo Lopez.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/02/16/350895/venezuela-opp-leader-on-run/




 17 February 2014 Last updated at 18:35

Scottish independence: Currency union block could hurt firms, says Alex Salmond

Blocking an independent Scotland's ability to share the pound could damage business in the rest of the UK, First Minister Alex Salmond has said.

Mr Salmond said the UK Treasury could impose "hundreds of millions of pounds" in costs on firms if plans for a post-Yes currency union were rejected.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26220638

Matteo Renzi asked to form new government by Italian president

If mayor of Florence creates coalition that wins parliament's backing, he will become Italy's youngest prime minister
 Monday 17 February 2014 12.45 GMT

The Italian president, Giorgio Napolitano, asked the mayor of Florence, Matteo Renzi, to form a new government on Monday – the economically troubled country's third in two years.

If he can pull together a coalition that wins the backing of parliament, Renzi, 39, will become Italy's youngest ever prime minister.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/17/italian-president-matteo-renzi-mayor-florence-new-government

Harper drags Ottawa into political mud: Analyst

Mon Feb 17, 2014 6:42PM GMT
In an article published by Press TV on Monday, Eric Walberg criticized the Harper administration for granting a new identity and passport to an agent of the Israeli spying agency Mossad who had been involved in an assassination plot in 2010.
According to the analyst, “Issuing a fugitive Mossad assassin a new identity on a shiny new Canadian passport” is the latest “in a string of humiliating, criminal coincidences” happening in Canada during Haper’s term in office.   

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/02/17/351133/haper-policies-taint-canada-diplomacy/

Mt. Gox set to restart bitcoin withdrawals as price tumbles

February 17, 2014, 8:13 AM
Withdrawals from Mt. Gox should restart soon, the troubled bitcoin exchange said Monday, as the price of the virtual currency tumbled to fresh lows on the exchange.

That follows an announcement from Slovenia-based bitcoin exchange Bitstamp, which over the weekend said it had restored automatic withdrawals. It suspended moves last Tuesday due to a transaction malleability bug, which allowed hackers to create false transaction data.

The same flaw led to a halt of withdrawals at Mt. Gox site a week ago, kicking off a wave of fresh jitters over the virtual currency. Silk Road 2 was also hit by the bug, which cleaned out the Dark Internet site’s entire store of bitcoin, valued at $2.7 million.

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/thetell/2014/02/17/mt-gox-set-to-restart-bitcoin-withdrawals-as-price-tumbles/




Published time: February 17, 2014 12:18

Thai demonstrators cement gates of Government House

More than 10,000 opposition demonstrators encircled Government House on Monday to prevent the Thai prime minister from resuming her work. They cemented concrete blocks in front of one gate and blockaded the other with cemented sandbags, having heard that Prime Minster Yingluck Shinawatra intended to move back to the building. She has been forced to use a temporary office on the outskirts of Bangkok since anti-government protesters began an attempt to oust her late last year.

http://rt.com/in-motion/thailand-government-house-cemented-364/




Published time: February 16, 2014 15:58

Hundreds of Mexican women dance to protest violence

Hundreds of women danced in Mexico City's central square Saturday as part of the global "One Billion Rising for Justice" campaign, which aims to end violence against women. In Mexico, four in five women have experienced domestic violence, according to Andres Naime, who is coordinating the Mexico One Billion Rising for Justice campaign. According to its website, people from more than 200 countries have taken part in the campaign.

http://rt.com/in-motion/mexico-dance-women-campaign-268/




 14 February 2014 Last updated at 17:07

A Point of View: Why every household should have its own currency

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26169411

India To "Look Into" Easing Gold Price Controls

02/17/2014

Two weeks ago, gold jumped to a then-2014 high, following reports out of India that the head of India's Congress Party, Sonia Gandhi was pushing the government to cut its duty on gold and other restrictions. Today, now that the upward move in gold has finally resumed, it appears that the nation with the world's most draconian gold capital controls, is finally starting to crack under pressure from the people, as well as a surge in gold smuggling via illegal channels to unprecedented levels. Reuters reports that India "will look into relaxing gold imports curbs, but won't let its current account deficit (CAD) balloon, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said on Monday."

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-02-17/india-look-easing-gold-price-controls

Merkel's mirage: ‘This new old idea of a Schengen net is basically a step back’

Published time: February 17, 2014 14:50
The idea of the internet with borders means that national states will be able to put much more mass surveillance on their own people, Bruno Kramm from the Pirate Party told RT.
RT: What kind of future do you see for this proposal of Angela Merkel to create a pan-European communications network that would prevent private data from leaking across the Atlantic?

http://rt.com/op-edge/schengen-net-is-step-back-400/

Free Syrian Army fires military chief Selim Idriss as influence wanes

Western-backed forces blame Idriss for logistical failings as opposition rapidly loses ground to rival Islamist groups- Monday 17 February 2014 02.00 GMT 
 
The rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) said on Sunday it had fired Selim Idriss as its military chief, citing the “difficulties faced by the Syrian revolution” in its battle with the regime.

In a video broadcast on the internet, the rebel coalition said its military council had decided to replace Idriss with Brigadier General Abdel al-Ilah al-Bachir.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/17/free-syrian-army-fires-military-chief-selim-idriss

"Soros Put" Hits Record As Billionaire's Downside Hedge Rises By 154% in Q4 To $1.3 Billion

02/17/2014
A curious finding emerged in the latest 13F by Soros Fund Management, the family office investment vehicle managing the personal wealth of George Soros.

Actually, two curious findings: the first was that the disclosed Assets Under Management as of December 31, 2013 rose to a record $11.8 billion (this excludes netting and margin, and whatever one-time positions Soros may have gotten an SEC exemption to not disclose: for a recent instance of this, see Greenlight Capital's Micron fiasco, and the subsequent lawsuit of Seeking Alpha which led to the breach of David Einhorn's holdings confidentiality).

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-02-17/soros-put-hits-record-billionaires-downside-hedge-rises-154-q4-13-billion

91 million Americans aren't looking for jobs

By Annalyn Kurtz    February 10, 2014: 2:20 PM ET
The unemployment rate isn't always the best measure of the job market, because it only includes people who have actively searched for work within the last four weeks. Many Americans just aren't looking for jobs.
In fact, about 91 million adult Americans don't work, and aren't looking for jobs. They make up 37% of the population -- the highest level on record since 1978.

http://economy.money.cnn.com/2014/02/10/91-million-americans-arent-looking-for-jobs/?iid=HP_River

"Germany: About 15 million unemployed!

translation:
First, there are those who are in their first year of unemployment and therefore entitled to unemployment compensation: These are about 850 000 people. Approximately 4.4 million receive Hartz IV and about 1.7 million Social money. These are together almost exactly 7 million beneficiaries.

As the institution from this number the fabrications makes 2.8 million, that is - well, let's say, a bit strange.

But the other 7 million beneficiaries are still not nearly all the unemployed.
If we move further to the truth. Since there are still namely those related housing allowance, child allowance, basic security in old age and / or social assistance. The numbers are the institution not known, but it must also talk about millions be. If we count once for simplicity 1 million in that category, then so are the 8 million beneficiaries.
But that's not the whole truth. 3.8 million are "under-employed", according to information provided by the institution and because there are a different number of those who remained outside of the count: magnitude Moderately 800 thousand are housed in "action," so they do not pollute the unemployment figures.
So this brings us to a total of 12.6 million, which is wholly or substantially unemployed and receive benefits.
But there are also another category that can only be estimated, These are, as mentioned above, those who apply out of fear or shame, no benefits. The are (IAB) estimated to be about another 3.1 to 4.9 million people, according to the Institute for Labour Market and Occupational Research.
Thus we have a total number of unemployed in Germany from 15.7 to 17.5 million people speaking.
...If we count the total number of people in Germany with 80 million, so we have 19.6 to 21.9% unemployment. Actually, you should only count the working age population, which are only about 60 million, it is the percentage of unemployed in Germany 26 to 29%!

http://www.karl-weiss-journalismus.de/?p=1863

Qatar World Cup toll: ‘Hundreds’ of Indian migrant workers dead in two years

Published time: February 17, 2014 16:18

More than 450 Indian migrant workers in Qatar have died in the last two years, media revealed on Monday. Another upcoming report will show that 400 Nepalese have lost their lives scrambling to get the Gulf state ready for the 2022 World cup.

http://rt.com/news/qatar-world-cup-deaths-india-406/

Innu elder on last trek denied access to traditional lands

Respected activist Elizabeth Penashue not allowed to enter Muskrat Falls due to Nalcor work
CBC News Posted: Feb 17, 2014 2:34 PM ET Last Updated: Feb 17, 2014 2:34 PM ET

http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/innu-elder-on-last-trek-denied-access-to-traditional-lands-1.2538823

Feb 10, 2014: News Updates

Eurozone banks face £42bn 'capital black hole’

Government adviser Davide Serra says this year’s stress tests by European authorities are likely to find fresh problems in the eurozone banks.

Feb 10 2014

 Eurozone banks are facing a new capital black hole of as much as €50bn (£42bn), according to one of the UK’s most respected financial analysts.

Davide Serra, the chief executive of Algebris, who advises the Government on banking, said that this year’s stress tests by the European Banking Authority and the European Central Bank were likely to find fresh problems in the eurozone banks.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/10626225/Eurozone-banks-face-42bn-capital-black-hole.html

Barclays launches investigation after customer data leak

By Sarah Young
LONDON Sun Feb 9, 2014 6:05am EST
(Reuters) - Barclays said it had launched an investigation after a newspaper reported that the personal details of 27,000 customers had been stolen and sold, raising the prospect of new fines for the bank.

Confidential information on customers' earnings and health as well as passport details had ended up for sale, The Mail on Sunday reported, citing data provided to it by a whistleblower.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/09/us-barclays-data-idUSBREA1808020140209

EU to force Britons to publish details of wills and property

A bill being debated in Brussels would force UK citizens to disclose 'reams' of private, financial information on a public register - feb 10 2014

New legislation planned in Brussels is set to heap fresh costs and paperwork on families’ financial planning, as well as leaving their affairs open to unwanted public scrutiny. ...
...But officials in Brussels have widened out the proposals as the bill has evolved, to include trusts. The effect could be to force millions of families to compile elaborate accounts of their assets and financial arrangements including insurance policies, property and bequests made in their wills, for entry into a register. And that register, if legislators get their way, could be made available to any member of the public.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/10624818/EU-to-force-Britons-to-publish-details-of-wills-and-property.html

VSome European banks need to 'die in an orderly fashion’– new bank supervisor

Published time: February 10, 2014 11:14
Weak banks need to fail in order for the European Central Banks’ stress tests on lenders to be successful and credible, the new chair of the supervisory arm of the bank Daniele Nouy said. Only "good" banks with strong capital will survive.

“We have to accept that some banks have no future,” Nouy told the Financial Times (FT) in an interview published February 10, 2014. Nouy will serve a five-year term.

http://rt.com/business/eu-banks-die-nouy-347/

Fitch downgrades Ukraine to CCC rating

KIEV, Ukraine, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Financial assessment firm Fitch has dropped Ukraine's credit score to become the third of the three large credit rating firms to do so in the last week.


 http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2014/02/08/Fitch-downgrades-Ukraine-to-CCC-rating/UPI-30801391872740/#ixzz2sx8A1E00

Why You Shouldn't Trust Europe In One Simple Chart

02/09/2014 18:37 -0500
While China (or Russia) are held up as the world's most corrupt among developed nations among the status-quo-huggers, it would seem there are two other nations that dominate when it comes to getting caught. Europe paid more in fines  (in fact double the US and 10 times China) for price-fixing, bid-rigging, and other anti-trust abuses in 2013.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-02-09/why-you-shouldnt-trust-europe-one-simple-chart

Bitcoin Just Completely Crashed As Major Exchange Says Withdrawals Remain Halted

Feb. 10, 2014, 5:57 AM   
Bitcoin just completely fell out of bed. ...

http://www.businessinsider.com/mtgox-statement-on-withdrawals-2014-2

Bitcoin Flash Crashes, Drops By 80% In Seconds

 02/10/2014 08:2

Now that Bitcoin exchange Mt.Gox has terminally discredited itself following the latest, and likely last, withdrawal halt announced late last week which sent the value of Bitcoin tumbling by 25%, Bitcoin traders are left with just two exchange options on which to transact: BTC-e and Bitstamp. And for those using the former to buy and sell the virtual digital currency, things went from bad to worse a few short hours ago, when Bitcoin had its very own "Waddell and Reed" moment, when the price of Bitcoin cratered by over 80% in the span of seconds, after a modest block of just under 6000 Bitcoins sent the price plunging from over $600 to $102.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-02-10/bitcoin-flash-crashes-drops-80-seconds

Swiss tight ‘yes’ vote on EU immigration ends free movement within bloc

Edited time: February 10, 2014 10:00
Switzerland has voted 50.3 percent in favor of limiting annual migration from the EU, thus ending the policy of free movement within the bloc that was established in 2002.

Swiss voters narrowly decided that immigration quotas would be reintroduced, thereby overturning the free movement policy introduced in the European Union 12 years ago. Early results showed the country to be very divided in opinion over the 'Stop mass immigration’ initiative.

http://rt.com/news/switzerland-votes-immigration-cap-224/

British MPs want EU laws veto, Brussels slams UK on immigration

Published time: January 12, 2014 10:50

http://rt.com/news/eu-uk-immigration-policy-472/

NSA helps CIA assassination program with 'unreliable' tactic

The National Security Agency is using an “unreliable” method to locate targets for the US assassination program, resulting in the deaths of innocent or unidentified people, according to a report.
...The surveillance agency locates the potential targets using controversial metadata analysis and cell-phone tracking technologies, the drone operate and NSA employee noted.

One of the tactics is for the NSA to “geolocate” the SIM card or handset of a suspected target’s phone, enabling the CIA and/or the US military to conduct raids and drone strikes.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/02/10/350066/nsas-tracking-method-kills-civilians/

UK ‘borrowed’ US drones to carry out unreported strikes in Afghanistan

Published time: February 10, 2014 10:28
The UK has used American drones over 250 times to carry out previously unreported attacks in Afghanistan, the MoD has admitted. The reports prompted a sharp reaction from British rights groups who slammed the lack of transparency in the UK military.

In response to a freedom of information request by British rights group Drone Wars UK, the Ministry of Defense said it had launched 39 missile strikes from unmanned US craft in Afghanistan. This the first time the Ministry of Defense has admitted to the use of American craft in conflict zones to carry out strikes.

http://rt.com/news/uk-us-drones-strikes-320/

US to pump $300mn into Afghanistan to end ‘war economy’ – report

Published time: February 09, 2014 13:26

Washington will announce on Monday a massive aid package to Afghanistan, which it hopes will assist the war-torn country get back on its feet after 12 years of playing host to foreign troops, Reuters has learned.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) will announce three new development programs worth almost $300 million to wean Afghanistan off its 'war economy,' which is heavily subsidized today by opium exports – a trade that had been practically squashed while the country was under Taliban rule.

http://rt.com/usa/us-afghanistan-aid-package-272/

Lights Out for NSA? Maryland Lawmakers Push to Cut Water, Electricity to Spy Agency Headquarters

NSA nerve center in Fort Meade targeted by bill.  Feb 10 2014
 Eight Republicans in the 141-member Maryland House of Delegates introduced legislation Thursday that would deny the electronic spy agency “material support, participation or assistance in any form” from the state, its political subdivisions or companies with state contracts.

The bill would deprive NSA facilities water and electricity carried over public utilities, ban the use of NSA-derived evidence in state courts and prevent state universities from partnering with the NSA on research.

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/02/10/lights-out-for-nsa-maryland-lawmakers-push-to-cut-water-electricity-to-spy-agency-headquarters

China's gold demand tops 1,000 tonnes for first time

BEIJING/SINGAPORE Mon Feb 10, 2014 12:21pm IST
(Reuters) - China's gold consumption jumped 41 percent in 2013 to exceed 1,000 tonnes for the first time, an industry body said on Monday, as a sharp slide in prices attracted buyers for jewellery and bullion.

The demand surge has helped China become the No. 1 gold consumer and should support prices, which took a hit last year from expectations of a tapering of commodities-friendly economic stimulus by the U.S. Federal Reserve and a drop in demand in the other major buyer India.

http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/02/10/china-gold-idINDEEA1904M20140210

As China Orders Its Smaller Banks To Load Up On Cash, Is The Biggest Ever "Unlimited QE" About To Be Unleashed?

 02/10/2014 11:46 -0500

The Chinese new year may be over which following a last minute bailout of its insolvent Credit Equals Gold Trust product was largely uneventful, but already concerns about domestic liquidity are once again rising to the surface following reports that China’s banking regulator ordered some of the nation’s smaller lenders to set aside more funds to avoid a cash shortfall, which as Bloomberg notes signal rising concern that defaults may climb.
...Of course, the real panic will commence once the financial turmoiling shifts from the small banks to the big ones: "China’s five biggest state-owned banks and 12 national lenders controlled more than 60 percent of the nation’s 148 trillion yuan of banking assets at the end of 2013, according to CBRC data. Other financial institutions including 144 city commercial lenders, 337 rural banks and more than 1,900 rural cooperatives owned the rest."
Talk about "Too Big To Fail."

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-02-10/china-orders-its-smaller-banks-load-cash-biggest-ever-unlimited-qe-about-be-unleashe

UK bank standards body should be run by non-bankers - review head

LONDON Mon Feb 10, 2014

(Reuters) - A new standards body for British bankers should be led by people from outside the industry to establish its independence and credibility, the man tasked with setting it up said on Monday.

Britain's biggest banks pledged to set up the body last year after the industry was hit by scandals including the rigging of benchmark interest rates, breaches of anti-money laundering rules and the mis-selling of loan insurance and complex interest rate hedging products.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/02/10/uk-britain-bank-standards-idUKBREA191F520140210

Canada's trade deficit biggest in a year in December

Thu Feb 6, 2014 12:04pm EST
OTTAWA/TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's trade deficit jumped to the highest level in a year in December, a government report showed on Thursday, the latest in a series of disappointing economic figures that are expected to keep the Bank of Canada from raising interest rates this year.

http://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCABREA151H220140206

Better Markets sues Justice Department over JP Morgan settlement

Mon Feb 10, 2014 12:07pm EST


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The non-profit group Better Markets filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department on Monday to block what it called an "unlawful" $13 billion settlement with JP Morgan over bad mortgage loans sold to investors before the financial crisis.

The record settlement with the bank, which was reached in November, does not release JP Morgan from potential criminal liability over the mortgages it packaged into bonds.

But Better Markets said it was still appalled that the settlement gave the bank "blanket civil immunity" for its conduct without sufficient judicial review.

http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCABREA191ET20140210

REPORT: Top Chinese Regulator Personally Asked Jamie Dimon To Hire A Family Member

Feb. 10, 2014, 5:18 AM   
Reuters) - China's top insurance regulator directly asked JPMorgan Chase & Co <JPM.N> CEO Jamie Dimon to hire a family friend as a "favor", The New York Times reported, citing a confidential email

 http://www.businessinsider.com/report-top-chinese-regulator-personally-asked-jamie-dimon-to-hire-a-family-member-2014-2#ixzz2swOWjDeu

RBS CEO: We Sold Customers Things They Didn't Need, And We 'Literally And Metaphorically' Put Them At The Back Of The Line

49 minutes ago   
"In the rush for growth and profit, RBS forgot what banking is about. The bank valued least the people it should have valued most: its customers. We sold them products like PPI which many didn't need, and in some cases didn't know they had. Our customers often felt confused by language they found difficult to understand. We wasted their time with needless bureaucracy. We literally and metaphorically put them at the back of the queue."

 http://www.businessinsider.com/rbs-ceo-admits-bank-didnt-serve-its-customers-2014-2#ixzz2swR2vhlc

Netanyahu to talk curbs on Iran with Obama in Washington in March

JERUSALEM Mon Feb 10, 2014 11:20am
(Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has condemned a big power deal with Iran on its nuclear activity, said he would meet U.S. President Obama in Washington next month to further the goal of denying Tehran an atomic bomb capability.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/10/us-israel-usa-netanyahu-idUSBREA1914U20140210



 Feb. 9, 2014, 10:14 p.m. EST

Rich Chinese line up to leave China

Commentary: And why Hong Kong feels anxious

Wealthy Chinese mainlanders are voting with their feet in eye-popping numbers and preparing to emigrate — taking both their money and family with them.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/rich-chinese-line-up-to-leave-china-2014-02-09

Facebook’s Zuckerberg is top U.S. charitable giver of 2013

February 10, 2014, 8:35 AM

The largest beneficiary of the largesse of Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, was the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, which, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, leaped in 2013 into the ranks of the U.S.’s biggest foundations.

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/themargin/2014/02/10/facebooks-zuckerberg-is-top-u-s-charitable-giver-of-2013/

Rancho Feeding Corp. recalls year's worth of beef products

Feb 10 2014
A US food company responsible for distributing millions of pounds of diseased animal meat is recalling the products, officials said.

Rancho Feeding Corp., a Northern California company, recalled 8.7 million pounds of beef parts (3.95 million kg) for lack of full federal inspection and processing unhealthy animals, officials at the US Department of Agriculture said Saturday.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/02/10/350084/87-mn-pounds-of-beef-recalled-in-us/

NSA helps CIA assassination program with 'unreliable' tactic

The National Security Agency is using an “unreliable” method to locate targets for the US assassination program, resulting in the deaths of innocent or unidentified people, according to a report.
...The surveillance agency locates the potential targets using controversial metadata analysis and cell-phone tracking technologies, the drone operate and NSA employee noted.

One of the tactics is for the NSA to “geolocate” the SIM card or handset of a suspected target’s phone, enabling the CIA and/or the US military to conduct raids and drone strikes.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/02/10/350066/nsas-tracking-method-kills-civilians/

5th. Wall Street Banker Suicided: Taken Out To Prevent Forex Fraud Transparency ~ U.S. Being Drained.

February 9, 2014
Yesterday we reported that Steve Quayle’s banker source “V” has informed him that the recent rash of banker “suicides” are part of a hit list that includes dozens of bankers including warnings of a high level Citi executive
The banker hits are being done by the bad guys to keep men from singing after they flipped during prosecution investigation.
    All have been working with police teams and continental cops like Interpol.
the implications are that the US was only able to repatriate 5 tons of the Bundesbank’s gold reserves in year 1, and his overall view on the importance of the German gold repatriation request made a year ago, and Willie responded:
    - an entire process was triggered, to drain gold, to slam markets, with publicity given
    - it means the USFed and London and Paris were caught red-handed stealing German gold

http://politicalvelcraft.org/2014/02/09/5th-wall-street-banker-suicided-taken-out-to-prevent-forex-fraud-transparency-u-s-being-drained/

Frontrunning: February 10

02/10/2014 07:42 -0500

• Yellen's first test (Reuters)
• Let weak banks die, says eurozone super-regulator (FT)
• Yellen, Carney Face Explaining Policy as Benchmarks Near (BBG)
• Commerzbank Said Seeking Debt Buyers in $6.8 Billion Spain Exit (BBG)
• Junk Yield Premiums Soar on China’s Looming First Default (BBG)
• Millions Trapped in Health-Law Coverage Gap (WSJ)
• Mandel Tops Best-Earning Hedge Funds for Clients in 2013 (BBG)
• Swiss Brace for Sour EU Relations After Immigration Vote (BBG)
• Detroit Bankruptcy Talks to Resume (WSJ)
• Olympic Diva Shrugs Off Hotel Gripes to Sing Sochi’s Praises (BBG)
• Toyota to stop making cars in Australia from 2017 (Reuters)
• Alwaleed’s Kingdom Beats Buffett on Hidden Treasures (BBG)
• Traders Crying Over Losses Missing HSBC’s Bargains (BBG)
• How to save France (FT)

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-02-10/frontrunning-february-10