Free Republic

Top China banker calls for U.S. sales of yuan bonds Sun Jun 7, 2009 4:06pm EDT By Martin Howell NEW YORK (Reuters) - A top Chinese banker on Sunday called on the U.S. government and the World Bank to sell yuan-denominated bonds in Hong Kong and Shanghai to encourage the development of debt markets in those centers and to promote the yuan as a major international currency.

Swine flu forces shutdown of Richardson school 03:09 PM CDT on Monday, April 27, 2009 WFAA-TV Staff RICHARDSON — Richardson Independent School District officials said Monday that Canyon Creek Elementary School will be closed for the rest of the week after one student tested positive for the swine flu virus.

http://www.housingwire.comMortgage Insurance Woes Grow for Fannie, FreddiePosted By PAUL JACKSONApril 2, 2009 11:03 amadvertisement Imagine paying full premium for an insurance contract, and receiving only 60 percent on any claim you make — that’s the unsavory situation now being faced by both Fannie Mae ([1] FNM: 0.7011 +3.10%) and Freddie Mac ([2] FRE: 0.76 +2.70%), as well as a bevy of private-market lenders, on their mortgage insurance contracts with troubled mortgage insurer Triad Guaranty Inc. ([3] TGIC: 0.265 +40.36%). The insurer, which put itself into run-off and ceased writing new mortgage insurance policies in the middle of last year,...

US unveils new $1.5 trillion plan US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has unveiled a comprehensive $1.5 trillion (£1.02 trillion) bank bail-out plan to beat the financial crisis. Under the plan, the size of a key Federal Reserve lending program will be expanded to $1 trillion [EM] from $200bn. In addition, a public-private investment fund of $500bn will be created to absorb banks' toxic assets. "Right now critical parts of our financial system are damaged," Mr Geithner said. "Instead of catalyzing recovery, the financial system is working against recovery, and that's the dangerous dynamic we need to change," he added. Leading...

Nothing here. Thank God FR is back. Anyone feel this way? Do we have any idea what caused it???

Monday, November 27 12:00 AM ET Los Angeles , CA - The MPAA is lobbying congress to push through a new bill that would make unauthorized home theaters illegal. The group feels that all theaters should be sanctioned, whether they be commercial settings or at home. MPAA head Dan Glickman says this needs to be regulated before things start getting too far out of control, "We didn't act early enough with the online sharing of our copyrighted content. This time we're not making the same mistake. We have a right to know what's showing in a theater." The bill would...

Nuclear war starting in 10 days? Such was the conclusion reached in the U.S. Russian generals and political scientists disagree only about its exact starting date. Our world is on the brink of another world war. It will originate August 22nd in the Middle East. The prediction was presented not by Vagna or Nostradamus but by an American political scientist Bernard Lewis in the acclaimed publication of Wall Street Journal. He is a man with close ties to the Bush administration as well as to the non-conservatives pushing for the radical solution of the “Iranian Threat.” Lewis believes it will...

Veterans Seek Billions in Data Breach Suit By Roy Mark June 6, 2006 WASHINGTON - Angry veterans aren't waiting for Congress to take action over the recent Veterans Administration loss of 26.5 million personal records of veterans. Tuesday afternoon, a coalition of veterans groups filed a class action lawsuit demanding the VA name those who are at risk for identity theft. The suit seeks $1,000 in damages for each person, a payout that could reach $26.5 billion. According to the lawsuit, the VA's loss of the records violated both the U.S. Privacy Act and the Administrative Procedure Acts. "It...

By Andrew Orlowski Published Thursday 9th September 2004 13:36 GMT P2P jail bill moves forward By Andrew Orlowski Published Thursday 9th September 2004 13:36 GMT HR.4077, the Piracy Deterrence and Education Act, has been approved by the United States' House Judiciary Committee. The bill specifies up to five years' jail for anyone making over a thousand copyrighted works available for download. That's if the infringer is profiting from the action: ordinary P2P users would face up to three years simply for making their collections available. Thwarted by the courts, copyright holders and their lobby groups, notably the Recording Industry Ass. of...

Chicks to break with country scene The Dixie Chicks say they don't want to be a country music band any more. Violinist Martie Maguire told Spiegel magazine: "We don't feel part of the country scene any longer, it can't be our home any more." She said she was disappointed other country singers didn't back up the Dixie Chicks in their criticism of George W Bush's politics on Iraq. "A few weeks ago, Merle Haggard said a couple of nice words about us, but that was it," Maguire complained. "The support we got came from others, like Bruce Springsteen." Going home...

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Taiwan boards N Korean ship Taiwan boards N Korean ship Taiwanese customs officers have boarded a North Korean freighter at the request of US intelligence authorities, reports say. The Taiwanese Central News Agency reports the US as saying the ship could be transporting illegal chemicals that could be used in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. Officials from Taiwan's Ministry of Finance and Customs Bureau (MFKCB) subsequently boarded the ship, which arrived in Kaohsiung Harbour on Thursday from Bangkok, Thailand. The Taiwanese newspaper Lien Ho Pao reported the US had urged Taiwan's National Security Council...

Good Morning. This is the Daily Thread of Operation Iraqi Freedom - LIVE THREAD. It is designed for general conversation about the events of the day. In depth discussion of events should be left to individual threads - but links to the threads or other articles is highly encouraged. This allows us to stay abreast of the situation in general, while also providing a means of obtaining specific information. Please have mercy on us dial up limited FReepers! Limit the big graphics, post links instead. A breif description of what the graphic is would help: Special thanks to null and...

Now that the gloves have come off and the IDF has pretty much just ground the PA HQ underfoot, does anyone care to speculate about the Dome of the Rock aka Al-Asqa? Some thoughts on this are twofold. One, Israel might just decide to strike while the iron is hot (destroy it on general principles IMHO unlikely) or attack the mosque if it is used as a point where palestinian gunmen start opening fire on Jews at the wailing wall. Two, what better way to totally enrage the Muslim world and enlist help for the Palestinians that if it were...

Previous article : Second Anthrax case in FL. CDC, FBI on scene. Bush notified Second positive test for anthrax foun Just spoke with the NEWS desk at WPEC NEWS 12 newsdesk ... here is what they know. They HAVE CONFIRMED that the second individual has TESTED POSITIVE for Anthrax in a nasal swab test so that he has been exposed. He is being treated with antibiotics They are testing the building. The number at the office is 1-800-310-WPEC. You can confirm it yourself by pressing option 2 at the prompt. Officials: Tests Show Presence of Anthrax in Second Florida Man ...

Previous article : Second Anthrax case in FL. CDC, FBI on scene. Bush notified Second positive test for anthrax found. Just spoke with the NEWS desk at WPEC NEWS 12 newsdesk ... here is what they know. They HAVE CONFIRMED that the second individual has TESTED POSITIVE for Anthrax in a nasal swab test so that he has been exposed. He is being treated with antibiotics They are testing the building. The number at the office is 1-800-310-WPEC. You can confirm it yourself by pressing option 2 at the prompt.

WEAKEST LINK HOST ANNE GETS U.S. GUN GUARD Minder ... Anne RobinsonPicture: REUTERS/Chris Haston EXCLUSIVE By DOMINIC MOHANWEAKEST Link host Anne Robinson is under armed guard in America amid fears for her safety. TV chiefs believe acid-tongued Anne, 56, could be targeted by nuts over her ruthless digs at contestants on the US version of her hit quiz show. And they have hired a gun-toting minder to protect her round the clock. A source at American TV network NBC revealed there are "serious worries" over Anne's safety following The Weakest Link's hugely popular US debut on Monday. Group need ...

Sub Commander Refuses Questioning   Sub Commander Refuses Questioning By Jaymes Song Associated Press Writer Monday, Feb. 19, 2001; 6:43 p.m. EST HONOLULU –– The commander of the U.S. submarine that sank a Japanese fishing vessel has refused to discuss the accident with investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board until the Navy completes its investigation, officials said on Monday. Click the above link to see this "Compost" article since we cannot repost full versions here

This goes to the tune of Old MacDonald Had a Farm Ole McGoron had a Farm Ee Ay Ee Ay Oh And on this farm he had some Dems Ee Ay Ee Ay Oh With some pork projects here And some pork projects there Here a pork There a pork everwhere some pork pork Ole McGoron had a Farm Ee Ay Ee Ay Oh Ole McGoron had a Farm Ee Ay Ee Ay Oh And on this farm he had some votes Ee Ay Ee Ay Oh With some voter ballots here Some voter ballots there Here a ballot There ...

Barak resigns, triggering election Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, under fire for failing to quell a Palestinian uprising, said he was ready to hold a snap general election to choose a prime minister and parliament. "You want elections. I am ready for elections, general elections for prime minister and the Knesset (parliament)," he told parliament in a speech broadcast on television. "The date will be decided in the coming days in coordination between parties." Barak was elected in May 1999 for a four-year term but has been under a barrage of criticism over his handling of peace talks with ...

For those who don't have time to watch the presidential debate, someone has prepared this transcript of what will be said: Jim Lehrer: Welcome to the second presidential debate between Vice President Al Gore and Gov. George W. Bush. The candidates have agreed on these rules: I will ask a question. The candidate will ignore the question and deliver rehearsed remarks designed to appeal to undecided women voters. The opponent will then have one minute to respond by trying to frighten senior citizens into voting for him. When a speaker's time has expired, I will whimper softly while he continues ...