[Iran PressTV] - A 16 kilo consignment of cocaine that Mexican narcos recently lost has turned up in an unlikely place - the United Nations ...boodling on the grand scale... in New York.
Police and UN officials Thursday described how two fake UN bags containing the drugs - which experts said had a street value of about $2 million - set off a security alert when they were delivered, apparently by accident, to the global body's headquarters.
The bags, which had the UN symbol printed on them, were shipped from Mexico through the DHL delivery company's center in Cincinnati, Ohio, Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne of the New York Police Department told AFP.
But the bags had no address on them, nor any return to sender details.
"It is my understanding that because there was no addressee, the DHL just thought well that's the UN symbol so we should ship it on to UN headquarters and let them figure out who it was supposed to go to," Browne said.
*boggle*
But the two UN bags were "obvious fakes" and were quickly intercepted by security staff when they arrived on January 16. The bags contained about 14 hard cover books which had been hollowed to create space for the cocaine.
"The working theory now is that possibly it was never meant to have left Mexico at all," the deputy commissioner said, adding that the bags were "a bad fake."
"Somebody in Mexico is probably in trouble now having let a significant amount of cocaine out of their possession," he added.
An angry mob beat to death a suspected robber in Chirirbandar upazila of Dinajpur early Thursday.
The link actually has a map to show you where Dinajpur is. I sure as heck wouldn't have found it.
The robber could not be identified immediately, reports our Dinajpur correspondent.
Likely because he was beat to death...
Tariquel Islam, officer-in-charge of Chirirbandar Police Station, said a gang of around 25 machete-wielding masked robbers entered the house of Golak Chandra Roy, a farmer of Shahapara village, around 1:30am when a member of his family went out of his room to respond to the call of nature.
Holding the family members hostage, the robbers beat three of them and looted valuables worth Tk 5 lakh from the house.
Hearing screams of the victims, locals cordoned off the robbers and managed to catch one of them as they were fleeing. They gave him a good beating.
The critically injured robber was rushed to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital where duty doctors declared him death, the OC added.
The looted valuables include Tk 20,000 in cash, gold ornaments and two cell phones, the OC said quoting family members.
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01/27/2012 00:00 ||
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Fiery former Australian fast bowler Rodney Hogg continues his habit of over-stepping the mark. Hogg's attempt at humour on Twitter during Australia Day celebrations yesterday enraged the Muslim community and forced a swift retreat by the 60-year-old test cricketer turned corporate speaker.
He tweeted, "Just put out my Aussie flag for Australia Day but I wasn't sure if it would offend Muslims ... So I wrote 'Allah is a sh*t' on it to make sure."
Hogg had to apologise twice on Twitter after his initial explanation caused as much controversy as the offending tweet, which was deleted after several hours.
Hogg did not return calls from the Sydney Morning Herald but texted, "Very bad attempted Aussie humour. My apologies for offending. that is all I wld like to say."
A similar explanation on Twitter enraged many and led to a second apology. Hogg tweeted, "My sincere apologies to the Muslim community. A stupid tweet by me in very bad taste."
Ikebal Patel, the president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, called the remark "absolutely despicable" for a person of Hogg's standing. Patel said, "For him to say such things is more than despicable, it's the pits really. It's not at all humorous. If that's the level of his humour then God help him."
Fitch Ratings has resolved the Negative Rating Watch on six Eurozone sovereigns, downgrading the IDRs for Belgium, Cyprus, Italy, Slovenia and Spain while affirming ratings for Ireland. Greece was previously downgraded. Surprised they didn't do it again.
The Negative Outlook on all six countries indicates a slightly greater than 50% chance of a downgrade over a two-year time horizon. More to come. Stay tuned. The solutions put forward so far by the European Central Bank for 'long-term' financing of the debt aren't working. Perhaps the world finance community doesn't believe Greece will start pulling its weight.
The rating actions on the long-term (LT) and short-term (ST) Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) are as follows:
Belgium LT IDR downgraded to 'AA' from 'AA+'; Negative Outlook
Cyprus LT IDR downgraded to 'BBB-' from 'BBB'; Negative Outlook
Ireland LT IDR affirmed at 'BBB+'; Negative Outlook
Italy LT IDR downgraded to 'A-' from 'A+'
Slovenia LT IDR downgraded to 'A' from 'AA-'; Negative Outlook
Spain LT IDR downgraded 'A' from 'AA-'; Negative Outlook
All the ratings have been removed from RWN, with the Negative Outlook on all six countries indicating a slightly greater than 50% chance of a downgrade over a two-year time horizon. The eurozone 'AAA' country ceiling has been affirmed for all six sovereigns. All senior unsecured issues of the six countries are affirmed in line with the new rating levels above. The ratings of guaranteed issuance by National Asset Management Ltd. are affirmed at 'BBB+' and 'F2' in line with the Irish IDRs.
Today's rating actions balance the marked deterioration in the economic outlook with both the substantive policy initiatives at the national level to address macro-financial and fiscal imbalances.
As outlined in its rating review press release of 16 December 2011, Fitch has now considered both systemic and country-specific factors for these six sovereigns. As a result, the agency has reduced the score it assigns to capture financing flexibility in its assessment of the credit profiles of eurozone sovereigns that have large fiscal financing needs and significant financial/economic imbalances.
Moreover, rising "home bias" in the allocation of capital, the divergence in monetary and credit conditions across the eurozone, and near-term economic outlook highlight the greater vulnerability to monetary as well as financing shocks faced by these sovereign governments. Consequently, these sovereigns do not, in Fitch's view, accrue the full benefits of the euro's reserve currency status. The net impact of this revision under Fitch's sovereign rating methodology is to lower the long-term ratings of the affected sovereigns by one notch. Simply said, Euro-zone solutions aren't working because the raters don't trust that all the Euro-zone countries will share in the solution.
This one-notch revision was applied to Belgium, Italy, Slovenia and Spain, but not to Cyprus and Ireland, where their loss of market access had already been demonstrated by their need for official/bilateral support and is already reflected in their low investment-grade ratings. The downgrade for Cyprus, and the additional one-notch cuts for Italy, Spain and Slovenia (ie a total of two notches for each) reflect country-specific concerns primarily related to the banking sector in Cyprus and Slovenia; an adverse shift in the interest-rate growth differential and hence public debt dynamics in Italy; and a significantly worsened fiscal and economic outlook in Spain. A more detailed rating rationale can be found in six separate country specific press releases also being published shortly.
Overall, today's rating actions balance the marked deterioration in the economic outlook with both the substantive policy initiatives at the national level to address macro-financial and fiscal imbalances, and the initial success of the ECB's three-year Long-Term Refinancing Operation in easing near-term sovereign and bank funding pressures. Nonetheless, the intensification of the eurozone crisis in the latter half of last year undermined the effectiveness of ECB monetary policy and highlighted the financing risks faced by eurozone sovereign governments in the absence of a credible financial firewall against contagion and self-fulfilling liquidity crises.
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01/27/2012 14:04 ||
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#1
When will they just declare the EU as it is simply won't work and end this?
Fitch just cut the long-term issuer ratings of 5 EU countries:
Belgium: AA+ to AA
Spain: AA- to A
Italy: A+ to A-
Cyprus: BBB to BBB-
Slovenia: AA- to A
It affirmed Ireland's BBB+ rating with a negative outlook.
Borrowing costs have been sinking for these countries latelyparticularly for Italy and Spainafter the European Central Bank announced liquidity support measures in early December that have lessened mounting worries about the health of the banking system.
Real GDP increased 1.7 percent in 2011 (that is, from the 2010 annual level to the 2011 annual level), compared with an increase of 3.0 percent in 2010. Don't worry, it will be revised downward...
The increase in real GDP in 2011 primarily reflected positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures (PCE), exports, and nonresidential fixed investment that were partly offset by negative contributions from state and local government spending, private inventory investment, and federal government spending. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased. Talk about complete stagnation for an economy.
The rule of thumb used to be that 2% growth was needed to increase employment as fast as labor force growth. Given the aging of the population, most people think that about 1.6-1.9% would probably do it.
Of course as you imply, this recovery has been a weak one, weaker than any since the current method of sampling households and the current method of defining recessions were established.
Posted by: Lord Garth ||
01/27/2012 13:22 Comments ||
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#5
Given the ongoing & severe devaluation of the dollar, giving a value to GDP growth or shrinkage is utter guesswork.
My little town is looking worse year by year, though.
Real GDP increased 1.7 percent in 2011 (that is, from the 2010 annual level to the 2011 annual level), compared with an increase of 3.0 percent in 2010.
The increase in real GDP in 2011 primarily reflected positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures (PCE), exports, and nonresidential fixed investment that were partly offset by negative contributions from state and local government spending, private inventory investment, and federal government spending. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased.
Republican leaders of the House Financial Services Committee are seeking assurances from the Obama Administration that U.S. taxpayers will not bear the burden of bailing out debt-ridden European governments.
In a letter sent Wednesday to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Chairman Spencer Bachus, Vice Chairman Jeb Hensarling and the chairmen of the Committees six subcommittees ask for confirmation that the Administration will not use taxpayer funds to subsidize Europes financial programs through additional contributions to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The IMF has requested up to $500 billion to respond to the Eurozone debt crisis. The U.S. is the IMFs largest member country.
The European Union includes four of the ten wealthiest countries in the world. European countries have the ability to implement austerity measures to reduce their countries debt over the long term and they also have the means to restore confidence to markets, Chairman Bachus and the other Committee Republicans said.
#2
The article is a bit difficult to read because of poor translation from German to English. It is not clear whether the entrepreneur is providing taxis with female drivers for the female passengers, that they be properly segregated from all non-family member males. After all, it is by unsegregated chance meetings with members of the opposite sex that affairs are started, breaking up the family, as our hero so properly explains.
#4
Young Mr Reid is providing a ride-sharing brokerage service. The extra service is guaranteed compliance with islamofascistic(*) gender apartheid.
Non muslims are free to participate but they will be subjected to Da'wa.
Money quote: "Meine Fürsorge ist auch islamisch bedingt: Wir Muslime passen untereinander auf uns auf, wir sind Geschwister im Glauben und unterstützen uns gegenseitig."
"My care is informed by Islam as well: We Muslims are supervising each other, we are siblings in faith and we're supporting each other."
Translation note: "aufpassen" has a connotation of "giving care" e.g. for children and dependents.
Given that he's talking about a business transaction between adults, "aufpassen" would be an inappropriate choice, unless Saudi style religious police services were included in the deal.
(*)The tone of his statement/choice of vocabulary is typical for islamofascists. He comes off like Nidal Hasan in his powerpoint presentation stage.
Arab engineering students in Hamburg turning to islamofascism... What could go wrong?
</sarc>
The Federal Court of Canada said the secretary of a Buddhist temple in Chittagong, Bangladesh needs the country's protection from "government goons" and a "militant Muslim faction" in his homeland, chastising refugee officials for trying to send him back.
Ruptanu Barua was active in protecting Buddhist rights in his homeland before fleeing to Montreal, where he claimed asylum. He was not involved in politics; he was merely a member of a religious minority, the court heard.
Canadas Immigration and Refugee Board believed Mr. Baruas testimony of persecution he suffered as an active Buddhist in Chittagong and his fear of continued danger.
#1
Not really. Repainting vehicles is a huge cost and a pain in the butt. Most of the armored vehicles in GWI were green and never painted. With all the fighting in the desert, almost every unit has some beige vehicles, but the standard is green camo.
Film star Liam Neeson is considering dumping his Catholic faith to become a Muslim. The actor admitted Islamic prayer had "got into his spirit" while filming in Istanbul. He said, "The call to prayer happens five times a day and for the first week it drives you crazy, and then it just gets into your spirit and it's the most beautiful, beautiful thing.
"There are 4,000 mosques in the city. Some are just stunning and it really makes me think about becoming a Muslim."
"It's aesthetically pleasing, so ... what the hell?"
Liam was raised in Northern Ireland as a devout Catholic but the star -- whose wife Natasha Richardson died aged 45 in a skiing accident in 2009 -- has spoken about his struggles with faith.
He said, "I was reared a Catholic but I think every day we ask ourselves, not consciously, what are we doing on this planet? What's it all about? I'm constantly reading books on God or the absence of God and atheism."
Neeson caused controversy in 2010 after claiming Narnia lion Aslan -- voiced by him in the movies -- is not based on Christ as CS Lewis had claimed but in fact all spiritual leaders including Mohammed.
#9
for an individual that "struggles with faith" I'd suggest he steer clear of THAT religeon unless sheeprear justice in dealing with lazy believers also makes him romanticise.
F---ing douche
#14
"There are 4,000 mosques in the city. Some are just stunning and it really makes me think about becoming a Muslim."
Step two: Become a Jihadi
Step three: Wonder what it's like to be a suicide bomber.
#17
He doesn't use the term "revert," so he must think it's the same old standard Judeo-Christian stuff dressed up in exotic Eastern clothing. Just another option when forum-shopping, like Buddhism or Kabbalah or Scientology. How adorably retarded. Hopefully someone with an IQ above room temperature will talk him out of it, or he may be in for an unpleasant surprise.
#19
On the other side of the mental universe, Drew Barrymore announced she is in the process of converting to Judaism, aided by her dear friend Adam Shandler. Life's a funny old thing...
#20
The standard gaudy announcement: "Ya'all are ignorant rubes. I, however, am discerning and intelligent..."
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
01/27/2012 13:06 Comments ||
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#21
I remember when the boxer Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali. I was just a kid then but I wondered why, when you have a name as cool as Cassius Clay, would you want to change it? But then, nobody every accused Ali of being the sharpest tool in the shed.
#27
RandomJD, the really nice thing is that Ms Barrymore, having learnt a few things while growing up, will do a really good job of raising her little Jews and Jewesses -- quite unlike her ancestors. Whereas Mr. Neeson is highly unlikely to do much in that direction, as children do so interfere with the beauty of such a spirit.
Film star Liam Neeson is considering dumping up his Catholic belief to become a Muslim. The actor admitted Islamic prayer had "got into his spirit" while filming in Istanbul. He said, "The Call to Prayer happens five times a day and for the first week it drives you crazy, and then it just gets into your spirit and it's the most beautiful, beautiful thing.
"There are 4,000 mosques in the city. Some are just stunning and it really makes me think about becoming a Muslim."
Liam was raised in Northern Ireland as a devout Catholic but the star whose wife Natasha Richardson died aged 45 in a skiing accident in 2009 has spoken about his struggles with faith.
He said, "I was reared a Catholic but I think every day we ask ourselves, not consciously, what are we doing on this planet? What's it all about? I'm constantly reading books on God or the absence of God and atheism."
Neeson caused controversy in 2010 after claiming Narnia lion Aslan voiced by him in the movies is not based on Christ as CS Lewis had claimed but in fact all spiritual leaders including Mohammed.
PORT MORESBY: Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter ONeill said on Thursday a military mutiny in the Pacific Islands nation was over and the government had regained full control of its military barracks, ending a dramatic day in the countrys ongoing political crisis.
Soldiers loyal to former Prime Minister Michael Somare staged a mutiny earlier in the day, putting the military commander under house arrest and demanding ONeill reinstate Somare as the leader of the resource-rich South Pacific country.
But ONeill told reporters in the capital Port Moresby that military commander had now been released and the rebel soldiers had withdrawn to their barracks.
The commander is now released, hes not under house arrest. And as a result the government has taken full control of the defense headquarters, ONeill said. We will now start an investigation into the issues that the soldiers have and well resolve them as we move forward.
ONeill said the mutiny leader, retired Col. Yaura Sasa, was being dealt with, but he did not clarify whether Sasa had been detained.
Papua New Guinea has for months been gripped in a political deadlock. ONeill took office in August after Somare was ruled ineligible as a member of parliament due to illness and absence from the legislature. The Supreme Court in December ruled Somare be reinstated as a member of parliament. ONeill rejected the ruling and parliament again voted him prime minister, leaving the country with two competing leaders.
In the early hours of Thursday, up to 20 soldiers raided the main army barracks, seized their chief commander and placed him under house arrest in an action dubbed Operation Protect the Constitution.
I call on the disciplinary forces to ensure public safety by exercising restraint at all times, Somare said in a statement announcing he had appointed a new defense force chief and again declaring he was the legitimate prime minister.
Residents of Port Moresby said the dusty port capital was quiet but tense throughout the day, with roadblocks around the main army barracks.
PNG has a history of political and military unrest. An army mutiny in 1997 overthrew the government after it employed mercenaries to try to end a long-running secessionist rebellion on the island of Bougainville, home to a big copper mine.
Posted by: Steve White ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Fiery former Australian fast bowler Rodney Hogg continues his habit of over-stepping the mark. Hogg's attempt at humour on Twitter during Australia Day celebrations yesterday enraged the Muslim community and forced a swift retreat by the 60-year-old test cricketer turned corporate speaker. 
Fitch Ratings has resolved the Negative Rating Watch on six Eurozone sovereigns, downgrading the IDRs for Belgium, Cyprus, Italy, Slovenia and Spain while affirming ratings for Ireland. 
Fitch just cut the long-term issuer ratings of 5 EU countries:
Real GDP increased 1.7 percent in 2011 (that is, from the 2010 annual level to the 2011 annual level), compared with an increase of 3.0 percent in 2010. 
Film star Liam Neeson is considering dumping his Catholic faith to become a Muslim. The actor admitted Islamic prayer had "got into his spirit" while filming in Istanbul. He said, "The call to prayer happens five times a day and for the first week it drives you crazy, and then it just gets into your spirit and it's the most beautiful, beautiful thing.
