Wanted: better bridges between science and aid efforts
Imogen Mathers 17 August 2012 | EN Science and new technologies underpin many humanitarian products SunFire Solutions Aid innovators are calling for more interaction with research and development communities, ahead of World Humanitarian Day, reports Imogen Mathers. [LONDON] In the aftermath of the devastating bomb attack on the UN’s Baghdad […]
Singapore Could Be The World’s Richest Country By 2050
Business Insider: If you enjoy peering inside the minds of the world’s super rich, take a spin through the 2012 “Wealth Report.” Compiled by Citibank, and a property consultancy called Knight Frank, it’s a lengthy analysis based partly on interviews with the super rich. (Definition: people with more than $25 million […]
U.S. Reliance on Saudi Oil Heads Back Up
HOUSTON — The United States is increasing its dependence on oil from Saudi Arabia, raising its imports from the kingdom by more than 20 percent this year, even as fears of military conflict in the tinderbox Persian Gulf region grow. The increase in Saudi oil exports to the United States […]
Jobless claims trend shows job market slowly healing
(Reuters) – The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits edged higher last week although a trend reading fell close to a four-year low, pointing to healing in the still-struggling labor market. Other data on Thursday showed groundbreaking on new homes fell in July in a reminder of […]
Mortgage probe could lead to action soon
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — A joint federal and state probe into mortgage-backed securities fraud is close to “significant action,” with a possible announcement in coming weeks or months, according to a source familiar with the probe. Despite last week’s announcement that the Department of Justice was closing a criminal investigation […]
The shape of chocolate to come
by Matt Allen, swissinfo.ch Universally loved and recession proof, chocolate continues to be a sweet prospect for both manufacturers and consumers. But while sales growth is expected to continue on […]
Retail Sales Gain for First Time in 4 Months
Retail sales in the United States rose in July by the largest amount in five months, buoyed by more spending on autos, furniture and clothing. All major categories showed increases, a sign that consumers may be gaining confidence after the longest stretch of declines since the fall of 2008. The […]
Pictures of the Day: USA Federal Debt
Ten thousand dollars followed by a million dollars pile: One Hundred Million Dollars Pile One Trillion Dollars 16 Trillion Dollars, US Debt Ceiling for now $122 Trillion – US unfunded […]
U.S. Treasury increases auto bailout cost estimate
The U.S. Treasury Department has said the auto industry bailout will cost taxpayers $3.4 billion more than previously thought. Treasury now estimates the 2009 bailout will eventually cost the government $25.1 billion, according to a report sent to Congress on Friday. That is up from the last quarterly estimate of […]
French Bank Offers Women Handbag Insurance, Dodges Accusations Of Sexism
How much do you love your handbag? Or, let us rephrase this: Do you think your bank should have a vested interest in protecting it? That’s what one French bank […]
British Regulators Plan Major Overhaul of Rate System
LONDON – The system at the center of the rate-rigging scandal will be overhauled as regulators respond to public anger over the manipulation of the London interbank offered rate, or Libor. Martin Wheatley, the British regulator in charge of overhauling the rate-setting process, outlined plans on Friday that could lead […]
Die Broke — on Purpose: An Unconventional Retirement Plan
Source: Daily Finance This will probably come as a shocker to most people: Three economists from leading universities have found that “a substantial fraction of persons die with virtually no financial assets — 46.1% with less than $10,000 — and many of these households also have no housing wealth and […]
Accusations Against Bank on Iran Deals Surprised U.S. Regulators, Too
Top executives at Standard Chartered said they were surprised when New York’s banking regulator accused them on Monday of scheming with the Iranian government to launder billions of dollars to potentially support terrorist activities. They were not the only ones caught off guard. The regulatory order also stunned other authorities […]
A Hilarious 15 Year History Of Wall Street
Source: Business Insider. It’s been a rough summer on Wall Street — the LIBOR scandal, JP Morgan’s trading loss, Knight Capital’s trading error… Must we go on? But it’s important to put all that in perspective. Compared to the last 15 years on Wall Street, this is a cake walk. […]
More Signs of Aid to Spain From Euro Partners
LONDON — At the start of another critical week for the euro, the head of the finance ministers that use the currency, Jean-Claude Juncker, reinforced expectations Monday of an initiative to lower Spain’s borrowing costs, which had hit alarming heights. The comments came as the U.S. Treasury secretary, Timothy F. […]
DPM: Malaysia invited to head food programme for Islamic nations
MUAR: Malaysia’s agricultural capability has received world recognition with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) inviting the country to spearhead a programme to increase food production among Islamic countries. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this was voiced by the IDB fund manager chairman Dr Abdullah El-Kuwaiz when they […]
U.S. Economy Slowed to a Tepid 1.5% Rate of Growth
The United States economy grew by a tepid 1.5 percent annual rate in the second quarter, losing the momentum it had appeared to be gaining earlier this year, the government reported Friday. Growth was curbed as consumers limited new spending and as business investment slowed in the face of a […]
Fed Sees Both Benefits and Risks in New Moves
WASHINGTON — The argument for the Federal Reserve to introduce another round of stimulus, and its reasons for hesitation, can both be summarized by a single number: 3.53 percent, the average interest rate last week on a 30-year mortgage. The cost of mortgages and other kinds of loans remain well […]
Jobseeker total in France nears record 3 million
Franc24: REUTERS – The number of jobseekers in France rose for the 14th month in a row in June to hit its highest level in nearly 13 years, adding pressure on the new Socialist government, which has made fighting unemployment a top priority. Labour ministry data released on Wednesday showed the […]