Author's posts
Jun 23 2010
News at Noon
| From Reuters |
Soros says Germany could cause Euro collapse
by Reuters
June 23, 2010
| (Reuters) – Germany’s budget savings policy risks destroying the European project and a collapse of the euro cannot be ruled out, billionaire investor George Soros said in a newspaper interview released on Wednesday.
“German policy is a danger for Europe, it could destroy the European project,” he told German weekly Die Zeit. Soros, who earned $1 billion in 1992 by betting against the British pound, added that he “could not rule out a collapse of the euro.” Related Stories: |
Jun 22 2010
News at Noon
| From Reuters |
White House summons McChrystal
by Phil Stewart
June 22, 2010
| (Reuters) – The White House has summoned the top U.S. general in Afghanistan to Washington to explain controversial remarks critical of the Obama administration, U.S. military and Obama administration officials said on Tuesday.
The move comes a day after General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, apologized for comments by his aides insulting some of President Barack Obama’s closest advisers in an article to be published in Rolling Stone magazine. The controversy comes at an inopportune time for Obama, who already is dealing with huge BP Plc oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, trying to get financial industry reform legislation through Congress and hoping to prevent Republicans from taking back control of Congress in November elections. Related Stories: |
Jun 21 2010
News at Noon
| From Reuters |
BP pegs spill at worst-case 100,000 bpd
by Tom Bergin and Ernest Scheyder
June 21, 2010
| Louisiana (Reuters) – BP shares fell on Monday after a U.S. lawmaker released an internal company document over the weekend pegging the worst-case scenario rate for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill far higher than government figures.
The oil giant’s stock, which has nearly halved in value since an explosion on an offshore rig on April 20, slid over 4.0 percent after the document estimated the rate at 100,000 barrels per day (15.9 million liters) versus the government estimate of 60,000 barrels. BP spokesman Toby Odone said the document appeared to be genuine but the estimate applied only to a situation in which a key piece of equipment called a blowout preventer is removed. Related Stories: |
Jun 19 2010
Norman Spinrad: “He Walked Among Us” (A Review)
I was surprised when I was at the bookstore and saw Norman Spinrad had come out with a new book.
It had been a while and I figured Norman was old and senile and probably wouldn’t write any more.
I was wrong.
He’s old. He’s not senile. He is more evil than ever, Praise the Lord.
He is even more handsome, it seems, than when he was younger:
Meet me below the flip and I’ll give you a review.
Jun 19 2010
News at Noon
| From Reuters |
Partner puts blame on BP as spill costs grow
by Jeffrey Jones
June 19, 2010
| Louisiana (Reuters) – BP Plc’s costs for the worst spill in U.S. history appeared set to rise as a partner in the out-of-control well laid the blame at BP’s feet and the new federal czar overseeing damage claims said BP would pay more if $20 billion was not enough.
The British oil company said it would not be distracted by a dispute with Anadarko Petroleum Corp. The owner of a quarter of the well gushing into the Gulf broke its near-silence on the spill to squarely pin blame — and financial responsibility — on BP. “There appears to be gross negligence or willful misconduct,” Houston-based Anadarko Chairman and CEO Jim Hackett said in an interview that helped to drive his company’s shares up 2.2 percent in after-hours trading on the hopes it could avoid multi-billion-dollar liabilities. Related Stories: |
Jun 18 2010
News at Noon
| From Reuters |
Investor mood lifts as BP survives spill grilling
by Tom Bergin and Chuck Mikolajczak
June 18, 2010
| (Reuters) – BP shares gained in London on Friday after its boss survived a bruising encounter with U.S. lawmakers and as hopes rose its $20 billion oil spill compensation and clean-up fund will cap public anger.
The worst oil spill in U.S. history, from a leaking deepwater well in the Gulf of Mexico, has strained the reputation of U.S. President Barack Obama, sullied the region’s rich wildlife, and wounded its fishing and tourism industries. The likely cost of cleanup, compensation and fines has almost halved the value of BP — once Britain’s biggest company. Related Stories: |