US Congress backs free trade pacts with South Korea, Colombia and Panama
October 13, 2011 No Comment
Obama wins bipartisan support for agreements he says will boost US exports but some fear will send jobs overseas The US Congress has approved free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, ending a four-year drought in the forming of new trade partnerships and giving the White House and Capitol Hill the opportunity to show they can work together to stimulate the economy and put people back to work. In rapid succession, the House of Representatives and Senate voted on the three trade pacts, which the administration says could boost exports by $13bn (£8.25bn) and support tens of thousands of American jobs. None of the votes were close, despite opposition from labour groups and other critics of free trade agreements who say they result in job losses and ignore labour rights problems in the partner countries. President Barack Obama said passage of the agreements was “a major win for American workers and businesses”. “Tonight’s vote, with bipartisan support, will significantly boost exports that bear the proud label Made in America, support tens of thousands of good-paying American jobs and protect labour rights, the environment and intellectual property … I look forward to signing these agreements,” Obama said. The agreements would lower or eliminate tariffs that American exporters face in the three countries. They also take steps to better protect intellectual property and improve access for American investors in those countries. The last free trade agreement completed was with Peru in 2007. The House also passed and sent to Obama for his signature a bill to extend aid to workers displaced by foreign competition. Obama had demanded that the worker aid bill be part of the trade package. Years in the making, the votes come just a day after Senate Republicans were unified in rejecting Obama’s $447bn jobs creation initiative. The agreement with South Korea, the world’s 13th largest economy, was the biggest such deal since the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada in 1994. The votes were 278-151 for South Korea, 300-129 for Panama and 262-167 for Colombia. The Senate votes were 83-15 for Korea, 77-22 for Panama and 66-33 for Colombia. “We don’t do much around here that’s bipartisan these days,” said Republican senator Rob Portman, who was US trade representative during the George W Bush administration. “This is an example of where we can come together as Republicans and Democrats realising that with 14 million Americans out of work, we need to do things to move our economy forward.” Despite the strong majorities, the debate was not without rancour. Republicans criticised Obama for taking several years to send the agreements, all signed in the President George W Bush administration, to Congress for final approval. Many among Obama’s core supporters, including organised labour and Democrats from areas hit hard by foreign competition, were unhappy that the White House was espousing the benefits of free trade. Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch, said the “job-killing” agreements were a “complete flip-flop for President Obama, who won crucial swing states by pledging to overhaul our flawed trade policies”. In Cartagena, the Colombian president, Juan Manuel Santos, said: “Today is a historic day for relations between Colombia and the United States.” He added that the agreement with his country would “generate much wellbeing for our peoples”. But Tarsicio Mora, president of Colombia’s CUT labour federation, said Colombia’s economy was not ready to compete with the US. “Our country isn’t developed. It does not have the expertise much less the requirements for trade at this level,” Mora said. “The country should be clear as to who is responsible for the coming massacre, because industry, large and small businesses are going to be hit because we are not in a condition to compete.” The Panamanian president, Ricardo Martinelli, said the trade agreement would help to attract foreign investment and increase commerce with the US, contributing to the creation of new jobs. “We, Panamanians, have to prepare to take advantage of this agreement,” Martinelli said. Panama’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture called it “a historic moment for Panama”. “A treaty with the largest trading partner in the world has been ratified and this will open the doors to a very important market,” said chamber president Federico Humbert. “We hope this agreement will bring great opportunities for Panama, while encouraging competitiveness and attract more foreign investment to our country,” Humbert added. The US House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi, said that before taking up free trade agreements the House should be considering legislation passed by the Senate on Tuesday that would punish China for keeping its currency undervalued, a practice that makes its exports cheaper and contributes to China’s huge trade surplus with the United States. House Republican leaders oppose the currency bill and a Democratic attempt to attach it to the Colombia agreement was rejected. Democratic opposition was particularly strong against the agreement with Colombia, where labour leaders long have faced the threat of violence. “I find it deeply disturbing that the United States Congress is even considering a free trade agreement with a country that holds the world record for assassinations of trade unionists,” said representative Maxine Waters. To address Democratic objections to the deals, the White House demanded that the trade bills be linked to an extension of a Kennedy-era programme that helps workers displaced by foreign competition with retraining and financial aid. The Senate went along; the House passed it on Wednesday, 307-122. But with the focus in both the White House and Congress on jobs, the trade agreements enjoyed wide bipartisan support. The administration says the three deals will boost US exports and that just the agreement with South Korea, America’s seventh largest trading partner, will support 70,000 American jobs. US economy Economics South Korea Panama Americas Colombia United States guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …‘Banker’ James O’Keefe Gets In on the Fun–Totally Punks Occupy Wall Street (Video)
October 13, 2011 No Comment
It’s all about the Benjamins, baby! Occupy Wall Street protesters asked “Wall Street banker” James O’Keefe for capital investing yesterday. They wanted funding for the “Constitutional World Federation” they are planning. Another protester goes into detail about funding for the Occupy Wall Street protest came from Almagamated Bank. They’re all for capitalism, but Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Big Government Discovery Date : 11/10/2011 16:43 Number of articles : 5
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• Mutassim reported arrested as Sirte on the brink of falling • NTC Benghazi officials cannot confirm Mutassim’s capture • Israel apologies over the killing of Egyptian police officers 9.26am: Nato hit two military vehicles in Sirte on Wednesday, in its first successful strikes against the city since Friday. Here’s its latest update: Key Hits 12 October [pdf]: In vicinity of Sirte: 2 military vehicles In vicinity of Bani Walid: 1 military vehicle 9.16am: Video footage has emerged purporting to show wounded civilians and Gaddafi fighters packed into Sirte’s Ibn Sina hospital. Warning the footage also shows images of the corpses of Gaddafi fighters in a morgue. Many of those injured appeared to emaciated. 8.57am: Reports of Mutassim’s arrest are being treated with care by reporters on Twitter. Sky’s Alex Rossi: Muttasim Gaddafi story i’ll believe it when we see the pics – the NTC have stated b4 they’ve captured Moussa Ibrahim and Saif Gaddafi #Sirte Al-Jazeera’s Evan Hill: I wonder how much damage was done from last night’s celebratory fire over the potential non-capture of Mutassim Gaddafi . Al-Jazeera’s James Bays: #LIBYA still no official confirmation of story of Mutassim Gaddafi capture. Senior NTC figure: “for now, I class this as a rumour only.” But later journalist Karl Stagno-Navarra tweeted: # NTC expected to show Mutassim #Gaddafi on TV later today after capture in #Sirte – Reports 8.22am: Welcome to Middle East Live. Muammar Gaddafi’s son Mutassim is reported to have been arrested fleeing Sirte as the city appears to be on the brink of falling. But the report has not been confirmed by officials in Benghazi, and is being treated with caution for now after what turned out to be false reports about the arrest of two of Gaddafi’s other sons during the fall of Tripoli. Here’s a round up in more detail. Libya • The collapse of resistance in Muammar Gaddafi former stronghold of Sirte has been underlined by reports of the arrest of his son Mutassim. National Transitional Council officials said Mutassim, who had been commanding the city’s defences, had been captured in a car trying to flee with his family on Tuesday evening and taken to Benghazi for questioning. • NTC officials in Benghazi could not confirm reports of Mutassim’s arrest, the BBC points out. It reminds us of numerous previous false reports about the arrest of senior members of the regime, including Saif al-Islam, and Gaddafi spokesman Moussa Ibrahim. Jalal el-Gallal, a spokesman for the National Transitional Council in the eastern city of Benghazi, told AP “so far as we are concerned there is no confirmation that Mutassim Gaddafi has been captured”. • Suspected Gaddafi loyalist are being tortured into making confessions, according to Amnesty. It urged Libya’s new new government to end the arbitrary detention and widespread abuse of prisoners. At least two guards – in separate detention facilities – admitted that they beat detainees in order to extract “confessions” more quickly. Egypt • Egypt’s ruling generals have denied allegations that they deliberately attacked a peaceful protest on Sunday night, as evidence of military involvement in the death of 26 people continued to grow. “The armed forces would never, and has never, opened fire on the people,” said Mahmoud Hegazy, a member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. Assistant defence minister Major General Adel Emara said: “Never did a man from the armed forces run over anyone,” said Emara during a rare public press conference put on by the junta. But the generals’ claims are directly contradicted by an increasing number of video clips, eyewitness testimonies and medical reports that suggest military personnel attacked protesters with guns and armoured personnel carriers, killing many – mainly Christian Coptic protesters – and wounding hundreds in the process. • Israel has formally apologised to Egypt for the killing of six Egyptian police officers during a shoot-out between Israeli forces and suspected Palestinian militants in Sinai in August. The apology issued by Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak followed a joint investigation into the incident with Egyptian authorities and signals rapprochement between the two countries after a protracted diplomatic crisis. Syria • A Syrian-born man has been arrested and charged in Virginia for allegedly spying on anti-Syrian protesters in the United States and passing that information on to Damascus. Mohamad Anas Haitham Soueid, 47, a naturalized US citizen, was accused of acting as an agent of the Syrian intelligence service and collecting video and audio recordings of protesters against Syria and its president Bashar al-Assad. Iran • Saudi Arabia has issued a menacing warning to Iran that it will have to pay a price for the alleged plot to hire a Mexican drug cartel to assassinate its ambassador in Washington. Prince Turki al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia’s former ambassador to Washington and former head of the Saudi intelligence service, told a London conference: “The burden of proof and the amount of evidence in the case is overwhelming and clearly shows official Iranian responsibility for this.This is unacceptable. Somebody in Iran will have to pay the price.” • The alleged plot doesn’t fit with what is known about Iran. Our diplomatic editor, Julian Borger, goes through eight unanswered questions about the plot. • “This plot if true, departs from all known Iranian policies and procedures,” says Gary Sick America’s top Iran watcher and former National Security Council adviser. His doubts are part of comprehensive round up of expert scepticism put together by Robert MacKey at the New York Times. Israel • Preparations are under way in Israel, the Gaza Strip and Egypt for the first stage of the prisoner swap deal involving the exchange of Gilad Shalit for hundreds of Palestinians. Legal restrictions mean it cannot be implemented before next Tuesday. Israeli law requires that two days be allowed to grant those who oppose any prisoner swap time to appeal against the decision. Given this week’s Sukkot holiday, Netanyahu is not expected to release the full list of prisoners set to be freed until Saturday evening. • What’s the wider significance of the deal? Why has it happened now? Who are the winners and losers? And what are the implications for the future of the Middle East? Our Middle East editor, Ian Black, has the answers. Libya Muammar Gaddafi Middle East Arab and Middle East unrest Syria Bashar Al-Assad Israel Egypt Saudi Arabia US foreign policy Nato Matthew Weaver guardian.co.uk
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• Mutassim reported arrested as Sirte on the brink of falling • NTC Benghazi officials cannot confirm Mutassim’s capture • Israel apologies over the killing of Egyptian police officers 9.26am: Nato hit two military vehicles in Sirte on Wednesday, in its first successful strikes against the city since Friday. Here’s its latest update: Key Hits 12 October [pdf]: In vicinity of Sirte: 2 military vehicles In vicinity of Bani Walid: 1 military vehicle 9.16am: Video footage has emerged purporting to show wounded civilians and Gaddafi fighters packed into Sirte’s Ibn Sina hospital. Warning the footage also shows images of the corpses of Gaddafi fighters in a morgue. Many of those injured appeared to emaciated. 8.57am: Reports of Mutassim’s arrest are being treated with care by reporters on Twitter. Sky’s Alex Rossi: Muttasim Gaddafi story i’ll believe it when we see the pics – the NTC have stated b4 they’ve captured Moussa Ibrahim and Saif Gaddafi #Sirte Al-Jazeera’s Evan Hill: I wonder how much damage was done from last night’s celebratory fire over the potential non-capture of Mutassim Gaddafi . Al-Jazeera’s James Bays: #LIBYA still no official confirmation of story of Mutassim Gaddafi capture. Senior NTC figure: “for now, I class this as a rumour only.” But later journalist Karl Stagno-Navarra tweeted: # NTC expected to show Mutassim #Gaddafi on TV later today after capture in #Sirte – Reports 8.22am: Welcome to Middle East Live. Muammar Gaddafi’s son Mutassim is reported to have been arrested fleeing Sirte as the city appears to be on the brink of falling. But the report has not been confirmed by officials in Benghazi, and is being treated with caution for now after what turned out to be false reports about the arrest of two of Gaddafi’s other sons during the fall of Tripoli. Here’s a round up in more detail. Libya • The collapse of resistance in Muammar Gaddafi former stronghold of Sirte has been underlined by reports of the arrest of his son Mutassim. National Transitional Council officials said Mutassim, who had been commanding the city’s defences, had been captured in a car trying to flee with his family on Tuesday evening and taken to Benghazi for questioning. • NTC officials in Benghazi could not confirm reports of Mutassim’s arrest, the BBC points out. It reminds us of numerous previous false reports about the arrest of senior members of the regime, including Saif al-Islam, and Gaddafi spokesman Moussa Ibrahim. Jalal el-Gallal, a spokesman for the National Transitional Council in the eastern city of Benghazi, told AP “so far as we are concerned there is no confirmation that Mutassim Gaddafi has been captured”. • Suspected Gaddafi loyalist are being tortured into making confessions, according to Amnesty. It urged Libya’s new new government to end the arbitrary detention and widespread abuse of prisoners. At least two guards – in separate detention facilities – admitted that they beat detainees in order to extract “confessions” more quickly. Egypt • Egypt’s ruling generals have denied allegations that they deliberately attacked a peaceful protest on Sunday night, as evidence of military involvement in the death of 26 people continued to grow. “The armed forces would never, and has never, opened fire on the people,” said Mahmoud Hegazy, a member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. Assistant defence minister Major General Adel Emara said: “Never did a man from the armed forces run over anyone,” said Emara during a rare public press conference put on by the junta. But the generals’ claims are directly contradicted by an increasing number of video clips, eyewitness testimonies and medical reports that suggest military personnel attacked protesters with guns and armoured personnel carriers, killing many – mainly Christian Coptic protesters – and wounding hundreds in the process. • Israel has formally apologised to Egypt for the killing of six Egyptian police officers during a shoot-out between Israeli forces and suspected Palestinian militants in Sinai in August. The apology issued by Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak followed a joint investigation into the incident with Egyptian authorities and signals rapprochement between the two countries after a protracted diplomatic crisis. Syria • A Syrian-born man has been arrested and charged in Virginia for allegedly spying on anti-Syrian protesters in the United States and passing that information on to Damascus. Mohamad Anas Haitham Soueid, 47, a naturalized US citizen, was accused of acting as an agent of the Syrian intelligence service and collecting video and audio recordings of protesters against Syria and its president Bashar al-Assad. Iran • Saudi Arabia has issued a menacing warning to Iran that it will have to pay a price for the alleged plot to hire a Mexican drug cartel to assassinate its ambassador in Washington. Prince Turki al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia’s former ambassador to Washington and former head of the Saudi intelligence service, told a London conference: “The burden of proof and the amount of evidence in the case is overwhelming and clearly shows official Iranian responsibility for this.This is unacceptable. Somebody in Iran will have to pay the price.” • The alleged plot doesn’t fit with what is known about Iran. Our diplomatic editor, Julian Borger, goes through eight unanswered questions about the plot. • “This plot if true, departs from all known Iranian policies and procedures,” says Gary Sick America’s top Iran watcher and former National Security Council adviser. His doubts are part of comprehensive round up of expert scepticism put together by Robert MacKey at the New York Times. Israel • Preparations are under way in Israel, the Gaza Strip and Egypt for the first stage of the prisoner swap deal involving the exchange of Gilad Shalit for hundreds of Palestinians. Legal restrictions mean it cannot be implemented before next Tuesday. Israeli law requires that two days be allowed to grant those who oppose any prisoner swap time to appeal against the decision. Given this week’s Sukkot holiday, Netanyahu is not expected to release the full list of prisoners set to be freed until Saturday evening. • What’s the wider significance of the deal? Why has it happened now? Who are the winners and losers? And what are the implications for the future of the Middle East? Our Middle East editor, Ian Black, has the answers. Libya Muammar Gaddafi Middle East Arab and Middle East unrest Syria Bashar Al-Assad Israel Egypt Saudi Arabia US foreign policy Nato Matthew Weaver guardian.co.uk
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“American Idol” runner up Lauren Alaina talks about her “make it or break it” debut album, “Wildflower,” and her struggle to overcome weight issues. (Oct. 12)
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“American Idol” runner up Lauren Alaina talks about her “make it or break it” debut album, “Wildflower,” and her struggle to overcome weight issues. (Oct. 12)
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Hilary Duff talks about her new book and wanting to know the sex of her baby. (Oct. 12)
Continue reading …Hilary Duff talks about her new book and wanting to know the sex of her baby. (Oct. 12)
Continue reading …CyanogenMod for TouchPad alpha released, is surprisingly functional (video)
October 13, 2011 No Comment
Tired of seeing TouchPad Android demos that you can’t quite get your hands on ? Buck up buttercup, CyanogenMod 7.1.0′s unique flavor of Gingerbread has finally made its way to HP’s disowned slate; but beware — they’re calling this one the “lower your expectations” edition for a reason. A new video and forum update belabors the point that the alpha is an early, buggy build that is not intended for the general public. However, if you’re brave enough to install CyanogenMod anyway , you’ll wind up with a neat assortment of usable features, including multiboot support, ten-point multitouch, functional WiFi, camera support for video chat, limited GPU acceleration and a ton of other features that are either working now, or are near completion. The team says there are too many nonfunctional features to properly list at the moment, but advise brave testers to expect app incompatibility and poorly optimized power consumption. Ready to throw caution to the wind? Hit the source link below, as it’s chock full of cautionary tales, installation instructions, and download links. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] CyanogenMod for TouchPad alpha released, is surprisingly functional (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Running an Android application on a Windows PC becomes reality on Tuesday thanks to a new application from BlueStacks. The BlueStacks App Player for Windows PC is a free piece of software that allows Android … read more BlueStacks alpha released, Run Android apps on your Windows PC originally appeared at WinRumors.com . Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : WinRumors Discovery Date : 07/10/2011 04:06 Number of articles : 7
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