We Love You – Iran & Israel

"I don't even know you. No Iranian ever did me no harm. I never even met an Iranian...Just one in Paris in a museum. Nice dude. My name is Ronny, I'm 41 years old. I'm a father, a teacher, a Graphic Designer. I'm an Israeli citizen and I need your help. Lately, in the news, we've been hearing about a war coming while we, the people are sitting, watching like it has nothing to do with us. On March 15th, I posted a poster on Facebook. The message was simple. Iranians. We love you. We will never bomb your country." Continue reading

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Christianity ‘close to extinction’ in Middle East

"The report, entitled Christianophobia, highlights a fear among oppressive regimes that Christianity is a 'Western creed' which can be used to undermine them. State hostility towards Christianity is particularly rife in China, where more Christians are imprisoned than in any other country in the world, according to the report. It claims George Bush’s use of the word 'crusade' after the September 11 attacks on New York created the impression for Muslims in the Middle East of a 'Christian assault on the Muslim world'." Continue reading

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US deploying troops to 35 African countries

"The United States Army will be deploying troops to nearly three-dozen African nations in the coming year. Soldiers based out of Fort Riley, Kansas’ 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division will begin training in March 2013 in order to prepare for a project that will send troops to as many as 35 African nations. Citing a growing threat from extremist groups, including those with ties to al-Qaeda, the Department of Defense is hoping to install American soldiers overseas in order to prepare local troops there for any future crises as tensions escalate." Continue reading

Continue ReadingUS deploying troops to 35 African countries

UN Takes on Al Qaeda in Mali

"War and more war. There are plenty of questions about the legitimacy of what is about to occur. It all begins with the Tuaregs, a blue-daubed fierce tribe of warriors who are part of the larger Berber peoples that were recognized by the UN in the 1990s as legitimate claimants of the northern African Maghreb that spans Tunisia, Libya, Niger and Algeria. After the destabilization of Libya, a Tuareg rebellion took place throughout the African Maghreb and also destabilized parts of Mali. What is evident is that the fighting between secularist Tuaregs and Islamic Tuaregs has now resolved itself in favor the Islamic factions. And this is supposedly the reason for the UN involvement." Continue reading

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8-child family defies China’s one-child policy

"China’s one-child rule has numerous critics, but perhaps none have so emphatically defied the policy as a couple who have accumulated four boys and four girls — some born to two surrogate mothers. Authorities are calculating how high a fine to impose on the family, described as 'rich merchants' in the southern province of Guangdong, estimating that it could reach 10 times their annual income. While the triplets born to the mother via artificial insemination were deemed legal, they were delivered in Hong Kong — a popular option for wealthy Chinese who want to secure residency there for their children and evade the mainland China quota." Continue reading

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Asian economies turn to yuan

"A 'renminbi bloc' has been formed in East Asia, as nations in the region abandon the US dollar and peg their currency to the Chinese yuan — a major signal of China's successful bid to internationalize its currency, a research report has said. Seven out of 10 economies in the region — including South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand — track the renminbi more closely than they do the US dollar. Only three economies in the group — Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Mongolia — still have currencies following the dollar more closely than the renminbi, said the report, posted on the institute's website." Continue reading

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Kyle Bass at AC2012: The Engtanglement

"Kyle Bass is the managing director and principal of Hayman Advisors LP’s, general partnership which was formed in December 2005. Kyle Bass is also a mortgage credit portfolio advisor to few asset management companies and manages or advises over $4 billion of investments in the residential mortgage-backed securities market. Mr. Bass is also a Director of the Asset Backed Securities at Credit Derivatives Users Association. He is also a member of the Serengeti Asset Management Advisory Board and is a member of the endowment’s board of the University of Texas Investment Management Co which bought $1 billion Gold bars in 2011." Continue reading

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Tiny gold bars latest rage for jittery investors

"Private investors in Switzerland, Austria and Germany are lining up to buy gold bars the size of a credit card that can easily be broken into one gram pieces and used as payment in an emergency. Now Swiss refinery Valcambi, a unit of U.S. mining giant Newmont, wants to bring its 'CombiBar' to market in the United States and build up its sales presence India - the world's largest consumer of gold where the precious metal has long served as a parallel currency. The 'CombiBar' - which has been dubbed a 'chocolate bar' because pieces can be easily broken off by hand into one gram squares." Continue reading

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Brazil Doubles Gold Reserves as Central Banks Buy Bullion

"Brazil boosted gold reserves for a third month in November to double the country’s holdings since August as central banks from Russia to Belarus and South Korea add the metal to diversify their assets. Central banks have been expanding reserves as the metal heads for a 12th annual gain and investors hold a record amount in bullion-backed exchange-traded products. Nations bought 373.9 tons in the first nine months of the year and full-year additions will probably be at the bottom end of a range from 450 to 500 tons, the London-based World Gold Council estimates." Continue reading

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The Five Largest Landowners in the U.S. (Three you probably never heard of)

"1. John Malone - The cable tycoon has 2.2 million acres stretching from Wyoming to Maine. 2. Ted Turner - The media magnate has 2 million acres in Nebraska, New Mexico and other states. 3. The Emmerson family This low-profile family holds 1.8 million acres through Sierra Pacific Industries, the nation's second largest lumber producer. 4. Brad Kelley The reclusive billionaire, who drives a pick-up truck and made his money from discount cigarettes, owns about 1.5 million acres and uses much of it for cattle ranching. 5. The Irving family The Canadian forestry family behind J.D. Irving Inc. owns 1.2 million acres in Maine and other locations." Continue reading

Continue ReadingThe Five Largest Landowners in the U.S. (Three you probably never heard of)