Recent violence in Mitrovica could spread across the newly independent state of Kosovo, the commander of French peacekeepers in NATO, General Michel Yakovleff, warned on Friday. For over a week now, the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica has seen violent incidents with people injured and cars and shops set alight. Tensions between Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority and Serb minority have been running high since the region declared independence from Serbia nearly a year ago. "This is urban violence," said Yakovleff. "But it has political implications, meaning that it can mobilize people. That can lead to major conflict." Yakovleff said his soldiers are prepared to put down any violence in the northern sector of Kosovo. "Be aware of the strong determination of KFOR to respond, even brutally if necessary, to all forms of violence," he said.
For over a week now, the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica has seen violent incidents with people injured and cars and shops set alight. Tensions between Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority and Serb minority have been running high since the region declared independence from Serbia nearly a year ago.
"This is urban violence," said Yakovleff. "But it has political implications, meaning that it can mobilize people. That can lead to major conflict."
Yakovleff said his soldiers are prepared to put down any violence in the northern sector of Kosovo.
"Be aware of the strong determination of KFOR to respond, even brutally if necessary, to all forms of violence," he said.
Illinois lawmakers today voted unanimously to impeach the scandal-ridden governor Rod Blagojevich, who is alleged to have tried to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.The Illinois House of Representatives voted 114 to one to start the impeachment process next week.The process involves the state senate basically conducting a trial, which could take about three weeks."It's our duty to clean up the mess and stop the freak show that's become Illinois government," said Jack Franks, one of the Democrats who voted for impeachment.A spokesman for Blagojevich insisted he will not resign. Some lawmakers had expressed hope that, faced with impeachment, he might opt to leave voluntarily.
Illinois lawmakers today voted unanimously to impeach the scandal-ridden governor Rod Blagojevich, who is alleged to have tried to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.
The Illinois House of Representatives voted 114 to one to start the impeachment process next week.
The process involves the state senate basically conducting a trial, which could take about three weeks.
"It's our duty to clean up the mess and stop the freak show that's become Illinois government," said Jack Franks, one of the Democrats who voted for impeachment.
A spokesman for Blagojevich insisted he will not resign. Some lawmakers had expressed hope that, faced with impeachment, he might opt to leave voluntarily.
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Illinois House of Representatives impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Friday for abuse of power, including a charge that he tried to sell President-elect Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat. The Democratic-controlled House voted 114 to one, with another legislator voting present, to impeach the two-term Democrat. That clears the way for a trial in the state Senate, where conviction by more than two-thirds of its members would result in his removal from office.
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Illinois House of Representatives impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Friday for abuse of power, including a charge that he tried to sell President-elect Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat.
The Democratic-controlled House voted 114 to one, with another legislator voting present, to impeach the two-term Democrat. That clears the way for a trial in the state Senate, where conviction by more than two-thirds of its members would result in his removal from office.
The Saudi supertanker seized by Somali pirates in the world's biggest ever hijacking has been freed following a reported ransom payment of $3m. Last night the US navy released a photo showing a small package apparently containing the ransom parachuting to the deck of the Sirius Star from a small aircraft. The Sirius Star, which was carrying 2m barrels of oil when it was captured on November 15, sailed from the pirate lair of Harardheere on Somalia's eastern coast today.Two Britons - chief engineer Peter French, from County Durham, and second officer James Grady, from Renfrewshire - are among the crew of 25 who were all reported to be unharmed.
The Saudi supertanker seized by Somali pirates in the world's biggest ever hijacking has been freed following a reported ransom payment of $3m. Last night the US navy released a photo showing a small package apparently containing the ransom parachuting to the deck of the Sirius Star from a small aircraft.
The Sirius Star, which was carrying 2m barrels of oil when it was captured on November 15, sailed from the pirate lair of Harardheere on Somalia's eastern coast today.
Two Britons - chief engineer Peter French, from County Durham, and second officer James Grady, from Renfrewshire - are among the crew of 25 who were all reported to be unharmed.
A Saudi supertanker that was captured by Somali pirates in November carrying two million barrels of oil has been released, reports quoting pirates say. A regional maritime group also said pirates had left the Sirius Star, Reuters news agency reported. A negotiator for the pirates told the BBC a $3m (£1.95m) ransom was paid. A small plane was seen apparently dropping the ransom by parachute onto the tanker. The ship's owner has refused to comment. The vessel, with 25 crew, is the biggest tanker ever to be hijacked.
A Saudi supertanker that was captured by Somali pirates in November carrying two million barrels of oil has been released, reports quoting pirates say.
A regional maritime group also said pirates had left the Sirius Star, Reuters news agency reported.
A negotiator for the pirates told the BBC a $3m (£1.95m) ransom was paid.
A small plane was seen apparently dropping the ransom by parachute onto the tanker. The ship's owner has refused to comment.
The vessel, with 25 crew, is the biggest tanker ever to be hijacked.
More than half a million jobs were lost in the US last month, taking the unemployment rate to its highest in 16 years.Job losses over the whole of last year totalled 2.6 million, the biggest annual loss since 1945 when 2.75m jobs were shed, the US labour department said.The bulk of the year's job losses came in the last four months when 1.9m people were laid off. In December alone, US employers cut 524,000 jobs. The original numbers for October and November were also revised higher.Analysts said that companies had been cutting staff in anticipation of a very difficult year."These figures suggest that businesses have been focusing on clearing the decks to match their workforce to the economic conditions we will see in 2009," said John Silvia of Wachovia.The unemployment rate hit 7.2% last month, up on 6.8% in November and the highest since January 1993.
More than half a million jobs were lost in the US last month, taking the unemployment rate to its highest in 16 years.
Job losses over the whole of last year totalled 2.6 million, the biggest annual loss since 1945 when 2.75m jobs were shed, the US labour department said.
The bulk of the year's job losses came in the last four months when 1.9m people were laid off. In December alone, US employers cut 524,000 jobs. The original numbers for October and November were also revised higher.
Analysts said that companies had been cutting staff in anticipation of a very difficult year.
"These figures suggest that businesses have been focusing on clearing the decks to match their workforce to the economic conditions we will see in 2009," said John Silvia of Wachovia.
The unemployment rate hit 7.2% last month, up on 6.8% in November and the highest since January 1993.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Any U.S. job market recovery is at least several months away, staffing industry executives say, citing comments from customers, weak consumer spending and evidence in the December jobs report that employers are cutting hours and overtime. The economy shed 524,000 jobs outside the farm sector last month, fewer than expected, and the unemployment rate jumped to 7.2 percent, the highest since January 1993. Job losses in October and November were bigger than initially estimated.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Any U.S. job market recovery is at least several months away, staffing industry executives say, citing comments from customers, weak consumer spending and evidence in the December jobs report that employers are cutting hours and overtime.
The economy shed 524,000 jobs outside the farm sector last month, fewer than expected, and the unemployment rate jumped to 7.2 percent, the highest since January 1993. Job losses in October and November were bigger than initially estimated.
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama said the jobs data was a "stark reminder" of the need for speedy passage of a stimulus package. "Clearly the situation is dire. It is deteriorating and it demands urgent and immediate action," Obama told a news conference. Germany, Britain, France, Spain and Sweden meanwhile all reported slumping industrial output with some posting the worst figures in many years. Germany reported its biggest annual fall since 1993, dragged down by a downturn among manufacturers that is threatening to cause the worst recession in the country's post-war history. Preliminary Economy Ministry figures showed output fell by 10 percent year-on-year as demand for cars and other capital goods faded across the globe. "We're at the start of a really deep recession," said Juergen Michels, an economist at Citigroup in London.
U.S. President-elect Barack Obama said the jobs data was a "stark reminder" of the need for speedy passage of a stimulus package.
"Clearly the situation is dire. It is deteriorating and it demands urgent and immediate action," Obama told a news conference.
Germany, Britain, France, Spain and Sweden meanwhile all reported slumping industrial output with some posting the worst figures in many years.
Germany reported its biggest annual fall since 1993, dragged down by a downturn among manufacturers that is threatening to cause the worst recession in the country's post-war history.
Preliminary Economy Ministry figures showed output fell by 10 percent year-on-year as demand for cars and other capital goods faded across the globe.
"We're at the start of a really deep recession," said Juergen Michels, an economist at Citigroup in London.
More US workers lost jobs last year than in any year since World War II, with employers axing 2.6 million posts and 524,000 in December alone. The US jobless rate rose to 7.2% in December, the highest in 16 years. The official data came as plane-maker Boeing said it would cut 4,500 jobs this year at its commercial airline arm due to the global economic slowdown. US President-elect Barack Obama said that the economic situation is dire and action is urgently needed.
More US workers lost jobs last year than in any year since World War II, with employers axing 2.6 million posts and 524,000 in December alone.
The US jobless rate rose to 7.2% in December, the highest in 16 years.
The official data came as plane-maker Boeing said it would cut 4,500 jobs this year at its commercial airline arm due to the global economic slowdown.
US President-elect Barack Obama said that the economic situation is dire and action is urgently needed.
South Korea's central bank has slashed interest rates by half a percentage point to a record low of 2.5%, in the latest attempt to fend off recession. The bank warned that economic activity was "slackening at a rapid pace". President Lee Myung-bak has warned that the country's target of 3% growth in 2008 could prove unattainable. The latest victim of the downturn is the country's fifth biggest carmaker, Ssangyong Motor, which said on Friday it had applied for court receivership.
South Korea's central bank has slashed interest rates by half a percentage point to a record low of 2.5%, in the latest attempt to fend off recession.
The bank warned that economic activity was "slackening at a rapid pace".
President Lee Myung-bak has warned that the country's target of 3% growth in 2008 could prove unattainable.
The latest victim of the downturn is the country's fifth biggest carmaker, Ssangyong Motor, which said on Friday it had applied for court receivership.
Colektivo
It's still lending though, and that being so it is likely to fall fall of the Canadian banking/deposit-taking regime unless they make their peace with the regualators first (at huge cost in time and legal fees etc etc).
My approach would be similar "Pooling" but instead of lending to use a quasi Equity revenue-sharing approach through "unitising" gross revenues (if there are any).
Quite recently Prosper.com - the online Peer to Peer "social" lending operation - was obliged by the US SEC to
Cease and Desist "Any economic unit can emit money. The serious problem is to get it accepted" Hyman Minsky
Prosper assigns borrowers [Why not creditors?! ] a credit grade ['mark-to-model'] based on a commercial credit obtained from a credit bureau [FICO, 'mark-to-market' for a fee], but Prosper does not verify personal information, such as employment and income [materially irrelevant: that verification is the purportedly the 'value-added' to payment reports, collected by FICO marketers]. ... After an auction closes and a loan is fully bid upon, the borrower receives the requested loan with the interest rate fixed by Prosper at the lowest rate acceptable to all winning bidders. Individuals do not actually lend mone directly to the borrower; rather, the borrower receives a loan from a bank with which Prosper has contracted. The interests in that loan are then sold and assigned through Prosper to the lenders, with each lender receiving an individual non-recourse promissory note [a security] ... Prosper collects an origination fee from each borrower of one to three percent of loan proceeds and collects servicing fees from each lender from loan payments at an anual rate of one percent of the outstanding principal balance of the notes.
Prosper collects an origination fee from each borrower of one to three percent of loan proceeds and collects servicing fees from each lender from loan payments at an anual rate of one percent of the outstanding principal balance of the notes.
A poor example of "peer-to-peer" lending, postulated: Not only does Prosper function as an "intermediary," Prosper resells "intermediary" capital, and Prosper "lenders" risk no capital other than continuous payment of Prosper fees.
An excellent example of buzzword-gone-wild.
pdf, at sec.gov where one need not register to obtain a public record. Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
