News Stories

[bladeofdarkness]

Originally Posted by MihawkXGP

This is no Islamic revolution.
This is the people as a whole - rising up against 30 years of tyranny of that western backed puppet. 1 by 1, these dictators will fall.

the Iranian revolution didn't start as an Islamic one either.
it was a popular revolution at first as well.
we all know how that one ended.

also, the current (for now) Egyptian regime wasn't a puppet installed by the west.
in fact, it overthrew that original western installed regime and took power.

Originally Posted by Kamui4356

In their place, new dictators will rise up, and a new wave of tyranny will wash across the land.

Popular revolutions only rarely result in liberating the people from tyranny.

thats the main fear at this stage.

[yezhanquan]

Originally Posted by MeoTwister5

Which started over here in 1986 when people showed that flowers and smiles could stop tanks.

It stopped tanks alright, but it sure didn't stop the flow of "under-the-table" money and general incompetence.

[JMvS]

It's a few week old, but well...

Should incest still be considered a crime?

The Swiss government broke a taboo last year when it said it would consider lifting a ban on incest. The announcement launched a heated debate on the issue.

In September, the cabinet proposed revisions to the Swiss penal code, and as part of the update, said it favoured repealing various laws including the one on incest.

The government added that this would not necessarily lead to crimes going unpunished – such as unlawful sex with a minor – since these are covered by other laws.

However, the proposal met stiff opposition in parliament, mainly from rightwing and centre-right parties who see incest as more than a crime but something reprehensible from a moral point of view that is deeply anchored in our culture.

One reason for the lifting of the law, the cabinet argued, is the low number of times people are sentenced for incest – on average only three or four a year between 1987 and 2007.

[MeoTwister5]

People power isn't some sort of magic pill that makes things all better but it's a start that shows people are aware and willing to show that they will take their politics into their own hhands.

[Decagon]

One reason for the lifting of the law, the cabinet argued, is the low number of times people are sentenced for incest – on average only three or four a year between 1987 and 2007.

A low number of people sentenced per year? What an odd reason. If we imagine a supremely incompetent legal system, think of all the other things you could decriminalize!

[yezhanquan]

Originally Posted by MeoTwister5

People power isn't some sort of magic pill that makes things all better but it's a start that shows people are aware and willing to show that they will take their politics into their own hands.

In your country's case, Marcos' most damaging legacy was not the millions he plundered, but the culture of corruption and incompetence which took root during his reign. As far as I could tell, subsequent leaders had vowed to tackle it, but thus far, the actions had been lacking.

[ZephyrLeanne]

Originally Posted by JMvS

It's a few week old, but well...

Should incest still be considered a crime?

What in the world is happening in Switzerland, once the land of peace and harmonious co-habitation?

First, the minarets and burqas, now decriminalising incest? WTF? Have the right wing Catholics taken over the Federal Assembly?

[killer3000ad]

Mubarak orders govt to step down, will commission new govt tomorrow

Oh but he didn't say anything about himself stepping down. Seriously now Mubarak....

[sneaker]

Originally Posted by ZephyrLeanne

What in the world is happening in Switzerland, once the land of peace and harmonious co-habitation?

First, the minarets and burqas, now decriminalising incest? WTF? Have the right wing Catholics taken over the Federal Assembly?

Are you suggesting that right wing catholics are opposing the ban on incest or did I just not get your irony?

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by ZephyrLeanne

What in the world is happening in Switzerland, once the land of peace and harmonious co-habitation?

First, the minarets and burqas, now decriminalising incest? WTF? Have the right wing Catholics taken over the Federal Assembly?

Minarets and burqas are fine. Clamping down on such religious exclusivity is a good thing - it is a deterrence towards radicalism by showing that it isn't tolerated.

As for decriminalising incest, I shall be apathetic on this. Not that I mind, though I am worried about future ramifications of mutants and pedigrees.

[Ithekro]

Might alway because of the low birthrate. Perhaps too much of the population is related to each other over time, thus can no longer legally breed.

[Simon]

The five most-read stories on the BBC right now:



Who says people don't care?

[ZephyrLeanne]

Originally Posted by sneaker

Are you suggesting that right wing catholics are opposing the ban on incest or did I just not get your irony?

Ask the Pope about his troubles in Ireland, and not on the north side of the border.
You know...

Spoiler for :

Paedophilic priests.

Originally Posted by Simon

The five most-read stories on the BBC right now:



Who says people don't care?

I wonder about Number 2...

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by Simon

The five most-read stories on the BBC right now:



Who says people don't care?

Well because :

U.S. stocks reel on Egypt, oil; Dow halts weekly wins

[defrule]

This is a few days old:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...ow/7357005.cms

[sneaker]

Originally Posted by ZephyrLeanne

Ask the Pope about his troubles in Ireland, and not on the north side of the border.
You know...

Spoiler for :

Paedophilic priests.

And what exactly is the relationship of incest and pedophilia for Catholic priests who are unlikely to raise any children of their own?

[ganbaru]

Originally Posted by Decagon

A low number of people sentenced per year? What an odd reason. If we imagine a supremely incompetent legal system, think of all the other things you could decriminalize!

I could understand if it was a obscure, obsolete and almost forgoted law, but it isn't the case here...
So what's next ? necrophilia ?

[ZephyrLeanne]

Originally Posted by sneaker

And what exactly is the relationship of incest and pedophilia for Catholic priests who are unlikely to raise any children of their own?

Heard of the slippery slope?

[sneaker]

Originally Posted by ZephyrLeanne

Heard of the slippery slope?

I had to look it up, but I don't get you. Don't beat around the bush. If you are seriously proposing that right wing Catholics are mostly in favor of the legalization you are wrong.

You should also note that the proposal came from the Federal Council and not the Assembly. The former consists of only seven persons. Furthermore the ban on minarets was decided by the Swiss people in a referendum.

[SaintessHeart]

Moment of reckoning for large food makers

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — At what point will grocery shoppers gag on higher prices?

The answer to that question will go a long way toward determining food companies’ share prices this year. So far, investors are taking a wait-and-see approach to the sector, but there’s a sense a showdown is coming soon.

Agricultural commodity costs continue to surge and brand-name food makers still must vie with cheaper store brands that gained popularity during the recession.

During this four-month rally for the U.S. stock market, Kraft Foods (KFT 30.53, -0.01, -0.03%) , Campbell Soup (CPB 34.45, -0.24, -0.69%) , General Mills (GIS 34.94, -0.45, -1.27%) and other packaged food makers have not kept pace.

Compared with the 20% gain for the S&P 500 since Sept. 1, the S&P Food Products Index is up 3%. Campbell shares are down 6%, General Mills is off 2% and Kraft is flat.

Food companies became less appetizing as 2010 wore on. Ineffective price wars and sluggish volume growth disappointed investors as did less sanguine outlooks from food makers. Analysts responded by reining in their profit projections, moves that constrained share prices.

Kellogg will be looking to some pop back in its cereal sales after a rough 2010. Kellogg and other food companies plan to raise prices as agricultural commodity costs soar.

Now, surging prices for corn, wheat, coffee and dairy products are of concern. Brand-name food companies are implementing modest price increases to protect their margins. But the move might keep a lid on the amount of food sold if shoppers opt for cheaper store brands.

Unless food companies successfully pass along price increases and volumes improve, “I believe the pressures could worsen,” said Rob Dickerson, analyst at Consumer Edge Research, who last year made timely stock calls on Kellogg (K 50.49, -0.36, -0.71%) and Sara Lee. (SLE 17.17, -0.47, -2.66%)

Looking ahead, can Kraft make the Cadbury deal pay off for investors? Will new items help Kellogg jump start cereal sales after twice cutting its forecast in 2010? Can Campbell convince consumers to buy more soup?

The wave of food company earnings starts Feb. 2 with Hershey, followed by Kellogg on Feb. 3. Sara Lee reports Feb. 8 and Kraft issues earnings Feb. 10. Analysts at Janney Capital and Wells Fargo Securities recently upgraded Hershey (HSY 47.04, -0.79, -1.65%) to a buy, predicting its growth will outpace others in the food sector.

Matt Kaufler, portfolio manager for the Federated Clover Value Fund /quotes/comstock/10r!vfcix (VFCIX 14.61, -0.19, -1.28%) , is one investor who isn’t counting on the food group to outperform the broader stock market this year.

If the economy and consumer confidence continues to improve, he thinks investors will put money into faster-growing sectors. “Share prices will be somewhat stagnant,” said Kaufler, whose fund owns Kraft and H.J. Heinz. (HNZ 47.62, -0.53, -1.10%)

Barclays Capital analyst Andrew Lazar believes fundamentals at food companies will recover with companies cutting back on heavy promotions.

Still, “it will be a slow grind at best,” said Lazar, who estimates Wall Street’s earnings expectations for the major food companies are too high for 2010’s fourth quarter and the first quarter of 2011.

Large food makers are planning to unleash new products, which often carry higher price tags and can help improve volumes as shoppers are lured to try something new. Most food companies backed off innovation during the economic downturn, instead focusing on ditching marginal products, closing manufacturing plants and slashing supply-chain costs.

If new products fall flat and consumers shun higher prices, profit estimates for food companies will be scrutinized come this summer, said Deutsche Bank analyst Eric Katzman.

“Should the consumer stay in hibernation, this will present meaningful challenges to growth and meeting stated financial targets,” Katzman said in his Jan. 5 outlook report.

Supermarket chains, whose margins suffered last year when food prices dropped in value and consumers stocked up less, are passing along price increases from food companies.

Supervalu Chief Executive Craig Herkert forecast Jan. 11 prices for items sold in center-aisles of grocery stores would go up between 3% and 14%, based on dealings with vendors. He said Supervalu /quotes/comstock/13*!svu/quotes/nls/svu (SVU 7.38, -0.14, -1.86%) would try to keep prices down.

While investors wait to see how the scenario of price increases and higher commodity bills plays out, there should be some support for shares of food companies in the form of healthy dividends and potential industry consolidation.

Food makers generate steady cash flows and have long grown their dividends, making them a relatively safe place for more conservative investors seeking steady income even if share prices stay subdued.

Acquisitions remain a wild card. Low interest rates will keep this a possibility as private equity buyers like to use debt to finance deals.

Del Monte Foods (DLM 18.91, +0.01, +0.05%) is being acquired for $4 billion by a consortium of private equity shops, while suitors have been circling Sara Lee, whose shares have spiked the last few months. Sara Lee said Friday it plans to split its company into two publicly traded companies.

Let's pray that Giffen goods do not kick in, or it will be cheaper to eat your banknotes instead of trading them for a pack of cornflakes.