News Stories

[MrTerrorist]

South Africa World Cup 'just for the rich'
This is a sad reality that all major sports events have where the small local business aren't allowed to benefit from these events with only the big company sponsors are allowed to.

[NinjaYali]

Happy VE Day in Russia. Day when Europe was liberated by Red Army.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by NinjaYali

Happy VE Day in Russia. Day when Europe was liberated by Red Army.

There is one piece of brutality that Stalin enacted that actually saved the entire Russia - the "Not a step back!" policy in which gave the Commissars the right to shoot retreating soldiers. The soldiers either died getting shot by Nazis or their own people.

It is disgusting, but the incredibly effective human wave attack blunted the blitzkrieg on the Eastern Front, and negated the Nazi's close-air-support capability of their Stuka Bombers to avoid friendly fire. The Nazis got outnumbered almost in the proportion of 10:1, with the Soviet dead numbering over 8 million and Nazis numbering 3 million. In total with civilians, it was estimated around 28 million killed.

And the Brits sent the Welsh Guards.....I thought they would send the Royal Marine Commandos.

[TinyRedLeaf]

SHOCK AND AWE
euro package lifts markets

Brussels (May 10): A US$1 trillion global emergency package to stabilise the euro unleashed a spectacular rally in European stocks and bonds today but analysts said European Union leaders had only bought time to tackle deep-seated fiscal problems.

The "shock and awe" rescue plan — the biggest since G20 leaders threw money at the global economy following the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 — triggered the biggest one-day rise in European shares in 17 months after panic selling last week.

The euro rose as much as 3 per cent after weeks of draining confidence, and financial shares were among the biggest gainers, along with the bonds of Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain, pejoratively nicknamed the PIGS by traders.

For the first time in six months of a deepening debt crisis that began in Greece, European leaders appeared to have got ahead of the curve with decisive action, analysts said.

But the deal left many longer-term questions about whether Europe's weakest economies can manage their debt and how the European Union can develop more coherent economic and fiscal policies to underpin the single currency.

The European Central Bank immediately began implementing its part of a deal hammered out among EU finance ministers, central bankers and the IMF, with euro-zone central banks buying government bonds in the open market.

"The EU has taken a decisive action to stamp out the speculative attack against the euro and this should be sufficient to bring some calm into the market," said Klaus Wiener, head of research at Generali Investments.

The deal won global endorsement from the Group of Eight and G20 major economies. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Beijing would support actions to help Greece overcome its sovereign-debt crisis, state media reported.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who for months resisted pressure to aid Athens over a debt crisis that eventually sent market tremors around the world, said the measures were necessary to guarantee the future of the euro.

"This package serves to strengthen and protect our common currency," she told reporters in Berlin. "We are protecting people's money in Germany."

But Germans, ever the sticklers for budget discipline, may have already signalled their unhappiness with Mrs Merkel's centre-right coalition, which lost a key regional election on Sunday.

- REUTERS

Hooray to panicked markets. Nice to see some quick profits from just one weekend of fishing in troubled waters. Still, it's too early to celebrate — the euphoria will dissipate once people realise the problem isn't anywhere near over.

[SaintessHeart]

Since the news was taken around the last hour, I took the liberty of drawing lines on the 15 minute chart, then converting it to the daily chart. The red line is the daily equidistant channel from the past month, while the blue line is the converted market rally from the past 15 minutes.

Spoiler for chart:

The rally probably won't last more than one or two days. After that, it would either continue to drop, or the price will stabilise at around 1.30x - 1.33x. Meanwhile for today, it will probably bounce around 1.269 and 1.298 like this :

Spoiler for chart:

Yeah, I am taking a rather risky gamble on a buy trade.

Whoever's doing trading here - I think it would be best that we shouldn't be too greedy. Use trailing stops, and don't forget to set your stop losses.

P.S I thought there would be some damned scalping opportunity. Those stupid candlesticks aren't moving much, meaning people really aren't as radical to the news as expected. Either that or it is during the lunch hours. The largest price change is only 24 pips ($0.0024) and the total change is only 63 pips ($0.0063) for the last hour!

Spoiler for chart - I promise, this is the last one.:

[SeijiSensei]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

Riker's theory would suggest a Lab/Lib/SDP outcome with a total of 324 seats.

The problem with another Lib-Lab coalition is Gordon Brown. Any deal which doesn't include him resigning as PM would be disastrous for the LibDems in my mind, since Brown was the clearest loser last night. Replacing Brown and accepting some type of referendum on "electoral reform," as Brown offered today, seems the only path to a Lib-Lab pact.

Well, step one has happened: Gordon Brown is stepping down as Labour leader. In true Brownian fashion, he says he'll step aside some time between now and the Labour Conference in the fall.

Riker's looking better and better, too. Lib/Lab/SDLP/SDP/Plaid is an absolute majority at 327 regardless of what Sinn Fein does.

[TinyRedLeaf]

Elena Kagan chosen by Obama for Supreme Court

Washington (May 10): President Barack Obama nominated Solicitor-General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court today, declaring the former Harvard Law School dean "one of the nation's foremost legal minds". She would be the court's youngest justice and give it three female members for the first time.

The nomination to replace liberal retiring Justice John Paul Stevens set the stage for a bruising confirmation battle, though mathematically Democrats should be able to prevail in the end.

At 50, Kagan is relatively young for the lifetime post and could help shape the high court's decisions for decades. If confirmed by the Senate, she would become only the fourth female justice in history.

- AP

Man kills eight in latest China rampage attack

Beijing (May 9): A man today stabbed to death eight people including his wife, elderly mother and young daughter in a village in south-eastern China, the latest in a spate of rampage attacks that have shocked the nation.

The suspect, identified as Zhou Yezhong, waged his killing spree in the village of Chengyuan in Jiangxi province yesterday (May 8), the Xinhua news agency reported today, quoting police and residents.

China has been shaken in recent weeks by multiple cases* of mass violence, including attacks on children at schools. Some have been blamed on the attackers' mental illness and others on the pressures of a rapidly changing society and a lack of a strong social-support system.

Recent rage attacks*
March 23: A 42-year-old jobless man stabbed eight children to death outside their primary school on March 23. He was executed on April 28 in south-east China's Fujian province.

April 28: A 33-year-old art teacher diagnosed with severe neurosis injured 16 pupils and a teacher with a knife at a primary school in Leizhou City, in south China's Guangdong Province.

April 29: A 47-year-old jobless man armed with a knife broke into a kindergarten in east China's Jiangsu province and injured 29 children and three teachers by stabbing and slashing them.

April 30: Five kindergarten-class children and a teacher were injured when a 45-year-old man attacked them with a hammer before killing himself at a primary school in east China's Shandong Province. He then set himself on fire and died.

Cities around China have taken a number of measures the attacks, with the public-security ministry calling for stepped-up security around schools and kindergartens. In south-western Chongqing, a sprawling metropolis of more than 30 million people, police have decided to take no chances.

The Chongqing Evening News reported: "The police have clear regulations in these odious cases where direct attacks occurring at or in the vicinity of schools have injured students or children — if they cannot contain the violent acts, police can shoot to kill in accordance with the law."

- AP, AFP, TIMES ONLINE, MAINICHI DAILY NEWS

Errors and violence mar Philippine polls

Manila (May 10): Ten people were killed today as bouts of violence marred the Philippine elections while problems with vote-counting machines frustrated voters in the country's first automated ballot.

More than 40 million Filipinos were expected to turn up at polling stations across the archipelago to elect a successor to President Gloria Arroyo, whose near decade-long rule has been tarnished by allegations of corruption.

Mr Noynoy Aquino, a 50-year-old bachelor, is the favourite to win the presidency after riding a wave of popular sentiment for his democracy-hero parents, the late Benigno Aquino Jr and Corazon Aquino.

But violence that always plagues Philippine politics, as well as problems with the nation's first effort at using computers to count votes, fuelled long-standing concerns about whether the election would be credible.

- AFP

US diplomat warns Myanmar over elections

Yangon (May 10): A senior US diplomat has spoken of his "profound disappointment" at Myanmar's preparations for an election this year.

Assistant secretary of state for East Asia Kurt Campbell warned the ruling junta that the poll would not be recognised by the international community.

Mr Campbell met Myanmar's detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi today amid concern over planned elections in the military-run nation.

He called for the release of all political prisoners in Myanmar.

- BBC NEWS

Wii sales since launch top 70m worldwide

Tokyo (May 10): According to Nintendo's latest financials, the Wii console has topped 70 million units sold worldwide since its launch in late 2006. Some 20.53 million units alone were sold in the fiscal year that ended on March 31 this year.

The number, 70.93 million, represents about 49 per cent of the home-console market, with rivals Xbox 360 and PS3 controlling 27 and 24 per cent, respectively.

- AFTERDAWN.COM

[SeijiSensei]

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

Elena Kagan chosen by Obama for Supreme Court

My guess is that Obama will get to appoint a successor to Ginsburg and maybe Breyer if he chooses to go, but I don't see any other vacancies arising even if Obama gets re-elected in 2012. Scalia, at 74, won't leave with a Democrat in office unless he keels over. (Stevens, though still vigorous and clear-eyed at 90, waited out Bush.) Kennedy, at 73, has a good chance of outlasting Obama as well. That means Obama probably won't get to reorient the Court; at best he'll get to replace the older "liberal" Justices with younger ones of roughly similar ideological propensities. Kennedy will remain the "swing" vote.

[Arbitres]

April 30: Five kindergarten-class children and a teacher were injured when a 45-year-old man attacked them with a hammer before killing himself at a primary school in east China's Shandong Province. He then set himself on fire and died.

Yes, threaten people with a hammer, before killing yourself, and then setting yourself on fire. Excellent strategy, no one saw it coming.

Ever.

[Roger Rambo]

The hell is with all these random assaults against fucking kids going on in China? This doesn't seem remotely logical. None of these guys seem to be involved with the schools. They're not familiy men. The recipients of their random acts of aggression have no bearing in their problems in life...you can figure the motives for some guy who shoots up his work place or school...but this is just insane.

Originally Posted by MrTerrorist

South Africa World Cup 'just for the rich'
This is a sad reality that all major sports events have where the small local business aren't allowed to benefit from these events with only the big company sponsors are allowed to.

I've really started to become quit cynical about all these large scale international sporting events extravaganza's.

Especially the Olympics.

Originally Posted by NinjaYali

Happy VE Day in Russia. Day when Europe was liberated by Red Army.

Indeed. Having all the old WW2 allies perform in a victory parade together is a nice show of solidarity.

...though to be fair I doubt the Polocks felt very liberated.

Russia and Germany conquer and divide Poland
Poland:What the fuck?
Germany conquers Russian half of Poland. Demands to be treated as liberating hero
Poland:What the fuck?
Russia reconquers all of Poland from Germany. Demands to be treated as liberating hero
Poland:What the fuck?

[ganbaru]

Originally Posted by Roger Rambo

Indeed. Having all the old WW2 allies perform in a victory parade together is a nice show of solidarity.

...though to be fair I doubt the Polocks felt very liberated.

Russia and Germany conquer and divide Poland
Poland:What the fuck?
Germany conquers Russian half of Poland. Demands to be treated as liberating hero
Poland:What the fuck?
Russia reconquers all of Poland from Germany. Demands to be treated as liberating hero
Poland:What the fuck?

''What the fuck?'' was really light compared to the reality, no? And of course the 'liberators'' did more than just ask to be treated as hero...

[bladeofdarkness]

Nearly 100 dead in Iraq's most lethal day of the year

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/1...#ixzz0nZbgh2yG

BAGHDAD -- Nearly 100 people died and at least 300 others were injured Monday in a series of attacks that crisscrossed Iraq, targeting security forces, factory workers and shoppers on what authorities called the deadliest day of the year.
The violence - a combination of explosions and drive-by shootings at checkpoints - occurred against a backdrop of political stagnation since the March parliamentary elections, which pitted Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki against secular rival Ayad Allawi in a race so close that the outcome is still disputed.

The stalemate has given rise to fears of renewed sectarian violence, a potential hindrance to the full withdrawal of U.S. forces as scheduled at the end of next year. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks.

With a steady stream of bombings and security leadership in flux, some Iraqi politicians have called for forming an interim monitoring system until a new parliament is seated. That idea appeared to gain traction Monday, as the death toll rose throughout the day after bombings in Baghdad as well as the mainly Shiite Muslim south and Sunni Muslim west.

"The parliament is in limbo, so who is there to call the government to account and demand to know why security is slipping?" Tania Talaat, a Kurdish lawmaker, told the Sharqiya satellite TV channel Monday. "It's because there's no one to monitor their performance. The security forces should not be affected by the political atmosphere and the tensions between the political rivals."

While violence erupted Monday in practically every region of Iraq, Baghdad and southern provinces were the hardest hit.

Baghdad authorities recorded seven drive-by shootings at Iraqi army and police checkpoints throughout the capital, beginning at sunrise and ending with at least seven security forces dead and another 17 wounded. Three roadside bombs struck other checkpoints and a patrol, resulting in more casualties.

A car bomb in the populous southern port city of Basra on Monday evening killed or wounded more than 60 people, with casualty figures uncertain. An hour later, at about 7 p.m., another bomb exploded in a busy electronics market just north of Basra, local authorities said. There was no immediate word on casualties.

Also in the south, an explosion ripped through the main marketplace in the town of Swaira in Wasit province before noon, killing at least 16 people and wounding more than 80, local police said.

In nearby Babil province, two car bombs exploded outside a textile factory at the afternoon shift change, when the area was packed with workers and their taxis or minibuses, witnesses and authorities said. When paramedics and bystanders tried to rescue victims of the twin blasts, a third explosion detonated.

almost 100 dead in one day, thats got to be a new record or something
i've heard it said somewhere that there have been more terrorist attacks and victims in iraq then there have been in any other place on earth.

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by Arbitres

Yes, threaten people with a hammer, before killing yourself, and then setting yourself on fire. Excellent strategy, no one saw it coming.

Ever.

If it wasn't for the fact a some people got seriously hurt by this maroon, I'd say it sounded like a Daffy Duck vaudeville routine.... "I can only do it once".

[killer3000ad]

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

Man kills eight in latest China rampage attack

For some reason this reminds me of Durarara!!

[SaintessHeart]

Dear Miss Merkel,

Your bailout plan isn't working, and I lost $300 on a buy trade.



The red line shows the approximate time the news was released.

More updates later tonight......the 2 day period hasn't end yet.

[LynnieS]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Dear Miss Merkel,

Your bailout plan isn't working, and I lost $300 on a buy trade.

The red line shows the approximate time the news was released.

More updates later tonight......the 2 day period hasn't end yet.

You are buying Euros - in the hopes of catching the bottom? Umm, have you ever heard of the term "catch a falling knife"? I hope you are making sure to set your stops before placing the order...

More of Gulf of Mexico closed to fishing

NEW ORLEANS – Federal officials have expanded an area that is off-limits to fishing because of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Man, I have family down there... but at least they aren't involved in fishing or tourism.

[justsomeguy]

Originally Posted by Roger Rambo

The hell is with all these random assaults against fucking kids going on in China? This doesn't seem remotely logical. None of these guys seem to be involved with the schools. They're not familiy men. The recipients of their random acts of aggression have no bearing in their problems in life...you can figure the motives for some guy who shoots up his work place or school...but this is just insane.

Actually, the one in the story killed his daughter first, so he was a family man. I'm actually surprised that it's not sexually frustrated men who cannot find mates who do this.

...though to be fair I doubt the Polocks felt very liberated.

Russia and Germany conquer and divide Poland
Poland:What the fuck?
Germany conquers Russian half of Poland. Demands to be treated as liberating hero
Poland:What the fuck?
Russia reconquers all of Poland from Germany. Demands to be treated as liberating hero
Poland:What the fuck?

Given my negative opinion of Poland, can't say I feel too badly for them. Racism, anti-semitism, and cowardliness is rampant in that country, even before the time when they were conquered.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by LynnieS

You are buying Euros - in the hopes of catching the bottom? Umm, have you ever heard of the term "catch a falling knife"? I hope you are making sure to set your stops before placing the order...

Doji analysis doesn't really work in currency exchanges you know....they are more suited for futures and equities where reactions are much larger and less liquid. Besides, currency rarely go defunct (not much could be said about the USD this year), they just severely devaluate, so the falling knives are not a "catch or not" issue.

I was actually planning on a short term buy trade for 30 minutes to 1 hour when my ISP gave me the blackout....when I logged back in the new candlestick was formed, perfectly BS way of losing money when it hits the stop loss.

Right now, it is hovering somewhere around 1.27xx......the bailout plan may not have exactly worked to boost the Euro, but it seems to have set a support line somewhere inside the 1.25xx and 1.26xx sector, meaning the market is very indecisive right now.

If this bailout plan fails, we may never see the Euro again nyaa~.

[Jinto]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Dear Miss Merkel,

Your bailout plan isn't working, and I lost $300 on a buy trade.

Actually in that case it worked. What were her words again... "We all have to do our homework and make sure our structures are sound. It will then be more difficult for speculators to gain ground,"

"We have to ensure that we regulate the instruments that are being used to speculate and to do so in a way that they cannot be abused, you know, bet on things that you don’t even have ownership of,"

Worked for you I suppose ... nah, actually I am sorry for you. But after I lost 2000€ with a stock gamble in 1 day, I am very cautious with such short term "golden" opportunities.

[TinyRedLeaf]

Originally Posted by Jinto

Actually in that case it worked. What were her words again... "We all have to do our homework and make sure our structures are sound. It will then be more difficult for speculators to gain ground,"

"We have to ensure that we regulate the instruments that are being used to speculate and to do so in a way that they cannot be abused, you know, bet on things that you don’t even have ownership of,"

Worked for you I suppose ... nah, actually I am sorry for you. But after I lost 2000€ with a stock gamble in 1 day, I am very cautious with such short term "golden" opportunities.

Fundamentals are your friend. Spot a good business you can trust, buy when it's cheap and hold till it hits your target price.

Of course, if only I followed my own advice all the time. Oh well, I chalk it up to all-too-necessary tuition fees.