Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/188973427?client_source=feed&format=rss
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Sunday, January 22, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Video: What does Perry's exit mean for rest of GOP field?
High stakes in South Carolina, where Republicans there have picked the party?s eventual nominee for the last 32 years. We?ll have complete analysis of the crucial contest and breakdown the results, including what they will mean for the road ahead. Joining us: Host of MSNBC?s ?Morning Joe,? Joe Scarborough, Republican strategist Mike Murphy, the BBC?s Katty Kay, and NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd.
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/vp/46058023#46058023
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U.S. economy losing competitive edge: survey (Reuters)
BOSTON (Reuters) ? The United States is becoming less economically competitive versus other nations, with political gridlock and a weak primary education system seen as the main drag, according to a survey released on Wednesday.
In particular, the nation is falling behind emerging market rivals and just keeping pace with other advanced economies, according to a Harvard Business School survey of 9,750 of its alumni in the United States and 121 other countries.
Seventy-one percent of respondents expected the U.S. to become less competitive, less able to compete in the global economy with U.S. firms less able to pay high wages and benefits, the study found.
The findings come at a time when high unemployment is a major concern for Americans, with 23.7 million out-of-work and underemployed, and the economy the top issue ahead of November's presidential election.
"The U.S. is losing out on business location decisions at an alarming rate" said Michael Porter, a Harvard Business School professor who was a co-author of the study.
U.S. companies, which slashed headcount sharply during the 2007-2009 recession, have been slow to rehire since the downturn's official end and some have continued to cut. This month, Archer Daniels Midland Co (ADM.N), Kraft Foods Inc (KFT.N) and Novartis AG (NOVN.XV) all said they would be cutting U.S. jobs this year.
Survey respondents said they remained more likely to move operations out of the United States than back in. Of 1,005 who considered offshoring facilities in the past year, 51 percent decided to move versus just 10 percent who opted to keep their facilities in the country, with the balance not yet decided.
Respondents, graduates of the prestigious business school who were polled from October 4 through November 4, were particularly concerned about how the United States was shaping up versus emerging nations such as China, Brazil and India, with 66 percent saying the United States was falling behind.
WEAK POINTS
Among respondents who had decided to move operations out of the United States over the past year, 70 percent cited lower wages as the reason they chose a new location, pointing to what is widely seen as emerging markets' main advantage.
While the United States held up better compared to other advanced economies, with about 70 percent saying it was keeping pace competitively, 21 percent said the U.S. was also falling behind other wealthy countries, such as those in Western Europe and Japan.
The United States' main disadvantages compared with other advanced economies were the complexity of its tax code, the ineffectiveness of its political system and the weakness of its educational system from kindergarten through high school.
Higher education fared better, with respondents citing high-quality universities as the nation's top competitive advantage.
Asked what the U.S. government could do to improve its competitive position, respondents top recommendations were to simplify the tax code, reform immigration policies and reduce the corporate tax rate.
(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)
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Friday, January 20, 2012
Markets cautious as Greece meets creditors again
Passers-by are reflected on an electronic stock board displaying the U.S. dollar's quotation, top, and that of the euro, below, against the Japanese yen at a securities firm in Tokyo, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Passers-by are reflected on an electronic stock board displaying the U.S. dollar's quotation, top, and that of the euro, below, against the Japanese yen at a securities firm in Tokyo, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
LONDON (AP) ? Financial markets were cautious Friday ahead of another round of debt-reduction talks between Greece and its private creditors that could determine whether Europe's debt crisis flares up again.
While meeting with debt inspectors from the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the Greek government is also holding a third day of talks with creditors over a deal to get them to reduce the value of their Greek bond holdings. Greece is seeking to get creditors to agree a euro100 billion ($129 billion) writedown.
Heads of the inspection team are meeting with Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos ahead of the next round of discussions with the creditors. A deal is necessary if Greece is to get the next batch of bailout cash that would prevent a devastating debt default ? Greece does not have enough money to cover a euro14.5 billion bond repayment in March.
Last October, Greece's partners in the eurozone sanctioned a deal whereby private creditors would take a cut in the value of their bond holdings to help lighten the country's debt burden.
Hopes for such a deal as well as a run of successful European bond auctions and solid economic and corporate news, not least from the U.S. and China, have helped shore up market sentiment in recent days. Many stock indexes have risen to five-month highs, while the euro has clambered off 17-month dollar lows.
Having booked such gains, investors were more cautious on Friday.
"Optimism of a deal beginning to fade as the weekend approaches," said Michael Hewson, markets analyst at CMC Markets.
In Europe, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was flat at 5,741 while Germany's DAX fell 0.5 percent to 6,385. The CAC-40 in France was down 0.5 percent too at 3,312.
The euro gave up some recent gains, and was trading 0.5 percent lower at $1.2898.
Wall Street was poised for a subdued opening, too ? Dow futures were down 0.1 percent at 12,571 while the broader Standard & Poor's 500 futures fell 0.3 percent to 1,307.
Analysts warned that the recent optimism in the markets could disappear if Greece fails to successfully conclude its debt-reduction negotiations with the Institute of International Finance, which represents private sector bondholders.
A deal is unlikely to bring an end to Greece's debt problems, which is the heart of Europe's debt crisis.
Investors may conclude that a restructuring in Greece is not a one-off, but may be repeated in other debt-hobbled countries across the troubled 17-nation eurozone.
Ireland and Portugal have both been bailed out too. Portugal is widely-considered to be more at risk of needing further help than Ireland because of a lack of economic growth.
"There remains the danger for bondholders that at some stage Portuguese politicians decide to follow the Greek example," said Gary Jenkins, director of Swordfish Research.
Earlier in Asia in the last trading day before Chinese New Year holidays begin Monday, the Shanghai Composite Index climbed 1 percent to 2,319.12. Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 1.5 percent to close at 8,766.36. Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.8 percent to 20,110.37 and South Korea's Kospi jumped 1.8 percent to 1,949.89.
Oil prices tracked equities lower ? benchmark oil for February delivery was up 84 cents to $99.55 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
___
Pamela Sampson in Bangkok contributed to this story.
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Pitt & Clooney Lead Nominees for British Oscars
Academy Award nominations won't be announced until Jan. 24, but until then we've got the nods for the British version of the Oscars -- the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards -- to tide us over.
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Thursday, January 19, 2012
Tomlinson says Jets' turmoil was worst he's seen
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) hands the ball to running back LaDainian Tomlinson (21) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) hands the ball to running back LaDainian Tomlinson (21) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
New York Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes (10) sits alone on the bench in the closing minutes of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, in Miami. The Dolphins defeated the Jets 19-17. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
NEW YORK (AP) ? LaDainian Tomlinson has never seen a locker room as troubled as the one he was in with the New York Jets this season.
In an interview with Showtime's "Inside The NFL" airing Wednesday night, the running back said the team was plagued by tension between players as the Jets finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs after two straight trips to the AFC championship game. Tomlinson said quarterback Mark Sanchez and wide receiver Santonio Holmes, in particular, had a rocky relationship.
"It is as bad as I've ever been around, honestly," Tomlinson said of the locker room. "And I've been around some locker rooms and quarterback-receiver situations and what-not. But it was as bad as I've been around."
The NFL's fifth-leading rusher added that the problems got "out-of-hand toward the end of the season," and were created by the brash approach of coach Rex Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum.
"This is the type of football team that they wanted," said Tomlinson, the NFL's fifth-leading rusher. "Mike Tannenbaum, Rex Ryan are both brash, in-your-face type of style ? say whatever you want, just get it done on the field. And then it leads to other things, as guys are calling each other out and saying, 'I'm not getting the ball' or whatever it may be."
Holmes was benched during the season finale at Miami after arguing in the huddle with teammates. Tomlinson said the tensions escalated to the point during the season where the players couldn't do anything about it.
"When it gets to that point, there are certain changes that need to happen," he said. "Can it be fixed? I think absolutely it can be, but they're going to have to make some tough decisions."
Holmes criticized the offensive line during the season, saying it wasn't protecting Sanchez enough or giving him enough time to get the ball down the field to the receivers. Right guard Brandon Moore shot back, saying his public comments could have a "fracturing effect" and not the way a team captain ? which Holmes was ? should conduct business.
Tomlinson was asked if he would bring back both Sanchez and Holmes, given all the problems.
"Whew, that is a tough one," Tomlinson said. "I would really have to sit down with them and see if they can co-exist, honestly. I mean that is a decision that I really have to make. And if I really feel like they can't, then you have to make a move."
Tomlinson said the Jets players poked fun at the feud, calling it the "East Coast-West Coast beef," with Holmes being from Florida and Sanchez from Southern California.
"In all seriousness, Santonio, obviously, he is a great player," Tomlinson said. "There are some things that obviously he needs to work on as far as being a leader."
Sanchez struggled down the stretch, throwing seven interceptions in the Jets' last three games ? all losses. He was highly criticized during the season by fans and media, and those comments intensified after the Jets' final game. The Daily News quoted an anonymous player saying Sanchez was "lazy," something Tomlinson disputed. But the running back agreed that Sanchez was "a bit pampered" because he had no real threat in the roster to take his job.
"He is not a lazy guy," Tomlinson said. "He puts in the time after practice in the film room. He can get it done. He just has to have pieces around him to help him get it done."
The 32-year-old Tomlinson will be a free agent after two seasons with the Jets, and is considering retirement.
"I love playing for Rex," Tomlinson said before adding that he wished the coach would tune down the bravado.
"I don't mind every now and again saying we are going to win a championship," he said. "Maybe at the beginning of the year just saying, 'Hey, our goal is to win a championship.' But at the same time every week if you are calling out a team on certain things, I think it puts a little extra on your team. Guys really want to go out there and say, 'Let's shut this guy up. Let's shut these Jets up, just end their season.'"
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Is the wrecked Costa Concordia an 'ecological timebomb'? (The Week)
New York ? The resort town of Giglio watches nervously as clean-up crews prepare to pump thousands of tons of oil from the capsized cruise ship
The capsized Costa Concordia cruise ship that hit a rock just off the Tuscan island of Giglio over the weekend now represents an "ecological time bomb," warns Giglio's mayor. Indeed, says Richard Black at the BBC, "we have a big ship with tanks full of fuel, aground on an island in a sea fringed with natural protected areas." Clearly, "the worst case scenario is pretty bad." How bad? Here's what you should know:
How much fuel is onboard?
The 114,500-ton ship was?carrying?more than 2,400 tons of fuel in its 17 tanks. "So far, there's good news," says Wendy Koch at USA Today: There's no oil leaking into the sea... at least not yet.?But "the race is now on to secure the ship,"?says Leo Hickman at Britain's?Guardian.
How will clean-up crews extract the oil?
"The process involves drilling holes at the highest and lowest points of the tanks and fitting valves to them," says Richard Black at the BBC. Seawater will then "exert pressure from the bottom, forcing the oil up and out of the top valve." Once fuel is pumped out of the ship, it "will be replaced by water in the tanks to ensure that the ship" remains stable, reports AFP.?Officials estimate that the clean-up effort, which will begin as soon as Italy gives the okay, will take three to four weeks, Koch reports. The "big risk in the meantime," says Black, is that the 950-foot ship may begin "breaking up," causing a damaging spill before the oil can be safely extracted.
And the surrounding environment is sensitive?
It's a "major marine sanctuary" ? the largest in Italy,?says AFP. It's full of rare frogs, gulls, coral, and even "the occasional Mediterranean monk seal ? a critically endangered species," Black says. And it's not just wildlife. Giglio itself is famous for its "sandy beaches and rustic charm," and?is a "major holiday destination in the summer, when the population swells from around 800 permanent residents to some 5,000 people."
Are there any other risks??
The hulking ship itself could damage the environment, says Koch, particularly "from the refuse it leaves behind." Right now, says one environmental researcher, "it's like a small city moving from one place to another" in the sea. Obviously, the ship has to be removed, Hickman notes. And Costa Crociere ? the company that owns the vessel ? plans to "refloat the ship, then tow it away for possible repairs and reuse." If that fails, the cruise ship "would have to be cut up for scrap, a process that could take months, even years."
Sources:?AFP,?BBC,?The Guardian, Huffington Post, USA Today
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