News Archives - Summer 2009!

News Sept-Oct 2009

THU 8th OCT 2009

Warning over global oil 'decline' BBC News Sarah Mukherjee

There is a "significant risk" that global production of conventional oil could "peak" and decline by 2020, a report has warned.

Peak oil could hit soon, report says

guardian.co.uk

Era of cheap, easy oil is over, warns study

Telegraph.co.uk

China calls time on dollar hegemony

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard Telegraph

You can date the end of dollar hegemony from China's decision last month to sell its first batch of sovereign bonds in Chinese yuan to foreigners.

Will California become America's first failed state? guardian.co.uk

Los Angeles, 2009: California may be the eighth largest economy in the world, but its state staff are being paid in IOUs, unemployment is at its highest in 70 years, and teachers are on hunger strike.

"Lucky break" slows spread of swine flu guardian.co.uk

Britain's swine flu outbreak is slowing down, possibly as the result of a "lucky break" in the way the virus has behaved, the chief medical officer said today.

7th OCT 2009

The demise of the dollar Independent

In a graphic illustration of the new world order, Arab states have launched secret moves with China, Russia and France to stop using the US currency for oil trading

The end of the dollar spells the rise of a new order Independent

This radical proposal is a reflection of a changing economic world

Colin Campbell: "What are the financial consequences of Peak Oil"? LATOC Archives

Matt Savinar: The Most Important Thing You Don't Know About "Peak Oil" LATOC Archives

Richard Heinberg: "Will you be eating after the economy collapses?" LATOC Archives

6th OCT 2009

Peak Oil: The End Of the Oil Age is Near, Deutsche Bank Says

Wall Street Journal

Police opt for electric Mitsubishi Channel 4

Police forces in the UK are turning to electric power for their new fleets of panda cars. West Midlands Police force will be the first force to run Mitsubishi's all-electric i-MiEV city car for operational use and the Japanese company says more

Potential end of dollar-based oil deals helps gold shine Marketwatch

Gulf Arab states, along with China, Russia, Japan and France, are planning to put an end to dollar-based trading in the oil market, according to an exclusive report published Tuesday in the U.K. by The Independent.

House prices: rise 'unsustainable' Telegraph.co.uk

A leading firm of economists have said that the five consecutive months of house price rises reported by the Nationwide Building Society are unsustainable.

Glaxo sees huge demand for vaccine

The Press Association

Drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline said that it was shipping another 149 million doses of its swine flu vaccine as governments step up their fight against the pandemic.

The great swine flu mystery Independent - Alistair Dawber

It's a bonanza! At least that is how some describe the drug industry's expected windfall from the swine flu pandemic

3rd OCT 2009

Obama Meets Top Afghan Commander as He Mulls Change in War Strategy

New York Times

COPENHAGEN - President Obama held an unannounced meeting here on Friday with Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, his Afghanistan commander, to discuss a possible change in strategy and a proposed troop buildup in the eight-year-old war. General McChrystal has requested as many as 40,000 more troops for the effort in Afghanistan and issued a dire report warning that without more forces the mission there would fail. Mr. Obama already sent an additional 21,000 troops earlier this year, for a total of 68,000 by this fall.

2nd OCT 2009

Five hundred more British troops set to be sent to Afghanistan

Mirror.co.uk

Five hundred more British troops will be sent to Afghanistan under plans due to be presented to the Cabinet next week. Pm Gordon Brown said yesterday: "Barack Obama and I are looking at how we can train up the Afghan army and Afghan police and improve ...

1st OCT 2009

Credit collapsing on both sides of Atlantic

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard Telegraph

Private credit is contracting on both sides of the Atlantic. The M3 money data is flashing early warning signals of a deflation crisis next year in nearly half the world economy. Emergency schemes that have propped up spending are being withdrawn, gently or otherwise.

I.M.F. Calls for Overhaul of Financial System New York Times

WED 30th SEPT 2009

Hillingdon PCT unveil Swine Flu vaccination plan Uxbridge Gazette

NHS chiefs in Hillingdon have released a plan of action ready for when a vaccine against Swine Flu is made available- and it does not include children. The PCT argue that while children are disproportionately affected by swine flu, the vast majority make a full recovery, so experts are not advising that children, other than those in at risk groups, should be vaccinated initially.

Wood chip power station given go-ahead WalesOnline

A new power station that will use wood chip to produce enough electricity to supply half a million homes was given the go-ahead by the Environment Agency today.

Four degrees of warming 'likely'

BBC News

In a dramatic acceleration of forecasts for global warming, UK scientists say the global average temperature could rise by 4C (7.2F) as early as 2060.

Prince of Wales launches campaign to save rainforest

Telegraph.co.uk

The Prince of Wales has launched a ground-breaking "SOS" text campaign to save the rainforests, backed by some of the world's biggest companies and celebrities including Sting, Joanna Lumley and Stephen Fry.

What it felt like to lose everything Times Online

We once had limitless money. My husband had a hedge fund on Wall Street - his tax return in one year alone was $50m. In New York, money is king; if you're making a great deal of it, you're a rock star.

Up to the waist in Brown's slurry on my new farm Times Online - Jeremy Clarkson

Last week I bought a farm. Though financially speaking, it's entirely possible I've bought the farm. But let's look on the bright side.

29th SEPT 2009

B-Prep Note: Lots of interesting news today...

Forced Vaccinations for New York State Workers Newsday

Forced Mandatory flu vaccination splits workers

Ten Reasons for an Imminent Stock Market Crash Seeking Alpha

The coming Population Wars: a 12-bomb equation

marketwatch

Can Gates' Billionaires Club stop these inevitable self-destruct triggers?

Robocops Employ Scary Crowd-Stopping Technology at Pittsburgh Protests

AlterNet

An arsenal of "crowd control munitions," was deployed with a massive, overpowering police presence in Pittsburgh during last week's G-20 protests.

28th SEPT 2009

Flu vaccine rekindles debate over connection to autism Calgary Herald

The much-anticipated H1N1 vaccine has given new life to an ongoing debate about whether vaccinations in children can cause autism, a discussion ...

Swine flu vaccine to contain axed additive

Gulf Times

Fear the vaccine, not the swine flu itself

Standard Freeholder

Cyclists benefit from £14m 'hubs' BBC News

Plans for £14m of investment to improve facilities for cyclists who use railway stations have been announced. Ten stations in England will get "cycle hubs" which will provide storage facilities, repair services and bicycle hire schemes.

FRI 25th SEPT 2009

Mass swine flu vaccination could begin within weeks

guardian.co.uk

Mass vaccination against swine flu could begin within weeks, following the approval of two vaccines by the European regulator today

UK swine flu vaccine 'approved' BBC News

Swine flu on the rise, as 66 schools report fresh outbreaks

guardian.co.uk

Swine flu cases in England almost doubled last week with at least 66 schools reporting outbreaks, according to the Department of Health ...

Swine flu cases double as children return to school Daily Mail

G20 to police new world economic order Telegraph.co.uk

The Group of 20 rich and developing countries is to take on a new role as caretaker of the global economy, giving rising stars such as China and India more say in world affairs.

Video: G20 protest in US: Police silence freedom of speech RT

HSBC moves East in power base shift

This is Money

HSBC plans to base all of its future chief executives in Hong Kong, signalling its belief that the shift in economic power towards the East will not be reversed.

Wilcke to head toxic asset protection scheme guardian.co.uk

The Treasury has picked a former management consultant and private equity boss to oversee the scheme. Photograph: Cate Gillon/Getty The Treasury has picked a former management consultant and private equity boss to take charge of its mammoth £585bn bank ...

BoE economist warns against too much Qauntitive Easing

Money Marketing

Bank of England chief economist Spencer Dale has warned that there is a danger of creating a new bubble in the markets if quantitative easing is over-used.

Venezuela seeking uranium with Iran's help The Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez's government says Iran is helping to detect reserves of uranium in Venezuela. Mining Minister Rodolfo Sanz says Iran has been assisting Venezuela with geophysical survey flights and geochemical analysis of the ...

Loss of soil threatens food production, UK government warns

guardian.co.uk

World consumption plunges planet into 'ecological debt' guardian.co.uk

Rich consumers are still voraciously gobbling up the world's resources, despite the worst recession in a generation, with their appetite pushing the planet into "ecological debt" from today , according to a report by think-tank the new economics ...

Fruit and veg have 'unacceptable' levels of pesticides Telegraph.co.uk

Many fruit and vegetables sold in supermarkets and greengrocers contain pesticide residues that are above the maximum legal level, an in-depth report has said.

Chemicals Found In Schools' Free Fruit

UK Express

.24th SEPT 2009

HSBC bids farewell to dollar supremacy

Telegraph.co.uk

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

The sun is setting on the US dollar as the ultra-loose monetary policy of the US Federal Reserve forces China and the vibrant economies of the emerging world to forge a new global currency order, according to a new report by HSBC.

FDIC weighs extraordinary steps to shore up fund

23rd SEPT 2009

Australia engulfed by dust storms

guardian.co.uk

Storms of red dust have produced a glowing orange sky over much of Australia's east coast as the country experiences freak weather conditions.

21st SEPT 2009

Tamiflu warning as swine flu cases rise

Shields Gazette

PARENTS whose children have been given Tamiflu for swine flu are being urged to contact their GPs if their conditions worsen. The symptoms of swine flu can be similar to other illnesses that Tamiflu is not effective in treating.

19th SEPT 2009

Babcock buys commercial arm of UK Atomic Energy Authority Times Online

One of the last remnants of Britain's once-mighty state-owned nuclear industry is to be transferred into private hands, the Government said yesterday.

Britain's nuclear caretaker privatised in Babcock sale

guardian.co.uk

Paul Reichmann gives up Canary Wharf stake Telegraph.co.uk

The founder of Canary Wharf, Paul Reichmann, has given up his stake in the London Docklands development, effectively marking the end of his 22-year involvement with the site.

Lloyds forced to abandon toxic asset plan Citywire.co.uk

18th SEPT 2009

Is Leeds rubbish war a sign of things to come for Britain? Independent

Ten days into a strike by the city's bin men and the dispute over Leeds' rubbish collection was already proving a dirty affair.

Blackstone bags a bargain and gets cut-price City offices from British Land Daily Mail

Property giant British Land has finally sold half of its £2.2billion Broadgate office complex to Blackstone - but for just £77million in cash.

Public debt hits £800m - the highest on record

Times Online

Britain is clocking up debt at a rate of £6017 per second as the Government struggles to balance the books. With tax receipts plummeting because of the recession, state borrowing grew by £16.1 billion last month - almost twice the entire budget for the ...

17th SEPT 2009

Obama shelves Europe missile plan BBC News

President Barack Obama shelves controversial US missile defence plans for Europe, in a major foreign policy shift.

Britains Year 2000 Fuel Protests Offer Chilling Preview of Future

LATOC Archives / Peak Oil Blues

Chavez Seeks to Boost Oil Output With $16 Billion China Deal

Bloomberg

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said that China will invest $16 billion to boost oil production in the country, as part of a strategy to reduce dependence on the US and strengthen oil ties ...

Rise in swine flu cases signals second wave could have begun

Telegraph.co.uk

The rise in cases was mainly seen among school age children, with six schools across the country reporting suspected outbreaks

Mass swine flu coffins warning Scotsman

MINISTERS have been urged to have thousands of cardboard coffins ready for mass deaths should swine flu take a turn for the worse

16th SEPT 2009

Rolls-Royce set for key role in UK nuclear project Telegraph.co.uk

Rolls-Royce is set to play a key role in the revival of Britain's nuclear industry after revealing plans to collaborate with EDF Energy on the construction of four new power plants.

UK Coal raises £100 million to pay down debt Times Online

UN announces ozone-killing sprays now completely banned worldwide Ha'aretz

UNEP hails Timor-Leste's signing of Montreal protocol

Xinhua

New Japanese leader is sworn in to start reform Independent

Japan's new Prime Minister took office yesterday, launching an untested government which has pledged to radically change how the nation is run and make domestic demand, not exports, the engine of economic growth.

Pilgrims Need Flu Certificates for Mecca Hajj Holiday hypermarket

Pilgrims planning to travel to Mecca for the annual Hajj will now have to produce valid flu certificates.

Tories pledge to end the database state

ZDNet UK

The Conservative Party has promised to reduce government databases and introduce stronger measures to protect people's privacy, if it wins the next general election.

Renewables focus for Wales' first 'low carbon town' New Energy Focus

15th SEPT 2009

The financial reality that Obama will not acknowledge

Times Online

Lehman: 'alarm bells should still be ringing'

Times Online

gps will be handed a £4000 bonus for swine flu jabs Daily Mail

gps will receive bonuses worth thousands of pounds to deliver the swine flu vaccine, it has been announced. Despite having seen their pay soar in recent years, they will be given more cash from the hardup NHS to carry out the ...

14th SEPT 2009

A risk of total collapse

Guardian Archive 2005

Stiglitz Says Bank Problems Bigger Than Pre-Lehman

Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel Prize- winning economist, said the U.S. has failed to fix the underlying problems of its banking system after the credit crunch and the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. “In the U.S. and many other countries, the too-big-to-fail banks have become even bigger,” Stiglitz said in an interview yesterday in Paris. “The problems are worse than they were in 2007 before the crisis.”

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: EU faces 'existential' danger from economic crisis

Telegraph

Revealed: The ghost fleet of the recession - the pictures economic csensors don't want you to see Daily Mail

The biggest and most secretive gathering of ships in maritime history lies at anchor east of Singapore. Never before photographed, it is bigger than the U.S. and British navies combined but has no crew, no cargo and no destination - and is why your Christmas stocking may be on the light side this year.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1212013/Revealed-The-ghost-fleet-recession.html#ixzz0R7QSX2Uy

What The Bankers Got Away With Newsweek

Swine flu claims life of first 'healthy' victim

Scotsman

A MIDDLE-AGED man has become the first person in Scotland to die from swine flu without having an underlying health condition. The 53-year-old, from Fife, is the eighth person in Scotland to die with the H1N1 infection.

Climate change: melting ice will trigger wave of natural disasters guardian.co.uk

Scientists at a London conference next week will warn of earthquakes, avalanches and volcanic eruptions as the atmosphere heats up and geology is altered.

Factbox: Chavez's ties with Russia: arms, energy, politics Reuters

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday recognized the pro-Russian rebel regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.

Medvedev says Venezuela key partner of Russia Xinhua

13th SEPT 2009

Latest UK Swine flu update from the NHS

Gov Monitor

Britain "close to winning" H1N1 flu fight - official Reuters UK

Lehman collapse: the drama of a mad 48 hours that will never fade Telegraph.co.uk

The collapse of Lehman Brothers started a chain of events that has cost governments $9 trillion. Here, we look back at its final days.

10th SEPT 2009

Britain heading back to the dark ages Telegraph

The UK is facing a tipping point over the next few years in its ability to generate enough power to satisfy an ever-increasing demand.

Why $200 Oil is Just Around the Corner

Rigzone News

Washington Finally Admits: Peak Oil Is Real whiskey & gunpowder

Tamiflu swine flu policy 'should be reviewed urgently'

Pulse

Prescribing experts have called for an urgent review of the NHS's use of Tamiflu in tackling the swine flu pandemic - amid concerns that the public have been misled about the drug's effectiveness.

Electric car charging points plan BBC News

Nine cities and towns in the UK are to have charging points for electric and hybrid fuelled vehicles under an £11m development plan.

Critical care doubled for return of swine flu guardian.co.uk

The government's chief scientist says a second wave of swine flu is inevitable.

Secret documents reveal Thatcher's fears that a united Germany would gain more ground than Hitler

Daily Mail

Factbox: Chavez's ties with Russia: arms, energy, politics Reuters

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday recognized the pro-Russian rebel regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.

Medvedev says Venezuela key partner of Russia Xinhua

9th SEPT, 2009

Carbon rationing may be needed by 2012, says IPPR The Ecologist

The report, Plan B? The prospects for personal carbon trading, says existing measures on reducing individuals' carbon impact, such as smart meters and the Low Carbon Buildings Programme should be given time to succeed.

North Sea oil fields could store carbon

Telegraph

Vast quantities of carbon dioxide could be stored in porous rocks beneath the North Sea, providing a potential money-spinner for the UK on a par with off-shore oil, it was claimed.

Storing carbon dioxide could be Britain's new oil industry Times Online

Pesticides fingered in UK honeybee wipeout

Register

A new study appears to have confirmed suspicions that the neonicotinoid group of pesticides is in part responsible for the dramatic decline in UK honeybee numbers, the Telegraph reports.

8th SEPT 2009

U.S. Dollar Will Weaken, Currency Crash Possible, Roubini Says

bloomberg

China Alarmed by U.S. Monetary Expansion Policy bloomberg

Meltdown 101: Why does $1000/ounce gold matter?

The Associated Press

7th SEPT 2009

***** B-Prep Note: The following three articles are a MUST-READ for anyone who wants a detailed overview of the financial collapse of 2008, and to further understand just how fragile our global systems are:

Missing Lehman Lesson of Shakeout Means Too Big Banks May Fail bloomberg

UK was hours from bank shutdown - FSA ready to close cash machines during crisis guardian.co.uk

Britain was within hours of a banking shutdown last autumn as the government battled to piece together a rescue plan for the stricken Halifax and Royal Bank of Scotland, it has emerged.

Dark days when banks reached brink of oblivion guardian.co.uk

After Lehman Brothers collapsed a year ago, financial contagion spread like a virus around the world. Here Jill Treanor and Larry Elliott tell the inside story of the manoeuvres to save British banking Sir Fred Goodwin went white and silent.

Thousands set for Offshore Europe

BBC News

Tens of thousands of people are expected to generate millions of pounds of business as the world's biggest oil and gas conference begins in Aberdeen.

Chavez ready to export gasoline to Iran Xinhua

TEHRAN, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said that his country is ready to provide Iran with gasoline, the local satellite Press TV reported on Monday.

Activists to target City firms over international arms fair This is London

Brazil, France close to seal major arms deal

PRESS TV

Brazil has announced plans to ink a substantial arms contract with France, which would allow the South American state to buy 36 fighter jets.

Ministers 'waved through' sale of riot equipment to Libya

Times Online

Ministers waved through an export of water cannon to Libya despite concerns that they could be used for internal repression

Ian Dalton's swine flu update Nursing Times

National director for NHS flu resilience Ian Dalton discusses the revised planning assumptions for the pandemic

Short-haired bumblebee to be reintroduced in Britain Times Online

A bumblebee species that has been extinct in Britain for almost a decade is to be reintroduced next year, from a colony of the insects that was exported to New Zealand over a century ago.

6th SEPT 2009

Health chiefs stockpile drugs in case of swine flu epidemic

guardian.co.uk

Health service chiefs have outlined plans to stockpile billions of doses of essential medicines in readiness for the swine flu epidemic that is expected to hit Britain later this year.

Swine flu death estimate 'reduced by two-thirds'

Telegraph.co.ukP

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Home > News Archives - Summer 2009! >

Take a look back over our collection of news stories of the last few months (with B-Prep editorial comments) to get an overview picture of how things are progressing...

20th AUG, 2009

Swine flu deaths climb to 59 in Britain guardian.co.uk

The number of deaths from swine flu in Britain has climbed to 59 but infection rates have continued to fall through the summer, according to the Department of Health.

A third of nurses will refuse to have the swine flu jab Daily Mail

Freeze Dried Food Sales Up Dramatically with Swine Flu Warnings

19th AUG, 2009

Only a third of nurses willing to have swine flu vaccine: poll Telegraph.co.uk

Only a third of nurses have said they are willing to have the vaccine against swine flu amid fears it has not been tested enough, a survey has found.

Mass graves could be dug for autumn bout of swine flu Daily Mail

The government is planning to create a series of mass graves to cope with a second outbreak of swine flu in the autumn.

IBM uses DNA to make next-gen microchips

Dr Blaylock’s Solutions To Help Those Forced To Take An A/H1N1 Vaccine Stay Healthy

Make up your own mind regarding vaccinations. Whatever your choice, it is unfair to force mass vaccinations. If you get a vaccination, it should immunize you from those of us who don't if it works, right?

The Goal: Militarization of Public Health

(contains a reference to the 1976 Swine Flu epidemic in which the mass inoculation had to be called off because of the frequency of very severe side effects) 

FEMA’s new administrator urges Americans: get in touch with your survival instinct. The Atlantic

The New American Dream: Renting wall street journal

It's time to accept that home ownership is not a realistic goal for many people and to curtail the enormous government programs fueling this ambition.

17th AUG, 2009

'Useless': The swine flu virus may quickly develop resistance to Tamiflu... Daily Mail

Experts warned dispersal of Tamiflu would do more harm than good guardian.co.uk

Failed Banks Weighing on FDIC

16th AUG, 2009

GPs on alert for rare nerve disorder after swine flu jabs The Herald

Doctors have been put on alert for cases of a deadly nerve disease following the introduction of a vaccine for swine flu. Health chiefs said there was an increased risk of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome after a flu-like illness but stressed there ...

15th AUG, 2009

Parents are worried about the swine flu vaccine Telegraph.co.uk

Parents are confused and concerned about the swine flu vaccine due to be introduced in October.

Law firms look to jump flu vaccine queue Financial Times

Number of home owners falling behind with mortgage repayments soars Telegraph.co.uk

14th AUG, 2009

Health chief warns over flu deaths of healthy people This is London

Swine flu vaccine roll-out to begin in October WalesOnline

A SWINE FLU vaccination programme for vulnerable people and frontline health workers will start this autumn, the Assembly Government said yesterday.

BT announces holiday park Wi-Fi zones The Telecom

BT has announced plans to launch Wi-Fi Openzones at major UK holiday parks this summer, including 3 Pontin's sites, 77 Camping and Caravanning Club sites, and Coastfields Leisure sites.

The Radiation Poisoning of America VitaNews

13th AUG, 2009

Swine flu blog Whitehaven News

Meet the Queen of the Swine Flu Conspiracies: Jane Burgermeister... Deputy editor Alan Cleaver reports daily on the impact of swine flu in West Cumbria, with a particular slant on how the media and the public are reacting to the worsening crisis

RBS offering £7m 'golden hello' The Press Association

Part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland has agreed a "golden hello" worth more than £7 million to hire a star banker, it has been reported.

Allotments are still under threat guardian.co.uk

Goldman: Get Ready For Oil Prices To Go Back To $147

Wish you weren't here: The devastating effects of the new colonialists Independent

A new breed of colonialism is rampaging across the world, with rich nations buying up the natural resources of developing countries that can ill afford to sell. Some staggering deals have already been done, says Paul Vallely, but angry locals are now trying to stop the landgrabs

12th AUG, 2009

'Tamiflu turned my children into hallucinating, sobbing wrecks' Daily Mail

Fed Faces Its Zimbabwe Moment

Serco to run London's new bike hire scheme Reuters

LONDON, Aug 12 (Reuters) - British services giant Serco (SRP.L) has secured a 140 million pounds ($230.1 million) contract to set up a bicycle hire scheme in central London that aims to tackle overcrowding on the capital's commuter networks.

11th AUG, 2009

Tamiflu leaves '1000 patients in suffering' Independent

GMTV star: My child took Tamiflu and almost died The Herald

DNA database has 300 children added a day Telegraph.co.uk

More than 300 children a day are being put on to the DNA database fuelling fresh fears over the growth of the “Big Brother” state.

Bee venom destroys cancer cells in tests on mice Times Online

10th AUG, 2009

Food crisis could force wartime rations and vegetarian diet on Britons Times Online

The British people face wartime rations and a vegetarian diet in the event of a world food shortage, a new official assessment on the UK's food security suggests today.

Swine Flu's Worst Case Scenario: Paranoia or Preparedness? FOXNews

An uncontrollable, deadly virus ravages America, shutting down civilian institutions and triggering martial law. Vaccinations are compulsory, and there are mass quarantines throughout the country.

Don't give kids Tamiflu to beat swine flu, warn health researchers Scottish Daily Record

7th AUG, 2009

Britain’s looming electricity crunch - Dark days ahead The Economist

A shortage of power-generation capacity could lead to blackouts across Britain—and a dangerous reliance on foreign gas

3rd AUG 2009

Entire town in quarantine after two die from the plague in China Times Online

Are wind farms a health risk? Independent

Gardening is good for you, finds survey Telegraph.co.uk

31st JUL 2009

Lull in swine flu cases – but 'big surge' to follow guardian

Half of children taking Tamiflu have side-effects guardian.co.uk

Big Banks Paid Billions in Bonuses Amid Wall St. Crisis Times Online

A cancerous conspiracy to poison your faith in organic food Daily Mail

Despite its obvious benefits for our health and for the environment, organic food continues to be denigrated by the political and corporate establishment in Britain.

30th JUL 2009

Swine flu cases in Britain could be reaching a plateau guardian.co.uk

AstraZeneca Sees Big Bucks In Swine Flu Vaccine Forbes

LONDON -- Astrazeneca is in a hurry. The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker said it is rushing to produce as many as 200 million doses of swine flu vaccine next year, as it posted a 5.6% raise in second-quarter profit and increased its guidance for the year.

29th JUL 2009

BG Group sees its profits fall 30% as gas gets cheaper globally Daily Mail

The boss of BG Group said it is 'absolutely clear' that British gas prices are heading south, raising hopes of cuts in utility bills.

Anger as organic claims shot down Metro

Organic food 'no better for health than factory-farmed', says FSA report Times Online

Shoppers who are willing to pay more than three times the price of factory-farmed chicken for organic birds get no more benefit to their health, according to a study commissioned by the Food Standards Agency.

'Barcode' to help identify plants BBC News

An international team of scientists has agreed on a standard "DNA barcode" for plants that will allow botanists to identify species quickly and easily.

28th JUL 2009

Swine flu could become resistant to Tamiflu because of over ... Telegraph.co.uk

'Dangers' of the fast-track swine flu vaccine Daily Mail

Plans to fast-track the swine flu vaccine have been attacked by the World Health Organisation. The Department of Health plans to make the vaccine available at least two months earlier than in America after limited safety tests.

GM crops being grown in Britain Telegraph

Genetically-modified crops are being grown in Britain for the first time in a year after controversial trials of the plants were "secretly" restarted.

Being green is no crime guardian.co.uk

What, exactly, do the council and police fear about a gathering of musicians, poets, healers and environmentalists?

27th JUL 2009

Britain 'taking gamble' on swine flu vaccination Metro

Plans to fast-track the swine flu vaccine in Britain before large-scale testing is arousing concerns among experts around the world over the potential dangers.

Vaccine for swine flu may be unsafe warns WHO This is London

Fast-tracked swine flu vaccine will be safe, officials insist guardian.co.uk

Drug-resistant 'superflu' in Britain Telegraph

A potentially deadly, drug-resistant strain of "superflu" is circulating in Britain, scientists have warned.

British economic collapse rivals Great Depression Telegraph

The collapse in Britain's economy now rivals the worst days of the Great Depression, it has emerged.

26th JUL 2009

Inventor of Tamiflu profits from swine flu pandemic Telegraph.co.uk

Swine flu Q&A: What you need to know about the virus Independent

Jim Kunstler: "Goldman Sachs the front of a global criminal syndicate"

Eco-awareness festival halted by safety concerns Times Online

Organisers of Europe's biggest eco-awareness event have had to cancel their 15th annual festival after police and the local council raised safety fears days before it was to start.

Sarah Palin resigns as Alaska Governor to embark on political career Times Online

The captivating and at times vaudevillian political career of Sarah Palin entered an unpredictable phase yesterday when she stepped down as the Governor of Alaska to try to forge a role as the voice of the Republican Party.

25th JUL 2009

Sainsbury's refuses to act as antiviral collection point Health Service Journal

Sainsbury's will opt out of distributing Tamiflu over fears it might encourage swine flu victims into its supermarkets, it has been revealed.

Scores of swine flu victims to be sent to Europe Times Online

THE National Health Service is planning to fly swine flu patients by private jet to European hospitals if Britain's intensive care services become overwhelmed.

Healthy GSK expects to start shipping flu vaccine in September Scotsman

GLAXOSMITHKLINE should begin shipping a swine flu vaccine by September it said yesterday. Reporting a rise in second quarter profits, the drugs giant said that it was in discussions with more than 50 countries about its treatments.

The Last Tommy Harry Patch dies aged 111 Mirror.co.uk

The Queen and Prime Minister last night led tributes to the last surviving British soldier of the First World War who has died at the age of 111.

24th JUL 2009

Cases of swine flu have doubled to 100000 in one week Telegraph

First wave of swine flu may have peaked guardian

The number of swine flu cases in Britain may drop within the next two weeks before a return of the virus this winter, a flu expert said.

Swine flu: when America sneezes Financial Times

Churches stop communion over flu fears Manchester Evening News

Allergic to wi-fi! How 'electrosmog' leaves Afterlife DJ in agony Daily Mail

DJ Steve Miller is forced to avoid the most ordinary public places because of an allergy to modern technology.

20th JUL 2009

Swine flu: the questions that remain guardian.co.uk

18th JUL 2009

Swine flu in Britain: The guessing game Independent

As the pandemic spreads, the NHS and other public services are preparing for the worst-case scenario - but they have no real idea of how bad the situation might get.

all your swine flu questions answered Times Online

UK economy set for biggest fall since 1945 Independent

The UK economy is forecast to shrink by 4.5 per cent in 2009 - the biggest fall in a single year since 1945. This gloomy prognosis comes from leading forecaster the Ernst & Young Item Club, the only one to use the ...

17th JUL 2009

Cherie Blair hit by swine flu as death toll reaches 29 Scottish Daily Record

Swine flu may keep some schools shut in September guardian

Swine flu: Stark figures hide imponderables guardian.co.uk

Flu vaccinations 'in September' BBC News

16th JUL 2009

Swine flu: Medical chief orders NHS to prepare for 65,000 deaths - with a toll of as many as 350 a day Daily Mail

Vaccine due in August as DH moves to quash swine flu fears Nursing Times

Fight for swine flu vaccine could get ugly The Associated Press

Experts warn that during a global pandemic, which the world is in now, governments may be under tremendous pressure to protect their own citizens first before allowing companies to ship doses of vaccine out of the country. That does not bode well for many countries, including the United States, which makes only 20 percent of of the flu vaccine it uses, or Britain, where all of its flu vaccines are produced abroad.

15th JUL 2009

Swine flu vaccine 'not ready for months' says WHO Telegraph

The head of the World Health Organisation, Dr Margaret Chan, has cast doubt on the Government's claims that a reliable swine flu vaccine will be available to the public by next month. “There’s no vaccine. One should be available soon, in August. But having a vaccine available is not the same as having a vaccine that has been proven safe,” she said in an interview with The Guardian.

9th JUL 2009

UK swine flu death toll hits 14 BBC News

G8 summit to pledge $15 billion to boost food supply Reuters

Need to Know: Phorm IT PRO

Phorm is struggling to keep ISPs on side in the UK - but what's all the fuss about?

Artist wins Shed of the Year Telegraph.co.uk

In Pictures: Shed of the Year BBC News

8th JUL 2009

Just 96 months to save world, says Charles Independent

Charles' vision to save the Earth BBC News

The Prince of Wales has issued a fresh warning of environmental catastrophe, telling an audience in London "if we fail the Earth, we fail humanity".

The Federal Reserve Finally Wakes Up to the Reality of Peak Oil

Read “The Peak Oil Debate”

Nationwide offers 125% mortgage BBC News

But financial planner Jonathan Davis, of Armstrong Davis, said the building society's new policy was a "joke", and that it exposed the lender to further losses if house prices continued to fall. "You are taking people in negative equity, pushing more money down their throat to back an asset that is still going down in value," he said.

Australia town bans bottled water BBC News

A rural town in Australia has voted overwhelmingly to ban the sale of bottled water over concerns about its environmental impact.

7th JUL 2009

G8 summit to test resolve on economy, climate change, food security Xinhua

BEIJING, July 7 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming Group of Eight (G8) summit will be a major test to world leaders on their resolve to shore up economy and fight world hunger and climate change following last year's global financial meltdown.

'Worst to come' warning as G8 leaders gather AFP ‎

L'AQUILA, Italy (AFP) - G8 leaders gathering here Wednesday faced deepening crises in Iran and China and a warning that the worst political and social effects of the global economic downturn are still to come.

BOE Should Seek Consent to Print More Money, BCC Says Bloomberg

The Bank of England should ask the government for permission to start a further phase in its money- printing program because a recovery from the recession “is not guaranteed,” the British Chambers of Commerce ...

Swine flu: Website will track suspected Tamiflu side-effects Nursing Times

Environmental campaigner loses legal battle over crop spraying Telegraph

Farmers can continue using pesticides near people's homes after an environmental campaigner lost her seven-year legal battle to highlight the health risks of long term exposure to crop spraying.

Great Barrier Reef will be gone in 20 years, says Charlie Veron Times Online

The Great Barrier Reef will be so degraded by warming waters that it will be unrecognisable within 20 years, an eminent marine scientist has said.

Allotment wins Best Show Garden at Hampton Court Telegraph.co.uk

An allotment has won Best Show Garden at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show - the first time one has ever done so. All the plants in the garden, bordered by a traditional stone wall, were organically grown. "It represents a bit of a change at the RHS, because we are used to seeing perfection in horticulture, which can usually only be achieved with a bit of judicious help from some fertiliser or whatever. "There's a philosophical change going on.".

6th JUL 2009

Two children among 3 new swine flu victims Metro

One of the victims was named as nine-year-old Asmaa Hussain, who died last Thursday. She suffered from epilepsy and was a pupil at a special school in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.

Who wants to be the flu GP? BBC News

How Goldman Sachs has engineered every major market manipulation since the Great Depression Rolling Stone

New Secrecy Rule Lets Goldman Sachs Control Stock Prices Unmolested by Public Scrutiny Matt Taibbi

U.S. Financial System Lurching Towards a "Debt Explosion" Telegraph

The US economy is lurching towards crisis with long-term interest rates on course to double, crippling the country’s ability to pay its debts and potentially plunging it into another recession, according to a study by the US’s own central bank

Michael Pollan: We Are Headed Toward a Breakdown in Our Food System

Fears for the world's poor countries as the rich grab land to grow food guardian.co.uk

UN sounds warning after 30m hectares bought up • G8 leaders to discuss 'neo-colonialism'

5th JUL 2009

Darling criticises 'kamikaze' bankers guardian.co.uk

Alistair Darling criticised the "kamikaze" bankers behind the financial crisis, as he prepared the way for a government crackdown on the financial services sector later this week.

4th JUL 2009

First swine flu death in London BBC News

A 19-year-old man has died after contracting swine flu in London, health authorities in the capital have said.

New swine flu risk as Harry Potter star falls victim Times Online

The World Health Organisation is investigating whether a form of swine flu resistant to antiviral drugs being stock-piled in Britain is spreading from person to person. The strain has been identified in a 16-year-old girl who was stopped by officials at Hong Kong airport after falling ill. She had arrived on a flight from San Francisco. The symptoms were mild and she was released from hospital after a week. However, subsequent tests revealed she was carrying a form of the virus that was resistant to Tamiflu, the main drug used to combat swine flu. Two other patients, in Denmark and Japan, have been identified with a Tamiflu-resistant strain of the virus, but they developed it after being treated with the drug, indicating that it had mutated.

3rd JUL 2009

Fourth person in Britain dies after contracting swine flu Telegraph

A teenager in London has become the fourth person in Britain to die after contracting swine flu, it has emerged. Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson says Britain has a massive stockpile of Tamiflu.

2nd JUL 2009

California resorts to issuing IOUs over $24.3bn budget deficit Times Online

Britain's War Costs in Iraq and Afghanistan Triple Bloomberg

Britain's transport system braced for £30 billion funding shortfall Telegraph

Britain's transport system is braced for a £30 billion shortfall in funding to improve the road and rail network as public spending is reined in, experts have warned.

Green power could generate £70 billion for the economy Telegraph.co.uk

Embracing wind and wave power could generate up to £70 billion for the UK economy, according to a new report. New analysis from the Carbon Trust outlines the economic benefits of new technologies, saying almost 250000 jobs could be generated by ...

Swine flu - you ain't seen nothing yet Pulse

Government new approach to swine flu Healthcare Today

Swine flu - prevention and treatment Directgov

Rolling Stone: Wall Street Insiders Using Bailout to Stage a Financial Coup

Rolling Stone: Wall Street Bailout Has Created Ultimate "Free-Fraud Zone"

Rolling Stone: China's High Tech Police State Ready for Export to America

Rollling Stone: Drug War Has Made Government into a Tool for the Cartels

"The Wall Street Bubble Mafia" - Goldman Sachs Blockbuster in Rolling Stone Magazine, "America now a gangster state"

Goldman Sachs bankers in line for record bonuses Telegraph

Bankers at Goldman Sachs could be in line for record bonuses as compensation on Wall Street looks set to rebound in spite of problems in the wider economy.

1st JUL 2009

Gold rallies above $940, dollar drops on China news guardian.co.uk

NEW YORK, July 1 (Reuters) - Gold climbed above $940 an ounce on Wednesday, as news that China has asked to debate proposals for a new global reserve currency sent the dollar reeling, highlighting the status of gold as a hedge against a ...

30th JUN 2009

U.K. Economy Posts Largest Decline in 50 Years wall street journal

The U.K. economy posted its sharpest decline in more than 50 years in the first quarter, suggesting the recession has been even harsher than previously thought, the Office for National Statistics said

Recovery threatened by toxic assets still hidden in key banks guardian.co.uk

Governments too slow to act, warn central bankers • CBI sounds warning over 'worrying' bad debt levels

BP wins biggest Iraq oil contract Telegraph

Russia-Ukraine gas row likely this winter -official Reuters

DOHA, June 30 (Reuters) - Europe may face further disruptions to its gas supply next winter if Ukraine cannot pay its gas debts to Russia, the head of Gazprom International said on Tuesday.

US joint venture lifts gases group BG guardian

News that BG is paying $1.3bn for a stake in a US gas field has been well received by the market.

Ravenous ladybird threatens UK species and crops Reuters UK

if left unchecked the harmless looking bug could indirectly lead to the loss of crops at a "significant" cost to industry.

Ban on ugly fruit and vegetables is scrapped Times

29th JUN 2009

Swine flu Q&A: pandemic explained Times

Crisis threatens future gas supply: IEA

Dmitry Orlov: "The economic collapse will cause global oil production to crash even faster, extinguishing the industrial economy"

Recession generation? Young adults brace for simpler lifestyle

27th JUN 2009

US passes million swine flu cases BBC News