Global climate: Tough little girl

Floods threaten more Australian towns
ST. GEORGE, Australia, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Another town in Queensland braced for floods Friday with more rain expected in the ravaged Australian state. In St. George, the Balonne River is forecast to crest Saturday above the record of 44 feet set last year, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported. About 30 homes are expected to be swamped, and thousands of sandbags are being filled. "I think it's reliving my time in Venice with the water just lapping outside our house and all we need now is a gon...

Australian flood victims return to muddy homes
Australian Federal Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor surveys the flooded Fitzroy River in Rockhampton, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011. Despite the fresh rains, the overflowing river in the inundated city of Rockhampton is slowly receding. Evacuated Victims began returning to homes caked in sludge on Friday as Australia's flood crisis eased, though one sandbagged town watched nervously as a swollen river level crept higher and forecasters warned of more rain. Officials said they were...

Bolivia offers perks to oil prospectors
LA PAZ, Bolivia, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Bolivia is offering new perks to Oil prospecting firms to speed the momentum of operations aimed at finding substantial hydrocarbon reserves. Companies that invest and succeed in finding commercially viable Oil or Natural Gas deposits will have their cash reimbursed. Companies that fail to find Oil won't enjoy the same privilege, however. Bolivian President Evo Morales offered the incentive amid growing interest in Bolivian energy prospects, not least because of ...

Team LEFTPAPASANE
Apparently dystopia is hot these days. And that's got me thinking about one of my favorite little sub-genres of American literature, which I think of as "near-term dystopia"—fiction set in an imagined future that's, as my mother would say, "too close for comfort." Unlike, say, 1984 or Handmaid's Tale, these books are set in worlds that bear just enough resemblance to our own in the day-to-day particulars that it's harder to comfort oneself that the future they imagine is exaggerated allego...

Heavy floods leave at least 35 dead in Brazil
Authorities in Brazil say four people from the same family have died in a mudslide in the interior of Sao Paulo state, and civil defense officials say heavy Flooding have killed at least 35 people and forced more than 30,000 out of their homes across the country. Officials in the city of Jundiai said Thursday the four people, including two girls, died when their house collapsed because of a mudslide triggered by downpours. The worst hit state is Minas Gerais, where civil defense authorities said...

Flooded Queensland gets more heavy rain
BRISBANE, Australia, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Heavy Rain fell in Australia's flooded Queensland state Thursday and officials said it could take a year for ravaged towns to recover. Once again, more rain was forecast. Water levels in the worst Flooding in a half century were expected to stay high in many areas for at least one more week, with forecasters predicting Flash Floods in communities this weekend where hundreds of homes are already underwater. At least 10 people have died in weather-related incid...

Storm 'to worsen Australia flood'
Why is Queensland flooded? More Heavy Rain is forecast for eastern Australia, threatening Flash Floods for communities where hundreds of homes are already under water. Forecasters predict central and southern Queensland will be worst hit by the latest deluge which will last into the weekend. In the city of Rockhampton about 500 homes were evacuated as the Fitzroy river peaked at 9.2m (30ft). The town of St George is braced for the Balonne river to peak by Sunday. About 1,200 homes across Queensl...

Heavy rains hit Australia's flood-drenched northeast
Heavy rains brought more misery to Australia's flooded northeast Thursday as besieged Rockhampton cut supplies to "irresponsible" residents who refused to leave their water-bound homes. Torrential downpours could cause flash-flooding and worsen existing floods, the weather bureau said, as water levels slowly started to recede in regional centre Rockhampton, a town virtually surrounded by a brown inland sea. Australia's coal-mining and farming belt near Brisbane is suffering "biblical" floods acr...

Heavy rains hit Australia's flood-drenched northeast
Heavy rains threatened further Flooding in Australia's drenched northeast Thursday as besieged Rockhampton cut supplies to "irresponsible" residents who refused to leave water-bound homes. Torrential downpours could cause flash-flooding and worsen existing floods, the weather bureau said, as water levels slowly started to recede in regional centre Rockhampton, a town virtually surrounded by a brown inland sea. Australia's coal-mining and farming belt near Brisbane is suffering "biblical" floods ...

Heavy floods leave at least 35 dead in Brazil
SAO PAULO - Authorities in Brazil say four people from the same family have died in a mudslide in the interior of Sao Paulo state, and civil defense officials say heavy Flooding have killed at least 35 people and forced more than 30,000 out of their homes across the country. Officials in the city of Jundiai said Thursday the four people, including two girls, died when their house collapsed because of a mudslide triggered by downpours. The worst hit state is Minas Gerais, where civil defens...

More rain forecast for Queensland
ROCKHAMPTON, Australia, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Officials say it's too soon to tell whether the worst is over in the in flood-ravaged portions of Queensland in Australia. Driving that concern home, the weather bureau issued a severe weather warning for flood-affected Rockhampton along the Fitzroy River basin, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported Wednesday. Officials said the Fitzroy would peak at 31 feet, but hydrologist Paul Birch said the river has hung around the 30-foot mark since Tuesday. Off...

Summary Box: Gold, silver lose ground
LUSTER LOST?: Gold and silver lost ground as the U.S. economy showed more signs of strength. Investors tend to buy the Precious Metals when they feel uncertain about how The Economy is doing. WEATHER WOES: Wheat prices climbed after Flooding damaged crops in Australia. Soybeans and corn settled higher as a forecast predicted drier weather in South America. MIXED BAG: Oil, heating oil and Gasoline all settled higher while Natural Gas fell. ...

Quinoa's popularity boon to Bolivians
CARACOLLO, Bolivia - It's as inhospitable as climates come for crop cultivation, the dry and rocky soils of Bolivia's semiarid altiplain. Miguel Choque can see his breath as surveys his fields of quinoa, the Andean "supergrain." In late March or April, the flowering plants will paint the rugged landscape yellow, green and red. Their diminutive seed, which powered Inca armies only to be elbowed aside by the wheat preferred by colonizing Spaniards, is unmatched in nutritional value. Quinoa's...

Quinoa's popularity boon to Bolivians
In this photo taken Oct. 25, 2010, a man cleans quinoa grain in Pacoma, Bolivia. Quinoa's rising popularity among First World foodies has been a boon to some of the poor farmers in the semiarid highlands of Bolivia. It's as inhospitable as climates come for crop cultivation, the dry and rocky soils of Bolivia's semiarid altiplain. Miguel Choque can see his breath as surveys his fields of quinoa, the Andean "supergrain." In late March or April, the flowering plants will paint the rugged landscap...

Drug smugglers 'target cruises'
Drug traffickers are targeting cruise liners to smuggle Cocaine from the Caribbean and South America to Europe, the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the UK Border Agency have warned. They claim there is growing evidence criminals are placing drug couriers on board and attempting to corrupt crew. Staff and travel agents have been given a list of tell-tale signs, they added. The warning comes as four Bulgarians and four Lithuanians are due to be sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court. UKBA officer...

Hub States: The Strategic Value of Connectedness
I've been thinking a lot recently about the changing nature of power in the emerging geostrategic landscape, and one theme that I find myself returning to repeatedly is that of hub states. The idea being that in an increasingly integrated world, the best way to advance strategic interests is to maximize connectedness. But although connectedness is in itself valuable, some kinds of connectedness are more strategically valuable than others. So the key is to be a node that is highly integrated not ...

Hugo Chavez Wants a Friend: Give Me Bill Clinton, Oliver Stone, Noam Chomsky, or Sean Penn as US Ambassador
Chavez is in the middle of a diplomatic row with the US.  He suggests to end the impasse that the Obama Administration appoint one of Venezuela’s “friends” to the post of Ambassador to his country.  The Guardian reports: “Hugo Chávez has sought to end a diplomatic stand-off with the US by suggesting Bill Clinton, the actor Sean Penn or the director Oliver Stone as America’s Envoy to Caracas. Washington withdrew the visa of VenezuelaR...

Get me Clinton, says Chvez after veto
President Hugo Chávez has sought to end a diplomatic stand-off with the US by suggesting Bill Clinton, the actor Sean Penn or the film director Oliver Stone as America's Envoy to Caracas. Washington withdrew the visa of Venezuela's ambassador last week after Mr Chávez rejected Barack Obama's nominated ambassador, Larry Palmer. Mr Palmer had previously criticised Venezuela's government, saying morale in its Military was low and there were clear ties between members of the Chávez ad...

Perfect. Chavez Wants Marxist Supporters Sean Penn or Oliver Stone to Be Named US Envoy
Venezuelan tyrant wants Marxist supporters Oliver Stone, Sean Penn or Noam Chomsky to be named as US Envoy to Venezuela. Chavez also said Bill Clinton would be acceptable for the position. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez sought to end a diplomatic stand-off with the United States on Tuesday by suggesting it name Bill Clinton, actor Sean Penn or director Oliver Stone as its envoy to Caracas. In the latest flare-up between the ideological foes, Washington withdrew the visa of Venezuela’s am...

Bill Clinton a Chavez ambassador choice
Published: Jan. 6, 2011 at 1:26 PM Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, having rejected the U.S. ambassador to his country, named others he would accept -- including former President Bill Clinton. UPI/Maryam Rahmanian Caracas, Venezuela, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, having rejected the U.S. ambassador to his country, named others he would accept -- including former President Bill Clinton. In a televised Speech in Caracas this week, Chavez also suggested director Oliver Stone, ...

Venezuelan authorities recapture drug trafficker
Venezuelan authorities have detained a sharply higher number of suspects in drug cases this year, the country's drug agency said Monday. Authorities have detained 12,376 people in drug cases this year as of mid-December, up from 8,741 detentions reported during 2009, the National Anti-Drug Office said. President Hugo Chavez's government released the figures saying they show Venezuela is making important efforts to fight drug trafficking. The country has in recent years been an importan...

Venezuelan authorities recapture drug trafficker
CARACAS, Venezuela - A convicted drug trafficker who has been in and out of Prison was recaptured by Venezuelan authorities after a shootout with police. Larry Tovar Acuna was arrested Wednesday night in a shopping center in the city of Maracay, police said. Regional Police Chief Humberto Virguez told the state-run Venezuelan News Agency that Tovar opened fire at police. He said Tovar was wounded in the arm. Tovar, who was sentenced to 15 years in Prison in 2003 for drug trafficking, had b...

Ambassador Sean Penn? Dream on, President Chavez
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez regularly vents his fury against the United States, but there are a few Americans he’d like to talk to — such as Sean Penn, Oliver Stone, Noam Chomsky and even former President Bill Clinton. Chavez named his U.S. dream team on Tuesday as possibilities to fill  the role of U.S. ambassador to Caracas after his government turned down the Obama Administration’s nominee, Larry Palmer. The State Department was not nearly as starry eyed. &#...

Chavez backers, foes rally for Venezuela parliament
By Daniel Wallis and Andrew Cawthorne Caracas | Wed Jan 5, 2011 8:09am EST Caracas (Reuters) - Supporters and opponents of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez gathered for rival rallies on Wednesday to mark the start of a new parliament shorn of power by the radical Socialist leader's assumption of decree rule. The outgoing National Assembly gave Chavez special decree powers for 18 months, hobbling an incoming parliament with a larger presence of opposition legislators who had hoped to put a brake ...

Dupe. Sorry. Please delete. n/t
Source: Dow Jones Newswires JANUARY 4, 2011, 11:48 P.M. ET Venezuela Chavez: No VAT Tax Hike, No University Law By Ezequiel Minaya and Kejal Vyas Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES Caracas (Dow Jones)--The Venezuelan government will not increase the value-added Sales Tax and will scrap a Controversial law which would have increased government control over the country's universities, President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday night on state-run television. The VAT tax, which currently sits at 12% and was widely ...