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Greetings.

International Developments

? “U.S. Aid To Syrian Rebels Delayed by Congress” due to “fears that such arms deliveries will not be decisive and might end up in the hands of Islamist militants”.

? “At least 17 people including women and children have been killed by a roadside bomb in . . . western Afghanistan.”

? “U.S. Considers Faster Pullout In Afghanistan”.

? “Car bomb rocks south Beirut suburbs”.

? “Egypt Interim President Sets Parliamentary Elections By February.”  Update: “Egypt’s army warns over disruption after Morsi deposed.”

? “Death toll hits 13 amid revelations Quebec firemen may have cut power to runaway train’s brakes.”  Update:  “Fire chief angrily denies suggestion his crew played role in deadly Lac-Megantic train disaster.”  Reuters: “How a train ran away and devastated a Canadian town.”  BBC: “Blame game: A rail firm and fire departmentappear to be pointing the finger at one another”.  Update:  “Criminal probe” underway.

? “Police investigate Rupert Murdoch over secretly recorded meeting”,  “[C]onspiracy to commit misconduct in public office”.  Murdoch “‘welcomes’ chance to face MPs again.”

International Finance

? “Secret TPP Deal Would Void Democracy” because of all the power given by the treaty to corporations.

Money Matters USA

? Matt Yglesias explains Standard & Poor’s defense of US Justice Department charges that S&P “understated the credit risks of mortgage backed securities.”  The defense?  “No Reasonable Investor Would Take Us Seriously.”

? Twinkies may be back, but the wages aren’t.  A forklift operator, making $16.53/hour before the plant closed, will now be making about $11/hour.

In Hot Pursuit

? “Uruguay’s first lady, Senator Lucia Topolansky, said . . . that her country would consider giving asylum to . . . Edward Snowden.”

? Some might call it Pie in the Sky:  “Operation Exodus: The Snowden Accompaniment Flytilla to Political Asylum in Venezuela.” [cont’d.]