China hits back in Olympics team uniform row calling U.S. ‘hypocritical’

China’s official news agency has blasted U.S. lawmakers for complaining that the uniforms American athletes will wear at the London Olympics were manufactured in China.

The Xinhua News Agency on Monday called the American outcry over the made-in-China Olympic blazers ‘hypocritical’ and ‘irresponsible.’

‘The Olympics spirit is all about separating sports from politics, but these U.S. politicians are going too far and trying to force a political tag onto the uniforms,’ it [...]

Obama vs Romney – I DO, I DON’T

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Mitt Romney on Wednesday reaffirmed his view that marriage should be restricted to one man and one woman, highlighting a sharp contrast with President Barack Obama.

Obama declared his unequivocal personal support for same-sex marriage during an interview with ABC News. Reporters asked Romney about the issue after a campaign event in Oklahoma City.

“My view is that marriage itself is between a man and a woman,” the [...]

Thai web editor faces 20 years for ‘royal insults’

A Thai web editor facing decades behind bars over remarks about the monarchy posted by other people on her website said she still hopes to be acquitted ahead of a closely-watched verdict this week.

A Bangkok court is set to decide Monday on charges against Chiranuch Premchaiporn that could carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, in a case that has shone a spotlight on Thailand’s strict lese [...]

US pays for Afghan massacre — $50K a head

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) – The United States has paid $50,000 in compensation for each Afghan killed in the shooting spree attributed to a U.S. soldier in southern Afghanistan, an Afghan official and a community elder said Sunday.

The families of the dead received the money Saturday at the governor’s office, said Kandahar provincial council member Agha Lalai. Each wounded person received $11,000, Lalai said. Community elder Jan Agha confirmed the same [...]

Inflation: illusionary, inflammatory

by ZH

Every now and then, Standard Chartered has a knack for coming up with that one report that is miles ahead of the competition and promptly becomes the definitive guidebook for the industry. Its most recent one: “Inflation: illusionary, inflammatory” is arguably one of the most detailed and comprehensive reports to come out from an institutional entity in a long time, dealing with the ever so [...]

Michael Cembalest: The Irish “bailout” plan, with its EUR 54,800 cost per household, is by all accounts a modern-era “Long Day’s Journey Into Night”.

by zh

We very much enjoy the view of Michael Cembalest (CIO, JPM Private Bank) when it comes to the sensitive topic of geopolitics, as it tends to provide that incremental perspective over and above what otherwise his and other banks would skirt around due to conflicts of interest (after all they are banks). Today, in his Eye on the Market report, Cembalest looks again at [...]