SBA Stimulus Lifeline for Small Businesses Too Short for Mission District

By NANCY LOPEZ
President Obama’s stimulus plan to aid struggling small businesses looks good on paper – no fees, higher guarantees and billions of dollars – but small businesses in the Mission District have not benefited from the new programs.
Only four businesses in the 94110 zip code have been approved for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) [...]

Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chairman And Identity-Theft Victim

If the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board isn’t immune from identity theft, who is?!
Michael Isikoff, Newsweek’s investigative correspondent, reports that Ben Bernanke “was one of hundreds of victims of an elaborate identity-fraud ring, headed by a convicted scam artist known as ‘Big Head,’ that stole more than $2.1 million from unsuspecting consumers and at [...]

Women with high levels of testosterone ‘take riskier jobs’

The so-called “male” hormone is associated with competitiveness and dominance and has previously been linked to other types of risky behaviour, such as gambling and excessive drinking.
Now, scientists believe it may have a bearing on career choice.
Researchers in the US measured the amount of testosterone in saliva samples [...]

Sheik Aweys Disproves Reports Saying There Were Talks Between TFG And Hisbul Islam

Mogadishu — Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, the chairman of the Islamic organization of Hisbul Islam has held a press conference in Mogadishu on Sunday and disproved reports saying that there were talks between the TFG and Hisbul Islam organization.

Sheik Aweys said that there were reports indicating that there was negotiation between both the government and the Islamic organization of Hisbul Islam saying that those reports were baseless propaganda asserting that there is nothing going on between his organization and the TFG led by president Sharif Sheik Ahmed.

On the other hand Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys said that it is an important to continue the fighting against the transitional government and AMISOM forces in holy Ramadan month vowing that they will continue the clashes against what he called enemy who invaded the country.

Lessons from failed states —Humphrey Hawksley

Less than a year after the end of the Second World War, the West began drawing up the sophisticated policy of containment that eventually defeated global communism. Eight years after September 11, there is not yet a similar concept in dealing with the threat from failed states
The chain of events prompted by that terrible day [...]

Pakistani Taliban choose new chief

The Pakistani Taliban have appointed a new chief, militants said Saturday, selecting a top commander known for his ruthless efficiency in staging attacks, including a major hotel bombing and a deadly assault against the Sri Lankan cricket team.
The appointment of 28-year-old Hakimullah Mehsud could herald an increase in attacks as the group tries to prove [...]