for no new posts yesterday or today; things have been a bit frenzied around here. I’ll see if I can add a post over the weekend to make up for it!
In the meantime, checkout Google News for the latest in happenings. It’ll link you to tons of other articles. 
-Editor
The European Union and Russia have agreed to increased levels of cooperation and collaboration on climate and energy projects after a one day summit on Wednesday. Both groups plan to work together to further reduce emissions and the environmental impact of the member countries.
The increased commitment from Russia was welcomed, as the country is one of the largest emissions producers in the world. Both the European Union and Russia have agreed that increased cooperation in energy is necessary, and discussions continue over collaboration ideas in related areas.
article sourced from Xinhua News Agency
Xinhua News Article- EU and Russia Cooperate on Climate
Note: The Xinhua News Agency is the state-owned media company of the People’s Republic of China.
Time Warner, a media company best known for serving cable customers throughout the nation, today announced the split of the company, currently known as AOL Time Warner, into two separate entities.AOL was best known for being the genesis of the internet and e-mail boom in the mid to late 1990s, with its trademark phrase “you’ve got mail.”
Shareholders in AOL Time Warner will receive 1 share of AOL for every 11 shares of Time Warner that they currently own. The divorce of AOL comes amidst the current CEO’s goal of refocusing the company on news and entertainment.
At the time the deal was consummated in 2000, the merger with AOL was seen to be a grand dream to create one of the world’s largest media firms. The dreams quickly faded with the tech bubble burst of 2001.
Article sourced from USA Today
In another development to the massive ponzi scheme perpetuated by Wall Street financier Bernard L. Madoff, investigators associated with the case today arrested two computer programmers working at Bernard Madoff’s firm, Bernard L. Madoff Securities LLC. The two programmers, who worked on the 17th floor, were charged with falsifying documents and conspiracy.
The two programmers allegedly developed detailed programs to generate reams of bogus transactions that Bernard Madoff supposedly contracted in to deliver his high-rolling clients consistently high returns, even during years when the markets suffered. Prosecutors also filed lawsuits attempting to seize the programmer’s assets, including homes on Long Island in New York and in East Brunswick, New Jersey. The two programmers also allowed higher ups, including Bernard Madoff himself, to alter records on the fly to make the situation appear as if he had engaged in thousands of bogus transactions to generate investment returns for his clients.
Article sourced from Bloomberg
In a move that has been done for centuries, Russian President Dimitry Medvedev today announced that the Russian economy needs to modernize and move away from its existing model of being focused on oil. He is also targeting inefficient state-owned enterprises for modernization, in a search for additional efficiencies to boost the Russian economy.
His move also serves as a stand on former Russian President and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s economic policies, who centralized economic power within the country. Dimitry Medvedev also is aiming to increase foreign investment within the country, as Russian borrowing has led many Russian companies to the brink of collapse, causing them to seek the support of the Russian government.
Article sourced from Wall Street Journal
A United Airlines pilot about to start on a flight from London Heathrow to Chicago was arrested for being drunk, with a Blood Alcohol Level over the limit recommended for airline pilots.
He was about to fly a Boeing 767 with 124 passengers and 11 crew members aboard when he was arrested.
United has suspended the pilot in question pending an investigation.
Article sourced from Reuters
The supply of vaccines designed to protect people against the H1N1 virus, more commonly known as “Swine Flu,” is increasing across the nation as officials face a new challenge of getting the vaccinations to people.
State and local health officials continue to face problems in distributing the vaccine, as many local government agencies have furloughed workers and shortened office hours to cope with the worsening economy.
Google, in partnership with the U.S. government, is providing a maps tool to help people locate clinics where they can obtain a regular flu vaccine or the H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine.
Production output continues to rise, and Sanofi-Aventis, one of the producers of the Swine Flu vaccine, expects to have shipped 75 million doses of the vaccine throughout the U.S. by mid-December.
Article sourced from Reuters
Reuters Article- H1N1 Vaccine Supply Increasing
In a 220-215 vote in the House of Representatives, the House passed one of the most all-encompassing health care reform bills since the creation of Medicare nearly 44 years ago. The narrow margin of victory in the House of Representatives shows the difficulty the health care bill has in the Senate, where it heads next.
This health care plan would provide health coverage for an additional 36 million people, reducing the percentage of uninsured Americans from 17% to 4% by 2019. The vote was marked with 39 Democrats voting against the measure, and one lone Republican supporting it, Louisiana representative Anh “Joseph” Cao.
The bill includes over $1 trillion in new spending while also reducing the deficit by $106 billion over the next decade. The House bill will have to be merged with the existing bill in the Senate before it can proceed further.
Article sourced from the Los Angeles Times
A Labor Department report today indicated that the U.S. unemployment rate hit a high unseen since 1983, as unemployment hit 10.2%, and payrolls fell by about 190,000 people last month.
The outlook for November and December did not look strong either, as all forecasts point towards firms not embarking on any major hiring sprees . Many laid-off employees run the risk of unemployment benefits running out, leaving them with no safety net to cover basic living expenses.
The rising unemployment rate is becoming a risk for Democrats, who have to face mid-term elections in 2010, and recent gubernatorial elections have shown Republicans picking up steam in New Jersey and Virginia, states President Obama carried in 2008.
Article sourced from Bloomberg
The United Nations today announced that due to security concerns, the organization would be temporarily relocating some of its workforce outside the country while it reviews security arrangements for its workforce. The temporary relocation is not a sign of withdrawal, as the United Nations remains committed to Afghanistan. The security reassessment comes amidst a recent attack on a Kabul UN guesthouse that killed five workers.
The United Nations has about 5,600 employees in Afghanistan, with over 80% of the workforce Afghan citizens. Staffers should be back to work within the country within a few weeks, according to the UN. Those being relocated are primarily foreign staffers, and the U.N. added that major programs within the country would not be affected.
Article sourced from the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times Article- UN Temporarily Relocates Afghanistan Workers
