Update:
1. Hugo Chavez, influential leader with mixed record, dies at 58
Hugo Chavez, the polarizing president of Venezuela who cast himself as a "21st century socialist" and foe of the United States, died Tuesday, said Vice President Nicolas Maduro. Chavez, who had battled cancer, was 58. Chavez's democratic ascent to the presidency in 1999 ushered in a new era in Venezuelan politics and its international relations.
As the most vocal U.S. adversary in the region, he influenced other leaders to take a similar stance. But the last months of Chavez's life were marked by an uncharacteristic silence as his health worsened. Chavez underwent a fourth surgery on December 11 in Cuba, and was not publicly seen again. A handful of pictures released in February were the last images the public had of their president.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/05/world/amer...?hpt=hp_t1
2. Venezuela Takes Page From Cuban Playbook
Caracas Accuses Washington of Destabilization Plot and Its 'Historic Enemies' of Inducing Chávez's Cancer. Shortly before announcing that Hugo Chávez died, Venezuela's government resorted to one of the late president's favorite ploys to try to unite his supporters: allege a conspiracy by the U.S. to destabilize the country. Vice President Nicolás Maduro kicked out two U.S. military attachés for allegedly plotting against Venezuela and even suggested that Washington may have been behind Mr. Chávez's cancer.
"Behind all of [the plots] are the enemies of the fatherland," Mr. Maduro said on state television, flanked by the entire cabinet, state governors and Venezuela's military commanders. Mr. Maduro said that the U.S. Embassy's Air Force attaché, Col. David Delmonaco, and another unnamed U.S. military official had approached members of the Venezuelan military and tried to recruit them into plans to "destabilize" the oil-rich South American nation. Mr. Maduro didn't offer further details on the alleged plot.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424...TopStories
3. Davos 2013: Kissinger says Iran nuclear crisis close
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has warned that a crisis involving a nuclear Iran is in the "foreseeable future". The Nobel Peace laureate, 89, was speaking about prospects in the Middle East at the World Economic Forum.
He said nuclear proliferation in the region triggered by an armed Iran would increase the chances of an atomic war - "a turning point in human history". He also urged the US and Russia to co-operate in resolving Syria's conflict. "There has emerged in the region, the current and most urgent issue of nuclear proliferation. For 15 years, the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) have declared that a nuclear Iran is unacceptable, but it has been approaching," he said.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21177535
4. Eric Holder: Drone strikes against Americans on U.S. soil are legal
Attorney General Eric Holder can imagine a scenario in which it would be constitutional to carry out a drone strike against an American on American soil, he wrote in a letter to Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. “It is possible, I suppose, to imagine an extraordinary circumstance in which it would be necessary and appropriate under the Constitution and applicable laws of the United States for the President to authorize the military to use lethal force within the territory of the United States,” Holder replied in a letter yesterday to Paul’s question about whether Obama “has the power to authorize lethal force, such as a drone strike, against a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil, and without trial.”
http://washingtonexaminer.com/eric-holde...le/2523319
5. FBI joins SEC in computer trading probe
The FBI has joined securities regulators to tackle the potential threat of market manipulation posed by sophisticated computer trading strategies that have taken markets beyond the scope of traditional policing. FBI agents have joined forces with a new unit within the Securities and Exchange Commission that examines hedge funds and other firms that are using algorithm trading strategies.
The SEC’s Quantitative Analytics Unit is looking at abuses that might arise from the emergence of high-frequency trading firms and the use of dark pool (off exchange) trading. Traders using these methods can manipulate the market by flooding it with quotes, known as quote stuffing, or placing millions of orders that are quickly cancelled, to drive others to trade in ways that benefit their position, a practice known as layering.
Some of these trading strategies have been criticised of destabilising the market and putting retail investors at a disadvantage. Their supporters have said they increase liquidity in securities and reduce volatility
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/11b81d74-...z2MiqJXfgJ
6. Dozens of Syrian troops killed in Iraq ambush
At least 48 Syrians and nine Iraqis are killed in Anbar by an attack on a convoy carrying troops who crossed into Iraq. Armed men from Syria have carried out an ambush in western Iraq killing 48 unarmed Syrian soldiers and nine Iraqi guards, the Iraqi defence ministry said. The soldiers crossed into Iraq from the Yaarabiya border crossing, the scene of heavy fighting on Saturday between rebels and troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, said Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Khalaf al-Dulaimi of the border protection forces on Monday.
Ali Mussawi, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's spokesman, said the ambush "confirms our fears of the attempt of some to move the conflict to Iraq, but we will face these attempts by all sides with all of our power". The defence ministry said in an online statement that the ambush was carried out "by a terrorist group that infiltrated into Iraqi territory coming from Syria," and put the death toll at 48 Syrian soldiers and nine Iraqi guards. It said a number of unarmed Syrian soldiers wounded in fighting had fled to Iraq for medical treatment and were being transferred to Al-Walid border crossing to be returned to Syria through "official channels".
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast...39806.html
7. Congress moving swiftly to avoid government shutdown
Congress is moving rapidly to pass legislation funding the federal government through September 30, as Senate leaders on Tuesday expressed eagerness to avoid any threat of agency shutdowns when money runs out on March 27. "I'm cautiously optimistic we're going to reach a solution before we leave here for the Easter recess," which is scheduled to begin on March 23, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters on Tuesday.
Reid's Republican counterpart, Senator Mitch McConnell, gave a similarly upbeat assessment, telling reporters, "There seems to be no interest on either side in having a kind of confrontational government shutdown scenario." Their comments follow Republicans' introduction of a new funding bill in the House of Representatives that will keep in place $85 billion worth of controversial, across-the-board spending cuts triggered on Friday. The House measure, expected to win passage on Wednesday, aims to partially shield some defense and veterans' programs from the indiscriminate cuts by including two updated military-related spending bills. It also will shift some funds to security-related efforts such as border and embassy security, prisons and FBI operations.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/0...9V20130305
8. US bill would anoint Israel 'major strategic ally'
Two US lawmakers have introduced a bill that would make Israel a ‘major strategic ally’. The move is intended to solidify ties between the two states in the run-up to a potential strike against Iran despite US reluctance to use the military option. The bill sponsored by Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) and Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), was timed to coincide with the yearly American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports.
The ‘major strategic ally’ bill – which would grant Israel a one-of-a-kind designation – would strengthen ties between the two nations on a range of issues, including annual defense assistance, and cooperation on missile defense, energy research and cyber security. It also invites Israel to join a program which waves pre-arranged visas for select foreign nationals entering the United States.
http://rt.com/usa/us-israel-strategic-ally-862/
9. The Last Time The Dow Was Here...
the last time stocks were here...
•Dow Jones Industrial Average: Then 14164.5; Now 14164.5
•Regular Gas Price: Then $2.75; Now $3.73
•GDP Growth: Then +2.5%; Now +1.6%
•Americans Unemployed (in Labor Force): Then 6.7 million; Now 13.2 million
•Americans On Food Stamps: Then 26.9 million; Now 47.69 million
•Size of Fed's Balance Sheet: Then $0.89 trillion; Now $3.01 trillion
•US Debt as a Percentage of GDP: Then ~38%; Now 74.2%
•US Deficit (LTM): Then $97 billion; Now $975.6 billion
•Total US Debt Oustanding: Then $9.008 trillion; Now $16.43 trillion
•US Household Debt: Then $13.5 trillion; Now 12.87 trillion
•Labor Force Particpation Rate: Then 65.8%; Now 63.6%•Consumer Confidence: Then 99.5; Now 69.6
•S&P Rating of the US: Then AAA; Now AA+
•VIX: Then 17.5%; Now 14%
•10 Year Treasury Yield: Then 4.64%; Now 1.89%
•USDJPY: Then 117; Now 93•EURUSD: Then 1.4145; Now 1.3050
•Gold: Then $748; Now $1583
•NYSE Average LTM Volume (per day): Then 1.3 billion shares; Now 545 million shares
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-03-05...w-was-here
10. DHS Signs $4.5 Million Dollar Contract With Heckler & Koch
Amidst concerns that the agency is engaged in a domestic arms race against the American people, the Department of Homeland Security has signed a new $4.5 million dollar contract with weapons manufacturer Heckler & Koch. A synopsis posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website yesterday announces the DHS’ intention to ink a five year deal with the Virginia-based firearms maker to provide gun replacement parts for the Federal Protective Service, ICE, Customs and Border Protection, “and other DHS agencies as needed.”
Although the document is supposed to be redacted, the relevant sections have not been blacked out correctly and the figures are visible. The total value of the contract is $4.5 million, spread out across five annual payments of $900,000 dollars
http://www.infowars.com/dhs-signs-4-5-mi...kler-koch/