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22. januar 2008
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The aggressive diversion tactics of a gang of postal depot robbers in Gothenburg (Götebog) today had large sections of the city closed down by bomb threats.
During the raid the robbers forced the eleven staff at the post office staff to lie on the floor. They then made away with their loot. Five devices that appeared to be bombs were placed in the area in an apparent attempt to hinder the police operation.
"There is no indication that there were actually any explosives in the boxes," said Ahlbin on Tuesday evening.
The robbers also set fire to five cars in the area. They fled in a Jeep, which was later found burned out not far from the scene of the robbery. They had spread caltrops - metal 'crows' feet' designed to puncture car tyres - on roads around the terminal. Nobody was physically injured in the robbery.
Klas Friberg of Gothenburg Police said that at least ten people are likely to have been involved in the robbery.
"This robbery was on a bigger scale than any I have seen before."
Three men have been arrested for involvement in the crime.
PS: Also in Sweden news:
A Swedish university has received $590,000 in research funds to measure the greenhouse gases released when cows belch.
As a Gary Larson fan, I am worried that this is a sneaky attempt to shift the blame to the cows.
8:37:22 PM 
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The US Federal Reserve did a surprise preemptive move against an expected stock exchange crash before the US markets opened today.
The Federal Reserve attempted to allay fears about the strength of the U.S. economy by trimming its key federal fund rate -- which impacts how much borrowers pay on credit card debt and loans -- from 4.25 percent to 3.5 percent.
It also lowered its discount rate -- the rate at which banks can borrow directly from the Fed from 4.75 to 4 percent.
The European markets rebounded quickly on the move, after heavy morning losses, and it appears Wall Street has also avoided the expected major crash.
This, however, is a one time trick. Tomorrow this rate will have been calculated into all decisions. The price of money has fallen, but the market actors will now have to evaluate whether the stock prices accurately reflect their expected future values. If the panic starts again one of the next few days, this can get ugly.
Didn't the previous US recession start in quite precisely the same part of Clinton's presidency? I've heard about seven year cycles, but maybe the trend to look out for is eight year cycles.
8:25:55 PM
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The ethnic massacres in Kenya continues. There is evidence, however, that this was not a spontaneous ignition of ethnic tensions brought about by election irregularities, but that it was indeed planned and prepared, especially on the countryside.
In Nairobi, the capital, a senior Kenyan police official cracked open a thick binder, with the subject line "ETHNIC CLASHES," that revealed evidence of what he called a pattern of highly orchestrated mayhem in the Rift Valley. According to the reports, a nine-foot ditch had been cut in an asphalt road by an earth mover, apparently to prevent authorities from being able to get to conflict zones to intervene; thousands of armed men had suddenly materialized in thinly populated villages; and a roadblock had been built with 10 tons of concrete.
"You don't move 10 tons of concrete on your back," said the police official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to share this information publicly. "This is a full military operation."
Most clashes are in rural areas, which are difficult for the police to reach, and the government strategy so far has been to use military escorts to evacuate the people who want to leave.
The government, obviously, was far from blameless in the mayhem. Representatives of several tribes, including the official winners, used the election campaign to incite ethnic hatred over old grudges.
8:17:26 PM
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The Mars Rover Spirit has discovered life on Mars!
Or, some optical illusion created by lighting, image processing or a combination of the two.
You decide.
8:11:23 PM
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© Copyright 2008 Jan Haugland.
Last update: 01.02.2008; 22:14:55.
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