*Children of Jihad Groomed by Islamic State to Keep Legacy Alive
©2015 Bloomberg News NMT1XS6K50XS (Bloomberg) — They look like regular Islamic State militants in khaki fatigues and black bandanas, exercising and practicing combat routines. Yet their size and lack of trademark black beards betray them as children. The group, also known as ISIS or Da’esh, is already turning to the next
First F-35 Jets Lacks Ground-Combat Punch of 1970s-Era A-10s
©2015 Bloomberg News NMTHUZ6JIJV2 (Bloomberg) — The first F-35 jets ready for combat won’t be able to protect forces in ground combat as well as the nearly 40-year-old A-10s the Pentagon wants to retire, according to the Defense Department’s chief weapons tester. Compared with the lumbering A-10, known as the Warthog,
Russian Missile Sale to Iran Amid Talks Draws U.S. Objections
©2015 Bloomberg News NMRE3N6KLVRC (Bloomberg) — Russia’s decision to lift a ban on the delivery of an air-defense missile system to Iran amid nuclear negotiations drew objections from the U.S. and sharp criticism from Israel. Russian President Vladimir Putin repealed the self-imposed 2010 prohibition on exporting the S-300 missile system,
Obama Sets Rules for Offshore Oil Wells After BP Spill
©2015 Bloomberg News NMRE996K50XY (Bloomberg) — The Obama administration proposed tighter rules for the offshore drilling equipment designed to be a last line of defense against oil-well blowouts, five years after the fatal BP Plc spill off Louisiana fouled the Gulf of Mexico. The proposal Monday by the Interior Department
U.S. Top AAA Rating Affirmed by Fitch on Financial Flexibility
©2015 Bloomberg News NMRDP86JIJUS (Bloomberg) — The U.S. AAA credit rating was affirmed by Fitch Ratings Inc., which cited the strength of the nation’s economy, capital markets and status as the issuer of the world’s reserve currency. The U.S. budget deficit, which has narrowed from a peak of $1.4 trillion
Coffee Goes From First to Worst as Hedge Funds Hold Short Bets
©2015 Bloomberg News NMPJX96K50XS (Bloomberg) — Coffee, last year’s best-performing commodity, is now the worst thanks to the return of rains in parched growing areas of Brazil. Showers in February and March brightened the outlook for crops that will start being collected in May. With more coffee on the way, exporters
Dollar’s Rise Reshuffles Global Economy Into Winners and Losers
©2015 Bloomberg News NMPF6P6JTSE9 (Bloomberg) — The rising U.S. dollar is redistributing growth throughout the global economy. The greenback’s ascent to the highest in a dozen years on a trade-weighted basis is eroding the competitiveness of the U.S. and countries whose exchange rates track the dollar, including China. It’s also
Germany Proving Life With Less Fossil Fuel Easier Than You Think
©2015 Bloomberg News NMLUF16K50XW (Bloomberg) — Sitting in a control center that helps ensure uninterrupted power for 82 million Germans, Gunter Scheibner is proving that renewable energy from the sun and wind can be just as reliable as fossil fuels. Scheibner, in charge of keeping flows stable over 6,200 miles (9,976
Bloomberg Business: Dollar Reaches 3-Week High, Europe Stocks Hit Record; Bonds Fall
©2015 Bloomberg News Stephen Kirkland and Callie Bost (Bloomberg) — The dollar rose to a three-week high amid speculation U.S. interest rates will be increased this year. European stocks climbed to a record and American equities advanced with oil, while Treasuries fell after a bond auction. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot
Bloomberg Business: Is Government Making a Bad Bet on Student Loans?: Megan McArdle
©2015 Bloomberg View NMK6GZ6KLVR6 (Bloomberg View) — Under the Barack Obama administration, the government has pretty much taken over the student loan business. Loans that might once have been made by banks (often with a federal guarantee) are now issued directly by the government. Proponents of this policy have hailed
