NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Renowned investor George Soros said on Friday the world financial system has effectively disintegrated.

"Soros said the turbulence is actually more severe than during the Great Depression, comparing the current situation to the demise of the Soviet Union.

"'We witnessed the collapse of the financial system,' Soros said at a Columbia University dinner. 'It was placed on life support, and it's still on life support. There's no sign that we are anywhere near a bottom.'

"His comments echoed those made earlier at the same conference by Paul Volcker, a former Federal Reserve chairman who is now a top adviser to President Barack Obama.

"Volcker said industrial production around the world was declining even more rapidly than in the United States, which is itself under severe strain.

"'I don't remember any time, maybe even in the Great Depression, when things went down quite so fast, quite so uniformly around the world,' Volcker said."

Scientists: Pace of Climate Change Exceeds Estimates By: Kari Lydersen / The Washington Post.com / February 15, 2009

CHICAGO, Feb. 14 -- The pace of global warming is likely to be much faster than recent predictions, because industrial greenhouse gas emissions have increased more quickly than expected and higher temperatures are triggering self-reinforcing feedback mechanisms in global ecosystems, scientists said Saturday.

"Unexpectedly large amounts of carbon dioxide are being released into the atmosphere as the result of 'feedback loops' that are speeding up natural processes. Prominent among these, evidence indicates, is a cycle in which higher temperatures are beginning to melt the arctic permafrost, which could release hundreds of billions of tons of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, said several scientists on a panel at the meeting.

"The permafrost holds 1 trillion tons of carbon, and as much as 10 percent of that could be released this century, Field said. Along with carbon dioxide melting permafrost releases methane, which is 25 times more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

"'It's a vicious cycle of feedback where warming causes the release of carbon from permafrost, which causes more warming, which causes more release from permafrost,' Field said.

"Fires such as the recent deadly blazes in southern Australia have increased in recent years, and that trend is expected to continue, Field said. Warmer weather, earlier snowmelt, drought and beetle infestations facilitated by warmer climates are all contributing to the rising number of fires linked to climate change. Across large swaths of the United States and Canada, bark beetles have killed many mature trees, making forests more flammable. And tropical rain forests that were not susceptible to forest fires in the past are likely to become drier as temperatures rise, growing more vulnerable."

Netanyahu Says Iran Will Not Get Hands on Nukes By: Aron Heller / Miami Herald.com -- Associated Press / July 31, 2009

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's leading candidate for prime minister, said Saturday that Iran 'will not be armed with a nuclear weapon.' (Israel's elections scheduled February 10)

"In an interview with Israel's Channel 2 TV, Netanyahu said if elected prime minister his first mission will be to thwart the Iranian nuclear threat. Netanyahu, the current opposition leader and head of the hardline Likud party, called Iran the greatest danger to Israel and to all humanity.

"When asked if stopping Iran's nuclear ambitions included a military strike, he replied: 'It includes everything that is necessary to make this statement come true.'"

A new Israeli poll gives hard line Likud leader Netanyahu 28 seats in Israel's 120-seat parliament, five seats more than his closest rival, moderate Foreign Minister Livni. Friday's poll results mean Netanyahu is most likely to win the Feb. 10 election and will have the best chance of forming a governing coalition.

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