Rice Farmer

## Global economic meltdown ##
Angela Merkel casts doubt on saving Greece from financial meltdown

Max Keiser interviewed for BBC: The sham and shame of Davos (video)

Is the Carbon Bubble About to Pop?
"Internet, housing, banking, we have come across quite a few bubbles in the past decade, but now we are faced with the unfolding of possibly the biggest bubble of them all. The carbon bubble, created and sustained by the systematic over-valuation of carbon intensive firms and their assets."

## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##

Even without Hormuz blockade, Iran has options
"Under pressure over its nuclear ambitions, Iran might never act on its threat to close the Strait of Hormuz but could retain enough tricks in its playbook to keep its enemies, shippers and global markets on edge."
EU Oil Embargo: Sanctions Benefit Iran's Revolutionary Guards (Spiegel)

Even if the gold-for-oil deal doesn't work out, overall the sanctions still seem to be backfiring. -- RF

IMF warns over risk of Iran oil price shock
"The IMF warned that if the West imposed financial sanctions on Iran, it would be tantamount to an oil blockade, and the shock to the market could be as bad as from Libya's revolution last year."

Zetas are Mexico's 'largest drug gang', study says

## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Two more Tibetans killed by Chinese forces after protests: group

## Energy/resources ##

Diesel consumption triples as gas supply disrupted (Israel)

High Oil Prices Taking Toll on Refiners
Instead of making money for refiners, high oil prices are driving them out of business. -- RF

The Peak Oil Crisis: On Closing Our Refineries (Tom Whipple)

Gas crisis stops power generation (Bangladesh)

Diesel cars guzzling 40% of segment's fuel: CSE (India)
Chinese Refinery in Chad Hits a Major Snag

"Former Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan returns to the world stage this week, part of a campaign to reinvent himself as a global antinuclear activist nearly a year after he oversaw his government's widely criticized handling of the Fukushima Daiichi accident."

"With apartments built after the 1980s having central heating systems, the power shortage has resulted in heating being cut off from apartments in central Pyongyang, where many high-level officials live."

Electricity Crisis Likely to Worsen as Bassil Calls for More Rationing in Beirut (Lebanon)

## Infrastructure scavenging ##
Thieves seeking silver, brass and lead prey on churches (UK)

Metal thieves scrap entire Shorewood building (US)
"Thieves in the southwest suburbs apparently tore down an entire building to steal some scrap metal.
"Little is left of the building on Northwest Frontage Road near Shorewood."

Scrap metal thieves steal toilet parts from Amtrak station bathroom (US)

## Got food? ##
East Africa: Warning on Bio-Fuel Development Sounded

## Environment/health ##
Governments Worldwide Raise Acceptable Radiation Levels Based Upon Politics … Not Science

But they won't survive peak oil. -- RF

## Intelligence/security/internet/systemic breakdown ##
Docomo services disrupted for 4 1/2 hours, affecting 2.52 mil users (Japan)
#McFail? McDonald's Twitter Campaign Gets Hijacked

## Japan ##
IMF says Japan should raise consumption tax to 15%

Elpida may gain life support as chips slump
"Elpida Memory Inc., facing a deadline to repay ¥93.5 billion in debt by April, may gain financial support for the second time in three years as the government seeks to keep the company alive amid a slump in the chip market."

Tepco rate hike would drive Kanto steelmakers into red: industry group
"Tepco's plan to hike electricity rates for businesses by 17 percent will likely drive some steelmakers into the red and result in them shifting production to other parts of the country, the head of an industry group said Wednesday."

## China ##
Chinese sub fleet on high alert in South China Sea
China's Oil Demand Rises by 0.7% in December
"Hits monthly, yearly records despite slowing growth"

## UK ##

## US ##

"Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke signaled on Wednesday the central bank may consider further monetary easing, after the central bank announced interest rates would remain near zero until late 2014."

Reports: Pentagon budget calls for cutting Army brigades
The Empire continues to downsize its legions. -- RF

Ron Paul: Steadily, 'Our Numbers Are Growing' (NPR interview with Paul)

Chart of the Day: Apparel Import Data in Square Meters and Dollars; J.C. Penney's Slashes Prices on All Merchandise by "At Least 40%", Offers Every Day Low Pricing (Mish)