Tuesday, January 03, 2012
News Links, January 4, 2012
## Global economic meltdown ##
Global Growth Slows to 3.9% as O'Neill Sees BRICs Diminished by Population
Global Growth Slows to 3.9% as O'Neill Sees BRICs Diminished by Population
Major Slowdown in Global Trade Coming Up; Think the U.S., China, Germany, or U.K. will Be Immune?
Global Bond Issuance To Top A Staggering $8 Trillion In 2012
"As households are supposedly deleveraging and European nations face austerity, one might suspect that global debt levels were stabilizing or even dropping. Think again."
"As households are supposedly deleveraging and European nations face austerity, one might suspect that global debt levels were stabilizing or even dropping. Think again."
Greek, Italian Cash Heads for Hills, or Undergound
"Greeks and Italians are taking their money and running, moving it abroad or even burying it underground for fear the euro zone crisis will topple banks and wipe out what remains of their savings."
"Greeks and Italians are taking their money and running, moving it abroad or even burying it underground for fear the euro zone crisis will topple banks and wipe out what remains of their savings."
Year-End Bets Against Euro Hit Record
"Hedge funds increased their bets against the euro to a record level in the last week of 2011, increasing pressure on the embattled European common currency as it enters the most testing year of its history."
"Hedge funds increased their bets against the euro to a record level in the last week of 2011, increasing pressure on the embattled European common currency as it enters the most testing year of its history."
More employers in Brazil accused of slave-like conditions
"Nearly 300 employers in South America's biggest country submit workers to slave-like conditions, Brazil's Labor Ministry said Tuesday."
"Nearly 300 employers in South America's biggest country submit workers to slave-like conditions, Brazil's Labor Ministry said Tuesday."
## Fault lines/flashpoints/military ##
Militants agree to truce with Pakistan, unite against NATO (McClatchy)
"Pakistani Islamist militants on Sunday pledged to cease their four-year insurgency against Pakistani security forces, and join the Taliban's war against NATO troops in Afghanistan."
Syrian army deserters 'kill 18'
"Syrian army deserters have killed at least 18 members of President Bashar al-Assad's security forces, according to a human rights group."
Israel scraps military deal with Turkey
"Pakistani Islamist militants on Sunday pledged to cease their four-year insurgency against Pakistani security forces, and join the Taliban's war against NATO troops in Afghanistan."
Syrian army deserters 'kill 18'
"Syrian army deserters have killed at least 18 members of President Bashar al-Assad's security forces, according to a human rights group."
Israel scraps military deal with Turkey
"Israel has escalated its bitter quarrel with Turkey, its erstwhile ally, by scrapping a $140 million deal for unmanned aerial vehicles and advanced intelligence-gathering systems the Israelis fear could end up in the hands of Iran."
Barak: Assad 'Only Has Weeks'
"Defense Minister Ehud Barak says the regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad only has 'a few weeks' before it loses control."
"Defense Minister Ehud Barak says the regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad only has 'a few weeks' before it loses control."
Iran Has No Long-Range Missiles: Russia
Qatar offers to be mediator between Taliban, international community
Qatar offers to be mediator between Taliban, international community
"[Qatar is] now facilitating talks on the Afghan conflict by allowing the Taliban to open a liaison office in its capital, Doha."
NATO supplies pile up at Pakistan port
"Tonnes of supplies bound for NATO forces in Afghanistan are piling up at the Pakistani port of Karachi following the blockade imposed after a deadly air strike in November, officials said Monday."
## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Nigerians Stop Gas Stations From Selling Fuel
"Tonnes of supplies bound for NATO forces in Afghanistan are piling up at the Pakistani port of Karachi following the blockade imposed after a deadly air strike in November, officials said Monday."
## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Nigerians Stop Gas Stations From Selling Fuel
"Angry mobs of protesters stopped gas station owners from selling fuel Tuesday while others lit a bonfire on a major highway in an attempt to thwart the government's removal of a cherished consumer subsidy that had kept gas affordable for more than two decades."
## Energy/resources ##
"South Korea is an energy dependent economy. Almost 97% of its energy requirement are met through imports. As such, the country will find it extremely difficult to accommodate increasing US pressure to cut imports of oil from Iran, especially with Iran meeting 8.3% of total oil imports in 2010."
"If our government lets these companies touch even a drop of our water, we're ruined."
Everything's gonna be OK. -- RF
"Global consulting firm Deloitte in "Tracking the Trends 2012" questioned whether Australia was at the peak of a resources bubble that would soon burst."
Long queues as Nigeria fuel price soars
## Got food? ##
Saudi firm buys dairy farm land in Argentina as anger grows from activists, farmers alike
## Got food? ##
Saudi firm buys dairy farm land in Argentina as anger grows from activists, farmers alike
Food Prices Ease Slightly But Are Still Volatile: UN Official
A Punch to the Mouth: Food Price Volatility Hits the World (Gregor Macdonald at Chris Martenson)
A Punch to the Mouth: Food Price Volatility Hits the World (Gregor Macdonald at Chris Martenson)
Fierce storms batter Britain leaving one man dead and transport chaos in their wake
## Intelligence/security/internet/systemic breakdown ##
Saudi hackers claim to post personal information of 400,000 Israelis
## Intelligence/security/internet/systemic breakdown ##
Saudi hackers claim to post personal information of 400,000 Israelis
Over 70% of top Japan firms see economy as slowing or flattening
Twitter crashed during Japan New Year celebration
Twitter crashed during Japan New Year celebration
"'I have to wait for two hours and even longer at the gas station to get refueled. And you are only allowed to buy 50 yuan worth of diesel. So I have to come back for another two hours in the afternoon,' he said. 'In the worst scenario, I tried 10 filling stations and couldn't get a single drop of diesel and was afraid of running out of fuel.'"
"The Status Quo's Ministry of Propaganda has a single political task for 2012: eliminate the sole threat to the Status Quo (Ron Paul) from the running, leaving voters with a 'choice' of clueless stooges for the Power Elite."
Exposing American Banks' Multi-Trillion Umbilical Cord With Europe
No Warrant Needed for GPS Monitoring, Judge Rules
Signs point to tepid consumer spending for 2012
No Warrant Needed for GPS Monitoring, Judge Rules
Signs point to tepid consumer spending for 2012
Watch as pensions melt away like snow on a warm spring day. -- RF
Workers dropping out of the work force for school: Bad sign for the economy
Workers dropping out of the work force for school: Bad sign for the economy
Signs show that a massive muni bond default is in the cards. Whitney will have the last laugh. -- RF
