Rice Farmer: September 2012

3 countries join U.S. security alert in Philippines
"Britain, Australia and Canada joined the United States on Sept. 29 in warning their citizens of a security threat in the Philippines, particularly in the capital, Manila."
9 Frightening Things About America's Biggest Police Force
"The NYPD has expanded into a massive global anti-terror operation with surveillance and military capabilities unparalled in the history of local US law enforcement."

## Systemic breakdown ##
Honduras crime: Soldiers deployed on public buses

Camden, N.J., plans police switch
"Camden, N.J., one of the country's poorest and most violent cities, plans to shut down its police department and replace it with a county force."
Chemical plant explosions in Japan kill one, may cripple global diaper output

## Japan ##
The Pauperization Of Japan

Renesas to receive 97 bil. yen in aid from banks, shareholders

## China ##
Las Vegas casinos trumped by Chinese 'Sin City'

World's tallest tower plan raises eyebrows
"It should be no surprise that China – the world's emerging superpower – wants to be next to boast the world's tallest building, and build it at record speed.
"But does the country, already strewn with barely-occupied shopping centres, apartment buildings and offices, really need the 220-storey Sky City tower in the central industrial city of Changsha?"

China Solar Giant Suntech Power Gets Rescue Package
"Struggling amidst a severe downturn of orders for photovoltaic solar panels, China's behemoth solar panel maker, Suntech Power Holdings (STP) was given a $32 million lifeline on Friday."

China New Export New Orders Decline At Fastest Pace in 42 Months; China's Precarious Rebalancing Act
China's Manufacturing Shrinks for 11th Month, HSBC PMI Shows

## UK ##
Metropolitan Police officers suspended for corruption

Claw back £4billion from the European Union, Tory MPs tell Cameron

## US ##
College students defaulting at record rate

The Next Subprime Crisis Is Here: Over $120 Billion In Federal Student Loans In Default

'Zombie Economy' May Give Markets a Scare in October
JPMorgan, Bank of America Forgive Debts that No Longer Exist; Wonderful News! But For Whom?
Business Activity in U.S. Shrinks for First Time Since 2009

First United Bank is 43rd 2012 U.S. bank failure

Permanent Link posted by Rice Farmer @ 10:59 PM

Friday, September 28, 2012

News Links, September 29, 2012

## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards ##
Japan Heads for GDP Contraction as South Korea Weakens: Economy
ArcelorMittal to permanently shut Florange blast furnaces

Grim outlook for Asia's shipping market in 2013

Vietnam: Moody's downgrade raises spectre of banking bailout

Slovenia debt to rise but no bailout needed: PM

France Piles €20 Billion in Tax Hikes on Businesses and Wealthy

Moody's downgrades South Africa, fears for stability

Spain's banks 'need 59.3bn euros of eurozone loans'
As Spain sinks, many in Catalonia want out
They Won't Tell You Their Names, But They'll Help You Hide Your Money

MidEast summit to tackle youth unemployment

Strikes hammer South Africa's mining industry

14 Signs That The World Economy Is Getting Weaker
Euro Gold Prices Hit Record as "Debt Crisis Escalates" and Spain "Lays Groundwork" for a Bailout

## Airline Death Spiral ##
American Airline parent posts $82 million net loss because of bankruptcy reorganization costs
Greenspan's Lightweight Economy Squeezes Cargo Airlines
Airfreight woes persist in Asia-Pacific

Thai Airways' cargo unit braces for Bt100m loss
Fuel Costs, Economy Outpace Lufthansa Savings

Brazilian airline TAM to slash domestic routes in 2013

Coming Soon? Airline Tickets That Cost Extra After You Purchase Them

## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
U.S. call for "cool heads" in China-Japan island dispute goes unheeded

Islands were stolen, China says at U.N.
US temporarily reduces more staff from Libya embassy

Al Qaeda convicts break out of jail in Iraq

U.S. drops Iranian MEK dissident group from terrorism list

US blocks Chinese firm's investment in wind farms

The Next Wave in U.S. Robotic War: Drones on Their Own
"The U.S. military's current fleet of drones will soon be overtaken by a new wave of robots that will be faster, stealthier and smarter — operating virtually without human intervention, experts say."

Military Report Shows Afghan Surge Complete Failure

U.S. Troops Deployed in Iraq Again

Half of Israelis fear war with Iran would endanger Jewish State's existence

## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##

Protesters, police clash in Bahrain
"Around one hundred anti-government protesters threw stones and petrol bombs as riot police tried to disperse them with tear gas and stun grenades in Bahrain on Friday, witnesses said, after an earlier demonstration attended by thousands passed peacefully."
Power outage provokes micro industries' outrage
Striking Amplats miners in S.Africa defiant

Italian unions strike against Monti, close Colosseum

## Energy/resources ##
U.S. states struggle with water woes amid drought

Blackout in Bhutan continues for third day

Helium shortage deflates balloon race

India pursuing Canadian oil sands

Russia and Venezuela team up on major oil projects

## Infrastructure scavenging ##
Thieves cause $100K in damage to storm system

## Got food? ##

UAE in call for clarity over world food supply
"Sultan Al Mansouri, the UAE Minister of Economy, has called for greater transparency in the global agricultural supply chain as bad weather pushes up food prices around the world."
Drought area widens in U.S., farmers frustrated

Drought-hit hog producers face tough choice: struggle or fold

World fish supply declining, but there's hope for recovery
Peanut butter recall grows to 100 products (US)
Global milk scarcity likely to return

Iceland, Faroes may face EU fish sanctions
"Iceland and the Faroe Islands could face European Union sanctions over "unsustainable" mackerel catches after an EU Fisheries Council agreement this week."

Fish stocks said declining in the Adriatic

A Plan for Food Self-Sufficiency
"Planning a garden in advance can help you enjoy local, homegrown food year-round! Estimate how much to grow or buy and learn how to achieve food security with these guidelines."

## Environment/health ##
Worst flood for decades uproots 10,000 in central Nigeria

Epilepsy 'is a global health problem'
"Epilepsy is twice as common in low and middle-income countries as it is in the developed world, according to an international team of researchers."

Great ape habitat in Africa has dramatically declined

Disease Detectives Catch Deadly African Virus Just As It Emerges
"New viruses are popping up all over these days – Heartland virus in Missouri last month, a new virus in the same family as SARS in Saudi Arabia this month. And now, a never-before-seen hemorrhagic fever virus in central Africa."

SARS-like virus infected five in Denmark - reports

New 'Sars-like' not easily transmitted says WHO

## Intelligence/security/internet ##
Cyber Attacks on U.S. Banks Expose Computer Vulnerability
Deutsche Bank evacuates workers after powder found

India's Gargantuan Biometric Database Raises Big Questions

All Your Private Data Belong To Obama

National power-grid tech blueprints 'stolen by Chinese hackers'

## Systemic breakdown ##
Two-hour power blackout halts Azeri capital

Nearly naked man bites dog, witnesses say (Canada)

Elevators run into maintenance woes (Shanghai)
"NEGLIGENCE of elevator maintenance, a severe shortage of repair workers, poor technical abilities and vicious competition are blamed for the irregularities in the city's elevator maintenance and repair market, a senior official with the city's quality watchdog said yesterday."
East St. Louis mayor calls for extreme crime-fighting measures after violent 36 hours

7 teens arrested in Kenosha late night robbery attacks
"Seven juveniles have been arrested for mob-style street robberies in Kenosha dating back to July."

## Japan ##
Data Suggest Japanese Economy Is Slowing More Than Expected

Japan PMI: Output and New Orders Contract Further
25,606 people moved out of Fukushima in last 6 months, ministry says

City opposes government's plan of dumping radioactive Fukushima waste in forest

Good Harvest Expected For This Year's Rice Crop: Govt
Gov't to abolish employee pension fund system saddled with massive reserve shortfalls

Japan to stockpile 500 tons of polished rice, drawing lesson from 3/11 disasters

Medical costs reach new record

## China ##

China's 'Green Shoots' Wither Fast, Markets Hold Tight
Chinese Slowdown Idles U.S. Coal Mines

Expert appeals for steel capacity reduction in China
Industrial profits decline sees sharp acceleration

## UK ##
Dozens of failing NHS hospitals should be taken over, adviser to Blair warns
Fast broadband more important to house buyers than parking

Fitch Warns UK Likelihood It Loses AAA Rating Has Increased

## US ##
More Proof The U.S. Economy Is Falling Apart: GDP Revision A Grim Surprise

US Postal Service to default on second $5B payment
New York Plaza District Offices Empty as Banks Cut Space

Pricey gasoline hits U.S. consumers, weighs on growth

Big Pharma Has Defrauded $30B from States, Federal Government: Report

Fed's Fisher says U.S. "drowning in unemployment"

Chicago region's business activity slows
"The Chicago Business Barometer indicated business dropped from growth to contraction in September, the Institute for Supply Management said."

California Hit Parade Rolls On: Atwater Scrambles to Avoid bankruptcy
Student-Loan Default Rates Rise as Federal Scrutiny Grows

Fed Buys $20 Billion In QE3 Mortgages; Jobs Created: Zero

Analysis: Nation's Water Costs Rushing Higher

Abandoned America: one photographer's quest to document the beauty in old buildings

Permanent Link posted by Rice Farmer @ 5:04 PM

Thursday, September 27, 2012

News Links, September 28, 2012

## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards ##
VW Says Some Carmakers May Go Bankrupt Without Assistance

Overcapacity continues to dog stainless steel industry

Spain's crisis budget aims at spending cuts not tax rises

Spain Falls to Pieces, as Predicted

Barclays Opens Massive Brand New Precious Metals Vault In London

IBM Argentina lays off hundreds due to labor costs

China's Great Slowdown Is Really Here— And It's Worse Than You Think

Beyond Wall St., Curbs on High-Speed Trades Proceed

Counterfeit goods becoming more dangerous
"The global trade in counterfeit goods is booming, and it's shifting from relatively innocuous items like shoes and handbags to things like medicine and pesticides that can carry serious health and safety implications."

High-Priced Fuel Syndrome

## Airline Death Spiral ##
Thousands of American Airlines workers decide to take buyouts
AA accuses pilots of work slowdown

## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
Mexico says captures high-ranking Zetas cartel leader

No fix for 'Jesus rifles' deploying to Afghanistan

Chinese icebreaker sails to Atlantic and back, via Arctic

Shootings, grenade attacks rattle Congo's Goma

Mexico says it captured senior Zetas cartel leader "El Taliban"

Russia 'consecrates' North Pole
"A Russian Orthodox bishop has lowered a 'holy memorial capsule' into the sea at the North Pole in an attempt to 'consecrate' the Arctic and reasserts Moscow's claims to the territory."

The explosion of private militaries and mercenaries, post-Iraq

Netanyahu draws "red line" on Iran's nuclear program

As Israeli PM Netanyahu Discusses Iran's Nukes, Let's Not Forget His Lies About Iraq's WMD's

Will Israel Launch a False Flag Against Iran to Start War?

## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Muslims protest at US Embassy in Bangkok

Two killed as Saudi security forces try to arrest Shi'ite man

Belgian rail strike to hit Eurostar, Thalys services

China's dorm room discontent emerges as new labor flashpoint

Islamic Revolution… in Saudi Arabia?

## Energy/resources ##

Will Humanity Face a Carbohydrate Shortage?
US Navy Develops a Technique to Produce Jet Fuel from Sea Water

Don't get excited. What is the EROEI of this process? It's also possible to extract gold from seawater, so why isn't everyone doing it? It all comes down to energy input. -- RF

Comments on Maugeri's Oil Revolution - part I

Statoil May Order Tailored Rigs to Combat High Norway Costs
"Statoil ASA (STL), Norway's biggest oil and gas producer, may order additional new-build drilling rigs specially designed for its activities off the country's coast in an effort to combat rising costs and a capacity shortage."

Dying diesel sales say China's engine slowing
"China is unlikely to import diesel for domestic use for the rest of the year due to a slowing economy, industry sources say, putting pressure on Asian diesel margins as well as potentially reversing high prices for the fuel in the West."

Drop in European oil products demand menaces refineries: CONCAWE
"Up to 40 small refineries in Europe could close over the next two decades, if they cannot tap growing export markets, because demand for oil products in the region is expected to drop, a study by industry association CONCAWE shows."

BP's Texas Refinery Sale Shows Volatile Industry's Decay

Sudan, South Sudan sign deals to restart oil, secure border

## Got food? ##
Salmonella outbreak prompts peanut butter recall

Cold snap may hit Argentine wheat, rain seen ahead
Crop production to drop by 10 per cent (Nepal)

U.S. to End Mexican Tomato Pact, Raising Risk of Trade War

Backyard Chicken Facts - 5 Things No One Told Us

## Environment/health ##
Big Quakes Signal Changes Coming To Earth's Crust

Typically sunny Rio de Janeiro becomes unrecognizable during cold spell

B.C. prepares for an estimated 1.5 million tons of tsunami debris
Plastic debris reaches Southern Ocean
"The first traces of plastic debris have been found in the once pristine environment of the Southern Ocean, according to a new study."

Worst flood for decades uproots 10,000 in central Nigeria

Dengue fever confirmed in Florida girl

## Intelligence/security/internet ##
Banks fail to repel cyber threat
"Attacks that have tied up bank websites show U.S. financial institutions' vulnerability to electronic terrorism."
The high costs of Internet convenience
Lieberman pushes Obama to issue cybersecurity executive order
New Stanford/NYU study documents the civilian terror from Obama's drones

## Systemic breakdown ##
Alternatives to a Bugout Location – What You Should Consider

## Japan ##
Sharp to End Solar Panel Business in U.S., Europe, Kyodo Says

China boycott of Japan products broadens to drug, construction sectors

Japanese department store chain sees Y500 mil damage in China riots

Nuclear Regulation Authority scraps reactor stress tests

Abe eyes lifting ban on collective self-defense

## China ##

A Chinese Mega City Is On The Verge Of Bankruptcy

Weapons of Mass Urban Destruction
"China's cities are making the same mistake America made on the path to superpower status."

Central bank adviser: China underestimated global slowdown

Baoshan Steel Halting Production at China Factory
"Baoshan Iron & Steel Co. (600019), China's largest listed steelmaker, suspended production at a plant after demand fell for slabs used to make ships and bridges."
Decline in China's Industrial Profit Accelerates

Chinese sovereign wealth fund interested in Australian milk farms

Growing doubts cast on ballooning local investments in China
Sinopec shuts plants for emission checks: report

Asia's budget airline boom bypasses China

## UK ##
High sleeping pill use 'worrying'

## US ##
Immigrant Detention and the Private Prison Industry
Weak orders point to sharp slowdown in manufacturing

Harsh Words for Fed From Beijing, Seoul

Campbell Soup to close California plant, cut 700 jobs
Stubborn drought maintains grip on lower 48 states

Average Student Loan Debt Now More Than $26,000
Durable Goods Orders Ex-Transportation "Unexpectedly" Drop, Down Third Month, July Revised Lower; GDP +1.3% Second Quarter; June Recession Call Looking More Likely
U.S. 30-Year Mortgage Rates Fall to Record Low of 3.4%

Fiscal Cliff Poses Significant Risk to U.S. Outlook (PDF)

Steel Industry Outlook Turns Negative

Permanent Link posted by Rice Farmer @ 8:38 PM

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

News Links, September 27, 2012

## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards ##
Spain to seek bailout if yields too high for too long
Erasmus Shipping's Su Says Dry-Bulk at 'Pessimistic Bottom'
Jobs cull as Europe's banks step up costs battle
Gloomy carmakers gather in Paris
Short Sales Rose in First Half of September
"Short selling rose at the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market during the first half of September."

Spanish Bonds Slump as Marchers Plan Further Protests

French joblessness tops 3 million for first time in 13 yrs
Guinea secures $2.1 billion debt relief from IMF, World Bank

Canada frets over foreign takeover bids

Ford to cut costs in Europe

Germany Does What The SEC Hasn't - Prepares To Ban HFT

This Time Is Different As Icarus Blows Up & Burns The Birds Along The Way - Greece Is About To Default AGAIN!

Mexican Peso Declines as Protests in Europe Add to Debt Concern

Climate Change Reducing Global GDP by $1.2 Trillion

Iran's Ahmadinejad: Capitalism in quagmire

## Airline Death Spiral ##

Skyway robbery: when it comes to fees, how far will airlines go?

Las Vegas Airline Would Let Flyers Gamble on Prices
Pinnacle Airlines Has Filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

Kingfisher in talks with foreign airlines for FDI

ANA reports 40,000 cancelations on its China routes

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

Vitol trades Iranian fuel oil, skirting sanctions
"Vitol, the world's largest oil trader, is buying and selling Iranian fuel oil, undermining Western efforts to choke the flow of petrodollars to Tehran and put pressure on Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program."

U.S. Unit's Africa Deployment Will Test New Regional Concept
"Come spring, U.S. soldiers from the Army's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, will begin deploying to parts of Africa under a pilot test with U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)."
Explosions strike top Syrian army building

Yemen's LNG Pipeline Suffers Yet Another Attack

China claims disputed islands are 'sacred territory'

Japan sees no need to compromise on island sovereignty: PM Noda

50 Taiwanese boats intrude near Senkakus

Ten Mexican 'gang members' killed in Guerrero state gun battle

Russian scout aircraft approach Osprey training area

Indonesia seeks rules of road for South China Sea
Billboards of Iran Supreme Leader in Iraq Show Increasing Iranian Influence
"America's war in Iraq had more than just moral and legal consequences. Geopolitically, Washington handed Iraq to Iran."

## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Greek government faces first big anti-austerity strike

Factory Riot Spotlights Breaking Point in China
AngloGold says illegal strike spreads in South Africa
Anti-cuts protests erupt on streets of Athens and Madrid

In pictures: Greece protests

In pictures: Madrid clashes

## Energy/resources ##

Total warns against oil drilling in Arctic
China hones new pitch for Abu Dhabi oil

Canadian oil patch seeks protection from foreign investors

Govt departments turn to prepaid electricity (Swaziland)
Jersey power cut caused by loss of cable with France

Nuclear energy capacity growth slowing after Fukushima: IAEA

September Is "Emergency Preparedness Month" ... And Diesel Power Is Working 24/7 to Protect Public Health And Safety (press release)

JA Solar Buys Back $89.2 Million of Debt to Avoid Delisting

Mexico looking at risky deep water oil

Tight water supply seen threatening Lima's growth

Labor Strike May Threaten Petrobras

## Infrastructure scavenging ##
Copper theft is 'economic sabotage'
Vandals strip metal from bridge, leave behind gaping holes

## Got food? ##
Spain: Girono padlocks dumpsters as hungry scrounge for food

N.Korea to allow limited private ownership of farmland

Russia Bans Monsanto's GMO Corn

## Environment/health ##

'Miracle' crop could invade like kudzu

"But the bamboolike grass has a dark side. Some scientists have called arundo 'the plant from hell' and rank it among the world's 100 worst invasive plants."

100 million will die by 2030 if world fails to act on climate: report

Saudi downplays SARs ahead of Hajj influx

Speed of ocean acidification concerns scientists
Saudi Arabia adopts measures to limit virus infection during Haj

Haiti PM says cholera outbreak under control

Species loss, climate change linked

Cargo cyclists replace truck drivers on European city streets

## Intelligence/security/internet ##
Verizon joins cybersecurity group
U.S. Bancorp, PNC Experience Website Issues

## Systemic breakdown ##
US drug shortages: call for "ethically defensible" rationing
Things have gotten so bad in Spain that they are locking up the trash

## Japan ##

Welfare recipient numbers in Japan reach record high
S&P downgrades Sony

Nomura Said to Cut Up to 30 Jobs in Americas Equities

Japanese Carmakers Slam Brakes On Chinese Production

Toyota to suspend production in China next month

Life insurance premium payments falling
"Life insurance premium payments in this country have fallen nearly 40 percent over the past 15 years as households cut back on spending amid continued economic weakness, according to an industry survey."

Beleaguered Japanese firms face risk of massive exodus of engineers to foreign rivals

90 billion yen worth of land for 'new town' projects left unsold

Gov't to urge power companies to withdraw plans to build nuke reactors

Japan has its hands full with multiple territorial rows

Company having trouble in China? Move to the Philippines!

## China ##

Negative outlook for half of listed companies in Q3
"More than half of the listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges are expecting losses or a slowdown in growth in the third quarter because of rising costs and overcapacity, according to Securities Times."
China's Stocks Fall to 2009 Low on Concern About Economy, Profit

Car Maker BYD's Health Faces Skeptics
Is China Burning? Shanghai Stock Index Breaks 2000 For First Time Since 2009; Reflections on Sentiment
Japan businesses shut out of major China trade fair

## UK ##

Population growing by 1,000 a day, Office for National Statistics shows
Deadly fungus in Ash trees could be 'next Dutch elm disease warns Woodland Trust

Town to darken 150 streetlights to save money
Fears as lights go out on M6 Hanchurch stretch

Pumpkins hit by a bad spell (of weather)

## US ##
Why Are Private Equity Firms Buying Up Refineries on the East Coast?
iNflation: Americans Spend Less On Food, Movies To Pay For Soaring Cell Phone Obsession

USPS Bailout Imminent: Postal Service Will Miss September 30 'Mandated' Payment

California Screaming As 4th Muni Bankruptcy Looms in Atwater

Fed Virtually Funding the Entire US Deficit: Lindsey

Student Loan Debt Stretches To New Record Number Of Households

Income Inequality Predicted to Rise

And finally…

Mitt Romney wonders why airplane windows don't open

Economics students 'are most promiscuous' - survey (UK)

Permanent Link posted by Rice Farmer @ 7:51 PM

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

News Links, September 26, 2012

## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards ##
Gold outshines equities in India, ROI doubles in three years
Two-tier wage scales on the increase in Canada
South Korea Delays Fiscal Balance to Boost Economy
Growing Concerns in Israel of a Possible Collapse of the Palestinian Authority Economy

Iron ore output to fall to 130-140 million tonne this fiscal (India)

Maersk to Cut Capacity and Raise Rates

Asia-Europe Container Trade Turns Unprofitable Due To Fuel Cost

Caterpillar Crawling: More Evidence of the Global Slowdown

Bank of America Merrill to Announce Job Cuts of up to 40 People in Asia Pacific Global Markets - Sources

Ford to axe 'hundreds' of jobs in Europe

'Get out of decaying France while you can', campaign warns

And they will go… where? -- RF

Toronto New Home Sales Plunge 64 Percent; Lowest August on Record
Several Exponential Charts

Germany's 'post-growth' movement

Spain set to reveal the pain in its books

Why Germany Is Going to Exit the Eurozone

Dow will repeat 2007-2008 peak-crash cycle: It's deja vu as lessons of meltdown go unheeded

## Airline Death Spiral ##
Airlines cut flights to China and Japan over territorial dispute
Regulators focus on airport runways
JAL shares plunge 8.73% on China worries
Airlines Collect a Record Amount of Bag Fees

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

Japan fires water cannon to turn away Taiwan boats
Report shows most Mexican prisons controlled by inmates

China carrier a show of force as Japan tension festers

Troubling tensions cloud United Nations

Barack Obama warns that US will 'do what we must' to stop Iran

Door for Israeli-Palestinian peace may be closing: U.N.
"U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday the "door may be closing, for good" on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying the continued growth of Jewish settlements undercuts peace."

The risk of unintended escalation in South China Sea

## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Spain police fire rubber bullets at Madrid protest

Mob chops man to death after burning house

Hundreds of Syrian refugees riot in Jordanian camp

Chinese villagers protest at slow progress over land dispute

## Energy/resources ##
Sail Transport Movement Enters U.S. Mainstream: Eco-Ships And Buying Truly Green Coffee Today

Deal to turn whisky 'leftovers' into biofuel for cars

All these waste-to-fuel schemes added together won't amount to a hill of beans. People simply don't understand the energy scale of industrial civilization. -- RF

Diesel shortage: Europe looks forward to Asia supplies : BofAML

"Europe is facing a shortage of diesel on heavy refinery maintenance crippling diesel production with 2 million barrels per day (11%) of capacity out of the market, according to an analysis by Bank of America-Merrill Lynch."

Fujairah in search for fresh oil reserves
"The UAE emirate of Fujairah carrying out exploration tests for onshore and offshore oil deposits and has so far carried out three drills that have so far been unsuccessful, a government official revealed."

Jobs likely to go at Waihi mines (NZ)

Support new mines, says Joyce (NZ)

Statoil invests in resource recovery
"Norwegian energy company Statoil announced plans to invest more than $40 million in a research center geared toward increasing oil recovery rates."

Coal and Nuclear Power Can't Substitute for Pricey Oil

Is Shale Oil Production from Bakken Headed for a Run with "The Red Queen"?

US to offer 38 mln acres for oil, gas exploration, development

China Reaches for Control of More Canadian Oil

## Infrastructure scavenging ##
Metal thieves strike at Sawbridgeworth construction site (UK)

## Got food? ##

Global Bacon Shortage 'Unavoidable' Next Year, Says U.K.'s National Pig Association
Food Day events being planned nationwide
Land grabbing and food sovereignty in West and Central Africa

## Environment/health ##

Zombie honeybees discovered in Washington state
"A novice beekeeper in Washington state said this week that he's found evidence that a parasite which takes control of honeybees much like an imagined "zombie" virus is spreading into new areas, according to The Seattle Times."
Sea air the secret of long life as census shows Bexhill-on-Sea is Britain's centenarian capital

Sea temperatures affect Great Barrier Reef
Texas drought killed 300 million trees last year

## Intelligence/security/internet ##

U.S. Government Embraces the Same Iranian Terrorist Group that Bush Cited When He Alleged that Saddam Was Sponsoring "International Terrorism"
More countries restrict Internet to stifle critics: report
Drones in Pakistan traumatise civilians, US report says
"Civilians are being 'terrorised' 24 hours a day by CIA drone attacks that target mainly low-level militants in north-west Pakistan, a US report says."

Iran sees cyber attacks as greater threat than actual war

## Systemic breakdown ##
How Do You Take Your Poison? (Chris Hedges)
"Corporate power, no matter who is running the ward after January 2013, is poised to carry out U.S. history's most savage assault against the poor and the working class, not to mention the Earth's ecosystem."

## Japan ##
Locations for disposal of nuclear fuel lacking / New proposal calls for temporary storage while studying stability of permanent underground sites

Sharp to cut 11,000 jobs, sell assets

Taiwan, Japan coast guards duel with water cannons

Companies seek to reduce reliance on Chinese rare earths

## China ##

China's Central Bank Injects Record Funds to Ease Crunch
China's first aircraft carrier enters service

China's A-share market has shed US$158bn so far this year

China's SMEs face financial crunch amid slowdown: report

## UK ##
Record numbers reach retirement age as baby boomers turn 65

Lib Dem conference: 'Millionaire' pensioners may face benefit cuts
Weather: hundreds flee their homes as storms lash Britain
"Residents were forced to leave their homes today as widespread flooding and torrential downpours continued to wreak havoc across Britain."

## US ##
Shocking Study: Suicide Overtakes Car Accidents As Leading Cause of Death -- Is the Economy to Blame?
How the Government Built Fracking

Car Buying Is Down and We're Driving Less. Has the Love Affair with the Car Come to an End?

Use commemorative coins to pay down deficit, lawmakers suggest
Informant nation: "Text-a-Tip" Snitch Program Invades Small-Town America
Tesla shares tank; here's one more reason why

Permanent Link posted by Rice Farmer @ 8:40 PM

Monday, September 24, 2012

News Links, September 25, 2012

## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards ##

German business mood worsens for fifth straight month

IMF's Christine Lagarde warns of more global growth cuts

S&P 500 Has Longest Slump in 7 Weeks on European Crisis
Asian Shares Mostly Lower; Exporters Struggle in Tokyo

Royal Bank of Scotland Cuts 300 More Jobs at Investment Bank

Caterpillar Outlook to 2015 Disappoints

As China sneezes, will the world catch cold?
Vietnam CPI Rises at Fastest Pace in 16 Months

Africa next: The quest for Africa's riches

Barbecues Get Chopped as Miner Fortescue Cuts the Fat (Australia)

You're Dreaming If You Think The Euro Crisis Is Resolved (Automatic Earth)

Eurozone struggles with fresh crisis stalemate

## Airline Death Spiral ##
Soekarno-Hatta airport hit by power blackout

Delays, cancellations grow at American Airlines

American Airlines notifies nearly 3,000 North Texas workers of possible layoffs

Two Near-Collisions at Chicago's O'Hare Under Investigation
As the unions flex muscles, it's a bumpy ride for airlines industry

## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
Japan protests as Chinese ships enter its territorial waters near disputed islands

70 Taiwanese fishing boats sailing to Senkakus to protest Japan's nationalization

China announces plans of unmanned drones to monitor disputed islands

Japan-China military conflict seen unlikely

U.S. clears path for more sanctions on Iran oil deals

U.S. Naval Exercises Send Message In The Tense Gulf

The New Great Dictators Are Gaining Momentum In Europe
Spain Warns Catalonia Separatists of Treason Charges in Military Court; Looming Showdown between Spain and Catalonia
Gerald Celente-The First Great War of the 21st Century has Begun

## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##

Welcome to the World Revolution in the Global Age of Rage
Residents stage protest by lighting torch on lamp posts

Foxconn halts production at plant after mass brawl

More Riots at Apple Inc NASDAQ:AAPL Supplier

Journalists, technicians strike in Greece

From Nigeria to Athens, Muslim protests rumble on
In Singapore, The Voices Of Dissent Grow Louder

South Africa truckers strike

## Energy/resources ##
Israel's Offshore Gas Reserves - Bonanza or Security Threat?

Conclusions on the Chinese Energy Situation

Includes timely comments on the Senkaku/Diaoyu Island issue. -- RF

How Iran's oil buyers are working around sanctions

23 Nuclear Plants in Tsunami Risk Zones, Study Finds

Degrowth and peak oil

Insecurity in Nigeria Could Push Oil Price to U.S.$150 Per Barrel

## Got food? ##
Funding Sources of Anti-Organics Stanford Study Questioned in New Report
"A study released last week by Stanford scientists, which claims organic foods are no more healthy than non-organic foods, was funded by corporate agriculture and biotechnology giants, according to a new report by the Cornucopia Institute."

Food prices set to rise in 2013

## Environment/health ##
New virus linked to SARS identified in Britain
Flooding hits 3 Indian states, 35 dead

Fears of rapid rise in hazardous wastes (UAE)

In half century, Brazil lost 80% of coral reef: study

N.J. frack waste move sparks debate

As Arctic Ice Melts, So Does The Snow, And Quickly

Ocean creatures face climate consequences

## Intelligence/security/internet ##
Vietnam jails dissident bloggers

Google Search and Gmail censored in Iran

Everyone who attended OWS with a cell phone had their identity logged, says security expert

## Systemic breakdown ##
Monorail rescue as power cut
"A rescue operation will continue this afternoon to remove people from Sydney's monorail line following a power outage today."

Power outage halts rail traffic near Stockholm

Power outage affects northeast Eugene traffic lights, neighborhoods

## Japan ##
Following QE8, Japanese Teachers' Pension Fund Goes All-In

Salarymen's pocket money falls to same level as 30 years ago

'Benefit in kind' proposals raise concerns among welfare recipients

## China ##
China set to top US in number of skyscrapers

Skyscrapers: Status symbols today, uninhabitable white elephants tomorrow. -- RF
China's Rich List Sees Property Fallout

Why The Foxconn Riot Comes At The Worst Possible Time

## UK ##

Vauxhall's UK factories close for a week
Hospital patients facing 'severe' cutbacks if elderly care crisis not solved

Three shot by Tasers every day

Autumn blows in with a wild torrential downpour

## US ##
Large manufacturers begin moving production back to the United States
Vilsack fears deeper cuts to farm programs

Revealed: 64 Drone Bases on American Soil

The Fed Is Systematically Destroying Social Security And The Retirement Plans Of Millions

Confirming US Dumbification, Verbal SAT Scores Just Hit Record Low

Could Municipal Bonds Be the Next Financial Titanic?

More Bank Layoffs Coming: 'Bad as I've Seen It': Whitney
Data Barns in a Farm Town, Gobbling Power and Flexing Muscle

Permanent Link posted by Rice Farmer @ 5:41 PM

Sunday, September 23, 2012

News Links, September 24, 2012

## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards ##

Euro zone to boost bailout fund firepower to 2 trillion euros: report
IABr may cut Brazilian steel output estimates for 2012

Fiat's Woes A Symptom Of Italy's Industrial Malaise
Sustained rally in industrial metals to hinge on Chinese economy: Deutsche Bank

Greece Caught Underreporting Its Budget Deficit By Nearly 50%

Greek Budget Gap At $26 Billion
Gloom beats boom as house prices fall faster here than anywhere else

Does auto parts trade war loom?

Philippine mining at policy crossroads as investment sputters

Former ECB Chief Economist Says ECB Is In Panic, As Czech President Warns The End Of Democracy Is Imminent

Yikes! Deutsche Bank recommends gold -- even a gold standard

ECB Says Cost of New Frankfurt Skyscraper Soars by 41%
"The European Central Bank said the cost of its new Frankfurt headquarters will jump by as much as 41 percent due to higher prices for construction materials and 'a number of unforeseen challenges.'"

## Airline Death Spiral ##
Etihad's push to get airberlin back in the black

Ryanair cuts Sweden flights
American Airlines Flight Delays Pile Up

## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
Top China official visits Afghanistan, signs security deal
"China has signed security and economic agreements with Afghanistan during a rare trip to Kabul by a top Chinese official, in deals seen aimed at bolstering Beijing's influence ahead of a NATO withdrawal of most combat forces by 2014."

Egypt's Mursi says Iran is vital to ending Syria's crisis
"Egypt's Islamist President said on Saturday that having a strong relationship with Iran is important for Egypt at this time to be able to work out a way to end the bloodshed in Syria."

Egypt jihadi groups say behind deadly Israeli border attack

US Navy orders 11 Boeing sub-hunters

Seven mutilated, burnt bodies found in western Mexico

Iran could launch pre-emptive Israel strike-commander
"Iran could launch a pre-emptive strike on Israel if it was sure the Jewish state was preparing to attack it, a senior commander of its elite Revolutionary Guards was quoted as saying on Sunday."

Iran vows to hit US bases if Israel strikes
"US bases in Qatar, Afghanistan and Bahrain will be targets if Israel attacks Iran, senior military official says."

Upgrades Boost U.S. Naval Capabilities Against Iranian Threat

All Chinese marine patrol ships leave waters near Senkakus

## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Gas drilling protests held in U.S., other countries

Angry bikers protest EU-imposed tests on two-wheelers
Taiwan activists rally against Japan over islands

## Energy/resources ##
Congo could allow oil exploitation in parks: minister

Germany's Wind Power Chaos Should Be A Warning To Everyone
Global oil exports in decline since 2006: What will importing nations do?

## Got food? ##
Global Soybean Consumption to Decline 3 Million Tons on Prices
Cattle enjoy sweet life amid corn shortages

North Korea plans agriculture reforms

## Environment/health ##
Central Java District Desperately Need Artificial Rains

"The Central Java district of Sragen is asking the government to induce artificial rains through cloud seeding to prevent widespread harvest failure, as irrigation reservoirs in the region are nearly empty."

Dubai running out of landfill space to dump its rubbish

## Intelligence/security/internet ##
Nation soon to ban smiling on drivers' license photographs
Controversial 9/11 film soars to #1 on PBS, breaks local records

Iran readies domestic Internet, blocks Google
Iran denies hacking into American banks
Vietnam launches drive to censor anti-corruption bloggers

## Systemic breakdown ##
Valencia: A Spanish city without medicine

Gaza's Future Looks Bleaker Even Than Its Past

"A recent report by the United Nations says the Gaza Strip will be unlivable by 2020 if nothing is done to alleviate the situation in the tiny coastal territory."

Drug shortages sweeping hospitals (US)

Drug shortage looms large (Pakistan)

## Japan ##
Losses in anti-Japanese protests estimated at 10bn yen
High grain prices hit Japan

Sharp to scale down solar power operations

Toyota may halve hours of retirees it rehires

Tritium leakage from reactor 5 and 6

## China ##
Soybean prices in China skyrocket on reduced crop

Toyota Resumes China Operations After Protests

iRage: Apple's FoxConn China Plant Damaged As Riots Resume
There's No Engine for Global Growth Pt 1 (China)

China cancels 40 year celebration of Japanese diplomatic ties

China wealth fund targets Australia dairy farms

## UK ##
Clegg Seeks More U.K. Tax on Unearned Wealth, Top-End Property

## US ##

Goldman Estimate: QE3 could be $1.2 to $2.0 Trillion
17 Numbers That Prove That The Redistribution Of Wealth Has Greatly Accelerated Under Obama
CBO: 11 Million Uninsured Americans Will Be Subject to Obamacare's Individual Mandate 'Penalty Tax'

"According to CBO, 11-12 million uninsured Americans will be subject to the mandate; the agency expects more than half of them to pay the fine instead of buying insurance. But there's something that the CBO didn't say: as more people pay the 'tax penalty' instead of buying insurance, premiums for everyone else will go up, potentially triggering a death spiral in the private insurance market."

Poll: Record number of Americans distrust mass media

Los Angeles preps for 'Carmageddon II'

Vt. Town Hires Livestock To Save Money, Go Green
"Cities and towns facing tight budgets have often neglected their cemeteries, an oversight that has left many of them in disrepair with broken fencing, crumbling gravestones, overgrown grass and persistent weeds.
"But this summer, the Vermont town of Charlotte implemented a new strategy to both save money and keep grass in the town's graveyards under control, and it's a decidedly traditional way of doing it: Let goats and sheep do the work."

America's hidden unemployed: too discouraged to count

CBO on Electric Cars - Don't Buy Them!

Illinois foreclosure filings reaches seven-year high

U.S. oil boom comes with ugly tradeoffs

And finally… Neglect ruins Imelda Marcos' vast shoe collection

Permanent Link posted by Rice Farmer @ 7:54 PM