Tuesday, December 11, 2012
News Links, December 11-12, 2012
## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards ##
Europe backs Monti reforms as Italy crisis hits markets
Europe backs Monti reforms as Italy crisis hits markets
Weak exports, imports signal tepid economic growth
"The U.S. trade deficit widened in October as exports suffered the biggest drop in nearly four years, indicating slowing global demand was spilling over into the already struggling U.S. economy."
"The U.S. trade deficit widened in October as exports suffered the biggest drop in nearly four years, indicating slowing global demand was spilling over into the already struggling U.S. economy."
## Airline Death Spiral ##
Coyne predicts 'new world order'
"Specialist all-cargo operator Coyne Airways predicts that most of Europe's legacy airlines will be forced out of the long-haul freighter business in the next five years as a result of increased competition and falling yields."
"Specialist all-cargo operator Coyne Airways predicts that most of Europe's legacy airlines will be forced out of the long-haul freighter business in the next five years as a result of increased competition and falling yields."
## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
Tunisia police, militants clash near Algeria border, one dead
Tunisia police, militants clash near Algeria border, one dead
Israelis, Indians team on air defense
"Israeli and Indian companies have signed a memorandum of understanding for joint development of naval air defense systems."
"Israeli and Indian companies have signed a memorandum of understanding for joint development of naval air defense systems."
US Sending 20 More F-16s to Egypt, Despite Dictatorial Morsi
"The US is desperate to retain as much influence over Egypt as possible"
## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Health workers march in Madrid against cuts, reforms
"The US is desperate to retain as much influence over Egypt as possible"
## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Health workers march in Madrid against cuts, reforms
Egypt Importing Gas for First Time as Exports Disappear
"Egypt, a natural-gas exporter to markets from China to Chile, is set to become an importer for the first time just as the new government needs energy shipments to revive an economy weakened by civil unrest."
At U.S. Embassies, an Incentive to Conserve Every Drop
"Egypt, a natural-gas exporter to markets from China to Chile, is set to become an importer for the first time just as the new government needs energy shipments to revive an economy weakened by civil unrest."
At U.S. Embassies, an Incentive to Conserve Every Drop
The author shows why this is untrue. -- RF
Diesel shortage hits bee hive transport (Australia)
East Australia May Face Gas Supply Deficit, Market Operator Says
"Australia's east coast may face a natural gas supply shortfall amid growing local and Asian demand should companies in the area fail to develop reserves in time, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator."
"Australia's east coast may face a natural gas supply shortfall amid growing local and Asian demand should companies in the area fail to develop reserves in time, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator."
German energy agency says higher tariffs needed for grid upgrade
"Germany's energy agency has called on the government to allow power grid companies to raise tariffs to provide a greater incentive for the billions of euros of infrastructure investment needed to support the shift to renewable energy."
"Germany's energy agency has called on the government to allow power grid companies to raise tariffs to provide a greater incentive for the billions of euros of infrastructure investment needed to support the shift to renewable energy."
South Africa coal prices up by nearly 18% despite stable demand
## Infrastructure scavenging ##
Copper thieves cause morning commute chaos (Australia)
## Infrastructure scavenging ##
Copper thieves cause morning commute chaos (Australia)
M6 delays as cable stolen by metal thieves (UK)
"Drivers were today warned of eight weeks of disruptions on the M6 – as highways bosses revealed they are having to replace street light cabling stolen by metal thieves."
## Got food? ##
Global food prices ease; Wheat supply set to tighten
"Drivers were today warned of eight weeks of disruptions on the M6 – as highways bosses revealed they are having to replace street light cabling stolen by metal thieves."
## Got food? ##
Global food prices ease; Wheat supply set to tighten
How A Superbug Traveled The World
The Deadly Return Of Whooping Cough (US)
Ancient Chinese Cures Seen Helping Drug Maker Pipelines
Extirpation Nation: How much of the US will be habitable in 50 years?
The Deadly Return Of Whooping Cough (US)
Ancient Chinese Cures Seen Helping Drug Maker Pipelines
Extirpation Nation: How much of the US will be habitable in 50 years?
Half the World's Oil Spills Happen in Russia – Greenpeace
## Intelligence/propaganda/security/internet/cyberwar ##
## Intelligence/propaganda/security/internet/cyberwar ##
European renewable power grid rocked by cyber-attack
"A German power utility specialising in renewable energy was hit by a serious cyber-attack two weeks ago that lasted five days, knocking its internet communications systems offline, in the first confirmed digital assault against a European grid operator."
Google's GMail service suffers disruption
Saudis and allies build cyberwar defenses
"Saudi Arabia's Aramco says it's the target of a cyberwar campaign as Persian Gulf states build defenses against attacks like the one that knocked out Aramco computers."
"A German power utility specialising in renewable energy was hit by a serious cyber-attack two weeks ago that lasted five days, knocking its internet communications systems offline, in the first confirmed digital assault against a European grid operator."
Google's GMail service suffers disruption
Saudis and allies build cyberwar defenses
"Saudi Arabia's Aramco says it's the target of a cyberwar campaign as Persian Gulf states build defenses against attacks like the one that knocked out Aramco computers."
Power industry may suffer a blow
"If it is decided to decommission the Tsuruga nuclear power plant, it will hit not only its operator, the Japan Atomic Power Co., but also electricity utilities that have invested in the company. It will be a heavy blow to a power industry already suffering from increased fuel costs for thermal power generation."
"If it is decided to decommission the Tsuruga nuclear power plant, it will hit not only its operator, the Japan Atomic Power Co., but also electricity utilities that have invested in the company. It will be a heavy blow to a power industry already suffering from increased fuel costs for thermal power generation."
Existing infrastructure can't be maintained, but they'll build more. -- RF
## China ##
Move Over, Michigan, China Is The World's Next Rust Belt
"Six cities in Liaoning province, including Shenyang and Anshan, recently announced they are converting abandoned industrial sites to farmland."
China's wealth gap at alarming level: survey
China plans over 300 dam projects worldwide
Battle for Deposits at China Banks Raises Fears
"To boost their deposit levels ahead of an expected year-end regulatory review, Chinese banks have recently accelerated their sales of high-yield investment products to customers, raising new concerns about the financial system and spurring the government to step up its oversight of the products."
China plans over 300 dam projects worldwide
Battle for Deposits at China Banks Raises Fears
"To boost their deposit levels ahead of an expected year-end regulatory review, Chinese banks have recently accelerated their sales of high-yield investment products to customers, raising new concerns about the financial system and spurring the government to step up its oversight of the products."
## UK ##
E.ON UK to raise power, gas prices from Jan. 18
"UK energy supplier E.ON on Monday became the last of the country's largest six utilities to raise energy prices for this winter, blaming wholesale, transmission and social scheme costs."
E.ON UK to raise power, gas prices from Jan. 18
"UK energy supplier E.ON on Monday became the last of the country's largest six utilities to raise energy prices for this winter, blaming wholesale, transmission and social scheme costs."
Britons turn to families for festive financial support
"Nearly half of Britons will receive some form of financial support from their families this Christmas as the economic downturn continues to squeeze household budgets."
"Nearly half of Britons will receive some form of financial support from their families this Christmas as the economic downturn continues to squeeze household budgets."
## US ##
Buying time on Mississippi River shipping crisis
"Industry groups warn that a temporary river closure due to historic low water levels would delay movement of $7 billion in commodities"
"Industry groups warn that a temporary river closure due to historic low water levels would delay movement of $7 billion in commodities"
Unemployment Is Not Going Down: The Employment Rate Has Been Under 59 Percent For 39 Months In A Row
New laws will make Michigan 24th "right-to-work" state
"Michigan legislators on Tuesday approved laws that ban mandatory membership in public-and private-sector unions, dealing a stunning blow to organized labor in the home of the U.S. auto industry."
"Michigan legislators on Tuesday approved laws that ban mandatory membership in public-and private-sector unions, dealing a stunning blow to organized labor in the home of the U.S. auto industry."
This is part of the transformation of the US into a neofeudalistic society, which I have been forecasting for a long time. Under neofeudalism, workers are reduced to serfs with no rights. Of course, a captive workforce mired in grinding poverty and desperate for any kind of work will be a necessity if any semblance of industrial society is to be maintained, as ultra-cheap labor is a vital means of compensating for expensive energy. -- RF
