Rice Farmer

## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards ##
Triple-dip recession looms as economy shrinks by 0.3% (UK)

Belgians feel bite of austerity

Portuguese flee economic crisis

Spain's Strapped Towns Look To Churches For Cash

Yen Set for 11th Weekly Drop; Japan Records Largest Trade Deficit in History
Korea Inc. Braces for Tough Year as Strong Won Kicks In
Much More Beneath the Surface of the Italian Bank Scandal; How Big Are the Derivative Losses?
Brazil's 2012 job creation lowest in a decade
Africa Sees Its First Woman Billionaire

I guess this is supposed to show that Africa is on the right track. It is if Africa is supposed to become like the United States, with a huge wealth gap. -- RF
The Biggest Housing Bubble in the World Is in ... Canada?

## Airline Death Spiral ##
Asian Airlines Slash Fares to Woo Premium Fliers
"Asia's leading airlines are struggling to fill their first- and business-class seats as banks continue to cut travel budgets and staff. Now, they are embarking on a new path: slashing business-class fares through special promotions on a scale not seen since the global financial crisis."

Everything keeps going wrong for Boeing

## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
Russia's Chechen war drags on

Expert: Terrorists may start using drones

Statoil confirms two dead, three missing after Algeria siege

This tragedy is an excellent example of the peak oil-related geopolitical feedback that will become increasingly common as nations find it necessary to press further into dangerous, unstable areas in the quest for hydrocarbons. -- RF

Britain sends spy plane to Mali amid fears of 'mission creep'

Is Iraq Slipping into Civil War?

In Amenas siege: Is Algeria's economy under threat?

BREMMER: The Japan-China Crisis Is The Most Significant Geopolitical Tension In The World

Diaoyutai Serves as Backdrop for Taiwan Drill

Taiwan coast guard, Chinese surveillance ships meet near Senkakus

Davos 2013: Kissinger says Iran nuclear crisis close
"Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has warned that a crisis involving a nuclear Iran is in the 'foreseeable future'."

## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
By-election shines a light on discontented Singapore

And yet they want their women to have more babies. Go figure. -- RF

Greek police storm metro workers sit-in, strike goes on

Arcelor steel workers clash with riot police in Brussels

Lewisham is just the start of hospital protests to come (UK)

Egyptian protest clashes injure at least 186

## Energy/resources ##
Australian shale oil discovery could be larger than Canada's oilsands

But there are already questions about whether it will be economical (probably not). And what about water? -- RF

Australian oil's $20 trillion Linc to nowhere

Electricity: Power outage hits Botswana

The Energy Industry is Not Safe in North Africa
"Energy interests sector-wide should be prepared for the coming security nightmare that is the Sahel. At a time when even the juniors have become unaccountably brave in frontier regions, the hostage crisis in Algeria demonstrates just how vulnerable the industry is."

Brazil's Eletrobras denies plan to break up company

Siemens in solar panels setback

Why uranium prices are at a critical tipping point
LNG Shippers Under Pressure

## Lifestyle Solutions ##

20 ways to become more self-sufficient before 'the crunch' arrives
Simple Lifestyle Habits to Boost Your Child's Immune System

## Environment/health ##
Melting glaciers threaten water resources

EU carbon market in 'freefall' after backloading vote

Cargill Cattle Plant Closes: Global Warming Casualty?

Swine flu pandemic infected at least one in five people
"At least one in five people including half of all schoolchildren contracted swine flu when the pandemic first struck in 2009, a new global study shows."

UN: Floods displace 70,000 and kill 36 in Mozambique

Bill Gates Says Global Vaccination Program is "God's Work"

I thought the bankers were doing God's work. -- RF

## Intelligence/propaganda/security/internet/cyberwar ##
Iran builds up cyber warfare capabilities

However, previous opinions presented here claim that the US greatly exaggerates Iran's capabilities. -- RF

G4S says Algeria, Mali unrest raising security demand
"G4S, the world's biggest security firm, is seeing a pick up in demand for its services from embassies and companies across Africa in the wake of unrest in Mali and Algeria."
Unlocking Cellphones Becomes Illegal Saturday

## Systemic breakdown ##
Wireless failure affects thousands of NYC yellow cabs
New Jersey State Computers Affected By Power Outage

## Japan ##

New 'advisory' system to urge companies to save electricity
In 2013, JP gov to purchase 200 times much Fukushima rice as last year

Teachers, police rush to quit before retirement pay cut

Tepco plans to dump 'cleaned' Fukushima No. 1 water

Shirakawa says BOJ alone can't attain inflation target

## China ##
Is China's Fast-Growing Economy Headed for a Crash?

China Wind Industry, Like Solar, In World of Hurt

China experts worry about Asian giant's growing nationalism

Shanghai's Newest Luxury Item: The License Plate

## UK ##
UK heads for triple dip as GDP contracts 0.3pc

Snow Costs UK Economy '£500m A Day'

## US ##

Q4 Earnings Season: Far Worse Than Most Suspect
Pump, baby, pump! S&P 500 closes above 1,500; Dow nears 14,000

Dump, baby, dump! Apple's Flash Dump In The Last Second Of Trading Caught On Tape

What Keeps Americans Up at Night — Food and Fuel
Pentagon cutting jobs, maintenance due to budget fears: official
"The Pentagon has begun laying off many of its 46,000 temporary and contract workers and delaying maintenance on aircraft and ships to slow spending due to fears it may be hit by new budget cuts, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said on Friday."

Half of Foreign Investors Threaten to Cut Investments in U.S. Due to Washington Budget Discord

Los Angeles Saves Millions With LED Street Light Deployment

But sooner or later these too will go out. -- RF

Rahm Emanuel presses banks on guns
"Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, moving to take a lead role in the gun control debate, is turning up the pressure on banks that do business with firearms manufacturers."

Poet to Suspend Ethanol Production in Missouri on Corn Shortfall
"Poet LLC, the largest U.S. ethanol maker, will suspend production at a plant in Missouri because drought conditions have ravaged local corn supplies."

Civilian Drones in US Could Possibly Be Hijacked for Use in Attacks

Power restored on Vegas Strip after outage