Sunday, February 24, 2013
News Links, February 23-25, 2013
## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards ##
RBS India Unit to Cut Jobs as It Closes Retail Business
RBS India Unit to Cut Jobs as It Closes Retail Business
RBS and Lloyds expected to report significant annual losses
Mammoth debt hangs over next Italian government
Mammoth debt hangs over next Italian government
Rising property rents lead to exodus from prime Dubai areas
Unions say redundant Telecom workers may leave country (NZ)
"The Council of Trade Unions says workers soon to be made redundant by Telecom will struggle to find employment in New Zealand."
Unions say redundant Telecom workers may leave country (NZ)
"The Council of Trade Unions says workers soon to be made redundant by Telecom will struggle to find employment in New Zealand."
Transpacific to cut 200 jobs (NZ)
"Waste management company Transpacific Industries will axe 200 jobs as it seeks to lower costs amid weakness in its manufacturing and industrial markets."
"Waste management company Transpacific Industries will axe 200 jobs as it seeks to lower costs amid weakness in its manufacturing and industrial markets."
Are 'extractive elites' sucking the life out of Canada's economy?
"Politicians in the developed world are preoccupied with dividing up a diminishing pie, not a growing one."
"Politicians in the developed world are preoccupied with dividing up a diminishing pie, not a growing one."
Vietnam Inflation Rate Eases as Economy Struggles to Revive
"Vietnam's inflation eased in February as domestic consumption struggled to rebound after a credit crunch that slowed economic growth to a 13-year low."
"Vietnam's inflation eased in February as domestic consumption struggled to rebound after a credit crunch that slowed economic growth to a 13-year low."
## Airline Death Spiral ##
U.S. air travelers will feel budget cut effects quickly: union
"U.S. air travelers will face increased delays and potentially higher prices if cuts to the U.S. Transportation Department's budget go into effect on March 1 as part of planned across-the-board government reductions, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said on Friday."
U.S. air travelers will feel budget cut effects quickly: union
"U.S. air travelers will face increased delays and potentially higher prices if cuts to the U.S. Transportation Department's budget go into effect on March 1 as part of planned across-the-board government reductions, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said on Friday."
## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
Russia leases planes to Cuba, writes off Soviet debt
"Russia will lease eight jets worth $650 million to its Cold War- era ally Cuba and will partially write off the country's multi-billion-dollar, Soviet-era debt under agreements signed during Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Havana on Thursday."
Iran says it has brought down a foreign spy drone
"Iran's Revolutionary Guards have brought down a foreign surveillance drone during a military exercise, the official Islamic Republic News Agency said on Saturday."
"Iran's Revolutionary Guards have brought down a foreign surveillance drone during a military exercise, the official Islamic Republic News Agency said on Saturday."
Activists launch campaign against 'autonomous weapons': Killer robots must be stopped
Chinese vessel enters Japan's territorial waters
"A Chinese fisheries patrol vessel sailed inside Japanese territorial waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea for the second consecutive day on Sunday, the Japan Coast Guard said."
Chinese vessel enters Japan's territorial waters
"A Chinese fisheries patrol vessel sailed inside Japanese territorial waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea for the second consecutive day on Sunday, the Japan Coast Guard said."
## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Israeli forces, Palestinians clash throughout West Bank
Egypt Food Manufacturer Closes Business After Workers Protest
"Faragalla Group, an Egyptian food producer, said it shut down its factories yesterday after workers stormed the complex to demand higher pay. The plants, located near Alexandria, halted production after they were raided by more than 200 workers, some of them carrying swords."
"Faragalla Group, an Egyptian food producer, said it shut down its factories yesterday after workers stormed the complex to demand higher pay. The plants, located near Alexandria, halted production after they were raided by more than 200 workers, some of them carrying swords."
## Energy/resources ##
Govt 'asleep at wheel' on Solid Energy
"Solid Energy is currently in crisis talks with Treasury and its bankers over ballooning debts now totalling $389 million."
Govt 'asleep at wheel' on Solid Energy
"Solid Energy is currently in crisis talks with Treasury and its bankers over ballooning debts now totalling $389 million."
Threats posed by diesel shortage (Egypt)
Manufacturers plan power cut back (Thailand)
Iran Announces New Uranium Deposits: Don't Panic!
"Iran has announced some new uranium finds in the country. The real story though is that there's very little indeed to this story. The amount they're claiming to have is trivial, less that the fertiliser industry has lying around Florida for example."
"Iran has announced some new uranium finds in the country. The real story though is that there's very little indeed to this story. The amount they're claiming to have is trivial, less that the fertiliser industry has lying around Florida for example."
We Have All Eaten Horse, Like It or Not
"For years, there's been horse meat in hamburgers, lasagnas, raviolis, tortellinis, sausages, prepared spaghetti bolognese, bottled bolognese sauce, chili con carne, shepherd's pie, moussaka, many other "meat dishes," frozen and not, cheap and expensive."
"For years, there's been horse meat in hamburgers, lasagnas, raviolis, tortellinis, sausages, prepared spaghetti bolognese, bottled bolognese sauce, chili con carne, shepherd's pie, moussaka, many other "meat dishes," frozen and not, cheap and expensive."
## Lifestyle Solutions ##
Family Has Been Living Without Money for Two Years, By Choice
Family Has Been Living Without Money for Two Years, By Choice
Already many people in the world are living with little or no money, but not by choice. -- RF
Fracking has a Lesson to Learn from the Sinking City
Siberian permafrost thaw warning sparked by cave data
Siberian permafrost thaw warning sparked by cave data
Wind farms will create more carbon dioxide, say scientists
"Thousands of Britain's wind turbines will create more greenhouse gases than they save, according to potentially devastating scientific research to be published later this year."
"Thousands of Britain's wind turbines will create more greenhouse gases than they save, according to potentially devastating scientific research to be published later this year."
## Intelligence/propaganda/security/internet/cyberwar ##
India says warned of bombs that killed 16 in IT hub Hyderabad
India says warned of bombs that killed 16 in IT hub Hyderabad
"Security officers and their consultants say they are overwhelmed. The attacks are not only from China, which Washington has long accused of spying on U.S. companies, many emanate from Russia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Western countries. Perpetrators range from elite military units to organized criminal rings to activist teenagers."
NBC.com back online after getting hacked
## Systemic breakdown ##
Honk Kong apartments so small they can only be shot from above [PHOTOS]
## Systemic breakdown ##
Honk Kong apartments so small they can only be shot from above [PHOTOS]
And yet governments, businesses, and economists insist we need more people. -- RF
Crisis looms as local government debt to mature this year
"China's local government debt crisis has been getting worse as national statistics show that 53% of local government debt will be due by the end of 2013, when local governments enter a peak period for repaying loans."
"China's local government debt crisis has been getting worse as national statistics show that 53% of local government debt will be due by the end of 2013, when local governments enter a peak period for repaying loans."
China's countrymen struggling with a 'sick' Mother Earth
China to form carrier battle groups in five years: general
China to form carrier battle groups in five years: general
## UK ##
UK Suffers Blow, Pound Seen Under New Pressure
Turning off Britain's Lights Could Save £1.192 Billion a Year
Fuel Shortage Fears As BP Tanker Strike Begins
## US ##
Pentagon grounds F-35 fleet after engine crack found
Turning off Britain's Lights Could Save £1.192 Billion a Year
Fuel Shortage Fears As BP Tanker Strike Begins
## US ##
Pentagon grounds F-35 fleet after engine crack found
Forbes: Detroit most miserable U.S. city
Radioactive waste leaking from 6 tanks at Washington state nuclear site
Radioactive waste leaking from 6 tanks at Washington state nuclear site
Bankrupt San Bernardino Hires Twice Bankrupt Manager for Annual Salary of $222,000
At $47,802, Oscar swag bags cheapest in 5 years
Your Stolen iPhone May Be in China or Africa
At $47,802, Oscar swag bags cheapest in 5 years
Your Stolen iPhone May Be in China or Africa
Includes videos showing proper technique! -- RF
