Sunday, February 08, 2015
News Links, February 9, 2015
## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards ##
Shipping Costs Test New Low as China Coal Imports Slide
Tumbling demand for coal in China and weakening growth in the nation's iron ore purchases have sent shipping costs to almost the lowest on record.
Shipping Costs Test New Low as China Coal Imports Slide
Tumbling demand for coal in China and weakening growth in the nation's iron ore purchases have sent shipping costs to almost the lowest on record.
Air Chathams, along with Sounds Air, will from April 28 pick up regional air services to Westport and Whakatane that Air New Zealand is abandoning because it says they are uneconomic.
## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
U.S. delivers arms to Lebanon, says fighting 'same enemy'
Germany's head of Armed Forces Association: If you want peace, prepare for war
U.S. delivers arms to Lebanon, says fighting 'same enemy'
Germany's head of Armed Forces Association: If you want peace, prepare for war
It emerged last year that equipment shortages are much more serious than was previously thought, and the defence minister, Ursula von der Leyen, was forced to admit that Germany could not meet all its Nato commitments.
US Security Strategy Reflects Changed World
## Energy/resources ##
## Got food? ##
'Tuna tin monster' is revealed to be a tongue-eating parasite (UK)
## Environment/health ##
Guinea to expand use of experimental anti-Ebola drugs
## Intelligence/propaganda/security/internet/cyberwar ##
## Systemic breakdown/collapse/unsustainability ##
Land Rover and Jaguar will recall 104,000 vehicles over brake and light problems
And finally...
US Security Strategy Reflects Changed World
Nigeria Records 18 Piracy Attacks In 2014 – Report
The West African coastline recorded 41 incidents of piracy, although many further attacks were unreported while pirates held 442 crew-members hostage compared to 304 in 2013, according to a report from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
The West African coastline recorded 41 incidents of piracy, although many further attacks were unreported while pirates held 442 crew-members hostage compared to 304 in 2013, according to a report from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
## Energy/resources ##
Arthur Berman: Why Today's Shale Era Is The Retirement Party For Oil Production
United Steelworkers Strike Spreads To More Refineries
United Steelworkers Strike Spreads To More Refineries
Australian windfarms face $13 bln wipeout from political impasse
Australia faces a A$17 billion ($13.3 billion) exodus of investment from its windfarm industry because of a political deadlock, threatening to deal the country a major economic blow and kill hopes of meeting a self-imposed clean energy target.
Australia faces a A$17 billion ($13.3 billion) exodus of investment from its windfarm industry because of a political deadlock, threatening to deal the country a major economic blow and kill hopes of meeting a self-imposed clean energy target.
## Got food? ##
'Tuna tin monster' is revealed to be a tongue-eating parasite (UK)
The cost and hassle of repairing modern tractors has soured a lot of farmers on computerized systems altogether. In a September issue of Farm Journal, farm auction expert Greg Peterson noted that demand for newer tractors was falling. Tellingly, the price of and demand for older tractors (without all the digital bells and whistles) has picked up. "As for the simplicity, you've all heard the chatter," Machinery Pete wrote. "There's an increasing number of farmers placing greater value on acquiring older simpler machines that don't require a computer to fix."
This could have just as well gone under the collapse category. Large-scale, energy-intensive, high-tech farming is getting crushed under its own weight. -- RF
"The world is changing. It's looking for people who are creative and entrepreneurial, and that's not going to happen in a system that tells kids what to do all day."
## Environment/health ##
Guinea to expand use of experimental anti-Ebola drugs
## Intelligence/propaganda/security/internet/cyberwar ##
WPost Is Lost in Neocon Fantasyland
The neocons now control the editorial pages of the New York Times and the Washington Post, a dangerous development for the American people and the world. Yet, the Post remains the more extreme of the two, pushing for endless confrontations and wars.
Consumer security an emerging issue in new computerized cars
The neocons now control the editorial pages of the New York Times and the Washington Post, a dangerous development for the American people and the world. Yet, the Post remains the more extreme of the two, pushing for endless confrontations and wars.
Consumer security an emerging issue in new computerized cars
## Systemic breakdown/collapse/unsustainability ##
Land Rover and Jaguar will recall 104,000 vehicles over brake and light problems
## Japan ##
Japanese capital aging amid unprecedented demographic changes
Amid the rapid aging of society and declining birthrate in Japan, Tokyo is seeing its population aging, with the percentage of people aged 65 or older in the nation's capital expected to jump to about 25% in 2025 from 20% in 2010.
Japanese capital aging amid unprecedented demographic changes
Amid the rapid aging of society and declining birthrate in Japan, Tokyo is seeing its population aging, with the percentage of people aged 65 or older in the nation's capital expected to jump to about 25% in 2025 from 20% in 2010.
Skeptical Fukushima residents monitoring radiation levels in their communities
## China ##
China's imports drop sharply in January, exports also down
## China ##
China's imports drop sharply in January, exports also down
Three more H7N9 cases reported in China's Guangdong
## UK ##
Ulster University axes 53 courses as Stormont cuts bite
## UK ##
Ulster University axes 53 courses as Stormont cuts bite
Thousands of armed police dispatched to routine incidents
Freedom of Information requests reveled that thousands of highly trained armed officers attending incidences such as car crashes
Freedom of Information requests reveled that thousands of highly trained armed officers attending incidences such as car crashes
Number of library visitors falls by 40 million in four years as austerity measures force closures
Annual numbers of visitors to libraries have fallen by 40m in just four years, with particularly sharp drops in deprived communities, as austerity measures force closures across the country, it was revealed last night.
Britain faces £200bn oil loss
Annual numbers of visitors to libraries have fallen by 40m in just four years, with particularly sharp drops in deprived communities, as austerity measures force closures across the country, it was revealed last night.
Britain faces £200bn oil loss
## US ##
Rand Paul Explains What The Dollar Is Backed By: "Used Car Loans, Bad Home Loans, Distressed Assets And Derivatives"
US Postal Service Losses $754 Million
US Postal Service Losses $754 Million
Fears for US economy as shale industry goes into hibernation
Should cities be allowed to ban Little Free Libraries?
Should cities be allowed to ban Little Free Libraries?
And finally...
