Thursday, September 28, 2017
News Links, September 29, 2017
## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards/global cooling/deflationary collapse ##
WEF warns of 'vast numbers of jobs' being disrupted by automation and robots
WEF warns of 'vast numbers of jobs' being disrupted by automation and robots
Landlord's View of the Brick and Mortar Meltdown
"We are faced with weekly tenant bankruptcies, defaults, and requests for rent or space reductions."
"We are faced with weekly tenant bankruptcies, defaults, and requests for rent or space reductions."
## War on cash/cashless society ##
Japanese Banks Are Planning to Launch J-Coin, a Digital Currency Meant to Kill Off Cash
The "Wolf Of Wall Street" Says Jamie Dimon Is Right About Bitcoin
## Airline death spiral ##
Airlines Suffer Worldwide Delays After Global Booking System Fails
Some aircraft are having to make unscheduled stops soon after take-off in order to fill up
Some aircraft are having to make unscheduled stops soon after take-off in order to fill up
JetBlue Wants You to Be Happy With Less Space
The airline is redoing its A320 cabins with mood lighting, more channels, bigger screens—and a dozen more seats.
The airline is redoing its A320 cabins with mood lighting, more channels, bigger screens—and a dozen more seats.
## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
North Korea's Rational Nuclear Strategy
North Korean officials are trying to meet with Republican-linked analysts to better understand Trump
Report: North Korea, ex-U.S. officials to meet for informal talks
If North Korea Fires an ICBM, the US Might Have to Shoot It Down Over Russia
US Promises to Deploy 'Strategic' Military Assets Near Korean Peninsula
Iraqi troops join Turkish military exercise near border
92 percent of Iraqi Kurds voted in favor of independence
If North Korea Fires an ICBM, the US Might Have to Shoot It Down Over Russia
US Promises to Deploy 'Strategic' Military Assets Near Korean Peninsula
Iraqi troops join Turkish military exercise near border
92 percent of Iraqi Kurds voted in favor of independence
Damascus Says Autonomy for Syrian Kurds Could Be Negotiable
Turkey, Iraq, and Iran Consider Joint Military Action Against Kurds
Turkey, Iraq, and Iran Consider Joint Military Action Against Kurds
America May Push Iran Into Becoming the Next Nuclear Crisis
US carries out airstrikes in Libya
The US Military's "Weapon Of The Future" Looks A Lot Like Skynet
France adds $2B to defense budget, moving closer to NATO spending target
US Provides Military Aid To More Than 70 Percent Of World's Dictatorships
US carries out airstrikes in Libya
The US Military's "Weapon Of The Future" Looks A Lot Like Skynet
France adds $2B to defense budget, moving closer to NATO spending target
US Provides Military Aid To More Than 70 Percent Of World's Dictatorships
Catalan Leader: Spanish Crackdown Will Boost Referendum Turnout
## Migrants/refugees ##
First refugees leave Australia's Pacific camps for US
Trump to call for lowest refugee cap since at least 1980
Venezuelans cross into Colombia as crisis deepens
EU Unveils Plan To Resettle More North African Refugees, Support Project With 500 Million Euros
## Migrants/refugees ##
First refugees leave Australia's Pacific camps for US
Trump to call for lowest refugee cap since at least 1980
Venezuelans cross into Colombia as crisis deepens
EU Unveils Plan To Resettle More North African Refugees, Support Project With 500 Million Euros
## Energy/resources ##
Saudis Raise $12.5B To Plug Budget Deficit From Low Oil Prices
Saudi Arabia said on Thursday that it had issued US$12.5 billion in three tranches of notes, the second issue under its Global Medium-Term Note program, as the desert Kingdom desperately tries to offset the budget deficit incurred by the lower-for-longer oil prices.
Saudi Arabia said on Thursday that it had issued US$12.5 billion in three tranches of notes, the second issue under its Global Medium-Term Note program, as the desert Kingdom desperately tries to offset the budget deficit incurred by the lower-for-longer oil prices.
Fuel shortage looms as Japan fires up biomass energy
The sheer number of projects has raised questions about how they will all find sufficient fuel, mostly shipped in from countries like Canada and Vietnam, while some experts question the environmental credentials of such large-scale plants.
Storm-Ravaged Caribbean Is Eyeing Solar, But It Won't Come Cheap
The sheer number of projects has raised questions about how they will all find sufficient fuel, mostly shipped in from countries like Canada and Vietnam, while some experts question the environmental credentials of such large-scale plants.
Storm-Ravaged Caribbean Is Eyeing Solar, But It Won't Come Cheap
India May Raise Natural Gas Price First Time in 3 Years: Survey
India may increase domestic natural gas prices for the first time in nearly three years, providing some relief to producers who are struggling to recover costs, a Bloomberg survey of analysts and industry participants showed.
India may increase domestic natural gas prices for the first time in nearly three years, providing some relief to producers who are struggling to recover costs, a Bloomberg survey of analysts and industry participants showed.
## Environment/health ##
The Post-Antibiotic Era Is Here. Now What?
The Climate Change Land Rush: When Will People Start Leaving Coastal Cities?
Mountains of Aid Are Languishing on the Docks in Puerto Rico
Mountains of Aid Are Languishing on the Docks in Puerto Rico
## Intelligence/security/internet/cyberwar ##
"There remains no evidence that the Russians altered one vote or changed one registration," said Judd Choate, president of the U.S. National Association of State Election Directors.
U.S. does not believe Cuba is behind sonic attacks on American diplomats
U.S. does not believe Cuba is behind sonic attacks on American diplomats
## Propaganda/censorship/fake news/alternative facts ##
Facebook Expects To Turn Over 3,000 "Russia Ads" To Congress In The Coming Days
WPost Pushes More Dubious Russia-bashing
Special Report: The Washington Post has published another front-page story about Russia maybe placing some ads on Facebook, but the article violates a host of journalistic principles in hyping its case.
WPost Pushes More Dubious Russia-bashing
Special Report: The Washington Post has published another front-page story about Russia maybe placing some ads on Facebook, but the article violates a host of journalistic principles in hyping its case.
The Rise of the New McCarthyism
Special Report: As the New McCarthyism takes hold in America, the neocon Washington Post makes Russia the villain in virtually every bad thing that happens, with U.S. dissidents treated as "fellow-travelers."
Special Report: As the New McCarthyism takes hold in America, the neocon Washington Post makes Russia the villain in virtually every bad thing that happens, with U.S. dissidents treated as "fellow-travelers."
The MSM's Anti-Russia Bias
The U.S. mainstream media (MSM) presents itself as the arbiter of truth-telling and journalistic professionalism – the global gold standard – but its deep-seated biases, especially on Russia, belie that self-image.
The U.S. mainstream media (MSM) presents itself as the arbiter of truth-telling and journalistic professionalism – the global gold standard – but its deep-seated biases, especially on Russia, belie that self-image.
The Slimy Business of Russia-gate
The "Field of Dreams" slogan for America's NGOs should be: "If you pay for it, we will come." And right now, tens of millions of dollars are flowing to non-governmental organizations if they will buttress the thesis of Russian "meddling" in the U.S. democratic process no matter how sloppy the "research" or how absurd the "findings."
## Systemic breakdown/collapse/unsustainability ##
The Seneca Cliff as an Effect of Bureaucracy
The "Field of Dreams" slogan for America's NGOs should be: "If you pay for it, we will come." And right now, tens of millions of dollars are flowing to non-governmental organizations if they will buttress the thesis of Russian "meddling" in the U.S. democratic process no matter how sloppy the "research" or how absurd the "findings."
## Systemic breakdown/collapse/unsustainability ##
The Seneca Cliff as an Effect of Bureaucracy
Here the main cause is the weather; in the future it will be financial collapse. -- RF
Puerto Rico is our Future
## Japan ##
Tokyo governor Koike vows break from the past with new party
The only break with the past will be new faces and new names. -- RF
Japan's Social Security Burden Frustrates BOJ Inflation Efforts
Companies' social insurance payments now exceed their income taxes
Biomass power boom prompts Japan to tame rising utility rates
## Japan ##
Tokyo governor Koike vows break from the past with new party
The only break with the past will be new faces and new names. -- RF
Japan's Social Security Burden Frustrates BOJ Inflation Efforts
Companies' social insurance payments now exceed their income taxes
Biomass power boom prompts Japan to tame rising utility rates
Rescued-food supermarket opens in Tokyo to feed the needy
Japan's once-mighty chip industry on the brink
Japan Downgrade Risk Seen Rising as Default Swaps Climb
Japan's once-mighty chip industry on the brink
Japan Downgrade Risk Seen Rising as Default Swaps Climb
China's mortgage debt bubble raises spectre of 2007 US crisis
Many young homeowners in booming cities owe more than they earn, and some even falsify salary details to get bigger mortgages
Many young homeowners in booming cities owe more than they earn, and some even falsify salary details to get bigger mortgages
China shuttering North Korea-linked businesses
## UK ##
UK counter-terrorism police arrest 11 in far-right investigation
Obesity epidemic fuels record levels of amputations, official figures show
## UK ##
UK counter-terrorism police arrest 11 in far-right investigation
Obesity epidemic fuels record levels of amputations, official figures show
Jeremy Corbyn plans to 'tax robots' because automation is a 'threat' to workers
MPs urged to take action as report reveals thousands will struggle to stay warm this winter
MPs urged to take action as report reveals thousands will struggle to stay warm this winter
## US ##
The top 1% of Americans now control 38% of the wealth
This Chart Defines the 21st Century Economy
There is nothing inevitable about such vast, fast-rising income-wealth inequality; it is the only possible output of our financial and pay-to-play political system.
This Chart Defines the 21st Century Economy
There is nothing inevitable about such vast, fast-rising income-wealth inequality; it is the only possible output of our financial and pay-to-play political system.
These charts clearly illustrate that the U.S. consumer has steadily relied on increasing amounts of debt to maintain an artificial standard of living. Through the use of credit, personal and government, U.S. households have pulled forward future consumption.
And finally...
