Tuesday 9 December 2014

Headlines

## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards ##
No carpetbagging mission is ever complete without at least one visit from the IMF.
The hub would also allow Canadian energy companies to number among the very few producers in the world to sell oil in a currency other than the U.S. dollar. In August, Russia’s Gazprom Neft began accepting Rubles or Chinese currency for oil sales off its eastern coast. Russian president Vladmir Putin has recently described the international oil trade as the “dollar dictatorship.”
The world's retirement bill is coming due—and many countries aren't ready to pay it. That's the conclusion of a report Monday from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a Paris-based group representing the world's developed countries.
I've said again and again that pensions are melting away. Do you believe me now? -- RF

## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
The global military radar market will reach a value of $18.5 billion due to increased growth, according to new analysis.
A statistical increase in the number of attacks on shipping has fed concerns that piracy is on the rise in and around South-east Asia.

## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##

## Energy/resources ##
The ongoing collapse of oil prices may be a symptom that we are running out of the capital resources necessary to keep developing new fields.
New oil projects are being scrapped in Norway amid falling production and low oil prices.
The European Commission's new energy chief says that Russia could revive the South Stream natural-gas pipeline project if it follows EU rules.

## Got food? ##

## Environment/health ##
With nine of its doctors now dead from the disease, the country's ability to fight the outbreak is undercut.

## Intelligence/propaganda/security/internet/cyberwar ##
You don't have to wait for the end. Her evasive answers are laughably absurd. -- RF
As the world hurtles toward a new Cold War and possibly a nuclear confrontation over Ukraine, the West’s “free press” is again serving the role of an obedient propaganda service — demonizing Russia, presenting a one-sided narrative and feeding a dangerous belligerence.
But why do we care what the great leaders of the West (or the East for that matter) actually say, when we all know it’s the kind of material that comes out of the rear end of a bull?

## Systemic breakdown/collapse/unsustainability ##

## Japan ##

## China ##
As China’s economy has slowed and property markets dropped, there has been plenty of concern about the massive debts incurred by state-run and private companies. Now there are signs that companies large and small are looking abroad to borrow enough money to stay afloat.
About half of the mainland’s shipyards have gone out of business in the past two years, and only 10 per cent of the bigger ones remaining have received new orders as overcapacity is shaken out of the market, thanks to selective, state-backed financing.

## UK ##

## US ##
Social Security has become the de facto retirement plan for millions of Americans.
The price of oil has plunged nearly 40% since June to $65.63, and junk bonds in the US energy sector are getting hammered, after a phenomenal boom that peaked this year. Energy companies sold $50 billion in junk bonds through October, 14% of all junk bonds issued! But junk-rated energy companies trying to raise new money to service old debt or to fund costly fracking or off-shore drilling operations are suddenly hitting resistance.
While shoplifting is standard at businesses of all sizes, data finds that a surprising number of these crimes are committed by employees.

And finally...

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