Rice Farmer: July 2010

"They wanted the oversight authority to keep us from publishing things if, for whatever reason, they didn't want them to be published. People were muzzled as part of the contract."

Wetlands Front Group Funded by Big Oil Wants Taxpayers to Foot the Bill for BP's Gulf Destruction

BP Puts Vietnam, Pakistan Assets Up for Sale to Raise Cash for Oil Spill

China oil spill could be 'enormous'

Pipeline in Michigan oil spill had been cited for corrosion

Mich. Oil Leak Halted; Cleanup To Take Months

-- US --

States go deeper into debt

Foreclosures Continue To Increase Dramatically In 2010

Schools report surge in homeless students

U.S. regulators take over 5 failed banks; year's total 108

Economy in U.S. Will Probably Keep Cooling as Lack of Jobs Limits Spending

14.7 Million (19%) Of US Mortgages Have $770 Billion In Underwater Equity, $2.4 Trillion In Total Debt Impaired

El Paso's 678-Mile Pipeline Would Create `Path of Destruction,' Suit Says

House approves bill with new safeguards for oil rigs

Obama Seeks Massive Expansion of Arms Exports

And finally... Japanese macaques go bananas at the sight of a flying squirrel

Permanent Link posted by Rice Farmer @ 6:50 PM

Friday, July 30, 2010

News Links, July 31, 2010

-- Global economic meltdown --
Europe Crisis Is Not Over, May Lead to Fiscal Union, UBS Says

Japan unemployment rises further

U.S. Financial System Still at Risk, Says IMF

IMF Says U.S. Financial System May Need $76 Billion in Capital

Spain Jobless Rate up to 20.09 Percent

Chinese Economy Strong? Depends Who You Ask

China Becomes Second Biggest World Economy

Japan: Land of the Rising Debt

-- Fault lines/flashpoints --

China says it's sovereign in S. China Sea

China says it opposes EU sanctions against Iran

Pakistan likes Al Qaeda more than America

Syrian and Saudi leaders visit Beirut to defuse tension

Bangladesh garment workers riot over new wages

U.S. Closes Consulate In Mexico's Ciudad Juarez

Al-Shabab threatens AU peacekeepers (Somalia)

Kabul rioters burn SUVs, yell 'Death to America'

Obama seeks to expand arms exports by trimming approval process

-- Intelligence --

Pentagon: Leak probe may go beyond military

WikiLeaks Posts Mysterious 'Insurance' File

-- Energy/resources --

Cautioned by BP oil spill, Brazil continues deep-sea drilling
Solar Energy Still Has a Long Way to Go

Why Water Will Soon Become More Valuable Than Oil

-- Environment/health --

Over 300 dead in Pakistan monsoon flooding

-- Oil blowout --

Gulf states now worry about restoring their image
Oil spill waste raises concerns in the gulf

Oil spill legal mess likely one of costliest ever

For 'oiled' marshlands, time may be the only balm
New BP delay a warning: Don't write obituary on Gulf oil spill yet

Dispersants Used in Oil Disaster Creating New Crisis

Scientists: BP dispersants have made spill more toxic (MSNBC)

-- US --

Marc Faber Questions if Dow Could Hit 1,000

Homes keep falling into foreclosure as programs fail to help
Economists Expect Slower Growth in Second Half

Fed policymaker Bullard warns of deflation

Caterers dish up more cases of food poisoning

Trucking Industry Says Economy Is Slowing

Housing: The Liquidation Isn't Over

Regulators close 3 banks in Florida, Georgia; total for year is 106

Feds raid Amish dairy and threaten action over raw milk sales

Permanent Link posted by Rice Farmer @ 5:40 PM

Thursday, July 29, 2010

News Links, July 30, 2010

-- Global economic meltdown --
Vietnam's Debt Rating Lowered by Fitch on Foreign Borrowing, `Weak' Banks

ICBC Will Seek Up to $6.6 Billion in Rights Offer

AgBank IPO is World's Largest, Raising $22.1 Billion

Fed president: U.S. could face Japan-like crisis

Italy passes austerity measures

Taleb: Government Deficits Could Be the Next 'Black Swan' (Businessweek interview)

"The problem is getting runaway. It's becoming a pure Ponzi scheme. It's very nonlinear: You need more and more debt just to stay where you are."

-- Fault lines/flashpoints --

Greece orders striking lorry drivers back to work

Greek police clash with hauliers amid crippling strike

"Arab unity tour": Assad 'to attend summit' in Lebanon

Australia adopts new sanctions against Iran

Beijing Wary Of Rising Tide Of Veterans' Discontent

House Republicans Giving Green Light for Israeli Strike on Iran (Israel National News)

Google: Search engine blocked in mainland China

Iran ready to stop uranium enrichment

-- Intelligence --

Medvedev gives more power to security services

Report: U.S. Seeks Easing of FBI Internet Access

Russia to introduce 'draconian' Minority Report-style law
"Legislation will give security services powers to arrest people for crimes they have yet to commit"

White House pushes for warrantless access to Internet records

Harder to suppress leaks in Internet age

-- Energy/resources --

Natural-Gas Squeeze Prompts Switch of Fuel in Middle East: Energy Markets

"They are running short of gas, especially in the U.A.E and in Saudi Arabia, where they require gas for power generation as well."

Saudi needs $80bn power spend by 2018 - study

Qatar Hosts Power-Gen Middle East Conference

"Qatar's power generation is expected to increase by a demanding 193.5 per cent before the year 2018."

The Risks Of Deep Water Drilling (a good read)

"As oil executives say, at such depths, the seabed is as remote as the moon."

Improved Gulf power grid reduces blackouts

-- Got food? --

The Mighty Rise of the Food Revolution

Local food trend helps more folks eat fresh fruits, veggies (US)

Arabs Mull $65bn Food Security Plan

-- Environment/health --

NYC looks to stop spreading bedbug infestations

-- Oil blowout --

Gulf Coast Residents File Personal Injury Suit Over Oil Dispersant

BP Gulf Disaster Act Two: The Corexit Calamity
"[Marine toxicologist] Riki Ott says that if her family lived along the Gulf Coast, based on what she has seen these past three months, she would evacuate them immediately."

Oil industry safety record blown open

Gulf beach closings and warnings by the thousands from Louisiana to Florida, due to BP oil spill

BP May Have Broke Law By Signing Scientists To Non-Disclosure Agreements
Scientists Find Evidence That Oil And Dispersant Mix Is Making Its Way Into The Foodchain

-- UK --

Compulsory retirement at 65 to be phased out, people encouraged to work longer

-- US --

The New Normal: Americans Cutting Back — Even If They Don't Have To

Economy at the Edge

Fallen Soldiers' Families Denied Cash as Insurers Profit

House Panel Passes Measure to Legalize Some Internet Gambling

8 More Reasons Why a Double Dip Is Coming

Commercial Real Estate: Armageddon on the Way?

Outlook Dims For Popular Energy-Efficiency Loans

Bunker-busting ATM attacks show security holes

Housing Bubble will Not be Reblown; Foreclosures Increase in 154 of 206 Metro Areas with Population Over 200,000

Budget Crunch Hits Atlantic City Hard

Federal Debt and the Risk of a Fiscal Crisis (Congressional Budget Office)

Jim Rickards Compares The Collapse Of The Roman Empire To The US, Concludes That We Are Far Worse Off

Panel Warns Of DoD 'Train Wreck'

Permanent Link posted by Rice Farmer @ 5:26 PM

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

News Links, July 29, 2010

-- Global economic meltdown --
All ministries face 10% budget cut (Japan)

Sheriffs Roam Ireland Seizing Cars From Debtors After Collapse

Greek Villas Marked Down 45% as Crisis Hits Island Homes

Average Home Transaction Prices In Shanghai Plunge 48.4%

South Africa strike: Nearly 1 million government workers set to take action

Russia plans $29bn asset sale to prop up budget

Jim Rogers Calls CNBC A Market PR Agency Whose Sole Purpose Is To Make Stocks Go Higher

-- Intelligence --

Julian Assange: Wikileaks founder fears he could be arrested

WikiLeaks Reportedly Outs 100s of Afghan Informants

Seven People Have Been Entrusted With The Keys To The Internet

Is your smart phone spying on you?

-- Fault lines/flashpoints --

Narco-violence spills into US

Yemen Shiite rebels capture 200 soldiers: military official

French detectives put on leave after receiving mob death threats

France declares war against al-Qaida

Terror group claims it will make Greece 'warzone'

Iran will pay for new babies to boost population

David Cameron: Pakistan is promoting the 'export of terror'

Japanese oil tanker damaged in Persian Gulf in suspected attack

Markets Blind to Rising Tensions on Korean Peninsula, Ian Bremmer Says

Pakistan Pushes Draconian New Terror Bill

US 'Fully Prepared' for New Nuclear Talks With Iran (Voice of America)

-- Military --

Defense draft calls for enhancing SDF's contingency capabilities (Japan)

Army 'was close to seizing up', Iraq inquiry told (UK)

Israel, Germany deny sub talks

Russia exports helicopters to Peru

China's growing military may spur arms race in Asia

-- Oil blowout --

100 days of oil: Gulf life will never be the same

Oil in gulf is degrading, becoming harder to find, NOAA head says

Oil spill's economic damage could take years to identify
Gulf spill raises long-term beach safety questions
More than 40M gallons of oil MIA

"What we're trying to figure out is: Where is all the oil at?" said retired Coast Guard admiral Thad Allen, the oil response's federal overseer. "There's still a lot of oil that's unaccounted for."

BP Spill May Cost Gulf $22.7 Billion in Revenue, Group Says

-- Energy/resources --

Kyrgyzstan's energy crisis worsens

Collecting rainwater now illegal in many US states as Big Government claims ownership over our water

The Truth About Fracking

"The video... [shows] a gas explosion and water so toxic that a lighter can set tap water on fire."

Greece Has Literally Run Out Of Gas

Third Blackout Hits Chile's Capital

President vows end to blackouts (Indonesia)

-- Environment/health --

Plankton decline across oceans as waters warm

Could new diagnostic manual result in almost everyone being diagnosed with mental illness?

Deep Underground, Miles of Hidden Wildfires Rage

Michigan oil leak polluting Kalamazoo River; Governor declares disaster area

-- Got food? --

Food security plan essential for the national interest (Oz)

-- UK --

£100k reward after millions of pounds of metal stolen

Big freeze gives British Gas 98% profits hike

UK electric car grant scheme 'cut by 80%'

-- US --

Our Crumbling Infrastructure — Patch & Pray

Congress approves new funding for Afghan war

Oakland gives final OK to large-scale pot farms

Cities' plea: We need $75 billion or we'll lay off 500,000

Doomsday shelters making a comeback

Second Student Sues School District Over Webcam Spying
Gen Y: No jobs, lots of loans, grim future

Pain, but no gain: local governments face budget doom

California Declares State Of Emergency Over State Finances

Gov orders more state furloughs (California)

Durable Goods Are Latest Economic Disappointment

Durable Goods Orders "Unexpectedly" Sink; How did Economists Blow the Call?

It Looks Like This Recovery Is Already Over
Wealth transfer: Income of very richest shot up by 281% since 1979

Are the American people obsolete?
'Anti-Islamic' bus ads appear in major cities

And finally... Five Ways to Profit BIG from Global Collapse

Permanent Link posted by Rice Farmer @ 6:41 PM

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

News Links, July 28, 2010

-- Global economic meltdown --
Developers cut property prices to jumpstart sales (China)

U.S. Fiscal Woes Are Worse Than Greece

Russia's Drought Raises Bondholder Risk on Prices

Implosion of the China "Fabric City" Frenzy

More On China's Trillions In Unrepayable Project Loans

Here's More Proof of the Sheer Lunacy of the European Bank Stress Tests: Passed Banks are Already Trying to Collect on Defaulted Claims of European Nations

Kuwait's IIG defaults on $152.5m sukuk, second default this year

-- Energy/resources --

A World Without Petroleum (bears reading)

Businesses face 26% energy bill rise (UK)

US Renewables Financing Set to Collapse Without Grant Extension

Central Chile Power Outage Hits Santiago, Disrupts Some Copper Mines

-- Fault lines/flashpoints --

Iran is joined by Russia in condemning EU sanctions

Iran Air Force to hold major drills

David Cameron accuses France and Germany of double standards over Turkey

Wikileaks reinforces the claim that Pakistan supports the Taliban

WikiLeak: U.S. Battling Militants from Turkey, Its NATO Ally
Japan Must Prepare for 'Contingencies': Panel

Barak: Israel will respond to Hizbullah rockets by attacking Lebanese government institutions

Natural gas could lead to new Lebanon-Israel war

-- Military --

U.S. Army orders more battlefield robots

U.S., Israel go ahead with Arrow-3

-- Intelligence --

Afghanistan war logs: tensions increase after revelation of more leaked files

WikiLeaks Iraq Cache More Than Three Times As Big

Afghanistan war logs could lead to revenge killings, say intelligence

-- Oil blowout --

BP makes record $17.2 billion loss as Tony Hayward quits

BP to set aside $32.2bn to cover oil spill costs

Gulf oil spill: Where has the oil gone?

Growing Health Crisis in the Gulf

Oil Spews From Louisiana Well Struck by Tow Boat

-- Environment/health --

Growing Shortages of Water Threaten China's Development

Pollution makes quarter of China water unusable

Global warming: NASA says it's the hottest year on record
Forest fires in Portugal sparked by heat wave

-- US --

Banks Failing at Fastest Rate Since 1992

Heading for retirement, some N.C. boomers are fat and flat broke
Many fear job loss, but have no savings for it

Verizon, AT&T Power Outages Frazzle the City That Never Sleeps

The Biggest Tax Increase In U.S. History?

Sixteen Years in Prison for Videotaping the Police?

Power grid upgrades could pose security risks

California's state parks are becoming a Wild West
Home shoppers taking fresh look at renting

State budget gaps to total $84 billion for fiscal 2011: study

Local Governments To Cut 500,000 People In 2010 And 2011, As $400 Billion Budget Shortfall Brings State Economies To A Halt

The U.S. Mint's lame excuse for rationing gold and silver coins

Absent Supplemental, DoD Furloughs Begin Next Month

Most Americans Worry About Safety Of Food Supply

H.R. 5741: Universal National Service Act

"To require all persons in the United States between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform national service, either as a member of the uniformed services or in civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, to authorize the induction of persons in the uniformed services during wartime to meet end-strength requirements of the uniformed services, and for other purposes."

Permanent Link posted by Rice Farmer @ 4:31 PM

Monday, July 26, 2010

News Links, July 27, 2010

-- Global economic meltdown --
The Death of Paper Money (Ambrose Evans-Pritchard)

JPMorgan Shreds The Stress Tests, Says 54 Banks Should Have Failed

Roubini and JPMorgan Agree: Euro Stress Tests Were a Joke

Jim Rogers: Stress Test Is a PR Exercise

Deflation Defies Expectations—and Solutions

Global Economy May Slow to 3.25% From 4.7% Average

"The new normal for the world economy may be arriving as the U.S., Europe and China all decelerate simultaneously."

Four Shocking Bombshells Bernanke Did NOT Tell Congress About Last Week

Marc Faber: Relax, This Will Hurt A Lot

India warned of stagflation risk as price of food soars

Aussie Housing Bubble Gets Popped With Chinese Credit Crash

U.S. Rescue May Reach $23.7 Trillion, Barofsky Says

Nakheel proposes 7yrs to repay Islamic loan (UAE)

Retailers Pay More to Get Cargo, or Not Get It (the slow-motion collapse of shipping)

-- Fault lines/flashpoints --

Cuban President Raul Castro set for 26 July speech

EU to tighten sanctions over Iran nuclear programme

China Rejects U.S. Efforts in Maritime Spat

Iran ready to resume nuclear fuel swap talks

Prison chief allegedly sent inmates to conduct Mexico birthday party massacre

Study: 10 pct. of Mexicans may emigrate to US due to climate change, decreased crop yields

Economic Conflict Between China and the US May Reappear at Any Time

Rebels capture north Yemen base

Deadly Suicide Attack Targets Official In Pakistan

US rules out military action against Venezuela

-- Intelligence/security --

Afghanistan war logs: live blog

Wikileaks Releases Stunning Afghan War Logs — Is Iraq Next?

Wikileaks files 'may reveal thousands of war crimes'

WikiLeaks report fictitious, says Pakistan's ex-spy chief Hamid Gul

Afghans welcome release of secret war files by the WikiLeaks website

Are the WikiLeaks War Docs Overhyped Old News?

Pentagon Review of WikiLeaks docs sees no smoking gun

" An ongoing Pentagon review of the massive flood of secret documents made public by the WikiLeaks website has so far found no evidence that the disclosure harmed U.S. national security or endangered American troops in the field, a Pentagon official told NBC News on Monday."

*Which is the opposite of what the White House says.

Wikileaks Afghanistan log: Wikileaks' 10 greatest scoops

BlackBerrys are 'threat to national security' claims UAE

New Wave of Whistleblowers Could Become Millionaires (US)

Almost 700 forged passports discovered at Dubai International Airport Jan-Jun

-- Energy/resources --

China to limit nonferrous metals production by '15

BP's Hayward to leave as CEO; Russia job in works

China's LNG Demand Forecast for 2020 Raised by 48%, Wood Mackenzie Says

Iran To Inaugurate First Phase Of Proposed Gas "Peace Pipeline"

UAE: Generator sales  and renting soar

A Power Shortage in The Midst of Plenty (Indonesia)

-- Oil blowout --

Bob 'Dish Soap' Dudley To Replace 'Fantastic' Tony Hayward At BP Helm

*Says Corexit is "like dish soap."

-- Military/space --

China considers big rocket power

US missile defense satellites pass big test

Europeans call for defense contract probe

Indian Trade Body Seeks Access To Defense Tech

NORAD plans Washington exercise

Wikileaks documents suggest Taliban has capacity to fire on aircraft

-- Environment/health --

Dengue fever cases on rise in Philippines

-- Spain --

Infrastructure spending cut by one-fifth in austerity move

-- Mexico --

Mexico prisoners 'freed for killings' in Durango state

-- Japan --

Gov't team OKs plan to get ISPs to block access to child porn images

Japan Seeks Consumer Burden To Push Renewable Energy

Some stock short selling activities banned until end of October

-- UK --

Connaught shares plunge on funding woes
"Shares in Exeter-based social housing firm Connaught have slumped 76% after it said it had identified an "urgent" need for extra funds."

UK seeks next generation of cyber security specialists

Britons to be spied on by foreign police

-- US --

Malaria-like disease appearing in New York

A real nightmare: Bed bugs biting all over U.S.

California whooping cough outbreak largest in decades

Outlook Dims For Popular Energy-Efficiency Loans

Floodwaters ravage eastern Iowa

Thoughts on the Secular Decline in Total Capacity Utilization

*A thoughtful essay with major implications for long-term economic decline.

Many fear job loss, but have no savings for it

Deficit-cutting ax may fall on Social Security

Economists warn of deflation possibility

U.S. Small-Business Aid May Create $300 Billion of `Junk' Loans

Credit Card Fees Transfer Wealth to Rich: Fed Bank Study

Armed police raid organic food store in search of raw food

And finally... Man robs bank in clown pants, fake breasts

Permanent Link posted by Rice Farmer @ 5:53 PM

Sunday, July 25, 2010

News Links, July 26, 2010

-- Global economic meltdown --
Interest rates will stay low until 2014, predicts E&Y

Outstanding loans to property market up 40% by end of June (China)

LBMA Closes Off Public Access To Key Bullion Bank Trading Data

German Banks Hiding Stress Test Data Further Undemine Geithner's European Scammery Tour

Chinese Banks See Risks in 23% of $1.1 Trillion Loans

Bullion buyers bank on gold coins

"Every day, people find their way to the Manhattan store with one thing in mind: getting their hands on gold bullion coins, as soon as possible and as much as possible, before the financial Armageddon they fear renders the dollars in their pockets worthless."

-- Military --

Afghanistan war logs: Massive leak of secret files exposes truth of occupation

Leaked documents claim Pakistan's ISI directing Afghan insurgency

Israeli Army to simulate invasion of south Lebanon

-- Fault lines/flashpoints --

The 'unravelling relationship' between Russia and Iran

Bush-era CIA director: Attack on Iran 'seems inexorable'

Iran ready for nuke swap deal talks -Mottaki

Venezuela head threatens US oil cut over Colombia row

U.S. Holds Drills Off Korea As Pyongyang Talks War

Possible Reaction Scenarios To A Preemptive Israeli Strike On Iran

Mexican prison guards let killers out, provided weapons

-- Energy/resources --

BP set to begin drilling off Libya

It's A Race To Failure Between Rogue States And Global Oil Output

Worsening electricity shortages fuel growing crisis

Recovery strains electricity grid

Aggreko boss talks business and blackouts

*Paints a grim picture of electric power availability around the world.

U.K. Offshore Wind Power Developers Need $46 Billion Financing, PWC Says

Saudi Kayan seeks $2.4 bln for rising costs

One day after Sewa apology, power cuts in Sharjah again (UAE)

Modern cargo ships slow to the speed of the sailing clippers

-- Intelligence/spying --

Tokyo trials digital billboards that scan passers-by

-- Food --

Farmers report rise in 'pick-your-own' thefts (UK)

-- Japan --

Heat Wave Eases After 15 Deaths Nationwide, Peak in Tokyo's Power Demand

An Unmanned aircraft carrying radioactive material crashes in Japan: media

-- Oil blowout --

Allen: BP will begin plugging well next week

Geochemist in Gulf says "When it rains, a lot of junk comes down from the particulate"

-- Environment/health --

U.S. farmers may face crackdown on pesticide use

-- UK --

'Minority Report' technology used by police to predict crimes

-- US --

Baltimore police face officer shortage

Say Goodbye To The American Dream

Police to experiment with blinding 'Dazer Laser'?

Shadow Office Space "Leased but Empty" Haunts Commercial Real Estate

Babysitters for backyard chickens

Virtual War Room Needed for Federal Crisis Response, Says Rep. Randy Forbes

Permanent Link posted by Rice Farmer @ 5:43 PM

Saturday, July 24, 2010

News Links, July 25, 2010

-- Global economic meltdown --
Brown says global economy reliant upon growth in Africa

US deficit heads toward record $1.47 trillion

U.S. bank failures top 100

China may switch to currency basket for forex rate

Vast majority of EU banks pass "stress tests" (AP)

Very Little Reality In European Bank Tests (Forbes)

-- Intelligence/spying --

Stuxnet spyware targets industrial facilities, via USB memory stick

-- Military --

France To Build Russia 2 Ships: Sarkozy

Saudi in talks for project liberty-type spy planes

-- Energy/resources --

Power grid failure causes intermittent blackouts on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast

Iran launches nuclear fusion bid

China, Iran in Talks to Use Yuan for Oil Contract Settlement, Reuters Says

Angola becomes China's largest crude oil source

India Faces Coal Deficit of 50% of Expected Power Plant Demand, KPMG Says

-- Food --

U.S. wheat surges on Russian drought

-- Fault lines/flashpoints --

North Korea Warns of Nuclear Response to Naval Exercises

51 bodies found at northern Mexico dumping ground

Iran to shun euro, dollar in oil deals

House OK's possible Israeli raid on Iran

Tehran, Ankara sign €1b gas pipeline deal

-- Oil blowout --

Researchers confirm subsea Gulf oil plumes are from BP well

Work resumes on capping runaway Gulf of Mexico oil well
BP Hires Prison Labor to Clean Up Spill While Coastal Residents Struggle

-- Environment/health --

Mangroves disappearing faster than land-based forests

Peru declares emergency over cold weather

Temperatures hit record highs globally. El Nino or global warming?

-- UK --

Is the British middle class an endangered species?

Royal Navy and RAF will bear brunt of multi-billion pound defence cuts

-- US --

Most U.S. States Cut Jobs as Tax Collections Erode, Study Says

Wal-Mart Radio Tags to Track Clothing

Senate Democrats forced to accept much slimmer energy bill

Jindal declares emergency preparing for storm

CNN anchors call for crackdown on anonymous bloggers

Iowa Dam Fails Causing 'Catastrophic' Release of Water

Shadow Elite: Selling Out Uncle Sam & Outsourcing American Power

And finally... The Dark Side prevails? Darth Vader holds up Long Island bank

Permanent Link posted by Rice Farmer @ 5:08 PM

Friday, July 23, 2010

News Links, July 24, 2010

-- Global economic meltdown --
Morgan Stanley: European Stress Tests Will Sorely Disappoint The Euro
Will Your Children Grow Up To Be Servants And Nannies?

EU Stress Tests Only Consider Bank Trading Book Bond Losses

Here Comes The Real Stress: Only 27% Of China Project Loans To Be Repaid In Full

Public Debt Replaces Private Debt in the Name of Progress

-- Energy --

Japan and China aim for gas field treaty

-- Fault lines/flashpoints --

U.S. Strengthens Asia Military Links Amid Concerns Over China

Taliban says US drone attacks 'temporarily' hindering insurgency

N. Korea threatens 'physical response' to U.S. military drills

Experts discuss Iran-Taliban relationship

Ahmadinejad warns Medvedev of joining 'U.S. plot' against Iran

China's Summer Of Labor Unrest

CIA: Mubarak has one year to live

-- Environment/health --

South America Cold Wave Brings Rare Snow, Freezing Deaths

Southern Cone frozen: 100 dead and thousands of cattle lost

-- Military --

USS George Washington Arrives in Busan

US Restores Ties With Indonesia's Brutal Special Forces

"Secretary of Defense Robert Gates insists that the Kopassus are 'sufficiently committed to human rights' to allow the US military to restore direct ties with the group."

Japan to send SDF observers to U.S.-S Korea joint drill: report

-- Oil blowout --

Tropical Storm Bonnie could hit oil spill site over weekend

BP accused of 'buying academic silence'

Deepwater Horizon safety alarm 'shut off' before fire

-- UK --

Nanotech centres may be axed, says science minister

-- US --

Fleeing Phoenix out of fear of immigration law

Architects imagine Los Angeles in 2030 (I guarantee you, it won't look like that photo)

US Faces Water Supply Crisis: Study

Chicago neighborhoods foundering in wave of foreclosures

Permanent Link posted by Rice Farmer @ 3:08 PM

Thursday, July 22, 2010

News Links, July 23, 2010

-- Global economic meltdown --
China Has a Painful Surprise for the Global Economy

Concerns Grow over Rigorousness of EU Stress Tests

Unfunded Entitlements 'r' Us

*Anyone who still needs proof that "retirement" is going the way of the dinosaurs is brain dead.

Is 'Sudden' Collapse Possible?

Buy Gold, Peter Schiff Says: U.S. Dollar a "Bottomless Pit", Treasuries a "Sucker's Bet"

Dubai World document reveals price of failure

Dubai World expects debt restructuring in months

-- Fault lines/flashpoints --

NATO fears Somali pirates moving to south Red Sea

Colombia recalls envoy from Venezuela amid rebel row

Hugo Chavez says Venezuela to sever ties with Colombia

Mexican cartels rely more on explosives in drug war

Rehab clinics turn into killing zones in Mexico's drug war
Why Hasn't Israel Bombed Iran (Yet)?

Hillary Clinton ADMITS that the US and Pakistan created the Mujahaddin

-- Military --

U.S. anti-drone weapon unveiled

-- Spying/intelligence --

Iran says scientist provided information on CIA

Joint Special Operations University: Blogs and Military Information Strategy

-- Energy/resources --

Judge halts oil, gas development on Chukchi Sea (US)

Offshore drilling: industry rates its own equipment substandard

"Both industry experts and managerial personnel acknowledge that the technology used to remove offshore oil from its reservoirs – particularly in deep water – has been outstripped by engineers' ability to find and drill for that oil."

China Surpassing U.S. as Largest Energy Consumer Is the Story of the Past Decade

"China's coal consumption is merely our own power consumption, offshored."

Twitter, beset by outages, will open new data center in Salt Lake City

Billions needed to rebuild Iraqi industry

Power restored in Sharjah after four days (UAE)

Heat exhaustion cases rocket amid power cuts (UAE)

Northern Iraqi gas for Nabucco?

-- Environment/health --

Mexico worried by rise in hemorrhagic dengue

Senate Shelves Efforts to Cap Carbon Emissions (US)

-- Food --

India Food Prices on Boil Again, Rate Hike Looms