Global headlines – 3 January, 2020
## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards/global cooling/deflationary collapse ##
“Dire” European Manufacturing Downturn Deepens In December
China cuts banks’ reserve ratios again, frees up $115 billion to spur economy
These 6 charts compare the US and China economies in the second year of their trade war
The wealth of the 500 richest people in the world grew by an astronomic 25% in 2019
Here are the billionaires who made the most money this year.
Sydney house prices set to top $1 million again
Negative Rates, The Destruction Of Money: Sweden Ends Its Experiment
## War on cash/cashless society/cryptocurrencies ##
Britain’s Lloyds Banking Group suffers hours-long online outage
For a “cashless” society to work, networks and their power sources must be up and running 24/7/365. — RF
Gaming firm Razer joins Singapore digital bank race
China’s Ant Financial applies for Singapore digital banking license
## Airline death spiral ##
Airplanes are energy gluttons. Shut down the airports. Refine crude for ships, trains, and trucks.
## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
India Is Teetering on the Brink of Fascism
Captain, 7 crew abducted from Greek oil tanker in Cameroon port
Officials: Taliban Target Afghan Security Forces, Killing 26
Turkey approves deployment of troops to Libya in high-stakes battle across Mediterranean
Libyan Rebels Shoot Down Turkish Plane Moments After Ankara Approves Sending Troops
U.S. consulate warns employees as gun battles rock Mexican border city
• Iraq
China’s foreign minister accuses US of ‘bullying practices’ during meeting with Iran counterpart
Trump’s ‘Maximum Pressure’ Campaign Is Blowing Up in Iraq
Protesters in Iraq surround U.S. embassy for a second day
Battalion of 750 Paratroopers Heads to Middle East after Embassy Breach in Iraq
Back to Iraq: US Prepares Mini-Surge Into Region
Ayatollah taunts Trump after US embassy breached
But an Iraqi security source told the Asia Times that the agency had in fact refused to intervene to control the angry demonstration.
Missile attack hits Baghdad airport amid rising tensions
## Migrants/refugees ##
Fourfold rise in migrants rescued in English Channel: authorities
## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
A Year Of Resistance: How Youth Protests Shaped The Discussion On Climate Change
Protest Songs: Paris Opera Musicians Chime In With Strike Concert
Hong Kong begins 2020 just like 2019 ended – with protest chaos
## Energy/resources ##
Burn, Pay, Or Shut It Down: Three Evils For Permian Drillers
U.S. shale producers to tap brakes in 2020 after years of rapid growth
## Got food? ##
Bird flu kills 25,000 farmed turkeys in eastern Poland, thousands more culled
## Environment/health ##
Thousands To Sleep At Beaches As Fires Encircle Australian Towns
Nearly half a billion animals have been killed in Australia’s devastating bushfires
US atomic waste dump in Marshall Islands to be investigated
Mealworms can effectively degrade toxic additives in plastics
Study measures river ice loss caused by global warming
3 mountain lions killed after feeding on human remains
My guess is that mountain lions view all humans as potential meals. In nature’s view, we’re not special. — RF
The missing 99%: why can’t we find the vast majority of ocean plastic?
## Intelligence/security/
Chelsea Manning’s Detention Amounts to ‘Torture’: U.N. Expert
The Syrian conflict is awash with propaganda – chemical warfare bodies should not be caught up in it
“I’m Not Recommending Anyone Use It”: First 5G Rollout Fails To Live Up To The Hype
## Systemic breakdown/collapse/
The US military ran the largest stress test of its sealift fleet in years. It’s in big trouble.
75% of young want to escape South Korean ‘Hell’
## Japan ##
Vertical farming takes off in aging Japan
Unsustainable! — RF
## China ##
China’s central bank frees up US$115 billion to support growth
People’s Bank of China to cut banks’ reserve ratio by 0.5 percentage points from January 6, it announces
The Chinese are building a lot of stuff, but a major flaw in thinking exposes itself here. Cities by nature are not self-sustaining. They sustain themselves by maintaining constant flows of resources and energy from other places, and by dumping their wastes in other places. And that is why, sooner or later, every city turns into a wasteland. Smart people will see past the anti-China rhetoric and perceive the real problem here. — RF
## UK ##
UK economy in stagnation at end of 2019, survey shows
Online banking down: Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland customers locked out of accounts on New Year’s Day
Highlands likely to have broken UK record for hottest December
## US ##
With births down, U.S. had slowest growth rate in a century
The Fed’s “Not-QE” and the $33 Trillion Stock Market in Three Charts
Baltimore City Breaks Murder Record Of The Century
Welcome to Gilead? Onward, Christian Fascists
Localism in the 2020s (Part 1) – The 2nd Amendment Sanctuary Movement
People couldn’t wait to leave New Jersey in 2019
Amazon threatens to fire employees who speak out on climate change
Used Heavy Duty Truck Prices Collapse As Much As 50% As Ugly Outlook To Continue
California could lose a congressional district following 2020 census count