Rice Farmer - Evening Edition
Global Economy
Europe Banks Fear Flight of Deposits
The Mortgage Crisis Hits France Front And Center: Are French Bank Nationalizations Imminent?
Eastern European Currencies Poised for a Double-Whammy of Pain
CIS steel export market continues to go down
Military/Intelligence
Some Say NATO’s Very Survival Is In Doubt
Russia says West still considering military action on Iran
Panetta: Military Option For Iran ‘Not Being Weighed’
"Just days ahead of the talks between the six world powers and Iran over the latter’s nuclear program, reports say Washington is 'radiating optimism' with expectations of a peaceful nuclear deal and a 'warming of relations' with Tehran."
Civil Unrest
Anti-NATO, war protesters rally in Chicago
Fire, barricades, and a Rolling Stone: Quebec protests make waves
"A plan to restore order in Montreal appeared to erupt in smoke late Saturday, with fiery blockades blazing on a busy downtown street corner in a dispute gaining international attention."
Impatient Thai red shirts want justice from PM Yingluck
20,000 anti-capitalist protesters march in Frankfurt: police
G-8 Summit: Police in riot gear contain Ethiopian activists protesting in Maryland
Energy/Resources
Pakistan negotiates for Indian and Iranian power
The age of extreme oil: ‘This used to be a forest?' (oil sands)
"It takes a barrel's worth of energy to produce just three barrels of oil; 30 years ago it would have been 100."
Oil report from the ”Diplomatic Council on Energy Security”
Food/Water
Thai rice prices hit seven-month high on tight market supply
Environment/Health
Arctic melt releasing ancient methane
Intelligence/security/internet/systemic breakdown
Chicago city, police websites possibly hacked
Japan
Kansai leaders oppose govt call to back Oi reactor restarts
"Local government leaders in the Kansai region have voiced their opposition to restarting reactors at Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture, despite calls from central government officials asking for their support."
BOJ struggling to buy govt bonds
"The Bank of Japan has been struggling to buy government bonds from commercial banks because their sell offers have repeatedly failed to meet targeted amounts.
"Banks apparently think that selling government bonds on the market is more lucrative than selling them to the central bank because bond prices have been soaring amid eurozone concerns, money market sources said."
Formaldehyde detected again / Tokyo govt suspends water supplies from purification plant
China
Hey, Krugman, Ask China If Stimulus Is a Good Idea (Gordon Chang)
China’s towering metal stockpiles cast economic shadow
"When metals warehouses in top consumer China are so full that workers start stockpiling iron ore in granaries and copper in car parks, you know the global economy could be in trouble."
World's electronic waste ends up in China
"Five million TV sets, 4 million refrigerators, 5 million washing machines, 5 million PCs and 10 million mobile phones are scrapped in China every year."
UK
Ed Balls warns of cuts 'catastrophe'
US
US hot rolled steel futures plunge as European Crisis Deepens
Student debt, lack of well-paying jobs delays independence for new grads
How the fracking mess is about to make the mortgage mess worse
"One fact ought to tell you all you need to know about the risks faced by homeowners signing leases for natural gas drilling on their property: Wells Fargo & Company, both the largest home mortgage lender in the United States and a major lender to the country's second largest producer of natural gas, Chesapeake Energy Corp., refuses to make home loans for properties encumbered with natural gas drilling leases."
Robin Westenra - Afternoon Edition
Global economy
G8 leaders seek growth and urge Greece to keep euro
EU growth focus welcomed
Military/intelligence
Obama tries NATO fix for Afghanistan security
US PRESIDENT Barack Obama today faces the task of persuading financially pressed European governments and their war-weary citizens to back Afghanistan's security over the next decade.
NATO summit discusses Afghanistan withdrawal
President Barack Obama prepares for US withdrawal by 2014, as NATO members look to the future of Afghanistan.
UN nuclear chief heads to Iran for key talks
First IAEA head to visit Tehran since 2009 will seek inspection deal on alleged weapons sites ahead of Wednesday summit.
Environmental/disasters
Guatemala volcano spits violent lava clouds
Civil unrest/revolution
Chicago NATO Protesters, Police Clash Downtown (VIDEO)
Footage captured on the ground in downtown Chicago depicts high tensions and frequent clashes between protesters and police during NATO Summit demonstrations, including several incidents that devolve into violence
Anti-NATO protesters begin big march on Chicago summit
Protesters gather for largest NATO rally
PROTESTERS gathering in Chicago for the NATO summit are gearing up for their largest demonstration, with thousands are expected to march from a downtown park to the lakeside convention centre where world leaders including Prime Minister Julia Gillard are meeting.
Thousands of anti-NATO activists march in Chicago (PHOTOS)
City of Chicago under attack… by hackers
Police attack NATO protesters in Chicago
Middle East
WATCH: Israeli settler shoots at Palestinians while IDF soldiers stand by
B'Tselem releases video of clashes between settlers and Palestinians near Itzhar on Saturday; 24-year-old Palestinian wounded as a result of the shooting.
Europe
Apart from the events in Chicago and the G8 pretending that everything's OK in Europe ('all we have to do is restore growth' - LOL) - it's a quiet day.
Deadly earthquake strikes Italy
A magnitude-6.0 earthquake has shaken several small towns in northeast Italy. Reports say the quake has killed six people, knocked down a clock tower and other centuries-old buildings and caused millions in losses to the region known for making Parmesan cheese
Earthquakes in Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy - Biggest Magnitude 6.0 (VIDEO)
Japan
Major crack in the south wall of Fukushima reactor 4: is this the end of the world as we know it?
6.0 magnitude earthquake strikes off the coast of Japan
USA
Tropical storm churns off South Carolina
TROPICAL Storm Alberto is churning off South Carolina's coastline, the first storm of its kind to form in a hurricane season that doesn't begin officially until June 1, forecasters say.
Wall St titan insider trading trial begins
Australia/NZ
THE Australian dollar could fall below US90¢ if Greece pulls out of the eurozone, the chief currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank has warned, as leaders from the G8 group of nations worked over the weekend to combat the region's financial turmoil.
Lucky country's fortunes seen on the wane
The head of Australia's biggest company says the lucky country is becoming an uncompetitive place to do business.
Christchurch rattled by clutch of quakes
Media/internet
Robert Reich to New College Graduates: ‘You’re F*cked’
So much of what was once considered “knowledge work” – the kind that college graduates specialize in – can now be done more cheaply by software. Or by workers with college degrees in India or East Asia, linked up by Internet.
Jenna Orkin - Morning Edition
Headlines
The Greek Government Will Run Out Of Cash In A Few Weeks, And Is Drawing Up Emergency Measures
First Time Ever - Majority of Unemployed Have Some College Education
Ron Paul Nabs Endorsement After Cutting Back Campaign
Economy
Casualty! The eurozone sickness spreads
Obama Says Euro Zone Crisis Threatens Global Economy
Ireland May Need Second Bailout
Europe Thinks the Unthinkable on Greece
INTRODUCING THE 'GEURO': A Radical New Currency Idea To Solve All Of Greece's Problems
Brits in stampede to snap up euros as pound soars
Crumbling BRICs... And Why The Developed World Is Not "Taking Off" Either
The Ph.D. Now Comes With Food Stamps
What Jamie Dimon Really Said: The CIA's Take
Congressional Threat to Every Investor, Business Owner and Citizen
All Roads In Europe Lead To Gold
Energy/Resources
Marijuana grows openly in Calif. towns
Iran Says Its First Caspian Oil Find in 104 Years Holds 10 Billion Barrels
That'll keep global consumption going another 3-4 months. - JO
Military/Intelligence
Will Rogue Fundamentalist Christian Military Leaders Start a Nuclear War in the Middle East?
DHS Considers Collecting DNA From Kids
Syrian Rebels Get Influx of Arms with Gulf Neighbors’ Money, U.S. Coordination
Civil Unrest
Nato protesters held on $1.5m bond
Terrorism charge for three Nato protesters
Quebec rolls back protest rights
Putin Gives Massive Promotion To Man Who Threatened Protesters
