United Kingdom

Deflation Threatens to Swallow the World

Many high-powered people and institutions say that deflation is threatening much of the world’s economy …

China may export deflation to the rest of the world.

Japan is mired in deflation.

Economists are afraid that deflation will hit Hong Kong.

The Telegraph reported last week:

RBS has advised clients to brace for a “cataclysmic year” and a global deflationary crisis, warning that major stock markets could fall by a fifth and oil may plummet to $16 a barrel.

“Putin Did It” Concludes Secret Evidence in UK Inquiry

On the basis of secret evidence, a UK inquiry under orders from Washington decided that the death ten years ago of a low level spy was “probably” ordered by President Putin of Russia. There is no motive whatsoever for Putin to have been concerned with the dead spy, Litvinenko. He was of no consequence or threat to Russia.

Probably, Litvinenko’s death was due to the fact that he was engaged in the smuggling of nuclear materials and accidently poisoned himself.

• Stocks, oil soar as Draghi the dove tames global bears (Reuters)
• Massive snowstorm poised to wallop U.S. East Coast (Reuters)
• Oil Rises in Biggest Rally Since August Amid Volatility Surge (BBG)
• Nikkei spikes more than 900 points after rebounds overseas (Japan Times)
• China's Working-Age Population Sees Biggest-Ever Decline  (WSJ)
• Oil Is `Trade of the Year' for Citigroup After Iran Export Surge (BBG)
• U.S. Payment of $1.7 Billion to Iran Raises Questions of Ransom (WSJ)

• Global Stocks Face Fresh Losses (WSJ)
• European stocks lick wounds after mauling, oil steady (Reuters)
• Hang Seng Index Sinks Below Net Assets for First Time Since 1998 (BBG)
• U.S. Hedge Funds Boast Lower Losses as Markets Tumble Further (NYT)
• Deutsche Bank Drops as Investment Bank Revenue Concerns Mount (BBG)
• Islamic State Uses Syria’s Biggest Dam as Refuge and Potential Weapon (WSJ)
• Goldman-run funds most popular with Republican candidates, disclosures show (Reuters)

Submitted by Danielle Ryan, op-ed via RT.com,

News broke last Saturday evening that the United States is to conduct a “major investigation” into how the Kremlin is “infiltrating political parties in Europe” amid “mounting concerns” of a new Cold War.

The exclusive, which was published by the UK’s Telegraph newspaper, revealed that James Clapper, the US Director of National Intelligence has been instructed by Congress to begin the major review into Russia’s “clandestine” funding of EU parties over the last decade.