Libyan rebels just seized up to $100bn cash & gold

"Fighters loyal to a renegade general in Libya just seized a Central Bank facility in the coastal city of Benghazi that houses a reported $100 billion in cash and gold.

Libya’s ongoing civil war has split the country between an Islamist-supported central government based in Tripoli and a rival nationalist administration held together by the renegade general Khalifa Hifter and based in the eastern city of Tobruk."

Iran Joins Growing List of Countries to Ditch Dollar in Foreign Trade

"Deputy governor at Iranian Central Bank stated that Iran no longer uses the US dollar in foreign trade transactions, replacing it with other currencies.

In trade exchanges with the foreign countries, Iran uses other currencies, including Chinese yuan, euro, Turkish lira, Russian ruble and South Korean won,” Gholamali Kamyab told the news agency

In early 2014, Justin Yifu Lin, the former World Bank Chief Economist, blamed the dominance of the US dollar for global economic crises and said it should be eliminated as the world’s reserve currency."

Man Who Predicted Collapse Of Euro Against Swiss Franc Makes Second Terrifying Prediction

"Central banks still believe that by printing money they can kick-start their economies and save the financial system.  That’s not the case.  There is no chance whatsoever to change the outcome of an indebted and bankrupt European economy…."

This is what all central banks have done — they’ve trapped themselves in a corner.  They have zero or negative interest rates, they are printing more money, and they are buying more assets that they can’t sell and that are worth a lot less than they are paying for them.  So every single central bank in the world is bankrupt because they will never, ever get the price for their assets that they paid for them.  This is why the financial system will not survive... and a total global collapse is now in front of us.”"

Davos Celebrates As ECB Unleashes Trillion Euro Quantitative Easing Program

"The equation is simple: the Central Bank will be printing loads of money, and speculators and bankers will profit hugely, but it will mean more intense austerity measures for the feudal peasants.

Got it?

This latest move, however, could be the death knell of the Eurozone experiment, as individual nations appear to be ‘hedging’ their debt positions now, a stark departure from past behavior based on collectivization."

Legendary Richard Russell Predicts Within A Year All Physical Gold Will Be Swept Off The Market

"Currently stocks are trading in an environment of massive liquidity and bonds are operating alongside manufactured zero rates. Currently investors are driving themselves crazy looking for a safe place to make money. Some are buying treasury bonds on the thesis that interest rates will continue to head down and that bond prices will rise. Other investors are buying the US dollar on the thesis that the US is the only bullish economy in the world. Europe is near recession. Japan is seeing deflation again and Russia is a basket case. The US remains the only light at the end of the tunnel.

In this time of massive liquidity, I see the world’s stock markets as comparable to a powder keg. The wick is lit and no one knows when the whole pile will ignite."

Gold Spike In Major Currencies A Remarkable Start To 2015

"The new year has ushered in a remarkable and unexpected turn of events for gold.  It is up significantly in four of the seven top currencies (the euro, British pound, Australian and Canadian dollars), up respectably in two others (U.S. dollar and Japanese yen) and down slightly in the last (Swiss franc).

Gold was performing similarly in the Swiss franc until the Swiss National Bank pulled the rug on its peg – a maneuver that resurrected the safe haven status of the currency.  Though some lament the sudden policy change as damaging to the domestic economy, Switzerland’s principle business remains banking and a solid currency lends itself to a growing deposit base.  In the end a strong currency is likely to support the Swiss economy over the long haul, particularly as the European Union attempts to print its way out of the sovereign debt problem and underlying banking crisis."

The Whole World Is Staring Down The Barrel Of A Gun As Global Collapse Looms

"So we have a situation where the United States, the EU, and Japan have the whole world staring down the barrel of a gun.  They are forcing inflation on the entire world.  You have to ask yourself:  Why do the United States, Japan, and the EU have a right to do this and who benefits?  Well, the answer is that the elite benefit from this policy.  This a way of further enriching a tiny amount of people at the expense of everybody else in the world.  This is all about enriching the elite.  That’s all this is about, and the rest of the population in the world is paying for it.”"

Billionaire tells Americans to live more modestly

"After flying to Davos in a private jet with his wife, kids and two nannies, billionaire Jeff Greene, who amassed a fortune betting against subprime mortgage securities, is lecturing the rest of us to live more modestly.

“America’s lifestyle expectations are far too high and need to be adjusted so we have less things and a smaller, better existence,”... “We need to reinvent our whole system of life.”

That’s rich from the man who owns one of the most expensive residential listings in the country, a $195 million, 53,000-square-foot Beverly Hills mansion, Palazzo di Amore, with 23 bathrooms, a bowling alley and a disco with a 10,000-crystal chandelier."

WOULD NEVER LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

UN: Dozens of children homeless after Israel illegally demolished Palestinian houses

"The United Nations has condemned Israel for illegally demolishing houses of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, leaving 77 people, over half of whom are children, homeless in three days.

“Demolitions that result in forced evictions and displacement run counter to Israel’s obligations under international law and create unnecessary suffering and tension,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in statement Friday.

“Some of the demolished structures were provided by the international community to support vulnerable families,” said James Rawley, who is also UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, urging Israel that the demolitions “must stop immediately”."

Oil Climbs as Saudi King’s Death Spurs Policy Speculation

"Oil rose after the death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, the biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Futures rallied as much as 3.1 percent in New York and 2.6 percent in London after the Saudi royal court announced the death in a statement. Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz will succeed Abdullah on the throne. The kingdom, the world’s largest crude exporter, led OPEC’s decision to maintain its oil-production quota at a meeting in November, exacerbating a global glut that’s driven prices lower."

King Abdullah passes away, new ruler is Salman

"Saudi King Abdullah passed away, the Royal Court announced in a statement read on official Saudi TV early Friday. Prince Salman was named the new King of Saudi Arabia and Prince Muqrin as Crown Prince."

Yemen government resigns as prime minister warns of ‘abyss … with no law’

"Yemeni officials say the president has resigned under pressure from Shia rebels who seized the capital in September and have confined the embattled leader to his home for the past two days.

Presidential officials said Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi resigned after being pressured to make concessions to the rebels, known as Houthis."

Gold above $1,300 for first time in 5 months

"The spot price has jumped by 1.5 percent to $1,303.63 for an ounce on Wednesday early trading. February futures rose by 1.2 percent to $1,292.50 an ounce on the New York Comex.

Last week the price rose by 4.7 percent for the first time since 2013. Gold has added 10 percent to its value since the beginning of the year.

Earlier this week the IMF and EBRD cut its forecast for world economic growth due to geopolitical tensions and falling oil prices."

Switzerland stuns markets by giving up on currency peg

"Bowing to the inevitable, Switzerland has ditched an increasingly expensive policy to limit the export-sapping rise of the Swiss franc — a decision that propelled the currency a whopping 30 percent higher against the euro within minutes.

That expectation has seen the euro face intense selling pressure in currency markets, particularly against the dollar. The euro has fallen to nine-year lows against the dollar and below its launch rate in 1999."

Like Christmas: Rush to cash in on soaring Swiss franc

"Minutes after a shock announcement from the Swiss central bank that it was abandoning the minimum rate of 1.20 francs against the euro, the safe haven Swiss currency strengthened almost 30 percent to 0.8517 against the common European currency before easing back to 1.0421.

Many Swiss residents were also rubbing their hands over their booming currency, envisioning vacations abroad and perhaps buying up cheaper real estate on the other side of the border."

Global Shockwaves To Come From Swiss Currency Bombshell - Mike Maloney (video)

(video)

Swiss, French call to bring home gold reserves as Dutch move 122 tons out of US

"The financial crisis in Europe is prompting some nations to repatriate their gold reserves to national vaults. The Netherlands has moved $5 billion worth of gold from New York, and some are calling for similar action from France, Switzerland, and Germany.

An unmatched pace of money printing by major central banks has boosted concerns in European countries over the safety of their gold reserves abroad."

China, Switzerland sign deal on yuan trading in Zurich

"The central banks of China and Switzerland have signed a pact to establish a yuan trading center in Zurich. The deal is expected to increase the number of European transactions in yuan.

This step comes under the framework of the QFII (Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor) program that allows foreign investment in Chinese securities using foreign currencies. Similar centers already exist in Hong Kong and London."

Bill Gates Pushes Cashless Society

"Scheme would allow government to confiscate money at will.

Bill Gates is now promoting “digital currency” in third-world countries, which will make the poor even more dependent on central banks while also turning them into guinea pigs for the development of a “cashless society” in the U.S. and Europe."

Big Pharma 'overcharging' poor countries for child vaccines - report

"Doctors Without Borders has released a new report blasting two top pharmaceutical companies for inflated costs of vital vaccines that have proved too steep for poor nations, recommending they adjust prices in order to save lives.

The international medical aid organization said in the report that the cost of vaccinating children in the world’s poorest countries is now 68 times higher than in 2001. Pneumococcal vaccines currently account for 45 percent of that price jump, the report noted."

Bank of Canada governor's advice for jobless youth: Boost CV with unpaid work

"Bank of Canada governor recommended that jobless university graduates beef up their resumes by working for free."

HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT MAKING MONEY HELPS THE STIMULUS OF THE ECONOMY. HE'S TOTALLY OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY.

The Economist 2015 Cover is Filled With Cryptic Symbols and Dire Predictions


LOTS OF DETAILS IN THE PICTURE. 
DIRE INDEED.

Merchants of Smear (global warming smear)

"Pay no attention to the real-world climate or those guys behind the curtain, we are told. Just worry about climate monsters conjured up by their computer models …. and you should turn a blind eye to the billions of dollars in government, industry and foundation money paid annually to researchers and modelers who subscribe to manmade climate disruption claims.

None of these recipients wants to derail this money train, by entertaining doubts about the “climate crisis.” Al Gore won’t debate anyone or even address audience questions he hasn’t preapproved.

One of the main strategies – and greatest smears – of the manmade climate cataclysm movement is that Big Oil interests paid skeptical researchers to change their science to fit industry views. Therefore, the smear continues, any scientists who contest the alleged “settled science” about global warming are tainted."

Ex-Italian PM Berlusconi proposes new currency to tackle economic crisis

"Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has offered to create a new currency in the country to be used along with the euro, claiming that Italy needs to restore its monetary sovereignty to overcome the ongoing economic crisis.

Berlusconi opposes the current policy of expanding taxes, stating that it can only worsen the economic situation. He said his supporters are “ready to vote for the reforms.”"

A soft or crash landing for Canada?

"2015 is shaping up to be the year the national housing bubble pops and Canada loses its international bragging rights to financial sobriety. But instead of learning lessons from the U.S. and other countries exposed to the brunt of the crisis, Canada patted itself on the back and reassured itself that it couldn’t happen here."

US Dollar Replacement! Finance And Liberty With James Corbett (2 videos)

"James Corbett of the Corbett Report joins Finance and Liberty in the two part series shown below, where multiple issues are addressed as Corbett explains what we are seeing on the world stage with China, oil, the global economy, and what is coming in the near future, specifically how the global economy is about to be transformed.  In the first video below, Corbet delves into how the US and China are working towards a "global governance," and in the second part the US Dollar decline and replacement is explained in a clear and concise manner."

Three “Rosetta Moments” for the Global Economy in 2015

"1. Global outlook, risks, and policy actions – injecting new momentum
  2. Structural reforms, infrastructure, and trade – generating more inclusive growth
  3. Financial regulation, international development, and climate change – engendering more sustainable growth"

LOTS TO READ IN THIS ARTICLE

Green Energy Bust in Germany

"Renewable electricity is proving so unreliable and chaotic that it is starting to undermine the stability of the European grid and provoke international incidents. The spiraling cost of the renewables surge has sparked a backlash, including government proposals to slash subsidies and deployment rates. "

China and Russia to launch new credit rating agency in 2015

"​The new Universal Credit Rating Group (UCRG) is being set up to rival the existing agencies Moody's, S&P and Fitch, and its first rating will be issued this year.

The new agency will be based in Hong Kong, and provide a check on the ‘Big Three’, which some analysts say don’t provide an accurate reading of economic situations.

Many securities and bonds in the US that had triple-A ratings in 2008 and were considered ‘safe’, turned out to be a bubble, revealed by the subprime mortgage crisis."

Russia, China mock divide and rule

"ROME and BEIJING - The Roman Empire did it. The British Empire copied it in style. The Empire of Chaos has always done it. They all do it. Divide et impera. Divide and rule - or divide and conquer. It's nasty, brutish and effective. Not forever though, like diamonds, because empires do crumble.

Russia could always deploy an economic "nuclear" option, declaring a moratorium on its foreign debt. Then, if Western banks seized Russian assets, Moscow could seize every Western investment in Russia. In any event, the Pentagon and NATO's aim of a shooting war in the European theater would not happen; unless Washington was foolish enough to start it."

GLOBAL ECONOMIC MELTDOWN: Venezuela Supermarket Lines Swell As Shoppers Scramble To Buy Basics - National Troops Dispatched To Maintain Order! [PHOTOS]

"Lines are swelling at Venezuelan supermarkets, with some shoppers showing up before dawn in search of products ranging from chicken to laundry detergent, as a holiday slowdown in deliveries sharpened the nation's nagging product shortages."

Aussies buck environmentalists, fight to repeal global warming taxes

"Australia’s new conservative government introduced legislation that would eliminate the carbon tax and cut funding to green energy in a series of aggressive moves to scale back the country’s environmental laws.

“We have said what we mean, and will do what we say. The carbon tax goes,” Prime Minister Abbott told Australian lawmakers. “Repealing the carbon tax should be the first economic reform of this parliament.”"

If You Are A Baby Boomer, You Will Go Bankrupt—If You Stay In America

"... globalization has also meant that the care and services required for older people are much cheaper outside the developed world—and prohibitively expensive in the U.S. and Europe.

Which is a disaster for retirees in America. Because if you are a retiree—or if you are a Baby Boomer who will soon be retiring—then you live on a fixed income: Be it a pension or Social Security checks or an annuity or some combination thereof. So if you live on a fixed income, and the price of health care (or health insurance) is continuously rising, then it is a certainty that you will go bankrupt before you die."

1,700 Private Jets Fly to Davos to Discuss Global Warming

"A squadron of 1,700 private jets are rumbling into Davos, Switzerland, this week to discuss global warming and other issues as the annual World Economic Forum gets underway.

The influx of private jets is so great, the Swiss Armed Forces has been forced to open up a military air base for the first time ever to absorb all the super rich flying their private jets into the event..."

OH THE IRONY. 
THEY DARE TO EXPECT YOU TO PAY THEIR PROPOSED AND RIDICULOUS CARBON TAXES.

Deadly Fukushima radiation up 50,000% as elevated radiation levels seen across North America

"San Diego appears to be one of the hardest-hit areas, with a CPM reading of 650, as of October 1. This figure is 60 times higher than it was last year on the same date, despite the fact that San Diego's normal background radiation rate typically hovers around 20 CPM.

CPM:  Counts Per Minute."
San Diego appears to be one of the hardest-hit areas, with a CPM reading of 650, as of October 1. This figure is 60 times higher than it was last year on the same date, despite the fact that San Diego's normal background radiation rate typically hovers around 20 CPM.


It’s official: America is now No. 2

"Hang on to your hats, America.

And throw away that big, fat styrofoam finger while you’re about it.

It just happened — and almost nobody noticed.

The International Monetary Fund recently released the latest numbers for the world economy. And when you measure national economic output in “real” terms of goods and services, China will this year produce $17.6 trillion — compared with $17.4 trillion for the U.S.A."

Russia Prepares for $40 Oil

"There was skepticism about $70 oil. Now Russia is preparing for something far more difficult to imagine.

The irony is that the devaluation of the ruble creates more rubles for the budget as revenue is dependent on the oil price in dollars, but spending is in nominal ruble terms. This means the government is the biggest winner from a devaluation that simply creates more rubles to spend, albeit less valuable rubles. Although well over half of the Russian budget revenue is derived from oil taxes, it is currently running an unexpectedly large 2% federal budget surplus."

UN Seeks to Criminalize Free Speech, Citing “Human Rights”

"Under the guise of advancing what the United Nations refers to as “human rights,” the dictator-dominated global body is waging a full-blown assault on free-speech rights by pressuring governments to criminalize so-called “hate speech.” Indeed, working alongside radical government-funded activist groups and anti-liberty politicians around the world, the UN and other totalitarian-minded forces have now reached the point where they openly claim that what they call “international law” actually requires governments to ban speech and organizations they disapprove of. Critics, though, are fighting back in an effort to protect freedom of speech — among the most fundamental of all real rights."

Russia’s biggest bank launches financing in Chinese yuan

"Sberbank, Russia’s largest lender, will be the first bank in the country to start issuing credit guarantees denominated in Chinese yuan. The new yuan-based letters of credit ensure payments between buyers and sellers, with the bank acting as a router.

This will make payments for import contracts settled in yuan more seamless, the bank said..."

With Its Gold "Vaporized", A Furious Ukraine Turns On Its Central Bankers

"That, and of course, there is also that as a result of central bank "transactions" the Ukraine central bank is now essentially gold-free... has just 1% of total reserves in the form of the yellow metal."

'Green' tax to go to … corporations?

"Plan leaves companies profiting off of cities' plastics bans.

There have been many arguments from environmental pressure groups about the limited biodegradability of plastic and the trash in landfills.

... a new proposal that would ban plastic and levy a 10-cent usage fee on all paper bags will cost consumers more and benefit only large corporations."

Gold and Central Banks – A Love-Hate Relationship

"If gold is a relic of the past then why are central banks holding so much gold? Central banks hold, if we believe official statistics, around 20% of the global gold stock. Before the gold suppressing efforts began, they were holding 70%. Since the financial crisis of 2008, they have started to buy gold again. However, if we look at a chart of gold acquisitions by developing countries, they have started buying gold just after the Asian currency crisis in 1987. It seems that all the gold sold by developed countries was bought discretely by developing countries."

Could Russia back its currency with gold?

"Russian President Vladimir Putin could bring the country onto some sort of "gold standard" to try to shore up its economy.

There is no doubt that Russia and China, plus the other Eurasian states in their sphere of influence are all accumulating gold and the indications are they see it as central to replacing the U.S. dollar for cross border trade."

Fears of man-made global warming exaggerated

"... fears of climate change amount to propaganda and unnecessarily cause panic.

The Cretaceous period 65 million years ago was the hottest in the history of the earth. Man was not around at the time..."