Wheat is the new gold in time of plenty for America’s breadbasket: As fires wreck Russia's harvests and poor countries brace for shortages, it's boom time for Kansas farmers. Global Food Prices Hysteria, Hunger and Riots Forecast: Extreme weather conditions have affected many parts of the globe this year, not just Russia alone. Torrential rains in Brazil and Colombia affected the harvest of cocoa beans. In India, crop acres of rice have declined as a result of massive floods. The reduction of the wheat production is expected in Canada, where floods also caused severe damage to the national agriculture UK: The food prices up 58%: With many facing a freeze on wages, the cost of groceries has rocketed since 2007 Ireland:: Food prices set to soar within weeks: According to a report from the European Commission, prices for the main dairy commodities have increased significantly since June last year. Fresh curfews amid Jamaica unrest: Jamaican authorities have imposed new curfews in the west of the capital, Kingston, after 10 people were killed in gang violence and a shootout with police. Bolivia protesters demand talks with Evo Morales: Attempts to end more than two weeks of strikes and blockades that have disrupted mining and daily life in south-west Bolivia have so far failed. In U.S., Confidence in Newspapers, TV News Remains a Rarity: Americans' confidence in newspapers and television news is on par with Americans' lackluster confidence in banks and slightly better than their dismal rating of Health Management Organizations and big business. Dead Fish Are Washing Up Everywhere . . . Is It Due to BP Oil Spill and Dispersants? Debt costs rise on Irish, Greek fears: INVESTORS ARE braced for renewed turmoil in euro-zone bond markets as fears about the health of Ireland and Greece pushed the borrowing costs of highly indebted nations sharply higher. Another bankrupt bank: Regulators close Illinois bank: Regulators on Friday shut down a bank in Illinois, bringing to 110 the number of U.S. banks failures this year amid mounting loan defaults. Debts Rise, and Go Unpaid, as Bust Erodes Home Equity: The delinquency rate on home equity loans is higher than all other types of consumer loans, including auto loans, boat loans, personal loans and even bank cards like Visa and MasterCard, according to the American Bankers Association. US Cities Face Up to Massive Cuts: US outrage over public service cutbacks across America has found a rallying point in the death of 12-year-old Frank Marasco Income Slips in 45 of Biggest Cities: Total personal income declined last year in 45 of the nation’s 50 biggest markets, according to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Jobless claims jump to 5-month high: - The number of first-time filers for unemployment insurance rose to the highest level since late February last week, according to a weekly government report released Thursday. Unemployment Rate by State: The percent of the labor force that is unemployed - Graph Global Youth Unemployment Hits Record High: The report from the ILO says 81 million out of 630 million 15-24 year olds where unemployed at the end of 2009, some 7.8 million more than at the end of 2007.
Monday, 16 August 2010
By James Petras
While progressives and leftists write about the “crises of capitalism”, manufacturers, petroleum companies, bankers and most other major corporations on both sides of the Atlantic and Pacific coast are chuckling all the way to the bank. Continue
By Paul Harris
Whether it's the poor of Camden or Colorado Springs or Atlanta, or among the growing throngs of the 99ers, millions of Americans are discovering that working hard, doing the right thing and obeying the rules are no longer enough. Continue
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