Saudi King And Princes Blackmail The U.S. Government: What Happens Next

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 04/17/2016 - 17:08
“Saudi Arabia appears to be blackmailing the US, saying it would sell off American assets worth a 12-digit figure sum in dollars if Congress passes a bill allowing the Saudi Government to be held responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks.” To say that this threat from the Sauds is just “another sign of the escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United States” seems like saying that a neighbor’s threat to bomb your house would constitute just “another sign of escalating tensions” between you and your neighbor.

Europe: Suicide by Jihad

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 04/17/2016 - 18:20 Europe looks like a dying civilization. European political leaders know that every decision they make may provoke reactions among the Muslims living in Europe. Muslim votes matter. Riots occur easily. In France, Belgium, other European countries, Islamists are present in the army and police forces. In the meantime, Islamist organizations recruit and Islamic lobbies gain ground. European governments are now hostages. The European media are also hostages. Political movements expressing anger and concerns are rising. All are demonized by political power holders and the media. They have almost no chance of gaining more influence. Populations are gnawed by fear, frustration and impotence.

Oil Futures Crash Most In 7 Months, Stocks Tumble

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 04/17/2016 - 18:02 With commodity currencies (AUD and CAD) dumping, Yen strength (risk-on carry unwinds en masse), Saudi stocks tumbling, and hedge fund spec crude longs near record highs, it is no surprise that the opening prints in WTI Crude are ugly after Doha's disappointing climax. Erasing all of last week's hype hope, WTI printed with a $38 handle (June), $37 Handle (May) and is unable to bounce for now. Dow futures -100.

Bundesbank Defies Elites: Warns That "Plans To Abolish, Criminalize Cash Out Of Line With Freedom"

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 04/17/2016 - 17:35 With everyone from ivory tower academics to sin-street hookers proclaiming the need for and benefits of a "war on cash" to save the world from criminals and tax-evaders (oh yeah and to stop NIRP-driven savers from hording cash and crushing central planners' dreams), it is perhaps shocking that Bundesbank board member Carl-Ludwig Thiele warned at an event this week that the attempt to abolish and criminalize cash is out of line with freedom. He said that citizens should continue to decide how and in what form they want to use their money.

Brazil's Lower House Begins Impeachment Vote: Live Webcast

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 04/17/2016 - 16:59 If Brazil's president survives the impeachment vote today, Rousseff plans calling meeting with opposition leaders including PSDB’s Aecio Neves and Fernando Henrique Cardoso, and if she loses, the government will likely focus attacks on Temer to try and stop process in the Senate. For now however it is all about the Congressional vote, whose impeachment session started moments ago and is set to conclude tonight around 10pm . Live feed from Brazil's capital Brasilia below where thousands are already gathering ahead of tonight's session which is expected to continue until around 10pm local time.

No Deal: Doha Talks End Without Agreement

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 04/17/2016 - 16:55 OPEC, NON-OPEC MINISTERS FINISH OIL TALKS IN DOHA, NO AGREEMENT - RTRS
OIL PRODUCERS END DOHA TALKS: OMAN MINISTER - BBG
DOHA OIL TALKS FINISH WITHOUT FREEZE DEAL: NIGERIAN MINISTER - BBG
OIL-PRODUCING NATIONS WILL MEET AGAIN, PROBABLY JUNE: NIGERIA - BBG

"My Work Here Is Done"

Legacy indeed...

The Real Reason Hillary Clinton Refuses To Release Her Wall Street Transcripts

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 04/17/2016 - 16:39 "It was pretty glowing about us... It’s so far from what she sounds like as a candidate now. It was like a rah-rah speech. She sounded more like a Goldman Sachs managing director."

"Projectile Dysfunction" - North Korea's Latest Missile Launch Has Failed

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 04/17/2016 - 16:20 ...it was "a firey, catastrophic attempt at a launch that was unsuccessful."

A Nationwide Minimum Wage Is Even Worse Than State-Imposed Wages

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 04/17/2016 - 15:50 The lesson to be learned here is that, while minimum wage laws are bad, uniform minimum wage laws imposed across dozens of diverse economies are much, much worse. Naturally, imposing minimum wages at the statewide level leads to the same problem, but on a slightly smaller scale. If politicians wanted to increase real wages, they'd instead focus on lowering the cost of living and increasing worker productivity.

Loonie Plunges Most In A Month Ahead Of Crude Open

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 04/17/2016 - 15:31 As markets flutter to life following the Doha disappointment, it is clear some turmoiling is to come. Canadian Dollar is down over 1% against the US Dollar - the biggest drop in 4 weeks - erasing all of last week's gains. Ahead of this evening's crude futures open, CAD implies a sub-$39 open for WTI...

Russian Fighter Jet Flies Within 50 Feet Of US Recon Plane Over Baltic Sea

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 04/17/2016 - 15:12 According to US European Command, during a routine flight by a US EC-135U reconnaissance plane which was flying over international waters (again in the Baltic Sea) a Russian Flanker barrel rolled from the left side of the U.S. RC-135 and went over the top of it to end on the right side of the aircraft. As CNN details, the Russian jet "performed erratic and aggressive maneuvers" as it "flew within 50 feet of the U.S. aircraft's wing tip", D

What Is the Minimum Investment Needed to Achieve Social Mobility?

by Charles Hugh Smith, Of Two Minds:

For those without an inside track, high social/cultural skills are an essential foundation.
Long-time correspondent Bart D. (Australia) posed a profound question: what is the minimum investment (in time, money and effort) needed to ensure one’s children have social mobility, i.e. a cultural/social passport to upper-middle class opportunities?
This chart illustrates why the question matters: those in the top rungs of the social mobility ladder are earning far more than the bottom 90%, and their opportunities to achieve more and earn more are also much higher.
Read More…

Obama and Yellen Are Planning to Implement Debtor Prisons/FEMA Camps

by Dave Hodges, The Common Sense Show:

We are living in a time when nearly every important banker and senior finance minister will/has been meeting in Washington, D.C., this week. The Federal Reserve in is an absolute state of panic.
I have just found out that the Federal Reserve met secretly with Obama at the Pentagon and members of the Joint Chiefs. Vice-President Biden was in attendance as well. This speaks to the gravity of the situation, because the President and the Vice-President almost never attend the same meetings for security reasons. Also, it is highly unusual for the President to ever meet with the Federal Reserve. The Federal tells the President what to do. So, one has to ask themselves, what does the Federal Reserve need, from the President, that they cannot supply for themselves? Answer: They need the use of the President’s military assets.
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5 Major Earthquakes In 48 Hours As A Seismologist Warns ‘Catastrophic Mega Earthquakes’ Are Coming

by Michael Snyder, End of the American Dream:

Why is the crust of the Earth shaking so violently all of a sudden?  Over the past 48 hours, there have been five major earthquakes globally, and one prominent seismologist has declared that “catastrophic mega earthquakes” could be on the way.  In fact, seismologist Roger Bilham of the University of Colorado has made headlines all over the world by warning that “current conditions might trigger at least four earthquakes greater than 8.0 in magnitude”.  If his projections are accurate, our planet could be on the precipice of a wave of natural disasters unlike anything that any of us have ever experienced before.
Since the beginning of 2016, south Asia has been hit by an unusually high number of large earthquakes, and this has scientists groping for an explanation.  The following comes from the Express…
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