Happy New Year! I have a BIG list of links for you today.
This is the first post of 2014. I wish you a safe and satisfying new year.
Technology
Edward Snowden, Whistle-Blower – NYTimes.com
This editorial from the NYTimes editorial board is significant as the paper calls Edward Snowden a Whistleblower, giving official and mainstream media support for that moniker
The NSA Uses Powerful Toolbox in Effort to Spy on Global Networks – SPIEGEL ONLINE
Apple Denies Working With NSA On iPhone Backdoor – Arik Hesseldahl – News – AllThingsD
French Contractors Jump Into Market for Secure Communications. – WSJ.com
Alleged Snapchat hackers explain how and why they leaked data on 4.6 million accounts | The Verge
Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher launch Re/code news site, Code Conference series | The Verge
Windows 8.x Busts Past 10% Market Share As Windows 7 Rises, XP Falls | TechCrunch
You won’t believe what viral content does to news – FT.com
4.6 Million Snapchat User Names and Phone Numbers Leaked (Check Yours)
Spotify streaming surge boosts record labels – Telegraph
Apple says never worked with NSA on iPhone hacks | Reuters
Asia
“Stop Talking About Yasukuni; The Real Problem Is Yūshūkan” – James Fallows – The Atlantic
The coming of Abegeddon | South China Morning Post
John Quiggin – Austerity in Australia, 1980s style
China gives local governments go-ahead to roll over debt – FT.com
Local Government Debt Audit Sheds Light on What’s Ailing China – Real Time Economics – WSJ
China final HSBC factory PMI dips to three-month low in December | Reuters
China house prices show signs of stabilizing: surveys | Reuters
Singapore GDP Contracted Last Quarter as Output Eased: Economy – Bloomberg
Asia Themes 2014: North-South Divide Widening – Real Time Economics – WSJ
Markets
Bond Funds Post Record $80 Billion in Redemptions in 2013 – Bloomberg
The big story of 2013 that hasn’t found it’s way into many headlines is that bonds were slaughtered. We had the worst year since 1994 for Treauries. But no one has focused on this even though we could see yields climb higher.
CWS Market Review – January 1, 2014 | Crossing Wall Street
“ Last year was a great year for Wall Street and for our Buy List. I’m pleased to report that our Buy List beat the market for the seventh year in a row. Thanks to everyone for your support. Our strategy of focusing on high-quality stocks and low prices continues to pay off.“
Berkshire Seen Failing Buffett 5-Year Test for First Time – Bloomberg
Tepper, Tudor and Paulson Were Among 2013’s Big Winners – WSJ.com
Catalyst For A Market Crash? – Business Insider
Yields on Puerto Rico Bonds Hit High – WSJ.com
Commodities Set for First Drop in 5 Years as Corn to Gold Tumble
More Irish firms to accept virtual currency Bitcoin instead of euro – Independent.ie
Why don’t economists like Bitcoin? | The Verge
Bitcoin Is a High-Tech Dinosaur Soon to Be Extinct – Bloomberg
Links do not equal endorsements. Since this headline is so strong I need to remind you! :) MUST READ though
Europe
Euro zone factories end 2013 on a high, but France a worry: PMIs | Reuters
German firms transplant European apprentice model to US | World news | Guardian Weekly
Greece assumes EU presidency as anger towards Brussels grows | World news | theguardian.com
ekathimerini.com | Greece: Numbers improve, problems worsen in 2014
ekathimerini.com | Suspect testifies in German arms bribery case
British manufacturing growth eases slightly in December – Telegraph
RBS leaves taxpayers £14.5bn out of pocket five years on from bailout | Business | The Guardian
November house prices highlight wide regional differences | Money | theguardian.com
Latvia to Become 18th Euro Member Amid Public Resentment – Bloomberg
Latvia reluctantly joins euro after shock therapy, but controversy rages on – Telegraph
Romanians step onto UK soil into glare of political controversy – FT.com
The State of the Euro, In One Graph – NYTimes.com
Echoes of Spanish crisis haunt Italian banking sector | Capital City | IFRe
Turkey facing ‘mini-coup bid’, says deputy PM – Europe – Al Jazeera English
North America
Private mortgage insurance helping the return of jumbo loans | 2013-12-31 | HousingWire
55% of US households with a head aged 55-64 have no pension retirement benefits.
At 77 He Prepares Burgers Earning in Week His Former Hourly Wage – Bloomberg
Home Prices in 20 U.S. Cities Climb by Most in Seven Years – The Washington Post
Calculated Risk: Case-Shiller: Press Release and Graphs
Five Challenges for the Federal Reserve in 2014 – Real Time Economics – WSJ
The Complete List of Everything Banned by Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Toronto condos: 2014 to be the year of The Big Move | Toronto Star
Elsewhere
Dolphins caught chewing on fish to get high | The Verge
Malarkey – Irish Potato Fanmine
I’m siding with Don Bodreaux on this one. Anyone who knows the history, knows that the Irish potato famine was NOT the result of free market forces but of a system of repression and tariffs.