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I Am a Death Panelist. I Am Not the Problem. – Economix Blog – NYTimes.com …among health economists there is near universal agreement that about 30 percent of health care spending — more than $700 billion a year — does no good. (tags: health_care)

Public Debt Risk Rising, Turbulent Year Ahead: Moody's Sovereign debt risk is rising globally, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom, which must outline plans to manage public debt or face ratings deterioration as soon as 2011, Moody's global head of sovereign ratings said on Monday. (tags: debt govt_spending) So Why Did Abu Dhabi … Read more

China to pass India as world's top gold market – GFMS | Business News | Reuters China will overtake India as the world's largest gold consumer in 2009, with total demand forecast at 432 tonnes as wealthy investors defy record bullion prices, metals consultancy GFMS said on Friday. (tags: gold China India)

SunPower's Accounting Troubles Shed Light on Falling Solar Prices – Forbes.com SunPower and other solar companies are feeling the heat of sharply dropping prices for solar panels and taking desperate steps to protect profits. (tags: solar SunPower earnings fraud) Jobless claims high and state fund nearly dry  | ajc.com Nearly as many Georgians filed new … Read more

Food Stamps Go to a Record 37.2 Million, USDA Says (Update2) – Bloomberg.com A record 37.2 million people, or about one out of every eight Americans, received food stamps in September, as the recession drove a surging jobless rate, according to a government report. (tags: govt_spending poverty food_stamps) A Low May Be Forming in Gold … Read more

Britain to Levy a One-Time Tax on Banker Bonuses – NYTimes.com The tax represents the most direct attack on bank bonuses anywhere in the world. All banks in Britain — including the London-based subsidiaries of foreign banks — will be affected, whether they took government bailout funds or not. (tags: United_Kingdom banks tax_policy) Australia's Rudd … Read more

China hints sticking to dollar despite worries | Reuters China has maintained a consistent allocation of its foreign exchange reserves across different currencies, a senior official said on Friday, suggesting that any diversification away from the dollar has been gradual. (tags: China currency U.S._dollar) Bullard: Jobless Recoveries Could Change How Fed Acts – WSJ.com Federal … Read more

UK banks owed $5bn by Dubai World – FT.com / Middle East / Finance UK banks have an aggregate exposure to Dubai World of about $5bn, the Financial Times has learnt, confirming them as the biggest creditor group at the crisis-hit emirate holding company. (tags: Dubai debt default banks United_Kingdom) The recurring gold "bubble" A … Read more

The dark side of Dubai – Johann Hari, Commentators – The Independent Once the manic burst of building has stopped and the whirlwind has slowed, the secrets of Dubai are slowly seeping out. This is a city built from nothing in just a few wild decades on credit and ecocide, suppression and slavery. Dubai is … Read more

Dubai business leaders, media say woes overblown | Reuters Dubai media and several business leaders rallied to support the Gulf Arab emirate's efforts to manage its debt crisis, saying problems have been exaggerated and the impact of restructuring overblown. (tags: Dubai debt default bubbles) New crisis ahead? 5 things to watch – Jon Markman …the … Read more