How Vulnerable Is The Electrical Grid?

 

When the electricity stops in modern civilization, pretty much everything else stops. Not even gasoline-powered vehicles can get far before they are obliged to seek a fill-up—which they cannot get because gas pumps rely on electricity to operate.

When I wrote “The storms are only going to get worse” three weeks ago, I thought the world would have to wait quite a while for a storm more devastating than hurricanes Harvey and Irma. But instead, Hurricane Maria followed right after them and shut down electricity on the entire island of Puerto Rico except for those buildings with on-site generators.

America Is About to Import a Global Debt Crisis

A global debt crisis is coming. The warning signs have been emerging for months.

“This market instability is not going away. It’s been building for six years. It can only end one way – with a ‘Super Crash,'” Money Morning Global Credit Strategist Michael E. Lewitt told readers back on Sept. 8. “It’s not just China that’s creating this next (much worse) sell-off. It’s also the massive, $200 trillion global debt bubble that’s driving the world economy to its knees.”

Economists say Puerto Rico needs right to bankruptcy option

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico’s financial future hung in limbo Tuesday as economists and officials warned that the U.S. territory could head down Greece’s path if it is not allowed to declare bankruptcy as it struggles with $72 billion in public debt.

The island prepared to close a troubled fiscal year amid intense investor scrutiny just hours before the first of several multimillion-dollar debt payments is due. It remained unclear whether the government would meet the roughly $400 million obligation due Wednesday, obtain yet another extension from creditors, or default.

Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla has said that the overall debt is unpayable and that he will seek a moratorium on payments, although it is still unknown whether bondholders will agree to that or opt to resolve the issue in court.

Puerto Rico hurtles toward default

Government could run out of cash in 3 months

A severe liquidity crisis that threatens to shut down Puerto Rico’s government is making life difficult for U.S. municipal bond investors.

The island territory has been labeled “America’s Greece.” Its $73 billion in bonds trading in the U.S. municipal-bond market carry junk ratings and are trading at record-high yields.

Latin American Countries Want to Remove All US Military Bases

Another controversial subject some of the member countries want to take up is asking the US government to close all military bases in Latin America.

“That is something that belongs in the Cold War,” said Colombian former president Ernesto Samper. “This is growing global economy and we have to leave aside all remnants of the past, especially unilateral politics. The bases are no longer relevant and should go.”