CITI'S MATT KING PRESENTS: 'The Most Depressing Slide I've Ever Created' .

CITI'S MATT KING PRESENTS: 'The Most Depressing Slide I've Ever Created'.(BI).Citi's Global Head of Credit Strategy, Matt King, has a knack for putting together useful illustrations.
Here, he examines one of the implications of one of the most powerful forces in all of economics: demographics.
King explained his charts to us like this:
It's what I like to call "the most depressing slide I've ever created." In almost every country you look at, the peak in real estate prices has coincided – give or take literally a couple of years – with the peak in the inverse dependency ratio (the proportion of population of working age relative to old and young). In the past, we all levered up, bought a big house, enjoyed capital gains tax-free, lived in the thing, and then, when the kids grew up and left home, we sold it to someone in our children's generation. Unfortunately, that doesn't work so well when there start to be more pensioners than workers. Read the full story here.

Related: Feud at The Fed: "Horrific Consequences" for Unlimited Easing.

MFS - The Other News

                      Morning Posting.

• Live broadcast info from Japan directly ! Here.

• Libya Live Blog - March 20. Here.

• Updated !Earthquakes in the last 24 hours in the world ,lots of seismic activity globally today! More info here.

• Updated : The wind directions over Japan. Here.

• Latest official Situation Update No. 48.On 20.03.2011 at 11:07 GMT+2

The Citizens' Nuclear Information Center (CNIC) urged the Japanese government to evacuate as quickly as possible the people currently staying within the 20-30 km zone from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plants, who have been instructed to stay indoors until further notice. These people should be far away from the nuclear plant that poses an increasing danger as large amounts of radioactive material might be released from Nuclear Unit No. 3, which is loaded with fuel containing plutonium, the CNIC said in a statement today. CNIC noted it has been urging the Japanese government to prioritize evacuation of pregnant women, infants and children. “We once again strongly urge the government to take these actions.” It is also necessary to evacuate people from areas outside the 30 km zone that have been contaminated with significant amounts of radioactive materials “and we demand that the government proceed to a rapid evacuation.” The center added that a short-term stay in these areas for the purpose of rescue operations will not entail major risk. Meanwhile, progress to contain the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant experienced ups and downs Sunday as operations to cool down the boiling spent fuel pools by throwing water proceeded smoothly, while authorities at one point found the need to tackle the rising pressure in the No. 3 reactor's containment vessel. Separately, the Ministry of Science and Technology said Sunday that a trace of radioactive substances such as iodine was detected in dust or rain drops in Tokyo and five other eastern Japan prefectures--Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba and Yamanashi--in 24-hour surveys through Sunday morning. But the ministry said there is no threat to human health.

Situation Update No. 47. On 20.03.2011 at 04:23 GMT+2

Japaense health officials said Saturday that radiation levels in spinach and milk from farms near the tsunami-scarred Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant exceed government safety limits. The Science and Technology Ministry said also that miniscule amounts of radioactive iodine have been detected in the tap water in Tokyo and the prefectures neighboring Fukushima in the first sign that contamination from the stricken nuclear complex had seeped into the food chain. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano, meanwhile, insisted the contaminated foods "pose no immediate health risk." After the announcements, Japanese officials immediately tried to calm an already-jittery public, saying the amounts detected were so small that people would have to consume unimaginable amounts to endanger their health. Edano said someone drinking the tainted milk for one year would consume as much radiation as in a CT scan; for the spinach, it would be one-fifth of a CT scan. A CT scan is a compressed series of X-rays used for medical tests.

Situation Update No. 46. On 19.03.2011 at 11:09 GMT+2

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said on Saturday that radiation levels have exceeded allowable limits in spinach and milk following radioactive leaks at the troubled Fukushima nuclear plant. The top government spokesman said that the tainted milk and spinach was found in Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectures respectively. It was the first case of food being contaminated by radiation since the March 11 quake caused radioactive leaks at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. On average, the dose of radiation one absorbs after a year's consumption of the contaminated milk is equivalent of taking one CT (computed tomography) scan in hospital, he said. While the radiation level in the case of spinach is just one fifth of the dose, Edano added. Edano did not give more detailed information but urged the public to remain calm. Source .

• Gaddafi: We're not afraid; this will be a long war.In TV broadcast, Libyan leader warns of prolonged battle, says 'Libyan people will destroy all British, American traitors and entire Christian pact'.Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said on Sunday airstrikes on Libya by Western countries amounted to terrorism and said he would defeat his enemies. In an address broadcast on state television, he said his country was preparing for a long war and that all Libyans were carrying weapons to defend the country."We will not leave our land and we will liberate it," he said. The television broadcast carried Gaddafi's voice, without showing any images of him."Who are you, Barbarians? We will defeat you. We will not die – you will die," he said."We are not afraid. Libya will rise against you and spread weapons to all the Libyan people and they will destroy all the British and American traitors and this entire Christian pact. Whoever cooperates with you will die," Gaddafi stated.The Libyan leader noted that he has opened up the arms depots to Libyans, and said everyone is armed with "automatic weapons, mortars, bombs." European and US forces unleashed warplanes and cruise missiles against Gaddafi's troops in the biggest Western military intervention in the Arab world since the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Libyan state television said 48 people had been killed and 150 wounded in the Western air strikes. It also said there had been a fresh wave of strikes on Tripoli early on Sunday.There was no way to independently verify the claims.CBS News on its website said on Sunday that three US B-2 stealth bombers had dropped 40 bombs on a "major Libyan airfield" that was not further identified. A Pentagon spokesman said he had no information about such an attack. French planes fired the first shots on Saturday in a campaign to force Gaddafi's troops to cease fire and end attacks on civilians. The warplanes destroyed tanks and armored vehicles near the rebels' eastern stronghold, Benghazi.US and British warships and submarines launched 110 Tomahawk missiles overnight against air defenses around the capital Tripoli and the western city of Misrata, which has been besieged by Gaddafi's forces, US military officials said. They said US forces and planes were working with Britain, France, Canada and Italy in operation "Odyssey Dawn". Denmark said it had four fighter planes ready to join in on Sunday and was awaiting US instructions.Read the full story here.

• Iran warns Libyans of West's 'colonial' intentions.Foreign Ministry spokesman says Western countries 'enter with seductive slogans, but follow their own interests.' Turkey's Erdogan urges Gaddafi to give up power. Iran warned Libyans on Sunday not to trust Western powers launching air strikes against Muammar Gaddafi's troops, saying their aim was to gain neo-colonial control over the oil-rich nation.Tehran has voiced support for the uprising against the Libyan leader, part of what it considers an "Islamic awakening" in the Arab world.But as a long-time foe of the United States which in recent years has invaded and stationed troops in two of its neighbors, Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran expressed deep suspicion over Western military intervention in Libya."The records and the actions of the dominant countries in occupying oppressed countries means their intentions in such moves are always in doubt," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted as saying by students' news agency ISNA.Erdogan repeated that he had called Gaddafi several times this month and suggested he appoint a president with popular backing as a way to end the crisis.NATO-member Turkey said late on Saturday it would make the necessary and appropriate national contribution to implementing the UN-authorized no-fly zone over Libya and measures to protect civilians. "I wish to see an end to the bloodshed and to see the will of the Libyan people dominant," Erdogan said. Hmmmmm.....Wow such a 'swift' action from NATO member Turkey.Read the full story here.

• Iran dispatches warships to Gulf of Aden.Iran is dispatching a squadron of warships to the Gulf of Aden to protect its merchantmen against pirate attacks.Commander of Iran's First Naval Zone Fariborz Qaderpanah said: "The 13th fleet of warships, comprised of Tonb and Delvar vessels is tasked with boosting security for Iranian merchant containers and oil tankers in the Gulf of Aden and north of the Indian Ocean for a period of 60 days."Qaderpanah said that over last two years, the Iranian fleet has successfully "managed to display its powerful presence in turmoil-stricken Gulf of Aden, and foil any attempt to impair transportation routes along the country's sea border," the Fars news agency reported Friday.Under the terms of several U.N. Security Council resolutions, nations can deploy warships to the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters of Somalia to protect their merchantmen against the pirates and, after giving notice to Somali government, enter Somali territorial in "hot pursuit" of pirates.Iran has begun further deployments of its naval forces abroad, last month sending two warships through the Suez Canal to Latakia, Syria.The commander of the Iranian navy, Commodore Habibollah Sayyari said: "This was a great honor for the Islamic Republic of Iran to be able to fly the proud Iranian banner in the waters of the Mediterranean."The Suez Canal is under the control of Egypt, and only those countries that are not hostile to that country can pass through that canal."Israel expressed its concern over the transit. In a veiled reference to Israel, Sayyari added, "The enemies were truly agitated as the result of this visit and by putting pressure on Egypt and Syria they were trying to prevent it from going ahead. However, with God's grace, the enemy realized that it had no place in the world and in the regional countries and those operations proved to be the greatest defeat for them."The two Iranian warships will operate in the same waters as Combined Task Force 150, a naval alliance dominated by the United States and based in Djibouti, which is also conducting anti-piracy patrols.Read the full story here.

• HT:ThExaminer.Potential new deep water oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico-100 mile sheen reported.The U.S. Coast Guard is currently investigating reports of a potentially massive oil sheen about 20 miles away from the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion last April.According to Paul Barnard, operations controller for the USCG in Louisiana, a helicopter crew has been dispatched to the site of the Matterhorn SeaStar oil rig, owned by W&T Offshore, Inc.Multiple reports have come in of a sheen nearly 100 miles long and 12 miles wide originating near the site.Independent pilots, including John Wathen of the Waterkeeper Alliance, and Bonnie Schumaker with Wings of Care, are currently flying out to investigate the spill. Schumaker reports having seen the sheen on Friday, March 18, and confirms that it is rapidly expanding.A Louisiana fisherman, who has chosen to remain anonymous at this time, also reports fresh oil coming ashore near South Pass, LA, and that cleanup crews are laying new boom near the beach.Hmmmm.......Just now that Obama is giving brasil new deep water drilling permits?Read the full story here.

• HT:BigGovernment.Obama: US to Be Major Purchaser of Brazilian Oil.Prices for Brent crude hit more than $117 last week as the civil war in Libya continued and are likely to rise further after the start of UN-backed action against Col Gaddafi’s forces.Traders are also concerned about protests and tensions in a number of other oil-producing nations in the region.Mr Obama spoke of the US’s desire to secure more of its oil from Brazil in future after talks with his counterpart, President Dilma Rousseff, in Brasilia at the start of a two-day visit to Latin America’s biggest country. “I have told her that the United States wants to be a major customer, which can be a win-win for both our countries,” he said.Brazil possesses some of the world’s biggest offshore oil reserves in the pre-salt area off its south-east coast. Ms Rousseff has stated her desire to export the vast majority of oil from the fields as the country concentrates on using renewable sources of energy such as hydroelectric power and ethanol for domestic needs.Speaking in a newspaper interview just before Mr Obama’s arrival, she made what seemed a clear sales pitch, asking “which other country in the world has the oil reserves that Brazil has, that is not at war, that does not have an ethnic conflict, which respects contracts, has clear democratic principles and vision, is generous and in favour of peace?”Mike Froman, a senior White House adviser on international economic affairs, also spoke of a “natural potential strategic partnership”with Brazil.Much of the money raised from deals to sell oil to the US and other countries could go towards infrastructure improvements as the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro approach. Mr Obama’s visit to Brasilia also saw the US sign an agreement to help Brazil in its preparations for the sporting events, which could see America training security teams and helping with planning and infrastructure challenges. Many key works, especially at Brazil’s creaking airports, are currently well behind schedule and US companies with experience of preparing for major events will hope the deal may also help them cash in.Hmmmm.....Seems i made a 'Bullseye' yesterday when i said thew Brazilian offshore drilling was Obama's reason for visiting,create some more Brazilian jobs.Read the full story here.

• Obama’s Interior Department Gives Final Approval to Brazilian Oil Company’s Gulf of Mexico Deep Water Floating Facility.The U.S. Interior Department said on Thursday it gave final approval for Petrobras to use the first ever deepwater floating production storage facility in the Gulf of Mexico.The facility will be used when the company begins oil and natural gas production at its Chinook-Cascade project in the near future, the department said. Petrobras is based in Brazil.A Petrobras official who asked not to be identified told Reuters that production would begin in May.The floating facility has a daily production capacity of 80,000 barrels of oil and 16 million cubic feet of gas. It can be disconnected and moved out of the path of a storm, unlike permanently moored production platforms, preventing long-term supply disruptions because of storms.“These regulatory approvals pave the way for safe, new production of oil and gas resources in the Gulf of Mexico,” said Michael Bromwich, who heads the department’s agency that oversees offshore drilling.Hmmmm.....So let me get this straight American companies don't get drilling permits but Brazilians do?Read the full story here.

• Obama: The ‘Pay More at the Pump’ President.American Solutions is re-launching Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less for one big reason: President Obama’s continuing war on American energy is dramatically increasing the price of gas and diesel.To be fair, President Obama is in favor of drilling…but just not in the United States.His numerous bans, restrictions, and proposed taxes are hamstringing America’s ability to produce more oil and gas and are thereby increasing gas and diesel prices. In fact, even the federal government projects that domestic oil production will drop by 220,000 barrels per day in 2011 due to the President’s anti-drilling agenda. Production in 2012 will drop even more.If we produce less oil, we will produce less gasoline, which means higher prices at the pump.To avoid the justified political blame that comes with rising gas prices while having no coherent policy to develop more American energy and lower prices, President Obama and his allies in the Congress are now scrambling to show that they’re trying to lower gasoline prices.But instead of arguing for more American energy to lower prices, they’re arguing for more taxes on oil and gas companies, which will only raise gas prices even more as new energy taxes will simply be passed on to the consumer in the form of higher gas prices.So here’s President Obama’s bottom line argument for how to lower gas prices: higher gas prices will lead to lower gas prices.Somewhere George Orwell is smiling.But there is in fact a cruel logic to President Obama’s argument. The more Americans have to spend on gasoline, the poorer they will be and the less they will be able to afford driving. Higher gas prices also means a less robust recovery from the Great Recession.So poorer Americans and economic stagnation will lead to lower overall demand for gas and diesel and put downward pressure on gas prices.That’s President Obama’s strategy for lower gas prices: higher taxes, declining incomes, job loss, food stamps, and economic stagnation.But Americans don’t want this future. We want lower taxes, more take home pay, more jobs, higher economic growth and lower gas prices.Yes, we want all of these outcomes, which is why Americans overwhelmingly support more domestic drilling for oil and gas to lower our energy prices and create more jobs.It’s time to drill here and drill now.Hmmmmm......."If he really wanted to destroy America would he do anything different."Read the full story here.

• Arab unrest spreads to Syria, thousands march.Protests enter third day, four killed this week authorities to free children held over protest graffiti.Thousands of Syrians demanded an end to 48 years of emergency law on Saturday, a third straight day of protests emerging as the biggest challenge to Syria's rulers since unrest swept the Arab world this year."No. No to emergency law. We are a people infatuated with freedom," marchers chanted as a government delegation arrived in the southern town of Deraa to pay condolences for victims killed by security forces in demonstrations there this week.Syria has been ruled under emergency law since the Baath Party, which is headed by president Bashar al-Assad, took power in a 1963 coup and banned all opposition.The government sought to appease popular discontent in Deraa by promising to release 15 schoolchildren whose arrests for scrawling protest graffiti had helped fuel the demonstrations.An official statement said the children, who had written slogans inspired by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt on walls, would be released immediately. The statement was a rare instance of Syria's ruling hierarchy responding to popular pressure.Security forces opened fire on Friday on civilians taking part in a peaceful protest in Deraa demanding the release of the children, political freedoms and an end to corruption. Four people were killed.Read the full story here.

• British Muslim who entered Miss Universe contest receives death threat.Shanna Bukhari was subjected to a tide of online hate after entering the British heats of the beauty contest. Now she fears her life could be in danger.When Shanna Bukhari decided she wanted to be the first Muslim to represent Britain in a global beauty pageant, she suspected the road ahead might not be smooth, but nothing could have prepared her for the abuse she received."I have felt in fear for my life," said the 24-year-old Miss Universe contestant. The attacks escalated last week when Bukhari received her first death threat.The censure has come from various quarters, ranging from Muslims who claim that she is denigrating the name of Islam, to white supremacists who say that an Asian cannot represent the UK, and to women who condemn beauty pageants as an affront to feminism.Bukhari, born in Blackburn, grew up in Lancashire and is no stranger to intolerance. When she was nine, she ended up in hospital after a man screaming racist abuse had thrown a brick at her, causing so much damage to her stomach that she suffered a blood clot and had to undergo surgery.The attacks on the Manchester-based English literature graduate began after a local newspaper ran an article 10 days ago revealing her ambition to become the first Muslim to represent Great Britain at the beauty contest. Since then, she has received around 300 messages a day on her Facebook page, a handful of which are abusive. Most of the negative comments have come from a minority of Muslim men. "I get people saying, 'you're not a Muslim' and 'you're using religion to get attention'. I said they were the ones bringing religion into it. I'm not representing Islam; I just want to represent my country, and of that I am very proud. They are trying to control me, using religion as a tool to attack."Bukhari accuses her abusers of having the same sort of mindset as those who support "honour" killings and beat women. Many of the comments are, she says, from individuals who want sharia law instead of a liberal democracy. "We simply live in a multicultural society where there are significant numbers of Muslims. Islam is about peace; abusing me is itself wrong in Islam."Away from the religious-themed criticism, Bukhari detects a broader anti-female resentment from men who combine sleaze with slurs. "Maybe it's because I'm a woman saying to other women 'stand up for yourself, don't let anyone dictate what you can do or can't'. Some men don't like that," she said.But not all the abuse is from men: Bukhari has also attracted opprobium from feminists. "I've had a few girls saying 'shame on you' or 'rot in hell'. But I'd like to know what their real issues are, so we could have a constructive debate."The abuse that truly shocked Bukhari arrived last Tuesday in the form of an online racist rant. Within hours she had shut down her Facebook fan page, but a friend was then sent a number of internet links to images of people murdered for standing up for their principles. "She rang up and said, 'Shanna, you need to be very careful because he's trying to make me aware that things will happen'. Not a direct death threat perhaps, but he was trying to say that something is going to happen to me."Bukhari cites the thousands who have offered their backing. Support has come from Spain, the Middle East, Pakistan, India and China. Most women supporters say she represents not just a role model for Muslim women, but all those who refuse to be cowed by bullies.During last month's semi-final for Britain's Miss Universe candidate Bukhari received the most public votes. Britain has never won the title. It is increasingly possible that its first victor might also be its first Muslim representative.Read the full story here.

• HT:CreepingSharia.Muslim Student Association Pledge of Allegiance: Jihad is my spirit, I will die to establish Islam (video).The MSA has branches on hundreds of campuses in the U.S. and Canada and many of its campus leaders have engaged in and been arrested for waging jihad. The video above clearly indicates MSA members at UCLA, and elsewhere, are willing to die spreading Islam. The Koran is their law (sharia), and jihad is their way. Get it?Hmmmmm......"We don't want to take over your country"?Read the full story here.

• HT:TheAmericanDream.27 Amazing Statistics About The Real Estate Crash That Never Seems To End: More Foreclosures, More Underwater Mortgages And More Home Price Declines.The real estate crash that never seems to end appears to be getting even worse. Home prices continue to go down, the number of underwater mortgages is soaring and the number of foreclosures set an all-time record in 2010. The peak of the housing market was in 2005 and the subprime mortgage crisis erupted in 2008. Shouldn't things be getting better by now? How many years is this real estate crash going to go on for? Home builders and those that work in the construction industry are deeply suffering because new home sales continue to hover around record lows. Mortgage professionals are having a really hard time because very few people are seeking home loans and many of those that are seeking loans cannot get approved. Real estate agents all over the country are pulling their hair out in frustration and large numbers of them have left the industry completely. The United States has never had such a prolonged real estate slump in the post-World War 2 era. Unfortunately, there are a whole lot of indications that the real estate crash is going to get even worse.The rapidly rising price of oil, the horrific crisis in Japan and instability in the Middle East all threaten to plunge the world into another major economic downturn. That is really bad news for the real estate industry. Already there are not nearly enough jobs for everyone in the United States and without good jobs American workers simply cannot buy homes.In addition, many of those that would like to buy homes are finding that they cannot get approved for home loans. Before the real estate crash, lending standards were incredibly loose, but now the pendulum has swung very far in the other direction.Well, for the U.S. real estate industry every single month is a complete and total nightmare. But instead of being exactly like the previous month, each new month seems to bring news that is just a little bit worse than the month before.Will this nightmare ever stop?The following are 27 amazing statistics about the real estate crash that never seems to end....Read the full story here.

• HT:TranslatingJihad.European Council for Fatwa and Research: "The apostate is killed in order to protect the religion and the community".Translated from the Muslim Brotherhood-linked European Council for Fatwa and Research, 16 Aug 2008:

Title: Is killing interpreted as restricting freedom of conscience?Date: 16 August 2008

Q: One who converted to Islam from Poland, was asked by a wicked atheist about the penalty for one who apostatizes from the religion of Almighty Allah. What should he respond? He interprets killing as restricting freedom of conscience.

A: The issue of killing the apostate is a function of the state. His judgment belongs with the Islamic government. This is not the concern of Islamic foundations, associations, or centers. A group of Salafis and Imams are of the opinion that not every apostate should be killed, but rather only those who openly commit apostasy, or call for fitna, or voice harmful things against Allah and His Prophet (peace be upon him) and the believers. [The apostate] is killed in order to protect the religion and the community from his corruption, and not to restrict freedoms, as he by his action is infringing on the rights of others. The interests of the state and the society come before individual self-interest. In truth, this issue is similar to what is termed in contemporary law as “high treason” because of the harm to the public that it causes.Hmmmm....."The Religion of peace".Read the full story here.

• Many Egypt Christians vote 'no', fearing Islamists takeover.CAIRO, March 19 (Reuters) - Many Egyptian Christians say they voted on Saturday to reject proposed constitutional amendments in a referendum because they fear hasty elections to follow may open the door for Islamist groups to rise to power.If the amendments are approved, parliamentary elections will take place in late September followed by presidential elections in December, giving scant time for new parties to organise, including ones representing the aspirations of Christians.Foremost among these aspirations is the creation of a civil state where religion is not a basis for legislation.It is widely assumed that quick elections would give an advantage to the well-established Muslim Brotherhood, a group founded in the 1920s which has emerged as the best organised political force since Hosni Mubarak was toppled from power."I fear the Islamists because they speak in civil slogans that have a religious context, like when one said he believed in a civil Egypt but at the same time no woman or Copt should run for president," said Samuel Wahba, a Coptic doctor."I voted 'no' because, as an Egyptian, I want a new complete constitution...it's not based on the 'yes' of Islamist groups," said Ramy Kamel, a Coptic lawyer. Hmmmm......Crackdown on the 'traitors of the revolution' in 3....2.....Read the full story here.

• And now for something completely different.Very close encounters of the 'super moon' kind: Amazing pictures of our lunar neighbour... the nearest it's been in 20 years.Look to the skies tonight and you might just notice something different. For the first time since 1992, a 'super moon' is shining down on us. That means it is brighter and closer to Earth than unusual. Here, we present a gallery of lunar snaps to celebrate the rare phenomenon...Read and see the full story here.