This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com:

• Syria's Assad regime turns to 'barrel bombs' for more thorough extermination
• Australia sending illegal migrants to Nauru and Manus islands
• China's Xi Jinping disappears, spurring rumors of accident or assassination
• Iran's rial currency crashes as sanctions hit oil revenues

Syria's Assad regime turns to 'barrel bombs' for more thorough extermination

Dissatisfied with the rate at which he can massacre innocent women and children in their homes, the regime of Syria's president Bashar al-Assad is turning to a more cataclysmic weapon. A "barrel bomb" is an ordinary barrel packed with TNT, oil and chunks of steel. Assad's regime is sending helicopters out to used these bombs to flatten entire residential civilian neighborhoods, spraying as much blood as possible. Telegraph (London) and Irish Independent

Australia sending illegal migrants to Nauru and Manus islands

Over 100 illegal migrants from countries including Malaysia, Afghanistan and Pakistan arrive by boat or plane in Australia every day. On August 13, Australia announced that new migrants would be sent offshore to live in tents on Nauru and Manus islands, but that hasn't deterred the flow. The two islands together only have a capacity of 2100, and so the Australian government will be selective about whom they send there, hoping to deter others from coming to Australia. National Times (Australia) and Herald Sun (Australia)

China's Xi Jinping disappears, spurring rumors of accident or assassination

Xi Jinping is the man who is expected to be chosen the new president of China in April of next year, when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) makes its decennial generational change. However, Xi has not been seen in a week, and he's canceled scheduled meetings, leading to internet and media speculation that Xi is badly hurt, because of either a traffic accident or an assassination attempt. Xi has promised to reform China's economy and deal with "corruption and ill-discipline in the party" as a top priority, creating a number of enemies. China Post (Taiwan) and AP

Iran's rial currency crashes as sanctions hit oil revenues

Iran's rial currence slid to a record low against the dollar on Monday, about half its value a year ago, after a slump of 17% since Thursday. At the end of last year Iran had $106 billion of official foreign reserves, enough to cover an ample 13 months of imports of goods and services in normal times. However, the reserves may have started falling as the sanctions have cut oil exports. Iran's monthly sales of crude oil, its major source of hard currency, may have dropped by nearly half in the course of this year. The crash in the rial is pushing up domestic consumer prices for food and other goods, adding to inflation that is already at double-digit levels. Reuters

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