This morning’s key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com.

• No birthday party for 10th anniversary of euro currency
• Syria’s regime makes fools of the Arab League
• Israelis and Palestinians to resume non-negotiation negotiations
• Palestinians plan to put Israel under ‘international siege’
• Chinese shoppers flood London after Christmas

No birthday party for 10th anniversary of euro currency

500 euro bill

No one is celebrating on the tenth anniversary of the euro currency, since there’s widespread uncertainty whether there will be an eleventh anniversary. The euro currency was supposed to bring integration, stability and prosperity to Europe, but now it seems to be tearing Europe apart, as nations plummet into debt and austerity. Italy will need to raise €450 this year, and Greece will need a new €14.5 billion bond payment by March. Everyone is praying that if they can kick the can down the road enough times, then somehow the credit bubble of a few years ago will start reflating. But Generational Dynamics predicts that nothing of the sort will happen, as the current generations of people continue to save and cut back spending, both personally and in their businesses. One thing that I learned on CNN today is that the bridges and buildings pictured on the euro notes don’t actually exist anywhere. Nonexistent structures were created so that no one would be offended. Reuters

Syria’s regime makes fools of the Arab League

The Arab Parliament, an Arab League advisory body, has called for the Arab League observer mission to Syria to end, because the violence in Syria is continuing unabated, almost right in front of the observers, making them look like fools, as the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said scores of civilians were killed by the security forces of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in the past few days, with the observers present. According to a statement by Arab Parliament Speaker Ali al-Salem al-Deqbasi:

“The Syrian regime’s continuous abuse and killing of innocent civilians in violation of the agreed upon Arab protocol that meant to protect Syrian people. For this to happen in the presence of Arab monitors has roused the anger of Arab people and negates the purpose of sending a fact-finding mission. This is giving the Syrian regime an Arab cover for continuing its inhumane actions under the eyes and ears of the Arab League.”

All this comes after a comic dispute that we reported yesterday. A Youtube video clearly and unambiguously shows one of the Arab League monitors saying that he saw Syrian regime snipers on building rooftops, but the leader of the mission, Sudan’s General Mohammed Ahmed al-Dabi, said that the monitor’s statement was hypothetical, which it clearly was not. Al-Dabi is suspected of being pro-Assad because of his own previous involvement in Sudan’s genocide. Kuna (Kuwait)

Israelis and Palestinians to resume non-negotiation negotiations

Saeb Erekat (AFP)

Jordan’s government announced on Sunday that Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will meet in Jordan’s capital, Amman, on Tuesday for direct talks, for the first time in more than a year. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday welcomed the announcement, saying, “it is essential that both sides take advantage of this opportunity.” However, a senior figure in the Palestinian Authority said that “this is not a resumption of negotiations.” Palestinian chief negotiator Saed Erekat said that the meeting would be “part of ongoing Jordanian efforts to compel Israel to comply with its international legal obligations … specifically its obligation to freeze all settlement construction”. Jerusalem Post

Palestinians plan to put Israel under ‘international siege’

Agreeing to talk (but not negotiate) with Israelis on Tuesday “will be the start of an unprecedented diplomatic campaign on the part of the Palestinian leadership, and it will be a year of pressure on Israel that will put it under a real international siege. The campaign will be similar to the one waged against apartheid in South Africa,” according to Palestinian official Nabil Sha’ath.

According to information that has reached Israel, the Palestinians are considering several steps as part of their campaign:

• Asking the UN Security Council in February to pass a resolution that would condemn settlement construction and impose international sanctions on Israel. If a resolution were brought to a vote, all Security Council members other than the United States would be expected to vote in favor.
• Urging the International Criminal Court in The Hague to try Israel for war crimes related to Operation Cast Lead.
• Pushing for the implementation the articles of the Fourth Geneva Convention that ban the construction of communities and transfer of populations in occupied territory.
• Asking the UN General Assembly or the UN Human Rights Council to send an international fact-finding committee to look into the settlement issue.
• Renewing efforts in the UN Security Council to secure full-membership status for Palestine, or asking the UN General Assembly for status as a nonmember state.
• Organizing mass rallies against Israel in the West Bank, as part of a non-violent popular uprising. This will be a combined effort with Hamas.

The diplomatic campaign is expected to begin January 26. Haaretz

Chinese shoppers flood London after Christmas

Chinese shoppers flood into Selfridges

Europeans may be tightening their belts, but apparently Chinese shoppers have plenty of money to spend. On December 26, high-end British department store Selfridges on Oxford Street in London held an after Christmas sale. Waves of Chinese shoppers came in, buying Lancome cosmetics, Gucci and Prada handbags, and Louis Vutton belts. China Hush (blog)