New Years Eve Links and Vids: 31 December 2024

Vids

Oz

• New transparency law aims to deter multinational tax avoidance – ABC
• 2024 was the Great Divergence as young people copped an economic whack – ABC
• The biggest corporate scandals of 2024 were about power and control – ABC
• The Australian dollar could be heading to a 20-year low, on risks of China, Trump and slow growth – ABC
• Millions of Australians could save hundreds of dollars by switching energy deals, ACCC says – Guardian
• Do Australia’s super tax concessions take from the poor and give to the rich? – ABC…the answer is yes…
• Our analysis of wealth trends suggests Australia’s middle class may be ‘shrinking’ – The Conversation
• Labor has to grapple with Anthony Albanese’s ‘man problem’ – New Daily
• Crypto tip-toe: Jim Chalmers suddenly looking a tad desperate – Michael West
• The BHP whistleblower and the secretive plan to turn Hunter Valley coal into lakes – Michael West

The rest of the world

• China’s financial corruption crackdown reeled in dozens of naughty bankers in 2024 – SCMP
• US Treasury says it was hacked by China in ‘major incident’ – BBC
• Janet Yellen issues warning to Congress as US nears debt limit – Guardian
• ECB faces tough task after flip in fortunes for eurozone economies – Guardian
• The Years of Living Dangerously: Europe looks ahead to 2025 – RTE
• As Russia-Ukraine gas deal ends, worries mount in EU’s east – DW
• Labour’s private school tax plan strongly backed by public, poll shows – Guardian
• Global markets tipped to keep rising in 2025 despite trade war fears – Guardian
• The EU’s Green Deal is a “policy disaster” – BNE Intellinews
• Number of pubs in England and Wales falls below 39,000 for first time – Guardian
• People have been saving more, thanks to pay growth and cooling inflation, but they need to feel the benefits – Guardian
• Americans struggling with student debt expect ‘much worse’ under Trump – Guardian
• Bill Ackman expects Trump to privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – Reuters

…and furthermore…

• AI tools may soon manipulate people’s online decision-making, say researchers – Guardian…wont that be nice…
• China has banned US exports of key minerals for computer chips – leaving Washington with limited options – Conversation
• The order of anarchy – Aeon