Nationalism and protectionism go hand in hand:
The Independent: "A decision to bring in hundreds of Italian and Portuguese contractors to work on a new £200 million plant at the giant Lindsey Oil Refinery at North Killingholme, North Lincolnshire, sparked protests in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and other parts of England in support of jobs for British workers."
The UK Times: "Now, prodded by America's mighty steel lobby, a key congressional committee has voted, 55-0, to attach a still more rigorous “Buy America” clause to President Obama's stimulus package. It bars federal funding of any public projects “unless all of the iron and steel used is produced in the United States”. The clause could be extended to asphalt, cement, heavy machinery, you name it. US dollars, the committee intones, must be used to create “American jobs in America, not Chinese jobs in China”."
From the BBC: Huge crowds have taken to the streets in France to protest over the handling of the economic crisis, causing disruption to rail and air services.
The engrossing Tim Groser on NatRad talking about the Davos summit.
Putin shoots down Dell founder's bilateral-curious offer of help: "We don't need help. We are not invalids. We don't have limited mental capacity."
