News Headlines - 28 December 2011

▽2012 events 'may hit blood stocks' - The Press Association
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5h8_U_1OgDI46FOoSzdU-Xp9O06-w?docId=N0654751324945564422A
Experts fear that major events such as the Olympics and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee will lead to a "significant drop" in blood donations.
NHS Blood and Transplant warned that a "perfect storm" could be created in 2012 by special events, extra bank holidays and a bumper sporting calendar.
In 2011, thousands fewer people donated blood due to bank holidays around Easter and the royal wedding, it said.

▽Unemployment 'set to rise in 2012' - The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/dec/28/unemployment-set-rise-2012-cipd?newsfeed=true
Unemployment will increase to 2.85 million in 2012, while the number of people in work will fall by 120,000 as jobs continue to be lost in the public sector, a report predicts.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) forecast that the jobless total will reach its highest since 1994, adding that it will peak at 2.9 million in the first half of 2013.

▽Putin 'sidelines' strategist after protests - AFP
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gl3e_OwxLRQLh1oce1UyJSUHbVQg?docId=CNG.17f7783d6f36eb9a6500a25fb31b3674.531
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has sidelined the strategist who designed Russia's tightly-controlled politics, in a move seen Wednesday as a reaction to the outburst of protests challenging his rule.
President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday announced that Vladislav Surkov was leaving his job as first deputy Kremlin chief of staff and would take charge of economic modernisation as deputy prime minister.

▽Iran Threatens to Block Gulf Oil if Sanctions Applied - Voice of America
http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2011/12/28/iran-threatens-to-block-gulf-oil-if-sanctions-applied-2/
Iran has threatened to block the shipment of oil through the Strait of Hormuz if Western governments try to impose sanctions on its petroleum exports in response to the country's nuclear program.
Iran's navy chief told state television Wednesday that it would be easy to close off the strait, but that such action is not necessary at this time.

▽Japan factory output slumps on Thai floods - Reuters
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/12/28/uk-japan-output-idUKLNE7BR00920111228
Japan's factories cut output more than expected in November because of supply disruptions caused by flooding in Thailand and may at best recoup lost production in the coming months as a global slowdown and Europe's debt crisis sap overseas demand.