Monday, September 15, 2008

Global Shaking of Financial Markets

Update for March 20, 2009, further down !
- The World Slipping into Recession -


Financial turmoil rises as one of the greatest U.S. investment banks, Lehman Bros., finally collapses. As related companies are also filing for bankruptcy, a hitherto unknown drop of the Dow Jones Industrial index for more than 500 points (closing quotation at 10:00 PM CET) is the result. It is seen as the heaviest drop since September 9/11.
The financial meltdown even affects European institutes like the British Barclays Bank and the German Commmerzbank (both lost more than 9% today), thus forcing the EU to intervene.
This happens only shortly after the U.S. government's unique decision to override and buy out Merrill Lynch by providing a sum of 50 billion $ and the government's earlier support for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac when both institutes stumbled over the recently reported home-made mortgage crisis. Its only natural that U.S. federal authorities are neither willing nor able to grant a similar support to Lehman, even though this will result in thousands of bankers loosing their jobs. All of the development seems to indicate the dramatic build-up of a global financial crisis. [Source: CNN]

Next bad news: U.S. insurance giant AIG also struggling.


Update for September 17, 2008:

morning news:
Insurance giant AIG is expected to be relieved by U.S. federal authorities in order to avoid diastrous ripple effects [CNN / Al-Jazeera].


evening news:

* Parts of Lehman Bros. are now going to be taken over by the British institute Barclays Bank.

* AIG shares continue to nosedive on Wednesday while an AIG bailout by U.S. federal authorities, who are now granting them an 85 billion $ loan for rescue, renews fears about the stability of financial markets. The word goes that AIG had already been teetering on the brink of bankruptcy for a certain time.

* Russian trading halted as stocks plunge. Russian government orders 44 billion $ cash injection to the market. The Moscow market already suffered a loss of 57% since May 2008, mostly due to the Georgian military crisis.

* CNN poses the question if we are witnessing the demise of capitalism. Experts reject that proposition and state that capitalism is working smoothly on a day-to-day basis, only hampered by certain "bubbles" created by political activities like those now emerging from the presidential election campaign.


End of Update


Update for September 19, 2008:

Global markets still feeling the effects of a worldwide
financial crisis.

Number two U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley saw its
profits drop 40%. Such, investors pushed M.S. stock down
to a ten-year low. M.S. is now seeking capital even from
Chinese investors.

U.S. expert's opinion:
"Consumer's over-confidence in the financial markets
turned into under-confidence. Thus the wallstreet-crisis
is helping to put consumer's confidence onto a realistic
level."

End of Update


Update for September 25, 2008:

Washington:
U.S. president directly addressed nation on wednesday. George Bush admits United States in the midst of a serious financial crisis. Bush warns of "long and painful" U.S. recession unless Congress backs 700 billion bailout. Bush invites Obama and McCain to the White House to discuss bailout bill. Obama and McCain issue joint statement promising to avoid economic catastrophe. Financial crisis now top concern for U.S. voters. A financial expert from Washington and who has a Republican background stated, the president's public action could turn out to be the worst action to be taken in that delicate situation.


Hong Kong:
Nervous customers in Hong Kong have lined up outside banks for protest. Investors angry about failed investment linked to Lehman Bros. and call for better government control of financial markets. Experts point out that East-Asian markets already stabilized.


End of Update


Update for September 28/29, 2008:

September 28 (evening news):

Washington:
Key issues of the congressional debate on a 700 billion $ request by president Bush. The government's bailout bill that has been modified by the legislators on Capitol Hill, including both Democrats and Republicans, will be decided tomorrow morning on Capitol Hill:

Nancy Pelosi (Democrat), speaker of the House of Representatives, recognizes the need to insulate taxpayers and main street from the current economic crisis. Furthermore she states that U.S. taxpayers will no longer bail out the wrecklessness of Wall Street. "The party is over", she added.

Barney Frank (chairman of the banking committee) says wreckless deregulation led us to the current financial crisis. First time in U.S. history we are curtailing the pay of company CEO's.

Senator Dodd (Democrat) says we are having to grapple with an entirely avoidable problem.



Germany:
State owned regional bank institutes (Landesbanken) are suffering heavy losses from the crisis of U.S. financial markets. Three most prominent state owned institutes (BayernLB, LBBW and HSH Nordbank) are reported to have lost altogether 1,54 billion Euro including 1,4 billion Euro related to the bankruptcy of Lehman Bros.

September 29 (morning news):

Hypo Real Estate (HRE), Germany's No. 1 in the real estate business, received massive support from other institutes. An estimated sum of 10 billion Euro should have been provided. According to the Federal Bank of Germany, HRE can now be considered as saved from bankruptcy.

September 29 (evening news):

Washington:
Unexpectedly and despite its support by house leaders, the modified bailout bill has been rejected on Capitol Hill. As a reaction, the Dow index lost further 600 points.

Germany:
Only some hours after the first evaluation, stabilization of Hypo Real Estate seems to be related to a much higher sum than previously reported. Now, 35 billion Euro are being needed, probably including 26,6 billion Euro to be provided by German taxpayers. In the frame of latest news from Washington, the German Dax index lost another four percent.


End of Update


Update for October 1, 2008:

Washington:
U.S. Senate approves bailout plan 74-25 at 3:30 a.m. CET. Plan will now be put to vote in the House of Representatives where some Democratic congressmen are still opposing it, even though Democratic majority leader Harry Reid and further high-ranking Democrats are trying to convince their colleagues.

Presidential candidates McCain and Obama both support the bailout plan. Obama: "Bailout needed to avert catastrophe."

Meanwhile the word "bailout plan" is often replaced by the expression "rescue plan for taxpayers" as homeowners' security is being brought into the foreground of the official debate.



Asian markets that just opened are now in the focus, but EU markets' development will be even more interesting:


End of Update


Update for October 3, 2008:


Washington soothed the markets when the House of Representatives finally passed the government's modified rescue bill but domestic unemployment is still high.



Germany (October 4):
The rescue plan for Hypo Real Estate, comprising 35 billion Euro, has failed. Further negotiations are needed [German National TV, Channel 1].



Germany (October 5):
Yesterday's news forgotten. CNN telling that Hypo Real Estate has been finally saved by a 50 billion rescue bundle. Will such good news effect today's opening quotations in the EU ?


End of Update


Update for October 6, 2008:


World markets sent into freefall.
Fears of a global recession.


European shares see worst one-day percentage fall. Eurozone states vow to ensure financial stability. Joint national measures expected in Germany and other European states after the crisis summit in Paris.

Final market quotations:
Frankfurt -7,07%
Milan -8,24%
Paris -9,04%
Copenhagen -11,06%
The French president Sarkozy stated that 27 European countries are decided to act in solidarity when it comes to avoid bankruptcy of any major financial group in Europe (source: BFM TV, Paris).

The Dow Index closed below 10.000 for the first time in nearly four years, temporarily falling about 800 points within half an hour (Al-Jazeera / CNN).




Even Venezuela's Hugo Chavez is now feeling the pinch of the global crisis as oil prices are falling, such leaving less revenue for his social programs. Nevertheless, he is still ridiculizing president Bush while describing U.S. economy as suffering from final stage cancer that could not be cured by a 700 billion $ rescue plan. [source: interview granted to Al-Jazeera]

Chavez on campaign (1)

Further news: Local elections in Brazil while Brazilian stock quotes dropped an incredible 15%. The country's Worker's Party is expected to win (Al-Jazeera).

Chavez on campaign (2)

End of Update


Update for October 13, 2008:

International Markets Recovering



Dow Index shows biggest gains since 1933 while Asian stocks are rising as well.
The European Union is preparing a mega package for the stabilization of their institutes.
U.S. economist Paul Krugman wins Nobel Prize. He is reported to be a critic of how the U.S. administration handled the actual crisis.


End of Update


Update for October 22, 2008:

Global Recession on its Way

What seemed to be a recovery of financial markets only ten days ago, now turns out to be the beginning of a steady loss of values on all international markets. Decreasing quotations in the percentage range and on a daily basis could even raise the question when "ground zero" will be reached. Now, a long-lasting damage to global economy can be predicted with only one single aspect to enjoy the indutrialized nations: Crude oil gets cheaper and cheaper (prices 30% down since beginning of 2008).


End of Update


Update for October 28/29, 2008:

Settling of Financial Markets

For the first time since the beginning of that crisis: Smiling brokers at the end of the day. The crisis not yet being over, first signs of a stabilization are showing. The below pictures have been taken from CNN on October 29:


October 29: Even though the DOW index is showing a moderate loss, in comparison with the day before, it is still closing on a high level. All U.S., European and East Asian markets had already been on the rise on October 28 while the oil price remains tied down.


End of Update


Update for November 14/15, 2008 :

Europe Slipping into Recession

On November 13 it was officially announced that German economy has reached the state of recession. Meanwhile, fears are spread that Britain might follow Germany soon. Economists are warning that British economy is going to face its worst fate in 30 years.

While Europe is said to be slipping into recession, G 20 members are gathering in Washington. The 20 states presented at that meeting are representing 85% of world economy and 75% of world population. The current voting power of the U.S., the European Union and China is shown below. Changes to the current voting power ratio are requested by China, India and Brazil, three nations with a flourishing economy.


First results of the G-20 summit include a detailed 47 point program that has been fully accepted by the delegates.

End of Update


Update for January 8, 2009 :

Germany Coping with the Crisis

One of Germany's biggest institutes, the Commerzbank, has been partly nationalized. As the minister of economy, Mr. Glos, put it, the government's blocking minority should ensure the provision of industrial credits, intended to support sound middle-class companies in a period of stagnating economy.


Further economic stagnation has been predicted for 2009 and should be comprising a decrease in exportation, first signs of which have already been noticed. In the frame of dropping share prices on all stock markets, after only a short period of recovery, the Commerzbank nationalization makes part of a bundle of measures, discussed within the ruling coalition and expected to increase domestic consumption. While U.S. car producers are hoping for financial support from their government, German carmakers are hoping for a reduction of the national car-taxes for buyers of their latest generation of cars.

End of Update


Update for January 14, 2009 :

Japan - The Recession is On

A survey made by the Bank of Japan proves growing fear about future employment and working conditions as well as drastic income changes within one year:



Latest fiscal forecast by the Japanese Ministry of the Treasury:

End of Update



Update for January 28-30, 2009 :

Davos Economic Summit

At the beginning of the Davos economic summit, a report, launched by the International Monetary Fund IMF, predicts that U.S. economy will shrink by 1.6% in 2009. Swift action will be needed to counter damaging deflation as "risks to financial stability have intensified since October". As a
consequence, global economy is in "dire straits" and should grind to a halt in 2009 with a worldwide economy growth of only 0.5%, slowest rate since world war II. It should be mentioned that IMF's January predictions are less optimistic that its November 2008 evaluation.


(Robert Scott, Economic Policy Institute, Washington)

Most of the 2.000 delegates of the Davos meeting are
inclined to put it that way: "global economy is now getting
the U.S. cold". Prominent guests at the summit are the
Chinese and Russian prime ministers who, both, blamed
U.S. economy for the global development. It seems that
Washington's Federal Reserve Bank has taken wrong
measures at a wrong moment.

Most prominent victim of the global recession that week
is Japan whose markets are melting down. Industrial output
in December falls by record 9.6% while unemployment has
risen to 4.4%. Even sane companies like Toyota are now
tumbling. A similar development can be observed in other
parts of Asia and Australia and, of course, in the U.S.A.
where unemployment hits a new record of 4.78 million.


For the first time in its history, IMF considers issuing
bonds to boost lending ability.

(Sources: Al-Jazeera and CNBC)

End of Update


Update for February 25-28, 2009 :

A Résumé on Economic Performance

After Obama`s 900 billion $ bill passing both houses on Capitol hill, immediate relief for U.S. economy is not yet in sight. General Motors and its German daughter Opel, now pledging for German government`s financial support, seem to be in an especially difficult position. Of course, German authorities, inclined to support Opel, are not willing to spend any money that could possibly flow back to General Motors, a company "known for decades for its bad management" as former financial secretary of state Blumenfeld put it, a respected expert with an own personal background in the car manufacturing industry.

Instead, international stock markets are steadily going down. Especially the highly developed economic systems of Korea and Japan are affected. Korean national TV reported that Korea's economy is now the worst performer in Asia with an expected negative growth of 5% for 2009, and it will be very difficult for president Lee to stop further deterioration.


As the recent economic crisis is a global and not a home-made one, it should not be ignored that South Korea's industrial potential is still on a high level: For instance, the production of thin film solar cells has got a boost in this country. Recent results of the Korean Institute of Energy Research have made it possible to participate a good deal on the market of solar cells, a market that is expected to reach a volume of about five billion $ by 2015.



Statement of Japan's finance minister on February 26:
"Japan's export in January declined to less than half the volume of a year ago. We cannot predict how the economy is going to go in the next few months." This statement fits to the news reported in my blog earlier on January 14.



At the same time, China is facing a tremendous drought that will doubless effect agricultural production, even though China's government is resorting to unusual means like inciting rain by shooting chemical-loaded rockets into the clouds.

As to the British banking system, "historical losses" have been reported by RBS, the Royal Bank of Scotland (January 26).

Troop Reduction and Disarmament
as a Stimulant for U.S. Economy ?

On January 27, president Obama made it clear that the bulk of 142.000 U.S. troops in Iraq would leave the country by August 2010. Only 30.000-50.000 troops should remain as a transitional force till the end of 2011. This would actually mean the end of U.S. military involvement in Iraq, even though defense secretary Robert Gates could not fully exclude that a small task force might stay in Iraq even after 2011. Only two days before, Obama had already declared that "certain useless weapons related to the era of Cold War" would not be financed any longer.
According to a Wallstreet broker, consulted by Al-Jazeera some days before, such declaration of their president could be useful to stimulate the markets in a situation of mistrust and confusion about the economic development to come.


Above: "A mild climate announced by Barack Obama" (BFM-TV on January 25):

End of Update


Update for March 2, 2009 :

Dow Down

At the beginning of March 2009, the Dow Jones Industrial Index finally passed another gloomy mark on its constant way down. CNBC reported that Dow had not closed below 7.000 since April 21, 1997. Even though, this is regarded as "breaking news", it isn't any news at all because you could have waited for it. Let's remember that Dow once surpassed the 10.000 mark, only shortly before the beginning of the financial crisis.


As to the U.S. based AIG and the German Hypo Real Estate, both companies being early icons of the global financial crisis, tax-payers' money really didn't help to save them. Further need of money has already been announced. [Al-Jazeera, CNBC and German sources]

At the same time we hear of East Asian economies melting down, France is announcing its worst recession since 1945, marked by a negative growth of its gross industrial product (1% - 1,5%) and an increasing number of unemployed (+ 300.000). [source: BFM-TV]


End of Update


Update for March 20, 2009 :

These days are marked by four economic topics that should be dealt with in my newsblog:


- Disgraced money manager Madoff pleads guilty to all charges. He is cited by Al-Jazeera with the following words, "As the years went by I knew my arrest and this day would come." Madoff's system has broken down only some months ago and right in the middle of the global crisis. [March 12, 2009]

- The financial crisis finally took its toll among the richest people on earth: About 55 Russian billionaires recently dropped out of Forbes' list while Bill Gates (Microsoft) remains the richest man of our time.

- U.S. President Obama held what the Americans call a "Presidential Town Hall" on economics. In the small town of Costa Mesa (California) and which is far from being a Democratic stronghold, he answered to the questions of normal citizens on different aspects of economics. Once again, he stressed the need for regulations that should enable a more effective control of the financial markets. As to a widespread opinion he might be "doing too much" and following a question on his intentions to remain in office for a second period of government, Obama answered that he would prefer to be a great president for four years rather than a mediocre president for eight years. [CNN, March 18, 2009]


- At the very beginning of the global crisis, two companies made themselves known for their desolate situation. One was AIG that should be soon torn apart. As its CEO reported, this company will be broken up within the next four years. The other company mentioned was the German Hypo Real Estate, an enterprise that already consumed much of German taxpayer's money. Now, it becomes clear that HRE badly needs further cash. [CNN and German media
reports]


End of Update

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Nuclear Physics Making Leap Forward



Geneva, 10 September 2008, 10h28 :
Nuclear physics made a great leap forward when the world's most powerful particle accelerator was activated for the first time. The first beam in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN was successfully steered around the full 27 kilometres cycle intended to examine the behaviour of subatomic sized particles at a very high speed approaching the velocity of light.
"This historic event marks a key moment in the transition from over two decades of preparation to a new era of scientific discovery."

A popular view on the experiments to be taken now describes them as an examination of what had happened on a subatomic level during the so-called "big bang" that brought the universe into being.


Islamic Cosmology
and Nuclear Physics
علم الكون الإسلامي و علم الذرّات


The Arabic website of Al-Jazeera (September 6 edition) now discussed the acceptance of such big bang theory among the followers of Islam and comes to the following conclusion:

When it comes to the creation of the universe, the Holy Koran isn't far away from modern scientific views. The primary existence of all physical matter as a cloud of gas is mentioned in some hidden parts of the Koran as well as the separation of planets from that kind of concentrated gas in a process that might be called a big bang. Here are two essential phrases serving as a prove:

41:11 And [11] He [Allah it is who] applied His design to the skies, which were [yet but] smoke [i.e. gas]; [12] and He [Allah it is who] said to them and to the earth, “Come [into being], both of you, willingly or unwillingly!” - to which both responded, “We do come in obedience.” [13]
ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى إِلَى السَّمَاء وَهِيَ دُخَانٌ فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلْأَرْضِ اِئْتِيَا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا قَالَتَا أَتَيْنَا طَائِعِينَ

21:30 ARE, THEN, they who are bent on denying the truth not aware that the heavens and the earth were [once] one single entity, which We then parted asunder? [in a kind of initial act] – [38] and [that] We made out of water every living thing? Will they not, then, [begin to] believe? [39]
َوَلَمْ يَرَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنَاهُمَا وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَاء كُلَّ شَيْءٍ حَيٍّ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

As the prophet Muhammad was most interested in the "sciences of man and god", including medicine and the natural sciences, those sciences finally flourished in a mediaeval Islamic society and influenced contemporary European scientists at a very high degree.


Let there be music .....
Even though, the LHC is down for the next two months (September 19), lets listen to The Large Hadron Rap to get the knowledge.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Welcome to World War III
欢迎在第三次世界大战

NEWS ALERT => November 21, 2008
- U.S. intelligence predicts global unrest -
=> for more information look further down !


最新

人民网的文件—2008年11月11日
格鲁吉亚抗议南奥塞梯士兵越境
有村民已经逃离


1)美军的化装突击队在格鲁西亚打开了冲突吗?
2)俄罗斯海军与美国海军集中兵力在黑海里,北大西洋公约组织的十架舰只在武器试验,俄罗斯的军队集中兵力在伏尔加河地区。—人民网的文件—2008年09月01日
3)俄罗斯总理的第五纵队在北约组织的德国:过去的《德意志民主共和国》的旧情报人员。

人民网的文件—2008年09月03日
“新冷战”已经来临了吗?

文件对“冷战”说的是“…因为冷战对双方均无好处,而且违背全世界人民的意愿,也为国际社会所唾弃”。但是“热战”可以开始很快!(Ulysses / W.W.)

人民网的文件—2008年09月08日
俄黑海舰队觅新家 进驻阿布哈兹回击北约


Its not unexpected that manifold NATO interests and Russian fears that Central Asia might be dominated by the U.S. and their allies are now facing each other in a most dangerous confrontation. Teasing the Russians by offering Georgia a NATO membership is one of the most offending diplomatic actions the West could take under the eyes of the Russian bear. Furthermore, its a stupid action as Georgia seems to be a fickle candidate who is expected to bring rather instability to the alliance, due to the personal disposition of its president, and whose military power is, as well, very much restricted.
If its for oil then one thing should be clear, once and for all: A growing military and economic power like Russia has to secure its own sources of oil and other natural resources and will never allow foreign nations to "invade its privacy". Such, the German chancellor's insisting on Georgia's future status as a NATO ally is not only an offence of Russian interests but a stupid remark that would rather disqualify Germany as a mature global player.


Another fact will underline this rigid position that seems to Russia of a vital importance: Russia's attitude towards Iran. While the U.S. and their European allies are blaming the Iranian leaders for developing nuclear weapons, an assumption that has never been proven up to now, Russia is steadily delivering highly sophisticated arms to Iran, adding to what this country's advanced armament industry is already able to supply.
Such, Iran is now able to defend itself and confront even Israel, once the only "superpower" in the Middle East. Any attack on Iran under the pretext of its nuclear program will therefore undoubtedly trigger off an Iranian response that could change the whole political landscape of the region. The fall of Israel, seen by most Arabs as a dirty mark on the map of the Middle East, could be in reach if there were not Israel's own nuclear capacities, silently accepted by all those nations who are now blaming Iran.
According to an article, published in 2003 by the British paper THE GUARDIAN / THE OBSERVER, "Israeli and American officials have admitted collaborating to deploy US-supplied Harpoon cruise missiles armed with nuclear warheads in Israel's fleet of Dolphin-class submarines, giving the Middle East's only nuclear power the ability to strike at any of its Arab neighbours." ... "Although it has been long suspected that Israel bought three German diesel-electric submarines ... [editor's comment: state-of-the-art submarines provided by Howaldswerke - Deutsche Werft AG, Kiel] ... with the specific aim of arming them with nuclear cruise missiles, the admission that the two countries had collaborated in arming the fleet with a nuclear-capable weapons system is significant at a time of growing crisis between Israel and its neighbours."


The Iranian president Mahmud Ahmadi Nejad
seeing Russian president Dmitry Medvedev:
Nejad has every reason to smile (Al-Jazeera)

Now, if it comes to war with Iran, what will the Russian position be? Will they stand aside and wait for a pro-Western state to be erected in the neighbourhood of their area of influence and where lots and lots of oil and natural gas are coming from. Or will they stand by their Iranian partners and risk to trigger off a war the world has never seen before ? I guess you can give yourself the answer to that question.


After the Russian recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states: Russian marines move to strategic points in the disputed area as a "precaution against the U.S.", while a U.S. navy ship, the destroyer USS McFaul, has cancelled its visit to Poti, important harbour of Georgia, in order to avoid conflict with Russian military.




UPDATE 29/08/2008 NEWS ALERT

北约战舰云集黑海 俄军亮出“航母杀手”

U.S. navy and Russian fleet
gathering in the Black Sea


Yesterday, the editor for military affairs of PEOPLE'S DAILY, online edition, Beijing, presented an overall article on military proceedings in the Black Sea. In that article several isolated news have been summmarized:

On August 25,in the middle of the Georgian crisis, the Russian cruiser "Moscow" headed for the Black Sea in order to "perform a weaponry test" of its guided missiles.


cruiser Moscow

Russian news agency report: Gathering of NATO ships in the Black Sea, including two U.S. war ships and four ships of the Turkish navy and equipped with more than 100 "Tomahawk" cruise missiles.

Pentagon declares: U.S. destroyer "McFaul" reached Georgian coast on August 24 in order to deliver "humanitarian aid".

According to a NATO official, the gathering of war ships in the Black Sea is expected to perform a manoeuvre and "not related to the actual conflict between Russia and Georgia". "But Russia finds fault in it and estimates, both, the manoeuvre and the supply of humanitarian aid, as a pretence for the display of military power."

Xin Hua agency report: Earlier this month, the "Moscow" already entered the Black Sea as the flagship of its combat group. It is equipped with SS-N-12 anti-ship missiles.

Translation from Chinese language article by "Ulysses"
Wolfgang Wiesner, editor of BLUEPRINT magazine


U.S. behind Georgian conflict ?
- News, views and interviews -

Here's a series of brandnew videos to that subject

END OF UPDATE


UPDATE 02/09/2008 NEWS ALERT

* Georgia breaks off diplomatic relations with Russia.

* Russia declares having withdrawn all of its troops
from South Ossetia until the day before.

END OF UPDATE


Background and Development
of so-called Caucasus Conflict

Source: Reuters AlertNet (August 24, 2008):

* The Russia-Georgia conflict broke out on Aug. 7-8 when Georgian troops tried to retake South Ossetia during the Olympic Games in Beijing. A Russian counter-offensive pushed into Georgia proper, crossing its main east-west highway and nearing an oil pipeline from Azerbaijan.

* Russian soldiers man checkpoint at key Georgian port Poti, outside a security zone that is officially kept under control of Russian peacekeepers and hundreds of kilometers away from South Ossetia.

* U.S. warship "McFaul" delivers aid to Georgian port Batumi. Original destination port of Poti has been given up because of Russian presence there.

* Blast hits Georgia's main east-west railway, vital to the economy of the country. Oil cargoes are being held up.

* Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko says his country - home to a large ethnic Russian population - must boost its defences and speed up its efforts to join NATO.

* Efforts of Georgia and Ukraine to join NATO are opposed by Russia which sees the ex-Soviet republics as part of its legitimate sphere of influence.

* France calls for EU meeting on crisis.



UPDATE 07/09/2008 NEWS ALERT

Dangerous Encounter

* Another U.S. warship carrying "humanitarian aid" is being unloaded in Poti, Georgian harbour still held by Russian "peacekeeping forces". Russia says they are delivering weapons not aid.

* Russian president Medvedev condemns gathering of NATO warships in the Black Sea. According to an earlier Chinese report (September 1), NATO fleet in the Black Sea has been increased to 10 warships.


* Another Chinese report (September 1) says, Russian troops are being deployed in the nearby Volga / Ural river region, north of the Caspian Sea, for manoeuvre.



Al-Jazeera citing an earlier remark made by Paul Wolfowitz, once deputy secretary of state under Donald Rumsfeld.

END OF UPDATE


UPDATE 09/09/2008 NEWS ALERT

* According to an official, Russia is going to establish diplomatic relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
La Russie va établir des relations diplomatiques avec l'Ossétie du Sud et l'Abkhazie (officiel russe)(BFM TV, France).

* Russia will terminate any cooperation with NATO organisation, if Georgia's access to the Western alliance "enters a practical stage".
La Russie cessera toute coopération avec l'OTAN si la Géorgie accède au Plan d'action en vue de l'adhésion (BFM TV, France).

* Yesterday, Washington cancelled an examination by the U.S. Congress of an agreement with Russia on the civil use of nuclear energy.
Washington a annulé hier l'examen par le Congrès d'un accord sur le nucléaire civil avec la Russie (BFM TV, France).

* Russia declares its intention to abandon its "checkpoints" in (the Georgian) seaport of Poti during next week (Al-Jazeera, Arabic program, Qatar).
روسيا تعلن أنها ستفكك نقاط التفتيش في ميناء بوتي خلال أسبوع

* Georgia accepts responsibility for the non-application of force against South Ossetia and Abkhazia (Al-Jazeera, Arabic program, Qatar).
جورجيا تتعهد بعدم استخدام القوة ضد أوسيتيا الجنوبية و أبخازيا

* After the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states, the flagships of the Russian Black Sea fleet are now stationed in Abkhazia in order to fight back NATO military if necessary. That regional fleet, recently based in Abkhazia's naval base of Soukhoumi, comprises 62 vessels and 52 aircraft, manned with 22.000 Russian marines (人民网).


aircraft carrier Kusnezoff


Abkhazia - port of Soukhoumi

Latest news of the day:
Russia says it will keep 7.500 troops in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Al-Jazeera, English program)

END OF UPDATE


UPDATE 17/09/2008 NEWS ALERT

Facing growing tensions with NATO, Russia has expanded its 2009 defense budget by 27%. The projected NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia is upsetting Moscow. While breakaway tendencies of former ally Ukraine have temporarily been stopped by political tensions within the ruling coalition, Georgia's plans remain unchanged.


As the economic background of two adversary parties often decides between peace and war, here an interesting link describing the actual state of the U.S. financial market.

END OF UPDATE


UPDATE 19/09/2008 NEWS ALERT

U.S. secretary of state Condoleeza Rice warns Russia from pursuing its actual choices that might lead Moscow on a "one-way path to self-imposed isolation and irrelevance".

In addition to the Georgia conflict where U.S. and Russian warships are already close to each other, the Russian donation of some aged bombers to Venezuela might be hinting at further Russian plans to oppose the U.S. at very sensible points of North American interest.



END OF UPDATE


UPDATE 23/09/2008 NEWS ALERT

Géorgie:
L'Union européenne devrait déployer "un peu plus de 300" observateurs en Géorgie au lieu de 200. [BFM TV / France]

French sources indicate: The European Union might send "something more than 300" observers to Georgia instead of 200 previously planned.

END OF UPDATE


UPDATE 12/11/2008 NEWS ALERT

The European Union and Russia

[Summary of news from Al-Jazeera TV, international edition / November 12, and from People's Daily online, Chinese edition / November 11]

The European Union EU decided on Monday to resume partnership talks with Russia. Lithuania opposes the EU decision and states that Russia hasn't fulfilled the ceasefire deal with Georgia. In fact, Russia has recognised Georgia's former provinces South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states and maintains several thousands of troops in both regions. People's Daily reported that Georgia launched a protest against South Ossetia for having invaded the frontier region of Georgia with some 80 soldiers on November 8. A Georgian settlement with 1000 inhabitants has been overrun. Peasants are reported to flee from that area.

Russia has called for a new European security umbrella and threatened to deploy short range missiles in Kaliningrad. The Russian seaport of Kaliningrad is an enclave between Poland and Lithuania. As was earlier reported, the U.S. have installed a missile battery in Poland that should be able to intercept long-range missiles from Iran, this military measure being strongly opposed by the Russian government.

Nevertheless, EU has to come to terms with Russia as Europe depends on Russia for much of its energy. Russia has the world's largest known natural gas reserves. Earlier this year, Russia already cut gas supplies to Ukraine over a debt debate.

Furthermore, Russia's huge cash reserves could help Europe's ailing economies.

Russia, country of 140 M people, is still a significant global power and an important trade partner for Europe. Therefore, EU wants to narrow differences before next G-20 summit in the United States.


END OF UPDATE


UPDATE 21/11/2008 NEWS ALERT

Intelligence Agencies:
U.S. Decline and Global Unrest

A new report published by the U.S. National Intelligence Community (NIC) predicts U.S. decline and global unrest:
- U.S. influence is on the decline.
- U.S. dollar will decline over the next two decades.
- U.S. will share "world power" status with China and India by 2025.
- Global trends forecasting a tense, unstable world that is shadowed by war.
- Some European nations could be taken over by organised crime.
[Source: Al-Jazeera]


END OF UPDATE

Obama officially nominated


Only some minutes ago, Barack Obama has been officially nominated by acclamation as the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party on their convent in Denver, Colorado.
Obama already announced Joe Biden, Senator of Delaware and a former presidential candidate himself, to become the Democrats' candidate running mate for vice-presidency.

Monday, August 18, 2008

伊朗的最新火箭和新型战头机


=> => => 看近况在下! <= <= <=



إيران تطلق بنجاح صاروخا يمكنه حمل قمر اصطناعي
الصاروخ الجديد الإيراني



طائرة قاصفة جديدة


昨天伊朗成功发射了携带“希望”号卫星的“使者”号火箭。另外伊朗空军装备新型战斗机飞行三千公里不需加油。

UPDATE 22-24/08/2008:

伊朗称将在10年内把首名宇航员送入太空用《使者》火箭。

伊朗电视在2006年申说了他们的新型战头机比美海军的《大黄蜂》F-18一样,但是俄罗斯2007年卖给伊朗的二百五十架Su-30MKM战头机比F-18很想象的。因此俄罗斯的战机比伊朗最新的《雷电》战机也可能相同的。但是F-18 的旧时难题是短程,不是《雷电》的难题。


伊朗的《雷电》与俄罗斯的Su-30MKM
都也是轰炸机



美军的《大黄蜂》
近来的型号EA-18G


根据以色列恐惧伊朗展开核武器,从此《雷电》战头机与伊朗的《流星3》远程导弹都可以对以色列进行打击。


德国日报《世界》在七月十九日出版了以色列教授的文件分析了中东近况,文件的著者《本·莫里斯》是《本·古里翁》大学有名的教授。他说的是因为伊朗的核武发展大计所以以色列应该打击伊朗在2008年的末期

伊朗革命卫队高官称“手指不离扳机”



Sunday, August 17, 2008

Paraguay: New Member of the Latin American Revolution

August 15 Agosto:
Inauguration of newly elected president Fernando Lugo.
Toma de posesión del nuevo presidente Fernando Lugo.



Lugo promete combatir contra la pobreza durante su gestión:
"Reconstruimos el sueño de justicia y equidad social."
"Prometió salvar los niños de la calle y dar un futuro a los jóvenes."

El presidente afirma que se suma al cambio que ocurre en latínoamerica. Signo de ése: Entre los invitados hay Hugo Chavez, el presidente de la República de Venezuela y la portavoz de las naciónes no alineadas. Otro invitado, el presidente de la República de Ecuador Rafael Correa, habla de Fidel Castro y Hugo Chavez como los dos lideres de la nueva revolución latínoamericana.

Lugo says he would fight against poverty during his period of office:
"Lets restore the dream of justice and social equality."
"I promise to save the street urchins and offer a future to young people."

The president confirms he would dedicate himself to the change that is developing in Latin America. A sign of that: Among his guests is Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela and spokesman of the non-aligned nations. Another guest, the president of Ecuador Rafael Correa, praises Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez as the two leaders of a new Latin American revolution.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Voice of Palestine Died مات محمود درويش

Only some hours ago, Al-Jazeera reported the funeral of Mahmoud Darwish, best-known Palestinian poet abroad. He found his last rest on a cemetery in the new quarter of Ramallah where his funeral took place in the presence of a delegation from Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.

One might ask why it's just the death of Mahmoud Darwish that is being mentioned in my newsblog as there are so many others dying those days, in Palestine or elsewhere in the Middle East.

The reason is that Darwish has been mentioned years before by BLUEPRINT magazine and in the frame of my view on Arabic literature, accessible from the BLUEPRINT main page. He has been presented as a witness and voice of the Palestinian people who are still suffering from al-Nakba النكبة, the catastrophe of loosing their homeland.
Furthermore, I remember having seen a booklet of his poetry in the German translation and which I found on a regional German bookfair.

Therefore, I think it's worth to remind my visitors of that small text I once presented on my website and that might be a hint at how Palestinian people are really feeling today:


Please note !
I am an Arab

My hair is like coal
My eyes are like coffee

Particular signs:
A keffyé on my head with its rope well tied
And my palm is hard like a stone
Crushing the other when shaking hands

My favourite dishes are
Olive oil and thyme

My address:
I come from an isolated village
Where the streets don't have names any longer
And everybody, in the quarry and in the fields as well,
Is fond of communism

Please note !
I am an Arab - And now you are furious !


UPDATE August 14, 2008:
Today, AL-JAZEERA TV (English broadcast) dedicated part of its program to Mahmoud Darwish. We learnt that Darwish was a member of the PLO Executive Committee for a certain time but no hardliner at all. Such, many voices from all over the world now mourn the loss of a peace-loving man and a great poet.



The following lines from Mahmoud Darwish I found on the webblog of some Saudi-Arabian translator who recently sent me a comment:

..موسيقى
في أعماقِي موسيقى خفيةٌ
ِأخشَى عليهَا
..منَ العزفِ المنفرد

Deep inside me,
there lies a hidden symphony,
I fear for it from solo playing.