12/27/11
German industry leaders see no 2012 recession - by Gernot Heller
The German government expects growth in 2011 to be 3 percent and then slowing to 1 percent in 2012. The Economy Ministry denied on Monday a report in Focus magazine that this forecast would be cut.
Several independent institute have lowered their 2012 forecasts to a range of between a slight contraction to growth of just under 1 percent.
Hans Heinrich Driftmann, head of the DIHK Chamber of Industry and Commerce, added: "We're expecting growth of 2 percent next year." He said he expected more jobs to be added to the labor market.
For more: German industry leaders see no 2012 recession | Reuters
Music Industry: Lenny Kravitz moving into Miami condo he designed
The singer-cum-interior decorator, 47, is taking an apartment at the Paramount Bay condo at 2020 North Bayshore Drive. And well he should. His New York company, Kravitz Design, did all the amenities for the 47-floor, 346 unit tower including the spa, lobby, pool area, club room and business lounge
Kravitz showed off his work Monday night, and it was evident that being back in Miami — the Biscayne Corridor, to be exact — feels good.“I grew up here on and off,’’ he said from a model unit. “My mother’s side is from the Bahamas, and a lot of my relatives settled here. Not South Beach. This is the part of Miami that I knew.’’ [His late mom is Roxie Roker, who played Helen Willis in The Jeffersons].
Note EU-Digest: Lenny Kravitz toured Europe from 16 October to 29 November this year which also coincided with the release of his new album "Black and White America".
For more: Lenny Kravitz moving into Miami condo he designed - People - MiamiHerald.com
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Note EU-Digest: Lenny Kravitz toured Europe from 16 October to 29 November this year which also coincided with the release of his new album "Black and White America".
For more: Lenny Kravitz moving into Miami condo he designed - People - MiamiHerald.com
The eagle has landed - in Europe - by Nelson Schwartz
As Europe battles its debt crisis, businesses and financial firms from the United States are swooping, making loans and snapping up assets owned by banks - from the mortgage on a luxury Miami hotel to Dublin's tallest office block.
The sales are taking place because European banks are scrambling to raise capital and shrink their balance sheets - often under orders from regulators.
Huw van Steenis, an analyst with Morgan Stanley, estimates that European financial institutions will unload up to $US3 trillion in assets over the next 18 months.
The sales are taking place because European banks are scrambling to raise capital and shrink their balance sheets - often under orders from regulators.
Huw van Steenis, an analyst with Morgan Stanley, estimates that European financial institutions will unload up to $US3 trillion in assets over the next 18 months.
12/26/11
Aircraft Safety: Turning off your electronic gadgets while in flight may be a good idea - by Adam Christy and Kelly Gross
A new investigation by USA today says that turning off your electronic gadgets while in flight, may not be necessary anymore.
Ernesto Martinez has been a pilot for 7 years, and he says no tool has made flying easier than his iPad. With maps, airplane and airport information, approach planes, and sectionals, Ernesto's iPad has everything he needs.
"If you have a large aircraft and there are many people on their phones, it can get into the cockpit,” said Martinez. The study looks at hundreds of documents that found electronic devices give of electromagnetic interference, but that the amount is small.
“Just turn it off, because you are really putting your life at risk,” says Martinez.
For more: A new investigation by USA today says that turning off your electronic gadgets while in flight, may not be necessary anymore. - KTXL
Ernesto Martinez has been a pilot for 7 years, and he says no tool has made flying easier than his iPad. With maps, airplane and airport information, approach planes, and sectionals, Ernesto's iPad has everything he needs.
"If you have a large aircraft and there are many people on their phones, it can get into the cockpit,” said Martinez. The study looks at hundreds of documents that found electronic devices give of electromagnetic interference, but that the amount is small.
“Just turn it off, because you are really putting your life at risk,” says Martinez.
For more: A new investigation by USA today says that turning off your electronic gadgets while in flight, may not be necessary anymore. - KTXL
High Speed Rail: China tests 300-mph train
China launched a super-rapid test train over the weekend which is capable of travelling 310-miles per hour (500 kilometers per hour), state media said on Monday, as the country moves ahead with its railway ambitions despite serious problems on its high-speed network.
The train, made by a subsidiary of CSR Corp Ltd , China's largest train maker, is designed to resemble an ancient Chinese sword, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
It "will provide useful reference for current high-speed railway operations", it quoted train expert Shen Zhiyun as saying.
For more: How fast?! China tests 300-mph train - World news - Asia-Pacific - China - msnbc.com
The train, made by a subsidiary of CSR Corp Ltd , China's largest train maker, is designed to resemble an ancient Chinese sword, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
It "will provide useful reference for current high-speed railway operations", it quoted train expert Shen Zhiyun as saying.
For more: How fast?! China tests 300-mph train - World news - Asia-Pacific - China - msnbc.com
Czech Republic: Living Havel's truth in the Arab world - by Mark Levine
During the last year of revolutionary protests across the Arab world, one of the things that most surprised me was how little Vaclav Havel and the Velvet Revolution he helped to lead, was mentioned by activists or even commentators as a model for understanding, or engaging in, the present revolutions across the Middle East and North Africa. In so many ways, Havel was a harbinger of the young revolutionaries who have pushed Arab countries towards the brink of freedom.He was liberal and cosmopolitan, an artist and a writer. No doubt, he would have been one of the most interesting bloggers of his generation if the medium existed during his dissident days (although it's hard to know whether the absurdist aesthetic that informed his philosophical and artistic production would have translated well to Twitter). He was also a lover of great rock music; indeed, the rock 'n roll soundtrack that helped propel the Prague Spring in 1968 is not that different in attitude and substance from the soundtrack of the revolutionaries of Tehran, Tunis or Tahrir.
Indeed, the Iranian Government, for one, recognised the potential for the Velvet Revolution model to be applied to the Middle East, which is why it derisively referred to protesters of the Green Movement as "velvet revolutionaries". It well understood what a threat a culturally grounded rebellion against the political status quo can be, which is why it used anything but velvet gloves in repressing the movement in 2009.
For more: Living Havel's truth in the Arab world - Opinion - Al Jazeera English
Moody's maintains Denmark rating at Aaa
Denmark retains its Aaa credit rating, but its long-term growth prospects are a cause for concern, ratings agency Moody's said late Thursday.
"The government's top-notch ratings reflect Denmark's stable macroeconomic and political environment and relatively healthy government balance sheet," Moody's said in a statement. It added that Denmark's rating outlook remains "stable."
The triple-A rating, the highest possible, appears to confirm Denmark's status as a relatively better economic performer during the ongoing European debt crisis.
For more: Moody's maintains Denmark rating at Aaa - Xinhua | English.news.cn
"The government's top-notch ratings reflect Denmark's stable macroeconomic and political environment and relatively healthy government balance sheet," Moody's said in a statement. It added that Denmark's rating outlook remains "stable."
The triple-A rating, the highest possible, appears to confirm Denmark's status as a relatively better economic performer during the ongoing European debt crisis.
For more: Moody's maintains Denmark rating at Aaa - Xinhua | English.news.cn
Libya Government to Integrate Former Revolutionaries
Libya's transitional government said on Sunday that as of next month it will begin to register thousands of former rebel fighters who helped to overthrow the former regime of Muammar Gaddafi in an eight-month long armed struggle in order to integrate them within the security services.
Libya's interim defence minister, Osama al-Juwaili made the announcement on Sunday, as the transitional government will be testing the government's ability to get the rebel leaders to relinquish command of their fighters.
Planning minister Issa al-Tuijer said the plan calls for all former rebels, many of whom are still organised in disparate militias, to register and make clear if they want to join the national security forces.
For more: Libya Government to Integrate Former Revolutionaries
Libya's interim defence minister, Osama al-Juwaili made the announcement on Sunday, as the transitional government will be testing the government's ability to get the rebel leaders to relinquish command of their fighters.
Planning minister Issa al-Tuijer said the plan calls for all former rebels, many of whom are still organised in disparate militias, to register and make clear if they want to join the national security forces.
For more: Libya Government to Integrate Former Revolutionaries
France accuses Syria of trying to dupe monitors
France said on Saturday it did not know who was behind two deadly suicide bombings in Syria, but accused President Bashar al-Assad's regime of trying to hide its own brutal tactics from foreign observers.
Syria has blamed the twin bombings on al Qaeda extremists, but some observers suspect Damascus itself might be trying to manipulate public opinion just as an Arab League monitoring mission gets under way.
For more: France accuses Syria of trying to dupe monitors
Syria has blamed the twin bombings on al Qaeda extremists, but some observers suspect Damascus itself might be trying to manipulate public opinion just as an Arab League monitoring mission gets under way.
For more: France accuses Syria of trying to dupe monitors
12/25/11
ESA astronaut André Kuipers arrives at the Space Station
ESA astronaut André Kuipers and crewmates Oleg Kononeko and Don Pettit docked today with the International Space Station in their Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft. They will work aboard the Station now for five months and return to Earth in May.
ESA’s fourth long mission on the International Space Station began on Wednesday, when the Soyuz rocket roared into the evening sky from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
After circling the globe for the last two days, the spacecraft docked at 15:19 GMT (16:19 CET), 23 December.
For more: ESA Portal - Dutch ESA astronaut André Kuipers arrives at the Space Station
ESA’s fourth long mission on the International Space Station began on Wednesday, when the Soyuz rocket roared into the evening sky from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
After circling the globe for the last two days, the spacecraft docked at 15:19 GMT (16:19 CET), 23 December.
For more: ESA Portal - Dutch ESA astronaut André Kuipers arrives at the Space Station
European Space Exploration: Mysterious fireball was part of Soyuz
The mysterious fireball observed above Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and France on Christmas Eve was the re-entry of the third stage of a Soyuz rocket that transported three astronauts to space, the Royal Observatory of Belgium said on Sunday.A Russian Soyuz rocket carrying the astronauts - Oleg Kononenko of Russia, Andre Kuipers of the Netherlands and Don Pettit of the United States - to the International Space Station, lifted off on Wednesday from Kazakhstan's Baikonour space centre.
For more: Mysterious fireball was part of Soyuz | News24
EU does not want to import another Cyprus-like problem says Edita Tahiri
Europe's newest nation has hailed a decision by the EU not to grant candidate status to Serbia due to its non-constructive role in dialogue talks with Kosovo but to reward Pristina with advancement toward the 27-member bloc.
“The EU has made clear that they don't want to import another problem like Cyprus,” Kosovo Deputy PM Edita Tahiri said in an exclusive interview with Sunday's Zaman on Dec. 15. The EU accepted a divided Cyprus despite its refusal to approve a UN plan on reunification in 2004. Cyprus has been at the heart of many problems between Turkey and the EU. Claiming that Serbia is playing double standards for membership in the EU while urging Serbs in Kosovo not to honor their commitments, Tahiri, head of the Kosovo delegation in dialogue with Serbia, called on Belgrade to im-plement what they agreed upon.
She also welcomed Turkey’s role in the Balkans, dismissing claims that it is an outsider power. “Turkey, given its historic and cultural relations with the Balkans and given its economic potential, really can establish bilateral relations with each country in the Balkans,” Tahiri said. She invited more Turkish investment in the economy and in education in Kosovo
For more: Edita Tahiri: EU does not want to import another Cyprus-like problem
US Republican Candidate Romney Versus Europe
The Wall Street Journal has an interview with Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential candidate and former governor of Massachusetts. Says Mr. Romney: "We have a choice in America to be remaining a merit-based opportunity society that follows the Constitution, or to follow the path of Europe. And I'm the guy who believes in the former. I believe America got it right. I believe Europe got it wrong. I believe America must remain the leader of the world. . . . I am absolutely committed to an American century. I see this as an American century."
I understand the shorthand distinction between and American free-market model and a European social-democrat type welfare state, but Mr. Romney, as he goes forward, may want to think carefully about using such a broad brush to condemn Europe.
Who is he talking about, exactly? Margaret Thatcher, whose economic policies were as free-market oriented as Ronald Reagan's possibly more so? Vaclav Havel? Lech Walesa? John Paul II? What does it mean for the NATO alliance if candidate Romney or President Romney is going around declaring that a whole bunch of countries in Europe that America is treaty-bound to defend, countries that have been fighting alongside us in Afghanistan and, in the case of some but not all of them, also participated in Iraq, are "wrong," and that America should not follow their path?
For more: Romney Versus Europe :: The Future of Capitalism
I understand the shorthand distinction between and American free-market model and a European social-democrat type welfare state, but Mr. Romney, as he goes forward, may want to think carefully about using such a broad brush to condemn Europe.
Who is he talking about, exactly? Margaret Thatcher, whose economic policies were as free-market oriented as Ronald Reagan's possibly more so? Vaclav Havel? Lech Walesa? John Paul II? What does it mean for the NATO alliance if candidate Romney or President Romney is going around declaring that a whole bunch of countries in Europe that America is treaty-bound to defend, countries that have been fighting alongside us in Afghanistan and, in the case of some but not all of them, also participated in Iraq, are "wrong," and that America should not follow their path?
For more: Romney Versus Europe :: The Future of Capitalism
U.S. Unveils Plan to Shield $10 Trillion Online Marketplace - by Juliann Francis
The U.S. government plans to spend $56.3 million on technology aimed at safeguarding the online marketplace and those who operate in it, including consumers, businesses and government agencies.
“The fact is that the old password and username combination we often use to verify people is no longer good enough,” and leaves Internet users “vulnerable to ID and data theft,” Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said at a conference today in Washington. “Nowadays, the world does an estimated $10 trillion of business online.”
The plan, called the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace, “charts a course for the public and private sectors to collaborate to raise the level of trust” connected to online identities, according to the plan.
Note EU-Digest: this smells of infringement on personal privacy rights.
For more: U.S. Unveils Plan to Shield $10 Trillion Online Marketplace - Bloomberg
“The fact is that the old password and username combination we often use to verify people is no longer good enough,” and leaves Internet users “vulnerable to ID and data theft,” Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said at a conference today in Washington. “Nowadays, the world does an estimated $10 trillion of business online.”
The plan, called the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace, “charts a course for the public and private sectors to collaborate to raise the level of trust” connected to online identities, according to the plan.
Note EU-Digest: this smells of infringement on personal privacy rights.
For more: U.S. Unveils Plan to Shield $10 Trillion Online Marketplace - Bloomberg
Cubans celebrate Christmas ahead of pope's visit
Cuban faithful celebrating Christmas say they have plenty to cheer this year as they prepare for the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI, the first visit by a pontiff to the Communist-run island since John Paul II's historic tour nearly 14 years ago.
The visit, expected in March, coincides with the 400th anniversary of Cuba's patron saint and follows years of lobbying by Roman Catholic officials on the island.
The timing also appears to reward the larger role the church has assumed in Cuba in recent years. Havana Archbishop Jaime Ortega personally negotiated the release of political prisoners in 2010 and 2011, and church magazines have become a forum for articles offering advice to Cuban leaders on a process of free-market reforms begun by President Raul Castro.
For more: Cubans celebrate Christmas ahead of pope's visit - Boston.com
The visit, expected in March, coincides with the 400th anniversary of Cuba's patron saint and follows years of lobbying by Roman Catholic officials on the island.
The timing also appears to reward the larger role the church has assumed in Cuba in recent years. Havana Archbishop Jaime Ortega personally negotiated the release of political prisoners in 2010 and 2011, and church magazines have become a forum for articles offering advice to Cuban leaders on a process of free-market reforms begun by President Raul Castro.
For more: Cubans celebrate Christmas ahead of pope's visit - Boston.com
12/24/11
Jerusalem celebrates Christmas at Holy Sepulchre Church
The Nusseibehs are an ancient Jerusalem Muslim family, who date back to the time of the Prophet Mohammed. They hold the keys to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Two hours after sunset each night, they lock the monks inside the Church and let them out before dawn each morning - as their ancestors have for hundreds of years.
Wajih Nusseibeh is the current Door Keeper and Custodian of the Church.
"It's a job handed down from father to son, since the time of the first Muslim conquest of Jerusalem in the seventh century," he told Deutsche Welle. "We have done it for 1,300 years, though there was one gap of 88 years, when the Christian Crusaders ruled Jerusalem during the 12th century."
For more: Jerusalem celebrates Christmas at Holy Sepulchre Church | World | Deutsche Welle | 24.12.2011
Wajih Nusseibeh is the current Door Keeper and Custodian of the Church.
"It's a job handed down from father to son, since the time of the first Muslim conquest of Jerusalem in the seventh century," he told Deutsche Welle. "We have done it for 1,300 years, though there was one gap of 88 years, when the Christian Crusaders ruled Jerusalem during the 12th century."
For more: Jerusalem celebrates Christmas at Holy Sepulchre Church | World | Deutsche Welle | 24.12.2011
Italy: Fiat gets early Christmas present from Italian labor
Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne got an early Christmas present Friday when Italy's labor unions ratified a new labor agreement.
Earlier this month, Marchionne called the tentative agreement "a historic turning point for Fiat and Fiat Industrial."The agreement, Marchionne said, gives the two companies the ability to use its factories more efficiently with greater flexibility for overtime.
Fiat's labor talks took place against the backdrop of Italy's debt crisis and the growing recognition that the country must reform its economic and labor policies to compete globally.
Note EU-Digest: Marchionne also said Fiat Group, which owns 53.5% of Chrysler expects to post a 2012 trading profit of between 1.6 billion and 2.0 billion euros ($2.1 billion to $2.6 billion).
For more: Fiat gets early Christmas present from Italian labor | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
Earlier this month, Marchionne called the tentative agreement "a historic turning point for Fiat and Fiat Industrial."The agreement, Marchionne said, gives the two companies the ability to use its factories more efficiently with greater flexibility for overtime.Fiat's labor talks took place against the backdrop of Italy's debt crisis and the growing recognition that the country must reform its economic and labor policies to compete globally.
Note EU-Digest: Marchionne also said Fiat Group, which owns 53.5% of Chrysler expects to post a 2012 trading profit of between 1.6 billion and 2.0 billion euros ($2.1 billion to $2.6 billion).
For more: Fiat gets early Christmas present from Italian labor | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
The Netherlands benefits little from its foreign students
Most foreign students who attend Dutch universities leave as soon as they have their degrees and do not contribute to the local economy, the Volkskrant reports on Friday.
The claim is made by Sander van den Eijnden, head of Nuffic, the organisation which stimulates the internationalisation of higher education in the Netherlands.
Van den Eijden tells the paper better integration of foreign students would bring advantages for the Dutch economy by encouraging more to stay.
'Our strong point is our English language abilities, that is why they come here,' Van den Eijden is quoted as saying. 'But it is also our weakness because foreign students are on the edge of society because they do nothing in Dutch.
For more: DutchNews.nl - The Netherlands benefits little from its foreign students
The claim is made by Sander van den Eijnden, head of Nuffic, the organisation which stimulates the internationalisation of higher education in the Netherlands.
Van den Eijden tells the paper better integration of foreign students would bring advantages for the Dutch economy by encouraging more to stay.
'Our strong point is our English language abilities, that is why they come here,' Van den Eijden is quoted as saying. 'But it is also our weakness because foreign students are on the edge of society because they do nothing in Dutch.
For more: DutchNews.nl - The Netherlands benefits little from its foreign students
12/23/11
Real Estate USA: Home values: Losses in South Florida top $6 billion - by Paul Owers
South Florida homes and condominiums continue to lose a stunning amount of value, but the pain is at least diminishing.
Homes and condos in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties are expected to lose $6.5 billion in value this year, real estate website Zillow.com said Thursday.
As bad as that is, it was more than four times worse in 2010, when $28.6 billion disappeared. Nationally, U.S. homes are on pace to lose $681 billion in value, down 35 percent from 2010.
For more: Home values: Losses in South Florida top $6 billion - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Homes and condos in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties are expected to lose $6.5 billion in value this year, real estate website Zillow.com said Thursday.
As bad as that is, it was more than four times worse in 2010, when $28.6 billion disappeared. Nationally, U.S. homes are on pace to lose $681 billion in value, down 35 percent from 2010.
For more: Home values: Losses in South Florida top $6 billion - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
EU ban excessive credit card surcharges
A European Union Consumer Rights Directive will ban businesses in many sectors, including airlines, from imposing above-cost surcharges on payments from mid-2014.
Consumer group singled out low-cost airlines, such as Ryanair and Britain's Flybe and EasyJet , which it said charge fees per passenger, per leg of a journey, even though they only have to process one transaction.
Airline passengers have suffered the most as a result of these rediculous charges. Over the past seven years some airline companies have increased their credit and debit card charges 15-fold per return flight, when the true cost of such a transaction is next to nothing . Worse still is that this fee is charged per passenger. So when a family of four books a return trip from Britain to Spain today a charge of euro 58 is added just for the privilege of paying by credit card.
A European parliamentarian from Denmark said: "Actions by us in the EU, like this ban against excessive credit card surcharges probably is one of the many reasons why the powerful global financial industry is constantly undermining the European Union and seeking its destruction."
EU-Digest
Consumer group singled out low-cost airlines, such as Ryanair and Britain's Flybe and EasyJet , which it said charge fees per passenger, per leg of a journey, even though they only have to process one transaction.
Airline passengers have suffered the most as a result of these rediculous charges. Over the past seven years some airline companies have increased their credit and debit card charges 15-fold per return flight, when the true cost of such a transaction is next to nothing . Worse still is that this fee is charged per passenger. So when a family of four books a return trip from Britain to Spain today a charge of euro 58 is added just for the privilege of paying by credit card.
A European parliamentarian from Denmark said: "Actions by us in the EU, like this ban against excessive credit card surcharges probably is one of the many reasons why the powerful global financial industry is constantly undermining the European Union and seeking its destruction."
EU-Digest
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