European Rail industry on track for gains in market share - by Robert Wright

Rail tends to make rapid gains in market share as soon as new, dedicated high-speed rail lines are opened, Johannes Ludewig, executive director of the Community of European Railways and Infrastructure Companies, says.

He predicts significant gains for rail’s market share in Italy after the opening of two new high-speed sections in the last two years completed the Rome to Milan high-speed line, cutting journey times by an hour to two hours 45 minutes.

Rail’s main competitive advantage is that, while trains never match aircraft for speed, shorter check-in times and railway stations’ central locations give rail time and convenience advantages for short-haul journeys. In Europe, air’s market share in long-distance travel has been falling almost continually since the continent’s first dedicated high-speed rail line linked Paris to Lyons in 1981.

For more: FT.com / Reports - Business class: Rail industry on track for gains in market share

China: Guess who's not coming to dinner? - by Aileen McCabe

China's richest are worried that Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are coming to Beijing later this month to strong-arm them into making charitable donations.

The Microsoft founder and investment guru are bringing "The Giving Pledge" campaign to the Chinese capital on the heels of their success in the U.S. convincing 40 mega-rich to donate half their wealth to good causes -about $125 billion U.S. -either while they are alive or on their death beds. But according to Chinese media, several of the 50 invited Chinese guests to the dinner Gates and Buffett will host have declined and many have phoned to ask for clarification.

For more: Guess who's not coming to dinner?

Europe must react to Turkey’s vote - by Sinan Ulgen

Turkey’s referendum on Sunday saw a package of constitutional amendments win the support of 58 per cent of the Turkish population.

Perhaps the most significant change brought by the referendum campaign is the greater visibility brought to the objective of EU membership. The “yes” campaign made reference to the EU to convince Turkish public opinion of the package’s benefits. And today’s statement by the European Commission welcoming the adoption of the package underscored the growing interest of the EU in Turkey’s domestic dynamics.

For more: FT.com / Comment / Opinion - Europe must react to Turkey’s vote

European Satellites reveal Russian fires worst in 14 years

More wildfires have burned around the Russian capital this year than in the last decade and a half, according to sensors aboard European ESA’s observation satellites. The forest and peat bog fires ignited this summer amid an unprecedented heat wave of up to 40ºC.

Working like thermometers in the sky, the Along Track Scanning Radiometer and the Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer on ESA’s ERS-2 and Envisat satellites measure thermal-infrared radiation to take the temperature of Earth’s land surface.

Flames reach temperatures that are detected by these sensors and confirm the presence of fire.

For more: ESA Portal - Satellites reveal Russian fires worst in 14 years

Airbus in talks to sell 150 aircrafts to China

EADS unit Airbus is in talks to sell at least 150 aircraft to China in a deal worth around $16 billion at list prices, French daily La Tribune reported on Monday.

The order could be signed during the visit of the Chinese President to France in November. Talks cover the firm sale of 120 A320 aircrafts, 20 A330s and 10 A350s.

A memorandum of understanding had already been signed for the A350 purchases but this had not previously been converted to a firm deal, the paper said. Including options, the order could reach 200 aircraft, including A380s, the paper said. Airbus declined to comment.

For more: Airbus in talks to sell 150 aircrafts to China: Report - The Economic Times

Will Erdogan be able to take Turkey in a new direction after major win in referendum

"Nothing is as permanent as change", but we must also recognize that the referendum result is a triumph for Erdogan's ideology. He has made his country richer and stronger in the international community, by not only making it more democratic, but also more religious. 

If Erdogan also wins the 2011 election he will become the longest-serving, and most influential, Turkish leader since Kemal Ataturk. His biggest challenges will now be to bring the Turkish secular elite, who hate him, and the poor who have very little more than their religious beliefs, together, and finally recognize Turkey's Kurds as a national minority.  For the sake of Turkey let us hope he will succeed and turn Mr. Erdogan into a truly great political leader.

For more go to EU-Digest

EU tells Turkey to implement reforms

About 58 percent voted in favor of government-proposed amendments to the constitution crafted after a 1980 military coup in a referendum Sunday.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said Monday the changes address "long-standing priorities" for Turkey's membership.He says Turkey needs to enact laws to implement the reforms as well as a new constitution that would bring its democracy more in line with European standards.

For more: EU tells Turkey to implement reforms | ajc.com

EU tells Turkey to implement reforms

About 58 percent voted in favor of government-proposed amendments to the constitution crafted after a 1980 military coup in a referendum Sunday. EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said Monday the changes address "long-standing priorities" for Turkey's membership.

He says Turkey needs to enact laws to implement the reforms as well as a new constitution that would bring its democracy more in line with European standards.

For more: EU tells Turkey to implement reforms | ajc.com

Basketball: Team USA beats Turkey for FIBA hoops gold

A young Team USA has won the country’s first FIBA world basketball championship in 16 years.
Kevin Durant scored 28 points – including seven 3-pointers – as the United States beat the tournament’s host, Turkey, 81-64 in the gold medal game in Istanbul on Sunday. The game capped off a perfect tournament for Team USA, which won all five of its group games before going 4-0 in the knockout stage.

For more: Team USA beats Turkey for FIBA hoops gold – This Just In - CNN.com Blogs

ECB outraged by Slovak refusal to aid Greece-sources

Slovakia set a bad example by refusing support for a loan to Greece, and the European Central Bank will not support euro entry by others unless sure they will not take similar steps in the future, ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet was quoted as saying.


A memo from this week's meeting of euro zone finance ministers, seen by Reuters, said Trichet was outraged at the refusal by Slovakia to participate in the Greek bailout.


Several EU officials said privately Slovakia could be snubbed by some of the 26 other EU member states because its decision is likely to complicate talks on the bloc's budget, making the rich net payers less willing to grant aid to poorer countries.

For more: ECB outraged by Slovak refusal to aid Greece-sources | Reuters

The Netherlands: Keynote speech at 9/11 demo by Dutch Right Wing Politician Geert Wilders - by Frank Kools

Mr Wilders' speech was held on the ninth anniversary of the 11 September terrorist attacks. The leader of the Freedom Party (PVV) - who might soon be part of the Dutch Government, took his time before he called on New Yorkers to “draw a line” and oppose "the powers of darkness, the force of hatred", a reference to Islam. "A tolerant society is not a suicidal society," he said.

For more: Keynote speech at 9/11 demo for unknown Wilders | Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Divisive Turkish referendum passes

A divisive national referendum in Turkey over 26 proposed amendments to the country's constitution was set to become a resounding victory for the prime minister and the ruling party, results showed.
With more than 96 percent of the votes counted, 58 percent of voters favored the referendum, while 42 percent were opposed, Turkey's electoral board reported. Geographically, Western provinces along Turkey's Aegean and Mediterranean coasts voted against the reform package, while much of the central Anatolian highlands and eastern Turkey voted in favor.

The proposed amendments include articles that would allow collective bargaining for public sector workers and affirmative action measures for women. But when asked what was the most important achievement of the reform package, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made it clear that the main goal was to alter the judiciary system.

Analysts say Sunday's vote is the latest confrontation in a power struggle between Erdogan's Islamist-rooted party and Turkey's secularist establishment, which have repeatedly clashed since AKP swept to power eight years ago.

The AKP narrowly avoided being banned from politics in 2008 when it was fined by the country's constitutional court -- one of the last bastions of secular opposition -- for alleged anti-secular activities. The court has also blocked legislation to lift a ban on Islamic headscarves at public universities.

For more: Divisive Turkish referendum passes - CNN.com

Sarkozy's France: Je t'aime, moi non plus

“THE French people,” he announced on the day he was sworn in as president, “have demanded change.” Proclaiming “a new era in French politics”, the dynamic young leader swept into office, vowing to modernise the face of government and the country. Despite a promising start, however, the global economic shock, combined with divisions on the political right, took their toll. In the end, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing lost to the Socialists in 1981, after just one term in office.

Over the past 30 years, Mr Giscard d’Estaing is the only French president not to have won re-election. Now, for the first time, the spectre of a one-term presidency has begun to hover menacingly over France’s current leader, Nicolas Sarkozy. His popularity has dropped to record lows. Some 55% of the French say they want the left to return to power at the next presidential election, in 2012. One poll suggests that, in a second-round run-off, Mr Sarkozy would be beaten by Dominique Strauss-Kahn, a socialist who is now the IMF boss in Washington, by a crushing 59% to 41%.

For more: Sarkozy's France: Je t'aime, moi non plus | The Economist

Basketball:USA will meet host Turkey in final

Both teams were unbeaten going into the semi, but Lithuania could find no way back after trailing 42-27 at half-time.   In the final, US will play hosts Turkey, who edged out Serbia 83-82 in the other semi-final.

For more: BBC Sport - Basketball - USA will meet hosts Turkey in World Championship final

Turkey: Controversial reforms referendum divides Turkish population - a threat to secularism

A referendum on a government reform package is jamming a wedge in the Turkish population. Intended to boost democracy, opponents fear the reforms could give the government more power and endanger Turkey's secularism.

For more: Controversial reforms referendum divides Turkish population | Europe | Deutsche Welle | 11.09.2010

Dutch Anti-Islam Politician Wilders to Speak at Mosque Protest - by urjen van de Pol

Geert Wilders, the leader of the anti-Islamic Freedom Party that’s seeking a share of power in the Netherlands, will speak in New York tomorrow against plans to build a mosque near the World Trade Center site.
Wilders said on his website that he was invited by the Stop Islamization Of America movement, which is organizing a protest at the site at 2 p.m. tomorrow, the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

“No mosque near Ground Zero!” Wilders wrote on his Twitter Inc. account Aug. 10. “Booked flight and hotel New York today. Good feeling. Important speech. Nobody will stop me.”

For more: Dutch Anti-Islam Politician Wilders to Speak at Mosque Protest - Bloomberg

What to do on 9/11: Instead of burning the Koran, tell the world about Muslim persecution of Christians – by James Corum

The news has been full of groups of idiotic evangelical Protestant groups who want to commemorate the anniversary of the mass murder of 9/11 by burning copies of the Koran. This is a really dumb idea. First of all, burning the Koran will ignite fury in parts of the Muslim world and will lead to Americans and Christians  being targeted for murder. Also, Christians living in Muslim countries will be endangered by the actions of this fringe of American Christians.

Secondly, burning the Koran will only fuel the propaganda that Islam is a victimised, endangered religion – a faith that struck out at America on September 11 in self-defence. If you want to create fertile ground for more radical Islamists, more suicide bombers and more terrorism, this is a good way to do it.

Yet the events of September 11 2001 deserve to be commemorated in a way that will serve a positive end. Congregations of American Christians would serve humanity if, instead of burning Korans to win the attention of the media and public, they staged memorials and placed advertisements illustrating the routine abuse and suffering of millions of Christians who live in Muslim majority nations.

For more: What to do on 9/11: Instead of burning the Koran, tell the world about Muslim persecution of Christians – Telegraph Blogs

Turkish sex researchers: "Size" really does matter after all - by Judy Mandelbaum

Fat is fun! At least, that’s the word from Turkey this week. Researchers at Erciyes University in Kayseri have just completed a year-long study correlating body mass index (BMI) and male sexual performance. Their findings: men with excess body fat last longer in bed. In fact, heavier men were able to make love for an average of 7.3 minutes, while slender men could count themselves lucky if they held on for a mere 108 seconds.
 
The reason? Female hormones. Men with excess fat showed higher levels of the female estradiol sex hormone. This substance apparently disrupted their bodies’ natural “male” neurotransmitter chemicals and slowed their progression towards orgasm. Ironically, the less masculine their bodies appeared, the better lovers they proved to be.


For more: Turkish sex researchers: "Size" really does matter after all - Judy Mandelbaum - Open Salon

EU-Korea FTA remains stalled- by Pallavi Aiyar

Almost a year after the world’s biggest economy, the European Union, initialled a free trade agreement (FTA) with Asian heavyweight South Korea, the process of getting approval for the deal remains stalled. A hoped-for green light from the European Council, which comprises 27 member-states, was not forthcoming on Friday, as EU trade ministers met to try and break the deadlock.

However, officials said approval for the deal was “very close” and might be reached by Monday. Italy has emerged as the most vocal FTA opponent and has been demanding a delay in implementation to give its car sector more time to prepare for the stiffer competition.

Earlier in the month, the European Parliament postponed a decision over the deal after it was unable to agree on the level of safeguards for the automotive sector, in the event of “serious injury” to EU car makers from a surge in Korean exports.

For more: EU-Korea FTA remains stalled

Ireland's dependence on Europe has become a one-way street - by Arthur Beesley

Irelands fiscal problems are coming to the fore again in Europe as the Government wrestles with the Anglo Irish Bank bailout and preparations for a new round of budget cutbacks.

Two years on from the near- death of the banking system, the road ahead is no less dangerous, with market confidence at stake in every single political manoeuvre.

Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan won plaudits from his EU colleagues for his swift efforts to calm the budget deficit, his painful spending cuts portrayed as precisely the sort of action that the Greek authorities should have taken to prevent their economy from falling into the abyss.

For more: Ireland's dependence on Europe has become a one-way street - The Irish Times - Tue, Sep 07, 2010