A stark series of data released on Thursday certify the grim state of the European economy, with unemployment up, GDP sliding, and both economic sentiment and business climate indicators reaching all-time lows. The eurozone's gross domestic product declined by 0.2 percent in the third quarter of 2008 compared with the previous quarter, according to estimates from Eurostat, the EU's statistics office. The EU performed middlingly out of the big three economies, with US GDP declining 0.1 percent and Japanese GDP down 0.5.
A stark series of data released on Thursday certify the grim state of the European economy, with unemployment up, GDP sliding, and both economic sentiment and business climate indicators reaching all-time lows.
The eurozone's gross domestic product declined by 0.2 percent in the third quarter of 2008 compared with the previous quarter, according to estimates from Eurostat, the EU's statistics office.
The EU performed middlingly out of the big three economies, with US GDP declining 0.1 percent and Japanese GDP down 0.5.
As was the case during last summer's Georgia crisis, the EU has once again responded to the first international challenges of 2009 by sending observers, this time to monitor the borders between Gaza and Egypt, and Russia and Ukraine to supervise the supply of gas intended for Europe. Almost simulateneously, it emerged that the Union will dispatch observers to deal with the two crises in a bid to reassert the perceived success of Europe's so-called 'soft power'. Firstly, the Union made known that it will dispatch observers to monitor the border between Egypt and Gaza, hoping to put the ongoing Gaza violence to an end (EurActiv 05/01/09). The border is laced with a network of hundreds of tunnels, bringing not only food and commodities to Gaza, but weapons too. Next, yesterday (7 January) the EU finally agreed to send observers to monitor the supply of gas earmarked for Europe, amid a gas row opposing Russia and Ukraine whereby Moscow accuses Kiev of siphoning off gas destined for European networks. Analysts had been tipping Russia to suggest such a move for some time. At first, the EU appeared reluctant to get involved in what it saw as a bilateral dispute, but its position changed after the situation began to deteriorate (EurActiv 07/01/08).
Almost simulateneously, it emerged that the Union will dispatch observers to deal with the two crises in a bid to reassert the perceived success of Europe's so-called 'soft power'.
Firstly, the Union made known that it will dispatch observers to monitor the border between Egypt and Gaza, hoping to put the ongoing Gaza violence to an end (EurActiv 05/01/09). The border is laced with a network of hundreds of tunnels, bringing not only food and commodities to Gaza, but weapons too.
Next, yesterday (7 January) the EU finally agreed to send observers to monitor the supply of gas earmarked for Europe, amid a gas row opposing Russia and Ukraine whereby Moscow accuses Kiev of siphoning off gas destined for European networks. Analysts had been tipping Russia to suggest such a move for some time. At first, the EU appeared reluctant to get involved in what it saw as a bilateral dispute, but its position changed after the situation began to deteriorate (EurActiv 07/01/08).
It's all a joke - a vast face-saving exercise so that the crisis can officially end while the underlying issues are being ignored, once again.
Oh, and maybe the Russians and Ukrainians will manage to extract some money from the EU for their pains. It can't hurt to try, for sure... In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
German troops did a good job guarding concentration camps a historic while ago. That is likely the reason why Israeli politicians would now welcome such troops guarding the Gaza-Egypt crossings.
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2009/01/weapons-and-iran-trained-fighters-smuggled-into-gaza.html#comme nts
"Look at the conditions in Gaza: more and more, it resembles a big concentration camp."
Second, if you actually read the Zeit online paper he's referring to, you will find that the German's government is considering the participation of German soldiers in an international peacekeeping force under the following conditions: there must be a cease-fire and both parties must approve the international peacekeeping force and the German participation in it. So, please, don't present this as "Jews hiring German military to guard their own concentration camp".
Third, I didn't say Bernhard was stupid, I said his comment was stupid and insulting. "Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
This brief review of Israel's record over the past four decades makes it difficult to resist the conclusion that it has become a rogue state with "an utterly unscrupulous set of leaders". A rogue state habitually violates international law, possesses weapons of mass destruction and practises terrorism - the use of violence against civilians for political purposes. Israel fulfils all of these three criteria; the cap fits and it must wear it. Israel's real aim is not peaceful coexistence with its Palestinian neighbours but military domination.
I am not sure if that list on MOA of "companies to boycott" and "brands to boycott" because they are serving Israeli's interest is accurate but if it is then I suddenly do not have any more questions...then they practically own everything that makes money and it is obvious why USA will never go against them...
Over the last 10 years AOL has invested well over half a billion dollars in Israel. In recognition, it was awarded the Jubilee Award in 1998 by the Israeli Prime Minister.
Let's stay away from "the jews own everything that makes money". This is a divestment campaign targeting companies that do direct investment in Israel. Most economists teach a theoretical framework that has been shown to be fundamentally useless. -- James K. Galbraith
Let's stay away from "the jews own everything that makes money".
there are JEWS that hate this and basically are against their government
The government of Israel is not the government of the Jews, but the government of Israeli citizens...
then they practically own everything that makes money
Who does "they" stand for? "Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
Who does "they" stand for?
if they actually own (one way or another)all those companies or if these companies all invest in Israel heavily ( I can imagine for what reason)
I can imagine for what reason: Israel is a wealthy, westernised consumer culture. Investment improves market access. Also, would you fault AOL for buying up the company that developed the instant messaging protocol ICQ? That sounds like an investment that makes eminent business sense.
This is not to say that they boycott is illegitimate - AOL could have refrained from buying up ICQ on the basis of a boycott of the Israeli economy, which could also have made eminent business sense if a severe boycott was envisaged as a result - and something of this sort was done against South Africa in the 1980's. Most economists teach a theoretical framework that has been shown to be fundamentally useless. -- James K. Galbraith
Because Israel is part of The West™ and because of guilt over the holocaust. Most economists teach a theoretical framework that has been shown to be fundamentally useless. -- James K. Galbraith
Hebrew (עִבְרִית, `Ivrit) is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Modern Hebrew is spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and used for prayer or study in Jewish communities around the world. It is the official language of Israel, though English and Arabic are also used there.
Israel really is a European enclave in the Middle East, culturally.
Many Ashkenazi Jews later migrated, largely eastward, forming communities in non German-speaking areas, including Hungary, Poland, Lithuania, Russia, Eastern Europe, and elsewhere between the 10th and 19th centuries. With them, they took and diversified Yiddish, a Germanic Jewish language that had since medieval times been the lingua franca among Ashkenazi Jews. To a much lesser extent, the Judæo-French language Zarphatic and the Slavic-based Knaanic (Judæo-Czech) were also spoken. The Ashkenazi Jews developed a distinct culture and liturgy influenced, to varying degrees, by interaction with surrounding peoples, predominantly Germans, Austrians, Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, Kashubians, Hungarians, Ukrainians, Lithuanians, Latvians, Belarusians, and Russians. Although in the 11th century they comprised only 3% of the world's Jewish population, Ashkenazi Jews accounted for (at their highest) 92% of the world's Jews in 1931 and today make up approximately 80% of Jews worldwide.[3] Most Jewish communities with extended histories in Europe are Ashkenazim, with the exception of those associated with the Mediterranean region. The majority of the Jews who migrated from Europe to other continents in the past two centuries are Ashkenazim, Eastern Ashkenazim in particular. This is especially true in the United States, where 6 out of the 7 million American Jewish population -- the largest Jewish population in the world when consistent statistical parameters are employed[4] -- is Ashkenazi, representing the world's single largest concentration of Ashkenazim.
The list is of foreign direct investment. It's not direct support for the government. Most economists teach a theoretical framework that has been shown to be fundamentally useless. -- James K. Galbraith
The list is of foreign direct investment. It's not direct support for the government.
Huh, Israel is the local military hegemon (thanks in part but not exclusively - and maybe not even mainly - to all that US military aid). Most economists teach a theoretical framework that has been shown to be fundamentally useless. -- James K. Galbraith
Israel is one of the world's major exporters of military equipment, accounting for 10%[citation needed] of the world total in 2007.
If you had took the time to look at the "Boycott Israel" list you mention (and which is hosted by a Islamist militant website...), you would have noticed that even this site says the companies they call to boycott are not targeted because they are owned by Jews, but "working with Israel".
So, that means you are using MoA and this campaign to promote your own prejudices... "Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
And did you see that French idiot Kushner in UN laughing like a crazy...
Though I agree Kouchner's an idiot, I don't see the relevance of this to what you're saying. Unless you mean the French also own the world.
Oh, now I get it! He's Jewish!
<laughs sardonically> "Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
...and I must say that I do have a bit of sympathy for vbo's point that Serbs have been lumped into a 'those people' category for which people feel they can categorically say 'they' did those things.
His other points need to be individually categorized for what they are, but I don't have the time to be sucked into them. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
Slovenia may call for a referendum over Croatia's accession to the European Union if a long-standing border dispute between the two countries is not quickly resolved to Ljubljana's satisfaction. Slovenian Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Zbogar stated that if talks over the border dispute are not resolved in his country's interest, it would be "quite realistic" to expect a popular referendum on ratification of Croatia's accession treaty to the Union, the Croatian daily Jutarni List reported yesterday (7 January). A spokesperson for Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn told EurActiv that the Commission never comments on ratification procedures for international treaties, including accession treaties, in different member states.
Slovenian Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Zbogar stated that if talks over the border dispute are not resolved in his country's interest, it would be "quite realistic" to expect a popular referendum on ratification of Croatia's accession treaty to the Union, the Croatian daily Jutarni List reported yesterday (7 January).
A spokesperson for Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn told EurActiv that the Commission never comments on ratification procedures for international treaties, including accession treaties, in different member states.
The global financial crisis is wiping out the wealth and political influence of Russia's once-mighty oligarchs. Yesterday's kingmakers are now having to beg the Kremlin for loans. Editor's Note: This feature is part of a SPIEGEL series that will continue all week on how the economic downturn is affecting people and companies around the world. No other downturn in history has hit as many of the world's economies. The current crisis is hitting migrant laborers in China, automobile workers in Detroit and even strong traditional German firms like the chemical giant BASF. Judging by the furnishings, you would never guess that this office is where plans were made to launch Russia's economy into the modern age. The room is dominated by heavy furniture made of dark wood. Antique books are displayed in glass bookcases. Working from this office, Vladimir Yevtushenkov, intends to reduce his huge country's dependence on raw materials exports. To achieve this objective, his subsidiary Sitronics has built a cutting-edge semiconductor production plant on the outskirts of Moscow.
The global financial crisis is wiping out the wealth and political influence of Russia's once-mighty oligarchs. Yesterday's kingmakers are now having to beg the Kremlin for loans.
Editor's Note: This feature is part of a SPIEGEL series that will continue all week on how the economic downturn is affecting people and companies around the world. No other downturn in history has hit as many of the world's economies. The current crisis is hitting migrant laborers in China, automobile workers in Detroit and even strong traditional German firms like the chemical giant BASF.
Judging by the furnishings, you would never guess that this office is where plans were made to launch Russia's economy into the modern age. The room is dominated by heavy furniture made of dark wood. Antique books are displayed in glass bookcases. Working from this office, Vladimir Yevtushenkov, intends to reduce his huge country's dependence on raw materials exports. To achieve this objective, his subsidiary Sitronics has built a cutting-edge semiconductor production plant on the outskirts of Moscow.
As to political influence, who can tell? In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
LIMERICK, Ireland: Dell said Thursday that it would cut 1,900 jobs at its manufacturing plant in Limerick, Ireland, moving some of the positions to Poland and others to its contracting partners. The move follows other news of job cuts and reduced forecasts that have battered the computer industry this week. For Dell, the cuts are part of a $3 billion program to reduce costs announced last year. They are set to begin in April and account for almost two-thirds of its employees in Limerick, the company said. The jobs migrating to Poland will manufacture computer systems for customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "This is a difficult decision, but the right one for Dell to become even more competitive, and deliver greater value to customers in the region," said Sean Corkery, vice president of operations for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
LIMERICK, Ireland: Dell said Thursday that it would cut 1,900 jobs at its manufacturing plant in Limerick, Ireland, moving some of the positions to Poland and others to its contracting partners.
The move follows other news of job cuts and reduced forecasts that have battered the computer industry this week. For Dell, the cuts are part of a $3 billion program to reduce costs announced last year. They are set to begin in April and account for almost two-thirds of its employees in Limerick, the company said.
The jobs migrating to Poland will manufacture computer systems for customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
"This is a difficult decision, but the right one for Dell to become even more competitive, and deliver greater value to customers in the region," said Sean Corkery, vice president of operations for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Because that fixes all ills.
bring back Charlie McCreepy
Well, if it would make him leave the Commission and stay away from Brussels... "Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
ALDE Group Leader Graham Watson has launched his campaign for the presidency of the European Parliament. Speaking about his ambitions for the Parliament's future, Mr. Watson said: "For too long, Presidents of Parliament have been chosen through backroom deals in smoke-filled rooms. Mine will be the first ever public campaign for the presidency: in this I hope that I will set a precedent. ... "I have written to every MEP informing them of my intentions, and next week I will unveil the priorities that would mark out my presidency."
"For too long, Presidents of Parliament have been chosen through backroom deals in smoke-filled rooms. Mine will be the first ever public campaign for the presidency: in this I hope that I will set a precedent.
...
"I have written to every MEP informing them of my intentions, and next week I will unveil the priorities that would mark out my presidency."
German exports plunged in November to record their biggest fall in nearly two decades, new data shows, as the deepening world economic downturn hits Europe's biggest economy. The Wiesbaden-based national statistics office said Thursday, Jan. 8, that the world's leading exporter posted in November a month-on-month 10.6 percent drop in exports when adjusted for working days and seasonal factors. [...] On an annual basis, German exports dropped by 12 percent in November, while imports recorded a steep 5.6-percent month-on-month decline and a 0.9-percent fall on the year. The country's trade surplus narrowed to 9.7 billion euros ($13 billion) from 16.4 billion euros in October.
The Wiesbaden-based national statistics office said Thursday, Jan. 8, that the world's leading exporter posted in November a month-on-month 10.6 percent drop in exports when adjusted for working days and seasonal factors.
[...]
On an annual basis, German exports dropped by 12 percent in November, while imports recorded a steep 5.6-percent month-on-month decline and a 0.9-percent fall on the year.
The country's trade surplus narrowed to 9.7 billion euros ($13 billion) from 16.4 billion euros in October.
Cliffs are so last year... The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman
The German government has stepped in to salvage a multibillion-euro merger between two of the country's largest banks, Commerzbank and Dresdner Bank, with a €10bn (£9bn) cash injection. The announcement, in effect a partial nationalisation of the combined group, came after several days of tense negotiations between executives from the two banks and state officials. "The government just couldn't afford to let this deal fail," one insider said [Deja vu all over again? -ed.].Commerzbank had been under intense pressure to strengthen its balance sheet as it prepared to buy its loss-making rival. It is understood that the deal, agreed last year, would have collapsed had the government refused to invest through its Financial Markets Stabilisation Fund (Soffin). The merger is now expected to complete by the end of the month.Commerzbank would have survived had the merger collapsed, but there was speculation yesterday that Dresdner would have had to be nationalised in full. Instead, the state will take a 25 per cent and one share holding - a minority blocking stake - in the "new Commerzbank" in return.This brings the government's financial support for Commerzbank to €18.2bn in just over two months. On 2 November, Soffin injected €8.2bn through a "silent participation" - equivalent to preference shares in the UK - in a bid not to dilute the company's value. Yesterday's move involved a further €8.2bn silent participation, and a €1.8bn investment to take the 25 per cent stake.
The German government has stepped in to salvage a multibillion-euro merger between two of the country's largest banks, Commerzbank and Dresdner Bank, with a €10bn (£9bn) cash injection.
The announcement, in effect a partial nationalisation of the combined group, came after several days of tense negotiations between executives from the two banks and state officials. "The government just couldn't afford to let this deal fail," one insider said [Deja vu all over again? -ed.].
Commerzbank had been under intense pressure to strengthen its balance sheet as it prepared to buy its loss-making rival. It is understood that the deal, agreed last year, would have collapsed had the government refused to invest through its Financial Markets Stabilisation Fund (Soffin). The merger is now expected to complete by the end of the month.
Commerzbank would have survived had the merger collapsed, but there was speculation yesterday that Dresdner would have had to be nationalised in full. Instead, the state will take a 25 per cent and one share holding - a minority blocking stake - in the "new Commerzbank" in return.
This brings the government's financial support for Commerzbank to €18.2bn in just over two months. On 2 November, Soffin injected €8.2bn through a "silent participation" - equivalent to preference shares in the UK - in a bid not to dilute the company's value. Yesterday's move involved a further €8.2bn silent participation, and a €1.8bn investment to take the 25 per cent stake.
Some reports I've read indicate that the NPD has been losing its base to more radical groups, which might explain the nomination (or alternatively, a hard-core group has infiltrated the local party). The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman
