November 2004
November 23, 2004
German newspapers see Powell's passing critical
While acknowledging Powell as a great politician and regretting his resignation, the German dailies are not too confident that the transatlantic relations getting better with the next Secretary of State. Germany's Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, however is looking forward to work with Condolezza Rice. See the opinions of the major dailies at:
German is becoming trendy again
It seems like the mixture of English and German which was mainly introduced by advertisers goes out of fashion. Now German is used again. After long years of substituting nice German words by not better English words there appears a ray of hope for the language of the poets and the thinkers. Read more about the recovery of the German language at:
German government withdrew new shareholder protection law
Because of a dispute whether the law in question is rather harmful or useful. One issue that arises is, whether the less information is provided to the shareholders, because of the instant fear of getting suit. Read more at
Hope for a new balance in U.S.-European affairs
The presidential elections are over and obviously did not bring the results many Europeans hoped for (and expected). As the article mentions it is like in a bad many marriage, you have to try to get along with your partner for better or worse. As it seems there is at least a
willingness to work together again. And who knows, maybe one day the marriage can even become a good one - as there is no possibility to get divorced - an idea politicians might think about.
German Forests Sicker than Ever
Unfortunately, we also here bad news from Germany. According to recent statistics German forests have never been as sick as now. While there are still arguments about what triggered out the latests illnesses one thing is for sure: we cannot go on like this for many more years and we won' t find an easy solution for that problem either.
Klinsmann: How to Reform a German Tradition
Speaking of reforms in Germany has to include one topic many people didn't even think of a short time ago: our national soccer team. With the appointment of Jürgen Klinsmann as new coach we are heading towards
the next world championships in 2006, which will take place in Germany. Making himself many supporters and many enemies in a really short time we all hope he can give us back what politicians and CEOs have been trying for years without success: German self-confidence. It would grow tremendously with a success in 2006, you can imagine.
Schröder congratulates Bush on winning election
German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder sent U.S. President George W. Bush a congratulatory telegram. He claims that he is looking forward to a closer cooperation between Germany and the United States. I wonder if Schröder grit his teeth while dictating this telegram.
Bush Intends to Repair Ties to EU
While the transatlantic rift has not been much of a concern for Bush during his first term in office, he now seems eager to repair ties to “Old Europe”. He threatened … er … promised to visit Europe as soon as possible after his inauguration.
Forging Blindly Ahead
This is an interesting analysis of the past and future of the Iraq policy under the Bush administration. While the war has turned out to be a military quagmire, a quick withdrawal seems to be highly unlikely.
India Rocks
From third-world economy to global economic powerhouse—India is the country to watch in the years ahead. While the global media fixates on China's boundless future, India, the English-speaking democracy with a huge middle class, is a far better bet, according to The International Economy.
India Techies Hail Bush Win
The Indian IT industry expressed delight at US President George W Bush's re-election, hoping he would continue to be a proponent of free trade and outsourcing. "The US is a powerhouse of the global economy and the Indian IT industry is delighted in being a partner to US corporations, helping to make them more competitive," India's National Association for Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) president said in a statement.
Reaching out
In a country like India which is engulfed in problems of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment, among many others, it comes as a surprise that there are hardly any volunteers who are interested in contributing towards the upliftment of society. Mitra Technology Foundation, which was established in 2000, by a group of socially conscious alumni of Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA) initiated the concept of 'iVolunteer' to promote volunteer culture in India.
Bush's Victory Is a Benefit for Bulgaria
The chair of the Atlantic club in Bulgaria stated his opinion that the victory which George W. Bush won in the Presidential elections in the United States would have a better impact on Bulgaria than the potential win by John Kerry. He defended his point with several arguments, based on his own analysis of the current situation in Europe and the rest of the world.
Powell Coming with 300 Agents
Bulgaria will be the host for the 12th summit of the OSCE √ Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The summit will be held in the National Palace of Culture on December 6 and 7, 2004. The foreign ministers of over 40 countries will attend the meeting. Due to the increased security measures, the parts of the downtown area of Bulgaria▓s capital will be closed for several days.
First Baby Liver Transplant Became Fact in BG
The first liver-transplant operation in Bulgaria▓s history was carried out several days ago. The patient was a seven year old baby girl, who received a small part of her father▓s liver. A team of several Bulgarian and Italian surgeons performed the operation which lasted 15 hours.
November 19, 2004
Welcome to Europe's tiger economy: Ukraine
Owing to its beneficial geographical position and its role in history, Ukraine is considered an important partner both for European and Western countries. Nowadays when EU enlargement has brought the borders of Europe to Ukraine, it looks ever more tempting. Another fact which increases the
country’s popularity on the international arena and makes it more attractive for cooperation is surprising economic growth Ukraine hasn’t known for a long time. Surprising - because since the breakdown of the USSR the country has been struggling with a number of problems of different kind and is still having to cope with many of them. Today before the second round of presidential elections when the country’s fate is at
stake, it makes one wonder what the Ukraine’s future will look like. “Which is it to be? A Ukrainian civil war, or more of the Ukrainian economic miracle?” we are going to find out on November, 21.
Americans have extended George W. Bush's contract
No one is going to deny that November, 2, 2004 has become a remarkable date in history. On this day the anxious world, torn apart by mixed feelings, was watching the U.S. presidential elections. Obviously, the outcome of the campaign appeared to be a bitter disappointment for the majority of the world’s population. For some, the Americans including, it
will for ever remain a shameful page in the U.S. history. Read an article about Europe’s reaction to the elections.
World: reactions to Bush reelection – praise, resignation, and fear
Here is one more article on the world’s respond to the U.S. election results. It dwells upon how different regions of the world perceived the news about Bush’s reelection. It was gloomy news for the overwhelming majority of countries although the attitude is ambivalent. It is worth noting that the official opinion and the point of view of the ordinary
people may differ. But politics is a cunning business. The head of a country is expected to give preference to a country’s interests over his
personal ones which was apparently the case with some of the Europe’s politicians cautious in passing their judgment on the elections results.
In previous issues of Willamette World News you have already had an opportunity to get acquainted with Ukraine’s most beautiful views. See more pictures of Ukraine, but this time taken from space.
Kharkiv Student Develops Program For Eye Stress, Tension
Are your eyes tired from working on the computer? There is might be a solution! The Ukrainian student discovered a program that might help to determine when people who work in front of the computer for a long time, should take a break and rest their eyes.
EU Hopes for Clean End to Ukraine Election
After the first round of the elections in Ukraine, two candidates are in the lead. Yushchenko and Yanukovich, both have different views toward improving the future of the country. The European Union wants to see fair and free elections in Ukraine, to test the democracy the country got after the breakdown from the Soviet Union.
What's the EU's point in keeping Ukraine away?
Recently, ten new countries had joined the European Union. This article is written by the former deputy prime minister, who discusses the reasons why Ukraine is not and probably will not be in the European Union in the near future.
November 05, 2004
China to Hold Olympics with High-tech
China is the host of 2008 Olympic Games. In the past four years, China has been making huge progress improving the infrastructure. The design of the main stadium has been changed several times to ensure the best results. Now China wants to apply high-technology into the Olympic Games.
China Looking Forward to Working with Bush
Hu Jingtao, China’s President, congratulated President Bush on his re-election victory. China and the United States have made significant progress in cooperation in various fields, bringing substantial benefits to both countries. Hu looks forward to working with Bush to further promote the development of the constructive cooperative relations between China and the United States.
Interest Rate Rise Cannot Cool China's Economy
China recently increased its interest rate by 0.27%. This is the first time in nine years. This is also the first time that President Hu using macroeconomic measures to control the economy. People were lining up in front of the bank to deposit their savings.
USA choose their president
The world followed with expectation the bitter elections in the United States, where 156 million citizens enrolled in 50 states decided the destiny of the country for the next the four years. In Ecuador we have a lot of influence from the United States, so the American election was a big issue for us.
Read the article here:
George W. Bush, and their democratic rival, John Kerry, followed tied in the surveys spread yesterday. The American presidential election is made today and according to four of the last soundings, both candidates are even with 49%, whereas other six grant a very small advantage to him to Bush. The third aspiring to the White House, the independent Ralph Nader, has 1% and the number of indecisions is located between 2% and 7%. Crucial day for Bush and Kerry
Republican president George W. Bush and its democratic rival John Kerry, virtually tied in the surveys, faces today by the White House in a fight considered the most fought in history of the United States and in which about 156 million citizens enrolled in 50 states will decide the destiny of the country for next the four years, under the kind glance of the world that still remembers the controversial elections that gave the triumph to the republicans in the previous election.
Those of American Research Group, Zogby and Washington Post gave a tie from 48 to 48, while Fox considered the 46 to 46%.
Although some surveys grant to two Bush one or point of advantage on Kerry, others think the opposite; and according to analysts, if the error margin is considered, the criterion consolidates of which there is a technical tie and that will be the indecisions that define the election.
Bush, of 58 years, gambles the re-election or to emplace its things and to return to Texas. The governor, who reached a maximum of popularity of 80% as a result of the attacks to the Twin Towers, today with an acceptance of 50% is put under in the opinion of history and will have to redeem accounts before the American town on his foreign policy, in the shade of a war in the middle East that has left more than 100 thousand dead civilians and who maintain to 130,000 North American soldiers in Iraq.
President George Bush has made of the antiterrorist policy his main front throughout his government and blames John Kerry to be weak and contradictory in his speeches.
The Agent chief executive repeats over and over again that “my opposnent is not prepared nor is enabled to be the commander in chief”.
Kerry, 60 years, has been senator by the state of Massachusetts for 20 years and turned the greater critic of the present management, has been promising “new beginning” for the United States.
The democratic candidate has attacked yet against Bush to which he considers it negligent to break with the traditional alliances and to fail in Iraq, that is violence center; in the antiterrorist fight, with Horseradish tree Laden still without being captured; and in the economy, with diminution of uses and a deficit in the fiscal coffers that contrast with the great surplus that received from Clinton.
The citizen participation is a surprise in the elections and all it makes anticipate that registered 51% in the 2000 widely will be surpassed if the tendency of the long rows observed in the modality of the advance vote is confirmed, qualified from the 18 of October in 26 states.
In Florida, observers and mass media reacted yesterday atonics before the height of citizens in the centers of voting advanced of the county Miami Dade and before the proselytes campaign that freed in the adept streets of both candidates, by means of caravans, placards and horns.
The coveted Hispanic vote, represented by seven million people, delay gambles a decisive roll in some states like Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada and New Mexico.
The surveys think that between the Latin voters Kerry has ample advantage on Bush, basically by the influence who exert on nonvoting Hispanic them whom they at all costs look for to obtain an amnesty offered by Kerry and that would allow to obtain the longed for residence them and in the long run the American citizenship.
For that reason, the republican and democratic invested this year more than twelve million dollars in the campaign directed to the Hispanic community to seduce that coveted electorate, surpassing three million of the preceding record that establish for four years.
Ecuador celebrates "Day of Deceased"
The natives, the black and the farmers in different ways honor their dead. There’re a lot of tradition in south America, one of the most interesting and fascinating is how people of different entices honor or remember their lost ones, the amazing thing about Ecuador is the diversity of people who lives there, and their traditions
Traditions by the deceased’s. To take foods to the cemetery, to sing, to dance, to write letters to him to the passed away relative or to visit their tombs in the nights are some of the ancestral customs that stay in the different regions and populations of the country in the Day of the Deceased’s that is commemorated today.
Read the article here:
In Quito the Day of Deceased’s with fairs of dwelled tap is celebrated, kids of bread and with other own rituals of the date.
In the cemetery of Calderon, North al of the city, will be fulfilled the tradition to take foods to the deceased’s. Natives of the communes of Level Great, San Miguel of the Common one, Oyacoto, Santa Anita and the Chapel will go to the pantheon with the foods that prepared previously, and they will consume them on the foot of the tombs of its passed away relatives.
According to the indigenous belief, in nights previous to the Day of Deceased’s, the soul of dead communicates with them through the dreams, requesting that remember them.
Also in Calderon, throughout the holiday is made the artisan fair of “mazapán” (crafts done with mass of bread, typical of the zone) and other cultural activities.
In Emeralds several black communities of the north of that province make yesterday from the night of the lullabies denominated ones. There they go the relatives of dead armed with big drums, cununos and maracas and interpret rhythmical song during all the dawn.
Francisco Wild Añapa, ex- director of bilingual intercultural education of the Provincial Direction of Education, said that today the relatives who have deceased’s in the cemetery chachi, arrive at the tomb with drinks prepared by them, pipes, oranges, food, outfits and are offered it to the deceased.
In the Concord, the traditional thing is to visit the relatives at night, taking eaten and alcohol. They take guitars, apparatuses of music to battery and even make rocks in the cemetery, with songs like corridors or boleros.
In the Santo Domingo corner of the Colored one, the members of the ethnic group tsáchila go to the cemetery to carry out their rites, to deposit their flowers and the food of predilection of the deceased like the fish, guanta and juice of cane.
In the countryside of Chimborazo the tradition in these dates is the presence of the cheer-man, specially in the parishes Yaruquíes, Químiag, Cubijíes and of the corners Penipe and Guano.
This personage leaves to the midnight to sing and to say by dead. Sleepy souls “get up to say a Father Ours and a Bird Maria by the souls of the saint purgatory, by the love of God”, it is the song that it shakes that they listen to it for the first time.
In Riobamba the 2 of November are reason to maintain a meeting familiar, to elaborate kids of bread, to prepare the mulberry tap and to participate in the traditional games of “finados”: the Chilean bowling alley, perinola, coconuts, the plomos (rudiments small of steel) and until the game of the cards.
In Zamora the descendants of the towns Saraguro and Quichua conserve the custom to celebrate the day of the deceased’s with a great celebration in the house of a devotee one, previously chosen in assembly. There all the neighbors concur, kills a cow, he prepares juice of corn and drink (cane brandy that produce in the zone) and eat and drink throughout the day and the night.
In the Chone corner, of Manabí, and their rural populations the people also take to meals al cemetery, say and letters write to them al passed away in which tells the happened thing them in the last year.
Value of the fragile dollar before results of the elections in the U.S.A.
As some of you may know, the “coin” in Ecuador is the American dollar, as I said before, we have a lot of influence form the United States, do you see know what I meant??? Actually the country depends on the States in many ways, we buy the dollars, and if the value of the dollar decreases then for the people and for the government of Ecuador is going to be a lost as well.
Read the article here:
The dollar in the morning revalued east Tuesday before main currencies in the market of changes, benefiting from delayed of the prices of petroleum, but it follows threatened by a brutal fall if an uncertain outcome in the presidential election in the United States takes place.
The attention of the moneychangers and experts now is not centered in the economic indicators but in the presidential election in the United States, in which most of the soundings they augur a situation of tie between the republican president George W. Bush and its democratic adversary John Kerry.
"Several days ago, the moneychangers other currencies like Swiss francs sold their dollars for buying, since they hope that the election is fought y we immediately do not have the name of the winner", it emphasizes Patrick Bennett, economist of the Comers bank.
The market fears in effect that reproduces in 2004 the presidential scene of la of 2000, with possible resources before justice for questioning results in some States very disputed, as the case of Florida four years.
"If the result of the American election is announced before del Wednesday at noon, the dollar is going to raise main currencies in front of, whichever it is the name of the new president of the United States", thinks Greg Anderson, economist in bank ABN Amro.
"But, in opposite case, we can hope that euro raises until 1,2950 dollars in following the 24 hours, an ascent that also would register the main currencies in front of the dollar", warns.
Tuesday in the morning, euro quoted to 1.2708 dollars (contra 1.2753 Mondays at night). On the other hand, the dollar was 106.53 yens, against 106.40 Monday at night.
"It seems nevertheless that the markets have been prepared for worse of the cases, it is to again say a determined election by the Supreme Court of United States", affirms Anderson.
Beyond this conjuncture, Anderson assures that "the perspective de evolution of the dollar after the presidential election continue being the same ones: el dollar must lower to the European currency in front of ".
"Deficits twin of the United States will continue being independently the same of that is the next renter of the Blanca" House, explains the analyst.
Ukrainian Election Forced Into Runoff
On October 31st the whole of Ukraine rushed to the polling stations to cast their vote for a candidate for the presidential chair with hope to provide themselves with better future in the next four years. The turnout was estimated at approximately 75 percent. As it turned out later, the results of the vote failed to come up to their expectations. According to the preliminary results which appeared after 94.4 percent of precincts had been counted, pro-Kremlin Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych had 40.12 percent and top opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko had 39.15 percent.
Other candidates won an insignificant number of votes. The final vote count has still to be announced officially but it is apparent now that
Ukraine is going to face a runoff because none of the candidates won more than 50 percent of votes. The runoff, set for Nov. 21, prolongs a campaign
that has been overshadowed by worries over irregularities. All in all, the evaluation of the elections is ambivalent, ranging from statements
defining them as “legitimate, free and open” up to those claims, that Ukraine “failed to meet democratic standards”.
Expatriate Ukrainians claim election 'corrupt'
Here is one more article which deals with the Ukrainian elections in the Canadian city of Calgary and other countries. It tackles the problems of
exercising one’s suffrage being separated from Ukraine by miles and miles of distance; thus, giving an answer to the question I was asked by some of
American citizens here: “Are you gonna vote? Why not?” Several Ukrainians in Calgary wore orange on Sunday, but they weren't celebrating Halloween.
They were showing their protest against the corruption of the elections after having been denied the ability to vote by the court.
Ukrainians united by "Wild Dances"
When in May 2004 Ukrainian pop singer Ruslana won the "Eurovision Song Contest", Ukrainians were not less surprised than the rest of Europe. Ruslana was considered a professional promising young singer with certain future prospectives but no one thought
she would be able to attract the attention of millions of people. With her victory, Ukraine earns the right to stage the 50th Eurovision Contest in
2005. Her song "Wild Dances" seemed to unite everyone listening to its Hutsul rhythms in a single wild upsurge of emotions. Ruslana’s belief in
the victory was the main power that drove her towards the accomplishment of her goal. “Be bold and wild in your soul on the way to your
victories!” she says in the interview to the Welcome to Ukraine Magazine. Read the interview here.
Epidemic proportions: Ukraine's HIV challenge
Today, HIV is one of the biggest health problems in Ukraine. This article states the reasons why the problem exists, describes the challenges to deal with it and predicts the consequences of this problem. The personal story of a young Ukrainian girl is portrayed in this article, a story similar to many others. Before reading this article, I did not realize that Ukraine has such a big problem with HIV.
Ukrainian election still to be decided
Ukrainian elections happened on Sunday, October 31. Yushchenko and Yanukovich won the most votes, however, it is not enough to determine who is going to be Ukraine’s new president. New elections will take place on November 21. It seems that Yushchenko is in favor to bring Ukraine closer to the West and European Union; Yanukovich wants Ukraine to be politically closer to Russia.
Who is next?
Many students in Ukraine organized a group to support Yushchenko.
Ukrainian presidential election's run-off will influence relations between USA and Ukraine
The US and Ukraine relations may not change after the US elections. Both republicans and democrats in the USA have the same view on the relations with Ukraine.
Boy slaughters familiy while watching "Shrek"
These days, everybody in France is talking about a bloody event which would not have been believable in a horror movie. While he was doing is homework, Pierre, 14 years old, decided that he wanted to kill. He waited in his family's farmhouse in northern France with his father's hunting rifle before opening fire without warning on his parents and siblings as they arrived home. Between shootings he watched “Shrek”.
Frail Arafat in French hospital
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was admitted to a French hospital near Paris. The 75-year-old president of the Palestinian Authority needs urgent treatment for what is said to be a potentially
fatal blood disorder. France's decision to treat the Palestinian leader underlined the support Paris has shown him in the past, disapproved by Israel and the United States. Israel, which has declared Arafat an obstacle to peace and threatened to kill him several times, has promised it would not impede the Palestinian leader's departure or return to Ramallah after treatment in France.
What do you like best in French Food?
As you may know, France is the world’s first tourist destination (75 million visitors per year). Food and wine play an important role in that success. But the thing is…what foreigners like in our culinary heritage
is not the same - depending on where they are from. A recent study highlights the wide difference in taste between Americans, Britons, Germans and Japanese.
Three Blackwatch soldiers are killed in Iraq
Last time I showed you an article about worried families of 850 Black Watch Regiment members, who had been just deployed from Basra to south of Baghdad. Now for three families their nightmares have come true. Their sons were killed in an attack. Eight more soldiers were injured.
Human smuggling racket 'smashed'
Eighteen people have been arrested, when immigration officials raided buildings in London, Hamburg and Cologne. They were accused to have smuggled hundreds of Turkish people into London, which worked at cheap laborers in coffeeplaces and take-aways. This revelation confirms the suspicion that immgration crime is getting a real problem in Europe.
IRA is "not winding down"
With all this talk about "new terrorism" one tends to forget that there are still some unresolved problems with "old terrorism". Recent events in Northern Ireland have shown that the IRA shows no sign of giving up paramilitary violence.
European head of states congratulate Bush
Neither German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder nor French president Jaques Chirac were on speaking terms with George W. Bush for quite some time. But now that the results are definite, both caved in and showed that they are eager to get the relations to the United States back on track. Read here how the Schroeder, Chirac and British Prime Minister Tony Blair congratulated Bush on his victory.
This year`s hit in Germany: Election parties
Germans are used to stay up all nights, watching the Oscars or the Grammys. But this year everyone decided to trade sleep for seeing live who is to reign the United States for the next four years. All over Germany there were election parties that started around 11 pm and ended in the morning. To witness how Germans experienced the US-elections on a party in Berlin you should read following article.
Should Queen apologize for bomb raids in Dresden ?
The Queen is visiting Germany right now. And again Germany`s most popular tabloid “Bild” has raised a heated controversy. In a headline it asked “Will the Queen apologize?” and showed pictures of the RAF bombing Dresden back in 1945. Though most of the German population was kind of embarrassed by this presumptuous suggestion, some people actually think England should not have bombed Dresden, where 30 000 civilians were killed. Although the Queen would not apologize, she hosted a concert, which was held to raise money for the resurrection of the Dresdner “Frauenkirche” that had been – like the rest of Dresden – completely destroyed during World War II.
First European Constitution signed
After a tough struggle for a couple of years the European Constitution is eventually passed by all the leaders of the 25 member states. The constitution has still to be ratified by the member states and will not take effect until 2007. The most important change is probably the abolition of the principle of unanimity and introduction of the majority voting system. Read a comment about the new constitution.
Germany is about break EU-deficit limit in 2005
The EU-Commission states that Germany will break the deficit limit for the fourth time in a row in 2005. In contrast to this forecast the German government still takes the position that Germany’s new debts will stay below the 3 percent. Germany, which once insisted
in the incorporation of this stability clause in the treaty is still suffering a economy growth below 2 percent. The divided opinions will not help to create trust in the
German economy.
Argument about Berlin Cold War Memorial
The recently errected memorial consists of a wall and 1,056 wooden crosses. One for every victim killed at the Berlin wall on an attempt to flee. For the opening
ceremony even the son of the former Soviet leader Nikita Krushchev came and held a speech. While he lauded the memorial set up by the Checkpoint Charlie Museum some German politicians think it symbolizes the commercialization of Berlin’s past.
Longest-serving State Premier Teufel Resigns
My first article today shows that politics very often is not about new ideas and contents but about persons. On the one hand this can make politics more interesting, but on the other hand it can also lead to events described in the article, the resign of Baden-Württemberg's (my home state's) state premier Erwin Teufel, Germany's longest-serving
premier. For him the party seems to be over.
Coalition Between Leading Nationalist Parties
After almost 60 years Germans again is afraid of a nationalistic extremist right-wing party being elected in our parliament in 2006. The National Party of Germany and the German People's Party, Germany's leading nationalist parties will team for the next elections. Together, we fear, they could be able to pass parliament's 5 percent hurdle.
Americans Apparently Like Germans Again
Believe it or not - at least I found it quite surprising - opinions of Americans about Germany are very good and have risen over the last months how this short study proves. Maybe, we even agree one day that there are more things we have in common than things that divide us?
All Eyes on America
Prior to the U.S. presidential election, the online-edition of the German magazine ‘DER SPIEGEL’ gives a good summary of the different opinions in the German press. Most newspapers warn against exaggerated enthusiasm for John Kerry.
"BILD" backs Bush
Despite the fact that most Germans want to see a victory of John Kerry in the election, Germany’s best-selling tabloid paper "BILD" (circulation of 4.7 million) has decided to endorse the incumbent President Bush. The German "New York Post" equivalent which is known for its lightly dressed front page pin-ups is convinced that Bush will do a better job in reaching out to his allies in his second term in office.
A Tearjerker of a Tale
Like many relatives of celebrities, Lothar Vosseler, half-brother of German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, tries to get his piece of the action. But instead of writing one of these ordinary high gloss hardcover biographies, he contributes to a seminal publication that is printed on tissues. The content might drive Chancellor Schröder to tears… (nice pun, huh?)
Re-packaging Gandhi for the youth
Faced with the threat of Gandhian legacy being wiped out through disinformation and distortions, there is now a concerted effort to reinvent the man, and his ideals. A series of programs are being organized in the state of Gujarat in India. They plan on inviting speakers to offer a fresh perspective on Gandhi and shatter myths surrounding him, especially to appeal to the youth.
US poll result unlikely to affect outsourcing
Shipping of jobs from the US to low cost economies like India to cut costs is likely to continue unabated irrespective of the outcome of the US presidential poll, say analysts and industry representatives. Notwithstanding the political rhetoric against outsourcing in the run up to the US poll, experts say the economic benefits of transfer of jobs to low cost destinations would far outweigh any retrograde measure to curb the business.
Chutneys and curries colonize the globe
Centuries after Indian spices began exerting a magical pull, inspiring fabled adventurers to embark on perilous journeys, chutney, curry and tandoori are turning the tables on the world.
Director Theo van Gogh murdered in Amsterdam
There is one really big new item in The Netherlands right now, which is overshadowing all the other (both national and international) news. The Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh (no relation to the painter, I think) was shot and stabbed in Amsterdam on Tuesday Nov 2. So far people believe he was murdered because of his controversial opinions and movies. His film ‘Submission’ in particular has received a lot of criticism and he received several death threats after it came out. It’s about violence against Islamic women and the Koran.
Two years ago, the Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn was killed because of his opinions and Van Gogh just finished a movie about that assassination and its effects, that movie was planned to come out next week.
Dutch to rally for freedom of expression
Tuesday night a lot of people gathered in Amsterdam to demonstrate for Freedom of Speech. The mayor asked people to make as much noise as possible, instead of the usual silent marches.
Because the murder happened on the same day as the Presidential Elections in America, I’m not sure how much attention the elections get. Of course it is a really important event and will also determine a lot of the Netherlands’ future, but this horrible murder happening in our small country has much more impact. Therefore I have no idea how the Dutch media cover the election, but I’m sure there will be an article on that in the next World News issue.
Halloween Wins over Enlighteners
This is a fascinating perspective that juxtaposes the newly adopted celebrations of the traditionally American holiday Halloween to the Day of National Enlighteners, a long-standing part of Bulgarian cultural tradition, celebrated on November 1st. The fundamental question remains √ can we allow commercialism to blur cultural boundaries to such an extent that it essentially eliminates tradition?
BG Trooper Put the Fear of God into Terrorists
Colonel Hristo Hristov, interviewed here, was second in command of the Multinational Brigade and senior national representative of the second Bulgarian battalion in Iraq from January 15 to July 15, 2004. He speaks of the challenges that face the Bulgarian contingent in Ad-Diwaniyah, Iraq.
Passengers Fined 1,000 Levs Each If the Driver is Drunk
Every passenger in a car driven by a drunk driver will be fined 1,000 levs. If the impartial passenger has a driving license, it will be suspended for a year. Traffic police believes that this will make people more aware of the life-death decision that they are making by agreeing to ride with a person under the influence of alcohol. There is no history in Bulgaria of legal measures punishing the impartial passengers riding with a drunk driver. As drinking is an integral part of the social culture of the country, the issue promises to became basis for controversy.
Bulgaria starts troops transfer in Iraq to Divaniyah
Bulgaria has started moving its troops from Karbala, the city where already six Bulgarian soldiers have been killed since the start of the war, to Divaniyah √ the town where the Spanish contingent was patrolling before its withdrawal. The moving is set to continue until mid-December. This news comes several days after the Bulgarian government expressed its willingness to decrease its number of soldiers in Iraq from 480 to 430.
Bush's Victory Is a Benefit for Bulgaria
The chair of the Atlantic club in Bulgaria stated his opinion that the victory which George W. Bush won in the Presidential elections in the United States would have a better impact on Bulgaria than the potential win by John Kerry. He defended his point with several arguments, based on his own analysis of the current situation in Europe and the rest of the world.
Travel Bulgaria
I am trying to continue my tradition in presenting all sides of Bulgaria to you with this really cool website which I found several days ago. It has a lot of good information if you decide to travel to Bulgaria one day. One more think I want to say, just look at the pictures, they will tell you a far better story than the articles!
