February 2006
February 26, 2006
Olena O Grebennikova
Hi, it▓s time to write something for World News. A lot has happened in Ukraine since I left it. But indeed, noting unusual or special has happened. Ukraine keeps defending its reputation as an independent and mature state. In order to do so, it is working towards membership in NATO and trying to stop internal corruption. If you are really interested in politics, you can find the latest Ukrainian news here.
http://blog.kievukraine.info/
Pictures and pictures!
For those, who are not so involved in politics, but who wants to learn something interesting about Ukraine, I offer to visit wonderful Crimean photo album. It has many beautiful pictures made by professional photographers! It enables you to get acquainted with the most fascinating places of my Homeland just after few minutes, because here you don▓t need to read anything. Just open your eyes and watch!
P.S. As I mentioned before, Crimea is a peninsula in the south of Ukraine.
Dominik Mauer
From Fats Domino's unquenchable thirst to John Lennon's nude performance with a toilet seat: an amusing book by the founder of Hamburg's Star Club recalls how the world's rock stars converged on the northern German port city in the '60s.
Moscow's Mideast Challenge to America
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia seemed to cede much of its influence in the Middle East to the United States. No longer. Now, Moscow appears eager to present itself as a counterbalance to Washington in the region -- with major geopolitical consequences.
Vaibhav Rajpal
All Shah Jahan▓s wife wished for was a tomb that the world had never seen before. So, the Shah turned around and made the seventh wonder of the world.
Many of us have heard about Taj Mahal but not many know it is actually a tomb built in memory (& wishes) of the wife of Shah Jahan. The artists who worked on it were brought from turkey, and the material used was brought from all over the world. There's more to find out on the site!
Mittal-Arcelor row: Clash of civilizations
Lakshmi Mittal was ranked the third richest man on planet by Forbes & he has put a takeover bid of 18.6 billion euros ($22.2 billion) for a steel company in France which Arcelor is fighting against.
The Luxembourg steelmaker was created in 2002 after the merger of French, Luxembourg and Spanish metals companies. Mittal overtook Arcelor as the world's largest steelmaker, snapping up mills in eastern Europe and paying about $4.8 billion to acquire Ukraine's state-owned Kryvorizhstal.
The issue has gone from a business deal to a clash of civilizations. Read on..
Rising subscriber base affecting mobile services
It always amazes me how quickly the Indian telecommunications (or rather, the cell phone industry) developed as compared with the American market. The incoming calls are not charged, messaging is almost dirt cheap & I could talk for 3000 minutes for less than $20. there are some trade-offs but not enough to explain the lagging progress.
The below article briefly explains some of the problems the rapid growth is causing.
Marianne Fernandez
"When extremists extract concessions from democracies on points of principle, either by blackmail or terror, democracies do not have long left," Charlie Hebdo editor Philippe Val wrote. On the principle of freedom of speech, the satirical reprinted the very controversial cartoons and also printed a new one on its front page. President Chirac condemned what he considers to be ⌠overt provocations■.
France wins European handball cup!
On Sunday February 5th , France won the handball European championship on a score of 31 to 23 against Spain. The French team had already been world champion twice but had never had any medal on the continental scene┘until now.
Gabriela Cardenas
Ecuadorians in the states proclaim their right to be accepted into the society on the Valentine▓s Day. They ask senators to open their hearts so they could legalize their situation in the States. This movement didn▓t have a good response cause people from the senate al ready was informed about this issue and they had guards on doors to impede immigrants to go into the building and talk about this petition.
More Protest Against Health System in Cuenca
In Cuenca, the third most important city in Ecuador, more than 300 doctors and medicine students walked in the city in a way of protest against another protest started by the medical syndicate where they stop working.
This situation is becoming comun in Ecuador. The best way medical institutions can show their discontent with the ways the state and the society work is by stop their jobs making more difficult to attend the first necessities of the people, such as health.
Susana Gomez
Ecuadorian working children are the priority of Ecuadorian authorities these days. After a report by the International Labor Organization on the situation of kids working mainly in agricultural jobs, Ecuador's National Committee for the Elimination of Child Labor said on Wednesday that inspections will start as a step towards ending the problem.
What is really needed, though, is that further steps be taken. Inspections have been announced and made several times in the past, but the problem does not end once authorities have found the places where children are taken advantage of or mistreated. To start to end this issue, a real campaign planned to work in a long term is necessary, and honesty in the process of developing such campaign is, obviously, basic. I will have an eye on the issue, just in case this time the investigations actually are meant to solve the problem.
February 03, 2006
Ivo Dimitrov
The Ottoman yoke in Bulgaria lasted for 500 years and affected the make-up of the population in profound ways. Indeed, almost 13% of Bulgarians converted and have remained an integral part of the population. Though a substantial minority, these Bulgarian Muslims have integrated well within the population and have built bridges of friendship and understanding with their Christian neighbours.
Recently, a series of ill-thought publications from Denmark enraged the Muslim community and, as a result, many engaged in riotous action and violent retaliations. In this case, Bulgaria 's Muslims offer a bright example to the rest of their brothers: The religious leaders of Bulgaria's Muslim community condemned the Prophet Muhammad drawings and called for peaceful protests.
The chief office of Bulgaria 's Mufti has expressed the deep offence of the Bulgarian Muslim communities by the publication of controversial caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad both in foreign and Bulgarian media.
Bulgarian Muslims gather (picture)
Bulgarian scientist, inventor of automatic transmission, sues Toyota
The transmission of Toyota's Prius has been invented and developed by the Bulgarian Rumen Antonov, but he has received no financial benefits from his invention, German Die Welt wrote.
Antonov, who is currently living in France, has brought a legal suit in Germany against the automobile giant, the newspaper reported.
The scientist is claiming EUR 3 M as he has developed the new automatic transmission used by Toyota in its models Prius and Lexus RX. The Bulgarian has patented the transmission invented by him in France back in 1988 and since 1992 he has a license, which is valid on the territory of Europe.
Sofia enters bid for Winter Olympics
Sofia's application for Winter Olympics host in 2014 will rely not only on the budget of $1.322 billion directly related to the event, but also on $820 million to be invested in public funds and infrastructure. This emerged after the International Olympic Committee accepted Bulgaria's application.
It has been a while since I last made a contribution to the lovely Willamette World News and an update on what’s happening the other side of the world was definitely long overdue. Like always, there is much happening in Zimbabwe.
The first article I have here is about the current emigration of Zimbabweans. When a country of about 10million has over 2million of its citizens living outside the country, something definitely is not right. This article talks about why people are leaving Zimbabwe, and where they are going.
And continuing on the same track, one of the reasons people are emigrating is the current condition of the economy. You can figure out what state it is in by the inflation, which currently is around 600% but is expected to hit 1000% sometime in the next few months. Do I hear someone worried about the single-digit expected US inflation? Didn’t think so.
Even back in the days, in times of economic prosperity when Zimbabwe used to be the breadbasket of southern Africa (sounds like a long time ago), droughts were a problem, but the country was in better shape. They could maintain enough food supplies, or had the money to import food whenever it was necessary. Now, with the government being actually broke (having defaulted on its IMF debt payments), the current drought is hard to even fathom.
And lastly, I know many of you listened to the “State Of Union” speech by President Bush last week. Among some of his worries was a list of countries that you’re all familiar with Iran, North Korea, Cuba, et cetera. Except for one you didn’t know: Zimbabwe.
But yeah, probably you’re wondering why a country you never heard of, like Zimbabwe, would make the President of the United States of America lose sleep. Does it really? Check out the link below...
Hi!
My name is Lena. I▓m an exchange student from Ukraine. I live in the most picturesque and beautiful part of Ukraine, Crimea, which is situated in the south of the country. Crimea is a peninsula on the Black Sea. People have lived there since ancient times, even when they had to live in caves. Because of this fact Crimea has a very rich history and there are many historical, archeological and cultural sites. In the XVIII century Crimea was joined with Russia, and many Russian people moved here. That▓s why my native language is Russian.
In 1954 Crimea became a part of Ukraine, as it is today. Due to its long and rich history there are over 100 different nationalities living in Crimea now. I live in the capital of Crimea, Simferopol, which is situated nearly on the same latitude with Salem.
I would be very happy to share the most interesting information about my home country with Willamette students.
Vaibhav Rajpal
Anyone who has taste can be a cook, and as I have said countless times, India is a traveler's and foodie▓s delight. I am attaching a link for recipes for Indian food, vegetarian and meat dishes alike. In case you need to make choices on what you want to try to cook, let me know.
Indo-US ties: Will Bush▓s visit herald a new era?
This article is not so much a news article but a debate that▓s going on in India on the benefits of US-India ties. US Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice states that India and the rest of South Asia is a high priority area right now for America. In my view, China and India provide great visibility to the region. Also, other emerging markets make it a hot spot for development. This is essentially shrinking the world, and the divide between East and West.
India Votes to refer Iran to UNSC, no action now
Although, the nuclear crisis is pushed ahead by a few months, it is something to watch out for. I am optimistic that it will be peacefully resolved, but the situation is difficult to predict given the current volatility. I read many articles discussing censorship of social activists and others in Iran.
Dominik Mauer
US director Steven Spielberg discusses his controversial new film "Munich," which deals with the aftermath of the massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics. In an interview with DER SPIEGEL he talks about the moral aspects of dealing with terrorism and responds to critics who claim he's betrayed the Jewish people.
Could Victory Be Undoing of Hamas?
The Islamist winners of Wednesday's election are woefully unprepared to assume power. Two days after the election, the Hamas Party's weaknesses have become increasingly clear. With its intellectual leader in exile and many key cadres of the movement sitting in Israeli jails, Hamas is suffering from a power vacuum.
Pierre Cros
France is getting more and more concerned about obesity. Especially among children and teenagers. If we maintain this pace, we will catch up with the US by 2020!
French Colonialism and its Aftereffects
This article deals with French colonialism and its "positive role". A law is about to pass to take it off the school books. I think it is interesting to read because the same thing happened between Chinese and Japanese people. It is a way to have different point of views.
Marianne Fernandez
Do you know where Grenoble is, how big it is, and what famous people used to live there?
You don't???
Grenoble is my hometown.
Chirac's nuclear faux pas
French president, Jacques Chirac, shocked everybody last Thursday when he announced that he would be willing to use nuclear weapon against any country that would be involved in terrorist activities on the French soil.
In other words, if France experienced a terrorist attack like Spain did in March 2004, President Chirac could reply with nuclear technology┘which is quite similar to a certain George W. Bush▓s ideas. Ideas which were wildly contested by our president in the past┘
Gabriela Cardenas
The 28th of January the President of Ecuador, Palacios, was informed about a violation of the limits in the north limits with Colombia. He and Francisco Carrion, the chancellor, traveled to the zone to establish a dialogue and see what really is happening in the frontier. After some studies of this and the two past intents of violations of the limits on the north of Ecuador and south of Colombia, the President will determine whether or not take action against, ⌠Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia■ (FARC), the possible group that has being invading the aerial space of northern Ecuador.
PetroEcuador is Having Problems
PetroEcuador is one of the biggest industries when referring to petroleum, gas, diesel, etc. This is a state institution that provides subside to all the country. This company has no private support; this is the reason why instead of investing and trying to find some other way to earn some money to support them, they have to wait for a decision from the Economics Ministry to transfer them some money. If the state doesn▓t act promptly, this company could collapse and stop providing gas and their derivates to the whole country. One of the solutions would be to raise the prices for the combustible, which will bring several responses from the population.
Susana Gomez
Ecuadorian President Alfredo Palacio made a surprise visit to the northern border on Thursday to inspect a spot where Ecuador officials say Colombian war planes violated its air space, his spokesman said.
Palacio's trip comes as Ecuador awaits a response from Bogota after Saturday's incident in which Ecuador on Monday said Colombian aircraft fighting leftist rebels violated its territory.
Colombian internal problems with rebel groups aren▓t new, and Ecuador has been avoiding getting immerse in the situation for now 41 years. This avoidance has been based on Ecuadorian leaders▓ idea that such an involvement would compromise Ecuador▓s own internal security and resources to fight a problem that is not of its incumbency.
But starting with the first fumigations Colombian authorities encouraged in order to end illegal crops, Ecuadorian inhabitants of the northern frontier have been critically affected by the chemicals used, and Palacio▓s visit now may cause Ecuador to choose a definite position towards Colombia fight against guerrillas.
The question that arises in my head is, anyways, whether the airplane that flew on Saturday over the northern towns of Ecuador wasn▓t just a way to pressure Palacio to declare his cooperation with Colombian politics against guerrillas and illegal crops.
Here are two links written in English that explain what happened and Saturday and the possible results Of Thursday▓s visit of Palacio.
Ecuadorian President Alfredo Palacio made a surprise visit to the northern border on Thursday to inspect a spot where Ecuador officials say Colombian war planes violated its air space, his spokesman said.
Palacio's trip comes as Ecuador awaits a response from Bogota after Saturday's incident in which Ecuador on Monday said Colombian aircraft fighting leftist rebels violated its territory.
Colombian internal problems with rebel groups aren▓t new, and Ecuador has been avoiding getting immerse in the situation for now 41 years. This avoidance has been based on Ecuadorian leaders▓ idea that such an involvement would compromise Ecuador▓s own internal security and resources to fight a problem that is not of its incumbency.
But starting with the first fumigations Colombian authorities encouraged in order to end illegal crops, Ecuadorian inhabitants of the northern frontier have been critically affected by the chemicals used, and Palacio▓s visit now may cause Ecuador to choose a definite position towards Colombia fight against guerrillas.
The question that arises in my head is, anyways, whether the airplane that flew on Saturday over the northern towns of Ecuador wasn▓t just a way to pressure Palacio to declare his cooperation with Colombian politics against guerrillas and illegal crops.
Here are two links written in English that explain what happened and Saturday and the possible results Of Thursday▓s visit of Palacio.
