China says to step up vigilance after U.S. navy shift. Sun Jun 3, 2012 9:16am IST REUTERS - China will intensify its vigilance, but not lash back, after the United States announced it will shift most of its warships to the Asia-Pacific region by 2020, media reported on Sunday. People's Liberation Army (PLA) Lieutenant General Ren Haiquan's comments were Beijing's first public reaction to the statement on Saturday by U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta that the Pentagon will reposition its naval fleet so 60 percent of its battleships are in the Asia-Pacific by the end of the decade, up from about 50 percent now.
"First, we should not treat this as a disaster," said Ren, who is leading the Chinese delegation to the regional security dialogue in Singapore where Panetta also announced the shift. "I believe that this is the United States' response to its own national interests, its fiscal difficulties and global security developments," Ren said in comments reported by Hong Kong's Phoenix Television. Under the plans Panetta announced, the U.S. Image shows buildings gone at Iran site: diplomats. India inks pacts with Myanmar during Singh's visit. NAYPYITAW, Myanmar India agreed Monday to provide Myanmar with a $500 million credit as one of 12 deals signed during Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the Southeast Asian country. Singh is on a three-day visit that underscores India's quest for energy supplies and concerns about China's strong influence in Myanmar.
He met with Myanmar's reformist President Thein Sein, and together they attended the signings for the credit line between the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank and the Export and Import Bank of India, an air services pact and other agreements. Singh's visit is the first in 25 years by an Indian prime minister, even though the two countries share a 1,600-kilometer (1,000-mile) land border, as well as a maritime border in the Bay of Bengal.
Then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Myanmar in 1987. The current trip follows high-level visits to India by Thein Sein in October and reciprocal visits by the foreign ministers of the two countries. Ten Points Everyone Should Know About the Quebec Student Movement. Ten Points Everyone Should Know About the Quebec Student Movement By: Andrew Gavin Marshall This article was originally published at: The student strikes in Quebec, which began in February and have lasted for three months, involving roughly 175,000 students in the mostly French-speaking Canadian province, have been subjected to a massive provincial and national media propaganda campaign to demonize and dismiss the students and their struggle.
The following is a list of ten points that everyone should know about the student movement in Quebec to help place their struggle in its proper global context. 1) The issue is debt, not tuition 2) Striking students in Quebec are setting an example for youth across the continent 3) The student strike was organized through democratic means and with democratic aims 4) This is not an exclusively Quebecois phenomenon 6) Excessive state violence has been used against the students. The Great Acceleration. We’ve been changing the world around us for millennia. But the scale and speed of change in the last 60 years have been incredible, leading scientists to call events since the 1950s the ‘Great Acceleration’. Since the end of the Second World War, the human population tripled, and the global economy exploded driven by new technology, a new global system of cooperation and huge investments.
Our increasing demand for natural resources and polluting habits are ratcheting up the pressure on ecosystems all over the world. Three quarters of all the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide that humans have ever caused came over the same period. The acceleration shows no signs of letting up. We’re already catching more fish, cutting down more forests, emitting more nitrogen pollution, bringing more land under cultivation and driving more species into extinction than ever before. Revisiting why incompetents think they’re awesome. In 1999 a pair of researchers published a paper called "Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One's Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments (PDF). " David Dunning and Justin Kruger (both at Cornell University's Department of Psychology at the time) conducted a series of four studies showing that, in certain cases, people who are very bad at something think they are actually pretty good.
They showed that to assess your own expertise at something, you need to have a certain amount of expertise already. Remember the 2008 election campaign? The financial markets were going crazy, and banks that were "too big to fail" were bailed out by the government. In all of this, uninformed idiots blame the Greeks for being lazy, the Germans for being too strict, and everyone but themselves. It has been more than 10 years since Dunning and Kruger published their work. This paper has become a cult classic. Like Dunning, I do not take such a dim view of humanity. Iran Snap Analysis: Propaganda, Negotiations, and the Economic Ties That Bind. The second round of talks between Iran and the 5+1 Powers (US, UK, France, Germany, China, Russia) on the nuclear programme are now receding. The third, to be held in Moscow, are more than three weeks away.
So it is now time for the Islamic Republic to put out stories about its economic achievements and success in repelling the aggressive sanctions of the "West". Press TV offers an example: Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yukio Edano says Tokyo is considering "realistic" options to ensure the country's imports of Iranian crude are not disrupted. "We are responding to this [Iran] issue through working with other ministries as a whole," Edano told reporters at a press conference in Tokyo on Friday. He added, "By analyzing various risk factors and overall issues, we would like to ensure crude supplies [from Iran] will not be disrupted in a realistic manner.
" But Press TV is not alone in its insistence that All Is Well. An Illustrated Guide to the Science of Global Warming Impacts: How We Know Inaction Is the Gravest Threat Humanity Faces. By Joe Romm on September 28, 2011 at 4:49 pm "An Illustrated Guide to the Science of Global Warming Impacts: How We Know Inaction Is the Gravest Threat Humanity Faces" Humanity’s Choice (via M.I.T.): Inaction (“No Policy”) eliminates most of the uncertainty about whether or not future warming will be catastrophic. Aggressive emissions reductions dramatically improves humanity’s chances. In this post, I will summarize what the recent scientific literature says are the key impacts we face in the coming decades if we stay anywhere near our current emissions path. These include: Staggeringly high temperature rise, especially over land — some 10°F over much of the United StatesPermanent Dust Bowl conditions over the U.S.
Remember, these will all be happening simultaneously and getting worse decade after decade. So I pieced together those impacts from available studies and from discussions with leading climate scientists for my 2006 book, Hell and High Water. As Dr. May. Copyright: GraphicObsession Rise in oil prices has been magnified by a fall in the value of the euro against the dollar 24 May 2012 Europe is on track to spend over USD500 billion on oil imports this year, which is well in excess of the Greek government’s USD370 billion debt, the IEA’s Executive Director said on 23 May in Paris.
Speaking at a debate on the outlook of the global economy organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Maria Van der Hoeven stressed that although there has been a recent slide in oil prices, they remain at “worryingly high levels.” “Prices at these levels are forcing households to either cut back on spending on other items or to increase their debt; they are also undermining the profitability of companies that are unable to pass on fully higher input costs,” she said.
From 2000 to 2010 the average amount spent on oil imports in Europe was USD182 billion a year. Ms. Ms. May. Copyright: GraphicObsession 24 May 2012 Global carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil-fuel combustion reached a record high of 31.6 gigatonnes (Gt) in 2011, according to preliminary estimates from the International Energy Agency (IEA). This represents an increase of 1.0 Gt on 2010, or 3.2%. Coal accounted for 45% of total energy-related CO2 emissions in 2011, followed by oil (35%) and natural gas (20%).
The 450 Scenario of the IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2011, which sets out an energy pathway consistent with a 50% chance of limiting the increase in the average global temperature to 2°C, requires CO2 emissions to peak at 32.6 Gt no later than 2017, i.e. just 1.0 Gt above 2011 levels. The 450 Scenario sees a decoupling of CO2 emissions from global GDP, but much still needs to be done to reach that goal as the rate of growth in CO2 emissions in 2011 exceeded that of global GDP. Quebec government to help cover costs of Montreal protests. Unrest in Quebec « William M. Burton.
This page is no longer updated. I leave it online for archival purposes only. You’ll find below a list of English-language links about the “Situation in Quebec”. For starters, you should read this wonderful piece by the administrator of Translating the printemps érable. Here are English versions of two supremely important documents: Règlement P-6 (anti-mask, anti-spontaneous demonstration, etc.) and Bill 78 (bans spontaneous demonstrations, picketing of classrooms, etc.). Click on me! This list is non-exhaustive: it covers the very bare bones of this massive contestation of the neoliberalization of Quebec. English-language translation projects providing information and updating on a regular basis: English-language media: I recommend McGill Daily, CUTV, openfile, and the beloved media coop. Angus Johnston (a.k.a studentactivism), a specialist in student movements and an activist in the U.S., has blogged quite a bit about what’s going on. here are some good, short, readable backgrounders:
Grandes-gueules inventives #GGI: une chronologie web de la grève étudiante. The Dutch face. There Are Two Kinds of Countries in the World: _____ and _____ « Dart-Throwing Chimp. A few days ago, Sean Langberg blogged about a subject that’s long been a pet peeve of mine: how we classify countries when we try to talk about the international system, and the labels we apply to the resulting groups.
I thought I’d take the cue to air my grievances on the topic and make a couple of simple suggestions. Taxonomies require organizing principles, and the kernel of the classification system Americans usually use in international politics comes from modernization theory. Modernization theory’s core idea is the teleological one that economic growth, urbanization, industrialization, and political democracy are the natural, desirable, and mutually reinforcing ends of social change, or “development” for short.
Viewed through this lens, some wealthy, democratic countries appear to have arrived already, while the rest are playing catch-up. In other words, the former have “developed,” while the latter are still “developing.” There are other ways to do this. Like this: Like Loading... Global migration modelling: A review of key policy needs and research centres | Papers. How to build a fiscal union to save the eurozone. Spain weighs Bankia debt issue. Greece warned of public finances collapse.
Backdoor found in a China-made US military chip. Excellent! They are credible. Why? Because you said so? That is good information, but just hearing your reasoning would make your comment a lot more credible itself without your reputation, which many people aren't familiar with. Other people here are making the case that the motives behind this research aren't perfectly pure, so, presenting the unique insight that you have on the credibility of this group would be awesome and potentially shift the topic of conversation.
It isn't just this particular instance that is driving my comment (in which I acknowledge your reputation, and nobody else's, a small oversight in your reply). The driving force is more your showing up in threads, saying something either plainly obvious or, worse, absolutely confusing, and then expecting your reputation to carry your comment the rest of the way. "This is a very bad bug, and you should fix it ASAP. Two things here: 1. Think about what a novice admin walks away from that comment with. Bankia Parent Revises 2011 "Profit" Of €41 Million to €3.3 Billion Loss. It is rather amazing what one finds when a company which previously had allegedly posted a profit of €41 million, somehow becomes insolvent, needs a nationalization to avoid a full out liquidation, and gets bailed out by the state.
One of the first things one finds is that the profit pitched to that particular class of gullible idiots, known as shareholders, was an outright lie. And yes, on that one very rare occasion when an auditor refuses to sign off on a bank's financials, in this case Deloitte, run far, and run fast. Instead what one finds is a massive loss.
From Reuters: "BFA, the parent group of nationalized Spanish bank Bankia said on Monday it had restated its 2011 results to reflect a 3.3 billion euro loss, rather than a 41 million euro profit, following a bailout from the state. But that's not all. According to Spain's Expansion, the total loss could be far worse, more than double the just reported, to a total of €7 billion. Google translated: Oops. Overnight markets: Up. This is a fiscal straitjacket for Ireland, not a union. Cameron in eurozone contingency talks. US, Bulgaria Still Back Nabucco Despite Setbacks. Nabucco's representative for Bulgaria Dimitar Abadzhiev has said that the pipeline still remains the most viable project in the Shah Deniz pipeline race, despite recent setbacks to the project.
Speaking on Bulgarian radio, Mr. Abadzhiev said he believed the pipeline was still the most suitable project for the gas. "We still consider this as the most viable project aimed at connecting the Turkish gas market to Europe," he said. The weekend also saw the US once more voicing its support to the Nabucco project, with US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland telling reporters on Saturday that the country still saw Nabucco as an essential element of European supply diversification. "We strongly support Nabucco," she said. The representatives were both responding to questioning about a speech from BP refining and marketing chief executive Iain Conn.
The Nabucco consortium last week submitted its revised plans for the Nabucco West pipeline, a much shorter route than originally planned. Sci-Tech / Internet : Anonymous calls for ‘Occupy movement' in several Indian cities. Special Arrangement A Guy Fawkes mask worn by members of Anonymous Operation India, a group of hacktivists, which called for Occupy protests in several Indian cities on June 9. We have read about the ‘Occupy protests' taking place across the world. Now several cities in India, including Hyderabad, are likely to witness Occupy protests, albeit on a smaller scale, on June 9 where protesters wearing Guy Fawkes masks will assemble at a place.
They will register their opposition to the moves of the Centre to curtail Internet freedom and oppose blocking of websites or social media accounts. The protests are called by Anonymous, a group of ‘hacktivists'. Facebook, twitter and other social media sites were abuzz with activity on Monday, with the Anonymous calling for occupy protests in Hyderabad and several other cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chandigarh, Indore, Kolkata, Bangalore, Kochi and Calicut on June 9. Events page The group has also listed certain directives for organising the protests.
M5.6 - 3km NW of Cavezzo, Italy 2012-05-29 10:55:57 UTC. ECB rejects Madrid plan to boost Bankia. Latest Earthquakes. Italy hit by 5.8-magnitude earthquake | World news. Greek Euro Exit Aftershocks Risk Reaching China. Radioactive bluefin tuna cross Pacific.
Anarchists attack science. Let's mine asteroids — for science and profit. Anonymous targets Montreal Grand Prix to back students. Shawncarrie. Christine Lagarde, scourge of tax evaders, pays no tax | Business. ECB Calls Spain's Bluff... Or Does It? And Did Europe Just Check To The Fed? New Greek poll gives anti-bailout leftists 6-point lead. US Intelligence Community: Iran Is Not Actively Building a Nuclear Weapon.
Culture splits climate views, not science smarts. Kim Dotcom Gets Access To FBI's Megaupload Documents - Security - Attacks/breaches. FBI Domestic Terrorism Training Guides on Anarchists, Environmentalists. Fracking boom spurs environmental audit. Beijing Projects Power in Strategic South China Sea. Malaysia backs PHL call to settle Panatag Shoal row thru UNCLOS. BBC World Service Programmes - One Planet, Mining the floor of our oceans. Spoilt vote of the day. #euref. LIVEBLOG: First results coming in from Referendum – and it looks like a Yes. Quebec's conflict of contrasting social visions. A Chart that Reveals How Science Fiction Futures Changed Over Time.
UA, Partners Launch Water Security Center for the Americas. Anonymous hacks Canadian Grand Prix: Operation Quebec continues - National Anonymous. Revealed: how deep-sea mining could destroy the 'cradle of life on earth' China eyes developing deep-sea mining tech by 2030 |Sci-Tech. China's manned submersible Jiaolong to attempt record dive. Philippine economy outstrips expectations, is second-fastest in Asia, after China. InterAksyon.com - The online news portal of TV5. Chart of the week: China and India, gaining weight, getting slower.
Israel and Iran, expense, capabilities and cyber strategies. SCO Beijing summit to bring changes. Military commander threatens to target U.S. bases if Iran is attacked. Remarks at the Festival of Economics, Trento Italy. FBI Domestic Terrorism Training Guides on Anarchists, Environmentalists. Technology - Rebecca J. Rosen - How to Get Yourself Noticed on Twitter ... by Homeland Security. After the Quilligan Seminars. Economic Effects of Reducing the Fiscal Restraint That Is Scheduled to Occur in 2013. “Warming Hole” Over the Eastern U.S. Due to Air Pollution. World of Change: Columbia Glacier, Alaska : Feature Articles. CBO warns of U.S. falling off 'fiscal cliff' State of emergency declared in Pernik. Education Cuts Met With Strike in Spain. Putin consolidates power, hires ousted ministers. UPDATE 1-Iran's Ahmadinejad to visit as China slams new sanctions. Analysis: Looming end of Afghan mission leaves NATO with identity crisis.
Rupee Declines to a Record Low on Concern Greece Will Leave Euro. World Bank sees China as drag on emerging Asia. Growth in Developing East Asia and Pacific Is Strong But Slowing. Military Debates Who Should Pull The Trigger For A Cyber Attack. Catalysts for Change: How to Gamify a Path Out of Poverty. TEXT-Fitch: Japan's Major Banks on RWN on Sovereign Downgrade. Exclusive: Spy agency seeks cyber-ops curriculum. Consumer Blinks as "Consumer Comfort" Collapses Most In 4 Years. Euro extends losses to hit fresh four-month lows. HZqV8. Back from the brink: How Europe saved its banks from meltdown (for now) | People & Markets.
World business, finance, and political news from the Financial Times. The anatomy of the eurozone bank run | Gavyn Davies | Insight into macroeconomics and the financial markets from the Financial Times. EU summit to raise pressure on Merkel. What next for Merkel's Christian Democrats? | Germany | DW.DE | 14.05. EPA Fracking Regulations To Be Implemented Soon. Lookout! The New Wall Street Wants to Speculate on our Common Resources. The World Today - Are Germans rejecting austerity? 14/05/2012. European Crisis: Your 1 Minute Update. NATO to endorse Afghan exit plan, seeks routes out. Learn the secrets of espionage in ‘Art of Intelligence’ - books. World business, finance, and political news from the Financial Times.