La Emaar Properties afferma che Burj Dubai è il grattacielo più alto al mondo

Un nuovo record dell'architettura e dell'ingegneria moderna è stato infranto oggi: la società costruttrice araba Emaar Properties afferma che il Burj Dubai è divenuto il grattacielo più alto al mondo.

L'avanzare dei lavori, che saranno conclusi tra la fine del 2008 o al massimo entro il 2009, hanno portato questo grattacielo, a superare il Taipei 101 ed attestarsi, seppure provvisoriamente, all'altezza record di 512 metri, ovvero poco più di mezzo chilometro.

Attualmente la struttura conta 141 piani, quaranta in più del Taipei 101, e al suo completamento sarà alta 818 metri (compresa l'antenna), 309 metri più del grattacielo taiwanese, che ne misura 508, e poco meno di 300 metri in più della torre radiotelevisiva canadese CN Tower, la più alta struttura autoportante del mondo che raggiunge un'altezza di 553,33 metri.

Secondo l'impresa edile quando sarà completato, il Burj Dubai avrà 160 piani e 56 ascensori, i 10 m/sec (36 km/h).  Ci saranno appartamenti di lusso, piscine, negozi e un piano di sola osservazione, il 124°.  L'edificio sarà visibile da oltre 95 km, anche se Greg Sang, il direttore del progetto della torre,ha affermato che non dominerà per sempre la skyline mondiale.

Al suo completamento saranno stati necessari 330.000 metri cubi di cemento, 39.000 tonnellate di acciaio e 142.000 metri quadri di vetro. Il Burj è il progetto di punta di un investimento di circa 20 miliardi di dollari USA e dovrebbe prevedere circa 30.000 appartamenti nonché il più grande centro commerciale al mondo.

Non sono mancate le critiche relative alle condizioni di lavoro degli edili che stanno contribuendo alla costruzione del palazzo e, più in generale, di quelli in tutti gli Emirati. Tale Paese conta infatti 500.000 impiegati nell’edilizia, dei quali la maggioranza proveniente da Bangladesh, India e Pakistan. In un rapporto della Human Rights Watch del 2006 si segnalano continue violazioni dei diritti dei lavoratori edili immigrati le cui più vistose riguardano stipendi estremamente bassi, lunghi periodi di indebitamento a favore delle agenzie di collocamento, i cui costi negli Emirati sono a solo carico del lavoratore, il sequestro del passaporto del lavoratore e, infine, condizioni di lavoro rischiose, che si traducono in un alto numero di incidenti anche mortali.

Nell’ottobre 2006, Human Rights Watch ha rivolto in via ufficiale alcune precise raccomandazioni al governo degli Emirati per migliorare le condizioni di lavoro. Sebbene alcune di tali misure suggerite siano state adottate, cosa questa che ha riscosso il plauso dell’associazione umanitaria, va tuttavia detto che i salari per gli edili immigrati rimangono tra una media di 106 e 250 dollari USA al mese a fronte di uno stipendio medio pro-capite di più di 2.000, e rimane vietato lo sciopero, nonché l’associazionismo sindacale, dichiarato illegale nel Paese.

Lo sviluppo tecnologico dell’ultimo secolo ha permesso di costruire palazzi via via sempre più alti. Si è passati dai 300 metri della Tour Eiffel (1899) a Parigi ai quasi 400 dell’Empire State Building (1931) e ai circa 420 delle ormai scomparse Twin Towers (1977) entrambi a New York. Vi sono progetti che non escludono, in via di massima, l’eventualità di innalzare torri alte anche fino a 4.000 metri.

Si tratterebbe di un progetto perfino più ambizioso di quello tramandato dalla leggenda biblica della Torre di Babele, imponente edificio costruito, nell’intento dei progettisti, per avvicinarsi a Dio. La torre però, come stabilito da studi storici, che la fanno corrispondere alla ziqqurat di Nabucodonosor, era alta 30 cubiti, poco più di 22 metri, e di certo non può competere, pur considerando i tempi storici, con i grattacieli moderni, ma neanche con le piramidi dell’antico Egitto.

Basti pensare che il Pirellone di Milano, alto "appena" 130 metri, e quindi circa 6 volte più alto della torre-ziqqurat, è 4 volte più basso del Burj Dubai. Quest'ultimo sarebbe solamente 9 volte più basso dell' X-Seed 4000, il mastodontico edificio da 4.000 metri progettato a Tokyo, con 6 chilometri di base e ospitante più di un milione di abitanti, ma che non verrà mai costruito a causa degli altissimi costi di costruzione.


Employment figures in Brazil up by 2.2% according to IBGE

According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the 2007 rate of employment in Brazil was 2.2% higher then figures for 2006. According to the IBGE the employment figures are at their highest since 2001.

The IBGE reported growth in employment levels for all the 14 regions surveyed, with the highest rates of increase being recorded in the states of São Paulo (with an increase of 3.5%) and the state of Paraná (with an increase of 3.1%). Região Nordeste and Minas Gerais had increases of 1.4% and 1.5% respectively.

According to the IBGE, the industries with the biggest increase in employment figures were food and drink, transport, metal and machinery. The biggest falls in employment figures were in footwear, woodwork and clothing.


Segundo IBGE emprego cresceu 2,2% no Brasil em relação a ano passado

De acordo com o Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) o índice de emprego no Brasil em 2007 foi 2,2% maior do que em 2006. Segundo o IBGE a taxa é maior já obtida desde 2001, quando teve início a atual Pesquisa Mensal de Emprego e Salário.

Conforme informou a Agência Brasil, o IBGE registrou crescimento no índice de emprego em todos os 14 locais pesquisados, sendo que os maiores índices foram registrados no  estados de São Paulo (3,5%), Paraná (3,1%),  Região Nordeste (1,4%) e  estado de Minas Gerais (1,5%).

Segundo a Pesquisa Industrial Mensal de Emprego e Salário, os setores que mais criaram postos foram os de alimentos e bebidas (4%), meios de transporte (7,7%), produtos de metal (7,3%) e máquinas e equipamentos (7%). Apresentaram queda os setores de calçados e artigos de couro (-7,3%), madeira (-5,7%) e vestuário (-3,7%).


EU fines Microsoft $1.35 billion for non-compliance with antitrust decision

The European Union (EU) competitions commission has announced its decision to fine the Microsoft Corporation €899 million (US$1.35 billion), approximately 1/10th of the company's gross yearly earnings, for failing to comply with the 2004 antitrust order. It is the highest ever fine charged by the EU (also being the largest fine of its kind ever imposed upon a company), and the first time that the EU has fined a company because of non-compliance with an antitrust decision.

The first decision in this antitrust case was given in 2004 citing that Microsoft withheld needed interoperability information from rival software companies which prevented them from making software compatible with Windows. The commission ordered Microsoft to provide this information. Microsoft agreed to this, providing the information for royalty fees of 6.5% of the licensee's revenues for the product on grounds of innovation (specifically, 3.87% for the patent license  and of 2.98% for the information license). The EU found these royalty fees unreasonable and Microsoft was ordered to lower them. Microsoft complied with this, adjusting the royalty rates to 1.2% (changing the rates for the licenses to 0.7% and 0.5%, respectively) in the European Union, while keeping the rate the same for the rest of the world. The EU still saw this as an unreasonable rate, and Microsoft, two month after lowering the rates, reduced the rates yet again to a flat rate of €10000 or a royalty of 0.4% applicable worldwide. Microsoft's royalty rates, which were deemed unreasonable for the period of 15 months between June 21, 2006 and October 21, 2007 are the cause for the fine. So far, the EU has fined Microsoft €1.68 billion in 3 separate fines in this case. This fine will go towards the European Union annual budget.

The European Anti-trust commissioner Neelie Kroes stated that the fine was "reasonable and proportionate", as the figure could have gone up as high as €1.5 billion, the maximum that the EU commission can impose. She also said that it should act as "a signal to the outside world, and especially Microsoft, that they should stick to the rules" and that "Talk is cheap. Flouting the rules is expensive". Although she also expressed hope that "today's decision closes a dark chapter in Microsoft's record of non-compliance with the Commission".

There is no certainty whether Microsoft will appeal this decision, a Microsoft Spokesperson has stated that Microsoft will review this latest fine, citing that "The commission announced in October 2007 that Microsoft was in full compliance with the 2004 decision, so these fines are about the past issues that have been resolved." Microsoft`s General Counsel Brad Smith commented "It's clearly very important to us as a company that we comply with our obligations under European law. We'll study this decision carefully, and if there are additional steps that we need to take in order to comply with it, we will take them." Microsoft had appealed to fines by the EU before, but all the charges were defeated. If Microsoft does not appeal the decision, the company will have 3 month (starting February 27th) to pay the fine in full. The fine must be paid in Euros.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer stated that the company had news that the fine was pending. "We knew it was pending," Ballmer told interviewers. "We didn't know it was this week, but we knew it was coming at some point."

This may not be the end of Microsoft's troubles with the European Union yet, as the commission is currently investigating two other complaints about the company's anti-competition practices.

The decisions came after Microsoft announced they were disclosing 30,000 pages of previously secret software code last Thursday (February 21st). The EU  competition commissioner's commented that this move "does not necessarily equal a change in business practice."

Microsoft was set to launch three new products: Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 at its "Heroes Happen Here" event today. Microsoft shares slipped 12 cents to $28.26 on NASDAQ after news of the fine.


Microsoft condamné à une amende de 899 millions d'euros par l'Union européenne

Publié le 27 février 2008   La Commission européenne a condamné l'entreprise américaine Microsoft à une amende de 899 millions d'euros, pour ne pas avoir rendu ses logiciels plus ouverts assez rapidement.

Ce montant record a été calculé sur la base des astreintes journalières pour la période du 21 juin 2006 au 21 octobre 2007. Il est le plus important réclamé par la commission à une entreprise unique. En mars 2004, Microsoft avait déjà été condamnée par la même instance à une amende de 497 millions d'euros pour abus de position dominante. Lors de ce premier jugement, l'entreprise avait été sommée de rendre ses logiciels plus ouverts, en particulier en publiant les informations techniques nécessaires sur Windows XP et Windows Vista pour permettre à des produits concurrents d'interagir avec les siens, puis avait ajouté des astreintes journalières devant le manque de coopération.

La procédure judiciaire s'était terminée le 17 septembre par l'accord donné par Microsoft aux exigences formulées, ce qui avait mis fin aux astreintes journalières à partir de cette date. Il restait toutefois à chiffrer le montant définitif dû par Microsoft, estimé par l'entreprise américaine il y a quelques temps à 1,5 milliard d'euros dans le cadre de ce dossier.

Une autre enquête concernant Microsoft, ouverte en janvier dernier par la Commission, porte sur l'interopérabilité de la suite Office et sur l'intégration d'Internet Explorer dans le système d'exploitation Windows.

Paradoxalement, Microsoft avait annoncé la semaine dernière vouloir apporter d'importants changements dans sa politique d'ouverture, allant même jusqu'à définir quatre principes d'interopérabilité, qui visent à « assurer des connexions ouvertes, promouvoir la portabilité des données, renforcer le support des standards de l'industrie IT et  promouvoir un engagement plus ouvert avec les clients et l'industrie, y compris les communautés open source ».


Nuova multa dell'antitrust europeo a Microsoft

La commissione europea ha inflitto a Microsoft una nuova multa, di 899 milioni di euro, elevata dopo che Microsoft non ha rispettato alcune decisioni dell'autorità antitrust del marzo 2004. Come riporta il commissario UE alla concorrenza Neelie Kroes, «È la prima volta in 50 anni che la Commissione Ue ha inflitto una multa per mancato rispetto di una decisione antitrust».

La multa è stata elevata perché Microsoft ha continuato a far pagare troppo le informazioni necessarie per l'interoperabilità con i sistemi della concorrenza. Infatti, solo dal 22 ottobre 2007 il costo per le informazioni di compatibilità tra software è sceso dal 5,95% allo 0,4% del guadagno che l'azienda acquirente stima potrà ricavare dall'ottenimento di quelle informazioni, più 10 000 € una tantum.

Microsoft Corporation ha voluto sottolineare che questa multa si riferisce ad un fatto già giudicato in passato e, ad oggi, risolto. Intanto, l'autorità antitrust europea continua ad indagare sul presunto abuso di posizione dominante di Microsoft attraverso il browser Internet Explorer e la suite d'ufficio Microsoft Office.


EU fines Microsoft €280.5 million

Microsoft was fined €280.5 million today by the European Commission for not complying to a 2004 antitrust ruling by the European Union.

EU had ruled in 2004, asking Microsoft to provide its competitors information about its Windows operating system. This was to give the rivals a level playing ground for writing software for the Windows platform to compete with Microsoft's own offerings.

The EU set a dead-line of July 21 for Microsoft to provide complete technical information to its competitors. If not, there may be further fines, up to €3 million a day.

The commission is saying that Microsoft has not done enough on the issue and must provide the information by July 31. Microsoft however does not agree to this and believes that it has done no wrong, and has in fact complied to the 2004 EU ruling.

The European Union's Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes has warned Microsoft to comply with these regulations for their upcoming Operating system, Vista which is scheduled to be released in 2007.


UE multa Microsoft em 280,5 milhões de euros

A Microsoft foi multada em 280,5 milhões de euros pela Comissão Européia na quarta-feira (12) por supostamente não obedecer a uma lei antitruste de 2004 da União Européia.

A UE tinha decidido em 2004 que a Microsoft devia fornecer a seus concorrentes informações sobre o seu sistema operacional  Windows. Alegou-se que essa decisão foi tomada para permitir aos concorrentes escrever seus próprios programas de computador para a plataforma  Windows e competir em condições de igualdade com outros produtos da empresa dona do Windows.

A UE decidiu que a Microsoft tem até o dia 21 de julho para fornecer a informação técnica completa a seus rivais. Se ela não fizer isso, novas multas, de até 3 milhões de euros por dia, podem ser aplicadas.

A comissão alega  que a Microsoft não se esforçou o suficiente para resolver a contenda e que ela deve fornecer a informação antes de 31 de julho.

A Microsoft contudo não concorda,  acredita que  não fez nada de errado e que obedeceu o regulamento da UE.

O Comissário da União Européia da Competição Neelie Kroes advertiu a Microsoft para cumprir com essas determinações depois de lançar o seu novo sistema operacional, o Windows Vista.


EU warns Microsoft: forthcoming Vista risks antitrust breach

The European Commission has warned Microsoft that features the company intends to include in its next version of Windows known as Windows Vista may breach the European Union's antitrust laws.

The EU's commissioner in charge of competition, Neelie Kroes, wrote to Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, last week informally warning him that Microsoft's plans to include security features, search tools, copyright protection services and an application to create documents similar to Adobe's PDF files into Vista would violate European antitrust laws, according to her spokesman Jonathan Todd.

Mr. Todd said that the commission was worried that features Microsoft plans to include in Vista may prevent customers from choosing their own software combinations. He emphasised that the letter was not a signal of a formal antitrust inquiry into Windows Vista.

The commission wrote the letter following a letter from Microsoft asking them to indicate if there were any possible competition issues with the new system. Mr. Todd said: "We assume that Microsoft has its own interests at heart. It wants to launch another product without having to worry about the Commission instituting various actions under antitrust law."

Microsoft's top lawyer in Europe, Horacio Guttierez, said Wednesday that adding such functions into the operating system was essential if Microsoft was to meet customer demand. "I know consumers want more secure computer systems," he said.

Windows Vista includes software called Windows Defender, which seeks out and removes spyware and adware. Guttierez claims that forcing Microsoft to sell Windows without Defender "is a bit like forcing BMW to sell cars without airbags".

"We have a responsibility to make our products better and more secure for our customers," he said.


Европейский союз обращает внимание на возможные нарушения в Windows Vista

Европейская комиссия предупредила корпорацию «Майкрософт» (Microsoft), что некоторые функции, которые последняя намеривается включить в следующую версию её известной операционной системы Windows, могут нарушить антимонопольные законы Европейского союза.

Комиссар Европейского союза, отвечающая за честную конкуренцию, Ниили Крёс (Neelie Kroes) на прошлой неделе направил генеральному директору «Майкрософт» Стиву Балмеру (Steve Ballmer) неофициальное предупреждение, что планы «Майкрософт» включения в состав операционной системы функций безопасности, инструментов поиска, а также услуг по защите авторского права и инструментов для создания документов в формате, подобном формату PDF компании Adobe, могут привести к нарушению европейских антимонопольных законов.

Представитель европейской комиссии Джонатан Тодд (Jonathan Todd) выказал обеспокоенность в том, что намерения корпорации включить в новую ОС «Виста» (Vista) некоторые функции могут препятствовать клиентам выбирать их собственные варианты программного обеспечения. Тодд подчеркнул, что письмо не означает формального антимонопольного расследования против Windows Vista.

Письмо комиссии было ответом на просьбы компании «Майкрософт» об указании на возможные проблемы с Windows Vista в области конкуренции. Тодд сказал: «Мы предполагаем, что „Майкрософт“ имеет собственные интересы в глубине души. Они намерены начать новый проект и имеют сомнения, не подпадут ли они под какие-либо действия комиссии по линии антимонопольного законодательства».

Главный адвокат компании «Майкрософт» в Европе, Горацио Гуттиерез (Horacio Guttierez), сказал в среду, что добавление таких функций в операционную систему существенно, если «Майкрософт» собирается удовлетворить спрос клиентов. «Я знаю, что потребители хотят более безопасные компьютерные системы», сказал он.

Windows Vista включает программное обеспечение, названное Windows Defender (Защитник), которое ищет и удаляет шпионские программы. Гуттиерез утверждает, что принуждение «Майкрософта» продавать Windows без «Защитника» немного походит на то, чтобы вынудить БМВ (BMW) продавать автомобили без подушки безопасности.
«Мы считаем, что наша ответственность стоит в том, чтобы сделать наши продукты лучше и более безопасными для наших клиентов», сказал он.

30 марта 2006 года


Europe restricts poultry as bird flu spreads to eight European nations

Authorities across Europe have issued restrictions on commercial poultry farms, following the outbreak of bird flu in eight previously unaffected nations. The virus has been found in migratory birds much earlier than had been expected.

Tests have confirmed that wild swans in Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, Austria and Germany had died from the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus. Other suspected cases of the virus have been detected in Slovenia, Croatia and Denmark.

European health officials had expected wild birds migrating from Africa to Europe in spring to carry the disease into Western Europe. It is thought that swans were migrating from Russia and Ukraine to the Black Sea driven by unusually cold weather.

Globally, 91 people have died after contracting the virus from close contact with diseased birds, but the greatest concern for European authorities is that an outbreak will occur among domesticated fowl, destroying local poultry industries. The H5N1 strain of bird flu is highly contagious, and lethal to birds. A single outbreak can kill tens of thousands of birds, and all birds must be culled across a wide region to prevent the spread of the disease.

No domesticated poultry or humans are thought to be infected in Western Europe at this time. Authorities continue to conduct intensive checks.

A number of countries across Europe, including Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands have required that domesticated fowl be kept indoors. In Germany and Hungary, two mile protection zones have been placed around the locations where dead swans, with all poultry required to be kept indoors and the shipping of meat outside the zones prohibited.

The European Union has toughened its bans on poultry products and now bans the importation of untreated bird feathers into its 25 member nations. The EU also hopes to test 60,000 wild birds and 300,0000 domestic birds as part of its bird flu surveillance program.

In France, the government asked citizens to keep domesticated fowl indoors throughout the country. Domesticated ducks will be vaccinated.


トリインフルエンザ、ヨーロッパの8ヶ国に拡大—EU、家禽に制限

これまで発生が確認されていなかった8ヶ国で新たにトリインフルエンザが発生したことを受けて、ヨーロッパ各国の当局は養禽農場に制限を発令した。ウイルスは予想よりはるかに早く渡り鳥から発見された。

ギリシャ、ブルガリア、イタリア、オーストリア、ドイツの野生の白鳥が強毒性のH5N1型のウイルスで死んだことが、検査によって確認された。ウイルスへの感染が疑われるケースが、他にスロベニア、クロアチア、デンマークでも発見された。

ヨーロッパの衛生当局は、アフリカからヨーロッパへ移動する野鳥が西ヨーロッパにこの病気を運ぶのは、春だろうと予想していた。しかし、強い寒波のために白鳥がロシアやウクライナから黒海へ移動したと思われる。

ウイルスに感染した鳥と接触したことにより、世界中で91人が感染し死亡しているが、ヨーロッパ衛生当局がもっとも憂慮していることは、飼育されている家禽の間で大流行が起こり、地域の家禽産業を破壊することである。H5N1型トリインフルエンザウィルスは鳥への感染力が強く、致命的である。一度の流行の間に何万羽もの鳥を殺す可能性があり、とても広範囲のすべての鳥類が、病気の蔓延を防ぐために殺されることを余儀なくされる。

まだ西ヨーロッパでは、飼育されている家禽や人間に感染しているとは考えられていない。当局は、徹底的なチェックを行い続けている。

デンマーク、スウェーデン、オランダなどヨーロッパ内の多くの国では、屋内に飼育している鶏を飼っている。ドイツとハンガリーでは、死んだ白鳥から2マイル (3.2km) の保護地域を設けて、家禽は屋内に置かれ、地域外への肉の移出は禁じられた。

欧州連合 (EU) は、家禽製品に関する禁止令を強化した。現在、25の加盟国に対し、未処置の鳥の羽の輸入を禁止している。また、EUは、トリインフルエンザ監視計画の一部として、6万羽の野鳥と30万羽の飼育している鳥の検査を望んでいる。

フランスでは、政府が市民に、全土の飼育している家禽を屋内にとどめておくように求めた。飼育されているアヒルはワクチンの接種を受ける予定である。

この記事は英語版ウィキニュースからの翻訳です。


European airline Ryanair fined over ash-triggered flight cancellations

Italy today fined the Irish airline Ryanair three million euros over the airline's failure to assist passengers after their flights were canceled due to volcanic ash last month.

According to the civil aviation authority of Italy, ENAC, there were 178 cases of passengers not receiving mandatory assistance, such as accommodations and food, after Ryanair canceled their flights.  Such assistance is required by European regulations to be given to passengers who have chosen to be re-routed.

ENAC noted that despite the situation, most other European airlines had succeeded in fulfilling their obligations to passengers.  The agency was especially critical of the treatment of passengers at Rome's Ciampino Airport.

Ryanair had no comment on the announcement. In its statement announcing the fines, ENAC said that "fines totalling around three million euros for 178 violations of its legal obligations to assist passengers in cases of flight cancellations" had been imposed on Ryanair.


Vulkanchaos in Italien: Ryanair muss Millionenstrafe zahlen


European Commission clears British Airways owner IAG to buy bmi from Lufthansa

The European Commission (EC) has approved yesterday a takeover of loss-making UK airline bmi from Lufthansa by International Airlines Group (IAG), owner of British Airways (BA). IAG will have to make concessions after Virgin Atlantic told the EC the deal would be anti-competitive.

The deal is set to cost IAG, who also own Iberia, £172.5 million. That value could fall as budget subsidiary bmibaby may be retained by Lufthansa or sold elsewhere, and IAG are reported to be primarily interested in the main bmi business. A regional subsidiary also exists.

IAG intends to use acquired slots at the busy Heathrow Airport, which serves London, to expand their own routes into Asia. The EC required IAG to surrender a number of flight slots at the airport. The slots surrendered or made available for lease are for use to destinations in Scotland, France, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. The EC also insisted that combined BA/bmi routing be made available for competitors to buy transfer seats upon.

Lufthansa intended to shut down bmi had the bid failed. The transaction is presently scheduled for completion April 20.

IAG boss Willie Walsh called the sale "great news for Britain" with results that are "good for UK business and UK consumers." Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson had previously said the move would give BA excessive dominance on Scottish flights. More Heathrow slots earmarked for Scotland have been given up than any other destination.

Ryanair took the opportunity to claim only their own takeover bid for Aer Lingus has been a major EC casualty. "Today's rubber-stamping of BA's purchase of bmi shows yet again that the EC has one rule for Europe's flag-carriers, but different rules for Ryanair", said Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary.


La Commission européenne autorise IAG à racheter bmi à la Lufthansa

La Commission européenne a approuvée hier la prise de contrôle de la compagnie aérienne britannique déficitaire bmi, filiale de la Lufthansa, par International Airlines Group (IAG), la société propriétaire de British Airways. Mais IAG devra faire des concessions après que Virgin Atlantic ait déclaré à la Commission que cet accord serait anti-compétitif.

L'accord devrait coûter à IAG, qui détient également Iberia, 172,5 millions de livres sterling, soit 207 millions d'euros. On saura dans les semaines à venir si la filiale low cost bmibaby sera conservée par Lufthansa ou bien sera vendue également, IAG ayant par ailleurs annoncé qu'elle n'était intéressé que par l'activité principale de bmi. Une filiale régionale existe également.

IAG souhaite récupérer les slots[1] détenu pas bmi à l'aéroport surchargé d'Heathrow, desservant Londres, pour étendre son offre vers l'Asie. La Commission européenne exige de IAG de diminuer le nombre de créneaux horaires détenus sur cet aéroport : le groupe a du renoncer à 14 créneaux quotidiens. En effet, bmi étant le second opérateur après British Airways sur Heathrow, la concurrence craignait une trop forte concentration de créneaux pour un seul opérateur.

Lufthansa avait l'intention de placer la compagnie en liquidation si l'offre avait échoué. La transaction est actuellement prévue pour s'achever le 20 avril.

Le CEO de IAG, Willie Walsh, a qualifié cet achat de « bonne nouvelle pour les Britanniques » avec des résultats qui sont « bons pour l'économie britannique et pour les consommateurs britanniques ». Le fondateur de Virgin, Sir Richard Branson, avait auparavant annoncé que la transaction donnerait à British Airways une domination excessive dans le ciel écossais.

Ryanair profite de l'occasion pour rappeler que leur propre prise de contrôle de Aer Lingus avait été bloquée par la Commission européenne en 2007. « Aujourd'hui, le feu vert pour le rachat de bmi par Brithish Airways montre une nouvelle fois que la Commission européenne a une règle pour les compagnies européennes, et des règles différentes pour Ryanair » a déclaré son dirigeant Michael O'Leary.


European Commission might impose embargo on Chinese products

The European Commission (EU) is considering the imposition of an embargo on Chinese toys and consumer products. The EU Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Meglena Kuneva, said the aim is to increase pressure on the Chinese government to intensify its quality control in the manufacture of toys, toothpaste and certain food items.

Mattel, the world's largest toy producer, recently launched a massive product recall of Chinese-made products because their paint may contain excessive amounts of lead.

China has until October to respond with a detailed plan on how it will increase its monitoring of product safety; if it fails to respond, Kuneva announced, some products will be banned.

In testimony before the European Parliament on the twelfth of September, Kuneva underlined the necessity to protect children from possible harm: "My main message to our Chinese counterparts was that Europe does not and would not accept compromises when the safety of consumers, and in particular of children, is at stake."


La Comisión Europea podría imponer un embargo en productos chinos

La Comisión Europea está considerando imponer un embargo en juguetes y productos al consumidor de China. La Comisionada de la Unión Europea para la Protección del Consumidor, Meglena Kuneva, dijo que el fin es incrementar la presión sobre el gobierno chino para que intensifique sus controles de calida en la manufactura de juguetes, pasta dental y ciertas comidas.

Mattel, la compañía de juguetes más importante del mundo, ha comenzado una retirada masiva de productos chinos ya que la pintura en estos contiene una cantidad excesiva de plomo.

China tendría hasta octubre para responder con un plan detallado en cómo incrementará el monitoreo de la seguridad de los productos; en caso de no responder, Kuneva prosiguió, algunos productos serán prohibidos.

En una declaración frente al Parlamento Europeo el 12 de septiembre, Kuneva subrayó la necesidad de proteger a los niños de daños posibles:


European Union rejects software patents; starts new process

Despite assurances from the European Commissioner for the Internal Market Charles McCreevy that the Council would adopt its controversial Common Position text covering Software Patents, members voted to restart the entire process with a new directive.

MEP Michel Rocard noted several "inelegancies" by the Commission in his speech against the directive, such as not taking into account any of the Parliament's substantive amendments in its recommendation to the Council. He also took the Dutch and German governments to task for ignoring their respective parliaments. The Irish Presidency's sponsorship by Microsoft was also criticised, as were the attempted ratifications at fishery Council meetings.

There was also confusion over the actual effects of the proposed directive with industry players confirming that the Council text allowed pure software patents, while the Commission claimed it would not.

"In the debate, broad agreement prevailed over the fact that the current proposal was counter-productive and far from a good basis for a decision," said Italian MEP Monica Frassoni.

The computer-implemented inventions directive was voted down by members of European Parliament (MEP) in the legal affairs committee. 19 MEPs voted in favour of re-starting negotiations, 2 against with one abstention.


Europaparlament fordert Neufassung der Software-Patentrichtlinie

Brüssel (Belgien), 19.02.2005 – Nach einem langen und undurchsichtigen Verfahren zwischen EU-Parlament und Wettbewerbsrat hat heute die Konferenz der Fraktionsvorsitzenden im Europaparlament den Rat aufgefordert einen neuen Richtlinienvorschlag zu unterbreiten.

Damit fällt die Verabschiedung der gemeinsamen Position zum aktuellen Entwurf im Rat flach und das Verfahren um die „Richtlinie zur Patentierung Computerimplementierter Erfindungen“ muss neu aufgerollt werden. Die Parlamente Polens, Spaniens und der Niederlande hatten sich bereits vor dem EU-Parlamentsbeschluss gegen den EU-Ratsentwurf der Richtlinie ausgesprochen und eine Verbesserung gefordert. Am darauf folgenden Freitag, dem 18 Februar, hat auch der deutsche Bundestag den „interfraktionellen Antrag zur effektiven Begrenzung der Patentierung von Computerprogrammen“ verabschiedet.

Der Beschluss am Donnerstag war von etwa 300 Demonstranten in Brüssel begleitet worden. Da die mit Bananen bewaffneten Aktivisten zuerst vergebens vor dem Gebäude auf einen Vertreter der Kommission warten mussten, wurde der offene Brief an den Kommissionspräsidenten Charlie McCreevy auf der Pressekonferenz des FFII übergeben. Im Brief wird der EU vorgeworfen zu einer Bananenrepublik geworden zu sein. Des weiteren wird dem Rat mangelnde Selbständigkeit in der Entscheidungsfindung bescheinigt und darauf hingewiesen in dem neu anlaufenden Verfahren die gleichen Fehler nicht noch einmal zu begehen. Die Neuvorlage sei die Chance die „knowledge economy“ auf der Basis Parlamentarischer Demokratie in eine rechtssichere Zukunft zu führen.


Parlament Europejski odrzuca patenty

Dwa dni temu, 17 lutego, Parlament Europejski jednogłośnie odrzucił projekt ustawy zezwalającej na patentowanie oprogramowania. Jeśli zaakceptuje to Komisja Europejska, projekt nie będzie mógł być ponownie zgłoszony w ciągu dwóch najbliższych lat. Istotną rolę w zatrzymaniu projektu odgrywała od początku polska delegacja.

Projekt ustawy dotyczącej patentowania oprogramowania wzbudzał od początku wiele kontrowersji. Jego wprowadzenie w życie utrudniałoby proces powstawania oprogramowania w małych i średnich przedsiębiorstwach, faworyzując jednocześnie ogromnych światowych potentatów, jak Microsoft, Apple czy Adobe. Dodatkowo dyrektywa patentowa mogłaby ograniczyć czy wręcz zniszczyć ruch Wolnego Oprogramowania.

W proteście przeciwko patentom w sieci Internet powstało wiele inicjatyw mających na celu protest przeciwko projektowi Komisji Europejskiej. Powstały liczne listy otwarte, pod którymi każdy mógł się podpisać. Gdy w grudniu ub. roku polski rząd poprosił o odroczenie decyzji w tej sprawie, powstała witryna Thank Poland!, mająca na celu podziękowanie polskiemu rządowi za przesunięcie daty rozpatrywania tej sprawy. Ponadto webmasterzy zamykali swe strony, demonstrując sprzeciw dla tej detektywy.


Eurozone approves Greece bailout

The European Union and International Monetary Fund (IMF) have agreed to provide the ailing Greek economy with 110 billion euros (US$146 billion) worth of loans over three years. Finance ministers from the sixteen countries that use the euro – known as the eurozone – approved the plan yesterday.

According to the plan, the EU is to provide 80 billion euros of the loans, and the IMF the other 30 billion; it is aimed at preventing Greece from defaulting on debt.

Before being fully implemented, however, the proposal must be individually approved by all fifteen other countries in the eurozone. According to Luxembourgish prime minister Jean-Claude Junker, up to 30 billion euros would be given to Greece in the first year.

German chancellor Angela Merkel commented on the proposal yesterday, saying: "The programmme is without alternative to safeguard the stability of the euro."

The Greek government yesterday predicted that the country's gross domestic product would drop by four percent this year; it also forecast the national debt, currently at 115% of GDP, will increase to 149% in 2013, before going down.


Grecja dostanie 110 miliardów euro

Na 110 miliardów euro wsparcia finansowego może liczyć Grecja. Zgodę na uruchomienie specjalnego pakietu pomocowego dali ministrowie finansów strefy euro, co potwierdził szef eurogrupy Jean-Claude Juncker.

„Pakiet finansowy zapewni 110 miliardów euro na pokrycie zobowiązań finansowych Grecji. Kraje strefy euro wyłożą 80 miliardów, z czego 30 - zostanie przekazanych w pierwszym roku.” – oświadczył Juncker.

Pozostała część pieniędzy zostanie przekazana w przeciągu trzech lat. W zamian za dofinansowanie Grecy muszą zdobyć się na wyrzeczenia, by w 2014 r. dziura budżetowa nie wynosiła więcej niż 3 procent PKB.

Grecję czeka m.in. rezygnacja z trzynastej i czternastej pensji w sektorze publicznym, zmniejszenie emerytur oraz wzrost z 37 do 40 liczby przepracowanych lat, by uzyskać emeryturę. Zaciskanie pasa uderzy także w palaczy i kierowców – wzrośnie akcyza na papierosy i paliwo. Planuje się także podniesienie akcyzy na alkohol.

Z radykalnych cięć budżetowych najbardziej niezadowolone są związki zawodowe. Do tego stopnia, że w środę planują strajk. Protestować mają pracownicy sektora prywatnego, choć niewykluczone jest, że przyłączą się do nich koledzy z budżetówki.


Eurozone now officially in recession

The Eurozone is now officially in a recession, due to the recently released figures showing that, in the third quarter of 2008, the economy shrunk by 0.2%.

For a recession to be official, the economy must have shrunk for at least two consecutive quarters. This is the case as the Eurozone's economy, which also shrunk by 0.2% in the second quarter of this year.

Howard Archer, the chief European economist for Global Insight commented on these results. "Not only did the third quarter contraction in GDP confirm that the Eurozone is now in recession, but latest data and survey evidence indicate that the fourth quarter is likely to see a sharper fall in GDP as the financial crisis bites harder," he stated.

This development comes after two large countries in the Eurozone, Germany and Italy announced that they were in a recession.

Gilles Moec a senior economist at the Bank of America also commented on the results."Looking ahead, we can expect further quarters of negative GDP growth, until the third quarter of 2009, simply because so far we have not had in the GDP figures the full impact of the credit market crisis," he said.

Despite the economy shrinking according to quarter-on-quarter results, year-on-year results for the third quarter of 2008 still show a small growth in the economy, although the growth is less then 0.1%.

The fifteen members of the Eurozone are France, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal,  Austria, Finland, Slovenia, Malta, Luxembourg, Spain, Greece and Cyprus.


Zona del euro entra en recesión

14 de noviembre de 2008Bruselas, Bélgica —

Las quince economías que integran la zona del euro de la Unión Europea entraron en una fase de recesión, según los datos preliminares de Eurostat, la agencia europea de estadística.

El producto interior bruto en la zona del euro, así como el de los 27 países miembros de la Unión, bajó dos décimas en julio-septiembre de 2008. En el trimestre anterior, se produjo un recorte igual en la zona del euro y un crecimiento cero a escala de la Unión.

El crecimiento económico negativo durante dos trimestres consecutivos es el indicio principal de la recesión técnica que se registra por primera vez en el marco de la unión monetaria formada por 15 países europeos.

Alemania e Italia entraron en recesión tras bajar por segundo trimestre consecutivo su PIB. España bajó el PIB en el tercer trimestre y Francia logró por ahora evadir este problema al subir un 0,14% el PIb, desde el descenso del segundo trimestre.

Alemania anunció ayer que ha entrado en recesión, por primera vez desde 2003. Por su parte, la ministra de Economía francesa, Christine Lagarde, valoró como "buena noticia" la superación de Francia, donde se había previsto un descenso de 0,1%.


Eurolandia: la recessione è arrivata

Secondo i dati diffusi oggi dall’istituto di statistica Eurostat, il prodotto interno lordo dell'eurozona è calato dello 0,2% nel terzo trimestre 2008; essendo il secondo trimeste consecutivo di crescita negativa, si può ufficialmente parlare di recessione, la prima dalla nascita della moneta unica.

Le nazioni con i risultati peggiori sono Italia, Germania, e Regno Unito, alle quali si aggiunge anche la Spagna, per la prima volta in 15 anni. Attorno allo zero si posizionano invece Francia e Portogallo.

Tra i settori trainanti verso il basso si registra l’industria dell'automobile, che ha visto crollare le vendite di nuovi modelli del 15%.

Gli economisti si attendono un nuovo taglio dei tassi d'interesse da parte della Banca Centrale Europa nella prossima riunione del 4 dicembre.


Zona do Euro entra em recessão

O PIB (Produto Interno Bruto) da zona do Euro teve uma contração de 0,2% no terceiro trimestre do ano, na comparação com o segundo trimestre, quando também houve contração de 0,2% na comparação com o período imediatamente anterior, segundo os dados preliminares disponibilizados pela Eurostat. Dessa forma, pela primeira vez na história da União Européia, a zona do Euro entra em recessão. Em breve, deve se integrar ao grupo o Reino Unido, em que há a expectativa de retração no PIB em 0,5% neste trimestre.

A notícia é divulgada quando algumas das principais economias do continente europeu já anunciaram recessão, como Alemanha, Itália e Espanha. A França, até o momento, é a única grande economia européia que não apresenta diminuição no PIB.

Os países que compõem o grupo que utiliza a moeda única são: Portugal, Espanha, França, Alemanha, Itália, Áustria, Irlanda, Finlândia, Eslovênia, Chipre, Malta, Bélgica, Luxemburgo, Países Baixos e Grécia.

Em Portugal, o PIB no terceiro trimestre de 2008 terá registrado uma variação nula frente o trimestre anterior, mas no ano, ainda apresenta uma variação positiva de 0,1%.


Eurozone offers Greece 30 billion euro in loans

Member states of the eurozone have offered to give Greece thirty billion euro in emergency loans for the debt-stricken country, should the latter want it.

The loans' price will be determined using formulas by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and will be set at around five percent.

The Luxembourgish prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, speaking on behalf of eurozone finance ministers, commented that "[t]he total amount put up by the eurozone member states for the first year will reach 30bn euros." He added that "[t]his is certainly no subsidy" to Greece.

The prime minister also noted that financing would be "completed and co-financed" by the IMF. European Union monetary affairs chief Olli Rehn remarked that the IMF would make a "substantial contribution" to the loan package as well, perhaps around ten billion euros.

The Greek economy has spent more than it has earned for several years now, and currently faces a budget deficit equal to 12.9% of its economic output, or a total debt of 300 billion euros. The country intends to try and reduce the deficit to 8.7% this year.


Az eurózóna tagállamai gyorskölcsönt ajánlottak fel Görögországnak

Az eurózóna többi tagállama 30 milliárd eurós gyorskölcsönt ajánlott fel az adósságcsapdában levő Görögországnak. A kamatrátát a Nemzetközi Valutaalap (IMF) eljárásai alapján állapítják meg, így az öt százalék körül alakul.

– A tagállamok által az első év végéig felajánlott összeg eléri a 30 milliárd eurót. - nyilatkozta az euróövezet pénzügyminiszterei nevében Jean-Claude Juncker, a luxemburgi miniszterelnök. – Ez azonban semmi esetre sem segély. - tette hozzá. A műveletet a Valutaalap bevonásával és annak anyagi támogatásával kívánják végrehajtani.

Olli Rehn, az Unió monetáris ügyeinek biztosa arról tájékoztatott, hogy a csomagot az IMF még további 10 milliárddal kiegészítené.

Az utóbbi évek túlköltekezése nyomán a görög költségvetési hiány az ország éves termelésének 12,9%-ára, azaz mintegy 300 milliárd euróra rúg. A kormányzat a hiányt 8,7%-ra kívánja lefaragni még ebben az évben.


Facebook hired PR firm to discredit Google, reveals leaked correspondence

Facebook hired a public relations firm to systematically discredit Google by paying two journalists to plant negative pieces in U.S. newspapers, leaked correspondence discloses. The new revelations are likely to increase tension between the two companies, which are already fierce rivals.

The social network has confirmed the validity of the leaked emails, seen by Wikinews, which suggest executives at the social networking giant hired Burson-Marsteller, a high profile PR and communications firm, to discredit Social Circle, a rival website run by Google. Burson-Marsteller then recruited two journalists — Jim Goldman and John Mercurio — to push editors at The Washington Post and USA Today to publish editorials criticising Social Circle over its privacy settings. The story was exposed after Burson-Marsteller approached a blogger to publish the propaganda, but the blogger posted the correspondence online.

Burson-Marsteller has been forced to apologize for taking on Facebook as a client, admitting the orders to discredit Google violated company policy. "The assignment on those terms should have been declined," a spokesperson said. The revelations are likely to be incredibly damaging for the firm, who have represented a number of controversial clients in the past. Facebook, however, said the allegations against Google were valid, insisting there were genuine privacy concerns with Social Circle. Google has declined to comment on the issue.


Uniklá korespondence: Facebook si najal firmu na pošpinění Googlu

Mezi dvěma americkými konkurenčními společnostmi, Googlem a Facebookem, asi nejsou nejlepší vztahy, jak dokládá nejnovější aféra. Facebook si najal firmu zaměřenou na vztahy s veřejností, aby platila novináře za systematické očerňování Googlu v amerických novinách.

Facebook, jehož produktem je především stejnojmenná sociální síť, potvrdil, že uniklé emaily jsou pravé. Podle nich si Facebook najal známou profesionální firmu Burson-Marsteller pracující v oblasti vztahů s veřejností, aby zkazila obraz Social Circle, konkurenčního webového systému provozovaného Googlem. Firma Burson-Marsteller pak najala dva novináře (Jimiho Goldmana a Johna Mercuria), aby přiměli redaktory The Washington Post a USA Today k publikování úvodníků kritizujících ochranu soukromí v Social Circle.

Prvotním impulsem k odhalení byl okamžik, kdy Burson-Marsteller oslovil za stejným účelem blogera, který nejen, že spolupráci odmítl, ale navíc zveřejnil emaily, které si s agenturou vyměnil. Burso-Marsteller se následně za záležitost omluvila a uvedla, že kontrakt tohoto typu představuje porušení pravidel společnosti. „Dohoda s takovými podmínkami měla být odmítnuta“, prohlásil mluvčí společnosti. Pro pověst agentury je to velká rána, přitom už v minulosti pracovala pro kontroverzní klienty.

Facebook naopak prohlásil, že propagovaná kritika špatného zabezpečení Social Circle je pravdivá.

Gogole se k záležitosti zatím odmítl vyjádřit.

Tato zpráva byla založena zčásti nebo zcela překladem zprávy Facebook hired PR firm to discredit Google, reveals leaked correspondence na anglických Wikizprávách.


Falwell called for boycott of stores using 'Happy Holidays' in place of 'Merry Christmas'

Before the holiday started, American Christian televangelist Jerry Falwell has asked that Christians across America boycott Target Corporation department stores for their refusal to include "Merry Christmas" in advertisements or store decore, instead opting to use the more inclusive phrase, "Happy Holidays."

Target was not the only recipient of criticism, as Costco and several other stores have used similar greetings during the 2005 holiday season. Falwell and the American Family Association have threatened to boycott Target and Costco for not using the phrase "Merry Christmas" explicitly.

In a similar debate, the decorated spruce at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. was known as a "Holiday Tree" earlier this year, but was renamed "Christmas Tree" after objections by Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL).


Polêmica sobre decoração de Natal nos EUA

As decorações de Natal este ano nos EUA foram motivo de polêmica. Lojas de departamento substituíram as tradicionais mensagens de  "Merry Christmas" ("Feliz Natal") por  "Happy Holidays" ("Boas férias"). Alguns americanos não gostaram da mudança e protestaram.

O pastor da Igreja Batista Jerry Falwell incentivou os cristãos a  boicotar  a  rede de lojas Target Corporation,  a sexta maior empresa do ramo nos EUA.

Outras lojas também foram alvo de críticas, entre elas a Costco Wholesale Corporation, que é considerada a maior rede de lojas a verder no atacado do mundo. Falwell e a Associação pela Família Americana ameaçaram com  boicote tanto a  Costco quanto a Target pelo facto de elas não usarem explicitamente as mensagens  "Merry Christmas" ("Feliz Natal").

Uma polêmica semelhante movimentou o Capitólio em Washington, D.C. este ano. O tradicional enfeite conhecido como  "Christmas Tree" ("Árvore de Natal") teve seu nome alterado para "Holiday Tree" ("Árvore de férias"). Contudo, após protestos do orador da Câmara  Dennis Hastert (R-IL) o enfeite voltou a ser chamado de "Christmas Tree" ("Árvore de Natal").


Fannie Mae forgives mortgage debt of 90-year-old woman who shot herself

Fannie Mae, a housing mortgage lender, has forgiven the mortgage debt of Addie Polk, a 90-year-old woman from Akron, Ohio who attempted to kill herself when she was being evicted from her home on Wednesday.

Polk had lived in her home since 1970, and refinanced her mortgage numerous times since 1997 when she first got a loan taken out against her home. When authorities tried to evict her, she shot herself once in the chest. Fannie Mae took over Polk's home in 2007 after the loan company filed for foreclosure. One report from Reuters states that authorities tried to evict Polk more than 30 other times in the past.

"Just given the circumstances, we think it's appropriate," said Brian Faith, a spokesman for Fannie Mae who also said that the incident was almost immediately "on [their] radar screen".

Polk is currently undergoing treatment at Akron General Medical Center and is expected to make a full recovery. She can return to her home as soon as she recovers from her injuries.

Polk was recognized on Friday when Dennis Kucinich, who is a democratic representative for Ohio, spoke of her incident during debates on a 700 billion USD bailout bill that the United States House of Representatives passed on Friday. He states that the bill does not focus on people in situations like Polk.

"This bill does nothing for the Addie Polks of the world. This bill fails to address the fact that millions of homeowners are facing foreclosure, are facing the loss of their home. This bill will take care of Wall Street, and the market may go up for a few days, but democracy is going downhill," said Kucinich on Friday.


Fannie Mae cancela deuda hipotecaria de anciana de 90 años

Fannie Mae, una empresa prestamista, canceló la deuda hipotecaria de Addie Polk, una mujer de 90 años de edad de Akron, Ohio, quien intentó suicidarse luego de ser desalojada de su hogar el miércoles.

Polk había vivido en su hogar desde 1970, y refinanciado su hipoteca numerosas veces desde 1997. Cuando las autoridades intentaron desalojarla, se disparó a sí misma en el pecho. Fannie Mae había tomado posesión de la casa en 2007 luego de que la compañía prestamista presentó una ejecución hipotecaria. Un reporte de Reuters dice que las autoridades intentaron desalojar a Polk más de 30 veces en el pasado.

"Simplemente dadas las circunstancias, pensamos que es apropiado", dijo Brian Faith, un portavoz de Fannie Mae.

Polk está siendo atendida en el Centro Médico General de Akron y se espera que tenga una recuperación total; ella podrá retornar a su hogar luego de que se recupere de sus heridas.

Polk fue reconocida el viernes cuando el representantes demócrata para Ohio Dennis Kucinich habló sobre su incidente durante los debates del plan de $700.000 millones de dólares para el rescate de la economía que la Cámara de Representantes aprobó el viernes pasado. En su mensaje a la Cámara, dijo que es precisamente por casos como este que el plan no se centraba en situaciones similares a la de Polk.

"Este proyecto de ley no hace nada por las Addie Polks en el mundo. Este proyecto falla en manejar el hecho de que millones de propietarios de hogares están sufriendo ejecuciones hipotecarias, están sufriendo la pérdida de su hogar. Este proyecto cuidará Wall Street, y el mercado subirá por algunos días, pero la democracia está en declive", dijo Kuchinich el viernes.


Fast track offer if Iceland applies to join EU

A commissioner in Brussels has suggested that Iceland could be fast tracked to join the European Union (EU) by 2011.

The European Commissioner for enlargement, Olli Rehn, said that if the country, stricken by the world financial meltdown, applied for membership to the 52-year-old international economic and social organization this year, it would be welcomed with open arms. The EU is expecting an application if the Social Democratic Alliance wins May's general election in the country.

The next entrant to the union is to be Croatia. It has been rapidly making changes to its government and economy in order to join in 2011. The EU will then have 28 members. Iceland could join at the same time, making 29.

Iceland could join quickly because it is already a member of the European Economic Area and therefore already complies with many EU directives. The main contention would be Iceland's rich fishing waters, which are contested by several nearby fishing countries. Iceland and the United Kingdom fought short naval wars in the 1950s and 1970s over the issue of fishing rights in the area. There is also an issue with Ireland's failure to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon, which was designed to streamline the union as more countries join. Without the unanimous ratification, further expansion is difficult.

The EU has its roots in the six member European Coal and Steel Community, founded by France and then-West Germany in 1951. In 1957, the members of the Community formed the European Economic Community (EEC), a common market and customs union. The coal and steel organization was merged into the EEC in 1967. In 1993, the EEC became the European Union. The EU adopted a central banking system and single currency, the Euro, between 1999 and 2002.

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Turkey are all on the waiting list for entry to the EU.


IJsland mogelijk reeds in 2011 EU-lid

IJsland kan in versneld tempo lid worden van de Europese Unie, aldus Europees commissaris Olli Rehn uit Finland in een vraaggesprek met The Guardian. Reeds in 2011 zou het land zich bij de EU kunnen aansluiten, samen met Kroatië. Vanwege IJslands oude democratische traditie en de ligging van het land beschouwt Rehn een toetreding van IJsland als een plus voor de EU.

Door de ernstige economische toestand laten veel IJslanders in peilingen merken bij de Europese Unie aangesloten te willen zijn. Of IJsland dan ook van de IJslandse kroon, de nationale munt, zal overstappen op de euro ligt moeilijker. Vanwege zijn financiële perikelen is IJsland voorlopig niet in staat om te voldoen aan de vereisten daarvoor. De euro is echter wel een belangrijke reden waarom een meerderheid van de IJslanders een lidmaatschap van de EU zou wensen.

Momenteel heeft IJsland reeds een vrijhandelsakkoord met de Europese Unie.


FDA issues proposed rules requiring calorie content on menus

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued proposed calorie labeling rules requiring most retail food vendors to display the calorie counts in items on their menus and menu boards. The proposed rules, issued Friday and expected to be finalized in 2012, would apply to most restaurants, snack bars, vending machines, coffee shops, drive-through restaurants, and convenience and grocery stores.

The US Congress required the rules in the health-care reform law  passed in 2010. The  rules proposed by the FDA must undergo a public comment period before they are finalized and take effect, said Michael R. Taylor, Deputy Director for Foods at the FDA.

The proposed regulations pertain to businesses devoting more than 50 percent of their floor space to the sale of food or that consider themselves restaurants, specifically food-selling chains with at least 20 stores nationally. Included are candy stores, bakeries, and ice-cream parlors.

The FDA's proposed guidelines specify that chains post the calorie counts of foods and drinks on menus and menu boards or next to the food item, such as at a salad bar. The menu is to prominently exhibit the calorie content of each item in a way customers can see easily, giving them the same information packaged foods prepared at home currently provide. The information must be displayed in "clear and conspicuous" print and colors.

Many cities and states have passed laws requiring calorie labeling on menus, beginning with New York City in 2008. California implemented a similar law in January, although many counties are waiting for the release of the federal guidelines before they begin enforcement. Some fast-food chains there, such as McDonald's and Starbucks, are displaying calorie counts on menus in some of their stores.

The rules are intended to curb the national obesity epidemic since, according to FDA estimates, one third of the calories people consume yearly come from food eaten out. In a statement issued yesterday, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services said, "Giving consumers clear nutritional information makes it easier for them to choose healthier options that can help fight obesity and make us all healthier."

Excluded from the rules are businesses whose primary product is not food sales but that sell it, such as bowling alleys, airports and airplanes, amusement parks, hotels and movie theaters. Alcohol is also excluded.


Americká Správa potravin a léčiv připravuje návrh povinnosti zveřejňovat na jídelních lístcích kalorie

Státní Správa potravin a léčiv ve Spojených státech amerických zveřejnila návrh pravidel regulujících povinné informování zákazníka o množství kalorií v prodávané stravě. Předpokládá se, že do konečné podoby bude návrh dopracován v roce 2012 a bude se týkat většiny restaurací a občerstvení, ale třeba i prodejních automatů.

Kongres Spojených států amerických si vytvoření takových pravidel vyžádal v rámci zdravotní reformy, která jím prošla v roce 2010. Součástí jejich tvorby je období, kdy budou připomínkovány veřejností.

Pravidla se mají vztahovat na ty prodejny, které se samy prohlašují za restaurace, nebo které více než polovinu své podlahové plochy věnují prodeji jídla.

Smyslem celé záležitosti je pomoci snížit epidemii otylosti.

Tato zpráva byla založena zčásti nebo zcela překladem zprávy FDA issues proposed rules requiring calorie content on menus na anglických Wikizprávách.


Financial crisis strikes charity in Poland

The current financial crisis have recently caused the Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy (Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity), one of the top Polish charity organizations, to reduce spending on The Great Finale events, which are scheduled to take place on January 11, 2009. As a result, all major events in the city of Wrocław, have been canceled.

Although many companies have declared they will help with organizing and will provide essential products for volunteers, the organizers are still in need financial aid for concerts and other mass events.

Every year, during The Great Finale, the Orchestra's volunteers collect several million zloties, which are then given to various health-care organizations to help  young patients. Since 1993, when the first Finale took place, the Orchestra has collected near $100 million (~290 million złoty).


Nie będzie finału WOŚP we Wrocławiu?

We Wrocławiu jest problem ze styczniowym finałem Wielkiej Orkiestry Świątecznej Pomocy. Sztab nie ma pieniędzy na zorganizowanie koncertu na rynku. Sponsorzy, którzy przez kilka ostatnich lat pomagali zorganizować wielkie granie, w tym roku stwierdzili, że z powodu kryzysu nie mają pieniędzy na wsparcie orkiestry.

Organizator finału przyznał Polskiemu Radiu Wrocław, że pieniędzy zebrano zbyt mało. Trudno jednak powiedzieć ile zabrakło. Mirosław Klekot Walczak szacuje, że potrzebnych jest kilkadziesiąt tysięcy złotych, zaś obiecanych jest tylko około 20 tysięcy.

Wielkiego koncertu nie będzie, zaplanowano natomiast happeningi - we wrocławskim aquaparku i w Klinice Hematologii dziecięcej. 11 stycznia we Wrocławiu pieniądze będzie zbierać dwa tysiące wolontariuszy.


Finnish unemployment rate hits 16-year low at 5.9% for July

Finland's unemployment rate has continued falling steadily, as it has been doing for two years, and hit a 16-year low in July at 5.9%, it has been announced.

The announcement by the Finnish government statistics agency bettered predictions by the Finance Ministry, which had predicted a rate of 6.7% this year and 6.3% next year. The dramatic decrease is being fueled by strong economic growth in the country.

The figures come from a survey carried out for the government by Statistics Finland.

These latest figures mean that out of Finland's population of 5.3 million, 161,000 were jobless in July, compared with 179,000 at the same time last year.


El desempleo en Finlandia cae hasta un 5,9%

21 de agosto de 2007Helsinki, Finlandia —

El desempleo en Finlandia sigue cayendo, como lo ha estado haciendo por más de dos años, y en julio llegó a un 5,9%, según se anunció.

El anuncio de la agencia de estadísticas gubernamentales fue mejor que las predicciones del Ministerio de Financia, que predijo un 6,7% para este año y 6,3% para el que viene. La caída dramática va a la par de un gran crecimiento económico en el país.

Las estadísticas pertenecen a una investigación del gobierno por Estadísticas de Finlandia. La cifra era de un 7,4% en junio de 2007.

Además, esto significa que, de la población finesa de 5,3 millones, 161.000 eran desempleados en julio, comparados con 179.000 desempleados en julio del año pasado.

La agencia de noticias Suomen Tietotoimisto (STT) reportó que en las provincias donde había bajado más el desempleo eran las provincias de Finlandia Meridional, Finlandia Occidental y Oulu.


Le chômage tombe à 5,9 % en Finlande

Le chômage en Finlande continue sa chute, comme il le fait depuis plus de deux ans, et a reculé à un taux de 5,9 % selon un communiqué.
Ce chiffre de l'agence des statistiques gouvernementales a été meilleur que les prédictions du Ministère des Finances, qui avait prédit 6,7 % pour cette année et 6,3 % pour l'année à venir. Ce recul important va de pair avec la très forte croissance économique du pays.
Ces statistiques font partie d'une enquête du Gouvernement pour les Statistiques de Finlande. Le chiffre était de 7,4 % en juin 2007.
De plus, ce chiffre signifie que, sur une population finlandaise de 5,3 millions de personnes, 161 000 personnes étaient au chômage en juillet, à comparer aux 179 000 chômeurs en juillet de l'année passée.
L'agence de presse Suomen Tietotoimisto (STT) a indiqué que les provinces dans lesquelles le chômage a le plus baissé sont les provinces de Finlande méridionale, de Finlande occidentale et d'Oulu.


First rail service in 50 years begins across Korean borders

For the first time in over a half a century, regular train service hosting cargo crossed between North and South Korea.

The train is 12 cars long and is carrying building materials to Kaesong, a key industrial junction for the two countries. The train will head back immediately after unloading. The service will continue at least once every week day.

South Korean leaders say that cargo trains are just a start, although North Korea will not allow anything beyond cargo as of yet. "Though we start with a cargo train, it will lead to a passenger train service and will soon be linked to the continental trains," said Korean Railroad President, Lee Chul to the press.

Buses, cars, and trucks are allowed across the border, but trains have not been until now. The roads which allowed those types of vehicles to enter North Korea were rebuilt after the first summit held between the two nations in 2000. The rail lines were destroyed in the 1950s during the Korean War.

The agreement to allow a cargo service was reached in October when the two nations met for a historical second summit.


Ripristinato dopo 50 anni il servizio ferroviario tra le due Coree

Per la prima volta in oltre metà secolo, è stato ripristinato il regolare servizio di trasporto merci con la linea ferroviaria che attraversa il confine tra le due Coree.

Il treno, con 12 vagoni, viaggia in direzione della città nordcoreana di Kaesong, un centro di produzione industriale che farà da collegamento per i due paesi. Il servizio si svolgerà regolarmente una volta a settimana.

I leader sudcoreani hanno annunciato che i treni-cargo sono solamente un punto di partenza, e che presto potrà partire anche un servizio di trasporto passeggeri: «Sebbene abbiamo cominciato con un servizio di treni-cargo, presto condurrà ad un servizio di treni passeggeri e sarà collegato presto ai treni continentali» ha detto Lee Chul, presidente della compagnia ferroviaria del Sud Corea.

Ad autobus, treni ed autocarri è già permesso attraversare il confine, ma il servizio ferroviario aveva subito delle restrizioni fino ad ora. Le strade che consentono ai mezzi già detti di giungere nella Corea del Nord erano state già ristrutturate dopo il 2000, quando avvenne il primo incontro tra i due paesi, mentre le ferrovie erano state distrutte nel 1950 a seguito della guerra tra le due Coree.

L'accordo per il trasporto di merci attraverso i treni era stato raggiunto nel corso dello storico incontro tra i leader dei paesi asiatici nello scorso ottobre.


Trem de carga cruza fronteira entre as duas Coréias

Um trem de carga cruzou nesta terça-feira a fronteira entre Coréia do Sul e Coréia do Norte pela primeira vez em 50 anos, informou em Seul o ministério da Reunificação, em um novo passo no processo de unificação entre os dois países. A reabertura da ligação ferroviária entre as duas Coréias foi decidida após a histórica cúpula de Pyongyang, em outubro.

A linha, a primeira entre os dois países separados desde a guerra da Coréia (1950-1953), unirá a cidade de Munsan, no sul, a Bongdong, no norte, separadas por apenas 20 km.


First television channel in Esperanto launches online

A new online television channel, Internacia Televido, has been launched following just over two years of fundraising and preparation. It is the first channel ever to be broadcast entirely through the international auxiliary language Esperanto, and was launched at midnight Brazilian time on Saturday night. The name means 'International Television'. The channel aims to create an international television network combining professional content with the collaboration of ordinary users from around the world. Programmes will range from news shows and documentaries to culture, educational programming and children's entertainment.

The project, supported by the World Esperanto Association amongst others, was announced in October 2003 in São Paulo by Brazilian entrepreneur Flavio Rebelo, whose media business CIDCON also runs the Esperanto language web portal Ĝangalo (www.ghangalo.com, 'Jungle') and publishes music. The original intention was to establish a 24-hour streamed online channel, with four hours of original programming per day (repeated six times daily) and a daily news bulletin. A subsequent international fundraising campaign to raise the required sum of €35,000 to establish the channel involved Rebelo speaking at several Esperanto events throughout Europe during the early months of 2004 through the support of an anonymous Asian donor.

The project failed to garner sufficient funds to meet its original deadline, but in August this year Rebelo confirmed that a scaled-down version of the project would go ahead upon the sum of €23,000 being reached. The channel currently features 90 minutes of programming daily, with one weekly news bulletin, and three waged employees instead of the intended ten. It is intended that the channel will be funded past its initial six-month period through on-air advertising revenue and further private donations, and expanded as revenue permits.

Experimental television broadcasts in Esperanto were not first made until the advent of Internet technology. A previous online Esperanto TV project (www.esperanto.tv), under the auspices of the Italian Transnational Radical Party, failed to realise a finished product. Since the 1920s, radio broadcasts have been made regularly in Esperanto by broadcasters such as RAI, China Radio International and Radio Polonia.


Erster Fernsehsender auf Esperanto

São Paulo (Brasilien), 05.11.2005 – Der Internet-Fernsehsender Internacia Televido sendet seit heute in der internationalen Sprache Esperanto und ist damit der erste Fernsehsender auf Esperanto. In der Anfangsphase wird täglich nur anderthalb Stunden Filmmaterial gesendet, das während des Tages mehrmals wiederholt wird.

Das Projekt begann im Oktober 2003 als Initiative des Brasilianers Flavio Rebelo, dem Chefredakteur des Esperanto-sprachigen Internet-Portals Ĝangalo. Anfang 2004 reiste er durch Europa, um unter europäischen Esperantisten Geld für die Initiative zu sammeln.

Das angepeilte Startkapital von 35.000 Euro wurde allerdings nie erreicht. Stattdessen hat Flavio Rebelo die Pläne etwas zurückgeschraubt, um mit den 23.000 Euro Startkapital das Projekt trotzdem zu realisieren. Durch die veränderte Planung wird jetzt in der Anfangsphase nur anderthalb anstatt vier Stunden Filmmaterial pro Tag gesendet.

Am heutigen ersten Ausstrahlungstag des Fernsehsenders werden zwei Dokumentationen über ein Volksfest im spanischen València und über den Esperanto-Weltkongress in Zagreb (2001) sowie der Zeichentrickfilm „La Fantasta Florvendejo“ gesendet.


初のエスペラントTV局、ブラジルでスタート

新たなネットテレビ局「インテルナツィア・テレヴィード」が、2年以上に渡る資金集めと準備の末、開局した。このテレビ局は、全放送がエスペラントで放送される最初の放送局となった。エスペラントはザメンホフによって作られた国際補助語で、世界では100～200万人の話者がいる。テレビ局はブラジルにあり、放送はブラジル時間の土曜の深夜に開始された。テレビ局の名前はエスペラントで「国際的テレビ」を意味する。このテレビ局は、プロが扱う放送素材に、世界中にいる一般視聴者の協力を仰ぎ、国際的なテレビ局網を作り出すことを目指している。番組のラインナップには、ニュースやドキュメンタリーから、文化や教育、子供向けなど幅広い分野の番組が予定されている。

この放送局の計画は、2003年10月、国際エスペラント協会などの支援のもと、サンパウロでブラジル人の起業家フラビオ・レベッロ氏によって発表された。
レベッロ氏は、エスペラントによるポータルサイト Ĝangalo （www.ghangalo.com, 「ジャングル」の意）の運営と、音楽の出版を行なうメディア企業、CIDCONを立ち上げている。最初の趣旨は24時間配信のネットテレビを開局し、4時間のオリジナル番組（日に6回繰り返し放送）と毎日のニュース速報を放送するというものだった。発表の後、テレビ局を作るのに必要な総額3万5000ユーロを集めるための国際的な資金調達キャンペーンが行なわれた。キャンペーンの一環としてレベッロ氏は、2004年前半にヨーロッパ中で催されたエスペラント関連の複数のイベントで演説した。これにはアジアの匿名の援助者からの支援があった。

プロジェクトは本来の締切に間に合わせるための十分な資金を集めることができなかった。しかし、レベッロ氏は今年8月、プロジェクトを縮小すればそれまでに調達した2万3000ユーロでも開局できることを確認した。このテレビ局は現在、毎日90分の番組と週刊ニュース速報に力を入れている。従業員は10人雇う予定だったが、現在は3人を雇うにとどまっている。放送開始から半年間は、広告収入と更なる個人寄付で資金を集め、収益に余裕があれば規模を拡大するつもりである。

実験的なエスペラント語のテレビ放送は、インターネットが発明される以前にも計画されてきた。以前に、イタリアのTransnational Radical Partyの援助の下で進められたネットテレビ局の計画 (www.esperanto.tv)は、実現には至らなかった。ラジオでは1920年代からイタリア国営放送、国際中国放送、ラジオ・ポロニアなどの放送局がエスペラント語による番組を定期的に放送している。

英語版ウィキニュースからの翻訳です。


Five hundred Euro note withdrawn from sale in UK

Currency exchanges offices in the United Kingdom have today stopped the sale of €500 notes after an investigation by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) concluded that up to 90% of the notes were being used by money launderers and other organised criminals.  Ian Cruxton, deputy director of SOCA, said that the Euro had been chosen as the currency of choice by criminal gangs due to the large denomination of the notes, adding "[i]t should now be impossible now to buy a €500 note over the counter from one of the suppliers.  And that's going to have an effect on the criminals — it means they are going to have to find other means of trying to move their money."

The note was introduced by the European Central Bank in 2002, when the currency itself officially entered into circulation.  The notoriety of the note's criminal uses has earned it the nickname "the Bin Laden" after Al-Qaeda suspect Osama bin Laden — something that everyone knows is out there, but law-abiding people rarely see. The Euro is the official currency of 16 European countries, colloquially known as the Eurozone, as well as unofficially in a further 4 nations.

Since its introduction, there has been mounting international concern over criminal use of the large denomination note, which facilitates money laundering by allowing large concentrations of cash to be concealed in small spaces, for example, €20,000 can be concealed in a cigarette packet and £1 million in €500 notes weighs 2.2kg while the equivalent in £20 notes weighs 50kg. The highest denomination note in Sterling is £50, making high-value denominations in other currencies, such as the Euro, tempting for those wishing to move large amounts of money.

When asked if criminal demand for the note would simply be displaced to other high-value notes, such as the €200 note (the next-highest denomination), Ian Cruxton, deputy director of SOCA said he believed that would be the case, however, with less of the €200 note in circulation, their movements would be easier to track than those of the €500.

Tourists returning to the UK from holidays in Europe will still be able to change their €500 notes for Sterling but will be unable to purchase them. The European Central Bank has no plans for a withdrawal of the note, given the legitimate demand for it in countries such as Germany and Italy, where cash is used far more frequently than alternatives such as credit cards.


Britské směnárny přestávají prodávat bankovky o hodnotě 500 eur

Směnárny ve Spojeném království přestaly ode dneška prodávat bankovky o hodnotě 500 € na základě zjištění Agentury pro závažný organizovaný zločin, že více než 90 % těchto bankovek slouží k praní špinavých peněz. Zástupce ředitele úřadu Ian Cruxton uvedl, že zločinecké organizace si vybírají pro své obchody jako měnu euro, protože nabízí bankovky s vysokou hodnotou, a pokračoval: „Od nynějška bude nemožné koupit si u přepážky pětiseteurovou bankovku. A to zločinci pocítí — znamená to, že budou muset vymyslet jiný způsob peněžní výměny.“

Bankovka byla uvedena Evropskou centrální bankou hned v roce 2002, kdy se začalo používat euro. Díky tomu, že byla používána zejména zločinci, se jí začalo přezdívat „Usáma bin Ládin“ — každý věděl, jak vypadá, ale málokdo měl štěstí ji zahlédnout. Euro samotné je oficiální měnou 16 zemí takzvané Eurozóny a neoficiálně jej používají další čtyři státy. Už od zavedení pětiseteurové bankovky byly obavy, že bude zneužívána, protože umožňuje snadnou manipulaci s velkými objemy hotovosti. Milión liber v pětiseteurových bankovkách váží jen 2,2 kg, zatímco ve dvacetilibrových by vážil 50 kg (největší librové bankovky jsou ovšem padesátilibrové).

Britské směnárny budou bankovky dále přijímat a Evropská centrální banka neuvažuje o tom, že by bankovku jako takovou stáhla z oběhu. V jiných zemích, například v Německu nebo Itálii, kde se méně platí kartami a více hotovostí, je totiž používána daleko častěji i k legálním účelům.

Tato zpráva byla založena zčásti nebo zcela překladem zprávy Five hundred Euro note withdrawn from sale in UK na anglických Wikizprávách.


Flat tax boosts average Romanian salaries

Romania's flat tax rate of 16% on personal income and corporate profits, which went into effect on January 1, 2005, has proved to have a positive effect on Romanian salaries, which increased by 5.2% in the January 2005 in comparison to December 2004. The effect is even larger when compared to January 2004, with net wages increasing by 25.3% and gross wages increasing by 18.8%.

In January 2005, the gross (pre-tax) average monthly salary was 9,514,658 lei, while the net (after-tax) average monthly salary was 7,233,298, which is equal to roughly 200 euro or US$270.

Romania's flat tax system is one of the most liberal fiscal policies in Europe and was introduced in order to boost spending power and salaries, encourage foreign investment and greater consumer spending.


2005/03/10: Enhetsskatt ökar löner i Rumänien

Rumänien –
Rumäniens enhetsskatt på 16% för privatpersoner och företag som trädde i kraft 1 januari 2005 har visat sig ha en positiv effekt på rumänska löner som har stigit med 5.2% mellan januari 2005 och december 2004. Den positiva effekten är ändå större om man jämför med siffrorna för januari 2004 då nettoinkomsterna steg med 25.3% och bruttolönerna med 18.8%. I januari 2005 motsvarade den genomsnittliga bruttoinkomsten omkring 200 euro.

Rumäniens enhetsskattesystem, en av de mest liberala i Europa, har kommit till för att öka lönerna, köpkraften och för att dra till sig utländska investeringar.


Ford Motor Company cutting 30,000 jobs by 2012

The Ford Motor Company, the second-largest car manufacturer in America, will cut 30,000 jobs and 14 plants as part of a restructuring plan to relieve Ford after a US$1.6 billion loss last year in North American sales.

The plan, called "Way Forward", the brainchild of Ford's Chief Executive Officer, William Clay Ford Jr., is to end Ford's North American losses by 2008. To accomplish this 30,000 jobs which make up 20 to 25 percent of Ford's North American workforce of 122,000 people will be cut and 14 plants will be closed in order to bring Ford's production capacity in line with demand.

By the end of this year, the Atlanta and St. Louis plants will be closed. Atlanta makes the Ford Taurus sedan, which is being phased out. The St. Louis plant is one of two plants that manufactures the Ford Explorer, whose sales had a 29% decline in 2005. It will also close its Wixom, Michigan plant, Batavia Transmission in Ohio the Windsor Casting plant in Ontario which was previously announced by Ford that it was to be closed after contract negotiations with the Canadian Auto Workers union.

The plant in St. Thomas, Ontario plant will have one shift cut from it. The plant makes the Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis cars. On this cut of the one shift, Whitey MacDonald, chairperson of Local 1520, Canadian Auto Workers union said "There is a lot of anger here today, there is no doubt about it. Any time a plant goes to one shift, it puts them in limbo. This car has made the company millions of dollars over the years they have invested in other products and locations - we are entitled to some new investment given our track record."

Positive news for the plant is that Ford is still committed to invest $200 million into the plant to upgrade the appearance of the two cars manufactured there. On the contrary, according to Automotive analyst Dennis DesRosier believes that the factory is still "likely" to close. DesRoiser said, "The St. Thomas plant is old, the product is old, it make sense it is on that list. This may be just a short-term reprieve, it may be look at permanent closure in two to three years."

Two more plants will close in 2008, another two in 2012. Two more plants to be closed are to be announced later this year. Also, Ford will fire 12% of its 53 executive officers.

Due to the company's current contract with the United Auto Workers union, workers at the idled plants will still be receiving their pay and benefits until Ford negotiates a new contract with the union. However, the workers may not earn what they earn today because they will not be eligible for overtime.

The UAW President Ron Gettelfinger and Vice President Gerald Bantom called say the plan is "extremely disappointing." The UAW issued statement saying "The impacted hourly and salaried workers find themselves facing uncertain futures because of senior management's failure to halt Ford's sliding market share. The announcement has further left a cloud hanging over the entire work force because of pending future announcements of additional facilities to be closed at some point in the future."


Ford säger upp 30.000 anställda i Nordamerika

USA –
Den amerkanska biltillverkaren Ford kommer att stänga fjorton av sina fabriker i Nordamerika som en del av sina planer på att skära ned sina kostnader i regionen med omkring 6 miljarder dollar. Beslutet innebär att 25-30 000 anställda förlorar sina arbeten och att antalet tillverkade fordon minskar med 1,2 miljon per år, uppger BBC News.

Förra året minskade Ford sin andel av den amerikanska bilmarknaden med 17,4 procent, andelar som framför allt gick till japanska biltillverkare som Nissan och Toyota.

I måndags kunde Ford redovisa en inkomstökning med omkring 19 procent vilket tillsammans med beslutet att skära ned verksamheten i Nordamerika fick Fords aktier att stiga med drygt fem procent. En betydande andel av inkomsterna kommer dock från försäljningen av biluthyrningsföretaget Hertz.

Fords nordamerikanska fordonssegment gjorde förra året en förlust på 1,6 miljarder dollar innan skatt men samtidigt gick verksamheten utanför USA bra och företaget gjorde totalt sett en vinst på mer än två miljarder dollar. Genom att skära ned i Nordamerika hoppas man att den amerikanska verksamheten ska bli lönsam 2008.

Fords vd, Bill Ford, sa i ett uttalande att man var fullt mdveten om hur beslutet påverkade "många liv, familjer och samhällen" och lovade att man skulle allt man kunde för att "lätta deras börda". Fabriker som påverkas av beslutet ligger i bland annat St Louis, Atlanta, Wixom och Ohio.

Ford hoppas kunna reducera utvecklingstiden för nya bilmodeller från ett år till sex månader genom att anamma Mazdas modell. Dessutom vill man reducera utvecklingskostnaderna genom att anpassa formgivningen till den globala marknaden.

Somliga marknadsanalytiker saknade dock en tydligt uttalad strategi från Fords sida som angav hur man skulle uppnå den konkurrenskraft som behövs.

For är långt ifrån ensamt i Nordamerika om att ställas inför smärtsamma omställningsbeslut på grund av konkurrens från Japan och Europa. Förra året meddelade General Motors att man skar ned verksamheten med 2,5 miljarder dollar vilket gjorde att 30 000 personer misste sina arbeten. Tidigare i januari kunde GM meddela att man lyckats skära ned utgifterna med omkring fyra miljarder dollar.


Former WorldCom CEO Ebbers sentenced to 25 years

Bernard Ebbers, founder and former CEO of telecommunications giant WorldCom, now MCI, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in the corporate accounting fraud totaling US$11 billion. The once-powerful company plunged into bankruptcy in July 2002.

The sentence was handed down by Manhattan federal court Judge Barbara S. Jones. Mr. Ebbers, who is 63, asked for a lenient sentence due to his failing health and a heart condition, and because of his philanthropy.

Prosecutors pushed for a life sentence, and said the sentencing "should prove to be a deterrent" to corporate wrongdoing. "The enormity of the crimes that Ebbers committed cannot be overstated: the fraud at WorldCom was the largest securities fraud in history," prosecutors wrote in papers filed last month.

Jones rejected defense lawyers' contentions that the government overstated the losses, and that Ebbers was not a mastermind of the wrongdoing. Jones believed Ebbers deserved a harsh sentence, and said "Mr. Ebbers was the instigator of the fraud.".

Ebbers appeared to be tense when arriving at the court and even shoved a photographer out of his way. After the sentence was given, Ebbers was seen weeping. His first day of prison will be October 12.

In March, Ebbers was found guilty of fraud, conspiracy, and seven counts of filing false documents with regulators.

WorldCom emerged from bankruptcy last year under the name MCI, which was one of the many companies WorldCom had acquired. In May, Verizon agreed to acquire the company.


Urteil im Prozess gegen Ex-WorldCom-Chef Ebbers

New York (Vereinigte Staaten), 14.07.2005 - Ex-WorldCom-Chef Bernard Ebbers wurde am Dienstag wegen betrügerischer Machenschaften beim größten Konkursfall der US-Geschichte zu 25 Jahren Haft verurteilt.

Der 63-jährige Angeklagte wurde in allen neun Anklagepunkten für schuldig befunden, darunter Verschwörung, Betrug und Dokumentenfälschung. Ebbers wurde als Hauptverantwortlicher dafür angesehen, dass nach dem Zusammenbruch der Firma im Jahre 2002 viele Anleger ihr Geld verloren hatten. Im Zuge der Ermittlungen waren in den Bilanzen Fehlbuchungen in einer Höhe von elf Milliarden Dollar aufgedeckt worden.

Die Firma WorldCom hatte unter der Führung des ehemaligen Türstehers, Basketball-Trainers und Milchmanns Ebbers einen rasanten Aufstieg von einem kleinen Unternehmen im US-Bundesstaat Mississippi zur jetzt viertgrößten Telefongesellschaft weltweit hinter sich gebracht. Die Firma läuft jetzt unter dem Namen MCI-Worldcom.


Founder of Alibaba Group Jack Ma talks about e-commerce in Taiwan

Following the success of "Chinatrust Global Leaders Forum" in 2005, Chinatrust Commercial Bank (CTCB), the forum organizer, invited Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba Group, to give the main address on the subject of "Cross-Strait e-Commerce Development" yesterday.

"We (CTCB) held this forum originally with a speech-style type, and hoped participants absorb good experiences from some world-class notabilities. At the first holding, we invited Dr. Edward Prescott forecasting the future of global economics and this invitation was finally respected by financial people in Taiwan. With trendy transformations and global popularization of the Internet in the presence, we finally decided to invite Jack Ma to share experiences from his successful management theory." Jeffery Koo (Chairman of CTCB) remarked at the opening.

With Alibaba Group now entered into the Hong Kong market, Ma sees a bright future with partners' cooperation. He said: "A successful company is decided by flexible wisdoms more than its scale." Those words echoed some of the quotes he used in his speech at the forum: "Rich is a sum by team collaborations and accumulating several experiences but not money. Several valuable things can't buy with money. A company should have a long-term consideration and planning to meet success with creative, better, and different products and services."

He not only taught some strategies but also cited Chinese stories on Three Kingdoms and Tang Dynasty to point out key factors (visions, ambitions, bosoms, and actual strengths) which determine the success or failure of a company leader.


2007年中國信託全球領袖論壇 馬雲暢談電子商務發展經驗

自2005年8月首度辦理，並獲得產官學界迴響的「中國信託全球領袖論壇」，今（5）日在台北新舞台登場，地主中國信託在本次演講中，邀請了阿里巴巴集團創辦人暨董事長馬雲，暢談兩岸電子商務，並與雅虎國際資訊的洪小玲總經理、中信金控的尚瑞強執行長，探討電子商務的未來走向與趨勢。而這項演講，吸引了近千位產官學界人士與會，也成為台灣產業界的一項盛事。

在開幕演講中，中信集團董事長辜濂松表示，這個論壇在當時，是希望以演講的型式，讓與會者吸取各國產業的經驗，並從中學習所長，在第一次辦理時，就邀請愛德華‧普列斯卡博士（Dr. Edward Prescott）來講述世界各國的經濟展望，確實獲得財經界的重視，於是在今年，看到全球網際網路發展的迅速與普及的狀況下，就邀請阿里巴巴集團的馬雲董事長，希望藉由他的成功歷練，讓與會者意識到電子商務型態的轉變。

適逢阿里巴巴集團將在明（6）日於香港掛牌上市的前夕，馬雲也在記者會中，對於未來與合作夥伴發展的前景表示樂觀，在此演講前，他向媒體表示：「今後是誰越靈活越成功，而不是誰規模越大越成功。」而這一段話，也呼應他在論壇中所言的：「真正的財富，並不是靠錢財，而是要透過團隊的合作與經驗的累積而凝聚，因為許多東西，不是有了錢就可以買，而是要有長遠的經營計畫，甚至，在一場商戰中，某商家需要有別於他人的產品，以及更優質的服務，才能確保成功之路。」

而他不但說明了電子商務時代的經營策略，甚至鑑古知今，引用三國時代與唐朝的歷史故事，點出經商者應當留意的要點，更表示「眼光」、「胸懷」、「實力」等三要素，會決定一個領導者是否成功。


France and Germany resume growth, exit recession

The GDP of both France and Germany grew by 0.3% in the second quarter of 2009, ending a year-long recession in both countries.

However, for all sixteen countries in the eurozone, the sum of all the goods and services produced dropped by 0.1% in the quarter to June. The figures are an improvement over the previous quarter, and better than numbers predicted by most economists.

"The recession has ended, and it has ended sooner than we all thought. We expect to see growth of 1% in the third quarter, which is very strong for Germany," said UniCredit's Andreas Rees. "[...] I wouldn't rule out the chance of even better growth."

Stock markets rose, with the British FTSE 100 index rising 1.3%. The main French and German indices also posted gains of over one percent by noon.


Almanya ve Fransa durgunluktan çıktı

Avrupa'nın en büyük ekonomilerinden ikisi olan Almanya ve Fransa 1 yıl süren durgunluktan (resesyon) çıktı. Almanya ve Fransa, 2. çeyrekte (Nisan - Haziran) %0.3 büyüdü. Uzmanlar bu iki dev ekonominin krizden bu kadar erken çıkmasının şaşırtıcı olduğunu kaydettiler. Öte yandan Almanya'nın ihracatı %7 gibi yüksek bir oranda arttı. Alman ve Fransız yetkililerin yaptığı açıklamalara göre durgunluktan çıkışta tüketimin artmasının büyük öneminin olduğunu belirttiler.


France Telecom significantly increases its share in Orange Romania

France Telecom announced yesterday that it would increase its indirect participation in Orange Romania to 96.63%. This is because it acquired over 23% of the mobile phone operator from a group of investors led by the AIG New Europe Fund. The investors include the Polish Enterprise Fund LP and Polish Enterprise Fund IV LP, Innova/98 LP, Communications Venture Partners, BancBoston Capital, Societe Generale Romania Fund and Alcatel NV. Before the share increase, Orange Romania was owned 51% by France Telecom's subsidiary Orange, 22.6% by Wirefree Services Belgium and the rest by several smaller investors.

Orange Romania is currently Romania's largest mobile phone operator, with 48% market share and over 5 million subscribers. Between 2003 and 2004, it registered an increase in turnover of 47%, with total turnover in 2004 being 624 million euro.


France Telecom se implică mai mult în Orange Romania

15 aprilie 2005 București, România —

France Telecom, cel mai mare companie de telefonie franceză, a anunțat ieri că iși va mării participarea indirectă în Orange Romania, la 96,63%. Asta este din cauză că a cumpărat peste 23% din operatorul de telefonie mobilă de la o grupă de investitori incluzând Polish Enterprise Fund LP, Innova/98 LP, Communications Venture Partners, BancBoston Capital, Societe Generale Romania Fund și Alcatel NV. Înainte de mărirea participării, France Telecom a avut 51% din Orange, pe când Wirefree Services Belgium deținea 22,6% și alți investitori mai mici aveau restul de acțiuni.

La ora actuală, Orange Romania este cel mai mare operator de telefonie mobilă din România, cu 48% din piață și peste 5 milioane de utilizatori. Între 2003 and 2004, profitul său sa mărit cu 47%, atingând numărul de 624 de milioane de euro.


Free Software Foundation releases first draft of GPLv3

The Free Software Foundation released the first draft for the next version of the GNU General Public License at the International Public Conference for GPLv3 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, today. The revisions mark the first changes to the GPL since the second version was released in 1991.

According to Richard M. Stallman, the president of the Free Software Foundation, the most significant change to the license are changes to allow GPLv3 to be compatible with other popular free software licenses, notably the Apache Software License 2.0 and the Eclipse license. A second significant change, according to Stallman, is the addition of a clause prohibiting the use of GPL software for Digital rights management (DRM), "something for which there can never be toleration."

As of noon EST today, the license is available in draft form on the Free Software Foundation's website. The conference about the license, which continues now and into Tuesday, is being held in Building 10, Room 250, on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Approximately 200 people attended the morning session of the conference, during which Eben Moglen gave what he called a "quick" 90 minute overview of the license changes.

While Moglen's presentation covered a great deal of legal detail, it was not without levity. When the cell phone of Dave Turner, an FSF staff member sitting in the front row, rang during Moglen's speech, Stallman broke in, requesting of the audience, "If you have brought in a portable tracking and surveillance device, you should turn it off," before making other remarks about the police.

The crowd at the conference included a large number of free software celebrities, including Bruce Perens, Andrew Tridgell, and Chris diBona. According to Wikinews reporter Brandon Stafford, it seemed that IBM and Sun were the corporations with the most employees present. Representing the companies were Bob Sutor, Craig Cook, and Mark Brown from IBM and Simon Phipps and Doug Johnson from Sun.  Also in attendance were representatives from Intel, Redhat, MySQL AB, Hitachi, and Qualcomm, among others.


フリーソフトウェア財団がGPLv3の最初の草案を発表

フリーソフトウェア財団 (FSF) は16日（東部時間、UTC-5）、GNU General Public License (GPL) の次のバージョンの最初の草案を、アメリカマサチューセッツ州ケンブリッジのGPL第3版 (GPLv3) 国際公開会議で発表した。この改訂では、1991年に発表された第2版からの、GPLに対する最初の変更が示されている。

FSFのリチャード・ストールマン代表によると、このライセンスの最も重要な変更は、GPLv3に他のフリーなソフトウェアライセンス、とりわけ、アパッチソフトウェアライセンス2.0及びEclipseライセンスとの両立を可能にするものである。次に重要な変更は、ストールマン氏によれば、「許容することが存在しえないもの」であるデジタル著作権管理 (DRM) に対してGPLソフトウェア使用を禁止する条項の追加である。

この日正午（日本時間17日午前2時）現在、このライセンスの草案（英語）はFSFのウェブサイトで入手できる。16日から17日まで続いたライセンスに関する会議は、マサチューセッツ工科大学のキャンパスの第10棟250号室で行われた。およを200人が会議の午前の部に出席し、その中でエベン・モグレン弁護士が彼によれば「短時間の」ライセンスの変更についての概論を90分間行った。

モグレン弁護士のプレゼンテーションは、法律上の詳細について、かなり大量に取り扱ったが、しかめつらしいものではなく、冗談さえ飛び出した。前列に座っていたFSF職員のデーブ・ターナー氏の携帯電話がモグレン弁護士の講演の最中に鳴ると、他の者が警察の監視について発言する前にストールマン氏が話をさえぎり、聴衆に向かい「携帯用の追跡監視装置を持っておいでになった方がおられましたら、電源をオフにしてください。」と言った。

この会議に出席した人々の中には、ブルース・ペレンズ氏、アンドリュー・トリッジェル氏、クリス・ディボナ氏ら多数の有名なフリーソフトウェア作家がいた。ウィキニュースのリポーターであるブランドン・スタフォード氏によると、IBMとサン・マイクロシステムズがもっとも多くの従業員の出席した会社だった模様。会社の代表としては、IBMのボブ・スーター、クレイグ・クック、マーク・ブラウン氏が、サン・マイクロシステムズのサイモン・フィップス氏とダグ・ジョンソン氏がいた。また、インテル、レッドハット、MySQL AB、日立製作所、クアルコムなどの代表がいた。

英語版ウィキニュースの翻訳です。


GNU General Public License i ny drakt

Målform: Nynorsk - Dato: 17. januar 2006 - Oppdater siden - Rediger artikkelen - Flere nyheter

Free Software Foundation (FSF) slapp måndag (16.01) eit utkast til den lenge omtalte nye versjonen av GNU General Public License (GPL) på den internasjonale GPLv3-konferansen i Massachusetts i USA. Nysleppet markerar den første revisjonen av den opne lisensen sidan GPL2 vart gjeven ut i 1991.

På pressekonferansen uttalte leiaren av FSF, Richard M. Stallman, at den mest merkbare endringa av lisensen er at den no er kompatibel med andre populære opne lisensar for programvare, herunder Apache Software License og Eclipse License. Ei anna merkbar endring er, i følgje Stallman, ein ny klausul i lisensen som hindrar bruk av GPL saman med sokalla Digital Rights Management (DRM)-teknologi.

- DRM kan aldri tolererast, understreka Stallman under konferansen.

Utkastet vart gjort tilgjengeleg på nettstaden til Free Software Foundation klokka 18:00, norsk tid. GPLv3-konferansen, som skal halde fram til tysdag på Massachusetts Institute of Technology, hadde samla om lag 200 deltakarar til morgon-møtet på måndag, då FSF-advokat Eben Moglen heldt eit føredrag på om lag 90 minutt om nyvinningane i lisensen.

I følgje den engelske Wikinews-reporteren Brandon Stafford såg det ut til at IBM og Sun Microsystems var dei representantane frå det kommersielle næringslivet som møtte opp med flest tilsette. Men dei hadde selskap i representantar frå mange fleire selskap, som til dømes Intel, Redhat, MySQL AB, Hitachi og Qualcomm, mellom fleire.

Engelsk


Free Software Foundation prezentuje pierwszy szkic GPL 3

Free Software Foundation zaprezentowało wczoraj pierwszy szkic następnej wersji licencji GNU General Public License na specjalnej konferencji w Cambridge w stanie Massachusetts. Od 1991 roku, kiedy pojawiła się wersja druga, licencja GPL nie była zmieniana i obecnie jest najpopularniejszą licencją Wolnego Oprogramowania, używaną w jądrze systemu Linux. Szacuje się, że jest używana w ponad 50% projektów tego typu.

Według Richarda Stallmana, szefa Free Software Foundation, najważniejsze zmiany w GPL 3 to zmiany wprowadzające jej kompatybilność z innymi popularnymi licencjami Wolnego Oprogramowania, jak Apache Software License 2.0 i licencja Eclipse. Drugą zmianą, według Stallmana, jest zakaz użycia oprogramowania dostępnego na tej licencji do Digital Rights Management - "rzeczy, dla której nigdy nie będzie tolerancji".

Od wczoraj licencja jest dostępna jako szkic na stronie Free Software Foundation. Konferencja na temat licencji, trwająca do dzisiaj, ma miejsce w kampusie Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Około 200 ludzi uczestniczyło w konferencji w poniedziałek rano, gdy Eben Moglen zaprezentował, wedle jego słów, "krótki" przegląd zmian w licencji.

Wśród ludzi uczestniczących w konferencji znalazło się wiele znanych osobistości świata Wolnego Oprogramowania: Bruce Perens,  Andrew Tridgell i Chris diBona. Według Wikireportera Brandona Stafforda, IBM i Sun były firmami, których pracownicy najliczniej pojawili się na prezentacji. Firmy te reprezentowali Bob Sutor, Craig Cook i Mark Brown z IBM oraz Simon Phipps i Doug Johnson z Suna. Na konferencji pojawili się też przedstawiciele Intela, firm: Red Hat, MySQL AB, Hitachi i Qualcomm.


French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent dead at 71

Yves Saint-Laurent, one of the major fashion designers of the 20th century, died Sunday evening of cancer at the age of 71, after four decades at the top of his profession. Friends say he died while at his home in Paris, France.

Saint-Laurent was born Yves Henri Donat Dave Mathieu-Saint-Laurent on August 1, 1936 in Oran, Algeria. Saint-Laurent was famous for designing women's clothing and at age 21 he became the head designer for the company House of Dior. He was hired to take the place of the late Christian Dior, who died in 1957.

He retired from his job there and ultimately left the fashion industry in 2002, but not before starting his own clothing line and shop with Pierre Berge in 1962. It was once rumored that woman who wore his newly designed pantsuits were not allowed to eat at restaurants or stay in hotels in New York City and London, England.

"Fashion was not only supposed to make women beautiful, but to reassure them, to give them confidence, to allow them to come to terms with themselves," Saint-Laurent once said.

Saint-Laurent not only fought the effects of cancer, but through the years dealt with drug use and depression.

"I've known fear and terrible solitude. Tranquilizers and drugs, those phony friends. The prison of depression and hospitals. I've emerged from all this, dazzled but sober," stated Saint-Laurent.


Francia: è morto lo stilista Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent, uno dei maggiori stilisti di moda del XX secolo, è morto nella serata di sabato all'età di 71 anni. Il decesso, conseguenza di un tumore, è avvenuto nella casa dello stilista, a Parigi, capitale della Francia, secondo quanto riferiscono i suoi amici.

Il nome di nascita di Saint Laurent era Yves Henri Donat Dave Mathieu-Saint-Laurent. Nacque a Oran, città dell'Algeria, il 1º agosto 1936. Divenuto da subito noto per i disegni di vestiti per donna, all'età di 21 anni fu chiamato nella Maison Dior. Alla morte di Christian Dior, avvenuta nel 1957, assunse la direzione della casa di moda.

Si ritirò dal suo lavoro e, in definitiva, lasciò l'industria della moda, nel 2002, ma non prima di iniziare la sua linea di abbigliamento e aprire un negozio con Pierre Berge nel 1962. Si disse che la donna che indossò la sua prima creazione, il tailleur con i pantaloni, non venne fatta entrare in un ristorante, e in un hotel, sia a New York che a Londra (Regno Unito).

"La moda non è stata solo supposta per rendere le donne belle, ma per rassicurarle, darle loro fiducia, per consentire loro di venire a patti con se stesse", disse Saint-Laurent.

Lo stilista subì negli anni non solo le conseguenze del cancro, ma anche dell'abuso di droghe e gli effetti della depressione. A questo proposito, dichiarò: "Ho conosciuto la paura e la terribile solitudine. Tranquillanti e stupefacenti, i miei soli amici. La prigione della depressione e gli ospedali. Sono emerso da tutto questo, abbagliato ma sobrio".