IBT News Blog

This article discusses the meeting of the EU's financial ministers which occurred today and their views on how to handle the recent downturns in the economies of the EU and the world generally. See http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/12/business/econ.php

This article discusses a proposed internet access ban for people who illegally download music and videos in the UK. How might this serve as a model for future international measures on illegal downloading? Is specifically tailored domestic legislation such as this a better way to address the problem of illegal downloading than international agreements and treaties? See http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/business/7240234.stm

In a side note to the posting on the resolution of the Ukrainian/Russian gas situation, Russia has just announced that it intends to aim its missiles at the Ukraine if it joins NATO and the proposed defense shield associated with NATO. Given that this announcement was made on the same day as the gas settlement announcement, what does this say about the future of trade relations between the countries? Perhaps more interestingly, what does it say for the pipeline issue which was discussed in the prior posting? See http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/europe/7241470.stm

In a follow-up to the proposed UK tax on foreign residents we discussed today, this article helps to explain some of the figures and information behind the current status of foreign residents in the UK and what the proposed tax would do to them and to raise revenue for the state. What might be the reaction of the US if this proposed tax is passed and its citizens are subject to double tax? See http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/business/7238753.stm

This essay is a rebuttal to the previous essay called Europe: Vanished Mediator. The essay was written by Taisha Abraham, an Associate Professor from the University of Delhi. In this essay, she brings forth the viewpoint of a "non-westerner" regarding what she calls a "Europeancentric" view of the future of international affairs. http://www.punksinscience.org/kleanthes/courses/UK04S/WV/Taisha_Abraham.pdf

Russians and Ukrainians, in a agreement involving both their goverments, have reached a settlement agreement today according to which Ukraine agrees to pay its debt for natural gas provided by Russian producer Gazprom. By doing so, Ukraine avoids being a shut off in the middle of the winter. It is also a sigh of relief for many Western Europe countries who depend on Russian natural gas coming to them through Ukraine. This raises the question of a new pipeline that would not go through East European countries who, though they are very dependent on Russian energy, still have disputes with Russia. Ukraine has a pro-Western government since the Orange Revolution, which Russia frowned upon at the time.

www.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/world/europe/13ukraine.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin

http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2008/02/12/russes-et-ukrainiens-trouvent-un-accord-sur-le-contentieux-gazier_1010553_3214.html#ens_id=1001154

Infographie

(from: Le Monde.fr)

This is an interesting essay which was written by a Professor of Philosophy from the University of Paris. The essay seems to have been written for European "intellectuals" and dicusses the possibility of Europe becoming a "vanishing mediator" between America and the rest of the world. This is an interesting concept, because when synthesis is reached between thesis (America) and the antithesis (rest of the world), the mediator vanishes. http://www.binghamton.edu/fbc/balibar1102.htm

EU investiators raided the German office of Intel today on allegations of unfair competition practices by Intel in the EU. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7241022.stm

This article discusses the concerted effort across government and industry to find and eliminate fake anti-malarial drugs before they reach ill consumers. See http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/12/business/malaria.php

This article discusses the overall worldwide trend toward increased inflation during the recent fiscal term. See http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/12/business/inflate.php

As this article discusses, the IMF has requested clarification on economic data provided to it by Argentina in light of some apparent discrepancies. What does it say about the strength of the international economic system that there is at least some incentive for countries to change their data for public view? See http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/292718a6-d8d5-11dc-8b22-0000779fd2ac,noOfParas=2,emailFormat=plainText,storyType=ultralight,print=no,dwp_uuid=8fa2c9cc-2f77-11da-8b51-00000e2511c8,_i_email=y.html

Despite the overall rise in inflation on the Eurozone, the Netherlands is reporting economic growth. See http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e3150b10-d8c6-11dc-8b22-0000779fd2ac,noOfParas=2,emailFormat=plainText,storyType=ultralight,dwp_uuid=7c485a38-2f7a-11da-8b51-00000e2511c8,print=no,_i_email=y.html