Good to see them putting all that stolen technology to use.
Good to see them putting all that stolen technology to use.
^^^^^
Von Braun and several members of the engineering team, including Dornberger, made it to Austria.[54] On May 2, 1945, upon finding an American private from the U.S. 44th Infantry Division, von Braun's brother and fellow rocket engineer, Magnus, approached the soldier on a bicycle, calling out in broken English: "My name is Magnus von Braun. My brother invented the V-2. We want to surrender."[10][55]
Baosteel, Rio Tinto ink yuan-based iron ore deal
"Chinese steel mills are looking to gain a greater say in iron ore pricing by opting for yuan-denominated settlements, with a key deal concluded in the Chinese currency recently.
Baoshan Iron and Steel Co Ltd (Baosteel), a subsidiary of China Baowu Steel Group, completed a 100 million yuan ($14.1 million) iron ore settlement deal via blockchain technology with mining giant Rio Tinto Plc, after inking yuan purchase deals with Brazil's Vale in January and Australia's BHP Group in April.
In January, Baosteel purchased about 330 million yuan worth of iron ore from Brazilian iron ore miner Vale in Chinese currency. Another deal worth nearly 100 million yuan was reached between Baosteel and Australian miner BHP Group in April. BHP said in a statement that it is expecting to complete its first blockchain iron ore transaction with Baosteel soon.
"Baosteel and China Baowu have been deepening their collaboration with major global suppliers," said Wang Guoqing, director of the Lange Steel Information Center.
"Cross-border yuan settlements will not only lower the risks from currency rate fluctuations, but also lower exchange costs for various currencies and improve trading efficiency," said Wang.
Zhang Tieshan, operational director of supply chain company Didisteel, expects more deals to be settled in the Chinese currency as China accounts for bulk of the iron ore usage in the world.
"China Baowu is not only China's largest steel-maker, but also a pioneer in state-of-the-art technology application. Exploring the possibilities of yuan-denominated settlement via blockchain is a new proof," said Zhang.
"China is the world's largest importer of commodities and hence we will see more commodity deals being undertaken in yuan, especially iron ore," said Chen Derong, chairman of China Baowu Group.
Since 2019, Baosteel has been actively promoting yuan-denominated settlement of iron ore trade with foreign suppliers. In a statement issued in February, the company said it had concluded purchase deals worth 240 million yuan with exporters from countries like South Africa and Ukraine.
In the past few years, major iron ore miners have been steadily expanding their output, but the global demand driven by China has been stabilizing. The supply and demand variation has resulted in iron ore prices sliding from the peak seen in 2008, said Zhang.
With the COVID-19 epidemic being gradually brought under control in China, 83 percent of the iron ore shipped from Australia in April went to China, while last year it was 80 percent during the same period, said Zhang.
However, despite China's position as the world's top iron ore importer, Chinese steel enterprises have little say in the pricing of the raw material. Experts said this had a lot to do with the fragmented Chinese steel industry. After years of efforts in industrial upgrading and restructuring, there are still more than 1,000 steel mills across the nation."
Baosteel, Rio Tinto ink yuan-based iron ore deal - Chinadaily.com.cn
Stepping away for "requirement" of holding US$.
Last edited by OhOh; 13-05-2020 at 10:19 AM.
A tray full of GOLD is not worth a moment in time.
Which part of 'Eurasia Topics' are you having difficulty with?
China Slows Australian Coal Imports as Beijing Denies Ban
Chinese officials are jamming up imports of Australian coal, with at least one major port suspending customs clearance, but Beijing has denied a report of an official ban.
The foreign ministry on Friday said the report of a block on Australian coal at one northern port was false, echoing information from miners, Canberra lawmakers and people familiar with official orders in China. The news had roiled markets on Thursday as it was seen as a sudden escalation of trade tensions between the two countries.
Bloomberg - Are you a robot?
How long before the Communist party decides to chuck another wobbly because of some perceived insult to their 'pride' and cancels or obstructs again . . . like a spoiled big, fat child in the kindergarten
Still not comprehending the basics, eh.Originally Posted by OhOh (Eurasia Topics)
Brazil's Vale in January and Australia's BHP Group in April.
Nigeria says to sign Africa free trade pact
03/07/2019 - 10:30
Lagos (AFP)
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari will sign the landmark African free trade agreement during the upcoming African Union meeting in Niger, his office said.
"Nigeria will sign the #AfCFTA Agreement at the upcoming Extraordinary Summit of the African Union in Niamey, Niger," the presidency said in a Tweet late Tuesday.
African leaders are meeting in Niamey this weekend.
Nigeria had been a key backer of the plan to progressively reduce trade barriers on the continent since talks on the African Continental Free Trade Area got underway in 2002.
However it abruptly changed course shortly before the deal was signed last year following pressure from local unions and businesses fearful that they would be uncompetitive if trade barriers are dropped.
Last week, a special government panel formed to study the potential impact of joining AfCFTA, recommended that Buhari sign Nigeria up.
The trade deal "provides immense opportunities for Nigeria's manufacturing and service companies to expand to Africa," the panel's chair, Desmond Guobadia, said in a statement after submitting its report.
AfCFTA formally came into force at the end of May, after the required minimum of 22 countries ratified the ambitious plan to boost intra-African trade, which has long suffered by high tariffs.
It hopes the progressive elimination of tariffs will help boost regional trade by 60 percent within three years. At present, only 16 percent of trade by African nations is with continental neighbours.
Nigeria is one of only three of the AU's 55 member states to not have signed up to AfCFTA, with other African economic heavyweights such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa having ratified the pact
Nigeria says to sign Africa free trade pact - France 24
Iraq in the balance between Iran and the USA
"Iran and the US have been at war since 1979, when the “Islamic Republic” took power. This war will continue as long as the US seeks to defeat Iran, which in turn seeks to force the US out of the Middle East. Occasionally, the war manifests as direct clashes between the two countries, but usually it takes place on the territory of Iran’s allies. These allies are becoming stronger and powerful enough to be reckoned with. This growth is imposing Iran as a regional power with influence in several countries around the Middle East—from Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen to Iraq, where direct US-Iran confrontation has shown the ability of both countries to inflict damage on one another. By accepting the election of the new Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, the two countries have reached an unspoken agreement for de-escalation allowing the new Prime Minister to achieve a balance of power. This balance will be difficult to maintain in the face of new domestic challenges Iraq is facing, related not only to the Iran-US struggle but also to the devastating economic recession caused by the response to COVID-19 and the low price of oil.
Iraq agreed to drop its oil production from 4.65 million barrels per day (bpd) to 3.59 bpd in May and June and 3.8 million bpd for the rest of the year in accord with an OPEC agreement to reduce crude oil production and stop the free fall of the price of oil. The 2020 budget assumes an oil price between $56 to $58 in a country where oil accounts for 67 percent of its economy and the income from crude oil sales funds 90 percent of its yearly budget. Iraq has lost $11 billion since the beginning of this year due to the low price of oil, the relatively closed borders, and the absence of religious pilgrimage due to the Coronavirus.
However, the Iraqi “man in the street” doesn’t take into consideration these enormous challenges. He demands job opportunities, the end of the distribution of power among the biggest political parties and corruption that has dominated Iraqi politics since 2003. Therefore, notwithstanding the seriousness and good intentions of the new Prime Minister, the lack of finance, resources and cash will be devastating to the future of Iraq in the next years even if al-Kadhimi manages to keep the balance between Iran and the US.
The Prime Minister has reinstalled Lieutenant General Abdel Wahab al-Saedi at the top of the counterterrorism units, recalling him back to this position from a desk job at the Ministry of Defence. This smart first step has different goals.
Sources close to the Prime Minister said: “Al-Kadhimi is aware of the necessity to avoid challenging the US or Iran in this sensitive moment. Therefore, he is concentrating on domestic challenges and the effort to sideline the country from the Iran-US struggle. Al-Saedi understands much better today that he can’t challenge Iran or al-Hashd al-Shaabi if he wants to fight ISIS (the “Islamic State”) and hunt down terrorists that have gathered significant strength recently and carried out threatening attacks. Also, General al-Saedi enjoys US support which could help him achieve his designated objective.”
The US ceased all intelligence gathering and sharing with the Iraqis following the US assassination of the Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandes and their 9 companions at Baghdad airport. This assassination triggered the binding decision of the parliament to ask for the immediate departure of US troops from Iraq.
“The return of General al-Saedi to the counterterrorism service was a popular cause. Al-Kadhimi accommodated this request to satisfy one of the people’s demands and show that the Prime Minister respects their protest. Hashd al-Shaabi forces, spread around among many locations in Iraq, are fighting alongside the counterterrorism units in perfect harmony. Therefore, the presence of al-Saedi will not affect the performance of the security forces and is not considered a challenge to Iran, as the Prime Minister explained to the general before restoring him to his old position,” said the source.
The US did not succeed to promote the anti-Iran candidate, Adnan al-Zurfi. Moreover, al-Kadhimi did not appoint al-Zurfi to any ministerial position notwithstanding his attempt to give al-Zurfi a place in his cabinet. Shia political groups considered al-Kadhimi’s nominations inappropriate and provocative to Iran, forcing the Prime Minister to change his cabinet selections three times. An anti-Iran Iraqi Prime Minister can’t find a place in Iraq. Former prime minister Haidar Abadi was against Soleimani but not against Iran. Soleimani wanted to remove Abadi after one year in office, triggering a hostile reaction from the Iraqi prime minister. However, when the new elections were due, Soleimani reconciled with Abadi after several private meetings, but failed to convince Iraqi Shia parties to support Abadi’s candidateship.
Mustafa al-Kadhmi managed to reach power only when the Shia brought down al-Zurfi and General Esmail Qaani, Soleimani’s successor, visited Baghdad to meet with Shia political leaders to soften their opposition. Also, the Lebanese Hezbollah played an important role in persuading those rejecting al-Kadhimi, and convinced the prime minister to select his cabinet according to criteria suitable to Shia, Sunni and Kurds. These supports from outside Iraq eased al-Kadhimi’s path to power. The objection of Kataeb Hezbollah Iraq is irrelevant, even if media exaggerates the importance of this organisation. Lebanese Hezbollah mediated between al-Kadhimi and Iraqi Kataeb Hezbollah, considered a small player in the bigger Shia picture in Iraq.
Also, Iraq was given a 120-day waiver to continue importing electricity from Iran. In fact, the US had no choice but to adopt this step and will continue to do if it doesn’t want to see Iraq overtly violating US sanctions. The Iraqi southern provinces will need Iranian gas and electricity for at least the next 3-4 years. The US is looking for a moral victory when it is aware Iraq can’t survive without electricity and that the southern provinces will not abide by any US decision to block its supply. Washington prefers to appear in control rather than to be shown publicly to be no longer dominant.
Al-Kadhimi’s first meetings were with the US and Iranian ambassadors in Iraq. He spoke to Presidents Trump and Rouhani where he confirmed that “Iran is a dear friend and Iraq will never forget the support Tehran has offered to the country”. In 2014, Iran was the first to provide Iraq with weapons, training and advisors, when the US failed to deliver weapons Iraq had already purchased. The US preferred to look on as ISIS occupied a third of Iraq.
Iran transformed the US threat into an opportunity by imposing itself as a regional power. The US can no longer isolate an Iran that enjoys regional influence in so many countries in the Middle East. Russia and China need to consider Iranian influence when dealing with many Middle Eastern countries. Hashd al-Shaabi and other groups loyal to Iran are a force that can’t be dissolved or ignored in Iraq. Over 41 years Iran has painstakingly built a chain of faithful and dedicated allies in the region, whereas the US has maintained business-type relations based on the coercing of frightened Middle Eastern leaders. These US “clients” understandably cannot be relied upon to support US interests in the region."
Iraq in the balance between Iran and the USA – Elijah J. Magnier
All of these silly bits of shite that you post are irrelevant becauseThe US can no longer isolate an Iran that enjoys regional influence in so many countries in the Middle East.
1. They are usually silly
2. The US can do what it likes
3. Baldy orange cunto is in charge, so fuck knows what he will do
. . . in the "Eurasia Topics' thread. Actually a thread YOU started and don't mind it getting craped on . . . by yourself and your Russian mate
Aaaaah, you and Klondyke - extraordinary cretins
Nunavut hunters in 'disbelief' over government's attempt to cut narwhal harvest
Hunters in Pond Inlet say they "don't believe" the government's most recent scientific survey of narwhals, and are upset at the recent recommendation to cut the total allowable harvest by more than a hundred.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has put forth a recommendation to the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board to cut the quota from the current 236 narwhals, to 134.
- Nunavut hunters harvest 230 narwhal trapped in ice near Pond Inlet
- Narwhals: the 'giant unicorn of the sea' at risk from climate change
"The Inuit here in Pond Inlet don't believe the survey they have brought to us," said Jacolaasie Killiktee, with the Pond Inlet Hunters and Trappers Association, in Inuktitut.
The suggestion was based on a 2013 aerial survey done by government scientists in Eclipse Sound, the waterway around Pond Inlet.
Hunters in Nunavut cut up a harvested narwhal. Inuit have harvested narwhal for generations for their skin and blubber, as well as for their long tusks. (CBC)
Fisheries and Oceans Canada said the number of narwhals counted in Eclipse Sound in 2013 was 10,500, down from an estimated 20,200 in 2004.
"The people originally from this area know the narwhals more than those research numbers. So we don't believe what the [Department of Fisheries and Oceans] is saying to us," said Killiktee.
Meanwhile, the department has recommended an increase in total allowable harvest from 233 to 389 in Admiralty Inlet, near the Nunavut hamlet of Arctic Bay. Scientists counted almost twice the number of narwhals there since 2010, from 18,100 to 35,000.
The wildlife board held a public hearing last week in Pond Inlet for all affected parties — including scientists from the department who could answer technical questions about the survey.
Daniel Shewchuk, chairperson of the board, said reconciling the scientific and traditional voices "is not going to be easy."
"It's very difficult," said Shewchuk. But he said the traditional Inuit knowledge provided is "very, very positive and powerful information... and it has to be weighed. Just like any other information."
The board's decision will be made and submitted to the minister in the coming months, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Scientific method in 'early stages' and 'uncertain'
The area that scientists observe "is really huge," according to Steven Ferguson, a scientist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada who was a part of the process of surveying the narwhals in 2013"You know, about 200,000 narwhals, and it's distributed all across the Arctic," said Ferguson. "So it's a bit of a challenge for us to do this survey. They're really expensive and require a lot of people to do them."
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/pond-inlet-hunters-don-t-believe-dfo-1.3882489
Oh, so because the article says that it must be true then.
Forget the fact that Iran can't earn thruppence a barrel for its oil at the moment, sanctions or not, and it has burned through $50 billion of its foreign reserves even when it was selling oil to the chinkies ignoring the sanctions (albeit well below market price but still at a profit).
Look at the big picture sybille, one article does not paint the complete picture.
Iran does not have massive regional influence in an area where most of the oil is owned by Sunni and is protected by the West.
Palestine, Yemen, Lebanon? They are insignificant players.
Syria? Yeah, so influential there that they had to call in the Russians to stop their puppet getting overthrown.
Lebanon is starting to doubt even Hezbollah's intentions for the country, and they were heroes after the last time the Israelis gave them a slapping.
There is no need for the US to keep trying to shoot Iran in the foot, they are perfectly capable of doing it themselves at the moment, and the only thing suppressing internal strife right now is the 'Rona.
When 96% goes to Asia.?
Iraq Exports By Country
So that's what's occurring. Who are they protecting it for? When was the Iraq request made? So noble of them, I presume some Iraq political vote was taken and the majority of the citizens thought, "that's a jolly good idea"?
Last edited by OhOh; 14-05-2020 at 10:18 PM.
Expert: China to lead U-shaped recovery of regional economy
"China will lead a gradual U-shaped regional economic recovery, which will help anchor production and confidence in neighboring countries aided by the adoption of a wide range of stimulus packages to contain the novel coronavirus epidemic, the head of a leading international research organization told China Daily in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.
A U-shaped recovery is one in which the economy gradually climbs out of a recessionary environment.
All economies in the ASEAN+3 region, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus China, Japan and South Korea, could return to positive growth in 2021, and the region as a whole is expected to expand by 6.2 percent next year, led by China, said Toshinori Doi, director of the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), which monitors macroeconomic and financial stability in the region.
"China can play an important role to lead and support the region's economic recovery by resuming connectivity in trade and investment with regional economies and regaining regional demand," said Doi. "But this trajectory depends largely on how effectively the regional and global economies can contain the virus."
AMRO expects the region's economy to slow sharply to 0.2 percent this year. It has already shaved 3 percentage points off the growth forecast compared to a month ago.
As the COVID-19 outbreak has been nearly brought under control in China, more than half of the companies, particularly the export-oriented ones, have achieved around 80 percent of production utilization, said AMRO.
China's resumption of production will help anchor regional production and confidence, the director said. The region's electronics and semiconductor industries-spurred by 5G and artificial intelligence development, petroleum and chemicals from energy consumption-and textile and garment sectors will benefit from the resumption of manufacturing in China.
Besides, China's plan to increase infrastructure spending will also benefit commodity exporters in the region, Doi said.
"We expect China to carry out large infrastructure investment, such as transportation in the upcoming stimulus package. The country's demand for mining products will benefit mining exporters in the ASEAN, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam."
On the shocks, the AMRO director said the pandemic has disrupted the ASEAN+3 supply chain and affected derived demand within the region.
In the post-pandemic period, efforts are likely to be focused on improving the robustness of the regional supply chain by diversifying the production of key intermediate and final products to more countries, to mitigate the risk of such disruptions."
Expert: China to lead U-shaped recovery of regional economy - Chinadaily.com.cn
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