Category Archives: International

International, Technology

Expensive Saffron can stop Cancer

“Although the exact mechanism of the anti-cancer effect of saffron is unclear, studies in animals and in human cells have even suggested that saffron can inhibit certain cancers.”-Amr Amin.

The Science Daily reports that a study shows that the expensive spice, Saffron, can stop some cancers.

Researchers at the United Arab Emirates University, fed saffron to 24 rats daily, for 24 weeks.  They also injected them with liver cancer inducing compounds.

For a control group they kept eight rats, who got the liver cancer injection, but received distilled water instead of saffron.

Only four of the 24 saffron fed rats developed cancerous growths, whereas six of the eight rats from the control group developed cancer.

The next phase of the study is to put humans with liver cancer on a saffron rich diet.

The expensive spice is made from the Crocus sativus flower.  It is also used to treat depression, inflammation, memory loss, and as an antioxidant.

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

No Economic Recovery for the U.S.: eBay striking it rich in China

“Chinese exporters today have a significant price advantage, and combined with eBay’s global reach, it creates a very powerful business opportunity.”-Jay Lee, eBay Asia-Pacific.

California based eBay is seeing huge yuan signs, not dollar signs.  That’s because the online auction and retail site is making big gains in China.

Just a few years back anyone in the U.S. who bought something from China, through eBay, had to wait nearly two months to get their item.  Now it’s taking less than a month (I know, I’ve bought a couple of things from China through eBay).

That reduction in shipping time is helping to boost eBay’s China operation: “Now it takes only seven to 10 days for Chinese products sold through eBay to reach any destination in the U.S.”-Jeff Liao, eBay Greater China. (Personally I haven’t experienced that fast of shipping time)

At the end of 2010, 20% of eBay sales were outside the United States, most of which involved China.  EBay officials predict their Chinese operation to grow an amazing 30%-40% every year!

 

 

International

Typhoon Talas to hit Japan on September 2

Hurricane forecasters say Typhoon Talas will hit Japan on Friday.  The storm continues to intensify.  Talas has sustained winds near 55 knots (63 mph/103 kmh).

Talas is about 465 miles (748 km) south of Kyoto, Japan.   It’s moving northward, slowly at 5 knots (6 mph).  Storm-force winds extending out 210 miles, making the typhoon at least 420 miles (675 km) in diameter.

Forecasters now think Talas will cross over Japan, into the Sea of Japan.  Earlier storm track predictions had the typhoon turning and cutting a path right up the center of Honshu and Hokkaido.

Latest on how Talas is not a “normal” hurricane.

 

International, U.S.

Britain reveals UN backed ground force operation in Libya

The United Kingdom’s Inner City Press revealed a 10 page document that shows a United Nations backed ground force operation is about to begin in Libya.  It will involve 200 military observers, 190 UN police officers and 61 civilians.

The operation is awaiting approval by the UN Security Council, and an official request from Libyan rebels.  It also details the creation of a new Libyan government, by the United Nations, not the rebels.

The 10 page “Martin report” also claims that the Libyan rebels committed war crimes, by killing prisoners and looting.  It also “doubts” that Gaddafi used mercenaries.

The report was apparently written on August 22, but was officially denied until Inner City Press got its hands on an official copy.

 

 

 

International, U.S.

U.S. led War on Syria: Russia threatens UN Veto, says the U.S. will sidestep the UN and use NATO to attack Syria

“We are afraid that the resolution could push the most radical Syrian opposition forces to more active operations to topple the government. Just because of that, we categorically do not accept the aims our Western colleagues try to attain with that resolution.”–Vitali Churkin, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations

Russia, as well as China, have stated that they oppose any UN Security Council resolution against Syria.

Russian officials say they have information that the United States, and European Union, will sidestep the UN Security Council, because they can not get enough votes of support for their planned attack on Syria.  Instead it is highly likely that the U.S. and EU will use language under NATO rules to justify an attack on Syria.  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is not part of the United Nations.



International

Yet another study says Chocolate reduces High Blood Pressure

The University of Cambridge found that regular consumption of chocolate might slash the risk of developing heart disease by a third.

114,000 people were studied.  People who ate the most chocolate were 37% less likely to develop heart disease, and 29% less likely to suffer a stroke.

Why? Researchers speculate that chocolate’s high content in polyphenols, antioxidant compounds that boost the body’s production of nitric oxide, helps reduce blood pressure.

Business/Economics, International, Technology

UN warns of return of Bird Flu, Vaccines not working

“Wild birds may introduce the virus, but people’s actions in poultry production and marketing spread it.”–Juan Lubroth, UN Food and Agriculture Organization

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is warning of a new mutant strain of H5N1 (Bird Flu).  They say it’s spreading throughout southern China, and Vietnam.

Current vaccines do not work on this latest strain.

The UN is predicting the mutant H5N1 virus could spread to Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Korean and Japan.  The last H5N1 outbreak peaked in 2006.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: After raising prices in U.S., GM lowers prices in China, losing out to VW

“The next 12 months look tough.  Incentives brought forward buying in a very dramatic fashion in 2009, 2010, and now we are seeing a lack of pent-up demand.”-Ashvin Chotai, Intelligence Automotive Asia

General Motors can’t stand the heat of the competition in China, so they’re sacrificing profit margin by dropping their prices, on minivans.

“GM does not rely on the minibus for profit, they only contribute volume.”– Jenny Gu, JD Power & Associates.

GM might not rely on minivan sales for profits in China, but they’re sure taking the competition serious.  GM’s sales of minivans, in China, dropped 3% this year, so far.  That’s important when you realize that China, not the United States, is now GM’s largest auto market.

The minivans that GM sells in China, are made in China, not the U.S.  One in eight vehicle sales in China are minivans.

It looks like VolksWagen is taking up the slack in GM’s lagging Chinese made minivan sales.  GM sold 1.27 million vehicles in China in the first half of this year, compared with VW’s 1.1 million.  This means VW could soon overtake GM’s number one foreign car maker position in China.