Category Archives: International

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: British TESCO admits defeat, pulls out of Japan, the U.S. is next

“Having made considerable efforts in Japan, we have concluded we cannot build a sufficiently scaleable business. We have decided to sell our operations there and focus on our larger businesses in the region.”-Philip Clarke, TESCO

After eight years and 250 million pounds (U.S.$404.9 million), British retailer TESCO is quitting Japan.

The Japanese retail market proved to be too tough o’nut to crack.  TESCO has been successful almost everywhere else, especially other Asian countries.

Retail analysts say Japan’s retail culture is radically different than the U.S. or Europe: “The retail market is fragmented and there are many strong regional players, often family-owned. Convenience stores dominate, particularly in the city centers, and a culture of ‘immediacy’ supports large numbers of vending machines.”-Gavin Rothwell, retail analysts IGD

Another factor against foreign companies doing business in Japan is extremely high operating costs, and extremely demanding consumers.

However, TESCO is also losing money, big time, through its U.S. venture, Fresh & Easy.  The U.S. start up is based in Los Angeles, California.

TESCO’s Fresh & Easy operation has 176 stores in California, Nevada and Arizona.  Last year they lost $301 million, far more than what TESCO lost in Japan.

They’re spending even more money to remodel their Fresh & Easy stores, but if sales don’t pick up within the next two years, TESCO will pull out of the United States as well.

 

 

 

 

International, U.S.

What Global Warming? Typhoon Talas not Normal, showing signs of a cold weather storm!

Typhoon Talas is expected to hit Japan on August 2, but its path is hard to predict because it’s not your normal hurricane.

The U.S. Navy/Air Force Joint Typhoon Warning Center is saying that Talas is not a normal typhoon: “The upper-level analysis continues to reveal an unusual upper-level pattern with an upper low over the center and anticyclonic flow around the periphery.”

What’s not normal about that, is that anti-cyclonic storms normally form around high pressure systems.  Talas is showing low pressure.  Also, anti-cyclonic storms are associated with cold weather and often cause massive snowfall, it’s summer time in Japan.  (Can you say The Day After Tomorrow?)

Some predictions say the typhoon will drive up the middle of Honshu and Hokkaido, other predictions say it’ll keep driving north into the Sea of Japan.

Business/Economics, International

United Police Kingdom: British Bobbies demand reporters hand over all video of recent riots

Scotland Yard is demanding all media outlets in London turn over video of riots.

The bobbies say it will help them arrest even more people, as if the video from the thousands of city surveillance cameras isn’t enough.  Even British Prime Minister David Cameron wants the media to give in.

The bobbies are asking for all “unpublished” videos and pics.  Here’s the thing, the media has published lots and lots of video and pics that clearly show looters’ faces, so why do the bobbies need more?

“They act almost like they are above the law. They have got 40,000 hours of CCTV footage to go through. And it seems to me they are getting bored with that and are trying to co-opt the press in Britain [into being] evidence gatherers for the police.”-Tony Gosling, investigative journalist

 

International, U.S.

War on Terror: The United States is the biggest terrorist, handcuffs then executes Iraqi children, United Nations makes threats wants answers

“…a State party can be held responsible for violations of rights under the Covenant where the violations are perpetrated by authorized agents of the State on foreign territory…”-2006 UN memo to Secretary of State Rice, concerning execution of Iraqi children

A 2006 United Nations memo to then U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, has been made public by Wikileaks.

In the memo the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, demands an explanation as to why, on 15 March 2006, an entire Iraqi family was handcuffed and executed by U.S. forces.  That included two children aged five years, two children aged three years and one five month old baby!

After the executions the house was bombed, Iraqi TV has video of the aftermath.

The memo suspects that it was done in retaliation for two U.S. multi-national forces (MNF) troops being killed the week before.

Officially the U.S. claims the family was killed in a gunbattle.  The U.S. led MNF were attempting to arrest one suspect.

The problem is that autopsies showed all the family members had been handcuffed and shot in the head.

The United Nations asked Secretary of State Rice four questions: 1; “On what basis was it decided to kill, rather than capture, members of the Mr. Faiz Harrat Al-Majma’ee’s family.” 2; “What rules of international law does your Excellency’s Government consider to govern these incidents?” 3; “What procedural safeguards, if any, were employed to ensure that these killings complied with international law?” 4; “Does your Excellency’s Government intend to provide compensation…”

The UN memo mentions that this isn’t the only case of summary executions at the hands of U.S. forces.

Secretary Rice was also reminded of UN resolution 59/191: “States must ensure that any measure to combat terrorism complies with their obligation under international law, in particular international human right, refugee and humanitarian law.”

After all, the United States is a shining example of the Rule of Law, is it not?

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

What Economic Recovery? Hoku, Idaho, finally to start polysilicon production, but ongoing delays will cost solar company money

“We are positioned to bring the first 2,500 metric tons of manufacturing capacity online in the coming weeks, and we continue commissioning key systems on site.”-Scott Paul, CEO of Hoku Corporation

After years of continued promises of local hiring and construction delays, due to financial problems, Hoku claims it will finally start polysilicon production within weeks.

However, Idaho Power insists that Hoku pay up front for its electricity, Hoku officials claim they’ve already paid $5.3 million to the utility.  This is just part of a long list of financial problems the wannabe polysilicon maker has had.

It’s ironic that a solar power “products and services” company must rely on an old fashioned electric utility to provide power to run their new 2,500 metric tons of polysilicon factory.

Hoku Corporation has already lost $10.2 million during the second quarter of 2011.  The solar power products company is based in Hawaii.  Their polysilicon Hoku Materials plant is located in Pocatello, Idaho.

Hoku has been getting financial help from a Chinese company; Tianwei New Energy Holdings.

Hoku salesmen oversold their company’s product, and now they’re scrambling to issue refunds, and offer discounts on existing contracts for waiting so long for their product.

All current orders for polysilcon are delayed, no thanks to the financial problems that have delayed construction of the Pocatello plant for the past couple of years.  Expect Hoku to continue reporting losses as a result.

2010: HOKU TURNING TO CHINA TO HELP FINISH POCATELLO PLANT

 

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.