Category Archives: International

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: Japan creates fund to help Japanese corporations to take over foreign companies, blames crashing U.S. dollar

Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda announced that a U.S.$100 billion fund is being created, to help Japanese companies to use yen to buy foreign money, and take over foreign companies.

Noda says the fund is a response to the crashing U.S. dollar, which is forcing up the value of the Japanese yen.  The more the yen is worth, the more expensive it makes Japanese exports.  Already Japan has seen the effect, reduced sales to other countries.

The fund will loan money to Japanese companies, and investors, who will then use it to buy foreign money, and foreign companies.  It’s hoped that action will bring down the value of the yen.

The Japanese government will counter speculators from abusing the fund, by requiring daily reports of financial transactions.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: China will now use the Yuan in all international deals, blames crashing U.S. dollar

The Chinese government has expanded the use of the yuan in international trade deals.

Originally China restricted the use of the yuan to just five cities, for trade with Southeast Asian nations.  Later it was expanded so 20 provinces could use the yuan in all their international payments.  Now, the People’s Bank of China gave permission to all businesses in China, to use the yuan for international trade payments.

Chinese officials say the decision was influenced by the crashing U.S. dollar.

 

International

U.K. to hold emergency National Security meeting about Libya, secret tunnels found under military compound, BBC now claims foreign reporters held by government forces

The British Prime minister’s office is holding an emergency National Security Council meeting on Libya. The meeting is being chaired by Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Rebels claim they’ve found tunnels under the Bab al-Azizia compound.  Sounds like fighting is taking place, rebels say they’re trying to “clear” the tunnels.

Despite many earlier reports from foreign reporters at the Rixos Hotel, saying rebels were threatening their lives, the BBC is now saying it’s Libyan government forces that’re doing the threatening.  They say one of their reporters was threatened when he tried to leave the hotel.

 

International

Gaddafi tours Tripoli, Rebels take Filippino citizen hostage

Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi has taken a brief tour of Tripoli, just to prove he is still alive, and still in Tripoli.  He’s made a TV address asking loyal Libyans to “cleanse the city”.

NATO responded with two air strikes.  Witnesses say the explosions were huge.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs reports that one of their citizens was taken hostage by rebels.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

U.S. to give Libyan Rebels $1.5 million, Germany pushes for UN to give Rebels cash, could mean Rebels are broke and will fall apart without being paid

President Obama is giving Libyan rebels $1.5  million in frozen Libyan funds.  At the same time Germany is demanding that the United Nations give the rebels funds that were frozen under the UN sanctions.

Germany is also going to issue rebels a huge $140 million loan, within days.

What this means is the fragile Libyan rebel alliance (aka Transitional National Council) has run out of money to pay for military operations, which include mercenaries.  A BBC report said the rebel alliance is so fragile that it could fall apart as soon as the war is over.  It’s more likely it’ll fall apart if it runs out of cash.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Moody’s downgrades Japan’s credit rating, says government is incompetent

Moody’s downgraded Japan, from double A2, to double A3.  Moody’s cited continuing government budget problems, huge government debt, and government incompetence.

One of the signs of government incompetence is what has become a revolving door of government agencies and leaders.  The latest change is that Prime Minister Naoto Kan has resigned, effective by the beginning of September.

Japan is the second largest foreign holder of U.S. government debt.

International

Water poisoning causes confusion among Rebels, China says NATO must not be involved with post Gaddafi Libya

China’s Foreign Minister says the United Nations, not U.S. led NATO,  should lead post-war efforts in Libya.  He added that China will help rebuild the country, but only if the UN is in charge.

Rumors of poisoned water in Tripoli, has rebels confused.  A BBC reporter said he overheard rebels arguing about whether the water was safe or not.  So far, no one has confirmed the story of two people going to hospital after drinking poisoned water.

 

International

Canadian citizen says Rebels trying to kill him, Canadian goverment says too bad!

“Given the volatile security situation, the Canadian Embassy in Tripoli has suspended operations until further notice.”-Canadian government statement

A man from Ottawa, Canada, says Libyan rebels are threatening to kill him.  Mahdi Nazemroaya, an independent journalist working for Russian and Arab media, is holded up in the Rixos Hotel.

His mother has been begging Canadian officials to do something to get her son out of Libya, they have refused.

Even Nazemoroaya’s alma mater, University of Ottawa, tried to get the Canadian government to help: “To call the government when a friend is in trouble, and hear ‘too bad so sad’, that is disappointing.”- Mireille Gervais, student appeal center

 

International, U.S.

Foreign reporters still under attack by Libyan Rebels, U.S. Navy intercepts SCUD, CNN reporter wants out!

Reporters still holed up in the Rixos Hotel, in Tripoli, say the hotel is still under attack by Rebels.  That’s because the area is still under the control of the Libyan government.  It seems the rebels have not taken Tripoli after all.

CNN’s Matthew Chance said this about the situation: “Just had confirmation that a Maltese boat docked in a Libyan port. Would love to get on board and out of here.”

Another report says that SCUD missiles, supposedly being launched from Sirte, are being intercepted by the U.S. Navy.  The SCUDs are targeting Misrata.

 

International

Israel bombs Gaza, close to Egyptian border

August 24, a vehicle in the town of Rafah, near the Egyptian border was hit by an Israeli missile.  One man killed, one injured.

This comes after Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, said: “This is a delicate situation and there is a real risk of endangering the (1979 Egyptian-Israeli) peace treaty, which is a precious strategic asset for Israel.”

A ceasefire was agreed to, but only between Hamas and Israel.  Hamas does not control all of Gaza.  Rocket attacks against Israel, since the cease fire, were done by rivals to Hamas.  The man killed by Israel today, is said to be a member of Islamic Jihad, not Hamas.

It is now known that the August 18 attacks on Israeli tour buses were not done by Hamas, but by a group known as Popular Resistance Committees.  Earlier Israel, and most of the western media, blamed Hamas for the tour bus attacks.