China’s Final Frontier
The Chinese are latecomers to space, and desperate to catch up. Two years after shooting down a satellite, they stand accused of stealing US secrets. A new arms race has begun. The Chinese astronauts (left to right) Jing Haipeng, Zhai Zhigang and Liu Boming carried out their country’s third manned space mission last September Dongfan [...]
In Canada, Obama gets warm welcome – and tips on managing an economy
By Susan Bourette | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor For his first foreign visit as president, Barack Obama chose a country where no major banks have failed, home foreclosures pale by comparison with those in the United States, corporate and consumer debt is low, and citizens enjoy universal health care. Canada often gets [...]
After the big squeeze
This is not the New Depression, but we are on the way to discovering how the New Capitalism will operate argues economist Irwin Stelzer Students at Harvard’s John F Kennedy School of Government succeed as policymakers if they take away only one message: “Ask the wrong question, and you get a useless answer.” That [...]
AMERICANS GET MORTGAGE RELIEF, CANADIANS GET MORE GOUGING
BY LINDA LEATHERDALE Before visiting Canada yesterday, the new messiah for America, U.S. President Barack Obama was busy doling out more bailout money. And finally, after billions went to Wall Street, with bank brass treating themselves to fat-cat bonuses paid for by the taxpayer – some of the money is filtering down to Main [...]
Stakes are high for U.S., China during Clinton visit
When Hillary Clinton visits Beijing this week, her Chinese hosts will closely watch her body language and parse her every word. Her first trip here as the U.S. secretary of state comes in the shadow of the global financial crisis, the pressing North Korea nuclear issue and a warming planet. The U.S. Congress [...]
MORE HYDRO SHOCKERS
Electrocuted by higher bills, while Hydro One rakes in the dough: By LINDA LEATHERDALE Let me be clear: Profit is not a dirty word. But what is – is “profiteering” from an essential service paid for by the taxpayers, while struggling families lose jobs and can’t afford to pay the bills. Worse, for almost [...]
Report: GM considering Chapter 11 filing
General Motors Corp [GM-N], nearing a Tuesday deadline to present a viability plan to the U.S. government, is considering as one option a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing that would create a new company, the Wall Street Journal said in its Saturday edition. “One plan includes a Chapter 11 filing that would assemble all of GM’s [...]
Georgian Sound Big Band
March 14, 2009 Times:8:00pm – 10:00pm The Georgian Sound Big Band has been playing “the sweetest music this side of heaven” since 1988, featuring selections from the cherished classics of the 30s and 40s right up to modern Latin and pop hits. Composed of musicians drawn from communities stretching from Stayner, Collingwood, Thornbury, Meaford [...]
The New Depression
The business and political elite are flying blind. This is the mother of all economic crises. It has barely started and remains completely out of control. By Martin Jacques, who this week joins the New Statesman as a columnist. Illustration by Otto Dettmar We are living through a crisis which, from the [...]
Saudi King appoints first woman to council
Saudi King Abdullah has appointed a woman to the council of ministers for the first time as part of a Cabinet reshuffle, networks including Saudi state-run Channel One reported Saturday. Saudi King Abdullah has appointed a woman to his council of ministers for the first time. King Abdullah announced a new supreme court chief, [...]
Hamas Agrees to One-Week Cease-Fire
JERUSALEM (CNN) – Palestinian militants agreed Sunday to a one-week cease-fire against Israel, Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha said. The Hamas announcement came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced a unilateral cease-fire in the country’s assault on Hamas in Gaza. “We in the Palestinian resistance movements announce a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip,” Moussa [...]
Obama to crowds: ‘I love you back’
(CNN) – Barack Obama’s historic train ride to Washington on Saturday drew large, cheering crowds of people who braved freezing weather and gathered along the tracks in cities and small towns along the way in hopeful anticipation of getting a glimpse of the nation’s next president. In Baltimore, Maryland, alone, about 40,000 people stood shoulder-to-shoulder [...]