Pull! Push!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Gold again for Jamaica in womens 100 metre event
(Image from CNN)
Jamaicans all over the world must be going crazy this weekend and rightly so! After Usain Bolt confidently secured gold during the Men's 100 metre event, Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser of Jamaica today won gold. Her teammates, Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson, also shared the silver medal.
Shelly-Ann Fraser (Wikipedia)
Kerron Stewart (Wikipedia)
Sherone Simpson (Wikipedia)
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"BEIJING--Shelly-Ann Fraser led the other two Jamaicans to win all the women's 100 meters medals on Sunday evening at the Beijing Olympic Games.
Fraser clocked her personal best in 10.78 seconds before Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart finished, both in 10.98, and shared the silver.
Simpson said, "We made history. Just like yesterday Bolt set a new world record. We are all great athletes and I'm very excited about the tremendous achievement we've made for our country."" (China Daily)
************************
"Shelly-Ann Fraser took Olympic gold in the women's 100m, leading home an unprecedented clean sweep for Jamaica.
Fraser finished in a time of 10.78 seconds, with her compatriots Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart sharing the silver medal after a dead heat.
"I'm so excited. I never dreamed this could happen to me," Fraser said." (BBC NEWS)
************************
"Jamaicans proved they are the world's fastest humans on Sunday when Shelly-Ann Fraser won the women's 100 metre at the Olympics 24 hours after Usain Bolt's record-setting victory in the men's event." (CNN.com)
(Image from CNN)
Jamaicans all over the world must be going crazy this weekend and rightly so! After Usain Bolt confidently secured gold during the Men's 100 metre event, Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser of Jamaica today won gold. Her teammates, Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson, also shared the silver medal.
Shelly-Ann Fraser (Wikipedia)
Kerron Stewart (Wikipedia)
Sherone Simpson (Wikipedia)
************************
"BEIJING--Shelly-Ann Fraser led the other two Jamaicans to win all the women's 100 meters medals on Sunday evening at the Beijing Olympic Games.
Fraser clocked her personal best in 10.78 seconds before Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart finished, both in 10.98, and shared the silver.
Simpson said, "We made history. Just like yesterday Bolt set a new world record. We are all great athletes and I'm very excited about the tremendous achievement we've made for our country."" (China Daily)
************************
"Shelly-Ann Fraser took Olympic gold in the women's 100m, leading home an unprecedented clean sweep for Jamaica.
Fraser finished in a time of 10.78 seconds, with her compatriots Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart sharing the silver medal after a dead heat.
"I'm so excited. I never dreamed this could happen to me," Fraser said." (BBC NEWS)
************************
"Jamaicans proved they are the world's fastest humans on Sunday when Shelly-Ann Fraser won the women's 100 metre at the Olympics 24 hours after Usain Bolt's record-setting victory in the men's event." (CNN.com)
Labels: Caribbean, China, Jamaica, Kerron Stewart, news, Olympics, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Sherone Simpson, sports, World
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Big Caribbean win at Olympics 100m - Gold for Jamaican Bolt and Silver for T&T Thompson
Caribbean people have two big reasons to celebrate this weekend! Usain Bolt (Jamaica) and Richard Thompson (Trinidad and Tobago) won gold and silver medals respectively in the Men's 100 metre running event of the 2008 Olympics. Congrats to both atheletes as well as to the people of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago!
(Images from L to R are from CNN and The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games respectively)
Usain Bolt (Wikipedia)
Richard Thompson (Wikipedia)
************************
"“I’m not really worried about world records,” Bolt said in the aftermath of his world-record time of 9.69 seconds in the 100 on Saturday night at the Bird’s Nest. “My aim is to come here and win. That’s the aim. I have a lot more time to think about that.”" (Houston Chronicle)
************************
"(BEIJING, August 16) -- Usain Bolt has won the Men's 100m gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in a world record time of 9.69 seconds.
Silver medalist Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago ran a time of 9.89 seconds, leaving American Walter Dix to take the bronze in a time of 9.91 seconds.
The twenty-one-year-old broke his own world record of 9.72 seconds, which he set in June this year. The Olympic record stood at 9.84 seconds, set by Donovan Bailey at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games." (The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games)
************************
"Usain Bolt glided to a new world record as he produced a stunning run in the Olympic 100m final.
Bolt was well clear at 60m and although he eased down and started to celebrate 15 metres from the line he still set a new mark of 9.69 seconds.
Richard Thompson finished second while American Walter Dix came third but they were yards behind the Jamaican.
"I wasn't worried about the world record. I didn't know it until I'd done my victory lap," Bolt told BBC Sport." (BBC NEWS)
************************
"Usain Bolt smashed his own world record in winning the Olympic 100 meters title in Beijing with one of the most remarkable performances in the history of track and field.
The 21-year-old Jamaican clocked 9.69 seconds to win from Trinidad and Tobago's Richard Thompson (9.89 seconds) and America's Walter Dix (9.91 seconds).
But it was the manner of his victory that was truly astonishing as he started his celebrations before crossing the line, showboating with his arms out wide before slapping his chest in triumph." (CNN.com)
************************
"It was calm, it was still and then suddenly there was lightning all around the Bird's Nest stadum last night, Usain Bolt lighting up the night sky with a world record 9.68 seconds in the Olympic 100 metres." (Stuff.co.nz)
************************
"BEIJING (Reuters) - Jamaica's Usain Bolt won 100 metres gold at the Beijing Olympics in a world record time on Saturday, running 9.69 seconds to claim victory in an exhilarating showdown with his compatriot Asafa Powell.
The 21-year-old won his country's first Olympic title in the blue riband event and capped an astonishing rise to the top of his sport. His former world record was 9.72 seconds.
Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago won the silver and American Walter Dix the bronze." (Reuters)
************************
"JAMAICAN sprinter Usain Bolt won gold in the Olympic 100metre final with an incredible world-record breaking performance." (Manchester Evening News)
************************
"Beijing, China (Sports Network) - Jamaica's Usain Bolt won gold in the men's 100 meter finals Saturday at the Beijing Olympics, lowering his own world record to claim the title of World's Fastest Man.
Bolt ran the race in 9.69 seconds, taking .03 seconds off the record he set in New York City on June 1." (The Sports Network)
(Images from L to R are from CNN and The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games respectively)
Usain Bolt (Wikipedia)
Richard Thompson (Wikipedia)
************************
"“I’m not really worried about world records,” Bolt said in the aftermath of his world-record time of 9.69 seconds in the 100 on Saturday night at the Bird’s Nest. “My aim is to come here and win. That’s the aim. I have a lot more time to think about that.”" (Houston Chronicle)
************************
"(BEIJING, August 16) -- Usain Bolt has won the Men's 100m gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in a world record time of 9.69 seconds.
Silver medalist Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago ran a time of 9.89 seconds, leaving American Walter Dix to take the bronze in a time of 9.91 seconds.
The twenty-one-year-old broke his own world record of 9.72 seconds, which he set in June this year. The Olympic record stood at 9.84 seconds, set by Donovan Bailey at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games." (The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games)
************************
"Usain Bolt glided to a new world record as he produced a stunning run in the Olympic 100m final.
Bolt was well clear at 60m and although he eased down and started to celebrate 15 metres from the line he still set a new mark of 9.69 seconds.
Richard Thompson finished second while American Walter Dix came third but they were yards behind the Jamaican.
"I wasn't worried about the world record. I didn't know it until I'd done my victory lap," Bolt told BBC Sport." (BBC NEWS)
************************
"Usain Bolt smashed his own world record in winning the Olympic 100 meters title in Beijing with one of the most remarkable performances in the history of track and field.
The 21-year-old Jamaican clocked 9.69 seconds to win from Trinidad and Tobago's Richard Thompson (9.89 seconds) and America's Walter Dix (9.91 seconds).
But it was the manner of his victory that was truly astonishing as he started his celebrations before crossing the line, showboating with his arms out wide before slapping his chest in triumph." (CNN.com)
************************
"It was calm, it was still and then suddenly there was lightning all around the Bird's Nest stadum last night, Usain Bolt lighting up the night sky with a world record 9.68 seconds in the Olympic 100 metres." (Stuff.co.nz)
************************
"BEIJING (Reuters) - Jamaica's Usain Bolt won 100 metres gold at the Beijing Olympics in a world record time on Saturday, running 9.69 seconds to claim victory in an exhilarating showdown with his compatriot Asafa Powell.
The 21-year-old won his country's first Olympic title in the blue riband event and capped an astonishing rise to the top of his sport. His former world record was 9.72 seconds.
Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago won the silver and American Walter Dix the bronze." (Reuters)
************************
"JAMAICAN sprinter Usain Bolt won gold in the Olympic 100metre final with an incredible world-record breaking performance." (Manchester Evening News)
************************
"Beijing, China (Sports Network) - Jamaica's Usain Bolt won gold in the men's 100 meter finals Saturday at the Beijing Olympics, lowering his own world record to claim the title of World's Fastest Man.
Bolt ran the race in 9.69 seconds, taking .03 seconds off the record he set in New York City on June 1." (The Sports Network)
Labels: Caribbean, China, Jamaica, life, Olympics, Richard Thompson, sports, Trinidad, Usain Bolt, World
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Who will win the 2008 Olympics?
"Even with the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games more than a month away, it is possible to predict which countries will come home winners. Using an original model based on economics and a dash of statistics and with no knowledge of individual sports or athletes, it is possible to accurately forecast both the number of medals and the number of gold medals that the top countries will win.
Country > Predicted Total Medals in Beijing > Total Medals won in Athens
U.S. > 105 > 102
Russia > 92 > 92
China > 81 > 63
Germany > 51 > 49
Australia > 49 > 49"
Going for the Gold: Who Will Win the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (Andrew B. Bernard, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, July 2008)
Country > Predicted Total Medals in Beijing > Total Medals won in Athens
U.S. > 105 > 102
Russia > 92 > 92
China > 81 > 63
Germany > 51 > 49
Australia > 49 > 49"
Going for the Gold: Who Will Win the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (Andrew B. Bernard, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, July 2008)
Labels: China, economics, life, news, Olympics, sports, World
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Relations between China and Africa
"FEARS of a "no fun Olympics" are growing as security restrictions increase and become more bizarre with less than 20 days to go until the opening ceremony.
Beijing police have been visiting bar owners in the popular Sanlitun area and asking them to sign pledges agreeing to not serve black people or Mongolians and ban activities including dancing."
Fears of a 'no-fun' Olympics in Beijing (theage.com.au)
"BEIJING — Chinese police officials have forced some Beijing bar owners to sign secret pledges promising to prohibit blacks from entering their bars during the Olympics next month, a Hong Kong newspaper says.
The police denied the report Friday, and most bars denied any knowledge of the pledges. But many African residents of Beijing say they are facing harassment from police and discrimination from bars as the Olympics approach."
Africans in Beijing harassed as Olympics approach (globeandmail.com)
"No one alive at the close of the 19th century could have missed the "scramble for Africa". A motley collection of robber barons, imperialist ideologues, explorers, rogues and adventurers - the likes of Cecil Rhodes and the appalling Leopold II, King of the Belgians - carved up the continent in the name of five European powers.
Today, few appear to have noticed that a second "scramble for Africa" is under way. This time, only one giant country is involved, but its ambitions are every bit as momentous as those of Rhodes and company. With every day that passes, China's economic tentacles extend deeper into Africa. While Europe sought direct political control, China is acquiring a vast and informal economic empire."
Why China is trying to colonise Africa (Telegraph)
(NOTE: Is it just me, or is there something fishy going on here? Are the Chinese trying to have their cake and eat it, too? Then again, what do I know? IANAE - I Am Not An Economist, IANAP - I Am Not A Politician, IANAOE - I Am Not An Oil Exec and so on and so forth...)
"The People's Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Nigeria established diplomatic relations on February 10, 1971. Bilateral relations have since enjoyed smooth and steady development."
China-Nigeria Relations (EMBASSY OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA)
"The traditional friendship and relations of good cooperation between China and African countries have stood the test of time and gone through the trial of international turbulent events. This relationship, being a good example to the developing countries, has been further consolidated and developed under the present new situation."
China-Africa Relations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China)
"China has secured four oil drilling licences from Nigeria as President Hu Jintao continues his week-long tour of Africa, his second in three years. In exchange China will invest $4bn (£2.25bn) in oil and infrastructure projects in Nigeria."
China and Nigeria agree oil deal (BBC NEWS)
"According to China's Ministry of Commerce, China and Nigeria signed an 8.3 billion US dollar railway construction contract. China will build 1315 kilometers of railroad in the west African state; this is the biggest infrastucture project abroad for a Chinese company to date."
Nigeria and China railway deal: $8.3 billion (DANWEI)
Beijing police have been visiting bar owners in the popular Sanlitun area and asking them to sign pledges agreeing to not serve black people or Mongolians and ban activities including dancing."
Fears of a 'no-fun' Olympics in Beijing (theage.com.au)
"BEIJING — Chinese police officials have forced some Beijing bar owners to sign secret pledges promising to prohibit blacks from entering their bars during the Olympics next month, a Hong Kong newspaper says.
The police denied the report Friday, and most bars denied any knowledge of the pledges. But many African residents of Beijing say they are facing harassment from police and discrimination from bars as the Olympics approach."
Africans in Beijing harassed as Olympics approach (globeandmail.com)
"No one alive at the close of the 19th century could have missed the "scramble for Africa". A motley collection of robber barons, imperialist ideologues, explorers, rogues and adventurers - the likes of Cecil Rhodes and the appalling Leopold II, King of the Belgians - carved up the continent in the name of five European powers.
Today, few appear to have noticed that a second "scramble for Africa" is under way. This time, only one giant country is involved, but its ambitions are every bit as momentous as those of Rhodes and company. With every day that passes, China's economic tentacles extend deeper into Africa. While Europe sought direct political control, China is acquiring a vast and informal economic empire."
Why China is trying to colonise Africa (Telegraph)
(NOTE: Is it just me, or is there something fishy going on here? Are the Chinese trying to have their cake and eat it, too? Then again, what do I know? IANAE - I Am Not An Economist, IANAP - I Am Not A Politician, IANAOE - I Am Not An Oil Exec and so on and so forth...)
"The People's Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Nigeria established diplomatic relations on February 10, 1971. Bilateral relations have since enjoyed smooth and steady development."
China-Nigeria Relations (EMBASSY OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA)
"The traditional friendship and relations of good cooperation between China and African countries have stood the test of time and gone through the trial of international turbulent events. This relationship, being a good example to the developing countries, has been further consolidated and developed under the present new situation."
China-Africa Relations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China)
"China has secured four oil drilling licences from Nigeria as President Hu Jintao continues his week-long tour of Africa, his second in three years. In exchange China will invest $4bn (£2.25bn) in oil and infrastructure projects in Nigeria."
China and Nigeria agree oil deal (BBC NEWS)
"According to China's Ministry of Commerce, China and Nigeria signed an 8.3 billion US dollar railway construction contract. China will build 1315 kilometers of railroad in the west African state; this is the biggest infrastucture project abroad for a Chinese company to date."
Nigeria and China railway deal: $8.3 billion (DANWEI)
Labels: Africa, China, economics, life, news, oil, Olympics, politics, World
Monday, June 2, 2008
Article: 'Will Soaring Transport Costs Reverse Globalization?'
A snippet from the article...
"Globalization is reversible. Higher energy prices are impacting transport costs at an unprecedented rate. So much so, that the cost of moving goods, not the cost of tariffs, is the largest barrier to global trade today. In fact, in tariff-equivalent terms, the explosion in global transport costs has effectively offset all the trade liberalization efforts of the last three decades. Not only does this suggest a major slowdown in the growth of world trade, but also a fundamental realignment in trade patterns."
Sources:
Will Soaring Transport Costs Reverse Globalization? (CIBC World Markets)
"Globalization is reversible. Higher energy prices are impacting transport costs at an unprecedented rate. So much so, that the cost of moving goods, not the cost of tariffs, is the largest barrier to global trade today. In fact, in tariff-equivalent terms, the explosion in global transport costs has effectively offset all the trade liberalization efforts of the last three decades. Not only does this suggest a major slowdown in the growth of world trade, but also a fundamental realignment in trade patterns."
Sources:
Will Soaring Transport Costs Reverse Globalization? (CIBC World Markets)
Labels: business, China, economics, life, news, oil, U.S., World
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Article: 'The Coming Energy Wars'
Snippets from the article...
""Indeed, there's concern that as higher oil prices force many Asian economies to reduce or even cut their generous fuel subsidies, growth will slow sharply, and there could be social unrest as the world's poorest become more desperate. The political ramifications of this (which already include moves away from free trade), combined with the ever-rising costs of doing business as usual, could force a retrenchment from globalization. "It's a harbinger of the reversal of globalization," says Jeff Rubin, chief economist for CIBC World Markets. "At $200 a barrel, you'll see transport costs rise so much that they will effectively reverse the trade liberalization of the last 30 years." He predicts that world trade will realign itself regionally, so that while Japan may continue to ship in goods from China, the United States will increasingly import from Latin America. "If you look at the period from 1973 to 1979 [when oil spiked] you'll find the same thing happened," he notes. "The share of imports to the U.S. from Latin America and the Caribbean rose by 6 percentage points. That was all about freight costs.""
"This spring, America hit a historic point. With average gas prices per gallon edging toward $4, America's notoriously profligate ways started to change fast. Americans are driving less, using mass transit more, buying fewer gas guzzlers, indeed shopping less wantonly in general, and lowering their previously unshakable confidence as consumers. Suddenly, Americans are acting differently; if not exactly like Swedes, then not quite like themselves, either. It's a shift that could change the world.
And there are more changes to come. So far the price shock has triggered the most obvious consumer shifts in the United States. Europeans, already greener, are also are buffered by a stronger currency, and Asians are protected from the spiking price of oil by subsidies that control the impact on gas prices at the pump. But if oil prices continue to rise, and the subsidy dam breaks, as seems likely, the energy revolution now transforming America will spread. "We sailed through $80 a barrel," notes energy authority Daniel Yergin, author of "The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power" and chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates. "But that doesn't mean we'll sail through $200 a barrel. That sort of price would have enormous global consequences.""
Sources:
The Coming Energy Wars (Newsweek.com)
""Indeed, there's concern that as higher oil prices force many Asian economies to reduce or even cut their generous fuel subsidies, growth will slow sharply, and there could be social unrest as the world's poorest become more desperate. The political ramifications of this (which already include moves away from free trade), combined with the ever-rising costs of doing business as usual, could force a retrenchment from globalization. "It's a harbinger of the reversal of globalization," says Jeff Rubin, chief economist for CIBC World Markets. "At $200 a barrel, you'll see transport costs rise so much that they will effectively reverse the trade liberalization of the last 30 years." He predicts that world trade will realign itself regionally, so that while Japan may continue to ship in goods from China, the United States will increasingly import from Latin America. "If you look at the period from 1973 to 1979 [when oil spiked] you'll find the same thing happened," he notes. "The share of imports to the U.S. from Latin America and the Caribbean rose by 6 percentage points. That was all about freight costs.""
"This spring, America hit a historic point. With average gas prices per gallon edging toward $4, America's notoriously profligate ways started to change fast. Americans are driving less, using mass transit more, buying fewer gas guzzlers, indeed shopping less wantonly in general, and lowering their previously unshakable confidence as consumers. Suddenly, Americans are acting differently; if not exactly like Swedes, then not quite like themselves, either. It's a shift that could change the world.
And there are more changes to come. So far the price shock has triggered the most obvious consumer shifts in the United States. Europeans, already greener, are also are buffered by a stronger currency, and Asians are protected from the spiking price of oil by subsidies that control the impact on gas prices at the pump. But if oil prices continue to rise, and the subsidy dam breaks, as seems likely, the energy revolution now transforming America will spread. "We sailed through $80 a barrel," notes energy authority Daniel Yergin, author of "The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power" and chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates. "But that doesn't mean we'll sail through $200 a barrel. That sort of price would have enormous global consequences.""
Sources:
The Coming Energy Wars (Newsweek.com)
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
A few words on MNCs, China and India...
A few words on MNCs, China and India, can be found on the China India Blog.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
China tries to cool economy
Just added a new post to the China India Blog. Interested? Click here to view it.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Corruption in India
Just added a new post to the China India Blog. Interested? Click here to view it.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
China Bans Reincarnation, Plans To Takeover The Moon!
Described by Mathew Philips as one of history's "more absurd acts of totalitarianism," China has banned Tibetan Buddist monks from reincarnating without permission.
According to a statement issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, this is "an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation."
[via Digg]
In other news, the Beeb informs us of China's big push for the Moon. Part of which includes sending a spacecraft to Earth's satellite in three years' time and also plans for a Chinese space station.
[via BBC]
According to a statement issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, this is "an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation."
[via Digg]
In other news, the Beeb informs us of China's big push for the Moon. Part of which includes sending a spacecraft to Earth's satellite in three years' time and also plans for a Chinese space station.
[via BBC]
Labels: China, life, news. religion, politics, space
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
1 Billion Chinese Can't Be Wrong, Or Can They?
The total number of human beings alive on the Planet Earth is, as of July 2007, 6.6 billion. Of that 6.6 billion, it is estimated that China's population is around 1.3 billion. China also has the largest number of active troops, estimated at around 2,255,000.
So it was out of pure curiousity that I read The Economist's article on China's "long march to be a superpower." While it may sound a bit silly, the most interesting part of the article, for me, was reading that since the 1980s, China has bought four aircraft-carriers. One of them, the Kiev, was once in the possession of the Soviet Union and is now a tourist attraction!
China was also no. 2 in the world when it came to 2006 oil consumption figures, with first place going to the United States and third place, Japan. According to a 2004 article on the BBC's website, China's rapidly expanding economy has created a huge demand for the fossil fuel.
So it was out of pure curiousity that I read The Economist's article on China's "long march to be a superpower." While it may sound a bit silly, the most interesting part of the article, for me, was reading that since the 1980s, China has bought four aircraft-carriers. One of them, the Kiev, was once in the possession of the Soviet Union and is now a tourist attraction!
China was also no. 2 in the world when it came to 2006 oil consumption figures, with first place going to the United States and third place, Japan. According to a 2004 article on the BBC's website, China's rapidly expanding economy has created a huge demand for the fossil fuel.
