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Nokia struggles with loss of sales and market share in the low end of the market as Asian competitors bring in better phones at low price points in emerging markets. At the same time its launch of the Lumia 900 smartphones using Microsoft's software is facing headwinds competing with established competitors such as the Apple's iPhone and the Android phones which have more apps.

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James Pressley, in this review of Joseph Stiglitz's new book- "Freefall: America, Free Markets and the Sinking of the World Economy," says Stiglitz's advice should be taken into account by the new administration. Stiglitz, says, the Obama administration has so far offered no alternative vision of capitalism and is only "mudddling through." It is simply following the course the Bush administration had taken. And has retained as key economic advisors, Geithner, Ben Bernanke and Summers, all from previous administration's economic teams, thus largely removing the possibillity of serious change. And by doing so, says Stiglitz, the Obama administration has "squandered the opportunity," to fix things that needed to be fixed in the economy. Stiglitz, says Pressley, urges Americans to think what kind of America they want to see, what kind of society they want to make, and then what kind of economy will get them there. Stiglitz wants to see banks back to where they they only make loans, and act as an efficient payments system, and not engaged in risk taking. At a meeting of the American Economic Association, Stiglitz, presented a paper that suggested that between globalization for integrating world financial markets and keeping them separate, the latter is the better course. Financial markets he believes, need circuit breakers to not bring down the whole system....

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Saying that his main goal is judicial independence in reality Medvedev convened a conference of top officials and lawyers to set up a task force and propose legal changes. He called for steps to eliminate unjust rulings, rulings that often arise from various kinds of pressure, phone calls, and he says, lets not hide it, money.

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First signs of possible change in limiting the press in Russia under Medvedev as the Constitutional Court rules in favor of journalist educator Aslamazyan.

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Half a million people collected on streets in Moscow during Russia's game against Netherlands that got it to the semifinals for Euro 2008 soocer championships. Sports patriotism is another sign of the new Russia and newfound confidence.

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Steep drops in economic activity and loss of so many jobs is the reason why total lockdowns are not the best solution as seen from the experience gained by August. Selective lockdowns are now being applied across France, Germany and Britain in specific areas. About 400 million jobs have been lost, 13 million in the U.S.  Hospitals overwhelmed in northern Italy by March is what made the total lockdowns necessary.  These steps for total lockdown were made with very little known about the pandemic and the need to protect hospital and health systems. These decisions at that time are not questioned today. It is that now  with some treatments found, a vaccine close to being introduced, hospital system protocols established, health ministries and departments organized to respond quickly, and the public awareness at high levels,  it is now possible to impose these selective lockdowns effectively and quickly. As the WSJ now says the CDC had botched the initial development and distribution of tests in February- see WSJ analysis and our Lyrarc links of how 3 crucial weeks were lost in Feb with failure of the CDC and HHS in testing- making test and contact trace strategy window to be missed. China had not cooperated in letting a U.S. team quickly in the early days of February creating more uncertainty and risk. In that situation total lockdown suddenly became the reality to avoid a catastrophe. Today a carefully applied selective application of solutions can be done and is seen as the right way to protect jobs and livelihoods of people. ...