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Hyundai's labor union is opposing the night shift for plant workers and says the promise by the company made earlier to end the night shift has not been kept.

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The collapse of the will of people around Yanukovych, including a deputy interior minister, as fighting units moved with weapons taken from an armory in Lviv towards Kiev, may have been the decisive event that decided the fate of the Yakunovych government. The deputy interior minister then negotiated with a protest leader Levus realizing that other than the front line of police the rest of the police were ready to abandon the fight. Levus then negotiated a safe corridor for the police to withdraw. As the Polish diplomat Sikorski came out to the square he found to his complete astonishment the police simply disappearing from the Square in Kiev. Hours earlier he had warned protesters that a crackdown was coming and they would all be wiped out, according to a report in the WSJ by Benoit, Norman and Fidler, 2/22/2014, so that they should accept a deal which would set a date for new elections but not lead to the immediate resignation of Yakunovych. That deal it also appears came after a Putin call to Yakunovych and not simply from diplomatic pressures, and it is probable that Putin had realized earlier than the diplomats that most of the police were not going to fight. Bringing in the army would have had dangerous consequences for relations between Germany and Russia in particular- as German public and chancellor Merkel felt strongly about the situation in Ukraine- and relations with the European Union and the U.S. Putin, Yakunovych, and even the EU diplomats may have missed the depth of feeling in Ukraine and the organization of the protest movement. Germany and chancellor Merkel, with her determination to make things come out right in Europe after a flawed history, gave hope to the protest movement. ...

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The Biblioteca Alexandrina, as a symbol of the new Egypt. This library dates back to classical antiquity. Youths formed a human cordon to protect the new library during the weeks of protests in Alexandria. The library's director, Ismail Serageldin, says the people love the library and protect it. He says the library is revising its work program to operate from now on as the focal point for the promotion of reform and civil liberties. In 2002, the library opened with a soaring structure designed by the Norwegian architectural firm Snohetta. It was funded by Unesco, the Egyptian government and other Arab countries, Mr Serageldin says the library is spreading the values of democracy, pluralism, freedom of expression, tolerance, diversity, which he is hoping is taking root in the younger generation. The library had 1.5 million visitors and 700 events in 2010. It has 4 museums, a planetarium, a children's science center, a library for the blind and 8 research institutes. It holds 1.6 million books, including a gift of 500,000 books from the Bibliotheque Nationale de France. The library has access to 50,000 electronic journals, and houses an archive of every page on the internet. We taught a lot of the kids who are demonstrating and protesting how to use the internet and how to use social media, and he is glad it has been put to good use, says the chief librarian, Sohair Wastawy. Wastawy is now dean of libraries at Illinois State University. Debate at the library has been open and and annual confernece is held by its Arab Reform Forum to promote human rights and civil society. A website is run to facilitate communication between Arab NGO's. Vartan Gregorian, a trustee of the library, who formerly headed the New York Public Library, says Serageldin has been a marvelous defendor of freedom and scientific thought....

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As Japanese prime minister Noda prepares to restart the Oi nuclear plant in June 2012, former prime minister Naoto Kan, who was premier during the Fukushima nuclear disaster, answers questions in a parliamentary inquiry. He says he realized how dangerous nuclear power can be when it got to the point where the evalcuation of Tokyo was being considered, Japan was then on "the verge of national collapse." His fears were that a number of meltdowns could together " release into the air and sea many times, no, many dozens of times, many hundreds of times the radiation released by Chernobyl." The Japanese public has focussed on the parliamentary hearings because the previous inquiry is thought to have been perfunctory, and not really examined in depth all the issues the Fukushima disaster had raised, and the general feeling is that a proper public dialogue had not taken place. In contrast in Germany the issues had been discussed openly, and the Angela Merkel government which had been receptive to nuclear power reversed its stand on nuclear power. Germany is phasing out dependence on nuclear energy. Kan pointed out that the "nuclear village," the network of nuclear power companies, bureaucrats, and researchers, had hijacked national nuclear policy and was putting Japan back on the same path. He went so far as to compare it with the situation facing Gorbachev in Russia after Chernobyl: "Gorbachev said in his memoirs that the Chernobyl accident exposed the sickness of the Soviet system. The Fukushima accident did the same for Japan." In his assessment of what happened Kan said: "It is impossible to ensure safety sufficiently to prevent the risk of a national collapse. Experiencing the accident convinced me that the best way to make nuclear plants safe is not to rely on them, but rather to get rid of them."...

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India recorded 100,000 cases in one day on April 5, 2021. About half of these cases are in one state Maharashtra. Most of the cases are in about 6 states. Super spreader events such as cricket matches, weddings and social gatherings, political rallies with elections in states of Tamilnadu, Kerala, West Bengal, and Holi festival, are increasing the rate of infection. People have become lax in wearing masks and following the safety protocol after cases dropped to less than 15,000 for the whole country in February. This report says variants also are playing apart. Google Mobility Reports have shown that movements around retail areas dropped to about 80% below regular levels in the middle of the national lockdown in spring of 2020, and have come back up to about 20% below normal levels. When the winter surge did not happen, and the vaccination drive started in January in India people became less vigilant, allowing infections to increase. The vaccination drive is accelerating and open to everyone over 45 years. About 80 million doses have been given and the target is still for 300 million doses by August.  ...

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President Macron announces plans to bring a draft law that aims to fight separatist cultural influences in France through the education system and through children being educated at home. These separatist influences stem from France's colonial past in Arab North Africa and influx of Arab immigrants as well as immigrants from Asian countries practicing Islam. Macron said there has been a hardening of positions in Islamic communities worldwide which has created a crisis in Islam making it important to emphasize France's tradition of secular values. Macron says Islam practiced in France must be freed from foreign influence as part of France's long tradition of laicite or state secularism values set by a law first enacted in 1905 separating church from state. In saying this Macron said he accepted the failings of French policy in letting ghettoization of communities of Muslim residents happen in France. And added that "where we stepped away other stepped in." In referring to the colonial legacy he said "we have not unpacked our past. We have grandparents who have passed their scars onto their children." ...

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Airports and airlines are trying to promote flying by offering coid testing to avoid quarantines imposed by state and federal governments. Airports are opening test centres offering the PCR test which takes 48 hours for results and rapid tests that take 15 minutes but are not as accurate. Some airlines are looking at designating certain flights as covid tested flights with all passengers either tested and negative or having been removed from the flight. Lufthansa has testing at airports in Frankfurt and Munich with the German government agreeing to it that people tested and negative did not have to quarantine for 14 days. Following this summer traffic jumped. The head of the resting task force at Lufthansa, Mr. Leffers, says testing is now becoming an integral part of the flying experience. Bermuda has some of the toughest testing rules with tests required on Day 1, Day 4, Day 7 and Day 14, resulting in low traffic over the summer. Yet with covid rates rising elsewhere Bermuda has become a safer destination resulting in a large increase in traffic this month. ...

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About half of people in Britain in a recent poll taken during the second wave of coronavirus say they see a negative impact on mental health. Depression is affecting a fifth of the population in Britain. It has never been more important to be kind to each other and ourselves as the second wave hits a weary and fatigue stricken society.  People found many activities and hobbies to do during the 6 week lockdown period and there was an expectation that spring would bring better conditions. During the second wave of coronavirus there is a sense of a dreary period that goes on through Christmas. The uncertainty from the U.S. elections, Brexit in Britain, the reopening in countries such as India, the loss of jobs and income in countries that range from severe in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina to moderate in China, adds to the anxiety of daily life with surging cases. Creating what amounts to a low grade depressive effect during the second wave that needs to be addressed by the authorites, by health agencies, and in other ways, says this report in The Times. ...

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This video shows Dr. Birx explaining the three Phases for reopening the U.S. economy. Each state's governor would decide when a state thinks it is safe to move to the first phase. States which have not been affected much and fewer cases in the western part of the U.S. such as Idaho, North Dakota, Iowa could open earlier. Texas could start in May. California would have to do more testing before it starts Phase 1. New York, New Jersey, Michigan and Massachusetts, would come later because of the severity of the crisis. Each phase criteria are carefully set out and parameters set down for social distancing rules to be followed, number of people, locations, how offices open, how stores open, how hospitals open. Germany and the U.S. have set out detailed guidelines and phases. A state in the U.S. could even move back in phases if data shows it is doing badly. Hotspots would continue to be tracked and resources shifted from the federal government quickly to these new hotspots now that medical supplies, medical personnel and other shortages such as testing are being aggressively addressed. ...

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Most questions about the vaccines from Oxford, Pfizer and Moderna are answered in this Q&A in The Times.  The Oxford vaccine is the only vaccine that is being provided at cost to the public at a cost of 4 pounds, Pfizer using German technology at 15 pounds and Moderna from Cambridge, Massachusetts, at 28 pounds. The Oxford vaccine can be stored in a fridge, the others use mRNA technology of messenger RNA which requires ultra low temperature storage. Astra Zeneca could have handled the trials and methodology for results in a better way. As the two trials one that produced results of 62% and the other results of 90% cannot be combined to give results of 70% but are two distinct and separate trials. However too much emphasis has been placed on the vaccine, as other prevention measures remain important for 2021. Other vaccines are being developed in Britain with new technology and in India by ICMR which are in trials stage and about which not enough is known. The Russian and Chinese vaccines have not released detailed data limiting their use around the world. ...

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Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia's leader for less than 2 years, is a courageous choice for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, says the Guardian. He has accomplished much in a short time with the peace arrangements with Eritrea, ending a 20 year old war, and opening up dialogue and discussion in the country by lifting bans on opposition groups. Half of the cabinet is female, and the head of the election commission an exiled dissident.  Yet the Guardian is cautiously optimistic because the change is sudden and dramatic, it needs to be consolidated for the long term. The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front appointed him as leader to make these changes. What the Nobel Prize COmmittee has done is to recognize the hope that this brings to Africa, torn as it has been by recurring wars and ethnic conflicts for  way too long after the scars of colonialism. Can the positive changes in Asia provide new inspiration to Africa that this can be overcome and modernization, improvement in the lives of people happen as everyone each on his own account takes personal responsibility.   ...

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The best player for women's soccer, Norway's Ada Hegerberg, with 3 goals in the first half hour of the Champions League final, is going to stay away from the 2019 World Cup. Playing for Olympique Lyonnais since 2014 she helped win the fourth consecutive French league title.

She says "woman's soccer does not have the respect it should have in Norway," and decided not to play for Norway in this years World Cup. She says there are inequalities in investment at the youth and club levels. She has averaged more than a goal every two games and fels there is not the energy in woman's soccer in Norway that is needed. She has twice been named Women's Footballer of the Year and won the Ballon d'Or award as the top player in soccer. Right now after changes at the Norwegian Federation with new head Klaveness, who also stopped playing for the team in protest, the best they can hope for is that people know she is from Norway.

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The US Senate voted 71-26 to ratify the new START treaty with Russia limiting nuclear weapons on both sides. It is a key part of rebuilding relations with Russia. In one of the last acts of the lame duck Congress, 13 Republicans including Senator Dick Lugar, a senior Republican who has been an influential voice for arms reduction, voted in favor of the treaty.

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The 8000 government jobs that are likely to be lost in Longbenton, England, at "the Ministry," work done for the revenue and customs part of the tax agency of the UK. Premier Cameron plans to eliminate 192 independent government agencies. The north-east of England has long been a part of the UK with lower per capita incomes, and the region more dependent on government jobs.

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The leaders of the Libyan National Council- only 10 members of 31 members have been announced so far- come from various backgrounds. This includes a former Justice Minister, Mustafa Jalil. Issawi, a former ambassador to India, and Jabril, the head of the country's Economic Development Board. This includes men from different tribes in the western part of Libya, to get the broad support needed, and international recognition.

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The Washington Post is critical of the military's arrangements for the transition to democracy in Egypt. It calls on the Obama administration to make the military in Egypt accountable for a return to democratic government in Egypt, including suspension of aid. The military's role in ousting an elected government which would have been tested in coming legislative elections is seen as a serious mistake.

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Japanese drug company Astellas makes a $1.1 billion hostile tender offer for California based CV Therapeutics. CV Therapeutics makes an angina drug that recently received FDA approval to isgnificantly ease safety warnings that have been placed on the drug. Astellas is the second Japanese company looking to bolster its drug product line by making an overseas acquisition. Takeda Pharmaceutical acquired Millenium Pharmaceutical for $8.8 billion in 2008.

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Shares of ICICI down by 66% so far this year. As foreign investors who own two thirds of its shares move out of the market ICICI has been affected seriously. But Standard and Poors continues to give good ratings to the bank saying it has no solvency problems. ICICI expanded rapidly with loans to India's middle class and expanded retail bankig and loans throughout the country.

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Fisher the lead director on the GM Board never wavers in his support for CEO Wagoner but his response to any criticisms has been to brush them off. Typical response to questions about GM's decissionmaking errors, was to say that this was obvious and that one cannot imagine GM making all the right decisions all of the time because it was too big and complex.

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The last successful coup attempt was in 1997, so the coup attempt in July 2016 by the military comes as a surprise. DW.com  discounts reports that the coup attempt was clumsy, or that Erdogan himself was involved in a fake coup to consolidate power. It says the coup involved about a third of the military officers, who would have been successful if Erdogan himself had not escaped just a few minutes before an airborne team was supposed to take Erdogan. The prime minister Yildrim also was not taken, and private television broadcasters also continued to broadcast. The other failure was to not being able to control the police which remained neutral, and to gain the support of the religious establishment, as mosques broadcast appeals to resist the coup. As a result had the coup succeeded it would have meant a struggle to control the country. The business and upper class that have strong differences with Erdogan and his authoritarian style also failed to support the coup, as they saw this as an incorrect move. ...

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Sharply lower consumer spending is hurting Apple sales in China. Apple cut sales and issued a sales warning in January 2019. This follows Apple's sharp slowdown in India with its uncompetitive pricing.

Retail sales growth in China- which bounced back in previous downturns- dropped to the lowest level in 15 years in November 2018. Auto sales are down with the sharpest drop in 7 years- the first annual drop in sales since 1990. Fears of a housing bubble have led to restrictions on home purchases for speculation which have not been lifted. Income tax reduction has not increased spending. GDP growth for the fourth quarter dropped to 6.4%.

Further signs of a sharp pullback are seen in the drop in consumption tax revenue falling by 61% in October and 71% in November 2018. The consumption tax is placed on cars, gasoline and luxury goods, and is paid by the companies making the products.

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Use of Huawei's equipment for 5G technology upgrade of India's telecom networks is seen as less of a cybersecurity threat in India and attractive in terms of its lower prices and technological advancement. U.S. efforts to prevent the use of Huawei's 5G networks equipment because of cyber security threat are hitting a roadblock in India where the cost of the upgrade to 5G is a major advantage with the Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei.

Germany is considering letting Huawei supply telecom equipment after its cybersecurity agency report showed Huawei could not siphon off sensitive data for use by the Chinese government. Data rates for 4G networks have been slashed in India by 90% with the introduction of the Jio network. Hundreds of millions of customers make India a large enough market for new 5G technologies to be attractive for China's Huawei, making it harder for the U.S. to block Huawei in other countries.

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This New York Times Editorial Board says the Indian border with Pakistan is a more dangerous place for escalation into nuclear conflict than North Korea. The lull and the calm after the initial hostilities is deceiving says NYT. It says the Trump administration needs to take an active role to reduce tensions and China needs to take firm action in opposing terrorist activities conducted from Pakistan into India. 

It also points out that even though this is seen as not possible there is still the need for India, Pakistan and Kashmir to talk about solutions that could work instead of just giving up and continuing as before. Without mentioning it NYT appears to be saying that other intractable conflicts have been resolved including in the Balkans (religious conflict), in Ireland (religious conflict), with the right kind of effort and determination, and men of goodwill on all sides.

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That is before Wengfeng branched out into AI and his venture DeepSeek to do at a tiny fraction of the cost what these chaps at OpenAI had been openly propagandizing to take not billions, even trillions out of capital markets to leave us all worse of without funds for essential needs in education, schools, healthcare, childcare, transportation. Liang Wengfeng, who founded a $8 billion hedge fund and  invested in AI research fo Deppseek that does in $5.6 million what it takes OpenAI $100 million to do. It started with quant models to predict share prices. He wrote the introduction to the Chinese edition of Zuckerman's book on hedge fund manager Jan Simmons who was into advanced work on quantified modelling for share prices. It says-   “Whenever I encounter difficulties at work, I recall Simons’s words: ‘There must be a way to model prices.' " Liang also says “The publication of this book unravels many previously unresolved mysteries and brings us a wealth of experiences to learn from.” That is before Wengfeng branched out into AI an his venture DeepSeek to do at a tiny fraction of the cost what this chaps at OpenAI had been openly propagandizing to take not billions, even trillions out of capital markets to leave us all worse of without funds for essential needs in education, schools, healthcare, childcare, transportation. ...

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The SPD continues to say it will not join in another grand coalition with the CDU after the FPD party pulls out of negotiations. A minority government has not been tested before in Germany and is unlikely with immigration and Brexit posing large challenges. A Jamaica coalition is being tried so called because of the colors in that country's flag, to include FDP and Greens. The SPD opinion is expressed by its deputy leader Schafer-Gumbel, who said :"the SPD is not the spare wheel for Mrs. Merkel's skidding car." For years the SPD played a secondary role in CDU governments under Merkel and eroded its worker base support in elections.