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First signals received from Galileo

original article by BBC NEWS
article by Jon Yannick



Europe's first satellite-navigation system, Galileo, built by the UK, sent navigation signals to Earth through Giove-A for the first time on Thursday. "It is a demonstrator for the network that will give Europe its own version of the US Global Positioning System," said BBC NEWS ("First Galileo signals received” 1.13.06).

This 3.4 billion euro project with the European Commission and the European Space Agency, is a service that is 10 times more accurate than other ones available today.

Currently, China, Ukraine, Israel, and South Korea are the only non-European nations to sign up. Francis Tuffy, from the Location and Timing Knowledge Transfer Network said, "Korea's support for Galileo is an important milestone for the project."

"Thursday was the first day when the first actual Galileo signal was sent from space to Earth," said Phillip Davies of Surry Satellite Technology Ltd to the website of BBC NEWS. "If you had receiving equipment, you could have picked it up anywhere on Earth within visibility of the satellite - we picked it up in the UK at the Chilbolton Observatory in Hampshire."

tagged UK

"Sudan cool on UN peace force plan"

original article by BBC NEWS
article by Gaurav Brown

On January 13, 2006, BBC NEWS published an article on how “Sudan is not ready for a proposed UN peace force in Darfur, its foreign minister has told BBC.”1 Money used on putting a UN force there would be better spent if it was used on helping the current African force, said Lam Akol, the foreign minister of Sudan. Jan Pronk, said to the Security Council, up to 1,000 militia horsemen terrorize the residents at least once a month. Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, said some 2 million people people have had to flee from their houses in the previous three years.

The AU (African Union) has 6,000 peacekeepers in the city of Darfur but may be withdrawn because of under funding. “The AU force is doing a good job. The only thing they are lacking is money,” Mr. Akol said to BBC.”If the UN is serious about doing a good job in Darfur, why not give the money to the AU?” Annan warned, in the AU force, money is needed greatly.

Talks between the rebels and the government for peace have continued for months without halting the conflict. Anyone wanting to stop the conflict should pressure the rebels for peace, said Mr. Akol.

1. from BBC NEWS
tagged Africa and Middle East

"Asia meets to discuss possible bird flu pandemic"

original article by Reuter
Article by Jabari Kofi

On Wednesday, Reuters published an article about talks in Tokyo concerning the possibility of a bird flu pandemic, and how to keep it contained if it forms into a virus that is contagious from person to person. 78 people, at least, are confirmed to have died since late in 2003. It has infected more than a dozen people and killed two in Turkey in about a week, which caused the big effort of containing the virus. WHO (World Health Organization), which co-hosted the Tokyo event, thinks it is very important to see early warnings to prevent a pandemic in humans and that a weak surveillance system is a factor in the sudden virus outbreak in Turkey.

“To fight against this avian influenza, you need to have a multi-faceted strategy,” said Shigeru Omi, a top official from WHO. He said that ways to make surveillance better and raise public awareness were some things likely to be discussed. He also said, “It takes two to tango. Developing countries’ effort alone is not sufficient. The developed world also has to provide support.” At the conference rich nations, including the US and Great Britain will attend, along with aid bodies, including the World Bank, but he thought there would be no new financial pledges.

At the Beijing meeting next week, Omi expects promises for new assistance from potential donor nations.

Scientists say the virus is still hard for humans to catch, but there are worries thst it can change into a deadly pandemic form.

tagged Asia

Wiki?

Hippo News maybe will be going wiki on pbwiki.

About a Wiki

"Lights Out"

original article by the Economist
Article by Jon Yannick


On January 5, 2006, the Economist published an article about Albania’s energy shortages in Tirana. Albania’s state-owned electricity utility, KESH, has been unable to keep lights on. This is mostly because of low rainfall and failing to maintain old hydropower plants which generate 90% of the nations electricity supply. As a result of this, the capital had many daily power outages, lasting up to 18 hours. Sali Berisha, the center right prime minister* of Albania, said that making the power supply greater is his first priority. When he won the PM position, he pledged a stop to electricity outages. Because of the shortage of electricity, Mr. Berisha has cut the plans of two transport projects created by his predecessor. Another problem is KESH’s money shortage. They have tried to raise profits installing more meters. In illegally built suburbs outside of Tirana there is a lot of electricity theft. In October 2005, Albania, along with other nations in that region, signed a European Commission-sponsored energy treaty in Athens. It was meant to create a regional energy market. It would cost over $15 billion for a proper electricity market with the infrastructure needed, the World Bank said. Since Albania is the second-poorest nation after Moldova in Europe, they would probably struggle to pay the cost. A diplomat called it “admirably high-minded, but impracticable at present.” Albania’s first thermal-power plant, planned by KESH, is to be built near Vlora. Residents and green groups say that building it right next to a town for future tourists, makes no sense.

“Decisions made in one nation have implications for all regions,” seems to fit this current event better than, “A nation with limited natural resources must interact with other nations to secure its resource needs.” I think this because since Albania is so poor, they might not be a able to pay the money for making the regional energy market, which means they might not be able to create it for the other countries which will affect their economy and the amount of money they have to spend. I think Albania still has a chance of paying for that treaty. If they can make their nation more appealing to tourists by not building the power station near Vlora, but somewhere else, they will get more energy and still keep Vlora a tourist magnet.

tagged Europe

"China-Africa trade jumps by 39%"

original article by BBC NEWS
this articles by Gaurav Brown

On January 6, 2006, BBC NEWS published an article about trade between China and African countries having surged 39% to $37.17 billion (26.4849 billion EURO). Analysts say the jump was because of China'’s increased imports of oil from Africa, particularly from Sudan. The figures also show that Africa is buying more goods made in China. China has also ceased tariffs on 190 imported goods from the 28 least developed African nations.

From the figures of January to October 2005, Chinese exports to Africatotaledd $15.25 billion, while China'’s imports from Africa were $16.92 billion. Analysts say China is doing this to aid trade and goods movement. "“Oil is central to this, primarily Sudanese oil and trying to develop new oil sources in West Africa,"” said Duncan Innes-Ker from the Economist Intelligence Unit."”In terms of Sudan, it needs to be seen as the biggest producer of African oil outside of Nigeria."” Chinese firms are doing many more African construction projects, mostly infrastructure works.

The EIA (US Energy Information Administration) said that China has accounted for 40% of the growth in global oil demand total in the past 4 years. China overtook Japan to become second-largest consumer of petroleum products, only behind the United States. African oil exploration is also being largely invested by China to try to help meet its growing consumption. According to a chart from BBC NEWS, in 2004, China produced nearly 4 million barrels per day, but consumed about 6.5 million barrels a day. That means the Chinese consume 62.5% more barrels of oil than they produce a day.

tagged Africa & Middle East and Asia

Yet Again, Oil is in the News

article by BBC NEWS
summarized by Jon Yannick


On January 6, 2006, BBC NEWS published an article on a dispute between the Russian state-run energy firm Gazprom1 and Bulgaria, about the price of Russian gas. The Russian side demanded that we renegotiate the scheme of payment for transiting Russian gas through Bulgaria to Turkey, Greece, and Macedonia,” said Bulgarian Energy Minister, Rumen Ovcharov, to the Bulgarian TV station bTV. Currently, Bulgaria is getting a discount on the Russian gas imports, in exchange for letting Russia use some of its land for delivering Russian gas to other nations. In one current contract between a Bulgarian state-owned energy firm, Bulgargaz, and Gazprom, Bulgaria pays $258 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas delivered straight to their country. But Russia also pays transit fees for its gas directed to other nations by reducing the price of Russian gas from $258 to $83 per 1,000 cubic meters for only some of its gas. Mr. Ovcharov said that Gazprom offered to pay in cash for the delivery of its gas over Bulgaria, but raise the price of the second contract from $83 to $258. Mr. Ovcharov said, “We will answer this offer is unacceptable. There are no review possibility clauses in our contract signed in 1998 to run until 2010.” This happened after, January 1, 2006, when Russia stopped its gas supplies to Ukraine after Kiev refused a price increase that would have gone up from $50 to $230. Bulgaria is very dependent on Russia for oil, but it also uses nuclear and coal-fired power stations for energy.

This impacts the Bulgarian government and people because the government might have to pay more money or let Russia use some of its territory for transiting gas to other countries, and the people maybe will have to pay for higher priced Russian gas. This issue also impacts Gazprom and Russia because Gazprom might not agree to what the Bulgarians want, which will affect the amount of money they make. It impacts Russia because the amount Gazprom makes will affect their national GDP and GDP per capita.The outcome of this dispute can also affect the countries that Gazprom delivers to through Bulgaria. I think a possible compromise would be to make one contract that takes into account the real price of the gas with discount for letting the Russians use some of their territory.

1. Gazprom supplies almost all the gas needs of Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Union. (Wikipedia)

tagged Europe and Asia

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Tag: Oceania

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