Germany

Europe, the International System and a Generational Shift

November 9, 2011 (Vietnamica) — Change in the international system comes in large and small doses, but fundamental patterns generally stay consistent. From 1500 to 1991, for example, European global hegemony constituted the world’s operating principle. Within this overarching framework, however, the international system regularly reshuffles the deck in demoting and promoting powers, fragmenting some and empowering others, and so on. Sometimes this happens because of war, and sometimes because of economic and political forces. While the basic structure of the world stays intact, the precise way it works changes.

CFR: Debt Fears Swirl in Italy

November 9, 2011 (Vietnamica) — Italy’s borrowing rate passed the 7 percent mark despite a pledge from President Silvio Berlusconi to quit his post once parliament passes an EU-backed austerity package. Rising bond yields and political uncertainty have raised investor fears that Italy may become the next domino to fall in the broader European debt crisis (NYT).

First Solar Postponed Vietnam Factory, Focused on U.S, Germany, and Malaysia Production Bases

November 4, 2011 (Vietnamica) — First Solar Inc., the world’s largest maker of thin-film solar panels, postponed plans to complete a factory in Vietnam as part of an effort to cut capital spending. First Solar will focus on completing a new factory in Mesa, Arizona, and implementing improvements to existing production lines in the U.S., Germany and Malaysia (Bloomberg, Nov 3)

CFR: Euro Crisis Dominates G20 Summit

November 4, 2011 (Vietnamica) — U.S. President Barack Obama said the eurozone sovereign debt crisis was the most pressing task for G20 world leaders meeting in Cannes, as he called on his European counterparts to “flesh out details” (NYT) of a three-pronged solution agreed to in Brussels last week. China and Russia (DeutscheWelle), both feeling the strain of the euro crisis, also called on EU leaders to implement the rescue plan without hesitation. It includes an expansion of the temporary eurozone bailout mechanism, recapitalization of the continent’s exposed banks, and a new bailout package for Greece.

Gold Hits 6-Week High,Papandreou “Won’t Last til Tonight”, IMF says “No Greek Loan til Referendum”but “Referendum is Dead”

November 3, 2011 (Vietnamica) — U.S. dollar prices to buy gold jumped to a six-week high of $1757 an ounce late on Thursday morning – though only 0.7% above last Friday’s close – following reports that Greek prime minister George Papandreou was on the verge of offering his resignation.

Students Develop Desalination Kit; German Firm Demonstrates New Technology

November 1, 2011 (Vietnamica) — Nguyen Ngoc Anh and his classmate Pham Duy Linh from Can Tho University have invented a system that uses sunlight to desalinate water, and successfully tested it in a house in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre (TPO, Sep. 22).

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