ராஜீவ் கொலை சர்ச்சைகள்

தேசத்தின் குரல்

“ராஜீவ் காந்தியின் கொலை ஒரு துர்ப்பாக்கியம், அந்தத் தவறுக்கு வருந்துகிறோம்”

அன்ரன் பாலசிங்கம் ஆண்டு 2006

World's largest economies are close to grinding to a halt

UK economy 'is grinding to a halt' as world runs out of options


THE world's largest economies are close to grinding to a halt, with the UK facing near stagnation, according to an influential global economic think tank.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forecast that economic growth in the UK would fall to 0.3 per cent by the end of the year, a severe drop from the 2.5 per cent recorded in the third quarter of 2010.

The OECD blamed the slowdown on the uncertainty caused by the eurozone debt crisis and the debate in the US over fiscal policy.

It also cited the dwindling number of options open to governments to boost GDP growth as an example of factors that were driving down business and consumer confidence.

The OECD suggested its projections could be on the optimistic side, and warned that the UK economy could even contract by as much as 1 per cent.

The organisation's "interim assessment", published yesterday, forecast that the G7, the seven largest global economies, would expand by only 0.2 per cent in the final three months of this year.

According to its report, Germany could be the worst affected economy, contracting by 1.4 per cent in the last quarter.

If the OECD's analysis proves to be correct, then the UK is on course to experience a steep decline in growth by the end of the year. It would have fallen from 2.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2010 to 0.7 per cent in the second quarter of 2011, 0.4 per cent in the third quarter and 0.3 per cent in the last three months of this year.

The figures were released on the same day that the Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) again held interest rates at their record low of 0.5 per cent. The MPC also held off from printing more money to stimulate the economy through "quantitative easing".

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls renewed his call for the government to ease up on austerity measures in the hope of bolstering demand, and said Chancellor George Osborne should use this weekend's meeting of G7 finance ministers in France to seek agreement on a global plan for growth.

Mr Osborne disputed the idea that the slowdown had been caused by his government's deficit reduction programme. He said that countries throughout the world were being affected by factors beyond Britain's control, such as high oil prices, the sovereign debt crisis in the eurozone and concerns about growth in the US.

"The forecasts we got from the OECD today show that this is a problem for many advanced economies," Mr Osborne said. "There was a revision down in their forecast for growth for virtually every developed economy.

"Actually, the real issue here is the long-term one, which is the big overhang of public and private debt from a decade-long boom that went unchecked.

"Unfortunately, the recovery from this is slower and takes longer than recoveries from previous recessions."

He added: "I think Britain has put in place the right policy mix."

The OECD interim economic assessment is designed to check if projections made in its last economic forecast are on track. In May, the body downgraded its estimate for UK GDP growth to 1.4 per cent for 2011 and 1.5 per cent for 2012.

லிபியாவில் நேற்றோ நடத்திய `மனிதாபிமான படுகொலைகள்`

அற்புதத் தொலைக்காட்சி அல்ஜசீரா முற்றும் மூடி மறைத்த செய்தி

At least 30,000 people had been killed and 50,000 wounded,4,000 people are still missing in Libya's six-month civil war, the first detailed estimate of the high cost in lives of bringing down Gaddafi.

Price of freedom: 30,000 dead, 50,000 hurt

Published Date: 09 September 2011 By Angus Howarth

The acting prime minister for Libya's new rulers has appealed for national unity to rebuild the country, while calling Muammar al-Gaddafi a figure of the past.

Mahmoud Jibril said the battle for Libya was not over, despite continuing pockets of resistance by Gaddafi loyalists.
Only after the whole country is "liberated" can a new government be formed, he said.

Yesterday's appearance was Mr Jibril's first in Tripoli since rebel forces stormed the capital last month, effectively ending Gaddafi's rule and sending him into hiding.

Mr Jibril refused to discuss Gaddafi's whereabouts or send a message to the former ruler. He said he would not "talk about things of the past," referring to Gaddafi.

Nato yesterday said it would continue its mission in Libya as long as there was a threat to the country's population from forces loyal to Gaddafi.

Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that after the threat had gone, the alliance's role would be a supporting one.

Meanwhile, the country's interim health minister said at least 30,000 people had been killed and 50,000 wounded in Libya's six-month civil war, the first detailed estimate of the high cost in lives of bringing down Gaddafi.
There have been rough estimates in the past, but Naji Barakat, the health minister in the new Libyan leadership, said his figures were based, in part, on reporting from hospitals, local officials and former rebel commanders.

Mr Barakat said he will only have a complete count in a few weeks' time, but that he expects the final figure for dead and wounded to be higher than his estimates. Libya has a population of just over six million.

At least 4,000 people are still missing, either presumed dead or held prisoner in remaining Gaddafi strongholds, including his hometown of Sirte, Mr Barakat said.

Others killed in fighting were hastily buried, and are now being exhumed for identification.

Search teams also continue to find secret graves of detainees killed by retreating Gaddafi forces.

This week, they dug up more bodies in one area of the Libyan capital Tripoli and two other towns.

Next week, worshippers will be asked to report the dead and missing in their families to the local mosques, said Mr Barakat, in an attempt to get a more detailed figure.

He added that of the estimated 30,000 killed, about half are believed to have been Gaddafi's fighters. He said he was told by Libya's new military officials that the Khamis Brigade, commanded by Gaddafi's son Khamis and a core force in Gaddafi's army, lost about 9,000 troops. One of the hardest hit areas was the port city of Misrata, Libya's third largest, where former rebels and Gaddafi regime forces fought for two months, ending with the retreat of badly battered Gaddafi troops.

British investments in Russia reached US$40 billion by the end of 2010.

Britain is one of the largest foreign direct investors in Russian economy. British investments in Russia reached US$40 billion by the end of 2010.


Cameron hopes to seal new deals worth $340 million, which would create 500 new jobs in Britain.
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Thaw-provoking: British PM on one-day Moscow visit

British Prime Minister David Cameron is in Moscow for talks aimed at rebuilding strained relations between the UK and Russia. The one-day visit, first since 2005, is expected to focus on trade links between the two countries.
Cameron is accompanied by two dozen British businessmen, including oil giant BP's chief executive Bob Dudley and Royal Dutch Shell CEO Peter Voser. The two sides are seeking to revive worsened relations.

Welcoming Cameron in the Kremlin, Medvedev expressed his hope that the British PM’s visit will be productive and will touch upon the issues of bilateral and international co-operation.

In addition to talks with President Dmitry Medvedev, the British PM is to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. No British minister or diplomat has spoken with Putin directly in the four years.

The British PM apparently views his visit to Moscow as a major opportunity to thaw frozen ties with Russia.

Ties between Russia and UK have been strained in recent years over a number of issues, notably the poisoning death of a former Russian security agent in London.

That case was followed by a diplomatic row and expulsions. There has also been reluctance by the British authorities over the past couple of years to extradite several Russian citizens to face charges in Russian courts.

Moscow from its side has also refused to satisfy a long-standing request from the UK to extradite Andrey Lugovoy, suspected of involvement in the death a former KGB officer. Lugovoy has always denied involvement.

Regardless, extradition of citizens to other countries is prohibited by the Russian constitution.

Cameron started his business visit to the capital with a speech at Moscow State University. Speaking before students and professors, the British PM stated that the UK fully supports Russia’s accession bid to the World Trade Organization. Cameron believes it will promote business development between the two countries.

According to Russian presidential aide Sergey Prikhodko, Dmitry Medvedev, and David Cameron will also discuss the situation around Syria, Iran's nuclear program, preparations for the G20 summit, the relations between Russia and NATO, Russia and the EU, the issues of global financial crisis.

According to a Kremlin source "special attention" will be paid to the Libya and Syria crises. Britain and Russia have different view on the goings on in those turbulent countries. Britain was one of the first countries to try to secure the UN resolution to go in Libya and also to apply force against the Gaddafi regime. Moscow has also refused to support UN sanctions against Syria.

Despite deep differences, both sides have common ground on which they can begin to rebuild.

Both countries understand their responsibility as major economies in global financial crisis.

"Russia is an important partner for the UK, although our differences in recent years are well known. We face many similar challenges and both the president [Dmitry Medvedev] and I believe that we can make more progress by working together on matters of real importance for the prosperity and security of people in both countries," Cameron said, as quoted by Itar-Tass news agency.

Britain is one of the largest foreign direct investors in Russian economy. British investments in Russia reached US$40 billion by the end of 2010.

Cameron hopes to seal new deals worth $340 million, which would create 500 new jobs in Britain.

Co-operation in the technology sector is also on the agenda of the bilateral talks. Britain contributes to Russia’s Skolkovo project, and Russia, to Britain’s East London Technology Park.

Sport is also an issue in which both countries have shared interests.

Russia and Britain both are to host upcoming Olympic Games – the summer games in London 2012 and the next winter games in Russia’s Sochi 2014. Both sides believe that they can learn from each other.

Cameron's visit to Russia is the first by a British prime minister since Tony Blair visited St. Petersburg for a G8 summit in July 2006. Since becoming prime minister in May 2010, Cameron has met four times with Medvedev, who invited him for this week’s visit.