One thousand residents of the Defense Department-managed Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C. filed a class-action lawsuit on May 24, asserting that the cut-backs in medical and dental services imposed by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld are illegal. The operating budget for the home was reduced from $63 million in 2004 to $58 million for 2005. The residents cite cuts in on-site X-ray, electrocardiogram, physical and dental services, and the closing of the home’s main clinic and an on-site pharmacy.
Chief Financial Officer Steve McManus responded that the changes not only save money but also achieved improved efficiencies. “We’re really trying to improve the benefits to our residents,” he said.
Most of the home’s costs are paid for by a trust fund and monthly fees paid by residents. By law, the Armed Forces Retirement Homes are required to fund, “on-site primary care, medical care and a continuum of long-term care services.”
Member states of the eurozone have offered to give Greece thirty billion euro in emergency loans for the debt-stricken country, should the latter want it.
The loans’ price will be determined using formulas by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and will be set at around five percent.
The Luxembourgish prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, speaking on behalf of eurozone finance ministers, commented that “[t]he total amount put up by the eurozone member states for the first year will reach 30bn euros.” He added that “[t]his is certainly no subsidy” to Greece.
The prime minister also noted that financing would be “completed and co-financed” by the IMF. European Union monetary affairs chief Olli Rehn remarked that the IMF would make a “substantial contribution” to the loan package as well, perhaps around ten billion euros.
The Greek economy has spent more than it has earned for several years now, and currently faces a budget deficit equal to 12.9% of its economic output, or a total debt of 300 billion euros. The country intends to try and reduce the deficit to 8.7% this year.
ASML headquarters in Veldhoven on May 22, 2008. Image: A ansems.The Chinese Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation factory in Shenzhen on January 1, 2022. Image: Lhzss8.
Dutch trade minister Liesje Schreinemacher wrote lawmakers yesterday announcing the government will detail additional curbs on exporting semiconductor chip technology “on national security grounds”.
Her letter to the States General of the Netherlands read in part: “In view of technological developments and geopolitical context, the government has come to the conclusion that it is necessary for (inter)national security to extend the existing export control of specific semiconductor production equipment […]
“Because the Netherlands considers it necessary on national security grounds to get this technology into oversight with the greatest of speed, the Cabinet will introduce a national control list”, to be published “before the summer.”
The exact list of products affected were decided with “surgical” precision, “in order to avoid unnecessary disruption of the value chains and to take into account the international level playing field.”
It comes after at least three months of negotiations with the United States, which unilaterally introduced expansive export restrictions in October to limit Chinese firms’ access to foreign chips and tools to make their own, due to fears of military application.
US officials conceded, however, the measures’ efficacy would be reduced without international co-operation. The Associated Press reported in January similar restrictions were agreed to by Dutch and Japanese functionaries when they visited Washington, D.C. for talks, with separate tête-à-tête discussions that month between US President Joe Biden and the nations’ prime ministers.
Schreinemacher told reporters in Brussels, Belgium last November the Dutch government was “having talks with the US”, saying: “We do share the concerns [the US government has] when it comes to China, when it comes to security” and Dutch “national security interest is of the utmost importance.”
Without commenting on the prospect of similar restrictions being introduced, the minister said the US export controls’ observed negative impact on Dutch companies were “for the right reasons […] national security interests.”
Veldhoven, North Brabant-based ASML Holding, Europe’s largest technology company, dominates the production of the laser lithography systems necessary for computer chips; it has offices in Beijing and Shenzhen and a Hong Kong regional headquarters.
The firm has reported about 16% of its 2021 sales, or over €2 billion, were to China.
Among products sold are advanced deep ultra violet (DUV) systems, which were mentioned as affected by the new controls in Schreinemacher’s letter as “very specific technologies in the semiconductor production cycle on which the Netherlands has a unique and leading position”.
A statement on the company’s website confirms “ASML will need to apply for export licenses for shipment of the most advanced immersion DUV systems.”
However, it clarifies not all immersion lithography tools are affected, and states based on “our expectation of the Dutch government’s licensing policy, and the current market situation, we do not expect these measures to have a material effect on” either its 2023 or long-term financial outlooks.
This follows a November 11 assurance by CEO Peter Wennink that a scenario where Chinese chipmakers couldn’t expand their capacity could mean a “temporary hiccough” but wouldn’t “change the 2030 picture that much” because “ultimately those chips need to be made.”
Its 2023 sales projection for China estimates near-zero growth to €2.2 billion even as ASML expects overall sales to expand by 25%.
Key questions remain, including whether ASML will be allowed to service the DUV machines already sold, and what precisely is affected—while Schreinemacher’s letter mentions “the most advanced [DUV] immersion lithography and deposition”, it does not name ASML, who has interpreted “most advanced” to mean its ‘critical immersion’ systems.
Existing controls have prohibited ASML from supplying China chipmaking technology with their most advanced extreme ultraviolet lithography systems since 2019, of which they are the world’s sole producers. These curbs were introduced following US fears they could be ‘dual use’ with military potential.
China has criticised restrictions as disrupting ordinary trade relations, its Ministry of Commerce stating after Washington’s initial announcement the US “should stop the wrongdoings immediately and give fair treatment to companies from all over the world, including Chinese companies.”
Despite trading barbs, a US State Department spokesperson told CNBC that where “China is pursuing asymmetric decoupling”, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has “said we do not want to sever China’s economy from ours”.
Sources quoted by Reuters expect Japan to update its own export policies as soon as this week.
Trading in the forex market often becomes a very complicated business. Although it offers a good opportunity to earn additional income, it also has some risks entailed. There may be instances if your trading strategy is not well planned out, this will result to you experiencing great losses instead of earning profits. That is why it is best to know important details about forex trading and to plan good strategies and a trading system.You can start out by getting familiar with the market and how it works and truly learn forex trading from the inside out. Being able to understand how trading works within the forex market would allow you to formulate plans and strategies that can be used to your advantage. This can enhance the chances of success in trading. You can do this by utilizing online forex simulations. These simulations provide you with a virtual forex market environment, where you will be able to practice trading and work out certain forex trading strategies. Because this is only a simulation of the real thing, you do not have to deal with real money.In trading within the forex market, it is important to note that you are trading with pairs of currencies. As you purchase one, you are also selling one. You should remember to trade in pairs. You should know the value of both currencies that you are trading with. Being right about both currencies that you are trading with, will determine the success that you can have from trading.Do not allow your emotions to take part in making decisions for your trade orders. Allowing your emotions to play a part in making trade decisions can cloud your logical judgment, which can ruin your chance of success. Traders who become emotional while trading often end up losing profits rather than gaining them. When emotions take part, a trader can become greedy or fearful depending on the circumstances. Both however, are not healthy for trading.
The Ballymore Cup Quarter Finals were played Wednesday. The Ballymore Cup is a state wide Rugby Union competition in the Australian state of Queensland. Schools participating in the Greater Public Schools (GPS) competition do not compete in the Ballymore Cup.
The North Queensland quarter finals are played as a round robin competition between four teams in Makay while the three other quarter finals are played at Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane.
Below are reports off each match in division 1.
Siena Catholic College
11 – 5
Marsden State High School
Siena Catholic College from the Sunshine Coast managed to slip past Marsden State High School 11 points to 5. Both sides crossed the oppositions line but penalties committed by Marsden gifted Siena the victory.
Siena defeated reigning champions Mountain Creek State High School in the Sunshine Coast division 1 competition final. They will play the winner of this weekends North Queensland Carnival in the semis.
Corinda State High School
0 – 44
All Saints Anglican School
Brisbane West’s Corinda State High School never seemed to be in the match as All Saints Anglican School from the Gold Coast eased pass them 44 point to zero. All Saints ran rings around the Corinda defence.
All Saints will play John Paul College in the semi final.
North Side Christian College
0 – 47
John Paul College
John Paul college will meet All Saints Anglican School in the semis after they defeated North Side Christian College forty-seven points to zero.
Rockhampton Grammar School, Whitsundays Anglican School (Mackay), Townsville Grammar School and St Augustine’s College (Cairns) will play the North Queensland Carnival as part of the Ballymore Cup quarter finals this weekend.
24 of 26 Swiss Cantons rejected the proposal for a single health insurance system, in which premiums would be based on income and wealth. The vote on Sunday was the latest in a series of attempts to cut rising costs and ease the financial burden on citizens.
Around 71% of voters rejected the reform. Turnout was at about 46%, slightly above the Swiss average.
As expected, voters in the main German-speaking part of the country turned down the planned reform, which was supported by the centre-left but opposed by the centre-right as well as the business community, parliament and the government.
Opposition in the French and Italian speaking regions was less pronounced. The cantons Jura and Neuchâtel in the French speaking regions voted in favor of the proposed reforms.
Health insurance premiums are higher in southern and western Swiss cantons than in German-speaking areas.
The Swiss Interior MinisterPascal Couchepin said an important part of the Swiss Population appeared to be opposed to “a revolution” in health insurance but he said that he wanted current reforms currently under discussion in the Swiss Parliament to go ahead. He called on all sides, especially health insurers and the cantonal authorities, to make efforts to reduce spending on health insurance and aim for a greater cost efficiency. Currently Switzerland has 87 private insurers providing mandatory basic health care coverage for Swiss residents under a 1996 law. But costs have sky-rocketed. Over 100,000 people are not covered by health insurance due to non payment.
To win the battle of the cost of health care, everyone must place his or her private interests behind the interests of the general public. -Pascal Couchepin at a news conference
Opponents to the initiative argued that a single insurance system would lead to complacency and create a two-tier system, in which the wealthy would be the only ones available to afford to have additional private insurance coverage.
Supporters of the initiative said a single health insurer would increase the system’s efficiency and allow for annual savings of at least 300 million Swiss Francs (about $245 million) in administrative costs. Currently, the funding system is unbalanced, since many clients on low incomes use state subsidies to pay their premiums, according to the Green Party and the Social Democrats.
The initiative to unite all the insurance companies and introduce premiums based on wealth and income was the most recent in a series of attempts over the past ten years to reduce the public spending on health care. A proposal, similar to this recent proposal, to modify the funding system of the health insurance companies was rejected by 73% of voters in 2003.
Switzerland has the most expensive health system in Europe. Switzerland’s expenditure on health care was 11.6% in 2005, in front of Germany and France but behind the United States.
Two and a half million people have been displaced and over 250 people were killed following the heaviest flooding to hit southern India in a hundred years.
Karnataka was the state most heavily affected by the floods. R.V. Jagdish, a government spokesman, said that 172 deaths from the rains in the state were reported, and fifty thousand people are living in relief camps. The neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh reported at least fifty flood-related deaths. 1.5 million people residing in 100 relief camps across that state, chief minister K. Rosaiah said.
Relief crews dispatched boats and helicopters to send rations to large numbers of villagers left stranded after torrential rains.
No less than five million people have been sent to temporary government shelter areas following the heavy rains, which had flooded millions of acres of cropland.
Ambrose Christy, the south zonal manager for anti-poverty group Caritas India, said that “we have never experience anything like this before. It is the worst flooding in 100 years. The situation could become even more severe as the rains get worst. If the Krishna River bursts its banks, millions more will be forced from their homes and a huge area of land will be underwater.”
Arthur O’Kostendt. Image: Arthur O’Kostendt .Incumbent Mayor Frank G. Jackson at the Cleveland March for Our Lives demonstration on March 28, 2018. Image: Erik Drost.
Arthur Oliver Kostendt, a candidate running in the mayoral election of the US city of Cleveland, Ohio set to take place November 2, discussed his campaign and policies with Wikinews this spring.
According to Cleveland Scene, 29-year-old Kostendt is a member of the Cuyahoga County, Ohio Republican Party but has referred to his campaign as “casual”. According to his web site’s personal biography, he was a cadet for the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), scout platoon leader for the 2nd Squadron of the 107th Cavalry Regiment of the Ohio Army National Guard and logistics officer for the 1st Battalion of the 145th Armored Regiment. He served in Kuwait, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia and assisted coalition force detachments in Southeast Asia.
Kostendt is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and summa cum laude graduate of Cleveland State University. He writes he uses an apostrophe to abbreviate his middle name as “Arthur O’Kostendt” instead of the customary period after the O to emphasise his Irish heritage.
A poll published May 5 by Baldwin Wallace University, which does not feature Mr Kostendt, has Dennis Kucinich and Basheer Jones leading in the mayoral race by 17.8 and 13.3 points, respectively, with a margin of error of up to five per cent either way. 48% of those surveyed were undecided. Incumbent mayor Frank G. Jackson, who won the 2017 Cleveland mayoral election with 59% of the vote, is eligible for a fifth term but announced on May 6 he would retire.
This article mentions the Wikimedia Foundation, one of its projects, or people related to it. Wikinews is a project of the Wikimedia Foundation.
Thursday, October 22, 2020
2020 Melbourne Lord Mayor candidate Wayne Tseng answered some questions about his campaign for the upcoming election from Wikinews. The Lord Mayor election in the Australian city is scheduled to take place this week.
Portrait of Wayne TsengImage: Wayne Tseng.
Tseng runs a firm called eTranslate, which helps software developers to make the software available to the users. In the candidate’s questionnaire, Tseng said eTranslate had led to him working with all three tiers of the government. He previously belonged to the Australian Liberal Party, but has left since then, to run for mayorship as an independent candidate.
Tseng is of Chinese descent, having moved to Australia with his parents from Vietnam. Graduated in Brisbane, Tseng received his PhD in Melbourne and has been living in the city, he told Wikinews. Tseng also formed Chinese Precinct Chamber of Commerce, an organisation responsible for many “community bond building initiatives”, the Lord Mayor candidate told Wikinews.
Tseng discussed his plans for leading Melbourne, recovering from COVID-19, and “Democracy 2.0” to ensure concerns of minorities in the city were also heard. Tseng also focused on the importance of the multi-culture aspect and talked about making Melbourne the capital of the aboriginals. Tseng also explained why he thinks Melbourne is poised to be a world city by 2030.
Tseng’s deputy Lord Mayor candidate Gricol Yang is a Commercial Banker and works for ANZ Banking Group.
Currently, Sally Capp is the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, the Victorian capital. Capp was elected as an interim Lord Mayor in mid-2018 after the former Lord Mayor Robert Doyle resigned from his position after sexual assault allegations. Doyle served as the Lord Mayor of Melbourne for almost a decade since 2008.