China Noses Ahead as Top Goods Producer

While everybody is busy looking at the horrific images of japan or the unrest in middle east.

silently China surpasses US as the biggest manufacturer in the world, the US is back to 1890´s position

What a shame.

China has become the world’s top manufacturing country by output, returning the country to the position it occupied in the early 19th century and ending the U.S.’s 110-year run as the largest goods producer.

The change is revealed in a study released on Monday by IHS Global Insight, a U.S.-based economics consultancy, which estimates that China last year accounted for 19.8 per cent of world manufacturing output, fractionally ahead of the US with 19.4 per cent.

China’s reversion to the top position marked the “closing of a 500-year cycle in economic history”, said Robert Allen of Nuffield College, Oxford, a leading economic historian.

Deborah Wince-Smith, chief executive of the Council on Competitiveness, a Washington-based business group, said the U.S. “should be worried” by China taking over a position that the country had occupied since about 1895.

“This shows the need for the U.S. to compete in the future not on the basis of commodity manufacturing but on innovation and new kinds of services that are driven by production industries,” she said.

The last time China was the world’s biggest goods producer was in about 1850 when the country was close to the end of a long period of population growth and technological ascendancy. Buoyed by the industrial revolution, the U.K. then became the top maker of factory goods and held this position for almost 50 years, following which the U.S. began a long run as the world’s premier manufacturing nation.

Nicholas Crafts of Warwick university, an expert on long-term economic change, said: “This marks a fundamental shift in the global division of labor (involving goods production) which is unlikely to be reversed in the near future.”

Economic historians believe China’s share of world manufacturing output in 1830 was nearly 30 percent, after which it fell to about 6 percent in 1900 and half this figure in 1990.

Since then, China has been rapidly catching up on the U.S., helped by low labor costs that have caused a massive shift of manufacturing to China, strong inward investment by foreign companies and a fast-expanding economy.

Alan Tomelson, research fellow at the conservative U.S. Business and Industry Council, a research group, described the switch in the top roles as a “wake-up call” for the U.S.. He said it had been driven by China’s push over the past decade to transfer resources to a domestically based manufacturing sector helped by “unfair” government subsidies and an artificially weak renminbi.

Mark Killion, IHS’s head of world industry services, said, however, that the findings from the latest data were far from bleak for U.S. manufacturing. “The U.S. has a huge productivity advantage in that it produced only slightly less than China’s manufacturing output in 2010 but with 11.5 million workers compared to the 100 million employed in the same sector in China.”

Also, Mr Killion pointed out that much of China’s manufacturing output was driven by the Chinese subsidiaries of U.S. companies and was based around U.S.-derived technologies, especially in fields such as electronics.

The IHS data — worked out on the basis of current-year dollars — show that world manufacturing output in 2010 was $10,078 billion, which represents “real”, inflation-adjusted growth of 9.7 percent on the equivalent number in 2009, indicating a strong recovery from the recession.

The figures are derived from data gathered by national statistical agencies around the world and have been published several months ahead of the equivalent comparative figures that will come out from government bodies such as the UN and World Bank.

China’s output figure in dollars in 2010 was boosted slightly by the 3 percent appreciation of the renminbi against the dollar between 2009 and 2010.

FINANTIAL TIMES

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From Hal Lindsey

From Hal Lindsey


A viewer e-mailed me this week and told me to "Give it a rest." Zoe wrote, "Hal, your (sic) a charlatan. You've been prophesying the Lord's return in the 1970s 80s 90s and 2000s. Give it a rest. We're sick of you." Ouch! 

Would she say the same thing to Jesus Himself? I'm only repeating His words and the words of the ancient prophets He spoke through. Jesus told us specifically that when we saw certain things occurring in our world -- beginning with the rebirth of Israel -- and we saw them happening with ever-increasing frequency and intensity, then we would know that His return for His Church is imminent. That list of events and conditions -- He referred to them as 'birth pangs' -- reads like the "Breaking News" crawl at the bottom of your TV screen every night. 

No less than the Apostle Paul admonished us to "Comfort one another with these words." "These words" refers to the hope all true believers have in the soon and sudden return of Jesus Christ to receive us unto Himself and save us from the catastrophes that will fall upon this world. 

As I see it, my failure (as the e-mailer deems it), and that of many of my like-minded ministry colleagues, has been that we underestimated the growing "frequency and intensity" of the 'birth pangs' we have witnessed the last several years. But even as I write this, a massive tsunami from an undersea earthquake has hit Japan and threatens Hawaii and the entire Pacific Rim. Early reports are that this may be one of the biggest earthquakes in history! Another intense birth pang? Undeniably, they are increasing and increasing rapidly, but only Father God knows when the birth pangs have run their course and the time for "delivery" has arrived. 

That said, I do not apologize for crying out to those who are unprepared that the time is fast approaching when it will be too late to prepare for eternity. As the late Larry Norman once sang, "There's no time to change your mind, the Son has come and you've been left behind." I am doing my best to make certain that will never be said of you, your family, or anyone who watches "The Hal Lindsey Report." Thank you for standing beside me in this ministry as a "watchman on the wall." 

Sorry to disappoint you, Zoe, but this week I'm going to share with you another indication that we stand on the threshold of the final days of this Age. It has now been discovered that Syria's nuclear weapons program may be "far more advanced than previously believed." The German magazine Der Spiegel is reporting that Syria has four other nuclear facilities in addition to the one that Israel destroyed in September, 2007. The Institute for Science and International Security believes that Syria has three storage facilities that may house enough material to put Syria well on its way to an effective nuclear arsenal. 

We know the Syrians already have long-range missiles armed with both chemical and biological warheads aimed directly at Israel. And soon, they may have nuclear warheads, as well. So, as my mother used to say, what does this information have to do with the price of tea in China? Just this: the ancient Hebrew prophet Isaiah predicted that in the last days the Syrian capital of Damascus would be utterly annihilated -- overnight. Considering the fact that Damascus is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, and has never been destroyed, that means that Isaiah's prophecy is yet to be fulfilled. And considering the fact that only now -- with the use of nuclear weapons -- is it possible to utterly eradicate such a massive city overnight, I'd think twice before buying property in Damascus. Add to that the fact that we know Syria wants to destroy Israel and is apparently taking steps to prepare for that opportunity, I would also say that Syria (with Iran's urging) will someday get cocky and force Israel to retaliate. Here's how Isaiah predicted it would happen, "And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not." 

Once that happens, I'd say the world is on the fast track to Armageddon. But what about all the other Arab nations and the Persian-Russian confederacy? This week, I'm going to share my perspective on how all of that may unfold, including some thoughts on the events described in Psalm 83. 

But don't worry, I'm not going to leave you hanging. I'm also going to discuss with you the believers' "unfailing hope." As I see it, there are four elements to our hope for the future. And, once again, I'm sorry to distress you, Zoe, but the imminent prospect of Christ's return is a cornerstone of that hope. 

If you're not prepared for the sudden return of Jesus Christ for His bride or if you know someone who isn't, please tune in this week. I'm going to share with you precisely how you can get ready. 

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North Korea Nears Completion of Electromagnetic Pulse Bomb

North Korea appears to be protesting the joint U.S. and South Korean military maneuvers by jamming Global Positioning Devices in the south, which is a nuisance for cell phone and computers users -- but is a hint of the looming menace for the military.


Since March 4, Pyongyang has been trying to disrupt GPS receivers critical toSouth Korean military communications apparently in protest of the ongoing joint military training exercises between South Korean and U.S. forces. Strong jamming signals were sent intermittently every five to 10 minutes.

The scope of the damage has been minimal, putting some mobile phones and certain military equipment that use GPS signals on the fritz.

Large metropolitan areas including parts of Seoul, Incheon and Paju have been affected by the jamming, but "the situation is getting wrapped up, no severe damage has been reported for the last two days," Kyoungwoo Lee, deputy director of Korea Communications Commission, said.

ABC

MORE:

http://abcnews.go.com/International/electronic-warfare-north-korea-nears-completion-electromagnetic-pulse/story?id=13081667

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Bahrain king declares state of emergency after protests

The BBC's Caroline Hawley in Manama says protesters are ready to confront the foreign forces "with their empty hands"


The king of Bahrain has declared a three-month state of emergency, state TV reports, following weeks of pro-democracy protests in the kingdom.

It comes a day after troops from neighbouring Gulf states were sent to Bahrain to help deal with the unrest.

Protesters have blocked all roads leading to the capital's financial centre, the scene of clashes on Sunday that left more than 200 people wounded.

Seven people have been killed since the start of the protests a month ago.

The nation's armed forces chief has been authorised to take all measures to "protect the safety of the country and its citizens", the emergency law announcement said.

Some 1,000 troops from Saudi Arabia and a further 500 from the United Arab Emirates deployed in Manama on Monday at the invitation of the government.

It is believed they are intended to guard key facilities such as oil and gas installations and financial institutions.

The US state department has urged its citizens to avoid travelling to the country due to the ongoing unrest.

MORE:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12745608

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China's deepening Arab ties: the dragon in the desert

DUBAI, March, 2011 (Reuters) — A behemoth dragon-shaped shopping mall in the desert near Dubai has become a symbol of the deepening links between East Asia and the Middle East.

Dragon Mart -- 3,950 wholesale and retail shops, stretching 1.2 km, or about three-quarters of a mile, in a sinuous strip alongside a desert highway -- is China's trade outpost in the Gulf, selling everything from marble tiles and artificial hair extensions to dried fish and Mickey Mouse telephones.

"I come here with my wife and four children every second week, it's much cheaper and it is a great shopping experience," Souhail al-Zaabi, a policeman from Ras al-Khaimah, said recently. "Today, we are buying a chandelier for our majlis," he added, referring to the traditional Arab sitting room, "not too big, but like crystals it must look."

Farther along the mall, Chinese massage machines were selling briskly.

"I have already bought three tools," said Ali Abdulkader, a 65-year-old customer, also from Ras al-Khaimah, shopping at a Body Care health and fitness outlet. "They are good for my body. I have a massage belt, a massage hammer, and a massage chair installed in my car. It's cheap stuff, cheap."

The Elite Sauna Belt, to reduce fat and decrease joint stiffness, costs 50 dirhams, or about $13.50, including a remote control. A Magic Hand massage hammer, usually priced at 150 dirhams, was on sale for 45 dirhams. Similar European models cost four times as much.

Trolleys loaded with children's bicycles and fluorescent lights were parked at the cashier desk of the Suntour restaurant, where the smell of stirfried vegetables and black bean sauce filled the air.

If it weren't for the veiled women and men in Arab garb, this could be a corridor in any of China's factory cities, crammed with merchandise and the cacophony of electric toys.

Inaugurated in 2004, Dragon Mart, a retail property division of the Dubai government's investment vehicle Dubai World, is one of the largest trading centers for Chinese products in the world outside China.

According to the Federal Customs Authority of the United Arab Emirates, non-oil trade
between the Emirates and China reached around 42.6 billion dirhams in the first 10 months of 2010, up 3.4 percent from the same period in 2009.

There are almost 200,000 Chinese residents and more than 3,000 companies in the Emirates, according to the Chinese Consulate. That compares with an estimated total population in the Emirates of about five million.

"The Chinese economy is resource hungry, and there is a need to access Gulf markets," said Mark McFarland, emerging markets economist at Emirates NBD in Dubai, who had previously worked in Hong Kong. "The commerce with China is a symbol of its rise as an economic power."

"China has been at the forefront of free-trade agreements with the UAE, which is of great benefit to both countries," he said. "Dubai is becoming a regional hub for a lot of Chinese operations that are setting up in the region, but also develop businesses in Africa."

The Dragon is a Chinese symbol of power and strength, and the mall aptly symbolizes the growing strength of China's presence in the Emirates, where a growing number of Chinese businesses have set up operations and store signs in Chinese intermingle with those in Arabic.

Some Emiratis have chosen to send their children to a Chinese school, believing that knowledge of both Arabic and Chinese will be a key to success in the coming decades.

Hamid Kazim, an Emirati business consultant, has sent four of his five children to a Chinese school in Dubai, where they sit on bright green and yellow stools -- most likely bought at Dragon Mart -- alongside Chinese, Malay and Brazilian children.

"I am an admirer of China. It's quite important for children to be skilled in different areas," Kazim said.

Chinese residents, meanwhile, are picking up Arabic. "The Chinese ambassador and the Chinese consul both speak very well Arabic," said Hamdan Mohamed, president of the Arab Business Club in Dubai.

"We have a big Chinese community in the UAE... To enter this community you have to speak their language."

A natural global hub for long-distance flights between Asia, Europe and Africa, "Dubai is a great location which reflects this," McFarland of Emirates NBD said.

"A lot of the companies here are construction and manufacturing-oriented. You can envision a big increase in trade between the UAE and China."

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Gulf troops enter Bahrain as protests escalate...triple standard!!!

Before You read the story I have some thoughts here:

The USA, NATO, UN and western countries said that the POOR Libyan people deserve freedom and Gaddafi (a bad guy) and as a consequence he most leave.

Now Bahrain POOR people want some freedom from the bad King TOO and as a gift the were invaded by the Saudis that support the king.....I hope that NATO, USA and company do something about it, since the invasion happened the western countries have not said a word, that's maybe because the Saudi king its western big boss and at this point I have no idea who is the bad or the good guy.

This is more than a double standard...maybe its a new category a triple standard!!!

The last time I saw this happen was when a man call Saddam Hussein (another bad guy) invaded Kuwait and that was the moment when the whole mess begins..

Remember we where told that IF something happen in Saudi Arabia the oil will really go to $200, well this makes me wonder one of this 4 options: 

A.-The Saudi King was victim of a BIG fear, I do something desperate.

B.-The Saudi King Is part of the plan. 

C.-The Saudi King is fool.

D.-All of the above.

Would somebody help me???

AFP - Armed forces from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have rolled into Bahrain to help the government there deal with pro-democracy protesters, prompting alarm from the United States.

Television footage showed convoys of unmarked, desert-brown armoured vehicles crossing from Saudi's Eastern Province into Bahrain, the home of the US Fifth Fleet.

The Saudi government said it had responded to a call for help from its neighbour as Saudi-led forces from the Gulf countries' joint Peninsula Shield Force crossed the causeway separating the two countries.

"The council of ministers has confirmed that it has answered a request by Bahrain for support," the Saudi government said in a statement carried by the SPA state news agency.

Under an agreement of the six-country Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), "any harm done to the security of a member state is considered a harm done to the security of all members," it said.

The United Arab Emirates also said it had sent some 500 police to help "defuse tension," according to Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan.

It was not clear if the other GCC members -- Kuwait, Oman and Qatar -- were also participating.

The Shiite-led opposition alliance said any foreign force would be treated as an invading army.

"We consider the arrival of any soldier, or military vehicle, into Bahraini territory... an overt occupation of the kingdom of Bahrain and a conspiracy against the unarmed people of Bahrain," said an opposition statement.

But authorities called on the population to "cooperate fully and to welcome" the troops.

Helicopters buzzed overhead as thousands of protesters blocked access roads to the Financial Harbour business complex, a day after more than 200 people were injured there in clashes between riot police and demonstrators.

Manama's business district appeared a ghost town as the mainly Shiite protesters pressed their calls for democratic change from the Sunni Muslim monarchy.

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Japan Stocks Suffer Worst 2-Day Rout Since '87

Japanese stocks plunged 10.6 percent on Tuesday, posting the worst two-day losing streak since 1987, on reports of rising radiation near Tokyo, suggesting any deterioration at a quake-hit nuclear plant could trigger more panic selling led by hedge funds.

The yen tripped on talk of intervention and bond yields rose as investors sold debt to offset losses in the stock market. The scale and speed of the equity selloff, on record volume for a second day running, forced fund managers to sit on the sidelines.

At one point the broader Nikkei plunged 14 percent after Prime Minister Naoto Kan said therisk of nuclear contamination was rising at the Fukushima Daiichi complex on Japan's ravaged northeastern coast, 240 km (150 miles) north of Tokyo.

Equity futures fell and the yen rallied as risky assets were dumped. The yen steadied soon after, raising suspicion that authorities had intervened. The Ministry of Finance declined to comment on intervention.

In contrast to Monday's trading, when construction stocks rose, none of the 225 constituents of the benchmark Nikkei average gained on Tuesday.

CNBC

MORE:http://www.cnbc.com/id/42082149

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U.S. official: Iran moving to brink of nuclear weapons capability

World powers tell Islamic Republic that the 'door remain open' for dialogue, urges Iran to cooperate with UN nuclear watchdog.

Iran is moving to a point where it will have the ability to produce nuclear weapons, the U.S. State Department's senior adviser for non-proliferation and arms control said on Wednesday.

"We believe Iran is moving to the threshold of a nuclear weapons capability," Robert Einhorn said in response to a question at a Washington think-tank event.

Still, Einhorn said, the United States does not  "see breakout as imminent at this stage."

Earlier Wednesday, world powers told Iran on Wednesday that "the door remains open" for dialogue on its disputed nuclear program, urging the Islamic Republic to cooperate with the United Nations atomic watchdog to resolve concerns it may have military aims.

The six powers issued a rare joint statement at a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in a bid to show unity and to step up pressure on Iran after their talks with the Islamic state in December and January failed to make progress.

It was issued after IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano on Monday, the first day of a meeting of the agency's board, said information his office recently received added to concerns about possible military aspects to Iran's atomic activities.

Amano voiced growing frustration at what the Vienna-based body sees as Iran's failure to address allegations it may be working to develop a nuclear-armed missile.

The statement from the United States, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and China said: "We call on Iran to cooperate fully with the Agency ... Outstanding issues need to be resolved in order to exclude the existence of possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program."

It was the first joint statement by the big powers at the IAEA since March 2009.

Iran denies Western accusations it is seeking nuclear weapons capability, saying its atomic activities are aimed at generating electricity so it can export more of its oil and gas.

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