Historical Events 1869: Wyoming becomes the first state to adopt woman suffrage. 1898: In France, the Treaty of Paris is signed, ending the Spanish-American War and granting the United States its first overseas empire. 1901: The first Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. 1902: … Continue reading December 10 Historical Events and Birthdays
December 9 1953 General Electric Sacks All Communist Employees
On December 9th 1953, General Electric, announced that all communist employees would be discharged from the company. The act is part of the period of US history known as the Second Red Scare, when US society and particularly the government was afraid of a Communist invasion of the US. The period is also widely known … Continue reading December 9 1953 General Electric Sacks All Communist Employees
December 8 1854 Dogma of Immaculate Conception
December 8th 1854 marked Pope Pius IX's official dogmatisation of the doctrine of Immaculate Conception; an important act, as it is often the key belief that separates Catholicism and Protestantism, among other doctrines. Such an act had been hinted at previously, by such popes as Pope Sixtus IV, who declared the feat of the Immaculate … Continue reading December 8 1854 Dogma of Immaculate Conception
December 7 1941 Attack on Pearl Harbor
On December 7th 1941, arguably the most memorable event of World War II occurred; the attack on Pearl Harbor. A surprise Japanese aerial attack on the US port of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, the moment is seen as the entry point of the United States into World War II. At that point, it had been … Continue reading December 7 1941 Attack on Pearl Harbor
December 6 1921 Irish Free State Treaty Signed
On December 6th 1921, The Anglo-Irish Treaty effectively separated Ireland from the United Kingdom. The treaty ended the three year war for independence that gave birth not only to Ireland as a free state, but also the infamous IRA, which still continues today in a more unofficial form. The Irish War of Independence was a … Continue reading December 6 1921 Irish Free State Treaty Signed
December 6 1969 Altamont Concert Marks End of 60s Era
On December 6th 1969, about 300,000 people showed up for a rock-and-roll concert at the Altamont Speedway in Livermore, California. The free concert was set up by the Rolling Stones as a Woodstock-type show and included Santana, Tina Turner, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. However, … Continue reading December 6 1969 Altamont Concert Marks End of 60s Era
December 5 1925 Russian Film Battleship Potemkin Released
On December 5th 1925, the silent Russian film, The Battleship Potemkin was released. It has been recognised as a hugely influential film, not only on contextual Russian and Communist society, but also on filmmakers, with homage and references to it found in movies like The Godfather and The Untouchables. The film depicts the Battleship Potemkin … Continue reading December 5 1925 Russian Film Battleship Potemkin Released
December 5 1952 Abbott and Costello Show Premieres
On December 5th 1952, The Abbott and Costello Show premiered on American television. Bud Abbott and Lou Costello made 52 half-hour films for television, incorporating many of their best burlesque routines. Their original names were William Alexander Abbott and Louis Francis Cristillo. After their final film, Dance with Me, Henry (1956), Abbott and Costello went … Continue reading December 5 1952 Abbott and Costello Show Premieres
December 2 1961 Fidel Castro Announces Communism In Cuba
On December 2nd 1961, five years to the day after the unofficial beginning of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro announced in a national broadcast that the Cuban government had officially undertaken Communism as its core set of beliefs. While Castro had already forged ties to other Marxist-Leninist countries since 1959, including the Soviet Union and … Continue reading December 2 1961 Fidel Castro Announces Communism In Cuba
December 2 1956 Cuban Revolution Begins
On December 2nd 1956, the Cuban Revolution began when Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, and eighty other men landed on the Eastern shore of Cuba in a Mexican-bought yacht. The true revolution is not recognised as having occurred until December 1959, when US-supported Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista fled Havana on New Year’s Eve. The landing was … Continue reading December 2 1956 Cuban Revolution Begins
On-line survey reports more than half all apartments empty in major cities
More than half the apartments in Beijing and Shanghai are empty, the China Daily reports, quoting an online investigation of 100 Chinese cities by news website Sina.com. Hainan rated over 70 percent empty, Beijing 66 percent and Shanghai 51 percent, based on counting the number of apartments with no lights at night time, on more … Continue reading On-line survey reports more than half all apartments empty in major cities
China to develop internet search engine in competition to Google
China’s news that it is developing its own state-run search engine is not the country’s first such project, but this time around they are supported by China Mobile Communications and Xinhua News Agency. China Mobile has the world’s largest number of mobile subscribers, guaranteeing an instant and enormous audience on the mobile front. Xinhua, China’s … Continue reading China to develop internet search engine in competition to Google
China and Switzerland going strong after 60 years
Central Committee Political Bureau Member Liu Qi hopes hopes the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Switzerland provides an opening for the two countries to to increase mutual political trust and assistance. Liu, speaking at a reception in Beijing, added that China sees significant value to increasing friendly relationships with Switzerland, one of … Continue reading China and Switzerland going strong after 60 years
Chinese Vice Premier campaigns for mutual agreements with other developing countries
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang has called for other developing countries to extend mutual support with China, and for countries assisted by China to work towards attaining shared benefits. The call was made in Beijing at an exhibition to showcase China’s international aid efforts, this year marking the 60th anniversary of the nation’s international aid … Continue reading Chinese Vice Premier campaigns for mutual agreements with other developing countries
Collapse of joint China-US venture highlights need for advisory partners
The apparent collapse of the joint-venture China-US construction of the world’s largest solar power plant has underscored the perils that can be faced by foreign companies trying to break into the lucrative Chinese market. It also highlights the need for foreign companies to enlist business advisory firms with proven track records in assisting foreign companies … Continue reading Collapse of joint China-US venture highlights need for advisory partners
China exempts service outsourcing companies from business tax
China’s Ministry of Finance has announced on its website that it will offer an exemption from business tax for offshore service outsourcing companies, in an apparent bid to win business from India and other countries. The exemption, in place from July 1 2010 until December 31 2013, assists firms which specialize in information technology outsourcing … Continue reading China exempts service outsourcing companies from business tax
China strengthens monopoly in rare-earth minerals
Chinese state-owned Baotou Steel Rare-Earth High-Tech Co and Jiangxi Copper Corp, two of China’s largest rare-earth miners, have announced a unified pricing system, according to the China Daily. China supplies 95% of the world’s rare-earth oxides, so therefore Baotou and Jianxi will virtually control the market, good news for China as it can control use … Continue reading China strengthens monopoly in rare-earth minerals
Chinese officials call for intellectual property trade deficit reduction
Ministry of Commerce official Wu Guohua, speaking at the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Summit in Beijing, has called for the creation of indigenous brands to ease China’s disturbing intellectual property trade deficit. Wu further stated that it is crucial for China to bring into being indigenous brands, pointing to the large amounts spent on foreign … Continue reading Chinese officials call for intellectual property trade deficit reduction
China quantity bubble fears as speculators leave apartments empty
A recent media story, which power companies denied, claimed that almost 65 million power meters in urban China had registered zero consumption over a six month period, which raised a theory that there are enough empty apartments in China to house 200 million people. However, the true figures will probably never be known, because there … Continue reading China quantity bubble fears as speculators leave apartments empty
Rio Tinto’s record profit aided by China’s resource demand
Mining giant Rio Tinto has posted a record first-half profit, driven by iron ore sales to China, with net earnings up 260 per cent to almost US$6.4 billion. Rio has announced plans to spend about US$13 billion over the next 18 months, displaying its confidence in Chinese demand, even though China has started the process … Continue reading Rio Tinto’s record profit aided by China’s resource demand
“Made in China” brands emerging in luxury goods market
Billionaire investor Warren Buffet and Microsoft founder Bill gates have revealed they are fans of Chinese suit maker Trands, and Buffet believes China is the future of fashion. Trands, based in Dalian in China’s northeast, is one of several up-and-coming Chinese brands taking on Gucci, Armani and Prada. Chinese sales of luxury goods grew by … Continue reading “Made in China” brands emerging in luxury goods market
Civilian high-tech projects benefit from China removing tariffs and value-added taxes
Major civilian high-tech projects will benefit from China’s decision to scrap import tariffs and value-added taxes (VAT) on key imports used in these ventures. The Ministry of Finance, Customs Department, made the announcement today, stating that the tariffs and VAT had not been imposed since July 15, and the move was designed “…to promote the … Continue reading Civilian high-tech projects benefit from China removing tariffs and value-added taxes
WIPO Welcomes EU Ratification of Internet Treaties
Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization Francis Gurry has welcomed the ratification by the European Union of the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty. The treaties establish the basic standards of protection for copyright and related rights in the digital environment. Mr Gurry said the EU's ratification of the … Continue reading WIPO Welcomes EU Ratification of Internet Treaties
The Apartment
The Apartment is the bittersweet, darkly comic tale of a mild-mannered office nebbish who sells little bits of his body and soul to climb the corporate ladder, falls in love on the way up and finds his way back down to redemption. Jack Lemmon will quite simply break your heart in this wry, cynical indictment … Continue reading The Apartment
Dubai Autodrome
The Dubai Autodrome is the region's first fully integrated motorsports facility. The complex, a part of the Union Properties Motorcity development, not only includes an FIA sanctioned 5.39km circuit, which offers six different configurations, but also incorporates a Race & Driving school and a CIK approved Karting track. Officially inaugurated in October 2004 when it … Continue reading Dubai Autodrome
Craig Hill 