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And power source
By Fernando Mexia - Columnists , Economy , Maria Benito , Journalism - 03/11/2009
Maria Benito, journalist
As reported in The Wall Street Journal ... sources quoted by the Financial Times ... or according to Bloomberg data are probably three of the most used phrases in circles around the world. They have earned the trust of news editors, but also of the readers and what they publish influences, sometimes too much in economic decision making of them, something that as demonstrated by the crisis, should interest everyone.
Internet has helped to extend its importance, although some of the contents that are offered online payment because even serve to give holders exclusive tracks to see what is moving, where and how. Moreover, people do not agree to these media news only through their sites and intentionally, because there are plenty of Internet media and blogs that use to post news source. And the managers of the newspapers know it. Read the rest of this entry »
Pakistan in the eye of the storm
By Fernando Mexia - Maria Benito , featured - 18/05/2009
Maria Benito, journalist
Pakistan is now fighting against the Taliban
The Pakistani army launched a few weeks ago an offensive against the Taliban in the country's northeast, an area that the insurgents have long controlled. The press has the last month giving an account of the attacks, advances and retreats, the low (although it is very difficult to calculate accurately) on both sides, and the catastrophe that may trigger more than one million displaced by the fighting.
But the situation is getting complicated in Pakistan, it was never easy. To begin to understand, we must contextualize and back in time. You know: those mud, sludge ... The question is not what is happening in Pakistan?, But what is happening in the region? Because it has a lot to see the war in Afghanistan, the unresolved issue of Kashmir and the policies of support and confrontation taken by countries like the U.S., Russia, Iran or Saudi Arabia.
I find it interesting on this subject, reading the last book of ahmen Rashid, journalist and political analyst specializing in South-central Asia, titled Descent into chaos. U.S. and the failure of nation building in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Centr al Asia. While reading it should be borne in mind that the author has their own preferences and their theories and, for instance, his description of the person and the role of Hamid Karzai (President of Afghanistan) differs from that done in some magazine articles Time is a matter of perspective.
The current offensive
In late April, Pakistan's army launched, finally, a campaign against the Taliban in the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP, acronym in English), particularly in the Swat Valley, which was held by the Taliban for two years and is located approximately 100 kilometers from the capital, Islamabad.
The confrontation between the army and the Taliban, and caused casualties on both sides, has been making more than 1,100,000 displaced persons according to UNHCR, which is added the half a million people who fled the region last year the advancing Taliban.
The presence of the Taliban in this area and its attacks are not new (since July 2007 attacks have left more than 1,800 dead) were trained, financed and armed by the military and intelligence services (ISI, an acronym in English ) and took refuge in Pakistan's NWFP in 2002 after the persecution waged by the U.S. in its war on terror in Afghanistan.
In February the Pakistani government signed a ceasefire with the Taliban (which was accepted in return for imposing Islamic law - 'sharia'-in six districts), but the militants took advantage of the cease to take two other districts of the northeast (Low Dir and Buner). Washington described the ceasefire as "capitulation" and pressured Islamabad to hurl an offensive. U.S. fears that the Taliban access to nuclear weapons Pakistan has, as stated a few weeks ago Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. Although Pakistani officials have always denied that something may occur. (Pakistan, like India, a nuclear power since 1998. Not signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and keeps secret the number of weapons you have and where you keep, but is estimated to have between 60 and 100 warheads) .
The spokesman of the Pakistani armed forces, General Abbas, estimated that the insurgency is composed of about 4,000 armed men, although other sources say there are up to 7,000 militants. These insurgents face between 12,000 and 15,000 Pakistani soldiers. Abbas has refused to give a date for the end of this "major offensive" and ensured that the troops would remain in the zone "until the full take and peace is restored."
Moreover, according to AFP, a spokesman for the Taliban from Swat recently declared that they want to impose sharia across Pakistan. Moreover, the Taliban are resorting to kidnapping of businessmen and wealthy individuals to finance. As published by El País , police have confirmed that so far this year there have been 169 reports of abductions, but fear prevents victims' families recognize that they have paid the ransom demanded.
If successful eradication of the Taliban rule in this area, we must invest in rebuilding and will require the presence of a police force prepared to maintain order. But now it seems difficult to go to both.
Background
In 1947 he carried out the partition of the British Raj in two new states: India and Pakistan (which until 1971 included the present-day Bangladesh). But was not resolved the dispute over Kashmir, which has led to several clashes between the two countries and has caused enmity and mutual distrust that still remain.
From the beginning, Pakistan has almost always been dominated by the Army, has organized its policy focus on two aspects: its enmity with India and its interest in installing a friendly government in Afghanistan. For that supported Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
Pakistan openly supported the Taliban before the 11-S: Al Qaeda helped train Kashmiri militants (so that it clashed with India) and expected to have the Government on the Taliban in neighboring friend. After the 11-S, both General Pervez Musharraf (Pakistani Prime Minister in 2001) and ISI conducted a double play, a policy of "yes, but ...". United States was clear after the 2001 attacks either with us or against us. And he needed the support of Pakistan to wage war in Afghanistan.
Musharraf sided with the U.S. (with conditions called for the lifting of sanctions imposed on them before and requested financial assistance, receiving) and promised to help, but did nothing to end the Taliban and the ISI, says Rashid continued providing weapons after the start of the war and also helped them to escape the U.S. attacks. They were also allowed to take refuge in the NWFP, where until now have kept their own fiefdom. Pakistan now seems determined to fight them, we have to wait and see. And do not forget that the Taliban are still fighting in Afghanistan, but Afghanistan is another story.
A curiosity: Musharraf, who seized power when deposed by a coup d'etat against Nawaz Sharif, born in New Delhi in 1943, his mother worked for the United Nations and received a liberal education. Furthermore, as Rashid in his book contains, in an interview in The Friday Times, once said: "I joined the military for the glamor."
Blame it on the crisis
By Fernando Mexia - Economy , Maria Benito , featured - 08/05/2009
Maria Benito, journalist
¿We will miss the crisis?
We are in crisis, no doubt. And the data is terrible. Everyone knows that, no need to read the newspapers, which have been occurring for months of negative news into a source of discouragement. But some works to see the positive side, though the arguments are not always convinced. For some, the crisis is an opportunity, individually, perhaps, if you have money to buy a house now, as collectively we can accomplish a change in our growth model.
A few weeks ago, David Marsh published in a financial website Market Watch article that was enough said and began recalling the words of Richard Nixon in 1962 when he told a group of journalists who would miss him when you leave the presidency: "You will not Have Nixon to kick around any more "(Since you can not continue abusing / blaming Nixon).
The idea Marsh's article is that, deep down, the crisis has provided a buffer of guilt: if something goes wrong, is by the crisis and unless you look at the blunders of Bush. And besides, the crisis may serve to change and improve society in some respects: abandoning greed and thinking more "green." This idea is shared by another article, Kurt Andersen, who appeared in late March in Time magazine that was titled " The End of Excess: is the crisis, good for America? "(The end of the excesses: is the crisis good for America?), which shows how the crisis can be a historic turning point to end the period of expansion experienced in recent years. Because Andersen believes that the spirit of the 1980s did not end and lasted for ninety years until 2008, believes that Americans were coming to what has happened, but looked the other way and maybe the crisis will serve to Americans abandoned the spirit of cricket and resume the character of the ant. Expected to reduce greed and more investment in the social.
Meanwhile, Marsh said the crisis has helped the bank tellers better serve us, but believes that if we overcome the crisis, the smiles disappear. Beneficial effects of the crisis, Marsh highlights the falling prices, it's time to buy certain things. And indeed, now housing is more affordable and there are discounts in supermarkets and clothing stores as well as appliance stores. Of course, buying a home required that the individual has some savings, a secure job and pass the examination of the bank for a mortgage. Many of those affected by the crisis can not think of buying a home or are unable to afford the mortgage they already had ... Furthermore, I argue that although prices were artificially inflated and should be adjusted, a general fall in prices would not help us continuing to medium to long term to none.
One of the most criticized Marsh's article is in setting out the health benefits that the crisis is having: people walk more to save on transport and eat less, so the crisis helps to combat obesity. What worries me is that the argument does not notice that people have spent less on food, true, but sales have increased fast food and high caloric intake ... and save on fuel is good for almost everyone except oil and for countries whose economies are dependent on black gold, which leads me to believe that eventually may also adversely affect us all, because if anything has become clear with the crisis is that the butterfly effect theory is more valid than and that never happens to a company in Hong Kong can influence that Mr. Lopez has to close his business in Zamora ...
Marsh believes that the abandonment of the greed that many expect as a result of the crisis will be temporary. But Andersen is probably right in his article ("you pressed the button 'reset'") and is a good time to rethink the model of growth and effect change. Andersen does not recommend abstinence but moderation. And he believes that some habits can endure.
The problem of the crisis is that for many families has been hit very hard and will cost quite recover, especially those with fewer resources or to those with all their members out of work (in Spain there are 1,068,400 households in this situation). The other day I was in the vicinity and two ladies who were sitting in front of me were discussing the misfortunes of a third. The conversation turned to focus on the crisis (because, as I said, now everything is on the crisis and is spoken of not only the media but also in the bar or on the market). And one of them declared: "If there ever crisis ... the crisis of the poor."
A tomato-against the bank
By Fernando Mexia - Columnists , Economy , Maria Benito - 30/03/2009
Maria Benito, journalist
A tomato-against AIG
I do not know if you remember the war snowballs against the banks ... well, now a group called Democracy in Action MoveOn has launched a similar initiative, but virtual. It consists of a website through which anyone can undertake it against AIG and express their anger because the executives of the insurer, which had to be rescued by the government to avoid bankruptcy, have collected millions in bonuses. "It takes time," says a co-worker to devote himself to do these things. Or be very angry ... I think. The fact is that as they are pulling tomatoes from a photo of a building of AIG, the website will give details. Thus, when tomatoes have released 40 inform us that this is the number of billions that AIG received in November ...
MoveOn aims to cover the image of the entrance to the headquarters of AIG with virtual tomatoes 6.4 million, a figure that matches the dollar amount of the higher premium paid by the insurer to one of its executives. The issue has become a scandal and takes several days to the fore in the media around the world, is what the information society is ... another day perhaps reflect on this. In any case, I think that the initiative does not outweigh the anecdotal and it is true, we must take time to do that, but not bad report certain situations. The government is using taxpayer money to save certain institutions and companies, until then fine, but these funds should not be converted into raw finish some executives who obviously have not done as well as they could have.
To contextualize: up to 73 executives of American International Group (AIG) , eleven of whom no longer work for the company, received more than a million dollars each after the company had to be rescued in September 2008 with a disbursed national of 170,000 million dollars, bringing the U.S. government has made almost 80% stake in the company.
One of the executives received a "bonus" of $ 6.4 million, the seven largest recipients were made with premiums of more than four million and among the ten biggest beneficiaries were distributed 42 million dollars. In addition, 22 executives perceive more than two million dollars each.
On Wednesday March 18, learned the news that AIG CEO Edward Liddy, considered "bad taste" of 165 million dollars in bonuses the firm distributed among its executives, but defended his deal because the company was "tied "legally: premiums had been signed in contracts over a year old.
A few days ago got another news media: nine out of ten executives of insurer American International Group who received the higher premiums of the company and have returned the money obtained in view of the controversy raised, according to the attorney general of New York, Andrew Cuomo. It's only 63 ...
Internet and print paper, an uneasy coexistence
By Fernando Mexia - Columnists , Maria Benito , Journalism - 05/03/2009
Maria Benito, journalist
Internet: salvation or condemnation of newspapers?
The latter have been The Philadelphia Inquires, The Philadelphia Daily News, which on Sunday announced the bankruptcy, and San Francisco Chronicle, Hearst group, which may have to close. Both side of the Atlantic as to press charges the crisis by falling advertising and cut dividends, jobs or close the headers. But in addition, has intensified the debate about the end of the press (not new) to the unstoppable advance of the Internet, which is the future ... or the present?
Philadelphia Newspapers have succumbed to its own debt, but continue running. The editor of The Times suspended its dividing and a few days ago an article was referring to the financial difficulties of the empire of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. (which publishes The Sun, New York Post or The Wall Street Journal), which announced record losses of 6,400 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. In addition, publishers New York Times, Gannett and McClatchy, who number among the three 135 day, saw their income fell 13%, 16% and 18% respectively in 2008. In Spain the Prisa Group announced in February that its net profit fell by 56.8% last year and its debt has increased to 5.044 million euros.
The press survived the development of radio and television, are complementary means, however, fears about its demise have been revived by the rise of the Internet. Now is not the newspapers disappear, but the role (as with digital readers of books). The threat is serious, we must adapt to the new format and most editors know, the question is if they have not taken too late. In Spain the major newspapers launched their digital versions because we had to have them and subordinated to the role completely, limiting their growth potential. Now it seems that things are changing, they have to change, because no advertisers or readers want the same thing on the Internet than in print newspapers. Are different media also involves very different working rhythms. One indicator of this change is the merging of digital templates and the role of the Country (formalized in late February), the director has decided to promote the online version, they say is their priority.
The second debate is about the profitability of digital newspapers, which apparently is not clear, although there are examples that show that work and can be profitable, but perhaps not at the same level that have been printed editions. In the case of large heads, their systems in the network have experienced sustained by the revenue of newspapers on paper. The steep drop in advertising has made a point of reflection and inflection. In Internet advertising continues to grow, but may not be sufficient to maintain the structures of the newspapers as they are now. In any case, the digital versions saves paper, the presses and the people in charge of handling them, and the cost of distribution.
There is no consensus on how to make websites profitable. The user is accustomed to free access to information and attempts to collect it have been generally unsuccessful. There is talk of using the iTunes system to charge for pieces of information, but it is unclear that it will work. It also notes that the mainstream media should join together and agree on the payment or part of their contents if they want to work, or that create a sort of G-20 to implement the new measures that could save the business . I see it unlikely ...
What is clear is that change is needed. But regardless of the support to survive, we must not forget the importance of quality information and contrasted. Newspapers are necessary for democracies.
Photo: stock.xchng
Super Bowl, a goal to the crisis
By Fernando Mexia - Columnists , Economy , Entertainment , Mary Benedict - 03/02/2009
Maria Benito, journalist
Super Bowl: The great festival of advertising in the U.S.
I do not know which of the advertisements issued before the Super Bowl American football final, after or during the broadcast was more fun, but says some regular Doritos and Monster managed to start the laughter. This is important. On the biggest night of the sporting year in the U.S. had to prevail optimism, but also restraint. Containment and sacrifice, as Obama says, even though it paid about $ 100,000 per second (in some advertising the NBC had to discount because the rates were high in times of crisis).
What interests me the matter is that despite the crisis that affects us all has also caused some difficulty to major media event and sports (in that order) of the year in the U.S., the Super Bowl is the Super Bowl , as advertisers say, and again has taken the upper hand.
The football final, held on Sunday February 1 in Tampa, Florida is a great showcase of advertising, an event that still about 90 million people, one third of the U.S. population So each year marked records in the prices of advertising space, everyone wants to be there, although it is more profitable in the long term (to create brand), that short, said Tim Calkins, marketing professor at Northwestern University .
This year NBC sold the 30-second spots at $ 3 million, representing 11% more than in 2008. According to Nielsen data, prices have been rising steadily since the first edition in 1967, when he paid $ 37,500 for every half a minute, not bad ...
So even though some classics of the event have been withdrawn by the economic and image problems that would cause them to pay that amount when they applied for government bailout or announced the layoff of thousands of people, the Super Bowl has been economically successful. Reason was pleased with Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports & Olympics, who said he was "delighted" to have sold all the spaces. Specifically, NBC Sports has achieved $ 206 million of advertising revenue.
Of those who have been this year, I want to highlight the case of Pepsi, which has invested heavily. In addition to buying three and half minutes (it was the second poster after Anheuser-Bush InBev) and issue a notice in 3D, the beverage company has signed an agreement this year to block its rival, Coca Cola, during the first half of the broadcast, according to the magazine Forbes .
So despite the recession in U.S. (The economy contracted by 3.8% last quarter) the Super Bowl is the Super Bowl and people needed a break, and have issued too many negative messages in recent months, he needed football, entertainment, and beautiful ... the ads show must go on! Tell that Springsteen, who got tickets to their spring tour the day after performing at the Super Bowl.
Redigest globalization
By Fernando Mexia - Columnists , Economy , Maria Benito - 27/01/2009
Maria Benito, journalist
While waiting for something to change
The week in which the whole world looks to America, you get excited, united and full of hope a new president, and having heard countless times in the media that one of the keys to solving the economic crisis is affecting us confidence, I came across a report highlighting that one of the main risks to be faced by the world as a result of the crisis is to increase the deficit: the high public spending to support financial institutions can pose a threat for the fiscal position of countries.
But this is not the only risk for which alerts the "Global Risks Report 2009", the World Economic Forum (WEF) , also known as the Davos Forum, a city which has its headquarters this organization created in 1971 to "contribute to solving problems "in the economic and social world and in recent years has been opposed by anti-globalization groups.
Other risks that highlights are: a sharp drop in China's economy, the devaluation of asset prices, 
gaps in the international management of globalization and problems relating to natural resources and climate. Nothing new, in recent months we have read about these threats, which certainly does not help to restore confidence in anyone. However, it concludes with a positive message is that as every crisis is an opportunity ... it is time to strengthen the management of globalization, they say.
On this and on the future of global financial system (with the uncertainty of the displacement of the geo-economic power of developed economies to emerging) interventions will focus next Forum meeting (January 28-February 1) whose motto is "Saving the Post-Crisis World". In principle, the WEF meeting aims to provide world leaders an opportunity to "shop" to shape this new order.
Let's wait to see what happens, to check the draft recommendations of the Forum, which is aligned with the magazine Newsweek to ensure that the challenge is to build an inclusive and sustainable, modernized multilateralism and markets. Let's wait to see if Europe and the U.S. can adapt to new circumstances and overcome their fears to the entrance of the emerging ... The situation is complicated, and changes are needed now everyone looks to Obama to see how he deals with them. Will have to wait ... but it is likely that the change is slow, more than we would like, more than it would be politically advantageous, no doubt. Will have to wait ... and trust.
photograph of stock.xchng
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