https://padlet.com/fadjarfadjar/dxwx6pvjsa10 en-us 2016-05-27 03:39:46 UTC 2016-06-14 02:22:36 UTC hello@padlet.com fadjarfadjar https://padlet.com/fadjarfadjar/dxwx6pvjsa10/wish/112785878 The article below is by Gardiner Harris, who writes “Vietnam Arms Embargo to be Fully Lifted, Obama Says in Hanoi” published on www.nytimes.com on May 23, 2016.

During his presidential visit to Vietnam, Obama has made the decision to fully lifting on Vietnam arms banned. This decision to reach his aim to normalize the relations between U.S. and Vietnam after the war. However, the embargo released doesn’t follow with easiness to make weapons transaction, but still, U.S authority will examine what’s appropriate and what’s not. 
On the Vietnam’s side, this particular visit also was taken to fix its relations with China. As we know, China is the closest country both geographically and ideologically, but since both countries claimed the same sea area, Vietnam needs weapons supply to protect its sea sovereignty and facing the unpredictable scenario in South China Sea’s issue. Meanwhile, China itself has warm reactions about this visit; China is welcoming how the two countries are trying to normalize the relations. Other parts of Obama’s visit to Hanoi is both countries has an agreement to open Fulbright University in Ho Chi Minh City, the first independent university in Vietnam.

Overall, the initiative of U.S. to normalize their relations with their opponent in the past should be appreciated. Moreover, increasing productive cooperation can be more beneficially for both countries.]]> 2016-05-27 03:41:38 UTC https://padlet.com/fadjarfadjar/dxwx6pvjsa10/wish/112785878 fadjarfadjar https://padlet.com/fadjarfadjar/dxwx6pvjsa10/wish/112800007 The article below is by Mitsuru Obe and Peter Landers, who writes “Japan’s Shinzo Abe Seeks Foreign Support for More Government Stimulus” published on www.wsj.com on May 24, 2016.

Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, will take benefit from the G7 summit which will be held in Ise-Shima, Japan on 26-27 May 2016. He will ask some help from his fellow's leaders to find the solution to increase Japan’s economy. Even though its economy in the first quarter was better than expected, they are still struggling to gather sustained momentum. Japan’s official are hoping the G7 leaders can endorse using government spending to stimulate growth worldwide; that might help win over the saturated economy in Japan. 
The fact that Abe will face parliamentary election in July, he soon must decide about the postponement of a sales tax increase from 8% to 10% in April 2017. However many officials deplore this delay, they believe that if the sales tax increase on schedule it will help their economy as being security system and reduce the government’s debt burden, which is among the world’s biggest.

Overall, Abe seems to bring their national issue to the G7 forum. So they hope that other leaders can take part to find a solution. However, maintaining economic growth with government spending and increasing the sales tax might be work instead of taking a new loan.]]> 2016-05-27 07:24:20 UTC https://padlet.com/fadjarfadjar/dxwx6pvjsa10/wish/112800007 fadjarfadjar https://padlet.com/fadjarfadjar/dxwx6pvjsa10/wish/113016382 The article below is titled “The Last BRIC Standing” written by Ian Bremmer and published on www.fortune.com on December 25, 2015.

Goldman Sachs, the bank which manages the fund of the members of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) has revealed its 80% assets lost since their last peak in 2010. It happened because now the majority of the country members are experiencing an economic slowdown. Except India, who is still running as one of the fastest growing major economies in the world. Its GDP is predicted to expand by 7.5 % to 8 % in 2016. However, the country’s problem dealing with poverty still appears with more than 170 million people live on less than $1.90 per day, according to the World Bank. India’s economy growth not too much depends on exports, this makes the country vulnerability of slowing economies is lower than somewhere else. Recently, they are in confidence as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic reform starting to bear results. Modi’s economic changes are to open India to private investment.

Overall, India has shown us how they can survive its economic growth by not relying on other countries yet by domestic consumption. Also, enhancing the investment opportunities widely, will affect their economy in the future.

]]> 2016-05-30 07:05:55 UTC https://padlet.com/fadjarfadjar/dxwx6pvjsa10/wish/113016382 fadjarfadjar https://padlet.com/fadjarfadjar/dxwx6pvjsa10/wish/113290799 The article below is called “London at last sets a starting date for its 24-hour tube. Probably” is written by B.R, the Economist journalist and published on www.theeconomist.com on May 24, 2016.

In 1863, London became the first city in the world to build underground train system. It called Tube, which ran from Paddington to Farrington. Currently, tube network operates 420 kilometers through 270 stations across the city. During 2015-2016, approximately 1.34 billion Londoners took tube journeys resulting in crowded and delays occurred. 
Transport for London (TfL) which runs the tube, has been busy overhauling the tube due to aging problem. The Recent improvement that appears in public is address from Sadiq Khan, London’s new mayor announced that the capital will start running 24-hour tube service in August, initially on two lines on Fridays and Saturdays. According to research held by TfL, 22,580 workers have the night shift in London on Fridays and Saturdays. Most of them are in low-paid professions and relying on long journey home by London’s night buses. TfL says the night tube will save their time on their trip.
However, there is an objection from the unions that represent tube workers. For them, modernisation has been deemed as a threat to its cushy contracts (tube driver typically earns £50,000 per year for a 36-hour week, and gets 43 days annual leave). The night tube was originally scheduled to launch last September, but those plans were defeat by the action of the drivers who were seeking better pay. But the unions are still spoiling for a fight, just a day after mayor’s announcement, the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers said maintenance staff had voted in support of further action against the launch of night-tube service. 

In my opinion, there will always be pros and cons about this policy. First, the mayor wants to accommodate and facilitate all the London citizens with 24-hour tube service to improve their public services. On the other hand, he needs to talk with the unions to find the solution about compensation that they asked. Therefore, both interests will be fulfilled wisely. 

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