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February 25, 2011
Zero Emissions Vehicles Round off Global Tour in Geneva
Photo: The Zero Emissions Race, co-sponsored by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), comes to a close as electric vehicles cruise through the finish line at the UN Office at Geneva, Switzerland. The “zero emissions” vehicles, powered by renewable energies like solar, wind, wave and geothermal, drove across the globe in 80 days, through 16 countries, for a total of 3,000 kilometres. February 24, 2011. Geneva, Switzerland. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre.
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:26 AM | View the original post
February 24, 2011
Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge
Photo: Desert Palm play Cartier during the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge at the Desert Palm Hotel on February 18, 2011 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge is one of the most celebrated tournaments in the desert. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Cartier. © 2011 Getty Images.)
Photo: Lebanese actress Nadine Njeim poses for a photgraph in the Cartier Villa at the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge at the Desert Palm Hotel on February 18, 2011 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge is one of the most celebrated tournaments in the desert. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Cartier. © 2011 Getty Images.)
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:55 AM | View the original post
February 19, 2011
U.S.A. Vetoes Draft Resolution Condemning Israeli Settlement Activity
Photo: A view of the Security Council as Susan E. Rice (third from left), Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the UN, on behalf of her Government, vetoes a draft resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity. The other 14 Members of the Council voted in favour of the resolution. February 18, 2011. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras.
Photo: A wide view of the Security Council as 14 Members vote in favour of a draft resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity. The draft resolution was vetoed by the United States. February 18, 2011. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras.
Photo: A wide view of the Security Council as Susan E. Rice, Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the UN, vetoes a draft resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity. The other 14 Members of the Council voted in favour of the resolution. February 18, 2011. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/John McIlwaine.
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:38 AM | View the original post
February 18, 2011
Daimler Unveils BharatBenz - An Exclusive Brand for Its Trucks in India
Photo: Mercedes-Benz Zetros + All Wheel Drive (AWD) Technology: Zetros 4x4.
Daimler, the world’s largest manufacturer of Medium and Heavy-duty trucks above 6 tonnes, yesterday unveiled its exclusive new brand of trucks for the Indian market. The brand, BharatBenz, will offer Indian customers an entire range of trucks from 6 to 49 tons across various applications.
Photo: The prototype of a BharatBenz truck.
• Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG & Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars; Andreas Renschler, Head of Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses; and Marc Llistosella, Managing Director and CEO of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, unveiled the BharatBenz brand at the production location in Oragadam, near Chennai in India.
Photo: 125 years of innovation: 1886 - Benz Patent-Motorwagen. Invention of the motor car.
• Daimler AG, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, is commemorating 125 years of the automobile this year. The pioneering spirit of its founders set the world in motion, by creating the world’s first automobile.
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 9:37 AM | View the original post
Contenders for UN Security Council Permanent Seats
Photo: Joseph Deiss (centre), President of the sixty-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly, meets with high-level representatives of the G4 nations, the group seeking permanent seats on the Security Council.
From left:
• Takeaki Matsumoto, Japanese State Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
• V. L. B. Crivano Machado, Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs of Brazil.
• S. M. Krishna, Minister for Foreign Affairs of India.
• Guido Westerwelle, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany.
February 11, 2011. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.
• The current council is composed of five permanent members with veto power - the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain, the victors of World War II - and 10 members elected for two-year terms.
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“Well, also,” says he elsewhere, “was it written by Theologians: a King rules by divine right. He carries in him an authority from God, or man will never give it him. Can I choose my own King? I can choose my own King Popinjay, and play what farce or tragedy I may with him: but he who is to be my Ruler, whose will is to be higher than my will, was chosen for me in Heaven.”
— Sartor Resartus By Thomas Carlyle.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:21 AM | View the original post
February 17, 2011
Global Light-Vehicle Sales Set Record in 2010 and Build Momentum for 2011
Photo: A view of a Mercedes-Benz car during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center on February 11, 2011, in New York City. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz.)
• Global new light-vehicle sales this year are projected to reach 76.5 million units in 2011, which would surpass the record of 72 million light vehicles sold in 2010, according to J.D. Power and Associates Automotive Forecasting.
If new light-vehicle sales reach their expected levels, this would be 6 percent higher than the 2010 total, which shattered the previous record of 70 million units set in 2007.
“Overall growth in the world economy has been supporting further recovery in auto sales,” said John Humphrey, senior vice president of automotive operations at J.D. Power and Associates. “We’re seeing signals of stability and increased consumer demand for new vehicles as economic optimism increases.”
Photo: Q-Park wins bid to take over 14 car parks in London. Oxford Street is one of the car parks located in the heart of London.
Most regions saw sales growth in 2010, including North America, South America, and Asia, with China being a key to growth for that continent. Western Europe was the notable exception to the growth pattern.
Also, for the first time in 2010, emerging auto markets accounted for more than one-half of global light-vehicle sales (51%), clearly signaling the shift of power in the global automotive market that has been taking place during the past five years. That momentum in the emerging markets is expected to continue throughout 2011.
Photo: The REVA NXG Electric Car, Bangalore, India.
• Outlook for 2011: Mature Markets Recover, Emerging Markets Continue to Expand
Emerging markets, including China, India, and Brazil, are expected to continue to expand on the 51 percent share of total light-vehicle sales captured in 2010. Overall, emerging markets are expected to account for 53 percent of total light-vehicle sales in 2011, a further sign that these are the key markets that will drive the level of growth in the coming years.
Mature markets, on the other hand, are forecasted to see mixed results. The U.S. economy is expected to be stronger, which should lead to higher sales. Western Europe is expected to be flat, while Japan is expected to see its auto market shrink.
Photo: Thirty-one brand new Porsche Panameras are awaiting their flight to the U.S. at the Leipzig, Germany, airport. Having just rolled off the assembly line at the nearby Porsche production plant, each car is carefully lifted, secured and then placed on the 747 cargo plane.
• North America
The outlook for North America in 2011 is positive, with sales forecasted to increase by 11 percent to 15.5 million units — an increase of 1.5 million units from 2010.
• Europe
In contrast to the steady recovery taking place in North America, Europe is expected to see a slight decrease in its light-vehicle market in 2011, with sales down to 18.1 million units.
• Asia
The auto market in Asia will continue to grow in 2011.
CHINA: In China, a country that has seen exceptional growth in its auto market in recent years, sales are expected to exceed 19 million units, an increase of 11 percent compared with 2010.
• In spite of the expected cooling of the growth rate, China will remain the top global auto market by a significant margin — outselling the U.S. by approximately 6 million units — and the long-term prospects for the market remain strong.
INDIA: With the higher income levels and increased demand for new sub-compact models, sales in India are being boosted, particularly in the semi-urban and rural markets. Accordingly, sales volume in India in 2011 is projected to be up 17 percent to 3.2 million units.
• South America
South America’s economies and auto markets have made a sharp recovery.
According to J.D. Power, the significant near-term risks to the region include rising inflation and continuing monetary tightening, a sudden reversal in investor confidence, and a possible credit bubble in Brazil, which is the largest auto market in the region with nearly 75 percent of sales.
Photo: A 30 ft. inflatable Carfax Car Fox helps draw customers to Serra Buick Cadillac GMC Showroom in Michigan, USA.
“From a global standpoint, 2010 was a combination of recovery and strong growth in emerging markets,” said Jeff Schuster, executive director of global forecasting at J.D. Power and Associates. “Growth in 2011 is not expected to be as pronounced as it was in 2010. However, 2011 appears to be a stable environment with more manageable growth rates balanced across the world, as the recovery in the auto market will continue in many countries.”
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:46 AM | View the original post
February 13, 2011
NASCAR Sprint Cup
Photo: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, leads Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Toyota, during practice for the NASCAR Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 11, 2011 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR. © Getty Images.)
Photo: Jimmie Johnson (R), driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, and his wife Chandra (L) play with their daughter Genevieve Marie on the grid prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on September 26, 2010 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images for NASCAR. © Getty Images.)
Photo: Juan Pablo Montoya, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, and Clint Bowyer, driver of the #33 BB&T Chevrolet, lead the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AMP Energy Juice 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 31, 2010 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR. © Getty Images.)
Photo: Johanna Long, driver of the #20 Panhandle Grading & Paving Toyota, stands on the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series WinStar World Casino 350k at Texas Motor Speedway on November 4, 2010 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images. © Getty Images.)
Photo: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Office Depot Chevrolet, leads a line of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Price Chopper 400 on October 3, 2010 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images. © Getty Images.)
Photo: Five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson (L) signs autographs during Day 2 of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champions Week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on December 1, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR. © Getty Images.)
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 9:57 AM | View the original post
