Presseurop |

Czech Republic | Schoolkids taught to "compete" with China

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:16:52 +0100

“The new plan: schools to train pupils to succeed in competition with Chinese,” announces Mladá Fronta DNES. The Czech National Economic Council (NERV) has presented recommendations for a new education system designed to make future members of the Czech labour force capable of outranking their rivals in China and South Korea, writes the Prague daily. The emphasis will be on a better knowledge of one single foreign language, English, as well as information technology, mathematics and a basic understanding of finance. “The government is preparing to change the education system as quickly as possible,” notes the newspaper. “The first generation to face global competition is now enrolling in schools,” remarks an economist quoted by the newspaper, who points out that education is an “absolute priority” in Asia.

(News in brief)

Arend | War of the currencies | Cartoon (Het Financieele Dagblad, Amsterdam)

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 13:21:01 +0100

(Cartoon) (Cartoon)

Geopolitics | United, but not with Europe (Wprost, Warsaw)

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:41:12 +0100

The good news is that from Asia to the Americas, an increasing number of countries are coming together to create unions inspired by the EU. And the bad news? In the long term these entities may overshadow the EU on the world stage, worries Polish weekly Wprost. (Article)

Denmark | Largest shipyard Lindø due to close

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:14:08 +0100

The business daily Børsen reports that Lindøværftet, Denmark's largest shipyard, which has been struggling to maintain its market share in the face of stiff competition from China and South Korea, will shortly close. Located in Odense, the Lindø currently employs 2,500 people. However, taking into account the its numerous sub-contractors, as many as 8,000 jobs may now be in jeopardy. The loss of the shipyard, which was founded in 1917, will come as a a major shock in Denmark where it is considered a source of national pride.

Renowned for its ability to break new ground in the field of shipbuilding, the Lindø made the headlines in 2006 when it launched the world's largest container ship, the Emma Mærsk. Owned by the A. P. Møller-Mærsk business empire, the country's largest shipbuilder, a large proportion of the shares in the business are still controlled by 96-year-old Arnold Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller – a much loved public figure and philanthropist, who is ranked by Forbes as the world's second richest Dane. According to Børsen, the Lindø, which will cease seeking new contracts and will close its doors in 2012.

(News in brief)