The week ahead

tauringhuang.

Aug 17th 2008
From Economist.com

Seeking an end to the conflict in Georgia, and other news

AFP
• GEORGIA will get attention from diplomats and plenty of humanitarian aid over the week. A ceasefire appears to be holding, to some degree, and Russian troops are supposed to be withdrawing. Hot on the heals of Condoleezza Rice, America’s secretary of state, Germany’s Angela Merkel will travel to Tbilisi. On Tuesday August 19th a special meeting of NATO foreign ministers will convene to discuss the situation. A large joint naval exercise between Russia, America and Britain has been cancelled.

For background see article

• BOEING'S workers could add to the company's troubles as it attempts to get its new 787 “Dreamliner” into the air. Delays have hit outsourced parts, pushing back the launch date for the new airline and contract talks with unions could also prove troublesome. Negotiations over a new three-year contract with the International Association of Machinists, the planemakers main blue-collar union, begin on Thursday August 21st and changes to pension and health-care provisions are a likely sticking point. If unions decide to call a strike this could further delay the 787's first test flight, which is already a year behind schedule.

For background see article

• CENTRAL bankers and economists will gather in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for an annual jamboree organised by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas. The visitors to the swanky ski resort will, as ever, discuss what ails the world economy and how to put it right. Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, is set to make a speech that might shed some light on his views on the matter.

For background see article

• THE 2008 Beijing Olympic games closes on Sunday August 24th. Save a few gripes about artifice in the opening ceremony the games are going smoothly and successfully for China, which has lavished time and money to ensure that the world see the country in the best possible light. As the spectacle ends final judgment will be passed on China’s great coming-out party and thoughts will turn to whether London in 2012 could come anywhere near matching Beijing’s show.

For background see article

To listen to a discussion of the news in the coming week click here

chenxiaolins6

看看，占个位置。支持楼主