Thaw in China-Taiwan Relations

A significant thaw in China-Taiwan relations is occurring.In the third round of negotiations between the two states,cross-border banking was arranged,as was an increase in direct flights between China and Taiwan.Subsequently,China Mobile,Ltd. offered a 17.8 billion dollar investment-a 12% stake-in Taiwan's Far EasTone Telecommunications.Pending Taiwanese regulators' approval,it is the first direct investment by a Chinese state-owned firm in a Taiwanese company.Finally,China will allow Taiwan to take a seat at the World Health Assembly,parent of the World Health Organization, in Geneva.Taiwan was expelled from the World Health Organization in 1971,when China took over its seat.Relations between China and Taiwan are at their best in 60 years.China regards Taiwan as a wayward province of China.

Nature Note:Leafing Out

The leaves are fully out now,bringing shade to the property.Some of the shade is desirable,as it cuts cooling costs.Other shade may not be,if you're growing sun-loving plants.If the shade trees are on an adjacent property,there's little you can do about it.You may well just have to plant shade-tolerant plants such as Canadian hemlock and hostas.I planted a hemlock seedling last year,but a rabbit set it back with its browsing.The hemlock won't die,but I lost a year because of that rabbit.For now,there is plenty of grass and weeds for the rabbits to browse.

Colombia Applies For Credit

Colombia has applied to the International Monetary Fund for a 10.4 billion dollar line of credit.Colombian central bank head Jose Dario Uribe said the line is for emergency use only.IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn described Colombia as having strong economic fundamentals.It is the kind of nation the IMF would relax loan conditions for.Indeed,the credit line Colombia applied for has no conditions attached at all.It would only be used in the event the financial crisis deepens.The IMF promotes international monetary cooperation,currency stabilization and international trade.It is an autonomous UN agency based in Washington,D.C.

Nature Note:Reworking Gardens

For the past ten days,we have had about one minute of sunshine.This has to be affecting us in hidden ways.Jokes about it help,but don't stop the slowing down that results from prolonged overcast.Growers are pained by the failure of seed to germinate in the cooler than normal conditions,although the potted plants are well.It may be necessary to reseed if their seed rotted in the soggy earth, or was even washed away.Weeds have been proliferating in gardens,which means the extra work of dealing with them,when you had just done so before the endless rain began.By Sunday,the sun will have returned for consecutive days of shining.

IMF Sees Further Losses

The International Monetary Fund says that losses to financial institutions are likely to climb.Losses from toxic assets will be a potential four trillion dollars.More capital will have to be raised-up to 1.7 billion dollars of it.The banking system is still not stabilized.The global financial system will be damaged for years to come.In the IMF's view,the current outlook is exceptionally bleak.The U.S. economy will drop 2.8% in 2009;Japan's will decline 6.2%;and trade volume will slip by 11%.China will grow 6.5%,which is less than half of its growth rate of two years ago.Recovery is unlikely to begin until 2010.Unemployment will rise until late 201o,the IMF projects.

Nature Note:Northern Breeze

A northern breeze has brought us down to below average temperatures from well-above average readings-a bizarre experience for growers doing their seeding.Those who thought they won't put the heat on again will have to think again as it becomes chilly tonight.The flannel and sweaters are having another day,but a mere sprinkle isn't clearing the oak pollen away from our noses.The sunglasses weren't needed as we planted this morning,and we didn't have to worry about young plants withering in baked earth.All in all,it's better not to race into high summer.

Energy Firms Reach Accords

Big players in the energy markets have been reaching deals this month.Both Royal Dutch Shell and Gazprom,the Russian natural gas titan,have signed on to buy about a million tons each of the Sakhalin-2 project's Liquefied Natural Gas.Sakhalin-2 is located in the Russian Far East.According to Gazprom,the contracts run from 2009 to 2028.At the same time,Gazprom will deliver another million tons of gas to Shell through pipelines to Europe,in exchange for access to Shell's Mexico re-gasification terminal at Costa Azul.This contract also runs for 20 years.