Is it the end of US Empire?

The superpower understandably wants to maintain the status quo of a uni-polar system in dominating the world.

Ironically, U.S. is the empire with the imperial idea of dominating the world. Will Washington felt the increasingly important role play by China in the world economic affairs post as a direct challenge to fundamental US interests?


"It is absolutely natural that China will play an increasingly important role in the world economic affairs," John Lipsky, first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said in Trujillo Wednesday.

Lipsky made the comments at a press conference organized on the sidelines of the 15th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum Finance Ministers' meeting. Lipsky said China, with its high economic growth, will play a more important role in the world economic affairs.

The IMF, as an international organization that oversees the global financial system by following the macroeconomic policies of its member countries, has acted as an emergency loan lender in the current international financial crisis.

Lipsky promised that the Fund would set up a new surveillance system to play a more positive role in tackling financial crisis.

Anwar is the snitch for the Americans?

Can the statement of US Secretary of State Dr Condoleezza Rice urging Malaysia to ensure a "transparent" investigation into sex misconduct allegations against PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim be interpreted as Anwar is the “snitch” for the Americans?

US Secretary of State Dr Condoleezza Rice urged Malaysia to ensure a "transparent" investigation into sex misconduct allegations against PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Rice said US would continue to speak out on cases involving human rights and politics although it did so "in a spirit of respect for Malaysia".

"The United States doesn't recognize this very firm barrier that it is simply internal affairs when a case of this kind comes up, but we are going to continue to work with Malaysia," she told reporters.

"One of the things that we have said is that we want to see transparency and for rule of law to be completely followed here."

Malaysia has accused the United States of meddling in its internal affairs by raising concern over Anwar's arrest last week on sodomy charges - the same charge that saw him jailed a decade ago.

Rice's remarks are bound to infuriate the Malaysian government where a few leaders have attacked Anwar as a “snitch” for the Americans.

Support your favorite presidential candidate, wear a condom

The American voters can have fun with the Republican presidential candidate John McCain and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in the United States presidential election of 2008 campaign by wearing the condoms.

A New York NYC company has decided to market condoms featuring images of Barack Obama and John McCain for the fun of it.

The presidential race is in full swing—in more ways than you might imagine. A young New York City entrepreneur has decided to “have fun” with the campaign by marketing condoms featuring images of Barack Obama and John McCain.

Benjamin Sherman, who created the company Practice Safe Policy, says the Obama condom carries the slogan “Use With Good Judgment.” The McCain version says “OLD BUT Not Expired.”

According to the Web site, McCain condoms “are battle tested, strong and durable, for those occasions when you just need to switch your position!”

While the company can’t guarantee the condoms are 100 percent effective, it says it’s certain “that without wearing one, there’s likely to be an Obama-Mama in your future.”