Industry in Europe Threatened to Close Due to Gas Scarcity

KotabumiNews - Production activity of a number of European giants has been under pressure for months due to gas shortages ahead of this year's winter.

The price is too high to make the company unable to buy it. "This is not a question of shutting down the operation. The price, the cost is the problem," said Traton SE Chief Executive Officer Christian Levin.

The company is engaged in manufacturing truck units for Volkswagen AG. Companies in Europe have to pay seven times as much as in the US for gas. This shows the crisis of competitiveness in the industry on the continent so that it can harm the economy.

With President Vladimir Putin increasingly aggressive in increasing his attacks on Ukraine, the signal for the return of gas flows to the Blue Continent is getting smaller.

In one of the most obvious signs, the largest economy in the European Union, Germany, posted a declining trade surplus as higher costs of energy imports beat exports of cars and machinery, and chemical companies began shifting production overseas.

Last month, German production prices jumped to a record level of 46 percent. For example, plastic producer Covestro AG is not going to increase its investment in Europe and is starting to target Asia.

Covestro Chief Executive Officer Markus Steilemann said the company could secure energy at a price 20 times cheaper than in Germany and the German spot market.

Germany's biggest automaker, Volkswagen, warned on Thursday that it was considering relocating production facilities outside Germany or in Eastern Europe if energy prices did not slow down.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit companies in the Middle East this week in an effort to reach liquefied natural gas deals with Saudi Arabia and Qatar to replace cuts to gas flows from Russia.

However, negotiations regarding this matter are rather difficult, with gas supplies including Qatar being super careful about prices and contract terms. While discussions in Europe and North America were no less difficult, they underscore the uphill battle that Scholz faces in securing supplies at prices that will keep Germany's economic base competitive.

Covestro estimates fuel costs will peak at 2 billion euros (US$2.2 billion by 2022, nearly four times that of 2020. "At current price levels, Germany's energy-intensive industry is no longer globally competitive," a Covestro spokesman said.

This is because, he said, importing chemical products from the US or China is cheaper than producing them locally. Manufacturers including Volkswagen and BMW AG have been forced to switch from gas to oil or coal to keep operations going. However, some energy-intensive manufacturers, such as metals, paper, and ceramics, cannot do this, so more factories are closing.

Chemical giant BASF SE even prefers to import key ingredients such as ammonia from competitors. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz AG has started to ramp up production of key parts for cars in order to secure supplies when it comes to closing factories in Germany.

Christian Seyfert, Managing Director of VIK, a group representing energy-intensive companies, said the spike in energy prices was a burden that could cause irreversible damage to the core of the European economy.

"We strongly advise politicians to take decisive action so that Germany and Europe as a business location are not completely left behind internationally."

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China's Tianwen-1 Mars Mission Wins Prestigious Award at International Space Congress

KotabumiNews - China's Tianwen 1 Mars mission was awarded one of the space world's most prestigious awards at the 73rd International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Paris.

The Tianwen 1 mission was judged to have successfully carried out a historic first combined orbit, landing and exploration in a single launch. The Tianwen 1 spacecraft took off from the Wenchang spaceport on July 23, 2020 and entered Mars orbit in February 2021. The mission's solar-powered rover Zhurong then successfully landed on the Red Planet's Utopia Planitia plain in May 2020.

The mission carried out a historic combined orbit, landing, and exploration for the first time in a single launch. The achievement was rewarded with the International Astronautical Federation's annual space achievement award on Sunday 18 September 2022 during the 73rd International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Paris.

International Astronautical Federation (IAF) President Pascale Ehrenfreund introduced the team behind the spacecraft development at this year's keynote lecture at IAC. Jilian Wang, vice president at the Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST) which developed the spacecraft, presented an overview of the mission and outlined some of the key scientific achievements so far in the keynote, including global mapping of the Red Planet and back data that offers evidence of an ancient Martian ocean.

Wang also recorded visual highlights from the mission, including a Mars orbit selfie and an orbital insertion video. Tianwen 1 continues an extended science mission in Mars orbit, but on the surface, the Zhurong rover is currently hibernating to view winter in Mars' northern hemisphere.

The 240 kilogram solar-powered rover is currently expected to resume activity in December or January. "That's when more solar energy reaches Mars," said a member of the mission team during a question-and-answer session.

China also wants to follow up on its Mars success with an ambitious mission to collect samples from Mars and send them to Earth. The mission is named Tianwen 3 and will involve a pair of launches of Long March 5, China's largest rocket, sometime in 2028.

The mission is to send a lander and orbiter spacecraft to the Red Planet. Prior to this, the country aimed to conduct its first asteroid sample return mission with Tianwen 2, which launches sometime in 2025.

The mission is also likely to be open to international cooperation. "We want to partner with more space agencies, space companies, universities and all kinds of other entities," Wang said.

Japan's Hayabusa2 team's asteroid sample return mission won the award in 2021. China previously won an IAF award in 2020 for the Chang'e 4 landing on the far side of the moon.

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Putin Deploys Reserve Troops Intensifies War in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the partial mobilization of the Russian armed forces on Wednesday morning. He decreed sending Russians undergoing military training to join the fighting in Ukraine while finalizing an all-out draft.

"Only citizens who will be recruited for military service who are currently in the reserves and first of all those who have a certain profession and have the necessary experience, will be recruited for the campaign," Putin said in a televised broadcast, as quoted by NPR, Thursday 22 September 2022.

The announcement came just a day after several Russian-controlled areas announced plans for a referendum to become part of Russia. The series of choreographed events is reminiscent of the Russian leader's announcement to send thousands of troops to Ukraine in February.

Putin's announcement on Wednesday September 21 also comes as his country struggles to replenish its fighting force in Ukraine after suffering a setback on the battlefield amid a surging Ukrainian counter-offensive.

In a separate television interview, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia would soon call in 300,000 reservists to guard the front lines in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, criticism of Putin continues to be broadcast in the West. Addressing world leaders at the UN General Assembly Wednesday morning, US President Joe Biden said Russia had shamelessly violated the core principles of the UN charter by invading Ukraine.

"Putin claimed he had to act because Russia was being threatened," President Biden said. "No one threatens Russia. And no one but Russia seeks conflict," he stressed.

US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink tweeted that Russia is showing signs of weakness and is failing to escalate its war with Ukraine. Brink vowed that the United States would never recognize Russia's claim to annex Ukrainian territory, and would continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as necessary.

In his speech, Putin said greater strength was needed as Ukraine continues to receive heavy weaponry from Western collectives intent on weakening, isolating and destroying Russia.

The Russian leader also believes Russia has a moral obligation to protect civilians in parts of Russia-occupied Ukraine as they hold a series of referendums on joining the Russian Federation this weekend.

Putin also accused Western powers of providing Ukraine with long-range weapons systems that could strike deep into Russian territory and again accused Ukraine and its allies of threatening Russia with nuclear threats.

Putin warned Russia and its people would use all available means in their defense - noting Russia has a capable nuclear arsenal. "This is not a bluff," Putin said.

"Those who blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know the wind can turn and blow their way," he said.

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Quality Products Are One Way to Compete in the Automotive Market

KotabumiNews - Lately, competition in the automotive market continues to run tight between brands in Indonesia. So tight, automotive manufacturers are competing to present various innovations to the latest products to attract consumers.

Not only that, automotive brands also pamper their consumers by presenting a variety of qualified services with various interesting programs.

One of them was carried out by PT Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Sales Indonesia (MMKSI) which launched its newest product in the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) segment, the New Xpander Cross. The launch coincided with the opening of the 2022 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS).

"We are still optimistic even though the market has many competitors. We admit that other products are good, but our products are the most superior," said Director of Sales and Marketing Division of PT MMKSI, Tetsuro Tsuchida at a press conference in Tangerang, Friday, August 12, 2022.

He said that his newest product, the New Xpander Cross, was the result of refinement and improvement of a more exciting and different driving system.

"Yesterday we just introduced the New Xpander Cross, this model should not be called a facelift or skin change. We present an improvement and also a new and different driving system improvement," he said.

He further revealed that for almost five years, the Xpander and Xpander Cross markets were very satisfied and happy to own these vehicles. The services provided by Mitsubishi must also be good enough to satisfy consumers.

"The used car Xpander is still very sought after. So the price of used cars is very high until now, so the investment value is quite good," he said. Meanwhile, Irwan Kuncoro, Director of Sales and Marketing Division of PT MMKSI, admitted that the products and services presented by his party were quite good, all of which could accompany and support an adventurous life.

According to him, in addition to introducing the New Xpander Cross, his party also introduced the Life Adventure branding, where with such a concept he wanted to ensure that the best products and services were from Mitsubishi Motors.

"In this case, in relation to the products we introduce today, Xpander Cross can accompany our customers' life adventures. We are confident and confident that our products and services will be competitive," he concluded.

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Defeat Curacao, FIFA Ranking Indonesian National Team Displaces 4 Countries

Defeating the Curacao National Team, the FIFA ranking of the Indonesian national team can rise four places to 151st position in the world.

The condition is that the Indonesian national team must be able to maximize the two FIFA Matchday matches on September 24 and 27 the day after tomorrow and next week so that the FIFA Ranking increases.

The Indonesian national team will face the Curacao National Team on September 24 and 27, 2022 at the Gelora Bandung Lautan Api (GBLA) Stadium and Pakansari Stadium, Bogor. If they win in these two matches, the Indonesian national team can get significant additional points in the FIFA rankings.

The Curacao national team is currently ranked 84th in the world compared to the Indonesian national team which occupies 155th position in the world. If they win in two matches, Indonesia will get an additional 14.82 points and make the collection of national team numbers in the FIFA rankings reach 1,033.28 points.

Well, the additional 14.82 points allowed them to move up four places to 151st in the world. This means that the Indonesian national team straddles four countries above it, namely the Dominican Republic (1,031 points), Andorra (1,028 points), Yemen (1,023 points) and Afghanistan (1,023 points).

Because of the crucial importance of the Indonesian national team match against Curacao, coach Shin Tae-yong will play his best squad, including recalling players abroad. Egy Maulana Vikri until Elkan Baggott was called back to defend the Indonesian national team.

The Indonesian national team continues to finalize preparations ahead of meeting Curacao in the FIFA Match Day match at the Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium, Saturday (24/9).

The FIFA Match Day match against Curacao was held twice, after in Bandung continued at the Pakansari Stadium, Bogor Regency, Tuesday (27/9).

Meanwhile, a player who had just been called up to the Indonesian national team, Muhammad Ferrari, admitted that he really enjoyed practicing with the Garuda squad.

Moreover, he has just brought the Indonesian U-20 team to qualify for the final round of the AFC U-20 2023 Cup. "Alhamdulillah, the seniors welcomed me well.

They embraced and taught me how to train with the senior team. They also explained my shortcomings in training," said Ferrari.

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Next Year's Dark World is Real! BI Gives New Evidence

Bank Indonesia (BI) estimates that global economic conditions are at risk of lower growth accompanied by high inflationary pressures and uncertainty in financial markets.

This was stated by BI Governor Perry Warjiyo in a press conference on the results of the September 2022 edition of the Board of Governors Meeting which was broadcast online, Thursday (22/9/2022).

"The global economy is at risk of lower growth," Perry said.

Perry said the decline in world economic growth is expected to be even greater in 2023, especially in the United States (US), Europe and China. In fact, there is a risk of a recession in a number of developed countries.

"The volume of world trade remains low, amid an economic slowdown, disruption to global supply chains is increasing," Perry said.

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