Current Events By Eric Agluba

LOCAL NEWS: Bombardier appeals to FTA in Honolulu rail dispute

What’s going on? HONOLULU (AP) - The losing contractor of a bid for a half-billion dollar project to build part of Honolulu's planned rail line plans to sue and has asked the Federal Transit Administration to step in. Bombardier Transportation USA Inc. said Monday it has asked the FTA to review the disqualification of its rail proposal by the city and the decision by a state hearings officer to uphold the denial. The $574 million contract to build 80 rail cars and provide power to a system control center went to Ansaldo Honolulu in January. Bombardier says it is asking the FTA to terminate the contract award. It also plans to file a lawsuit in Hawaii Circuit Court claiming the city did not follow procurement law.

In other words… Hawaii is being sued because Bombardier Transportation USA Inc. is mad that they did not receive the contract Bombardier claims that the state of Hawaii did not follow procedures. Bombardier basically went to the FTA for help in the dispute.

POLITICAL CURRENT EVENTS: OBAMA APPROVAL POLL By Eric Agluba

The poll released Sunday says 39 percent of Americans approve of Obama’s performance, while 54 percent disapprove. The slide comes as Obama launches a political counteroffensive this week bashing from Republicans campaigning for his job.

voters in a fiercely anti-incumbent mood framing the 2012 presidential race 15 months before Americans decide whether to give Obama a second term or hand power to a new president Trying to ride out what seems to be an unrelenting storm of economic anxiety, people in the United States increasingly are voicing disgust with most all of the men and women, Obama included, they sent to Washington to govern them.

In Summary… Most people do not approve of what Obama is doing People have their doubts in him People are looking at a new president in the 2012 elections.

DOMESTIC EVENTS: Will Chinese Inflation Squeeze U.S. Consumers?

What it says on CNN consumers won't pay directly for Chinese inflation. But there are other ways China's inflation woes could damage the U.S. Many U.S. multinationals are now banking on Chinese consumers to fuel their companies' growth Goldman Sachs, for instance, has predicted the Chinese will be buying a third of the world's luxury goods in less than a decade

FOREIGN EVENT: Tehran welcomes Moscow’s move to get closer to Iran: Salehi

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has said that Iran welcomes Russia’s move to establish closer bilateral ties, stating that it marks the dawn of a new era in relations between the two countries.   On July 13, Russia made a proposal for a step-by-step approach, according to which Iran could address questions about its nuclear program and be rewarded with a gradual easing of sanctions. 

During the meeting, Salehi expressed hope that the commitments that the plan would require would be set out in such a way that both sides could implement them.  He added, “We believe that a powerful Russia and an independent Iran will be able to create a hub of power, security, and stability in the region.”   Patrushev, according to a translation of his remarks, said, “Today Russia is a stable and independent country and sees no obstacle in the way of the expansion of ties with Iran.”  “There are various areas for cooperation between the two countries,” he stated, adding that Tehran and Moscow will benefit from stable relations.  

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