Fight against cryptocurrencies China closes data centers

As of: 06/22/2021 8:26 am

Virtual means of payment like Bitcoin are a thorn in the side of the Chinese government. That is why it is vehemently against it: Now data centers have been switched off in several parts of the country.

From Steffen Wurzel, ARD studio Shanghai

The Chinese government continues to vehemently oppose everything that has to do with Bitcoin. Banks and financial service providers were again asked not to offer any more services that have to do with crypto payment methods. One wants to preserve the stability and the security of the financial market and protect the assets and property of the population, said the state central bank of China.

China had banned trading in crypto-currency such as Bitcoin as early as 2017, as the first large country in the world. The so-called mining, however, i.e. the electronic generation of Bitcoins and Co with huge computer networks, was still tolerated by the Chinese authorities. The government has only been systematically taking action against decentralized and digital means of payment for around six weeks. Huge data centers were shut down in several parts of the country. Most recently, around two thirds of all new Bitcoins worldwide were generated with computers in China. This share will now decrease rapidly and significantly, say analysts.

Concept of bitcoin contradicts politics

Monetary and currency policy are centrally controlled in China. The central bank is directly under the communist leadership. The Chinese currency, renminbi or yuan, is not freely convertible. The decentralized and open concept of Bitcoin contradicts this policy and is therefore rejected by the Chinese government. At the same time, the government is working on its own digital currency, which, however, has almost nothing to do with Bitcoin.

The stricter action taken by the Chinese authorities against crypto-currency has helped Bitcoin to lose around half of its value in the past two months. The Bitcoin price is still a good three times as high as a year ago

report

VW factory in Emden When 8,000 employees have to rethink

Status: 19.06.2021 10:18 a.m.

In the future, only electric cars will roll off the assembly line at the VW plant in Emden. This means billions in costs for the group – and many changes for the employees. And some jobs will probably disappear.

From Sebastian Duden, NDR

“What is that again?” Andreas Buse looks at his trainer questioningly and points to a magnetic picture that he should hang in the right place on a board. “This is the heater for the battery, which is also in the front of the vehicle.” It is about basic knowledge of the new electric cars that are to be built here at the Volkswagen plant in Emden from 2022. All 8,000 employees at the site go through the training.

It doesn’t work without a plug

It will be more special for the production staff at the next station. Buse has to be even more careful. This is about plugs. He’s trying to build a cable to an electric car charger. It doesn’t work, and he has to find the problem. “Ah, okay, a pin is bent, that’s why it doesn’t work.” His instructor nods. “So don’t just check the connector, but always look at the component to see if nothing is bent.” Plugs – they will be even more important in the future, so they have already been. Without a plug there is no flow of electricity, and then they cannot even drive the cars out of the hall. “To know that the vehicle cannot be delivered at all and that a fault then has to be laboriously searched for, that is something I have great respect for,” says Buse.

No oil, no engine compartment

One hall further is the ID.4 – the electric car that will roll off the assembly line here from 2022. It’s an SUV, weighing more than two tons. Much of the weight is caused by the large battery. Depending on the model, the ID.4 should travel up to 500 kilometers.

“The dipstick is no longer there, oily fingers, the time is over,” says project manager Hanno Greune. He opens the “bonnet” of the car, which actually doesn’t deserve the name anymore, because you won’t find an engine here. That is not much more than a “technical room”, he admits, there are now fans and heaters, for example. “In our vehicles, the engine is on the rear axle,” says Greune. He points to a plain black cover in the trunk. Underneath is a comparatively small unit – about the size of a sports bag.

So far mainly the location for the production of the VW Passat, in a few years pure electrical work: the factory in Emden. Image: picture alliance / Jochen Tack

The VW plant in Emden is already the size of an entire district. It is now being expanded again towards the Ems. For this purpose, foundation piles had to be driven 30 meters deep into the muddy subsoil. The largest hall has 45,000 square meters. A total of six new halls and logistics buildings will be added. The expansion will cost one billion euros. “The renovation is the most massive that the site has ever gone through,” says plant manager Uwe Schwartz. “We are massively involved in all structures. We are creating more than 100,000 square meters of new space.” Schwartz was brought in specially for the renovation. Before he headed the planning staff at the main plant in Wolfsburg, now he can implement the ideas developed there on site.

Simpler technology, fewer jobs

Volkswagen relies entirely on electric drives. The conversion should be a clear commitment to electric drive – even if experts can imagine other drive types in the future, for example in combination with synthetic fuels. For a transitional phase of three years, VW wants to build cars with internal combustion engines in Emden at the same time.

“Emden is the first location in Lower Saxony that will then be completely converted to vehicles with electric drives,” says Schwartz. Up to now, the “Passat” models in particular have rolled off the production line at the plant. Electric vehicles, however, have a much simpler drive than petrol and diesel. Most of them not only have more complex engines, but also finely graduated gears and gearshifts. All of that is missing in an electric car. As a result, manufacturers actually need fewer employees to build them.

Fewer employees needed to build e-cars

The works council in Emden sees the problem and expects the loss of some jobs. However, new employees are also needed elsewhere, says Works Council Chairman Manfred Wulff. For example in digitization. “We still need bodies that have to be pressed and painted, so we won’t lose a lot of work. The fact that we no longer have the classic engine will be eliminated.”

Experts predict that in the worst case scenario, it could hit a third of those employed in vehicle construction during the transformation phase. But they see it differently in the works council in Emden. There they even wished to switch over to electric car construction as quickly as possible. After all, the sales figures for the classic VW models have not developed positively. The alternative would have been to build more models with internal combustion engines at the Emden location in order to utilize the capacities. Then it would be better to have a clear future perspective, according to the works council. This is how Andreas Buse sees it, who is now back on the production line and wiring the engine compartment of the Passat and Arteon models. “Sure, there will be restructuring, but I’m not afraid of it.” Many of his colleagues will probably go into partial retirement in the course of the restructuring. However, he is only 32 years old. And he is also looking forward to the changes. Even if he will miss the Passat, as he admits when asked

The Deputy Prime Minister asked the People’s Committees of provinces and cities to follow the direction of the government’s “dual goals”, both disease prevention and economic development. The People’s Committees are required not to “stop the river from banning the market”, have a plan to prioritize quick circulation at Covid-19 epidemic control points with means of transporting lychee from Bac Giang province to promptly consume finished product. Means of transporting Bac Giang lychee are officially opened “green lane” to quickly consume finished products. Photo: Hoang Dong. Relevant units include the Ministry of Transport, Industry and Trade, Public Security, Agriculture and Rural Development according to their functions and tasks to guide ensuring favorable conditions for trade, consumption and supply activities. goods between epidemic localities and other localities, in which priority is given to means of transporting lychee from Bac Giang province. The Ministry of Health was assigned to continue to inspect, urge and correct localities in the application of Covid-19 prevention and control measures to freight transport. This ministry is also responsible for guiding the Bac Giang People’s Committee on the issuance of certificates of safety to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic for means of transporting lychee through quarantine checkpoints. Previously, according to the Trade Promotion Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), on June 12, the first batch of lychee with a traceability stamp entered the French market via air. This batch of nearly 1 ton lychee is stamped with the traceability stamp itrace247 developed by the unit. The shipment also took advantage of tariff preferences from the Vietnam – European Union Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

I understand I have to go Through the deep forest Through the whispering grass Through sunny areas Of the sad desert Through the tundra, the wind is fierce Where dreams are extraordinary I practice walking step by step Together or alone I keep myself breathing For a minute the hand let go I have a couple of appointments With a couple of souls Waiting for each other on the top of the snow Or at the end of the misty cloud I go and I know I don’t go alone There’s another me beside me Of a circle of wisdom Waking up every day We all have to go Even if there are days to lie down Wait for the pain to pass. Comments The poem “Go” by Nguyen Thien Ngan evokes a permanent idea of ​​the human journey. That journey carved the shadow of existence in time. We can visualize the destination as a dream, a wish, a projection. However, no one knows for sure that that destination will always be what they once thought. In the deep forests of the mountains, where the grass whispers, where the wind is burning in the tundra, where the desert burns … there are still many things hidden that you will never know when you leave. Journey makes life. Every moment is an existence. Therefore, the central quartet is “going out” with an extraordinary dream. Maybe, on that journey, we bring an appointment to accompany us, maybe it’s just loneliness with our own shadow. But, no matter what, still have to “go” as the fate of existence. Am I lonely? If unfortunately that is true, then “My side and I are different / Of a circle of wisdom”. The circle of wisdom is a clear awareness in the spirit of the truth of life, of the dream existing in the midst of life. The poem opens deep into the deep journey when the day after tomorrow we unfortunately lie down. Lying down is actually just the start of another journey!

What are employers now obliged to do?

All employees who do not work exclusively at home must be offered a corona test in their companies on a regular basis. The ordinance of the Federal Ministry of Labor enables self-tests as well as quick tests in which trained personnel take a smear. It is only stipulated that the tests must be used to directly detect the pathogen of the coronavirus.

How often do tests have to be offered?

As a rule, employees who do not work in the home office must be offered at least one corona test per calendar week according to the regulation. Two test offers per week are expressly required for groups with an increased risk of infection. This affects, among other things, staff with many personal customer contacts, employees who are housed in shared accommodation, as well as employees who perform body-friendly services – for example in cosmetic studios and massage parlors.

Is there a test requirement for the staff?

No. It is a test offer obligation for employers. In principle, employees are free to accept these offers or not. The Federal Ministry of Labor argues that the legal hurdles for compulsory testing are too high. “The obligation to cooperate of employees in occupational safety would not cover such a test obligation,” said a ministry spokesman. However, the federal government has called for employers to take advantage of the test offers.

How do the companies have to implement the obligation?

The employers must make the tests available and document that they have purchased the tests or offer appropriate test capacities. However, you do not have to document that your employees make use of them. It is therefore actually sufficient to send self-tests home to employees or to make self-tests available to everyone in the company.

Who pays for the tests?

The employers have to bear the costs for the tests offered. According to its own information, the federal government expects that the test offers initially required by the end of June will cost 130 euros per employee. Companies that are particularly burdened can, however, claim the expenses as part of an application for bridging aid.

What should the tests bring?

The tests are designed to help detect corona infections in people who do not yet show any symptoms or no clear symptoms. However, a negative test result is no guarantee that the person concerned is not infected. Even if handled correctly, a negative test is “just less likely” to be contagious to others, explains the Robert Koch Institute. Against this background, the ordinance of the Federal Ministry of Labor justifies the new obligation with the aim of “reducing the operational SARS-CoV-2 infection risk”. According to the current status, negative test results are only meaningful for the current day. Therefore, even before the regulation came into force, there was criticism that one or two tests per week were not sufficient.

Why is the federal government introducing compulsory testing?

The federal government did not consider the implementation of the test offers of the companies on the basis of the voluntary commitment to be sufficient. In the debate about the implementation of the test offers in practice, the various sides cited different numbers. On April 8, the federal government published the results of a survey carried out on its behalf. It came to the result that 69 percent of the companies and around 70 percent of the employees either already received regular test offers or these should follow shortly. This proportion was well below the aforementioned target of 90 percent. Two days earlier, the major trade associations had published their own figures, according to which 80 to 90 percent of the companies were already offering tests or were preparing to do so immediately.

What criticism is there from the employer?

Leading trade associations such as the Federation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA) describe the mandatory test offers as a “declaration of mistrust towards companies”. The test requirement is criticized as “another bureaucratic burden”. In addition, various associations stated that there were problems, especially for smaller companies, in obtaining sufficient quantities of the required tests.

According to Soc Trang Newspaper, the name of Soc Trang province has been recorded in books such as Khâm Định Đại Nam Congress, Directory Nam Kỳ, or research books by Vuong Hong Sen, Son Nam, Le. Huong, Hua Hoanh … Accordingly, the name Soc Trang is translated into Khmer is “Srok Khleang”. In which, “Srok” means “land”, “realm”, “Khleang” is “warehouse”, “barn”, which contains a lot of gold and silver of the king. Srok Khleang means the king’s gold and silver storehouse. Under the reign of King Minh Mang, Soc Trang was renamed Nguyet Giang province. Soc Trang Province is located downstream of the Hau River, where the Hau River flows into the East Sea at two estuaries of Dinh An and Tran De. Soc Trang province covers an area of ​​more than 3,000 km2 and a population of more than 1.1 million people. The population and area are both sixth in the Mekong Delta region. Soc Trang province currently has 11 administrative units at district level, of which 2 towns are Vinh Chau and Nga Nam. The capital of this province is Soc Trang city. Soc Trang province is bordered by Hau Giang province in the North, Bac Lieu province in the southwest, the Northeast bordering Tra Vinh and Vinh Long, the East and Southeast bordering the East Sea. In Soc Trang there is a Khmer ethnic museum, located in the city of Soc Trang. This is one of Soc Trang tourist attractions that attracts tourists. Tan Long stork garden located in Long Binh commune, Nga Nam town is one of the largest bird sanctuaries in the West. This place has a rare species of heron, the number in the garden is only a few hundred. Coming to Tan Long stork garden, in addition to seeing many rare and precious birds and storks, visitors can also enjoy specialties such as pancakes, noodle soup. Doi Pagoda is located about 2 km from the center of Soc Trang city. This is an ancient temple with a unique architecture in Soc Trang, built 400 years ago, now retaining a lot of precious treasures. On February 12, 1999, the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture – Sports – Tourism) issued Decision No. 05/1999 / QD-BVHTT recognizing Doi Pagoda as a national artistic relic.

In Germany, companies should in future have to offer their employees corona tests. The SPD declared that there was consensus in the coalition. Accordingly, the federal government is striving for a package solution: The corresponding change to the occupational health and safety ordinance is to be initiated together with the planned amendment to the Infection Protection Act in the cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

What is specifically planned?

The draft of the Ministerial Ordinance by Labor Minister Hubertus Heil is based on this ARD capital studio in front. Accordingly, it is about a test offer obligation for companies – there should be no test obligation for employees. Every employee who does not work in the home office should initially receive one test per week from the employer. If you have a lot of contacts, you should get two tests.

What does that mean for companies?

The employers have to make the tests available – but they do not have to document that their employees also use them. It would therefore be sufficient to simply send self-tests home to employees or to deposit self-tests in the office so that they are accessible to everyone. The CDU Economic Council expects the tests to cost German companies more than seven billion euros a month. Some small and medium-sized businesses couldn’t afford the hassle. Companies that have been badly hit by the Corona crisis can count the expenses for the tests as a cost item for the bridging aid.

What should the tests bring?

The quick or self-tests are intended to help detect corona infected people who do not yet feel any clear symptoms. According to scientists, however, they cannot rule out an infection. Even when used correctly, a negative test is “just less likely” to be contagious to others, explains the Robert Koch Institute. Especially with infected people without symptoms there is a risk of false-negative results. It is unclear whether you are then contagious to others or not. The test results are also only meaningful for about a day. Many people therefore doubt whether a weekly test in the office is sufficient.

How many companies already offer tests?

According to a survey commissioned by the federal government, 61 percent of employees recently had an employer who offers corona tests. Other employers had promised the employees tests. If you add this group, around 70 percent of employees received a test offer or at least it was announced to them. The federal government does not consider this to be sufficient and has so far given 90 percent as the target.

How do the companies get the tests?

In a letter to the Chancellery, the major business associations emphasized that every third company reported difficulties with availability. The federal and state governments have already reserved many of the tests on the market for students. The associations are therefore calling for tests from unused contingents to be made available to companies at low cost. Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) said at the weekend in the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”: “There are now enough tests available on the market. But you have to take care of them. Anyone who is just starting to get offers now probably needs a start-up time of two or three weeks. But no more than that. ”

How high is the risk of infection in the office anyway?

Leading aerosol researchers from Germany emphasize that Sars-CoV-2 is transmitted “almost without exception” indoors. So you can get infected not only when you meet an infected person directly, but also in an empty, poorly ventilated room in which an infected person was previously. Berlin mobility researchers are therefore demanding that multi-person offices can only be entered with a valid rapid test or after vaccination – or everyone would have to wear an FFP2 mask.

Why has the coalition now apparently agreed on the subject?

Above all, the SPD had insisted that the companies be obliged to the test offers. At first, the Union did not want that. Now, according to reports, she is taking part because she does not want to jeopardize another project: In the package with the mandatory test offer, the nationwide rules in the fight against the third corona wave are to be decided in the cabinet.

What does the economy say about it?

Business associations reject the measure. BDA General Manager Steffen Kampeter speaks of a “declaration of no confidence in the company and its employees”. The obligation to test leads to more bureaucracy and discredits the voluntary commitment of companies.