Luxembourg third largest RMB centre worldwide

My Orchids. Phalaneopsis "Let 1,000 Renminbis Bloom". 

Luxembourg third largest RMB centre worldwide

RMB 260,000,000,000

So told us Investment Europe. That is nice.

Luxembourg is against the US-led unilateral sanctions against Iran (FARS News)

My Orchids. Phalaneopsis "Sheherazad". Photo ET

Luxembourg is against the US-led unilateral sanctions against Iran (FARS News)

The Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn reiterated Luxembourg’s position during his visit to Tehran on Tuesday June 3^rd, reportedly stating that Luxembourg is against the US-led unilateral sanctions against Iran.

Mr. Asselborn is visiting Iran on the occasion of the commemoration of the 25^th anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Khomeiny.

It has also been reported yesterday that the Islamic Republic has a keen interest in the Financial Center of Luxembourg.

See also: Is Luxembourg Iran’s propaganda tool?

Is Luxembourg Iran’s propaganda tool ?

My Orchids. Paphiopedilum "1001 Nights". Photo ET

Is Luxembourg Iran’s propaganda tool ?

Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is en route to Iran. He went there following an invitation of the Iranian authorities on the occasion of the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Khomeini.

Except for Bank BNP Paribas, everyone is aware of the sanctions imposed on Iran to discourage it from continuing its nuclear program, which it claims to be for peaceful purposes only. Fools only believe this. However one has to recognize the Iranian negotiators’ exceptional mastery in the art of diversion, of delaying operations, and seduction. At the United Nations, where Luxembourg at great expense finally could satisfy some people’s foolish ambition to sit at the Security Council, the representative of Iran has the reputation of organizing the finest parties. Worthy of a Shah. To his puritan superiors in Tehran, the end must justify the means.

Jean Asselborn, interviewed by the Luxembourg daily “tageblatt”before his departure, believes that the reason for his invitation to visit Iran is 90% attributable to the Luxembourg seat in the Security Council. The Representative of Iran to the UN has succeeded at least in one case, which proves his concept and justifies his unlimited budget.

So, Luxembourg has become a country that is very much appreciated by Iran. That was already the case at the time of the Shah, though that has no merit anymore today. Our merit is this extreme wisdom that we exhibit at the Security Council, our willingness to help kick the nuclear can down the road, and especially, especially, our recognizing the inalienable right of Iran to continue its peaceful nuclear program, of course. This is how I understand the propaganda about the visit, as presented in the official news from Tehran, Farsnews: Luxembourg Optimistic about Positive Results of Iran, World Powers' Talks

Here's the trick on our side: all these Iran sanctions, we’re not really in favor. But understand that we cannot do otherwise. Also, when we can, we will help to push doors slightly open. And presto, we will slip in to be the first to cooperate with the Islamic Republic. Here is our tentative list: Cargolux, SES, pistachios, oil, carpets, Bank Melli . We will avoid diplomatic faux pas however, and won’t talk about things like human rights, for example.

BNP Paribas > $ 10,000,000,000

My Orchids. Phalaneopsis "Lys de France". Photo ET

BNP Paribas > $ 10,000,000,000

In an article today, the Wall Street Journal carries a lengthy report about BNP Paribas’ problems with the US Justice Department and regulators. It is an elaboration on former news, where the bank faces allegations of doing business with sanctioned entities, such as Iran or Cuba. In the time frame of 2 months, expectations about possible fines went from $1.1 billion, to $ 5 billion to now more than $10 billion. That is $ 10,000,000,000. The bank is expected to withstand that shock.

It is not clear yet if criminal charges or a guilty plea are considered. Though the mood is leaning more towards tougher punishments, and critics have coined the expression “too big to jail”, playing on the other idiomatic expression “too big to fail”.

The WSJ also reproduces the following graph of the most important fines financial institutions incurred for violating the OFAC sanctions list or other money laundering provisions:

Memorial Day 2014

My Orchids. Brassavola nodosa "Dama de la Noche". Photo ET

Memorial Day 2014

SSGT Day G. Turner

American Military Cemetery, Hamm, Luxembourg. Plot E, Row 10, Grave 72 that says: Day G. Turner, SSGT 319 INF 80 DIV, Pennsylvania Feb 8 1945, Medal of Honor

The US giving up its archaic measurement system for the Square Luxembourg

My Orchids. Phalaneopsis "Phobos". Photo: ET

The US giving up its archaic measurement system for the Square Luxembourg

Here is the Daily Beast explaining why:

OneSquare Phobos = 0.6 Square Luxembourg = 0.6 X 999 Square miles = 600 square miles.

Of course, the US is not going to switch to the rest of the world's metric system. But slowly the "Luxembourg" makes its way into the daily calculations. As for the icebergs, splitting from the polar ice caps into the polar seas are calculated in Luxembourgs. Or a wildfire in California is half the size of Luxembourg? Did you know that the total surface  of Phobos, one of  Mars' two moons has a total surface of 0.6 times Luxembourgs only? So if you suffer from claustrophobia in Luxembourg, don't go on Phobos.

Actually, Phobos in just some hundred million years will either be disintegrated by Mars or crash on it. 

The real mystery to me is why the US didn't switch to the Rhode Island. Simply because  1 Luxembourg = 1 Rhode Island (without the water surface).

Cargolux, The Rise of the Dirk Reich, and the Fall of the Song

My Orchids. Phalaneopsis "Duplicity". Photo ET

Cargolux, The Rise of the Dirk Reich, and the Fall of the Song

"The Loadstar" reported: As he asks for 'two week's leave', is Song not such a big hit at Cargolux after all?

"The Loadstar" got good sources reporting about the new CEO's Dirk Reich "falling out" with Robert Song, the overworked Senior Vice-President of Cargolux, who "brokered" the controversial deal between Cargolux  and HNCA.

Good job, but just say things as they are: some people messed up big time, and the new CEO has to fix it. Get the VP Compliance involved too. The Loadstar doesn't know all yet. The "dual hub" has become a duplicity hub.

Don't yet load the City of Zhengzhou for the inaugural flight on June 14. There is more to come. Come on Loadstar, you can tell us even more.