Russia Helping Hungary To Build Rail Link to UkraineFeb. 2 (EIRNS)—President Vladimir Putin informed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during their joint press conference after meeting in Moscow yesterday, that he had confirmed that Russian Railways could provide $2 billion in additional funding to help finance the construction of railway line V0, the Hungarian bypass around Budapest that is to connect Hungary’s border with Ukraine to the border with Austria—a key connection for Hungary’s intention to become a center for Belt and Road cargo coming from China, through Russia, into Europe.The project was a major point of discussion between the two leaders. As Orbán reported, “Hungary made a big investment in the construction of a terminal on its border with Ukraine. This cutting-edge terminal is capable of reloading goods from trucks much faster than any other facility of this kind. This is a tremendous opportunity. We discussed the formation of a Russia-Hungary joint venture on shipments … [which] will improve the Hungarian economy and will allow us to use Hungary’s good geographical location. It is suitable for transport routes, pipes, roads and railways. So now, together with Russia, we can make use of this good location.” (http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/67690)RailFreight.com summarized the project on January 31st: “Hungary is moving fast to gain its position as a transit country on the New Silk Road. In Fenyestlitke, a city close to the border with Ukraine in the Záhony region, a state-of-the-art terminal is currently under construction and expected to be operative in April….“The role of Hungary on the Eurasian corridor has been acknowledged by Russia and Austria. In December, the three countries formed a joint venture that will take the role of freight forwarder and logistics provider on the New Silk Road. The partnership consists of Russian Railways Holding, CER Cargo Holding (Hungary) and Rail Cargo Group (Austria).“The focus of the newly formed team will be on cargo transportation from Chinese provinces to South Europe and Balkan countries, through Russia and Hungary and backwards. The route via Ukraine will be of particular importance, as this route serves that particular part of Europe on the Eurasian corridor.” (https://www.railfreight.com/…/russia-sides-with…/) [usk, ggs]African Maglev Rail Grid ProposedFeb. 2 (EIRNS)—Afrailways is developing Afrail Express as a high-speed passenger rail system to connect the entire African continent, from South Africa to Morocco, and Nigeria to Egypt. Afrail Express is seeking to appoint a main contractor for the construction of the infrastructure, according to The Construction Index industry news site, yesterdayThe first phase for the Afrail Express high-speed passenger rail, powered by magnetic levitation, is to connect Johannesburg to Lagos, Lagos to Cairo, and Cairo to Johannesburg.Eventually, routes would pass through countries including Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zambia, D.R. Congo and Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Lesotho.Afrail Express is a development project between Switzerland-based Afrailways and Namibia-based Groot Suisse Industries. The team behind the project, the first such outside the LaRouche organization that has proposed a trans-African maglev grid since more than 30 years ago, said that Afrail Express has the potential to transport more than 600 million paying passengers and more than 500 million packages through its express courier service every week when fully commissioned.“With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) set up to accelerate intra-African trade and boosting Africa’s trading position, Afrail Express seeks to help Africa meet the Agenda 2063” on the centennial of the African Union, said Rachel Long of Afrailways.Afrailways said that the construction and operations of Afrail Express has the potential to create more than 50 million direct and indirect job opportunities throughout Africa, with the possibility to contribute over $5 trillion to the African continent’s GDP. [rap]Who Says There Was No Growth in Western Economies in 2021?Feb. 2 (EIRNS)—Bloomberg, which tracks such crucial “economic” indicators as the “net worth” of those listed on its “Billionaire Index,” reported yesterday that “superyacht sales climbed to record levels” in 2021, with 887 of them sold, at record high prices, to the “super-rich,” seeking luxurious ways for “socially distant recreation.” That’s up 77% over 2020, and more than double the number sold in 2019, according to the maritime data firm, VesselsValue. Sales were so high, the supply has run out, and Jeff Bezos is still waiting for construction to be completed on his new 417-foot sailing yacht. The run on superyacht orders is just one result of how, according to the Bloomberg billionaire index, “low interest rates and bumper markets fueled $1 trillion in gains last year for the world’s 500 richest people.”These are the ones that can’t seem to pony up a billion or two feed starving or freezing Afghans. [ggs]Just One Problem with the Proposal To Make Bitcoin Legal TenderFeb. 2 (EIRNS)—Lawmakers in Wyoming and Arizona are toying with the idea of making crypto-currencies legal tender. Both states are talking about accepting tax payments in Bitcoin, for example. But the Arizona proposal goes further, according to an article in Politico, and actually designates crypto-currencies as “legal tender.” Politico astutely notes that “One potential obstacle to proposals like this in Arizona and Wyoming is Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution, which restricts the power of states to issue their own money.”Oh, right, the Constitution. [dns]
