RUSSIA NOW TO JOIN THE AIIB AS IT ALLIES ITSELF CLOSER WITH CHINA’S RICHES TO ESCAPE THE WEST SANCTIONS–AIIB THE CHINA LED BANK HAS GARNERED PARTNERS ALONG WITH THE UK, FRANCE, ITALY, GERMANY AND S KOREA–THE CHINA BANK TO COUNTER THE WEST BACK WORLD BANKS IN ASIA AS LED BY THE US AND JAPAN

Russia is to sign up to the Chinese-led development bank AIIB, first deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov said Saturday at an international forum in China, cited by Russian news agencies.

"I'd like to inform you that Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken the decision that Russia will participate in the capital of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)," Shuvalov said at China's Boao Forum, quoted by RIA Novosti state news agency.

The Beijing-backed AIIB, unveiled in October, is a multinational lender that the United States perceives as a threat to the Washington-led World Bank.

It has proved highly successful with countries that are US allies, however, with Britain, Germany, France, Italy and this week South Korea all saying they intend to join the $50 billion (46 billion euro) bank.

Russia has sought to align itself more closely with China in recent years and these efforts have intensified amid a freeze in relations with the Western powers, which have imposed harsh economic sanctions over Moscow's role in the Ukraine conflict.

http://news.yahoo.com/russia-join-china-led-development-bank-100236095.html

CHLORIN E6 (Ce6) A NATURAL MOLECULE WHEN USED AS EYE DROPS CAN MAKE YOU SEE IN THE DARK FOR 2 HOURS

It might sound like something straight out of Q’s laboratory or the latest Marvel film but a group of scientists in California have successfully created eye drops that temporarily enable night vision.

Science for the Masses, an independent “citizen science” organisation that operates from the city of Tehacapi, theorised that Chlorin e6 (Ce6), a natural molecule that can be created from algae and other green plants, could enhance eyesight in dark environments.

The molecule is found in some deep sea fish, forms the basis of some cancer therapies and has been previously prescribed intravenously for night blindness.

The average torch will allow you to see around 10 metres ahead of you

Jeff Tibbets, the lab’s medical officer, said: “There are a fair amount of papers talking about having injected it in models like rats and it’s been used intravenously since the 60s as treatments for different cancers. After doing the research, you have to take the next step.”

The next step was to moisten the eyes of biochemical researcher and willing guinea pig Gabriel Licina’s eyes with 50 microlitres of Ce6.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/night-vision-eyedrops-allow-vision-of-up-to-50m-in-darkness-10138046.html

THE PRICE S KOREA HAS TO PAY TO CHINA TO ALLOW FOR THE UMBRILLA THAAD TO BE DEPLOYED IN THE PENNINSULA FOR THE PROTECTION OF ITS CITIZENS SO IT SEEMS TO ASSUAGE THE CHINA BY JOINING THE CHINESE OWNED AIIB S KOREA CAN NOW FORCE THE DONE DEAL NEGOTIATION FOR THE THAAD

Any deployment of the advanced U.S. missile defense system is going back to the negotiating table following South Korea's decision to join the China-led regional bank, Thursday, amid growing tension between Washington and Beijing over hegemony in Asia.
Seoul has faced a dilemma over whether to accept Washington's calls to deploy the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) on Korean soil in order to deter a North Korean military attack.
China is against such a move, claiming the ballistic missile defense system is targeting its territory as part of U.S. efforts to enhance its leverage in the region.
Speculation is now growing that South Korea may be able to capitalize on its decision to join the Beijing-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in order to bargain with both China and the U.S. over THAAD.
"I'd say the government is seeking a barter deal with the two superpowers, joining the AIIB in return for THAAD deployment," said Park Byung-kwang, a research fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS).
He cited that the U.S. has been against its allies joining the AIIB. Washington has expressed concerns about whether the new investment bank would meet the standards of the World Bank and other regional banks in terms of governance, lending standards and procurement rules. South Korea will be one of the AIIIB founding members along with the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy.
"South Korea is sandwiched between the U.S. and China over THAAD. It seems that the Seoul-Washington discussions over the disputed missile interceptors will officially take place in the near future."

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/03/120_176062.html

THUS EXPLAINS MAYBE WHY THE ROAD TO MARRIAGE AND THE BIRTH RATE FOR KOREANS IS PAVED WITH POT HOLES–AS A TYPICAL WEDDING COST BASED ON THE KOREAN CULTURE CAN COST FROM $50,000 TO $75,000 WITH GIFTS NOT JUST TO INLAWS DRIVING THE COST HIGHER TO MAKE A FAMILY

…….First and foremost, today’s Koreans planning to get married do not have enough income. Youth unemployment has already crossed 10 percent and many young couples, who land jobs late or give up looking for a job, cannot pay for the marriage expenses on their own.
But the cost of a wedding remains high. Couples together usually spend over 100 million won ($90,000) for a mainstream wedding ceremony, according to a survey of 1,000 people done by the state-run Korea Consumer Agency in 2013. The amount does not include the housing cost for the newlywed.
This figure is beyond the reach of a young Korean whose average monthly salary is 3.1 million won, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Labor.
Expenditure on the wedding per person breaks down to engagement ceremony (2.5 million won), wedding gifts for in-laws and couples (7 million won), wedding ceremony (12 million won) and honeymoon (4 million won).
Apart from the wedding expenditure, the newlywed should also prepare a marital house. The average housing price ― either buying or renting under the jonse system ― of newly-weds in Seoul during the last two years stood at around 180 million won, according to a local wedding planner Duowed.
Financial burden on retired parents
Children’s reliance on their parents is the biggest financial concern for many parents, who are retired or close to it.
A recent survey of 400 people in their 50s done by Shinhan Bank showed that 64 percent of those questioned said their biggest financial concern of postretirement is their children’s marriage.
A survey of 300 people over 50s done by the local media outlet JoongAng Ilbo showed that 75.3 percent of the respondents said they either supported their children’s wedding or are willing to support it in the future. And 65.3 percent of the respondents said financial support for their children’s wedding is a parents’ duty.
Lim, a father of two sons who declined to be identified fully, married off both his sons in recent years. Having retired last year, he used most of his retirement funds for his children’s wedding and houses.
“Although I feel a sense of pride for marrying off my sons, I am still concerned about me and my wife’s future,” he said.
Lim said he is now seeking a daily job such as a janitor or security guard for his later years.
“Due to social sentiments it is not easy for parents to openly talk about retirement concerns with their children who are about to be married. Children should first understand the situation of their parents’ postretirement and have a candid conversation with them,” said Kim Dong-yeop, a director of Mirae Asset Retirement institute.
Parents’ involvement in wedding
As many young Koreans rely on their parents financially for their marriage, the excessive involvement of the parents in the wedding planning sometimes creates conflicts.
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20150327000659