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Friday, May 27, 2011

Algerian forces block protest by doctors, students

May 11, 2011

ALGIERS — Algerian security forces Wednesday blocked a demonstration in Algiers by some 1,500 striking doctors and students of health care in the latest clampdown on protests in the north African country.

The protesters, dressed in the white jackets of health workers, had gathered Wednesday morning at the Mustapha Bacha hospital, the largest in the Algerian capital.

However, they were blocked from leaving the hospital and marching towards the parliament or presidency by security forces, equipped with anti-riot gear and armored vehicles.

The protesters shouted demands for respect for their professions, especially after new government rules stating that students in pharmacy and dentistry would no longer be designated "doctors" when they complete their studies.

The "degrading" move will affect their salary scale, they said.

"The most important thing is not what we're called but our grade in the public salary scale which is currently closer to paramedics than doctors," said Achraf, one student spokesman who gave only his first name.

As for the doctors in various medical specialties who are on strike, their demands include a salary increase and an end to compulsory public service, which requires them to work for two to four years in remote areas of the country after finishing their studies.

Algeria's Health Minister Djamel Ould Abbes held talks with representatives of the different health sectors on Tuesday and reportedly made verbal promises of salary increases up to 70 percent and revision of health statutes.

Algeria has been shaken in recent months by protests at all levels of society and with strikes by students, doctors and auxiliary police against the cost of living and calling for reforms.

In a bid to quell discontent the government is proposing a Complimentary Finance Law to boost spending power and the small and medium sized business sector.

The legislation includes measures such as dropping VAT from household essentials such as sugar and cooking oil and a reduction in employers' charges.

It will go before the People's National Assembly before the end of the spring session.

Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.

Erdogan says Turkey to build two new cities near Istanbul

11 May 2011 Wednesday

Turkey plans to build two new cities near Istanbul, one on the European side and the other on Anatolian side, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Wednesday.

Erdogan said that the new city on European side of Istanbul would be built on an area of closed mines on Black Sea coast.

A land of 40,000 hectares of abandoned mines will flourish thanks to this new city, Erdogan said.

Erdogan announced his new project two weeks after he unveiled his "crazy project" Canal Istanbul, a new waterway for Istanbul, to link the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea which aims at reducing maritime traffic on Istanbul Strait, or Bosphorus.

Erdogan assured that these two cities would be constructed in compliance with the spirit of Istanbul.

He also said that the new city on European side would be home to one of world's largest airports with a capacity to host 60 million passengers a year.

The new city will be designed as a commercial hub with ports, marinas, and new sports complexes.

Construction works for these two new cities will begin one year after the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 12, Erdogan said.

"At the same time, we will complete studies for the third bridge on Istanbul Strait during this period of time," he added.

Source: World Bulletin.
Link: http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=73617.

India designing reusable spacecraft

Bhubaneswar, India (PTI)
May 12, 2011

Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, P S Veeraraghavan on Wednesday said India`s space scientists are designing a reusable space craft, which is likely to be launched in 2030. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is currently working on Human Spacelift Project or the man mission in 2015 and Chandrayan-II in 2013, he said.

"The winged Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) has already been configured. It will give India an edge in space science as no country except the US has yet launched a reusable satellite launch vehicle," he added.

On the man mission to space, Veeraraghavan said, "ISRO is working on it but we are yet to get the final nod from the government." He was speaking on the occasion of 13th national technology day function organized by NALCO on Wednesday.

"Scientists are working on some critical areas of Chandrayan-II, which is ready for launch in 2013. It will consist of the spacecraft and a landing platform with the moon rover. The project is in the developing stage. In the Indo-Russian joint venture the lander will be from Russia and the rover will be a done by India. The rover will land on the moon and map a three-dimensional atlas of the moon and analyze the chemical and mineral composition of the lunar surface," he said.

Besides, Astrosat-an astronomy satellite to study the movements of celestial bodies, has already been popular among astronomy circle. However, the senior scientist was cagey about use of remote sensing in military missions and anti-Maoist operations.

Source: Press Trust of India

Source: Space-Travel.
Link: http://www.space-travel.com/reports/India_designing_reusable_spacecraft_999.html.