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Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Turkey's Foreign Minister Recognizes Libyan Rebels

By Alex Johnston
Jul 3, 2011

Turkey’s foreign ministry officially recognized Libya’s rebels as the real representatives of the country on Sunday.

The ministry also offered to lend the rebels at least $200 million in aid to help in their battle against forces loyal to veteran leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that now is the time for Gadhafi, who has ruled the country for more than 40 years, to step down from power and end the three-month-long war against the rebels.

“From the very beginning, we have stated that [Gadhafi] should step down and that a person who could be named by the consent of everyone in Libya should take over the administration so that peace and stability could be restored,” Davutoglu said on Sunday.

At the outset of the now-protracted conflict among Libya government forces and rebels, Turkish officials expressed concern for the NATO airstrikes in the country and wanted to maintain business ties with Gadhafi’s regime. Over the past several months, Turkey’s stance has changed.

Davutoglu met with the head of the rebel-backed Transitional National Council on Sunday in Benghazi and said he would pledge $200 million to the rebels, according to Al Jazeera television.

Turkey also said it officially withdrew its ambassador from Tripoli. Salim Levent Sahinkaya left the country several months ago and Turkey said that it will not replace him in the interim.

Source: The Epoch Times.
Link: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/turkeys-foreign-minister-recognizes-libyan-rebels-58594.html.

Algeria expands railway network

2011-07-03

Algeria aims to have 6,000 kilometers of new railway track by 2015, APS quoted Transport Minister Amar Tou as saying on Friday (July 1st). Speaking to local officials in Sidi-Bel-Abbes, the minister noted that Algeria's railway network grew from 1,500km in 2008 to nearly 4,000 km in 2010.

Source: Magharebia.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2011/07/03/newsbrief-05.

Moroccan voters approve new constitution

2011-07-03

Morocco's constitutional referendum passed by 98.5%, Interior Minister Taieb Cherkaoui announced on Saturday (July 2nd). The turnout rate for the July 1st poll exceeded 70%, Communications Minister Khalid Naciri said in a statement to national news agency MAP. Forty thousand polling stations were open across the kingdom for the Friday ballot, with another 520 at foreign sites to accommodate MREs.

Morocco's constitutional reforms, initiated by King Mohammed VI, include enhanced powers for the prime minister. Under the new constitution, the PM will serve as "head of the government".

Source: Magharebia.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2011/07/03/newsbrief-02.

Japan PM contender says ditch nuclear

July 3, 2011
By Mure Dickie and Tom O’Sullivan in Tokyo

A leading contender to replace Naoto Kan as Japan’s prime minister has called for the country to phase out nuclear power over the next two decades.

Seiji Maehara, one of the most popular figures in the ruling Democratic party, told the Financial Times in an interview that construction of new nuclear reactors should “basically be stopped” following the crisis at the tsunami-crippled Fukushima Daiichi atomic plant.

Mr Maehara’s comments – seen as a strong candidate to succeed Mr Kan – will fuel expectations that the nuclear crisis will prompt sweeping changes in Japan’s energy policy.

The Mainichi newspaper reported that Yoshito Sengoku, chief cabinet secretary, was backing a confidential plan to separate the electricity generation and distribution arms of Tokyo Electric Power, Fukushima’s operator, and nationalize its nuclear assets.

The nuclear crisis that erupted after Japan was hit by a magnitude 9 earthquake and tsunami in March has fueled anti-nuclear sentiment around the world. The German parliament on Thursday voted to close all of the country’s nuclear power plants by 2022.

A Japanese retreat from atomic power would have far-reaching implications for domestic utilities and companies such as Toshiba, Hitachi and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which are seeking to sell nuclear technology overseas.

“There is a need for a revolutionary shift in how electricity is generated and used,” said Mr Maehara, who served as transport minister and as foreign minister before stepping down from the cabinet in March over a minor funding scandal.

While Mr Kan has pledged to make renewable energy and conservation pillars of national energy policy alongside fossil fuels and nuclear power, he has been vague about the prospects for new reactors planned or under construction.

Opinion polls suggest a majority of voters support a gradual reduction in the use of atomic energy. Mr Maehara said Japan should aim to phase out nuclear power completely. “That is what is going to happen and ... what should happen, but given that we depend on nuclear power for 30 per cent of electricity generation, we can’t get rid of it right away,” he said. “While increasing the safety of nuclear power, we need to use preferential policies to reduce our dependence on it over 10 or 20 years.”

Mr Maehara’s relative popularity and status as a former leader of the DPJ mean his call for a nuclear phase-out could put the issue at the center of any party election to replace Mr Kan.

The DPJ and the former ruling Liberal Democratic party, the biggest opposition group, remain officially pro-nuclear despite the Fukushima Daiichi crisis, but both parties have long contained members who are against the use of atomic energy on safety or environmental grounds. Speculation has been growing in recent weeks that the scale of the crisis will make nuclear policy a key battleground.

Mr Maehara's status as a possible successor to Mr Kan has been boosted by recent opinion polls. One survey by the Nikkei Shimbun suggested one-fifth of voters thought him the most suitable person to become DPJ leader and thus premier.

However, Mr Maehara said he was being "extremely cautious" about the possibility of replacing Mr Kan given his recent resignation over revelations that he received Y250,000 ($3,100) in political donations from a long-time Korean resident.

Japanese politicians are barred from taking funds from foreigners. Mr Maehara has said he was unaware of the donations, and the scandal is seen by analysts as a relatively minor affair.

Mr Maehara told the FT he had made an "accounting mistake". He said staying in office might have complicated passage of important legislation, including a bill allowing continued financial support for US military bases in Japan.

The former transport minister also took aim at a troubled “fast-breeder" atomic power station, which he said was “very expensive". The Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor in western Fukui Prefecture, was shut down in 1995 following a coolant leak.

The 280MW plant, which burns plutonium refined from the spent fuel of conventional reactors, was restarted last year but soon suffered a new setback when a 3.3 tonne piece of equipment fell into its reactor, taking months to remove.

"In my opinion we should abandon it," Mr Maehara said.

Source: Financial Times.
Link: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/caa106b6-a581-11e0-83b2-00144feabdc0.html.

Volcano Erupts in Indonesia

2011-07-03

A volcano in North Sulawesi province of central Indonesia erupted earlier Sunday, but there is no evacuation, head of the country's volcanology agency named only Surono said in Jakarta.

Mount Soputan located some 60 km from Manado, capital of the province, started a small eruption at around 02:00 a.m. local time Sunday, spewing over 1,000-meter high hot ash, then it was followed by a big eruption at 06:03 a.m. local time by spewing over 6,000 meters high ash, the head of the agency told Xinhua by phone.

The agency has declared a dangerous zone with a radius of 6.5 kilometers, said Surono.

"So far, there is no evacuation because the closest area where people live is about 8 kilometers from the mount," he said.

Agus Budianto, head of monitoring and search at the agency also said that based on the character of the 1,874-meter high Mount Soputan and the history of its eruption, the authorities may still not need to order an evacuation, Budianto told Xinhua by phone from the headquarters of the agency in West Java on Sunday.

Budianto said the ash spew toward western part of the island, which does not disturb flight routes.

"We have told the airport in Manado city to be alert. We will give a warning should the ash direction change to the south (the route of flights)," he said.

The official said the second eruption might be the biggest and predict the next eruption may be weaker.

The agency has raised the alert level of the volcano to the second top level at 23:00 p.m. local time Saturday, said Budianto.

Mount Soputan is one of Indonesia's active volcanoes whose number is about 129, according to the National Volcanology Agency.

Source: CRIEnglish.
Link: http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/07/03/1781s646016.htm.

Hezbollah Chief Says Hariri Court Has Ties with Western Intelligence Agencies

2011-07-03

The leader of Lebanese Shiite armed group Hezbollah on Saturday described as "unjust" accusations traded against four members of his party of involvement in the assassination on Lebanese Sunni former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, adding that a prominent CIA agent was part of the team of investigators looking into the 2005 killing.

In his first reaction to the indictment, Hassan Nasrallah said the accusations will not stir Sunni-Shiite tension or another civil war in Lebanon.

"I tell the Lebanese...there is nothing to worry about," he said in a televised speech.

Nasrallah said it would be impossible to arrest the alleged suspects, "not in 30 days nor in 30 years."

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), which is probing the Hariri assassination, submitted to the Lebanese authorities this week a sealed indictment. Judicial leaks said the indictment named four Hezbollah members, confirming earlier reports that the U.N.- backed court was bracing to point the finger at members of the powerful Lebanese group.

"This court is politicized and serves a specific purpose, which is to deal a blow to resistance movements against Israel," said the Hezbollah secretary general, reiterating that the STL was an American-Israeli project.

"We are not concerned with this court or anything that comes out from it," said Nasrallah, "We will not allow this court to drag Lebanon into civil strife."

Nasrallah revealed that one of the advisers to STL Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare was a top CIA agent that was tasked with tracking Hezbollah's slain top military commander Imad Mughniyeh.

Nasrallah also described investigators looking into the Hariri assassination and some of the STL staff as "biased and corrupted."

Nasrallah also showed footage of Gerhard Lehmann, top investigator in the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) to inspect the Hariri assassination, receiving a sum of money for information on the investigation he divulged.

The black-turbaned cleric questioned the reason why the UNIIIC shipped 97 computers to The Hague from Israel rather than regular routes such as the Lebanese port and airport. He also showed a voucher issued from the Israeli Customs to that effect.

Source: CRIEnglish.
Link: http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/07/03/2724s646004.htm.

Bahraini Security Forces Clash with 500 Protestors

2011-07-03

About 500 anti-government protestors clashed with Bahraini security forces Saturday when they were processing towards the Pearl Roundabout in Manama, the epicenter of the country's recent protests.

"Around 500 participants went into unlicensed procession in Sanabis" after attending a funeral of Majeed Ahmed, who was injured during clashes in March and died last week, the Interior Ministry said in a statement, "That required the interference of security forces to protect security."

The general director of Capital Governorate police said the security forces warned the protestors several times, asking them to stop and leave.

The protest took place hours after the opening session of the National Dialogue, which was attended by over 300 people from political societies, human rights groups, women's societies, public figures and nongovernmental organizations and aims to bring together various segments of the Bahraini society to present the people's views and demands for further reforms in the country.

Bahrain, a close U.S. ally, has been hit since February by series of anti-government protests, which have resulted in the death of four policemen and over 20 citizens.

Source: CRIEnglish.
Link: http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/07/03/2724s646003.htm.

Monaco's Prince Weds Bride in Grand Ceremony

2011-07-03

Monaco's Prince Albert married South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock on Saturday in a religious ceremony.

Witnessed by some 800 royal and celebrity guests in the palace, as well as another 3,800 outside watching on a large screen, the 53-year-old prince and the 33-year-old South African bride exchanged vows and rings.

Dressed in an elegant Giorgio Armani wedding gown made by several different kind of silks, the bride walked through the red carpet on her father's arm.

Archbishop Bernard Barsi of Monaco held the Catholic service in the courtyard of the palace, after which the couple left for a nearby chapel, where the bride lay her bouquet, as a tradition, with tearful eyes.

Charlene was the first princess of Monaco since Hollywood star Grace Kelly, who married Albert's father, Prince Rainier III, died in a car crash in 1982.

The wedding's guest list included former James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld, bohemian designer Roberto Cavalli, Princess Madeleine and Prince Carl Philip of Sweden.

Source: CRIEnglish.
Link: http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/07/03/1781s646015.htm.

Jordan King Approves Cabinet Reshuffle

2011-07-03

King Abdullah II of Jordan on Saturday approved a cabinet reshuffle led by Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

The reshuffle, the first since Bakhit took office in February this year, saw the entry of new eleven ministers, including ministers of interior, social development, state for media affairs and communications, health, culture, among others.

On Friday, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets demanding the sacking of Bakhit and his government.

Early February, King Abdullah II named Marouf Bakhit as the new prime minister, succeeding Prime Minister Samir Rifai.

Bakhit was born on 1947. In 1999, he retired from the army as a major general. He also served as the head of National Security and acting director of the king's office. He served as a prime minister from 2005 till 2007.

Source: CRIEnglish.
Link: http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/07/03/2724s645999.htm.

Russia gains edge in space race as US shuttle bows out

Moscow (AFP) July 2, 2011

As the United States winds down its shuttle program in a symbolic twist in a long-running space rivalry, Russia will gain complete control of access to the International Space Station.

The Russian space agency plays down any triumphalism, but US astronauts will remain dependent on Russia for access to the ISS at least until 2015 and will have to pay for seats in its Soyuz space capsules.

"We cannot say that we have won the space race, but simply that we have reached the end of a certain stage," the deputy head of the Russian space agency, Vitaly Davydov, said in an interview.

On July 8, four US astronauts will board the Atlantis shuttle for its last flight, wrapping up a three-decade-long program in which the United States took turns to ferry supplies and crews to the ISS with Russia's Proton and Soyuz rockets.

Henceforth, Washington will have to pay $51 million per seat in Russia's space capsules until a new crew vehicle can be built by private companies, which US space agency NASA has estimated could be between 2015 and 2020.

Davydov of the space agency Roskosmos rejected any talk of rivalry, however, emphasizing that the ISS was primarily a story of successful international cooperation.

"I cannot think today of another international space project that is so effective in its scale, its significance and its results as the ISS," he said.

While Russia gains a symbolic victory, it will be a costly one, with the obligation to build more space ships to go back and forth to the ISS eating up a budget that could be spent on other projects.

Unlike the reusable NASA shuttles, the Russian Soyuz space capsules are single-use, except for the section in which spacemen return to Earth.

The situation is "not very convenient because it lays a heavy burden on Roskosmos's production capacities," space industry expert Igor Marinin told AFP.

Roskosmos this year declared its budget as $3 billion, a fraction of NASA's massive $18.5 billion budget.

And it has faced embarrassing setbacks, including the failure of several satellite launches that led to the sacking of the long-serving space chief Anatoly Perminov in April.

The country's space industry has also drawn smirks with a clunky experiment simulating a trip to Mars, in which volunteers are spending more than a year confined at a Moscow research institute and "landed" in a specially designed sand pit.

To recoup its costs, Roskosmos hopes to build a stronger presence in the commercial space market, such as satellite launches, its newly appointed chief Vladimir Popovkin said at the Saint Petersburg Economic Forum last month.

"The goal is to take up a suitable position in the commercial market: about 10 to 12 percent" of a market worth $300 billion per year, Popovkin said.

"This is one of the few things in our country that is competitive on the international level."

While Russia holds 40 percent of the world's space launches and constructs 20 percent of its space craft, currently "its share in the space business is unfairly small, not more than three percent," Popovkin said

Russia also faces new rivals, notably China, which in 2003 became the third country in the world after the Soviet Union and the United States to send a man into space in its own ship.

In ambitious plans, China hopes to put a robot on the Moon in 2013 and to build its own space station due to enter service in 2015.

Davydov acknowledged that China had become a rival, albeit still far behind, but said Russia did not feel threatened.

"There is a place for everyone in space," he said.

"In a certain sense, (China) is our competitor... but that is absolutely normal and we have not been afraid of the market for a long time now."

Ironically, the new commercial realities of the Russian space program, with reduced budgets and the need to cooperate on large-scale projects, make some Soviet space veterans yearn for the competitive edge of the Cold War.

"It's strange that during the Cold War, when we cosmonauts and constructors dreamt of cooperation, there were a lot of new launches, but then cooperation came and now we are mostly repeating ourselves," lamented retired cosmonaut Georgy Grechko, 80.

The US space shuttle program's goal of making launches less expensive was not ultimately reached, he said, and its end sees a return to single-use "sausage-like" rockets little different to those used 50 years ago.

"Mankind has lost its stimulus to go into space using more complicated machines," he complained.

Source: Space-Travel.
Link: http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Russia_gains_edge_in_space_race_as_US_shuttle_bows_out_999.html.