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Thursday, July 28, 2011

Turkey marks May 19 holiday today

18 May 2011, Wednesday

Turkey today marks the beginning of the War of Independence on the day Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk landed in Samsun, a symbolic move that led to the foundation of the Turkish Republic from the ashes of Ottoman Empire.

Atatürk Commemoration and Youth and Sports Day in Turkey is expected to be celebrated throughout Turkey, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) and all Turkish foreign representative offices.

Turkish President Abdullah Gül and other party leaders, who are in Ankara, officials are expected to visit Anıtkabir first, the mausoleum of Atatürk, in capital Ankara.

On May 19, 1919, Atatürk, who would become modern Turkey's first president, landed on the main peninsula of Turkey to begin leadership of the liberation effort. In early 1920, Atatürk convened the first Turkish Grand National Assembly (Parliament) in Ankara, and by 1922 all of Anatolia was freed from foreign rule.

The independent Republic of Turkey was declared a year later.

During the course of his term as president, Atatürk himself proclaimed May 19 "Youth & Sports Day." In the aftermath of Atatürk's monumental legacy, the day serves to honor the country's founder as well.

Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu released a statement on Wednesday and congratulated people on the occasion of the holiday.

Ministers and government officials will participate in May 19 celebrations in May 19 Atatürk Stadium in Ankara and Türk Telekom Stadium in İstanbul.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a statement released on Wednesday that May 19, 1919 is a very important day for national memory and that the prosperous future of independent Turkey now belongs to youth. For this reason, Erdoğan said, Turkish government considers that investing in youth means investing in the future of the country.

Several ministers, deputies, party leaders and other officials also released the holiday statements, calling youth and people to better perceive the underlying meaning of the day.

Source: Today's Zaman.
Link: http://www.todayszaman.com/news-244406-turkey-marks-may-19-holiday-today.html.

UNRWA union strikes in Gaza, says 3 dismissed unfairly

Wednesday 18/05/2011

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Palestinians working for the UN refugee agency in Gaza announced a comprehensive strike for Wednesday, over the dismissal of three employees union officials say were wrongfully let go.

The strike will last all day Wednesday through Thursday, and see all of UNRWA's unessential services, like schools, clinics, and administration offices close. Nearly 11,500 workers will walk out of their jobs, effecting 238 schools and 25 clinics.

According to head of the workers union Salim Al-Hindi, three men were dismissed from their jobs because they had at some point come under investigation by local Gaza security forces. The three were all found not guilty but according to the official were fired anyway.

Details of the cases were given as follows:

K.H.W., a teacher, had "problems between him and his cousins," was investigated by local police and found innocent

A.A., a worker in environment health who was arrested by government security forces after being charged with involvement in the Rafah mosque take-over in 2009, when a Salafist group declared the city an Islamic emirate, an incident that ended in a mass gunfight leaving 22 dead. AA, however, was questioned and released without charge.

A.A., an employee in the services department, he was arrested along with two friends; all were charged with possession of prohibited drugs. The worker was interrogated by local security departments who released him without charge, but detained his two friends.

Al-Hindi called the dismissals "arbitrary," and was effectively an "execution of the workers and their families," who would have no other source of income.

"There must be respect for dignity," the official said, asking that the men be returned immediately to their post.

UNRWA spokesman in Jerusalem Chist Gunnes said "The staff members were dismissed following an inquiry and subsequent review, and under new internal justice procedures agreed between UNRWA and the unions they have the right to appeal."

Source: Ma'an News Agency.
Link: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=388783.

Some British troops to leave Afghanistan

LONDON, May 18 (UPI) -- Prime Minister David Cameron says a small British withdrawal from Afghanistan will take place this year.

Cameron told the House of Commons Tuesday, "There will be around 400 troops, perhaps slightly more, coming out of Afghanistan in the coming year," The Sun reported.

But, he added, "Our enduring force level remains at 9,500. I'm sure the Americans understand that it's less than the reductions they are planning."

U.S. President Barack Obama visits Britain next week, and Cameron has pledged to coordinate Afghan policy with him.

The Defense Ministry said most of the troops will come from the Royal Air Force regiment defending Kandahar airfield and the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps at NATO headquarters in Kabul.

A spokesman said, "These were time-limited, task-specific roles which have now come to an end."

Col. Stuart Tootal, a former paratroop commander, was not pleased.

"We should only get out when the job is done properly," he told The Sun. "We are on the right track, but if we take our foot off the gas now, we risk all the success and investment we have achieved so far."

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/05/18/Some-British-troops-to-leave-Afghanistan/UPI-50971305737856/.

DR Congo calls on UN to withdraw peacekeepers

May 18, 2011

UNITED NATIONS — Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday made a new call for UN peacekeepers to withdraw, despite warnings from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that armed groups remain a significant threat there.

DR Congo's international cooperation minister Raymond Tshibanda told the UN Security Council that his government want an "orderly, progressive withdrawal" of UN troops from the giant central African country, where millions are said to have died in conflict in the past two decades.

The resource-rich country is to hold a key presidential election in November, amid fears of unrest.

Tshibanda told a Security Council debate that DR Congo and UN troops were now tackling "the last pockets of resistance from the remaining armed elements" and these are "in a few isolated zones."

"Add to this the normalization of relations with neighboring countries, we can legitimately say that we are out of the phase of reestablishing and maintaining peace," he said.

The minister said the UN mission in DR Congo, MONUSCO, should now concentrate on consolidating peace and reinforcing democracy.

MONUSCO currently has about 20,000 troops and police in the country making it one of the UN's biggest peacekeeping operations.

"The time has come to broach together a phase of transition which will lead to the restructuring of MONUSCO and its mandate with the view to an orderly, progressive withdrawal, without delays, of its military component," he said.

Tshibanda added that President Joseph Kabila's government wants to do nothing to "undermine" the improved security climate.

"We must now ensure that the mandate is adapted to meet the new needs present on the ground," he told the 15-nation council.

"We only ask that we, as responsible adults, be able to shoulder the prerogatives that are part of our regained sovereignty."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon did not comment on the withdrawal of MONUSCO forces in his speech to the debate.

But he said that despite military efforts, "foreign and Congolese armed groups continue to pose significant threats. The humanitarian situation remains serious with 1.7 million displaced."

He added that "murders, sexual violence and the looting and burning of villages continue to have large-scale humanitarian consequences."

Ban said that the November 28 presidential and legislative elections "must be timely, transparent, credible, peaceful and secure."

"We must do our utmost to ensure that violence does not break out before, during or after the elections. We have invested much and there is much to lose," he told the Security Council.

The Council said in a statement that security has improved in DR Congo but highlighted the threat from armed groups in the eastern provinces of Nord and Sud Kivu.

It reaffirmed "deep concern about the persistent high levels of violence, especially sexual violence and human rights abuses against civilians."

A recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health estimates that there are more than 1,100 rapes each day in DR Congo.

Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.

2012 Olympic Torch relay dates announced

LONDON, May 18 (UPI) -- Olympic organizers in London said the Olympic Torch will arrive in the United Kingdom next May 18 to begin a 70-day relay to the start of the 2012 Games.

Officials said Wednesday the Olympic Torch relay will cover an estimated 8,000 miles around the United Kingdom. They also said the search has begun for "8,000 inspirational people" to participate in the relay.

The relay is to begin at Land's End in Cornwall on May 19, 2012, and conclude at the Summer Olympic opening ceremonies July 27, 2012, in London. The first 74 locations for the relay were announced Wednesday with additional sites to be determined.

"The Olympic Flame will shine a light right across every nation and region of the U.K. and showcase the very best of who we are and where we live," London organizing committee Chairman Sebastian Coe said in a release.

"The first locations on the route confirmed today give a flavor of the reach the Olympic Torch Relay will have around the U.K. and how extensive the opportunity for starting to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic Games will be."

Organizers said 2,012 torchbearers will be determined through a public nomination program, which they detail on the London 2012 Web site. Also included will be students participating in the Get Set Network program and "role models and outstanding members of the public" as chosen by the organizing committee.

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2011/05/18/2012-Olympic-Torch-relay-dates-announced/UPI-44881305719108/.

Wind power has potential in Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 18 (UPI) -- Michigan utility company Consumers Energy said it was expanding a program for solar energy but noted wind may be the best way forward in the state.

Consumers Energy said it was doubling the amount of solar power it would purchase from its customers under a state plan that requires utility companies to get 10 percent of their energy from renewable resources by 2015.

Dan Bishop, a spokesman for the company, told Michigan Public Radio that solar power was making gains in the state but wind energy was more attractive.

"Our analysis is that wind is the most economic way to meet this standard and serve our customers in the best way," he told the broadcaster.

DTE Energy, one of the other state utility companies, announced a decision last month to build three wind farms in Michigan.

The utility company said it acquired easements on 80,000 acres of land in the eastern part of the state for the wind farms and associated infrastructure. It also completed studies examining the wind regime and potential impact on the wildlife at the sites.

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2011/05/18/Wind-power-has-potential-in-Michigan/UPI-34921305723644/.

Iran: Bushehr nuclear plant operational

TEHRAN, May 18 (UPI) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has announced the "successful" start-up of the Bushehr nuclear plant, saying it has reached the critical phase.

"As we have previously announced, Bushehr power plant has reached the critical stage. It has been successfully launched," the official Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Salehi saying.

"(The) Bushehr nuclear facility is one of the safest ones in the world. It has entered the critical phase and in other words it has been started up," the Iranian Student News Agency quoted Salehi as saying.

Addressing the Economic Cooperation Organization in Tehran Tuesday, Salehi said the critical stage when the fissile material is self-sustaining should occur "within the next two months," the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

"This stage lasts for two months. We hope the plant will gain some 40 percent of its power within the next one or two months," Press TV quoted him saying.

Olga Tysleva, a spokesperson for the Russian Atomstroyexport company, which built the plant, said Friday the fuel loading of the reactor at the plant is complete and the reactor is functioning at "the minimum controllable level of power," Press TV said.

In September 2010 Iran disclosed a malicious computer virus called Stuxnet had attacked high-value industrial sites but refused to acknowledge it caused delays at the Bushehr nuclear plant.

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/05/18/Iran-Bushehr-nuclear-plant-operational/UPI-39011305717766/.

Rodent seen for first time in 113 years

SANTA MARTA, Colombia, May 18 (UPI) -- A mysterious South American rodent, not seen since 1898 despite many searches, appeared at the front door of a nature reserve in Colombia, researchers said.

The red-crested tree rat, Santamartamys rufodorsalis, stayed at the reserve for almost 2 hours while two researchers snapped pictures of a creature scientists thought might never be seen again, a release from the American Bird Conservancy said Wednesday.

The nocturnal rodent revealed itself to the world on May 4 at the El Dorado Nature Reserve in the far north of Colombia.

The animal was rediscovered by Lizzie Noble and Simon McKeown, two volunteer researchers at the reserve monitoring endangered amphibians.

It posed for photographs, including close-ups, before calmly ambling back into the forest, they said.

"He just shuffled up the handrail near where we were sitting and seemed totally unperturbed by all the excitement he was causing," Noble, from Godalming, England, said.

"We are absolutely delighted to have rediscovered such a wonderful creature after just a month of volunteering," she said.

"Clearly the El Dorado Reserve has many more exciting discoveries waiting."

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2011/05/18/Rodent-seen-for-first-time-in-113-years/UPI-73681305691260/.

Baby named after Facebook Like button

JERUSALEM, May 18 (UPI) -- An Israeli couple said they were inspired by the "Like" button on Facebook when they named their daughter Like.

Lior and Vardit Adler told Israeli news site Galgalatz they felt the name was "modern and innovative," PC World reported Tuesday.

"In our opinion, it's the modern equivalent of the name Ahava (Love)," Lior Adler said, "It's just my way of saying to my fantastic daughter, 'love.'"

The couple's previous two daughters are named Pie and Vash, the Hebrew word for "Honey."

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2011/05/18/Baby-named-after-Facebook-Like-button/UPI-92221305703800/.

Egypt to hang 17-year-old youth

CAIRO, May 18 (UPI) -- A local rights group criticized a decision by Egypt's Supreme Military Council to execute a 17-year-old youth and three others for kidnapping a young woman.

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights is pushing for the military to reconsider the sentence handed down to the four convicted of kidnapping and assaulting a young woman, and called for immediate action, Bikya Masr.com reported Wednesday.

"The death sentence issued against the minor (identified only as) A.M.M. ... illustrates the ignorance of the military judiciary in civil and criminal law alike," Adel Ramadan, a legal officer at the organization said.

The Egyptian Child Law, the Code of Military Justice and international law state the death penalty cannot be applied to those under 18, the Web site said.

"The sentence contravenes Article 8 of the Code of Military Justice, which states that no minor may be tried before a military court unless a partner in the crime falls under the jurisdiction of the Code of Military Justice as defined in Article 4 of the same law. This condition does not apply in the current case as all the defendants are civilians," the Web site reported.

"The danger is even greater when the military judiciary, with its susceptibility to errors, begins determining whether a person is deserving of life. This is starkly clear in the case of A.M.M., whose life, dreams and ambitions may be abruptly ended at the age of 17, and thus demands that we reconsider the case," Ramadan said.

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/05/18/Egypt-to-hang-17-year-old-youth/UPI-14111305720985/.