Germans voice shock at Kaczynski death - Summary

Berlin - Germans, led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, voiced shock and sympathy Saturday at the death of President Lech Kaczynski and other senior Polish officials in the Smolensk plane crash.

"This is a political and human tragedy for Poland our neighbor," Merkel told reporters at her Berlin office. She said she had been shocked and lost for words when she first heard of the crash.

Describing Kaczynski as a "combative European" who had loved his country, she said, "We in Germany will miss him too."

Merkel said her own special memory of Kaczynski was that he had invited her to attend Polish national day celebrations on November 11, 2008. "That was a very special gesture to Germany as neighbor."

She sent a message to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk saying, "All Germany stands at Poland's side in sympathy and solidarity at this tragic moment."

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who was visiting South Africa, also voiced shock at the deaths in Smolensk. He described Kaczynski and the other senior officials as people that the European Union had counted on.

Westerwelle said he was personally upset, as had got to know Kaczynski as an extremely wise and lively person with whom to talk.

"Poland has suffered a dreadful loss," said German President Horst Koehler said, adding that Kaczynski had spent his life fighting for a free Poland. He said Kaczynski and his wife had been friends of the Koehlers.

Germany's main political parties and many community leaders promptly issued statements of sympathy as news of the crash spread through Germany by radio and television.

The news especially shocked Germany's large Polish immigrant community. Eight Polish handball players employed with German clubs wore black armbands during matches at a tournament in Hamburg's Color Line Arena.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/317999,germans-voice-shock-at-kaczynski-death--summary.html.

Croatia begins enforcing strict no-smoking policy

Zagreb - Croatia began enforcing a stricter no-smoking policy in cafes and restaurants on Saturday, following a six-month transition period.

The no-smoking law, in line with European Union standards, came into effect last May, but was put on hold in September under pressure from cafe, restaurant and bar owners who complained they were massively losing business.

Now, cafes and bars smaller than 50 square meters must declare themselves smoking or non-smoking, while those that are larger may have a properly isolated and ventilated smoking section.

Violators of the smoking rules face fines ranging from 5,000- 15,000 kuna (900-2,800 dollars). However, only 400 out of the 16,000 establishment fitting that description have asked for the dual registration.

It is estimated that at least one-third of Croatia's 4.5 million inhabitants are smokers.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/317989,croatia-begins-enforcing-strict-no-smoking-policy.html.

Poland in shock after president's death in plane crash - Feature

Dominika Maslikowski

Warsaw - Poles were left in shock and grief Saturday after President Lech Kaczynski's death in a plane crash that killed 96 people, including dozens of high-ranking Polish politicians and officials.

"The modern world has not seen a drama like this," said Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who reportedly began to cry when he first heard of the crash.

Crowds thronged in front of the presidential palace, where the white and red Polish flag was flown at half-mast.

One woman holding a rosary prayed on bended knee as dozens of others in the silent crowd lit candles and placed roses and tulips near the lions that stand at the entrance.

There were candles with the logo of the 1940 Warsaw Uprising against the Nazis, in which Kaczynski's father fought. And there was a flag of the Solidarity labour union, in which Kaczynski fought against the Communist regime that took power when the Nazis were defeated.

Parliament speaker Bronislaw Komorowski - who will take over the presidential office until the elections - declared a week-long period of national mourning as condolences arrived from leaders across Europe and worldwide.

"It was so unreal and impossible," said Paulina Luba, 20, who came to pay tribute to the president with two friends. "For us it's a great tragedy. I was in shock."

"My tears are pouring," Warsaw resident Marian Wlodarczyk, 75, told the German Press Agency dpa. "I don't have any words besides a deep grief. I will remember him for the rest of my life."

Commentators across the political spectrum were teary-eyed as they spoke to media about Kaczynski, a conservative who was known for his traditional values.

"I'm shaken by what has happened, it is a great tragedy for Poland," Adam Michnik, editor-in-chief of the Wyborcza daily, told local media. "I knew him personally for many years, and although I often disagreed with him on politics, I always had the feeling he was a person of great patriotism and kindness towards people."

"Everyone has their different ideas, but he had Poland's interests at heart," said a store clerk in Warsaw, who declined to give her name.

The plane was on its way to ceremonies in Katyn, where Kaczynski was to lead events marking the 70th anniversary of the Soviet massacre of some 22,000 Polish officers in 1940. Commentators said the spot of the atrocity will now take on a new meaning for Poles.

Kaczynski "died as a patriot fulfilling his presidential responsibilities," wrote blogger Andrzej Olechowski, an independent president candidate. "This drama gives a new dimension to the symbolism of that place that is for always connected with Poland."

"It's unbelievable, this tragic, dramatic and cursed Katyn," said Aleksander Kwasniewski on TVN 24. "It's a cursed place, a terrifying symbol."

In Krakow, southern Poland, the historic Zygmund's Bell was rung, which only happens at significant moments in Polish history.

The deaths of dozens of other officials were mourned in the plane crash. Their deaths dealt a heavy blow to Poland's elite.

Other passengers included Aleksander Szczyglo, head of the National Security Office, Franciszek Gagor, head of the army chief of staff, and Slawomir Skrzypek, head of Poland's national bank.

The tragedy was comparable to Katyn, said former Solidarity leader Lech Walesa, which saw the death of some 22,000 Polish officers and lawmakers, physicians and professors.

"This is a second tragedy after Katyn," Walesa told TVN 24. "They tried to cut our head off there, and now, too, our nation's elite is dead. To fill the void will take awhile. It's a great loss."

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/318000,poland-in-shock-after-presidents-death-in-plane-crash--feature.html.

More than 5,000 Sudanese voters in Egypt head to poll Sunday

Cairo (Earth Times) - More than 5,000 Sudanese voters in Egypt will head to polls Sunday to cast their votes in the presidential election, a source at the Sudanese Embassy in Cairo said Saturday.

The official said that 5,377 Sudanese people were expected to cast their votes at four polling stations, in Cairo and the coastal city of Alexandria.

The electoral process in Egypt was being observed by representatives of the electoral commission as well as Egyptian civil society organizations, the official said.

The United Nations had said the Khartoum government was not ready to hold the nationwide April 11-13 balloting for a new president, the first since 1986, because it failed to educate the voters, ensure security and equip voting stations.

"Opposition activists have been prevented from carrying out peaceful activities, arrested and tortured. It is clear that elections carried out in this context will be severely compromised." said Osman Hummaida, executive director of the African Center for Justice and Peace Studies.

Several opposition parties, including The Umma party, one of Sudan's main opposition parties, announced they will boycott the elections, citing fears of rigging.

Medvedev sends condolences to Poles over Kaczynski death - Summary

Moscow - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev made a televised address on Saturday to express his condolences at the death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski in a plane crash.

"In the name of the Russian people I send the Polish people my deep and sincere sympathy and promise to help the bereaved and relatives of the victims," a visibly moved Medvedev said on national television.

He said the tragedy had shocked everyone in Russia.

The president promised to work with Polish authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into crash, which occurred in heavy fog near the western Russian city of Smolensk.

Kaczynski and his delegation were on their way to attend a ceremony at the Russian village of Katyn to mark the 70th anniversary of the Soviet massacre of 22,000 Polish officers during World War II.

The Russian leader said his country would go into a state of mourning on Monday as a sign of respect to the late president.

The speech was expected to receive close attention in Warsaw, which has had tense relations with Moscow, although ties had improved recently.

Latest reports said all 97 on board the Russian-built Tupolev TU- 154, including Kaczynski's wife, Maria, the head of the Polish central bank, and much of Poland's military leadership, died in the crash.

Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shogyu said the bodies of the victims would first be taken to Moscow, where relatives of the victims were due to arrive on Sunday.

Earlier, Russian media had spoken of a possible pilot error.

The vice commander of the Russian air force, Sergei Razygrayev, told Itar-Tass news agency the pilot had made four attempts to land in bad visibility and had refused an offer to divert to another airport in Minsk in Belarus.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/318011,medvedev-sends-condolences-to-poles-over-kaczynski-death--summary.html.

Avalanche hits landed helicopter in Russia, 10 killed - Summary

Moscow - An avalanche smothered a landed helicopter on Russia's mountainous Kamtchatka peninsula on Saturday, killing at least five German snowboard enthusiasts and five of their helpers.

A party of 13 board users had paid to be taken up to the mountain slope in an Mi-8 helicopter and had just stepped out when the snowslide began. There are almost no roads in the wilderness areas of the peninsula on the Pacific coast.

Among the survivors, one crewman and a German sportsman were in hospital in critical condition.

In Moscow, the Health Ministry said two teams of doctors flew to the accident site at the Dukum Pass, 70 kilometers from the town of Yelisovo, the news agency Interfax reported.

Another news agency, Itar Tass, quoted the Kamchatka office of the Civil Defense Ministry saying 10 occupants had been confirmed dead. But no final toll had been issued by the end of Saturday.

The Flory Kern travel agency in Germany, which organized the heli-ski holiday, said the paying guests comprised nine Germans, one Belgian and one Russian. There had been one Russian and two German guides on board. The helicopter itself had had a crew of three.

Kamchatka is attracting growing numbers of western tourists thanks to its splendid scenery with volcanoes, glaciers and lakes. A snowboard, which resembles a wide ski, is used to glide over snow on steep slopes.

In Germany, a Bavarian police helicopter pilot said it was common for the beat of helicopter rotors to trigger avalanches.

"It's mainly from vibration caused by the noise," he said.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/318020,avalanche-hits-landed-helicopter-in-russia-10-killed--summary.html.

Discovery mission extended

Washington - The US space agency NASA on Saturday extended by one day space shuttle Discovery's mission at the International Space Station.

The move was made to allow an inspection of Discovery's heat shield while the craft is still docked at the International Space Station.

Discovery is now slated to land at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 19 at 8:54 am (1254 GMT).

The inspection has been standard procedure since the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated on reentry into the Earth's atmosphere in 2003 after its heat shield was damaged.

The inspection is usually done after the shuttle undocks from the ISS, but problems with the Discovery's system that transmits videos from the shuttle back to Earth prompted NASA to do the check before leaving the ISS.

NASA is scheduled to retire its fleet of aging space shuttles later this year, with just three more flights after Discovery aimed at transporting big ticket items to the space station. But the agency has indicated that flights could extend into early 2011 if delays are necessary.

Discovery has brought a new ammonia tank for the station's cooling system that astronauts are installing in a series of three spacewalks and an Italian-made equipment carrier. The next spacewalk is to begin early Sunday.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/318040,discovery-mission-extended.html.