lifepace

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Ceremony volunteers for Youth Olympics make public appearance

Few of the photographs of volunteers getting ready for Youth Olympic Games 2014 being held in China courtesy 'Peoples Daily Online" : Ceremony volunteers for Youth Olympics make public appearance (People's Daily Online) 08:30, July 15, 2014 (Editor:Liang Jun、Gao Yinan) Volunteers for the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games pose for a group photo on July 13, 2014. On July 13, 491 ceremony volunteers for the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games make public appearance. All of them are from 18 colleges including Southeast University, Nanjing Agriculture University and Nanjing Sport Institute. (CNS/Yang Bo)

Commentary: Western interventionism to blame for deadly chaos in Middle East

As reported in 'The Peoples Daily Online' : Commentary: Western interventionism to blame for deadly chaos in Middle East By Xinhua writer Liu Chang (Xinhua) 15:30, August 05, 2014 (Editor:Du Mingming、Huang Jin) CAIRO, Aug. 5 -- These days the Middle East situation is rather heart-wrenching, with rampant violence and destruction having torn peace and tranquility to tatters. Libya is quickly descending into to a possible civil war while militia clashes are ramping up; Iraq is teetering on the edge of a split-up as Islamic State militants have gobbled a large chunk of the nation's territory and Kurds are moving closer to independence; and over one million Syrians have fled their homeland amid a bloody war that has raged on for years with still no end in sight. That said, it is high time that the international community said a loud and clear "No more" to the West's military interventionism that should be held accountable for these tragedies. Modern history carries a long list of governments that were ruthlessly subverted by Western powers through either covert sabotage or direct military incursions. By dubbing the toppled governments autocratic and anti-West, the West managed to paint their audacious actions into a cause for such lofty values as democracy, liberty and human rights. As a result, respect of national sovereignty and other international norms fundamental to world peace and stability in the aftermath of the Second World War have been kneecapped. Certain Western nations would use lies to wage wars. To oust an "unfriendly" government, they would not hesitate to fund rebels. That is because their ultimate motivation is to protect their own interests. Compared to the great havoc Western intervention has wreaked on the region, the West's conspicuous lack of sense of responsibility to help the intervened nations rebuild is even more lethal and devastating. Take Iraq as an example. After the invasion, the United States failed to foster an Iraqi government inclusive enough to achieve national reconciliation among all different sects. That mismanagement has not only left the nation's most deep-rooted problems unfixed, but also bred waves of terrorist activities and sectarian violence that have claimed tens of thousands of innocent lives. When U.S. President Barack Obama withdrew all U.S. forces from Iraq to honor his campaign promise, he left behind a mess. And It is the poor conditions of Iraq that incubated the so-called Islamic State. It is also thought-provoking that the militants of the group, which is rooted in the ruins of a U.S. war, drew much of their fighting experience from another West-involved war -- the one in Syria aimed at toppling President Bashar al-Assad. The Libya story is equally sad and alarming. The militias that fought alongside NATO against Muammar Gaddafi are now battling each other, turning national reconstruction into a distant dream. It is true that some of the countries in the region have long been struggling with problems such as corruption, sluggish economy, high unemployment and big wealth gaps. But what they need from the international community is a helping hand, not an upheaval-sowing meddling hand. The West should reflect now. Besides, those intervening powers should work out comprehensive and effective measures to help clear up the mess of their own making and heal the wounds of the nations traumatized by their intervention.

Japan imposes sanctions on Russia over Ukraine

Japan imposes sanctions on Russia over Ukraine (Xinhua) 19:11, August 05, 2014 (Editor:Huang Jin、Bianji) TOKYO, Aug. 5 -- Japan extended its sanctions against Russia on Tuesday over current Ukrainian turmoil after a Malaysian passenger plane was allegedly shot down in eastern Ukraine last month. The decision was made during a meeting of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet and the sanctions took effect immediately after the meeting on Tuesday. Under the additional sanctions, Japan froze assets held in the country by 40 individuals and two groups directly involved in Russia's move on Crimea and the instability in eastern Ukraine. Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Sergey Aksyonov, acting head of Crimea, are on the 40-person list. Japan also began requiring approval for imports of products made in the Crimea region and the city of Sevastopol. However, no senior Russian officials are on the list for the asset freeze, as local media reported, Abe needs to maintain his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin so as to continue their contacts on territorial dispute, Japan's Kyodo News quoted government officials as saying. Japan is seeking balance between the West and Russia on the Ukraine issue as Japan wants to resolve a long-standing territorial dispute with Russia over four Russian-held islands north off Japan's Hokkaido. "We will continue to seek a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the situation in Ukraine through coordination with the international community, led by our Group of Seven partners," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Tuesday. The Japanese government top spokesman said the country's basic stance on maintaining dialogue with Russia remain unchanged.

A word to the 'world policeman'

As published in the 'Peoples Daily Online' : A word to the 'world policeman' (People's Daily Online) 13:04, August 05, 2014 (Editor:Huang Jin、Liang Jun) In an interview with the highly-rated CBS program Face the Nation, former United States Secretary Madeleine Albright expressed the view that the world is in a mess, and stated that the U.S. no longer wants to act as the 'world policeman'. The U.S. enjoyed its role as the 'world policeman' for many years. In the 1990s, the United States launched the Gulf War and the Kosovo War. It also used military force repeatedly in Africa and Latin America. At the beginning of this century it launched wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Meddling in the Middle East is also a longstanding American policy. However, while acting as the 'world policeman' is hard work, the results have not been good. In Libya for example, three years on the people see few prospects of "freedom" and "hope" as promised by Obama, but rather a deteriorating security situation. Even America's own diplomatic institutions feel threatened by continued unrest in Libya. A U.S. public opinion poll has shown that over the past few years, the number of Americans opposed to military intervention in foreign countries has now surpassed the number of supporters, and the ratio keeps increasing. Faced with economic downturn and the plight of financial constraints, Obama has adjusted his foreign strategy accordingly. After learning from the lessons of the war on terror for ten years, he has decided to launch the "Asia-Pacific rebalancing" strategy. The problem is that with this strategy the U.S. has succeeded only in fueling regional disputes in the South China and East China Seas, which has added to the difficulties in the Asia-Pacific region. Now the U.S. tires of being the 'world policeman'. But who wants the U.S. to keep the role? Excluding some countries and political factions who want to use the U.S. to upset their opponents, few countries really need the United States to be the 'world policeman'. U.S. power is diminishing on the international stage, and the rising developing countries are demanding a greater voice. The U.S. needs to rethink its international strategy. Promoting peace instead of causing trouble, “planting flowers instead of planting thorns", and holding discussions with other countries instead of acting unilaterally are perhaps some positive options. The author Hua Yiwen is an expert on international issues.This article is edited and translated from 给世界警察指条路, Source: People's Daily Overseas Edition

Rahul Gandhi defends Congress stand

Book of Gaza Launch

China's Quake Victims Lack Medical Help, Food and Shelter As Rains Pour Down

Myanmar Government Expects Cease-Fire Deal Soon

Study: Wastewater causes quakes

As reported in 'The Japan Times' : Study: Wastewater causes quakes 4:26 am, August 05, 2014 AP file photo Chad Devereaux examines bricks that fell from three sides of his in-laws home in Sparks, Okla., in November, 2011, following two earthquakes that hit the area in less than 24 hours.

The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP)—A new study explains how just four wells forcing massive amounts of drilling wastewater into the ground are probably shaking up Oklahoma. Those wells seem to have triggered more than 100 small-to-medium earthquakes in the past five years, according to a study by the journal Science. Many of the quakes were much farther away from the wells than expected. Combined, those wells daily pour more than 19 million liters of water a mile or two underground into rock formations, the study found. That buildup of fluid creates more pressure that “has to go somewhere,” said study lead author Cornell University seismologist Katie Keranen. Researchers originally figured the water diffused through underground rocks slowly. But instead, it is moving faster and farther and triggers quake fault lines that already were likely ready to move, she said. “You really don’t need to raise the pressure a great deal,” she added. The study shows the likely way in which the pressure can trigger fault lines—which already existed yet were not too active—but researchers need more detail on the liquid injections themselves to absolutely prove the case, Keranen said. The wastewater is leftover from unconventional wells that drill for oil and gas with help of high pressure liquids—nicknamed fracking—and from the removal of water from diluted oil. These new methods mean much more wastewater has to be discarded. While there are about 8,000 deep injection wells in the region, the amount of water injected at the four wells—named Chambers, Deep Throat, Flower Power and Sweetheart—has more than doubled since the drilling boom started about a decade ago. From 1976 to 2007, Oklahoma each year averaged about one quake of magnitude three or more—strong enough to feel locally but too weak to cause damage. But from 2008 to 2013, the state averaged 44 earthquakes of that size every year. So far this year there have been another 233, Keranen said, getting her earthquake figures from the U.S. Geological Survey database. The rattling has led some Oklahomans to push for restrictions on the use of injection wells. While past research has shown more quakes in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Kansas and correlated it statis-tically to injection wells, this study used computer simulations to identify the mechanism of how massive amounts of water travel as much as 32 million kilometers from the well. The pressure then triggers existing small faults—or previously unknown ones. In the past, scientists thought wells could only jump-start quakes within five kilometers or so.

Israel, Hamas accept Egyptian ceasefire plan

As reported in 'The Japan Times' : Israel, Hamas accept Egyptian ceasefire plan 7:52 am, August 05, 2014 The Associated Press A Palestinian man makes his way on the rubble of a destroyed house following Israeli strikes in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, on Monday.

The Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP)—Israel and Hamas on Monday accepted an Egyptian ceasefire proposal meant to halt a monthlong war, signaling an end to the bloodiest round of fighting between the bitter enemies could finally be approaching. The sides said a preliminary 72-hour truce was to begin at 8 a.m. (0500 GMT) Tuesday. Egypt was then set to host indirect talks to work out a long-term truce over the next three days. A delegation of Palestinian officials from various factions, including Hamas, has been negotiating with Egypt in recent days. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the group had accepted the plan. “It’s clear now that the interest of all parties is to have a ceasefire,” said Bassam Salhi, a member of the Palestinian delegation. “It’s going to be tough negotiations because Israel has demands too.” The war broke out on July 8 when Israel launched an air campaign in response to heavy rocket fire out of Hamas-controlled Gaza. Israel expanded the operation by sending in ground forces on July 17 in what it described as a mission to destroy a network of tunnels used by Hamas militants to stage attacks. The army said it is close to destroying the last of the tunnels. Several previous ceasefires have collapsed, including a similar plan for a 72-hour truce that broke down last Friday in heavy fighting. Both sides blamed each other. An Israeli official said Israel would respect the ceasefire, but that it was watching the negotiations “with a certain amount of skepticism” given the previous failures. He spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement by the Israeli government.

Sunscreen can Kill - sunscreen helps destroy vitamin-D

Monday, August 4, 2014

Government buckles under pressure over UPSC exam

Congress's ploy over Insurance Bill to hurt Narendra Modi?

NDTV reports from Rafah in South Gaza

PM Modi's special puja at Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal

Scores missing after Bangladesh ferry sinks - Central & South Asia - Al Jazeera English

Gaza: No place to bury the dead - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

Hundreds of Ukraine troops cross into Russia - Europe - Al Jazeera English

Rescuers search for Yunnan quake survivors as Li arrives

As reported in 'The Japan News' : Rescuers search for Yunnan quake survivors as Li arrives 10:15 pm, August 04, 2014 The Associated Press A car is crushed by a collapsed building Monday in the epicenter of an earthquake that struck the town of Longtoushan in Ludian County, Yunnan Province, China.

The Associated Press BEIJING (AP)—Rescuers dug through shattered homes Monday looking for survivors of a strong earthquake in southern China’s Yunnan Province. About 12,000 homes collapsed when the quake struck Sunday afternoon in impoverished Ludian County, about 370 kilometers northeast of Yunnan’s capital, Kunming, China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported. Ma Yaoqi, an 18-year-old volunteer in the quake zone, said by phone that at least half of the buildings had collapsed on the road from the city center of Zhaotong to the hardest hit town of Longtou. The rest of the buildings were damaged, she said. “I saw dead bodies being wrapped in quilts and carried away,” said Ma, who had arrived with 20 other volunteers Monday. “Some were wrapped with small quilts. Those must be kids.” Overhead footage of the quake zone shot by state broadcaster CCTV showed older houses flattened but newer multistory buildings still standing. Rain and thunderstorms were forecast for the area Monday afternoon, complicating efforts to bring tents, water, food and other relief supplies to survivors. Roads had caved in, and rescuers were forced to travel on foot. Repeated aftershocks also were making the rescue work dangerous. The USGS showed four aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 and higher hitting after the initial quake. Many of the homes that collapsed in Ludian were old and made of brick, Xinhua said, adding that electricity and telecommunications were cut off in the county. The mountainous region where the quake occurred is largely agricultural, with farming and mining the top industries, and is prone to earthquakes. Relief efforts are under way, with more than 2,500 troops dispatched to the disaster region, Xinhua said. The Red Cross Society of China allocated quilts, jackets and tents for those made homeless by the quake, while Red Cross branches in Hong Kong, Macau and neighboring Sichuan province also sent relief supplies. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang reached the worst-hit area Monday afternoon to oversee quake relief, Xinhua said. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon offered “his condolences to the Chinese Government and the families of those killed,” according to a statement from his office. The statement said the U.N. was ready to “lend its assistance to efforts to respond to humanitarian needs” and “to mobilize any international support needed.” The White House also offered its condolences. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those that lost their lives,” said National Security Council deputy spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan. “The United States stands ready to assist.” CCTV said the quake was the strongest to hit Yunnan in 14 years.

Interfax: Russia starts air force drills

As reported in 'The Japan News' : Interfax: Russia starts air force drills 10:33 pm, August 04, 2014 The Associated Press MOSCOW (AP)—Interfax says Russia’s air force has started military drills in central and western regions of the country, a move that could spark further fears that Moscow is ready to flex its military muscle in neighboring Ukraine. The drills are to start Monday and last through Friday, air force chief Igor Klimov was reported as saying by the news agency, and will involve more than 100 fighter jets and helicopters.

China Tweets Message on Tibet Through Fake Accounts: Rights Group

Spanish Group to Push Case Against Chinese Leaders' Actions in Tibet

Remembering Kishore Kumar on his 85th birthday, Courtesy -.Jukebox 1

Nepal's Government Slowly Killing Adhikari Couple

Quality Management Standard & Quality Technology Tools Campaign in Assam

Sunday, August 3, 2014

At least 150 dead after quake hits southwest China - Khaleej Times

Hamas team arrives in Cairo for Gaza truce talks - Khaleej Times

Civilian toll mounts in Ukraine fighting as MH17 probe goes on - Khaleej Times

More than 400,000 Indians face risk of flooding after Nepal landslide - Khaleej Times

Racist attack caught on CCTV in US

Nepal‚ India need to make up for lost 23 years‚ says Modi

As published in 'The Himalayan Times' : Nepal‚ India need to make up for lost 23 years‚ says Modi Last Updated At: 2014-08-03 3:03 PM Foreign Minister Pandey calls on Modi at Hyatt Regency Hotel.

THT ONLINE KATHMANDU: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that Nepal and India "need to make up for lost time," referring to the failure to hold meetings of Nepal-India Joint Commission for 23 years. In a meeting with Nepal's Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, the Indian leader stressed on the essence of Joint Commission. - See more at: http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Nepal%E2%80%9A+India+need+to+make+up+for+lost+23+years%E2%80%9A+says+Modi&NewsID=423077#sthash.5k0NeIYX.dpuf

MAHEEDA - CAN YOU HANDLE IT

Ebola: How Nigerians can escape a killer disease

Can You Handle it?, Maheeda asks

Global panic as Ebola spreads •Infected Americans arrive in US

As reported in 'Nigerian Tribune' Global panic as Ebola spreads •Infected Americans arrive in US •ECOWAS steps in, sets up solidarity fund 03.Aug.2014 Stephen Gbadamosi with agency reports

BARELY 24 hours after the United Nations (UN) through the World Health Organisation (WHO) raised the alarm that the outbreak of fast-killing Ebola virus is getting out of control, the fear and confusion in Africa over the deadly virus has spread to major world powers such as the United States of America. Infected US nationals arrive in air ambulance Information pieced together over the weekend indicated that the UN and the United States of America (USA) are sending strong warnings across to people about the killer virus. One of the two Americans working in Liberia, Dr Kent Brantly, a medical doctor, landed at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia, United States aboard an air ambulance on Saturday. Brantly and the second victim, Nancy Writebol, a missioner, work for Liberia-based faith-based charity organisation, Samaritan’s Purse. According to Reuters, Writebol is due to be flown to the United States on a later flight, “as the plane is only equipped to carry one patient at a time.” Brantly and Writebol were helping respond to the Ebola outbreak when they contracted the disease. Reports had had it earlier on Friday that America held its breath as news filtered in that the two citizens infected with the deadly virus were being airlifted from Liberia to Atlanta for treatment. A specially-equipped medical charter flight was sent to Liberia by the US authorities to bring them back. According to reports, the evacuation charter plane, a customised business jet, is retrofitted with medical equipment, including an isolation chamber, with onboard personnel dressed head-to-toe in space suits. The infected victims, reports added, would be taken to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, near the headquarters of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CNN reported that the patients will need to be in a “pristine, sanitised environment before any kind of treatment.” WHO’s Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan, had confessed at a meeting on Friday that the disease was getting out of control. Air passengers quarantined in Namibia In Namibia, it was reported that over 100 passengers on Air Namibia flight SW722 were held in isolation for almost four hours on Friday morning, after it was suspected that one of them had Ebola. The passengers, from Johannesburg, who that landed at Hosea Kutako International Airport at about 7:32 local time, were later released after doctors carried out checks on them. Chairperson of the national health emergency management committee in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, A senior health official in the country, Dr Jack Vries, was reported to have confirmed the quarantine, but said it was a false alarm. “The suspected passenger had an allergic reaction after eating food that contained fish. He is, however, clear now,” said Vries. Also, the United Arab Emirates, made moves to forestall an outbreak, is restricting movements into it from affected countries. The country’s notable airline, Emirates Airline, told the Agence France Presse (AFP) on Friday that; “Emirates will be suspending its service to Conakry from (Saturday) 2 August, 2014 until further notice, due to the outbreak of the Ebola virus in Guinea. “We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our customers. However the safety of our passengers and crew is of the highest priority and will not be compromised.” West African countries take stiffer measures AFP also reported that West African nations have agreed to impose a cross-border isolation zone. The announcement came at an emergency summit in Conakry on Friday where WHO representative, Chan, raised the ‘Ebola out of control alarm.’ “We have agreed to take important and extraordinary actions at the inter-country level to focus on cross-border regions that have more than 70 per cent of the epidemic,” Secretary-General of the Mano River Union group of nations, Hadja Saran Darab, said. “These areas will be isolated by police and military. The people in these areas being isolated will be provided with material support,” she said. ECOWAS steps in, sets up solidarity fund Christian Okeke - Abuja The Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) has stepped into the incidence of Ebola epidemic in some regional states and is currently co-operating with member states and international partners to stem the spread of the Ebola virus. The disease has so far claimed more than 720 lives from over 1,000 cases reported in the region. Speaking on the intervention, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadré Desire Ouédraogo, stated that the commission considered the outbreak as a regional security threat. He disclosed that under the directive by Heads of State and Government to the Commission and the West African Health Organisation, (WAHO), an Ebola Solidarity Fund has been set up to ensure that all affected countries are supported to rid the region of the disease. The president of the body, who spoke while accrediting the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Gu Xiaojie to ECOWAS, during a short ceremony at the Commission’s Abuja headquarters, recalled that most of the casualties from the disease in the region had been reported in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia with Nigeria recording one death. The ECOWAS chief informed the Ambassador that the leaders of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and World Health Organization (WHO), senior officials were due to meet in Conakry, Guinea, during the weekend as part of efforts to develop a comprehensive strategy and mechanism to eradicate the disease. Speaking after presenting his Letters of Credence to President Ouédraogo, Ambassador Xiaojie, expressed China’s sympathy and solidarity with ECOWAS and the affected member states, and pledged his country’s support in combating the outbreak.

HOW PRABHA DOUBLE-CROSSED PM!

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Medical Aid Group Seeks ‘Unfettered Access’ in Myanmar’s Rakhine State

This report was originally published on 25 Jul 14 in 'Radio Free Asia' :

Medical Aid Group Seeks ‘Unfettered Access’ in Myanmar’s Rakhine State

Myanmar Hands Journalists Ten Years Hard Labor Over Chemical Weapons Report

This report was originally published on 10 Jul 14 in 'Radio Free Asia' :

Myanmar Hands Journalists Ten Years Hard Labor Over Chemical Weapons Report

Dozens of Uyghurs Shot Dead in Riots in Xinjiang’s Yarkand County

Dalai Lama Photo on Open Display at Tibetan Horse-Race Festival

'Hundred Epilogues' Inaugurated in Guwahati

US Secretary of State John Kerry meets PM Narendra Modi

Sonia Gandhi counters Natwar Singh's book bomb

National Herald case: Congress on Enforcement Directorate radar

Obama, Putin discuss Ukraine, missile treaty

As reported in 'The Japan News' on 2 Aug 14 : Obama, Putin discuss Ukraine, missile treaty The Associated Press President Barack Obama speaks various topics including immigration reform and the House of Representatives, on Friday, in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington.

The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP)—President Barack Obama pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday for a diplomatic path out of Ukraine’s struggle with Moscow-backed pro-Russian separatists. Putin countered by calling U.S. and European economic sanctions against Russia counterproductive. Obama later conceded that pressure from recently imposed U.S. and European measures to squeeze the Russian economy “hasn’t resolved the problem yet.” In an Obama-initiated phone call Friday, the U.S. president also raised concerns that Russia violated a key Cold War era nuclear weapons treaty, the White House said. In a letter this week from Obama to Putin and in an administration report released this week, the United States said Russia violated a 1987 treaty that bans all U.S. and Russian missiles of intermediate range, meaning those that can travel between about 300 miles (500 kilometers) and about 3,400 miles(5,500 kilometers). Putin in the call said the sanctions seriously damage bilateral cooperation and general global stability, according to a Kremlin report on the call. It was the first conversation between the leaders since the U.S. and Europe slapped the new round of economic sanctions on Russia and since Obama’s letter claiming a breach in the missile treaty. “I indicated to him, just as we will do what we say we do in terms of sanctions, we’ll also do what we say in terms of wanting to resolve this issue diplomatically if he takes a different position,” Obama told reporters later. The Kremlin said both Obama and Putin underscored the urgency for bringing an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine and spoke positively about a meeting that took place the day before in Minsk, Belarus, among members of a diplomatic “contact group” pursuing an end to hostilities. That group includes representatives from Russia, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. “If he respects and honors the right of Ukrainians to determine their own destiny,” Obama said in an afternoon news conference, “then it’s possible to make sure that Russian interests are addressed that are legitimate and that Ukrainians are able to make their own decisions, and we can resolve this conflict and end some of the bloodshed.” In a lengthy statement devoted to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, the Russian Foreign Ministry criticized the U.S. report that included the allegation that Russia had violated the pact that President Ronald Reagan signed with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. “The claims are put forward practically without evidence, based on strange deductions and suppositions,” the statement said. The Obama-Putin call came as the U.S. was poised to send an additional $27 million in military aid to Ukraine in an effort to strengthen the struggling nation’s national guard and beef up its ability to protect its border. The money comes amid increased congressional pressure on the administration to increase support for Ukraine as it battles Russian-backed separatists. U.S. officials said the aid includes $19 million for the Ukrainian National Guard and $8 million for border security, including surveillance equipment, armored vehicles, and small boats. On Thursday, five Republican senators sent Obama a letter calling on the president to supply Ukraine with weapons and not just non-lethal assistance. “A failure to provide appropriate lethal assistance to Ukraine would lead Putin to conclude that the West is not willing to stand against his aggression and clear violations of international law,” said the letter signed by Sens. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, James Inhofe of Oklahoma, John McCain of Arizona, Marco Rubio of Florida and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. At least 12,000 Russian troops are gathered close to Ukraine’s eastern border. The U.S. has complained about Moscow sending heavy military equipment across the border to support the separatists, including surface-to-air missile systems that officials say were likely used to shoot down a Malaysian Airlines flight. Also Friday, Vice President Joe Biden called Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to announce the border assistance and to discuss the “increasing prevalence” of artillery and rocket fire into Ukraine from Russia, the White House said. According to the White House, Poroshenko did say that access to the site of last month’s Malaysian airline crash that killed nearly 300 people had been secured despite continued fighting in the vicinity. The crash, which the West has blamed on separatists using Russian-made missiles, is the subject of an international investigation.

Stars accept risks of opinions on Gaza

As reported in 'The Japan News' : Stars accept risks of opinions on Gaza 2:30 am, August 03, 2014 The Associated Press In this Oct. 3, 2013, file photo, Spanish actress Penelope Cruz arrives for the British premiere of “The Counselor” in London.

The Associated Press When director Jonathan Demme was approached to show support for all victims of the conflict in Gaza, he didn’t hesitate to sign on. Actor Wallace Shawn is willing to put up with jeers on the street for his opinions about the violence. And Mark Ruffalo is determined to air his views about the fighting on Twitter, no matter the cost to his social media numbers. The Israel-Palestinian debate was once considered so delicate a topic, it was pretty much off-limits to celebrities. But in another sign that social media is intensifying how we wrestle with sensitive global issues, stars of all stripes are taking to the Internet to openly discuss the conflict. The result is a high-profile divide rarely seen within the predominantly liberal entertainment community. “I don’t see this as being politics or statehood for Palestine or Hamas,” Demme said. “I think it’s about taking innocent lives and the destruction of a culture...I’ve never been ashamed of my pacifist point of view of things at any time since I became a card-carrying hippie back in the ’60s.” Demme is among dozens of musicians, actors, filmmakers, authors and sports figures who have chosen to speak out about the conflict. Yet some, like pop star Rihanna and Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard, had second thoughts and erased their messages of support for Palestinians soon after they were posted. And Penelope Cruz and husband Javier Bardem quickly clarified their stand on the issue after they joined 100 Spanish signees of an open letter calling the Israeli attacks genocide. Later, more participants sought to tone down the rhetoric. Others, though, haven’t backed away from their commentary. Demme, Shawn, Chuck D and dozens more, including Nobel Peace Prize winners, participated in a Jewish Voice For Peace video in which each held up a sign with the name and age of a conflict casualty. The video attracted 100,000 views in two days on the Web. Shawn, who is Jewish, narrates the video and said he’s been criticized on the street in New York because of it. He said he understands the Jewish community’s need for Israel to exist, but he would like to persuade those who support Israel’s actions—including such notables as Scarlett Johansson, Joan Rivers, Howard Stern and Bill Maher—that violence is unnecessary. “We’re involved as American taxpayers, so, you know, I’m involved,” Shawn said in an interview. “I’m actually paying for these cruel assaults on innocent civilians. So I am balancing out my own crimes to some very small extent by lending my voice and my face to a video protesting what I myself am doing.” Celebrities airing views on social or political issues is nothing new, said “Reinventing Yourself” author and former presidential campaign spokeswoman Dorie Clark. “But there are some issues that are far more controversial than others.” Wiping out hunger or eradicating disease are issues most people, including celebrities, can get behind, she noted. But Israel is a topic that’s very personal to many people, and one that almost always causes friction—and in the case of the current Middle East clash, an unusually sharp difference of opinion among entertainers. “If I were a publicist advising Hollywood celebrities, if your conscience absolutely compels you to speak out, then do it,” Clark said. “But there are serious risks and people have been trying to figure out this situation for millennia and your voice or support one way or another may not be helpful to the overall debate.” In some ways it may be harmful, said Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean at the pro-Israel Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles. Hier, who has close ties to the Hollywood community, sees celebrities misinterpreting events and journalists ignoring history when describing the current conflict. He believes comments like those first issued by the 100 Spanish luminaries are irresponsible. Hier believes some condemning Israel are doing it to gain fans in a climate of growing anti-Semitism in Europe. “I think they think they’re going to be more popular,” Hier said. “Look around the world. I’m not talking about the United States; in the United States polls show two to one that people understand how the war started and they back Israel. But it’s not so around the world.” How each star chooses to broach the issue has varied. Many acts have canceled concerts in Israel. Some cite safety concerns. Others are actively calling for a boycott, such as Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters. And some try to distance themselves from the political debate, staying with a message of peace. Ruffalo has tweeted on the issue frequently and said he’s seen his following fluctuate because of it. But he’s committed to using his social media voice for more than just laughs. “When you’re talking to a million people, even in 140 characters, if you get 5 percent or 2 percent or 1 percent that actually think differently for a moment or see something differently for a moment, I think you’ve done an enormously positive thing,” he said.

Libya unrest ‘worse than under Gadhafi’: evacuees - Khaleej Times

Massive landslide blocks Nepal river; 8 people dead - Khaleej Times

Man dies of electric shock in Delhi ATM booth - Khaleej Times

Nearly 300 Palestinian children killed in Gaza: UN - Khaleej Times

Saudi king labels Israeli offensive in Gaza a war crime - Khaleej Times

Friday, August 1, 2014

Thousands of Tibetans Crowd Town for Young Lama's Enthronement

Al-Shabab fighters gun down Somali MP - Africa - Al Jazeera English

Tunisia seals Libya border after violence - Middle East - Al Jazeera English

Nepalese People's Request to Narendra Modi, Honorable Prime Minister of India

35 killed, soldier missing as Gaza truce unravels

As reported in 'The Japan News' : 35 killed, soldier missing as Gaza truce unravels 8:54 pm, August 01, 2014 The Associated Press GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP)—A Gaza cease-fire quickly unraveled Friday as violence erupted in and around the southern town of Rafah, with 35 Palestinians killed by Israeli shelling and the military saying one of its soldiers may have been abducted. Israel and Hamas accused each other of breaking the cease-fire, which had been announced by the U.S. and the U.N. and took effect at 8 a.m. Friday. The fighting broke out less than two hours later. Gaza health official Ashraf al-Kidra told The Associated Press that in addition to the dead some 200 Palestinians were wounded in the “random” Israeli shelling of the Rafah area in southern Gaza. He said the death toll could rise as rescue workers continue to search for people buried under the rubble of several apartment blocks hit by shells. He did not say whether the victims were civilians or militants. The Israeli military meanwhile said one of its soldiers was “feared” abducted, without providing further details, and that Gaza militants had fired eight rockets and mortars at Israel since the cease-fire began, one of which was intercepted. “Once again, Hamas and the terror organizations in Gaza have blatantly broken the cease-fire to which they committed, this time before the American Secretary of State and the U.N. Secretary General,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement shortly after the fighting broke out. Israel launched an aerial campaign against Gaza aimed at halting Palestinian rocket fire on July 8 and later sent in ground troops to target launch sites and tunnels used by Hamas to carry out attacks inside Israel. The war has killed nearly 1,500 Palestinians, mainly civilians, and more than 60 Israelis, nearly all soldiers. At least four short humanitarian cease-fires have been announced since the conflict began, but each has been broken within a few hours by renewed fighting. Friday’s temporary cease-fire was the longest to be announced thus far. Under the cease-fire, Israeli troops on the ground in Gaza were to continue to destroy tunnels along the heavily guarded frontier, but only those that are behind Israeli defensive lines and lead into Israel. Netanyahu on Thursday vowed to destroy Hamas’ tunnel network “with or without a cease-fire.” But military spokesman Moti Almoz told Army Radio on Friday that Israel would not be able to eliminate the tunnel threat “100 percent.” Soon after the cease-fire went into force, Gaza’s residents took advantage of the truce to return to their homes, many of which had been destroyed in the fighting. Some arrived on tuk-tuks—three-wheeled taxis—by car or on foot to retrieve their belongings. Near a main road in in the heavily bombarded Gaza district of Shijaiyah, less than a mile from the Israeli border, residents surveyed extensive damage. Basem Abul Qumbus returned to find his three-story home -- in which he had invested tens of thousands of dollars—uninhabitable. Tank shells had punched a hole in the ceiling of one bedroom and a wall had collapsed into the kitchen. “The work of all those years is gone,” he said, as he struggled to salvage flour from bags that had been torn apart by shrapnel. Food supplies are running short in the blockaded coastal territory in the war’s fourth week. Egypt issued a statement early Friday calling on the Western-backed Palestinian Authority and Israel to send negotiation teams to Cairo to discuss “all issues of concern to each party within the framework of the Egyptian initiative.” Egypt had put forth a cease-fire proposal a week after fighting began last month. Israel accepted the proposal, but Hamas, which deeply mistrusts Egypt following last summer’s overthrow of an Islamist government in Cairo, rejected it. Hamas has demanded the lifting of an Israeli and Egyptian border blockade imposed on Gaza in 2007 when the Islamic militant group seized power, as well as the release of Palestinians rounded up in the West Bank in June following the killing of three Israeli teenagers. In recent weeks Turkey and Qatar, which have warmer ties to Hamas but are at odds with Egypt, have tried to help broker a cease-fire agreement, with no results. It’s not clear whether other nations will attend the Egypt talks, and aides to Kerry said Egypt will ultimately decide who will participate. A Hamas official in Qatar said Hamas and Islamic Jihad officials would be participating. Israel will not meet directly with members of either group because it considers them terrorist organizations. Hours before the cease-fire was to take effect, 17 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes, including 10 from the same family, according to al-Kidra, the Health Ministry official in Gaza. He said the family members were killed in an airstrike on their home in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis. Israel’s military said five of its soldiers were killed along the Gaza border Thursday evening by a mortar round. At least 1,496 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed since hostilities began July 8, according to Palestinian officials. Israel says 61 of its soldiers and three civilians in Israel have been killed. Hours ahead of the cease-fire, Gaza police reported heavy Israeli tank shelling in northern and eastern Gaza, and the loud exchange of fire with militants could be heard across Gaza City. Tank shells slammed into the city itself, setting homes and shops ablaze. Hamas fighters hit an Israeli tank with an anti-tank missile, Gaza police said. The militants then attacked Israeli troops who came to evacuate the tank crew. Clashes continued into the early morning hours, police said. The Israeli military said it was looking into the matter. Israeli police meanwhile warned residents to stay away from Israeli communities near the Gaza border during the cease-fire, saying the area remains “a war zone.” “We ask the public to heed the orders of the police and army and not to go to the Gaza Strip border area, it is a threat to your life!!!” the police said in a statement. Police said Palestinians clashed with Israeli security forces in a number of neighborhoods in east Jerusalem, and that Israelis attacked an empty bus. Police also restricted the entry of worshippers to a key Muslim holy site in the city to prevent disturbances.

Taiwan gas blast kills 24, injures 271

As reported in 'The Japan News' : Taiwan gas blast kills 24, injures 271 9:24 pm, August 01, 2014 The Associated Press Vehicles are left lying in a destroyed street as part of the road continues to burn following multiple explosions from an underground gas leak in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, early Friday.

The Associated Press KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan (AP)—At least 24 people were killed and 271 injured when several underground gas explosions ripped through Taiwan’s second-largest city, hurling concrete and cars through the air and blasting trenches in the streets, authorities said Friday, as a search for the cause began. The series of explosions about midnight Thursday and early Friday struck a densely populated district where several petrochemical companies operate pipelines alongside the sewer system in Kaohsiung, a southwestern port with 2.8 million people. Firefighters called to the neighborhood to investigate a gas leak were among the victims when the blasts went off several hours later, upending at least five red fire trucks amid the rubble of pavement and dirt. Four firefighters were among the 24 dead, and 271 people were injured, the National Fire Agency said. “Last night around midnight, the house started shaking and I thought it was a huge earthquake, but when I opened the door, I saw white smoke all over and smelled gas,” said Chen Qing-tao, 38, who lives 10 buildings away from the main explosion site. The fires were believed to have been caused by a leak of propene, a petrochemical material not intended for public use, but the cause and source of the leak were not immediately clear, officials said. The exploded gas line belongs to government-owned CPC Corp., which told The Associated Press it showed no signs of problems before the explosions. CPC officials at the scene Friday declined to offer information about reasons for the blasts. Video from the TVBS broadcaster showed residents searching for victims in shattered storefronts and rescuers pulling injured people from the rubble of a road and placing them on stretchers while passersby helped other victims on a sidewalk. Broadcaster ETTV showed rows of large fires sending smoke into the night sky. At least five blasts shook the city, Taiwan’s Premier Jiang Yi-huah said. Chang Jia-juch, the director of the Central Disaster Emergency Operation Center, said the leaking gas was most likely to be propene. One of the fires, along a 10-meter stretch of gas line, is still on fire, the National Fire Agency says on its website. The source of the leak was unknown. Chang said, however, that propene was not for public use, and that it was a petrochemical material. The government’s disaster response center said Friday it was trying to prevent any knock-on gas explosions in the same place or nearby. “In terms of what we can prevent, we’re afraid another explosion could happen, as there is that possibility,” said Hsu Lee-hao, an economics affairs ministry section chief staffing the disaster response center. “We’re afraid it could be in the same place or elsewhere.” Most of the injured were people outside on the street, mostly hit by rubble blown toward them or crushed by cars sent flying in the blasts, a police officer at the scene said. Police and fire- fighters were burned while trying to control blazes. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu said several petrochemical companies have pipelines built along the sewage system in Chian-Chen district, which has both factories and residential buildings. “Our priority is to save people now. We ask citizens living along the pipelines to evacuate,” Chen told TVBS television. Rescue workers are looking for people trapped in the rubble but expect to find few, if any, because no buildings collapsed, Hsu in the disaster response center said.

Woman who faced death over faith lands in U.S.

As published in 'The Japan News' : Woman who faced death over faith lands in U.S. 12:01 am, August 02, 2014 The Associated Press Meriam Ibrahim, left, and her husband, Daniel Wani, of Sudan are greeted by family and friends shortly after arriving in Manchester, N.H., on Thursday.

The Associated Press MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP)—A Sudanese woman who refused to recant her Christian faith in the face of a death sentence arrived Thursday in the United States, where she was welcomed first by the mayor of Philadelphia as a “world freedom fighter” and later by cheering supporters waving U.S. flags in New Hampshire. Meriam Ibrahim flew from Rome to Philadelphia with her husband and two children, en route to Manchester, where her husband has family and where they will make their new home. Her husband, Daniel Wani, his face streaked with tears, briefly thanked New Hampshire’s Sudanese community on his family’s behalf and said he appreciated the outpouring of support. Earlier in Philadelphia, Mayor Michael Nutter said people will remember Ibrahim along “with others who stood up so we could be free.” He compared her to Rosa Parks, who became a symbol of the U.S. civil rights movement when she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a bus in Montgomery, Ala., touching off a bus boycott. Nutter said it was only fitting Ibrahim landed first in Philadelphia, a city founded as a place open to all faiths. He gave her a small replica of the Liberty Bell, a symbol of American independence, which he said she understood.