Translate

Search This Blog

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

The Big Ben will celebrate the opening of the Olympic Games with 40 strokes

The Big Ben the famous clock of the Palace of Westminster, Friday greet the start of the Olympic Games in London with forty strokes from 8.12 to 8.15 with thousands of bells in the United Kingdom . And 'since 1952 that the famous' clock' does not sound out of the canonical hours, the last time it happened during the funeral of King Giogio VI. "It 's a sign of how special this summer if one of the most famous bells in the world is changing its schedule to take part in the Olympic festival," said the spokesman of the House of Commons John Bercow. If Big Ben is the most famous, certainly will not be the only bell in the UK to welcome the Games, the goal is actually to be played simultaneously all the bells in the country, from uninhabited lands to the north of Skaw , up to the Scilly Isles. "We are excited to implement this initiative that will allow everyone to enter history as well as set a world record in number of bells played simultaneously," adds Ruth Mackenzie, Director of the Festival and the Olympic culture.

Heavy fighting in districts of Damascus


Regular troops of Syria launched attacks today in neighborhoods and Kantam Aasali, two of the last enclaves controlled by the dissident rebels in the Syrian capital, as announced by the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights. "After the attack, the regular forces made searches and arrests," said the NGO adjoins the Syrian opposition and based in London. The day before, the army had recaptured most of the capital. Today's battles in the early afternoon had claimed 42 lives, according to the Observatory. Meanwhile, an Iranian general said today that allies of Syria "will not allow a regime change" in this country and will always "strike hard" against the enemies of Damascus if they decide to intervene in the ongoing conflict. "The Syrian people and the friends of Syria will not allow a regime change," said Masood Tzazageri, deputy head of the armed forces, relied on official website of the Revolutionary Guards (sepahnews.com), the special forces of the Islamic republic. "The friends of Syria and the resistance movement (SS against Israel; in that Tehran considers as belonging to Iranian, Syrian, Palestinian forces and the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah) have not yet entered the stage," said the Iranian military . "If you do manage to strike hard at the front of the enemy, including the Arabs" who belong to it, he threatened. Tehran has repeatedly criticized Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who have openly expressed their support to the guerrillas and Syrians have called to equip. "The Syrians harbor great anger against the evil governments of America, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other allies of terrorists," argued Tzazageri. He accused the U.S. and Israel of conducting a stubborn campaign against Syria "and assured that they will be confronted with" a major defeat. " Arab and Western countries demand the withdrawal of Assad from power in Syria, where more than 19,000 people have been killed since the rebellion broke out before 16 months, according to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights. Furthermore, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced today that over 10,000 Iraqi refugees in Syria were forced to flee the country because of violence Wednesday. According to a representative of the UNHCR, there are "great fear for their safety in Iraq." Many refugees fear for their lives, including women and children, according to the UNHCR, and the service was offered financial assistance. More than 150,000 Syrian nationals have fled their country because of violence, also said the commission, increasing by 30,000 the number from the one announced on July 18 (120,000). Yesterday brought some 6,000 Syrians in Lebanon, where already the refugees from their country more than 30,000, while today the commission announced that 5,000 Syrians brought in Jordan, where 36,000 are already in the organization and the UN is struggling to build a camp for 120,000 refugees. In addition, approximately 44,000 Syrians are refugees in Turkey. Moreover, today's newspaper Washington Post reported that "gaps" in intelligence in Syria delay Washington's efforts to accelerate the fall of Bashar al-Assad and forging alliances with the opposition in the field. According to the American newspaper, the CIA has managed to create a solid presence in Syria, in contrast to what had happened with the revolts in Egypt and Libya. The U.S. intelligence agencies are limited "to intercept communications and monitor the impact of distance," says the newspaper. Also based on their counterparts in Jordan and Turkey for obtaining information, since after the close of the U.S. embassy in the country do not have agents in Syria, only a few border, always at the Post. According to the report, the CIA has given weapons to the rebels, but cooperates with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as equipping the rebels. For their part, the Syrian rebels accused the regime that currently carrying chemical weapons near the border, a day after the threat of Damascus that will use them in an "attack from abroad."

More than 10,000 Iraqis returning to the country fleeing violence in Syria


More than 10,000 Iraqi refugees in Syria who were returned to their country in the last six days fleeing the violence, warned on Tuesday (24) the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Many of those affected have been consulted by the UNHCR expressed its fear for the security conditions in Iraq, but chose to return before the situation of increased degradation in Syria. In the first six months of the year, 13,000 Iraqis returned to their country from Syria, a number almost reached in just one week now. In last Tuesday (17), the Iraqi government asked its citizens to leave Syria  due to "increased attacks against Iraqis." The spokesman for the Iraqi government, Ali Dabbagh, said Baghdad has asked the parties to the conflict not to attack Syrian citizens because "the Iraqis in Syria are guests, not part of the conflict."

Should we be afraid of Syrian chemical weapons?


The history of Syrian chemical weapons begins to raise the worst fears.The fall of the regime announced al-Assad could put in the hands of Hezbollah or other armed groups an arsenal of unknown yet all the devastation. As the probable end of the Syrian regime can lead the country into a civil war , in the absence of political leadership in the revolt in progress.
Syria threatens
It all started last Monday when Syria has recognized, for the first time, be in possession of chemical weapons and threatened to use them in case of"external aggression" . "No chemical or biological weapons will never be used as part of the crisis in Syria, regardless of changing circumstances. These weapons are stored and secured under the direct supervision of the armed forces and will only be used if Syria is facing external aggression " , said the spokesman of Foreign Ministry, Jihad Makdissi, at a conference of release.
This was a thinly veiled threat of a regime at bay. The context was the Russian-Chinese veto. The United States struggled to find another framework that the UN can act on the situation in Syria.
What is it exactly?
Historically, Syria has not signed the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (CWC) but supports the fight against weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
For Syria, it is not about to give up chemical weapons unless Israel, its neighbor enemy, remains a potential threat to its security. The volume of Syrian chemical weapons is not precisely known. "The material is introduced into warheads, which can be either ballistic missiles as artillery shells standards. Weapons can be as small as mortar shells. Part of chemical weapons is already in the form of warhead, ready to be launched " , said David Friedman, an expert on WMD at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University.
Unanimous condemnations
The reactions of condemnation have been quick to fuser. The warnings also. For U.S. President Barack Obama, the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime would be "a tragic mistake ' . "Unacceptable  ! "Said on France 2, the French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius. But it is the insurance that followed shortly after. As if one could believe the Syrian regime capable of reason and restraint. This is the same Fabius, who swore that the Syrian chemical weapons were carefully monitored by the international community. Same reassuring tone on Israel's side. Amos Gilad, a senior Defense Ministry, the Syrian regime controlled "totally" his arsenal of chemical weapons. As if one could trust Bashar al-Assad.
Fears of the Syrian army free
It only remains free Syrian Army (SLA) to sound the alarm. The rebels have accused the Syrian regime of Syrian chemical weapons have been transferred to airports at the border. "We in the Joint Command of the Syrian Army free (ASL) know perfectly inside the location of these weapons and their position and we reveal that Assad has transferred some of these weapons and equipment of chemical mixture components to airports on the border " , said Tuesday the ASL in a statement.
Scaremongering or hoax? We can not answer with certainty. But in the Syrian equation, the fall of the Syrian regime may cause considerable damage in the region and moved into the modus operandi of terrorist groups. If chemical weapons falling into the hands of jihadi groups, the consequences will be tragic.

Workers investigated radioactivity in Fukushima

The Japanese authorities investigated the level of contamination among workers in the damaged nuclear power plant in Fukushima, then it is found hiding in the reports on the actual data of radioactivity by the Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO). I made to conceal information about overexposure to radioactivity is very unfortunate, said Yoko Komiyama, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, on information supplied by Kyodo news agency. According to data released, one of those responsible for Tepco, the operator of the plant, not publicly identified, instructed at least nine workers using lead plates to cover the dosimeters used to detect radiation. The Fukushima plant was hardest hit by the quake and tsunami of March 11, 2011 and generated in Japan an unprecedented crisis and has also shown, lack of foresight and organizational deficiencies on nuclear safety, both Tepco and the Government of then Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

After the massacre at the cinema in Denver, boom arms sales in Colorado

Boom in sales of weapons in Colorado after the massacre at the Aurora Film to the first of the new Batman movie. According to the local newspaper, the Denver Post, the aftermath of the massacre carried out by James Holmes in multiplex, not just weapons sales have increased by 41%, but have also increased requests for permission to carry arms. "Incredible "said Jake Meyers, clerk in a gun store Rocky Mountain Guns and Ammo in the city of Parker, who found about twenty people in line outside the store a few hours after the shooting of Aurora. "Many people said I did not think I need a weapon, but now I want it."Colorado has granted 2,887 permits on Sunday, an increase of 41% over the previous week. The killer of Aurora has purchased within eight weeks of ammunition Internet 6,300: 3,000 for the AR-15 semiautomatic rifle, another 3,000 for the two Glock pistols and 300 loaders for the shotgun. The 24 year old student has also purchased a magazine from which he also learned how to shoot 60 rounds per minute. 

Space, the final secret of Sally Ride, "was a lesbian"


Sally Ride was a lesbian The first American who has traveled in space, extinguished the age 'of 61 years for pancreatic cancer and hailed by Barack Obama as "a national hero and a powerful model" that inspired "generations of girls eager to reach for the stars "had a secret companion for 27 years. And it 'did not know until today with a posthumous coming out, when the Foundation named after her has published a statement in which it identifies as "partners" Tam O'Shaughnessy, her friend since the two were 12 years of age'. In the days when the world celebrates another great pioneer and highly controversial figure, Amelia Earhart (the Google doodle dedicated to the 115 years since birth), one discovers the secret of the Ride.    degree in physics from Stanford in 1978 and hired by NASA after he answered an ad in the gornale, Sally, had flown into orbit with the Challenger in June 1983 at the age 'of 32 years. His was not the first space mission to a woman - twenty years earlier, in 1963, there was the Soviet Valentina Tereskova - but became popular in the U.S.. In 1984 there was the second mission, always with the Challenger, for a total of 343 hours in space, while the third jump 'in the aftermath of the Challenger, exploded in flight with seven astronauts on board in 1986.  The example of the Ride Originally from Los Angeles, opened 'the way for a generation of astronauts: NASA after her send' space Judith Resnik and his second mission you find 'another woman in the crew, Kathryn Sullivan. Since then, 45 women, United States and abroad, have flown in space, including two commanders of shuttle missions. Sally, who married in 1982, astronaut Steven Hawley and divorced in 1987, I do not speak 'never in public of the intimate relationship with Tam. The two have followed different professional paths, but found themselves colleagues in the Foundation. For the truth ', the laughs did not much talk about' for other aspects of his life. "Nobody outside the family knew of the cancer," said the brother, interviewed by Buzzfeed, "for 17 months, no one knew." 

He died "suddenly" the president of Ghana, John Atta Mills


The president of Ghana John Atta Mills died Tuesday in the capital, Accra, having fallen ill on Monday night, as reported Tuesday the Office of the President of the African country and an assistant chief of state. Mills's death comes just months before presidential elections which were expected to submit for re-election after reaching the State Headquarters of the African country in January 2009. "With much regret we announce the sudden and untimely death of President of the Republic of Ghana," he reported in a statement the office of the Presidency. The note stated that Mills, 68, died hours after getting sick, without providing further details. An assistant of the Chief of State, who asked to remain anonymous, explained that the president began to feel ill on Monday night and died Tuesday after his health worsened. A few weeks ago, traveled to the United States to undergo medical tests.

China imposes censorship on rainfall

Some rain torrential Beijing stopped dead first reviews after and doubts about the foundations of the capital of the second world economy . Until now is the censorship:  the most critical comments on the Internet are being erased and official media have been ordered to stick to the usual moving stories of miraculous rescues and selfless help from neighbors. Saturday's rains were the worst fall on Beijing in 60 years. The rain went on for 20 hours, reached 170 mm on average per cubic meter in the center and 460 mm in the mountainous district of Fangshan , in the southwest. In the district of Sanlitun , which accounts for leisure, people stayed locked up overnight in the premises as he watched cars as puppets pulled by currents of one meter on the main avenues. The day ended with 52 deaths (37 in the capital and 15 in Hebei, the province that embraces).In Beijing, 25 were drowned, six by the collapse of their houses, five and electrocuted by lightning.Rescuers are still searching for 19 people and 66,000 have been evacuated. The bill amounted to 10,000 million yuan (nearly 1,300 million euros), according to Beijing Daily .

CITY UNPREPARED

News of deadly floods are common in southern China, but not in the capital. It is relatively understandable that Beijing, with a dry climate, was not prepared to manage these rains. "In a day has fallen the same water that normally falls in six months. There is no system of drainage that can support it, "said Zhang Junfeng, an engineer of the Ministry of Transport. But the failure of alcantarillad or was so colossal that the awkward questions have arisen. Beijing has risen in recent decades glittering skyscrapers and infrastructure that would envy any Western city: the second major airport in the world, a network of wide avenues and as modern as one meter long. Yet much of the sewage goes back to the imperial times. Many caps flew by the force of flowing water in the basement and there are many of the victims drowned. The failure was made ​​by the official media the next day. "In terms of drainage technology, China is decades behind the developed world," explained an editorial Global Times.

DISCOMFORT IN THE NETWORK

The Internet these days share photos of the disaster and criticism of their management. Beijing is blamed for not having warned the force of water and advised people to stay at home. It is evident that failed emergency protocols. "Much of the information came from weibo , the Chinese version ofTwitter - rather than official sources. The Government should promote education on disasters, "he told AP Dong Liming, a professor of Urban and Environmental Sciences of Peking University. The heat has reached levels that annoy Beijing, which has decreed censorship.

At least 9 dead and 40 wounded in two bomb attacks in northern Iraq


At least nine people were killed and forty wounded in two bomb attacks perpetrated in northern Iraq, the day after a string of attacks that would end the lives of more than eighty people in the country. Police sources told Efe that the outbreak of a motorcycle bomb a patrol of Kurdish security forces in Al Tuz, 200 miles north of Baghdad, killing six policemen and wounding two policemen and three civilians .In the second attack, three civilians were killed and 35 wounded by the explosion of a car bomb in the Al Mualemin, north of Baquba, 65 kilometers northeast of the capital. The two explosions caused major damage in the surrounding buildings and vehicles parked nearby, according to sources, who pointed out that in the first vehicle was completely destroyed Kurdish Police. On the other hand, an officer was killed and three wounded in an attack by gunmen in the Al Hadid, 10 km northwest of Baquba. Also near this city, another police officer died and two were wounded when a bomb exploded at the passing of his car in the area of ​​Al Tahrir. These events occur after yesterday at least 84 people died and nearly 300 were injured in various attacks around the country, in one of the bloodiest days of the last two years. Iraq is the scene of a spike in violence, with frequent attacks on Shiite targets and security forces since last December withdrawal of U.S. troops.