Thursday, June 9, 2011

YEMEN - The Gulf Cooperation Council suspends its mediation

The Gulf monarchies were announced May 22 that they "suspended" their mediation in the Yemeni crisis, after President Saleh has again refused to sign the agreement on transition of power. Hundreds of his supporters besieged the embassy of the United States in Sana'a, which brought together the ambassadors of U.S., UK, EU and Gulf countries.

The diplomats were evacuated by helicopter in the evening. Saleh warned against civil war.

OBESITY - Leave me my nasi lemak

Shahizan Hasnan, caterer, is selling up to 150 plates nasi lemak hot day in a primary school of 1000 students. This dish is probably the most popular in Malaysia: it is found everywhere, in roadside stalls as in hotels. It is eaten at any time of day or night by students, office workers and partygoers.

Yet recently, a debate raged about its effects on health, after the government suggested that it should only be offered one or two days per week in schools, not every day. It accuses the dish promote obesity in young people, to the chagrin of its supporters and its vendors. Admittedly, its Malay name - literally "fat rice" - clearly announces the color.

Spain - La Puerta del Sol as if you were there

To live the temperature of the Puerta del Sol, Madrid, gather for a week tens of thousands of people demanding a "real democracy right now", log on Sol TV, a television set by two Journalists who live on the Puerta del Sol and have a production company. Their cameras are always what happens on this square in the center of the capital, zero mileage point and starting point of a spontaneous movement of protest against the mediocrity of the political class, which is now known as the "Movement of May 15" and has spread to all major cities.

BELGIUM - Antwerp placed on the MAS

I wrote a year ago already: "The tower of the new century is located in Antwerp. 65 meters high on Eilandje [the small island, in Flemish] where once the old port still smelled oil, wind blew the sails and produced metallic sounds. The Museum aan de Stroom [literally, the museum on the River], the MAS, in these modern times emphasizing the abbreviations and short messages.

Antwerp is not only a tower over She has created a phenomenon. An urban phenomenon. " I'm actually mad DSS. DSS can be used in my city as the symbol that is the Eiffel Tower, to better highlight Antwerp. On coffee cups, ice stick, or even in those hemispheres that are shaken to snow inside.

CHINA - Ai Weiwei charged with tax evasion

According to the official news agency Xinhua, quoted by the Hong Kong newspaper Mingpao, the artist Ai Weiwei is accused of tax evasion, which would have been guilty Development Corporation cultural Fake it de facto control. The offense would cover a large sum of money and the company had falsified its accounts.

Ai Weiwei was arrested April 3 at Beijing airport. It has been without news of him for 40 days, and his wife was finally allowed to see him briefly on May 15 The authorities said they had opened an investigation for economic crimes.

The army confirmed that China is building its first aircraft carrier

Chinese Army Gen. Gen Chem Bindge has confirmed that the first aircraft carrier of its armed forces is under construction. He refused to reveal when you are ready, according to the 'BBC'. The vessel, 300 meters long, is a reworking of the Soviet model Varyag. It is being built at the port of Dalian in northeast China.

The carrier is nearing completion and is expected to sail later this year. However, no means to be operational by then. According to experts, learn to use it - by the sailors and pilots - can take several years. Lt. Gen. Gen Qi Jianguo said the "Hong Kong Commercial Daily said that the ship will not sail territorial waters of other countries.

London and Paris presented today at a UN resolution condemning Syria

The UK and France will present on Wednesday a resolution in the Security Council of UN on Syria. The announcement was the British prime minister, David Cameron. The resolution condemned the repression of the Bashar Assad regime against the demonstrators. "Today, New York, the United Kingdom and France put on the table a resolution at the Security Council condemning the crackdown and calling for humanitarian access," said Cameron.

Battisti: no extradition

By 6 votes to 3 the Supreme Federal Court in Brasilia rejected without reviewing the substance of the appeal against the decision of the Italian government of former President Lula, who has blocked the extradition of Cesare Battisti. The decision to Lula is international, and as such can not be challenged by another government according to the Brazilian courts.

According to the newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo judges who voted against extradition are: Luiz Fux, Carmen Lucia, Ricardo Lewandowski, Joaquim Barbosa, Carlos Ayres Britto, Marco Aurelio Mello.

Iran: Tehran wants to triple uranium production

Vice President Fereidun Abbasi, who is also head of Iran's nuclear program said, according to a report by the official news agency IRNA on Wednesday, the entire program including the new centrifuges will soon be in the system of Fordo near the town of Kom be installed.

The move from the current location Natanz will be monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Iran admitted the existence of the secret facility in Fordo a first-time in September 2009, after Western intelligence agencies had discovered it. At that time the laboratories in the former munitions depot, which were dug into a mountain, were still under construction.

Gadhafi's daughter denounces NATO for war crimes

Aicha al-Gaddafi, Libyan leader's daughter has filed a complaint in Belgium against NATO on the grounds that the organization committed war crimes by bombing civilians in Tripoli, according to Belgian media published today. The lawsuit brought by Aïcha al-Gaddafi at the Belgian Federal Court and the Court of Brussels also intends to cancel the blocking of assets of the Libyan regime that the European Union (EU) decided to impose Muammar al-Gaddafi Executive, reports on its website Belgian public broadcaster RTBF.

earthquake and tsunami in Japan led to the bankruptcy of 156 companies

The earthquake and ravaged tsunamique Japan on 11 March resulted in the bankruptcy of 156 companies to May, reported the consultancy Japan Tokyo Shoko. Last month 64 companies were declared bankrupt by the disaster, bringing to 156 the Nipponese companies in bankruptcy since March because of this.

That figure exceeds the 144 bankruptcies recorded after the great earthquake of Kobe in 1995, said Tokyo Soho. In total, along with those caused by the earthquake, bankruptcies rose in May by 4.89 percent over the same month of 2010, until 1071, which represents the first increase since July 2009.

Elections in Tunisia are delayed from July to October

The constituent elections in Tunisia will be held on October 23, as announced by the Prime Minister of the Transitional Government, Beji Caid Esebsi. The elections, the first after the fall of the regime of former President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, were provided in principle 24 July, but the Electoral Commission had shown favor of postponing until the fall.

The new date was agreed at a meeting held on Wednesday the members of the Executive with the leaders of all political forces and members of the Electoral Commission. On 22 May, the commission, composed of independent persons of standing, suggested postponing the election date until 16 October, saying there was insufficient time to prepare the electoral roll or the preparation of political forces, many of them start-ups.

U.S. withdraw 30,000 troops in Afghanistan next year

The United States is considering removing the end of next year to 30,000 troops with which reinforced its military presence in Afghanistan and in that case, Britain could accelerate the departure of its troops, according to The Times. According to British sources quoted by the newspaper, the UK forces stationed in the Asian country should be reduced more than the 450 soldiers announced by the Prime Minister, David Cameron.

INDIA - Less than betel vines, more steel

After four years of legal battles and popular resistance, the South Korean giant Posco steel industry has been endorsed by the Indian government for its proposed steel plant over 1,000 hectares in Orissa [center-east India ]. Wednesday, May 18, the government took over the operations of recovery of land needed for construction in the destroying of betel vines of 11 villagers, wrote the Hindustan Times.

GERMANY - The color in restaurants

The German Länder have agreed May 19 on the introduction of a warning sign at the entrance to restaurants, reports the Frankfurter Rundschau. Based on the last three hygiene controls, the colors red, orange and green will be awarded to restaurants. This system will be extended in a second time to butcher shops, bakeries and grocery stores, the paper notes.

Those who reacted the restaurant industry. The president of the Union Restaurant believes that the current system of control, which provides for closure of facilities in case of serious failure, is sufficient. For now, missing 1200 health inspectors to conduct the two annual inspections required by law.

Libya - Senegal, the first African country to recognize the Transitional National Council

Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade received on Thursday 18 May, a delegation of the National Transitional Council (CNT), the newspaper reported Walf Fadjri Dakar. After the interview, the head of state said that his country now recognizes the CNT. According to the newspaper, Abdoulaye Wade sees the fall of Colonel Qaddafi as irreversible.

Yet the president was considered a friend and ally of the dictator of Tripoli.