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U.S. doesn't plan to sign arms control treaty with Russia this week
U.S. President Barack Obama has no plan to sign an arms control treaty with Russia during his trip to Denmark's Copenhagen this week, according to the White House on Tuesday.
"We are not planning currently for a signing ceremony in Copenhagen," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said in a regular briefing. He also said Obama wasn't planning to visit any other country in that region.
Obama is traveling to Copenhagen Friday for the climate summit there, and it is widely speculated he would sign a replacement treaty of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev when both leaders are there.
The United States and Russia are trying to reach a new nuclear arms control treaty to replace START, which expired on Dec. 5.
Obama and Medvedev have vowed to work together in the spirit of START following its expiration, in order to ensure that a new treaty on strategic arms enter into force at the earliest possible date.
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Iran test-fires advanced home-made missile: TV
Iran successfully test-fired optimized version of home-made Sejil 2 missile, local English-language Press TV reported Wednesday.
Test of the solid-fuel Sejil 2 deterrent missile is part of Iran's long-term plans to defend the country's borders, Press TV said.
Iranian officials have said that Sejil 2 has a range of 2,000 km.
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Medvedev calls for joint commitments for emissions cut
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday urged the world's leading economies to make coordinated efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
"Major economies of the world and effectively the largest emitters of greenhouse gas must simultaneously undertake the necessary commitments and strictly observe them," Medvedev said in a video blog posted on the Kremlin website.
He emphasized the need to make and abide by these commitments jointly by the international community, saying uncoordinated efforts will be ineffective and useless.
The president, however, said a differentiated approach should be applied to the commitments of developed and developing countries because "we are under different circumstances."
Russia's new objective to improve the global environmental situation is "to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels," Medvedev said.
"During the period between 1990 and 2020, Russia would secure the overall cuts of greenhouse gas emissions by over 30 billion tons," he said.
Medvedev added he would promote the adoption of decisions that would unite the efforts of all countries when taking part in the Copenhagen climate change conference later this week.
"This is critical because the quality of life of future generations on our planet depends on our understandings," he said.
The Copenhagen conference, which opened last Monday and will run through Dec. 18, gathered representatives from 192 countries and aims at mapping out a plan to combat climate change for a period from 2012 to 2020.
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U.S. Nobel winner economist Samuelson dies
U.S. economist Paul A. Samuelson, a Nobel Prize laureate died on Sunday, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where Samuelson taught.He died at his home in Belmont Massachusetts at the age of 94, MIT said.
Samuelson, who won the Nobel Prize in economics in 1970, was one of the leading economists of the 20th century, and served as an adviser to Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.
"Paul Samuelson transformed everything he touched: the theoretical foundations of his field, the way economics was taught around the world, the ethos and stature of his department, the investment practices of MIT, and the lives of his colleagues and students," said MIT President Susan Hockfield.
His world renowned text book "Economics: An Introductory Analysis" has been translated into 40 languages and is now in its 19th edition in English.
He is survived by his wife Risha Samuelson, six children from his first marriage and a stepdaughter, as well as 15 grandchildren.
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Six workers killed, 19 others trapped in Turkish mine blast
Six workers were killed and 19 others trapped in Turkish mine blast which occurred Thursday evening, local NTV channel reported Friday.The mine blast, probably caused by methane gas, happened in a mine close to the city of Bursa trapping the workers underground last evening, the TV news said.he incident took place at a depth of around 250-350 miters, causing the mine to cave in and a fire to break out.The death toll of the miners might be increased, but no more details were reported at the moment. China wholesale
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EU leaders fail to reach agreement on climate change funds
Leaders of European Union (EU) members reiterated their stance on climate change at a summit here on Thursday, but failed to put forward the exact amount of a "fast-starting" fund to help developing countries tackle climate change.Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeld, whose country holds the current EU rotating presidency, told a press conference that the bloc was committed to showing leadership in fighting against climate change and had made conditional offer.He said the EU had pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 compared with the 1990 levels and was ready to increase the target to 30 percent if similar pledges are made by developed countries.He urged other nations to join the EU to make ambitious pledges on cutting green gas emissions as "we need global answer to this global problem."European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso also called on other nations to take action and reach an agreement in the ongoing UN climate talks in Copenhagen, saying it was "less expensive" to repair the world now than later.He explained the EU's stance on climate change, saying it aims to put pressure on other key countries and urge them to take concrete actions, which could lead to a success in the Copenhagen conference.However, although more than half of EU members have pledged to make contributions, the EU leaders didn't reach an agreement on the exact amount on the "fast-starting" funding to help the world's poorest nations to tackle climate change from 2010 to 2012.We will have a better figure tomorrow than tonight," which will be a great boost to the Copenhagen talks, he said.he European Commission has estimated that it needs some 5 billion to 7 billion euros (about 7 billion to 10 billion dollars) a year in 2010-2012.So far, Britain, Sweden and the Netherlands have announced significant contributions, while Germany, France and Italy are reportedly reluctant to make pledges.During a meeting on Oct. 29, the EU leaders insisted that their countries "contribute their fair share" provided that other key players also make comparable efforts.At Thursday's meeting, which is the first one after the bloc's reformed Lisbon Treaty came into effect on Dec. 1, the leaders also discussed the economic, financial and employment situation in the EU, particularly exit strategies and supervision of financial markets.The next summit in 2010 will be chaired by EU permanent President-elect Herman Van Rompuy. China wholesale
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Western countries warn of more sanctions against Iran
The United States, France and Britain warned Iran on Thursday that more sanctions are inevitable if Tehran continues to defy United Nations demands."Should Iran continue to fail to meet its obligations, the international community will have to consider further actions," said U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice, who later told reporters that she meant tougher sanctions.The five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- have agreed to wait until the end of the year before deciding on more sanctions.Despite pressure from the international community, Iran continues its nuclear program. Tehran maintains that it has the right to generate nuclear energy for civilian purposes. But Western powers suspect Iran of attempting to build nuclear weapons.The UN Security Council met on Thursday to assess Iran's compliance with previous sanctions and heard a report from the sanctions committee on two shipments of Iranian arms bound for Syria that violated the UN arms embargo on Iran.British Ambassador to the UN Mark Lyall Grant called the Iran sanction committee report "disappointing," because it set out "a pattern of violations" committed by Tehran."If you add this together with the continued uranium enrichment activities of Iran in violation of Security Council resolutions, of Iran's failure to answer questions to the (International Atomic Energy Agency) about its weaponization activities, the revelation of a secret enrichment site at Qom, and Iran's rejection of the offer over the Tehran nuclear research reactor," he told reporters, "then I think you can see that there is clearly this pattern of violations of international obligations and unwillingness of Iran to negotiate seriously with the international community over the nuclear issue."Last month, the UN's atomic watchdog, the IAEA, censured Iran for hiding an enrichment plant in Qom. Just days later, Iran announced it would increase its enrichment program by building 10 new plants.French Ambassador to the UN Gerrard Araud stressed the urgency of implementing new and tougher sanctions."There is no longer any reason to wait," he told the Council. "Iran places itself in a dangerous stalemate. The time has come to increase this pressure."China and Russia urged for greater patience in continuing negotiations with Tehran."We need to be patient, calm, not emotional," Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told the Security Council. China wholesale
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Al-Qaida in Iraq claims responsibility for massive Baghdad bombings
The al-Qaida in Iraq network claimed Thursday its responsibility for Tuesday's massive bombings that Related killed and wounded hundreds of Iraqis, the group said in a statement posted on the internet.The self-styled Islamic State in Iraq (ISI) said in its statement that its attacks targeted "bastions of evil and dens of apostates," confirming that the group is determined to uproot the Iraqi government and that the "list of its targets has no end."The authenticity of the claim could not be immediately verified.On Tuesday, five coordinated deadly attacks struck the Iraqi capital, killing up to 127 people and wounding more than 448 others. The latest wave of bombings is the third of such attacks after the massive attacks on Aug. 19 and Oct. 25.The same group also claimed the responsibility for both August and October attacks.Despite the dramatic drop in violence in more than two years in Iraq, insurgents are still capable to carry out high-profile attacks that may raise concerns about the ability of Iraqi security forces to contain violence ahead of the country's national elections early next year. China wholesale
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Romanian incumbent president reelected in run-off: final results
Romania's incumbent President Traian Basescu was re-elected for the next five years after winning 50.3 percent of the vote in Sunday's presidential run-off, according to the final results released by the Central Election Bureau on Wednesday. Social Democratic leader Mircea Geoana garnered 49.6 percent, according to the bureau. Basescu was leading by only 70,000 ballots in the run-off, according to the results. Voter turnout was 58.02 percent. The final results are to be sent on Wednesday evening to the Constitutional Court for validation. However, the Social Democratic Party on Tuesday appealed to the Constitutional Court to annul the presidential run-off, citing alleged vote fraud. "We are asking ... for the annulment of the run-off and a repeat of the election, as law requires," said Party Secretary-general Liviu Dragnea. There was sufficient evidence for the court to annul the election, said Dragnea, alleging such frauds as massive electoral tourism, multiple voting and vote buying. Basescu is endorsed by the ruling Democratic-Liberal Party, while Geoana, a candidate of the Social Democratic Party-Conservative Party Alliance, also enjoys the support of several opposition parties in parliament. Emil Boc, chief of the Democratic Liberal Party, said earlier that the Social Democrats' challenge has no legal grounds.
Interim Foreign Minister Catalin Predoiu on Tuesday said the election process outside the country was carried out "according to the law, in a correct and transparent manner." The Constitutional Court has the power to annul election results at a constituency or national level, and can demand a repeat of the election process if large fraud is found. According to an exit poll announced by pollster Insomar on Sunday evening, Geoana won 51.6 percent of the vote, while Basescu trailed with around 48.4 percent.
Another exit pollster, the Company for Sociological Research and Branding (CCSB), gave Geoana a 2.4-percentage-point lead over Basescu, while a CURS exit poll put the figure at 50.8 percent to 49.2 percent in favor of Geoana. A CSOP poll showed the vote was tied at 50-50. Romania has been in the hands of a caretaker government since mid-October, when its democrat liberal government was ousted in a non-confidence vote in parliament and Basescu failed to push through parliament his nominations for a new prime minister. Sunday's presidential run-off has been widely seen as crucial for Romania. The winner will have to move quickly to name a new prime minister and solve a political crisis that has made international donors postpone a massive aid package to the country-- the third installment of a 20-billion-euro (29.65 billion U.S. dollars) bailout package led by the International Monetary Fund. China wholesale
U.S. allies to send 6,800 more troops to Afghanistan
A NATO spokesman said on Wednesday that 36 ISAF members had pledged some 6,800 more troops to Afghanistan at a force generation conference, which is seen as a move to bolster U.S. President Barack Obama's new Afghan strategy. James Appathurai told a press briefing that the force generation conference, held in Mons of Belgium on Monday, was "a strong demonstration of commitments and solidarity by our allies and partners" and the non-U.S. members of the ISAF pledged about 6,800 forces, excluding any forces deployed temporarily for the Afghan elections in August. The spokesman did not specify which countries had promised more troops and the number of troops each country would send.
On Dec. 4, NATO Secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that at least 25 countries had promised about 7,000 extra troops to Afghanistan and more troops were expected as some countries would make their decisions after the international conference on Afghanistan in January next year. Appathurai said that the allies at the conference also pledged support for the training mission in Afghanistan, which is seen as a keystone for transition to allow foreign forces to withdraw eventually. A total of over 150 army training teams and 340 police training teams in Afghanistan have been pledged, he said, adding the alliance is seeking around 20 army training teams and 30 police training teams next year to fill the requirements of training mission. While sending more troops to Afghanistan to fight Taliban insurgents, the alliance attaches great important to the transition strategy, which is to train Afghan security forces and hand over responsibility for defense and law enforcement to the country's government. On Dec. 1, President Obama said he would deploy 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan in the first half of 2010, in a prime time address at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and called on NATO allies to follow suit.
U.S. Defense Secretary on unannounced visit to Afghanistan
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Kabul on Tuesday to talk with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan about how to use 30,000 additional American troops in the coming months.
The surprising visit came just one week after President Barack Obama decided to send 30,000 extra troops to the war-torn country and start withdrawing U.S. troops in July 2011.
Gates has signed orders for the deployment of 17,000 of the additional forces, he told reporters on his plane, adding that "Most of the first troops that are going in will be going into the south."
"As the security situation improves and we're able, over time, to reduce our forces," Gates said.
Gates and Karzai are expected to attend a joint press conference later Tuesday.
Binding treaty on climate change to be reached in 2010: UN chief
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said here Monday that a legally binding treaty on climate change will be reached in 2010. "The legally binding treaty will be reached as soon as possible in 2010," Ban told reporters here after he met with visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner at the UN Headquarters in New York. The secretary-general made the statement hours after the opening of the UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. The Copenhagen conference, officially known as the 15th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), will conclude on Dec. 18. Around 100 leaders from the UN member countries and about 12,000 delegates and specialists from more than 170 countries will attend the conference.
DPRK blames U.S. for Korean Peninsula nuclearization
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday blamed the United States for the nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, describing it a troublemaker in the region. In a commentary of DPRK's official Rodong Sinmun daily, the DPRK said the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula was triggered by nuclear weapons imported from the United States into South Korea, adding that South Korea had become "the biggest nuclear arsenal in the Far East." The DPRK has made ceaseless efforts to push the Untied States to withdraw nuclear weapons from South Korea in a bid to make the Korean Peninsula a denuclearized peaceful region, the commentary said. But, it emphasized that the U.S. government gave no response to those efforts. It added that the DPRK took the erasing of the U.S. nuclear threat as an issue related to the fate of the Korean nation and had struggled for it all the way, stressing that the United States should pull out the nuclear weapons from South Korea and Japan. The DPRK published the commentary just before the DPRK-U.S. talks on nuclear issues. Stephen Bosworth, U.S. special representative for the DPRK, will travel to Pyongyang on Tuesday for a rare meeting aimed at bringing the DPRK back to the international nuclear disarmament talks.
Binding treaty on climate change to be reached in 2010: UN chief
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said here Monday that a legally binding treaty on climate change will be reached in 2010. "The legally binding treaty will be reached as soon as possible in 2010," Ban told reporters here after he met with visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner at the UN Headquarters in New York. The secretary-general made the statement hours after the opening of the UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. The Copenhagen conference, officially known as the 15th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), will conclude on Dec. 18. Around 100 leaders from the UN member countries and about 12,000 delegates and specialists from more than 170 countries will attend the conference.
Countries gear up for showdown in Copenhagen talks
In the past two weeks, a number of countries took a bigger step forward in their efforts to cut their greenhouse gas emissions than in the previous two years. Days before the Copenhagen climate talks to be held from Dec. 7to 18, the world's main emitters such as the United States, China and India finally produced targets for cutting their greenhouse gases by 2020, an encouraging sign for inking an agreement on fighting global warming. The European Union, which boasts itself as a leader in fighting global warming, is the first player to lay its cards on the table. The bloc announced as early as 2007 that it planned to slash emissions by 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, and by 30 percent if other developed countries followed suit. However, the targets produced by the EU still fell short of the scientists' expectations for the developed nations in their efforts to avert the worst result that could be caused by global warming. Many people experts believe that a 25 to 40 percent reduction for developed countries compared with the 1990 baseline is necessary. The United States is among the last to show its cards, as President Barack Obama promised only two weeks ago to cut greenhouse gases by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. The target, which means just a four percent cut from 1990 levels, is much less than the EU's pledge over the same period. The Obama administration shows more willingness in fighting global warming than his predecessor, but still refuses to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, which does not include developing countries in any numerical limitations. In Japan, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who was sworn in August, pledged to cut his country's emissions by 25 percent below1990 levels by 2020, much higher than the 8 percent reduction offered by his predecessor Taro Aso. However Hatoyama, remains vague on how to materialize the promise. What's more, Hatoyama's promise was based on the premise that major developing countries participate in emission cuts, which violated the Kyoto Protocol's principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities." In climate talks, the U.S. and Japan belong to the so-called Umbrella Group which also includes Australia, New Zealand, Russia and Canada. Umbrella Group countries, which asked major developing countries to accept binding emissions cut, were frequently at odds with the European Union and developing countries. Australia, for instance, aimed to cut emissions by 5 percent from 2000 levels by 2020, or up to 25 percent if a tough international climate agreement is reached in Copenhagen, and New Zealand pledged to drop emissions by 10 - 20 percent depending on the final outcome of the Copenhagen talks. Last month, Russia said it would reduce emissions by 20 percent to 25 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels, but it's worth noting that the country's emissions were 34 percent below 1990 levels in 2007. Canada promised to curb emissions by 20 percent by 2020 from 2006 levels, which meant only a 2 percent reduction based on the 1990 levels. As a whole, the developed countries offered only an 8 percent to 14 percent cut below 1990 levels by 2020, according to the latest data from the Climate Action Tracker project run by Ecofys and Climate Analytics for the European Climate Foundation. The data meant more commitments are needed from the developed countries, as the range of 8 percent to 14 percent is not much above the 5.2 percent reduction required under the first commitment period (2008 to 2012) of the Kyoto Protocol, while lags far behind the 25 percent to 40 percent figure as indicated by scientists for stabilizing climate. In contrast, more and more developing countries are voluntarily taking steps to curb emissions, although they are exempt from legal obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. Brazil, three days ago, pledged to cut emissions by 36.1 percent to 38.9 percent from projected 2020 levels. China has also announced that it seeks to reduce the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of the GDP in 2020 by 40 percent to 45 percent compared with the level of 2005. India followed China by offering a 20 percent to 25 percent slowdown in emissions growth. The Copenhagen talks are expected to produce a significant agreement on curbing global warming as the world's main emitters start to make efforts. However, tough negotiations still lie ahead in the upcoming talks to get the developed countries to do more. China wholesale
mens air jordan shoesZelaya stresses Honduran Congress cannot depose him
Honduran ousted President Manuel Zelaya on Thursday stressed that the Honduran Congress could not depose him and regretted it had voted against his restitution. "The only thing they are calling for is to ratify the coup in Honduras. I am the president elected by the people and the Congress cannot depose me. It's abuse of power, which is not within the limits of their functions and powers," Zelaya said in an interview with Chile's radio station Radio Cooperativa. On Wednesday, 64 members of the 126 lawmakers at the Congress voted against Zelaya's return to the presidency in a meeting held to decide on his reinstatement. Zelaya, who was ousted in a June 28 coup, also stressed the role of Jose Miguel Insulza, secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), can play in the political crisis. "Secretary Insulza has kept a strong position and for this, he earns my recognition. Till the moment he has been totally consistent with the principles of the Democratic Charter (of the OAS)," Zelaya said. On Friday, the OAS Permanent Council will hold a meeting in Washington in which Insulza will present a report on Honduras' situation after the crisis. On this occasion, Zelaya hopes the international community will reject the de facto government led by Roberto Micheletti, the Nov.29 elections and the Congress's decision. Zelaya also said the situation in Honduras had been very complex because the United States did not show a strong position on the issue.
Canada condemns suicide bombing in Mogadishu
Canada on Thursday condemned the suicide bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia and urged all parties in the country to work together to promote peace. "Canada strongly condemns the attack. Violence toward civilians and government officials will not bring peace to Somalia, " Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said in a statement. As those killed include students graduating from medical school, journalists and government ministers responsible for education and health, this attack shows that those responsible are more concerned with their narrow agenda than with the well-being of the Somali people, the statement said. "Canada encourages all parties in Somalia, including the government and armed opposition groups, to work together to promote peace and reconciliation," Cannon said in the statement. A man dressed in a black burqa blew himself up at a graduation ceremony of doctors in the Somali capital of Mogadishu earlier on Thursday, killing 19 people, including parents, students and three government ministers.
Honduran president-elect begins to draw development plan
Honduran President-Elect Porfirio Lobo Thursday set out to draw the country's development plan. Lobo from the National Party met representatives of churches, business people and former presidential candidates to collect their ideas for the plan. He said the plan should have clear policies and send a signal that the Honduran people are all united. "I am pleased with the meeting, and we are very happy with what we have discussed," said Elvin Santos, a former presidential candidate of the Liberal Party. "It gives us a lot of hope that by Jan. 27, 2010 we will have the basis of a plan for the country," which is to be implemented in the coming 25 to 30 years, he said. Lobo won the presidential election on Nov. 29, but the result was turned down by ousted President Manuel Zelaya, who was deposed in a military coup on June 28. Lobo will take office on Jan. 27, 2010 to kick off his four-year term.
Two killed, one injured in party shooting in W Canada
Two men were killed and a third injured when some assailants opened fire at a party Friday night in the western Canadian city of Winnipeg, police said Saturday. The violence happened midnight at a home in the Manitoba capital, where about 20 or 30 young people were having a party, reports reaching here said. Police received call and arrived at the scene, finding the three victims. Initial investigation suggested that a number of unidentified assailants shot the three victims with a large calibre weapon. Police said it was too soon to say whether each of the victims had been targeted. Both of the two killed are 18 years old and the one injured is 17 years. Winnipeg is Canada's seventh largest city and has one of the highest crime rates in the country.
U.S. to pay "fairy share" of climate package
The United States will pay a "fair share" of the proposed 10 billion dollars in annual aid to help developing countries cope with climate change if other countries make their commitments, the White House said on Friday. "There appears to be an emerging consensus that a core element of the Copenhagen accord should be to mobilize 10 billion dollars a year by 2012" to support adaptation and mitigation in developing countries, particularly the most vulnerable and least developed countries that could be destabilized by the impacts of climate change, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. "The United States will pay its fair share of that amount and other countries will make substantial commitments as well," Gibbs said. Meanwhile, the White House announced that President Barack Obama would attend the end of the Copenhagen summit instead of the start as originally planned. "After months of diplomatic activity, there is progress being made towards a meaningful Copenhagen accord in which all countries pledge to take action against the global threat of climate change," the White House said in a statement. "Based on his conversations with other leaders and the progress that has already been made to give momentum to negotiations, the President believes that continued U.S. leadership can be most productive through his participation at the end of the Copenhagen conference on Dec. 18 rather than on Dec. 9," the statement said.
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