Author Archives: Gunjan Priya

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US President stresses on long term energy policy

US President stresses on long term energy policy

Barack Obama expressed that the US military actions in Libya, Middle East political crisis and the looming nuclear disaster in Japan has put a toll over the psychology of people of the United States.

The already slackening American economy has received severe jerks from these phenomena, Obama stated. He said that the American economy heavily depended upon oil and the Middle East fiasco led to huge rise in prices.

The current crisis that has originated from political instability in the Middle East and Japanese earthquake and tsunami has once again made it evident that the United States has yet not been able to find some alternative means to safeguard their economy from global crises.

There has been no alternative energy program envisaged by the US government so far. The US president called for reviving an strategy to install alternative energy programs in the United States to save the nation from oil fluctuations. Obama stated while addressing people at Georgetown University in Washington that at the time when he joined as US president, America consumed 11 million barrels per day, however, the consumption has decreased almost by 30 percent till now.

Obama stressed on promoting alternative energy sources like natural gas, electric vehicles, biofuels, wind and solar power as well as vehicles and tools that are more fuel-efficient. He reiterated emphasis on developing nuclear power as an alternative to crude oil despite the Japanese nuclear crisis that toppled the entire world’s race for harnessing nuclear energy.

Adding that nuclear energy constitutes almost 20 percent of the total energy consumed in the United States, he stated that it was much safer in terms of keeping a clean environment with no carbon emissions.

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US president supports military action against Libyan counterpart

US president supports military action against Libyan counterpart

Barack Obama states that US military interventions in Libya has saved numerous lives there. He said this while addressing the people of the United States on television and emphasized that intervention by the US security forces has helped in avoiding a massacre in Libya.

Obama appealed to the Muammar Gaddafi supporter forces and Libyan people not to support the oppressive ruler anymore and keep struggling for the procedure.

He stated that if the autocratic ruler would not get access to arms and cash and no more support from the people, the international community will find it easy to remove Gaddafi from his post. He added however that the overthrow of the regime might not be so easy as Gaddafi is trying hard to retain his power.

The US president had earlier too expressed his desire to see Gaddifi hand over the Libyan regime to the opposition. He had said so while affirming the UN resolution to declare Libya a no-fly zone.

Though the US president clarified that the international security forces did not aim to target Gaddafi or force him to step down under the pressure of armed US troops. Obama confessed that the United Stated had done so in Iraq by forcing Saddam to step down. He further added that American soldiers and politicians had collectively put lot of efforts to improve Iraq’s condition.

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Yamani president to resign following severe demonstrations

Yemen is expecting a power transition after President Ali Abdullah Saleh resigns. The president is negotiation with other leaders showing concern over counterterrorism units and safety of his relatives.

Saleh has been a close ally to the United States and Saudi Arabia.

The negotiation included Gen. Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar’s aide, two opposition leaders beside the president. Gen, Ahmar is a defected leader who supported antigovernment protesters. The capital city Sana had thousands of protesters fighting fiercely with soldiers who were armed with tanks and other weapons to suppress the rebellions trying to overthrow the government.

. The protesters in Sana reiterated their pledge to continue their demonstrations however said that they would try to minimize the possibilities of conflicts with the security forces. The program to march from central Tahir Square to the presidential palace has been postponed

According to some close sources to the negotiators, the Yemeni president was insisting upon quitting only after guarantee of safety for himself and his family. He also wanted to be assured of a transitional authority who can favor him even after stepping down from the president’s post.

Saleh has learned from observing incidents in Egypt, where the former president, Hosni Mubarak after resigning, now faces charges of corruption.

Saleh also demonstrated that he still enjoys control over the security forces as well as support of common people by organizing a rally in the capital city. The broadcast on television showed him challenging the opposition’s capability to take over the power.

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United Nations expresses concern over Ivory Coast security issues

International community states the increasing anti-government protests and President Gbagbo’s supporting force in Ivory Coast have posed threat to security of the citizens. The recent political crisis in different nations in the Middle East region has induced a rebellion voice in many of the nations in the region from Egypt to Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen and now in Ivory Coast.

The UN expresses concern over safety of the organization’s staff’s and Ivory civilians in the current scenario.

The  international body has been severely criticized over not providing any protection to the civilians in Ivory Coast.

The international body submitted its vehicles last month and handed over to the government security officials following the abduction of two UN staffs by pro-Gbagbo civilians, however they were released later.

Also, some of the UN staffs were doubted of sharing confidential information with the pro-government security officials that included details on how to use 3 UN MI-24 helicopters. Am Ivory Coast daily, Fraternité Matin, published an article showing the details of plan to attack the protesting civilians by these helicopters. However Gbagbo’s spokesperson gave no comment over inquiry.

More than 450 civilians have been killed in Ivory Coast following the November presidential elections and last week 52 people including two of the UN employees lost their lives in the conflict with Gbagbo supporting security forces.

Head of the U.N. mission in Ivory Coast, Young-jin Choi stated that the document shared with the government authorities was just a draft however he assured to probe into the incident of leakage.

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Demonstrators protest against Syrian regime

Demonstrators protest against Syrian regime

Syrians witnessed an intense upsurge of feelings against the autocratic government with thousands of demonstraters marching in the capital ciry roaring slogans against the President Bashar al-Assad. Many of the protesters have been killed and injured during fierce clashes with the government supporting security forces in Syria.

Surprisingly, the demonstrations speeded up after the Syrian president tried to lure and appease them with some economic and political concessions.

The international community involving security forces from the United States, Israel and Europe affirm that Assad’s government is losing control over the regime.

The unrest among Syrian people has a great potential of turning into a wide scale violent rebel to force Mr Assad to step down from president’s post.

The international community fears over the possibilities of another unrest in the Middle East following Syrian crisis.

The political crisis stated in the last week amidst rebels everywhere in the Middle East—following Egypt, Southern Syrian towns have witnessed violent confrontations among government security forces and protesters and in the capital city Damascus.

Last Friday thousands of protesters came into streets asking fo reforms and grieved over the death of people during violence clashes with security forces. If the same situation continues, Syria might face regional repercussions. Being a key factor in the Middle East politics, Syria influences Iran, Lebanon and Palestine, It supports Hezbollah and Hamas and this way creates a pain to the United States, which has always boasted to be the big brother, and crusader of anti-terrorism campaign.

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Fight against Radiation roughens in Japan

Fight against Radiation roughens in Japan

Japan is trying hard to control the unprecedented temperature at Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex. The radioactive water is probably leaking from the reactors.

Despite the leakage, the scientists and the workers are still trying to stabilize the hot rods of spent fuel that was lying in the pool and is now under radioactive water. The harmful effects of leakage are ignored in order to control the radiation spread which is considered much more devastating and wide spread.

The workers at the reactor are trying to measure ways to prevent radiation come out into atmosphere however it can not stop it entirely. So, the efforts are concentrated on how to minimize the level, stated a nuclear engineering expert Elmer Lewis, who is a professor at Northwestern University.

The fears of radiation crisis have intensified now with the leakage of radioactive water. Three workers from the nuclear plant have been hospitalized for treatment of radiation burns.

Reports are also revealing that the effect of radiation exposure over skin might reach up to 2000 to 6000 millisieverts. However, the exposure to gamma radiation even for an hour will be deadlier. The current effects are due to shorter-range beta radiation which cause minor skin burns only.

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Israelis attack Gaza

Israelis attack Gaza

Israeli planes raid targeted smuggling tunnels along the Gaza-Egypt border and training camp run by Hamas. On Wednesday a bomb attack led violence in recent days.

The three air strikes over Gaza, an hour after bomb stuck in west Jerusalem in crowded bus stop, killing one person and wounding 30 authorities in the city, was the first major attack in several years.

On Thursday, Hamas which controls the Gaza Strip said the raid targeted smuggling tunnels along Gaza-Egypt border and training camp in Central Gaza.

The next raid hit a power transformer, which caused blackout. To evacuate their personnel was ordered by Hamas

The two targeted tunnels at the south of Gaza strip by the air force and a terrorist target in Gaza, an Israeli Defense spokeswoman Confirmed. The strikes were recent barrage of rockets

In Jerusalem, Bombing of bus stop after two Grad rockets fired hit from Gaza in the southern Israeli city of Beersheva. A 60 years old woman died in the blast  Al Jazeera’s Nisreen El-Shamayleh reported from Jerusalem.

The reaction is to blame Palestinian groups whenever there is an explosion in Jerusalem but police are investigation .The responsibility of incidence was claimed.

A device was plotted in a bag that was left in phone booth near bus station which exploded when bus passed Micky Rosenfeld, a police spokesman, told Al Jazeera. This attack was not a subside attack.

The Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu warned the militants and not to test the iron will and a tough response vowed to the bombing. PM said Israel will act aggressively before boarding a plane to Moscow.

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NATO takes stern steps to stop Pro-Gadhafi forces’ suppression in Libya

Gadhafi’s supporters continue to suppress rebels in Libya. They are being assaulted in the cities which rebels had taken under their control—Misrata and Zintan. Allied forces and NATO are continuing their attacks to stop Gadhafi supporters’ torture against rebellions. Tripoli witnessed continuous explosions and anti aircraft fire on Wednesday.

According to the reports NATO has brought its warships off Libya Coast with UN arms embargo. NATO is also trying to impose flight restrictions on Libya following the declaration of no-fly-zone. The reports regarding NATO forces’ attack came after Gadhafi’s fierce criticism against the international military actions against his supporters.

Gadhafi recently reiterated his promise to fight against the unrest by the rebels and interference from international communities.

The Libyan president declared in a public appearance that the country is ready for the battle. He further said that it would not matter for Libya whether the battle was short or long and Libya was ready to give reply.

Gadhafi fledged international forces for their military attacks on his supporters and efforts for implementing no fly zone over Libya. He stated that it was a crusade against Islam religion. The speech was broadcast live by a state television channel in Libya.

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US reviews reactors following crisis at Japanese nuclear plants

US reviews reactors following crisis at Japanese nuclear plantsA US official revealed that authorities will inspect reactors in the United States to check if there is any fault in the safety system in the reactors and power plants so that there is no repetition of Japanese nuclear emergency.

Bill Borchardt, chief of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, stated that a temporary inspection will be organized for all 104 reactors in the United States to examine their conditions and assess the safety measures.

He added that the United States should learn from Japan and be prepared to safeguard nuclear plants and weapons prior to any natural disaster like earthquake and tsunami which might endanger them. Borchardt said that the inspection team would check to ensure how the nuclear plant operators would manage in case of severe accidents like Japanese earthquake that culminated radiation crisis at nuclear plants

” A model scenario similar to Japanese disaster has been created to ensure how the power plant will operate at the time total failure of power supply, or at the time of flooding and earthquake sv  The crisis at Fukushima Daiichi plant started when its cooling system failed owing to disruption caused by earthquake and tsunami stated Borchardt.

He also assured Americans radiations from the Fukushima plant would have no impact on the United States mainland or coastal areas.

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UN nuk agency says Japan struggling to avoid radiation disaster

Yukiya Amano, Chief of the U.N.’s nuclear energy agency reveals that Japan is trying its best to cool the nuclear reactors after its cooling systems failed following devastating earthquake and tsunami in the country. The nuk chief stated this after observing the situation in Tokyo and a talk with the Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

The UN diplomat says that the accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant was more serious that what he predicted. The Japanese authorities are still trying to cool the reactor, whereas the unprecedented rise in temperature at reactors is exposing the spent fuel rods that are lying in empty pool in the reactor.

Japan has been offered assistance for assessing the dangers of Fukushima by the United States. It has also recommended a 50-mile evacuation zone for precautionary measure to avoid effects of harmful nuclear radiations from the plant, revealed the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory Jazcko. To regain control over the plant, a new power line is being laid to the plant to restore cooling system for the reactors, however its operators, Tokyo Electric Power Co. has already missed the deadline it set to complete the restoration work.

The Group of Seven industrialized nations has also offered to help Japan in this need of crisis and reinstall all infrastructure that has been devastated by the Friday earthquake.

However this effort would be focused on intervention on the currency market to weaken Japanese Yen and help Japan to gain from its exports.