Nato ‘to resume ties with Russia’

Nato has agreed to a “conditional and graduated re-engagement” with Russia, the alliance’s secretary general says.

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said talks with Moscow, which were frozen over its war with Georgia in August, would resume.

The Nato-Russia Council is not being restored, but the Nato chief said lower-level talks would take place.

Foreign ministers meeting in Brussels also reiterated their support for eventual Nato membership for Georgia and Ukraine.

But Nato is deeply divided on the subject, and did not offer the countries their desired membership action plan (MAP).

Moscow strongly opposes their ambitions to join the alliance, and some countries, like Germany, France and Italy, fear offering them MAPs would provoke Russia, correspondents say.

Instead, ministers encouraged Tbilisi and Kiev to pursue reforms needed to join the alliance, without any timetable for entry.

Mr de Hoop Scheffer said that all previous decisions made by Nato heads of state regarding Georgia and Ukraine still stood.

“That includes very much that they will one day be members, if they so wish of course, and important to add, when they meet Nato standards,” he said.

The BBC’s Caroline Wyatt in Brussels says it is clear that neither country will become a member any time soon, and that assistance is all Nato can offer for now.

‘Problematic’

Nato ministers have not revived the Nato-Russia Council, but Mr de Hoop Scheffer said they had agreed to a resumption of lower-level dialogue.

“The Nato-Russia Council will meet on an informal basis to re-engage and to have discussions on the issues on which we will agree and, I would also like to add, on the issues on which we disagree,” he said.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, attending her final Nato meeting, insisted “this is not business as usual” and that she still considered Russia’s action in Georgia in August to be “unacceptable”.

She added: “This is not about competition and conflict and domination, but rather about co-operation in a framework in which one treats one’s neighbours, even if they were once a part of the Soviet Union, as equals in the international system.”

Russia’s permanent representative to Nato, Dmitry Rogozin, welcomed the decision and said his country was ready for dialogue.

“It is now clear that Nato has accepted the reality that has been shaped by Russia,” he said.

Thousands of Russian troops are still stationed in Georgia’s rebel regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

On Tuesday, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili warned the West of “grave risks of returning to business as usual” with Russia without holding it to account for its actions in Georgia.

“If the international response is not firm, Moscow will make other moves to redraw the region’s map by intimidation or force,” Mr Saakashvili wrote in an article in the Wall Street Journal.

If the international response is not firm, Moscow will make other moves to redraw the region’s map
Mikhail Saakashvili

‘No shortcuts’

Nato was deeply divided on how to proceed following the conflict in August and had to sidestep some bruising internal debates to reach the day’s decisions, correspondents say.

While the US and newer Nato members, from the former Warsaw Pact, are keen to draw Georgia and Ukraine closer, others like Germany and France are wary of antagonising Russia, a key energy supplier.

Nato also does not want Russia to think it has a veto over who joins the alliance, the BBC’s Caroline Wyatt says.

The war also raised doubts among many members over whether Georgia, with its disputed territories, was ready to join the bloc or remained too volatile.

Ukraine, meanwhile, has been beset by political turbulence, with the country split on Nato membership.

Correspondents says it will be a struggle for the alliance to prevent divisions on the issue hardening into permanent fault lines.

 

Crude bomb found in Ahmedabad

US House backs India nuclear deal

The deal would give India access to US civilian nuclear technology The US House of Representatives has voted in favour of a landmark nuclear deal between India and the US. The agreement now goes to the Senate for final approval, before President George W Bush signs it into law. India PM Manmohan Singh, who was in New York for the UN General Assembly, has said India is close to securing a “new status” in the world nuclear order. India says the agreement is vital for it to meet its energy demands. Critics say it creates a dangerous precedent. They say the deal allows India to expand its nuclear power industry without requiring it to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as other nations must. Under its terms, India would get access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel. In return, Delhi would open its civilian nuclear facilities to inspection – but its nuclear weapons sites would remain off-limits. Race against time The House passed by the agreement 298-117 votes. Reports say it is likely to go for a final approval to the Senate this week. “I am happy that one hurdle has been crossed, but it is not the end of the Congressional process and we need to wait for the final outcome,” Manmohan Singh told reporters. US President George W Bush urged the Senate to “quickly” vote on the deal before it adjourns before October. “Signing this bipartisan bill will help strengthen our partnership with India,” he said in a statement. The US restricted nuclear co-operation with India after it tested a nuclear weapon in 1974. “India will be liberated from the constraints of technology denial of 34 years,” Mr Singh was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his office. “The civilian nuclear cooperation is in the interest of India, in the interest of the US and in the interest of the world at large,” he said. Correspondents say it will be a race against time if the two sides sign the deal – first agreed three years ago – and regarded as a key foreign policy priority for both the Indian and US governments. Earlier this month, the Nuclear Suppliers Group lifted a ban that had stopped India from getting access to the global nuclear market.

Filmstar Saif Ali Khan finds himself in deep trouble after the General Railway Police of Punjab filed an assault case against him and two others in Patiala. Saif and his security guards allegedly beat up the photojournalist Pawan Sharma, when he tried to click the photographs of the actor, who was on a shooting. Saif’s security guards not only beat up the photojournalist, but also took away his camera. The incident sparked off protests in Patiala and other parts of the state, as mediapersons demanded immediate action against Saif Ali Khan and his security guards. The journalists later withdrew their stir, after getting assurance from government representatives. A case has been registered against Saif and two line directors. Saif is likely to be arrested today.

Terror returns to Ahmedabad, as 17 crude bombs found in dustbins in Ahmedabad this morning. The bomb disposal squad defused the bombs immediately. The bombs were recovered from Kalupur Darwaza. Panic has gripped the city, as nine-day-long Navaratri Festival will begin tomorrow in Gujarat. Any such developments during the festival, may lead to a communal flare-up. The Gujarat police have been put on high alert in the wake of recovery of crude bombs in Ahmedabad. Metal detectors have been installed at all entry gates of all Navaratri functions. Security has been beefed up in all sensitive places in the state.

In a shocking development, a German tourist in Chandigarh alleged that she was kidnapped from Hotel Taj Palace on Saturday night and was molested by a group of people. The incident occurred in Sector-17, Chandigarh. The 20-year-old German lady had come to Chandigarh to attend a friend’s marriage. The police have registered a case against unknown persons and the lady has been taken to hospital for medical test.

Our Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh made a sensational statement when he met US President George W. Bush at the White House. Dr. Singh said that Indians loved George Bush deeply. The world was stunned at this statement. Everyone knows that George Bush do not even enjoy the support of 25% American because of failed policies and stubborn attitude. In India, Bush is seen as a villain because of his hegemonistic attitude and attack on Iraq without a proper reason. But our PM believes otherwise. It is not known how many leaders from his own Congress Party support his view. Whatever, the statement made by our PM made us a laughing stock before the world. Let Indian people decided whether they really deeply loved George Bush or not. Feel free to post your comments here.

Leander Paes (India) and Lukas Dlouhy (Czech Republic) won their first ATP Doubles title this season, after beating American pair of Scott Lipsky and David Martin in the final of Thailand Open. Paes and Dlouhy won in straight sets 6-4, 7-6. It was Leander’s 40th ATP career title.

Faridabad has been put on high alert after a bomb scare in Sector-15 market in the city. An anonymous SMS sent to Faridabad Police this morning warned of a bomb blast in Sector-15 market, Faridabad. The SMS dared the police and administration to prevent the bomb blast if they can. The Sector-15 market has been evacuated with immediate effect. Security personnel and bomb disposal squad have been rushed to the spot. Although there is substantial evidence to prove the validity of the SMS, the Faridabad police do not want take any chance. Latest reports suggest that it was a hoax SMS and police have arrested two Engineering students who allegedly sent the threat SMS.

The “Devil’s Advocate” program on CNN-IBN tonight will feature Archbishop of Delhi, Vincent M Concessao. Vincent is also the President of National United Christian Forum. Karan Thappar will grill the Archbishop on the issue of conversion and communal violence. The program will be shown at 8.30 PM on Sunday, September 28. According to CNN-IBN, Archbishop Vincent M Concessao has demanded a ban on Bajrang Dal and VHP and also accused BJP of colluding with them. He also held Naveen Patnaik government in Orissa responsible for the attacks on Christians and Churches. The Archbishop denounced the concept of “Hindutva” and said “Hindutva has its ideology from the West, from Hitler and Nazism. It has no roots in India, not in Hinduism.” When Karan Thappar further asked the Archbishop if in the interest of India’s integrity and unity, the Church could agree on a moratorium on conversion for 10-15 years, the Archbishop said that would deny freedom to people to exercise their right to convert. He also denied any association with “Satyadarshini”, which distributed literature denouncing and ridiculing Hindu Gods. Watch the complete interview at Devil’s Advocate on CNN-IBN at 8.30 PM on Sunday, September 28, 2008.

After getting a thumbs up from the US House of Representatives on the Indo-US Nuclear deal, a jubilant Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh arrived in France on a three-day state visit. Dr. Manmohan Singh will participate in the ninth India-EU summit in Marseilles on Monday. Dr. Manmohan Singh’s visit to France is aimed at bringing India closer to European Union and sign a nuclear agreement with France. French President Nicolas Sarkozy will host a lunch in honour of Dr. Singh. Nicolas Sarkozy and Dr. Manmohan Singh will discuss several bilateral issues including civil nuclear cooperation, defence, space, and business.

After the Armed Forces expressed huge disappointment over the Sixth Pay Commission report and rejected it outright, the PMO intervened and formed a 3-member committee to look into their grievances. After consulting with the PM, who is away on a foreign visit, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee formed a committee with two other members Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Defence Minister A K Antony. Mr. Pranab Mukherjee will head the committee. The committee will look into objections raised by armed forces over the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations. Defence Minister AK Antony expressed hope that armed forces will get their pay in new scales by Diwali. He also assured that all anomalies in the pay will be duly addressed. The Defence Services have decided to accept the revised pay scales and submit the salary bills to the ministry until the committee submits its report the cabinet. President Dr. Pratibha Patil took note of the concerns of the armed forces and gave her sanction to the order for ad-hoc payment of arrears, which will help the defence personnel to manage their Diwali expenses.

The US House of Representatives approved the Indo-US nuclear deal, giving a much needed breather to Indian PM Dr. Manmohan Singh and US President George W. Bush. The US House passed the bill by a vote of 298-117. While the House Republicans voted 178-10, the Democrats voted 120-107. It could be recalled that Democrats control the US Senate. PM Dr. Manmohan Singh thanked US President George Bush. The bill will now go to the US Senate within a few days. It is expected to get the green signal from the Senate although the mandate is likely to be a split one.

Veteran singer Mahendra Kapoor died in Mumbai. He was 74. Mahendra Kapoor has been regarded at par with Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh, Manna De and Kishore Kumar. He had a unique voice, which could not be copied by anyone. Mahendra Kapoor was inspired by Mohammed Rafi. Some of the super hit films where he lent his voice were Dhool Ka Phool, Gumrah, Waqt, Hamraaz, Upkaar, Purab Aur Paschim etc. He also received National Fim Award for ‘Upkar’ in 1968. Mahendra Kapoor’s famous songs Neele Gagan Ke Tale (Hamraaz), Chalo Ek Baar Chalo (Gumrah), Kisi Pathar Ki Moorat Se (Hamraaz), Lakhon Hain Yahan Dilwale (Kismat), Mere Desh Ki Dharti (Upkar), Bharat Ka Rahnewala Hoon (Purab Aur Pascchim), Mera Pyar Woh Hai (Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi) still bewitch the audience whenever they are being played. Mahendra Kapoor will remain in every Indian heart forever. Long live Mahendra Kapoor!

 

Bold defiance in Nazi Paris

Bold defiance in Nazi Paris

By Barbara Mellor Translator of Resistance: Memoirs of Occupied France

Notre Guerre, Souvenirs de Résistance, Agnès Humbert, 1946. The listing on French eBay didn’t give much clue as to the treasure that lay in store. Agnes Humbert’s secret journal was first published in 1946

Neither title nor author meant anything to me. But a memoir of the French Resistance published so soon after the war and – most intriguingly – written by a woman, might be worth a couple of euros. When it arrived, Notre Guerre – its evocative cream-coloured cover darkened with age, its blotting-paper pages roughly cut – exhaled the atmosphere of wartime Paris. There was no preamble, no introduction. As I started to read, I was plunged directly into the Parisians’ agonized anticipation of the arrival of the German army in their beloved city in June 1940. Humbert’s journal sent shivers down my spine. The powerful immediacy of the narrative, the raw intensity of the subject matter, the compelling presence of Humbert herself – all were overwhelming, electrifying.

With her artist’s eye, her self-deprecating humour, her talent for spotting the absurd and her palpable sense of outrage, Humbert was an irresistible companion War heroine ‘not classed leader’

But who was Agnès Humbert? A respected middle-aged art historian at one of Paris’s most illustrious museums, Agnès Humbert was an unlikely candidate for Resistance heroism. But amid the chaos and bitter ignominy of defeat her soul rebelled (“I feel I will go mad, literally, if I don’t do something!”). Her character leapt off the page: impetuous, pugnacious, fiercely intelligent and irreverent, with an indomitable sense of humour, moral passion and integrity that would never desert her throughout the ordeal that awaited her. This was the woman, after all, who (I learned from her fellow résistants) would distribute incendiary tracts in the streets of Paris from supplies stuffed down her stocking tops, who would delight in making Vive de Gaulle stickers to paste on the back of German military vehicles. With her artist’s eye, her self-deprecating humour, her talent for spotting the absurd and her palpable sense of outrage, Humbert was an irresistible companion, who offered a riveting day-by-day account of the genesis of the Resistance. That stifling summer, in a leap of blind faith and reckless courage, she and a handful of her distinguished colleagues at the Musée de l’Homme – eminent ethnographers and Egyptologists, linguists and librarians – formed what was almost certainly the very first organized Resistance group. The Gestapo came for Humbert at her sick and elderly mother’s hospital bedside

It was as though the upper echelons of the British Museum had turned to new careers as urban guerrillas and saboteurs. In those desperate early days, they could not have known that their unlikely little group would become the nucleus of a great movement; that one of their number would rise to work at De Gaulle’s right hand; and that plans they passed to British intelligence would contribute to the strategically crucial raid on the U-boat base at Saint Nazaire in 1942. By that time, it turned out, they had also recruited a double agent who would betray them to the Gestapo. Its leaders arrested one by one, the Musée de l’Homme network was to earn a tragic place in history. The Gestapo came for Humbert at her sick and elderly mother’s hospital bedside. Soup kitchens After a year of brutal imprisonment and interrogations, the group was tried before a military court. The seven men were condemned to death by firing squad; the women had their death sentences commuted to slave labour in Germany. So for Humbert there began three years of slavery for the German war machine, a little-documented nightmare dubbed ‘the other Holocaust’. Long-awaited liberation at last arrived in the form of an advance unit of the American Third Army. Exhilaration was rapidly spiced with exasperation. Faced with the incomprehension of American officers (not noted, as she observed drily, for their political acumen) and the cowering inertia of the local German population, Agnès threw off her shackles to set up first-aid posts and soup kitchens for the armies of the dispossessed – including, at her express insistence, German civilians. Humbert continued to write books on art until her death in 1963

Furthermore, through her own indefatigable efforts she set up an embryonic denazification process on the one hand, while on the other arguing stoutly that indiscriminate persecution of the Germans would only encourage the rise of ‘another Hitler’. Generous as ever in her recognition of the human values for which she was prepared to lay down her life, on publication of her journal in May 1946 she sent a copy to the conspicuously fair Wehrmacht officer who had presided over the Musée de l’Homme trial, inscribing it to him ‘without rancour’. Barbara Mellor is the translator of Agnes Humbert’s memoirs which are published as Resistance: Memoirs of Occupied France by Bloomsbury.

 

Somalia’s pirates seize 33 tanks

Somalia’s pirates seize 33 tanks

The waters off Somalia are among the most dangerous in the world

A Ukrainian ship seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia was carrying 33 tanks and other weapons, the Ukrainian defence minister has confirmed. Earlier, the country’s foreign ministry said the ship had a crew of 21 and was sailing under a Belize flag to the Kenyan port of Mombasa. There has been a recent surge in piracy off the coast of Somalia. Russia announced on Friday it would start carrying out regular anti-piracy patrols in the waters off Somalia. A navy spokesman said a warship had been sent to the area earlier this week and the aim of the deployment was to protect Russian citizens and ships. Somalia has not had an effective national government for 17 years, leading to a collapse of law and order both on land and at sea. Somali pirates are currently holding more than a dozen hijacked ships in the base in Eyl, a town in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland. It was not immediately clear where the Ukrainian ship had been taken. Speed boats The Ukrainian foreign ministry said the captain of the Faina cargo ship had reported being surrounded by three boats of armed men on Thursday afternoon Defence Minister Yury Yekhanurov confirmed that 33 Russian T-72 tanks and “a substantial quantity of ammunition” were aboard. He said all the weapons had been sold in compliance with international agreements, according to a Ukrainian news agency. The cargo’s final destination was unclear, with reports suggesting either Kenya or south Sudan. Battles and looting in Mogadishu Life in Somalia’s pirate town

Security analyst Knox Chitiyo told the BBC the incident showed that the waters off Somalia’s coast had “become a global security problem”. “Piracy has become big business and there seems to be no concerted response to the problem,” said Mr Chitiyo, from the London-based Royal United Services Institute. Last week, France circulated a draft UN resolution urging states to deploy naval vessels and aircraft to combat piracy in the area. France has intervened twice to free French sailors kidnapped by pirates. Commandos freed two people whose boat was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden earlier this month. After an earlier raid in April, six arrested pirates were handed over to the French authorities for trial. International navies have been escorting humanitarian deliveries to Somalia, where a third of the population needs food aid. Flourishing industry Pirates have seized dozens of ships from the major shipping routes near Somalia’s coast in recent months. Senior UN officials estimate the ransoms they earn from hijacking ships exceed $100m (£54m) a year. International navies have been escorting aid deliveries

Pirate “mother ships” travel far out to sea and launch smaller boats to attack passing vessels, sometimes using rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). Authorities in Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland say they are powerless to confront the pirates, who have been growing in strength. In Eyl, where ships are held for ransom, a flourishing local industry has developed. Insurgents in Somalia, not known to have links to the pirates, are currently battling a combination of government troops, their Ethiopian allies and African Union peacekeepers in Mogadishu and other parts of southern Somalia. The US has an anti-terror task force based in neighbouring Djibouti and has carried out several air strikes against the Islamic insurgents, accusing them of sheltering al-Qaeda operatives.

 

Medal Tally 20 August

Rank	NOC Name	Men				Women				Open/Mixed				Total
		G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T
1	CHN – China	20	7	5	32	23	7	13	43			1	1	43	14	19	76
2	USA – United States	14	7	13	34	11	17	14	42	1	2		3	26	26	27	79
3	GBR – Great Britain	8	6	4	18	7	4	3	14	1		2	3	16	10	9	35
4	RUS – Russian Fed.	6	5	14	25	5	9	4	18					11	14	18	43
5	AUS – Australia	3	5	7	15	8	6	5	19		1		1	11	12	12	35
6	GER – Germany	5	5	3	13	3	2	4	9	3	1	2	6	11	8	9	28
7	KOR – Korea	5	6	3	14	2	4	3	9	1			1	8	10	6	24
8	JPN – Japan	4	4	4	12	4	2	4	10					8	6	8	22
9	ITA – Italy	2	5	4	11	4	1	3	8					6	6	7	19
10	UKR – Ukraine	3	2	4	9	2	2	4	8					5	4	8	17
11	FRA – France	4	10	11	25		1	2	3			1	1	4	11	14	29
12	NED – Netherlands			2	2	3	4	2	9	1	1		2	4	5	4	13
13	ROU – Romania			1	1	4	1	2	7					4	1	3	8
14	ESP – Spain	3	2	1	6		1	1	2		1		1	3	4	2	9
15	POL – Poland	3	4		7			1	1					3	4	1	8
16	SVK – Slovakia	2			2	1	1		2					3	1		4
17	CAN – Canada	1	4	2	7	1	1	3	5		1		1	2	6	5	13
18	KEN – Kenya	1	1	2	4	1	3		4					2	4	2	8
19	CZE – Czech Republic	1	2		3	1	1		2					2	3		5
19	JAM – Jamaica	1			1	1	3		4					2	3		5
21	NZL – New Zealand		1	5	6	2			2					2	1	5	8
22	DEN – Denmark	1	1	1	3			1	1	1		1	2	2	1	3	6
22	PRK – DPR Korea			1	1	2	1	2	5					2	1	3	6
24	ETH – Ethiopia	1	1		2	1			1					2	1		3
25	SUI – Switzerland	2		2	4			1	1					2		3	5
26	GEO – Georgia	2			2			1	1					2		1	3
27	CUB – Cuba	1		3	4		5	2	7					1	5	5	11
28	BLR – Belarus	1	2	3	6		1	4	5					1	3	7	11
29	KAZ – Kazakhstan	1	1	2	4		2	2	4					1	3	4	8
30	ZIM – Zimbabwe					1	3		4					1	3		4
31	AZE – Azerbaijan	1	2	1	4			1	1					1	2	2	5
31	NOR – Norway	1	2		3			1	1			1	1	1	2	2	5
31	SLO – Slovenia	1	1	1	3		1	1	2					1	2	2	5
34	INA – Indonesia	1		2	3			1	1		1		1	1	1	3	5
35	BUL – Bulgaria			2	2	1	1		2					1	1	2	4
36	FIN – Finland			1	1	1	1		2					1	1	1	3
37	EST – Estonia	1	1		2									1	1		2
37	MGL – Mongolia	1			1		1		1					1	1		2
39	BRA – Brazil	1		3	4			2	2					1		5	6
40	ARG – Argentina	1			1			1	1					1		1	2
41	BRN – Bahrain	1			1									1			1
41	CMR – Cameroon					1			1					1			1
41	IND – India	1			1									1			1
41	PAN – Panama	1			1									1			1
41	THA – Thailand					1			1					1			1
41	TUN – Tunisia	1			1									1			1
47	HUN – Hungary		4		4			1	1						4	1	5
48	SWE – Sweden		2		2		1		1						3		3
49	TUR – Turkey			1	1		2		2						2	1	3
50	UZB – Uzbekistan		1	2	3			1	1						1	3	4
51	AUT – Austria		1		1			2	2						1	2	3
51	GRE – Greece		1		1			2	2						1	2	3
51	LTU – Lithuania			2	2		1		1						1	2	3
54	ALG – Algeria		1		1			1	1						1	1	2
54	COL – Colombia		1		1			1	1						1	1	2
54	CRO – Croatia		1		1			1	1						1	1	2
54	KGZ – Kyrgyzstan		1	1	2										1	1	2
54	SRB – Serbia		1	1	2										1	1	2
59	CHI – Chile		1		1										1		1
59	ECU – Ecuador		1		1										1		1
59	MAS – Malaysia		1		1										1		1
59	POR – Portugal						1		1						1		1
59	RSA – South Africa		1		1										1		1
59	SIN – Singapore						1		1						1		1
59	TRI – Trinidad/Tobago		1		1										1		1
59	VIE – Vietnam		1		1										1		1
67	ARM – Armenia			5	5											5	5
68	TPE – Chinese Taipei							2	2							2	2
69	EGY – Egypt			1	1											1	1
69	IRI – Iran			1	1											1	1
69	LAT – Latvia			1	1											1	1
69	MAR – Morocco							1	1							1	1
69	MEX – Mexico							1	1							1	1
69	TJK – Tajikistan			1	1											1	1
69	TOG – Togo			1	1											1	1
Total:		107	107	124	338	91	92	101	284	8	8	8	24	206	207	233	646

 

Bejing: 14 August Medal Tally

Rank	NOC Name	Men				Women				Open/Mixed				Total
		G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T
1	CHN – China	9	4	3	16	13	4	2	19	0	0	0	0	22	8	5	35
2	USA – United States	7	1	7	15	3	7	8	18	0	1	0	1	10	9	15	34
3	GER – Germany	3	2	0	5	1	0	3	4	3	0	0	3	7	2	3	12
4	KOR – Korea	5	4	1	10	1	3	2	6	0	0	0	0	6	7	3	16
5	ITA – Italy	2	4	1	7	4	0	2	6	0	0	0	0	6	4	3	13
6	AUS – Australia	0	2	4	6	5	1	3	9	0	1	0	1	5	4	7	16
7	JPN – Japan	3	3	1	7	2	0	2	4	0	0	0	0	5	3	3	11
8	RUS – Russian Fed.	3	3	3	9	0	5	0	5	0	0	0	0	3	8	3	14
9	FRA – France	2	6	4	12	0	1	2	3	0	0	0	0	2	7	6	15
10	GBR – Great Britain	0	1	0	1	2	1	1	4	0	0	2	2	2	2	3	7
11	CZE – Czech Republic	1	0	0	1	1	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	3
12	GEO – Georgia	2			2			1	1					2	0	1	3
13	CUB – Cuba	1		1	2		3	1	4					1	3	2	6
14	NED – Netherlands	0		2	2	1	1	2	4		1		1	1	2	4	7
14	PRK – DPR Korea	0	1	2	3	1	1	2	4					1	2	4	7
16	AZE – Azerbaijan	1	2	1	4									1	2	1	4
17	ROU – Romania	0		1	1	1	1	1	3					1	1	2	4
18	MGL – Mongolia	1			1		1		1					1	1		2
18	SVK – Slovakia	1			1		1		1					1	1		2
20	UKR – Ukraine	0	0	3	3	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	4	5
21	SUI – Switzerland	1	0	2	3	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	4
22	ESP – Spain	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	2
22	FIN – Finland	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	2
24	IND – India	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1
24	THA – Thailand	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1
26	HUN – Hungary	0	3		3			1	1						3	1	4
27	ZIM – Zimbabwe	0					3		3						3		3
28	KAZ – Kazakhstan	0	1	2	3		1		1						2	2	4
29	SWE – Sweden	0	1	1	2		1		1						2	1	3
30	ALG – Algeria	0	1		1			1	1						1	1	2
30	AUT – Austria	0	1		1			1	1						1	1	2
30	KGZ – Kyrgyzstan	0	1	1	2										1	1	2
30	TUR – Turkey	0		1	1		1		1						1	1	2
34	COL – Colombia	0	1		1										1		1
34	NOR – Norway	0	1		1										1		1
34	SLO – Slovenia	0					1		1						1		1
34	VIE – Vietnam	0	1		1										1		1
38	ARM – Armenia	0		4	4											4	4
38	BRA – Brazil	0		3	3			1	1							4	4
40	BLR – Belarus	0		1	1			1	1							2	2
40	INA – Indonesia	0		2	2											2	2
40	TPE – Chinese Taipei	0						2	2							2	2
43	ARG – Argentina	0						1	1							1	1
43	BUL – Bulgaria	0		1	1											1	1
43	CRO – Croatia	0						1	1							1	1
43	DEN – Denmark	0										1	1			1	1
43	EGY – Egypt	0		1	1											1	1
43	LTU – Lithuania	0	0	1	1											1	1
43	MEX – Mexico	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	TJK – Tajikistan	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	TOG – Togo	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	UZB – Uzbekistan	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Total:		44	44	59	147	38	38	44	120	3	3	3	9	85	85	106	276

 

Bejing: 14 August Medal Tally

Rank	NOC Name	Men				Women				Open/Mixed				Total
		G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T	G	S	B	T
1	CHN – China	9	4	3	16	13	4	2	19	0	0	0	0	22	8	5	35
2	USA – United States	7	1	7	15	3	7	8	18	0	1	0	1	10	9	15	34
3	GER – Germany	3	2	0	5	1	0	3	4	3	0	0	3	7	2	3	12
4	KOR – Korea	5	4	1	10	1	3	2	6	0	0	0	0	6	7	3	16
5	ITA – Italy	2	4	1	7	4	0	2	6	0	0	0	0	6	4	3	13
6	AUS – Australia	0	2	4	6	5	1	3	9	0	1	0	1	5	4	7	16
7	JPN – Japan	3	3	1	7	2	0	2	4	0	0	0	0	5	3	3	11
8	RUS – Russian Fed.	3	3	3	9	0	5	0	5	0	0	0	0	3	8	3	14
9	FRA – France	2	6	4	12	0	1	2	3	0	0	0	0	2	7	6	15
10	GBR – Great Britain	0	1	0	1	2	1	1	4	0	0	2	2	2	2	3	7
11	CZE – Czech Republic	1	0	0	1	1	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	3
12	GEO – Georgia	2			2			1	1					2	0	1	3
13	CUB – Cuba	1		1	2		3	1	4					1	3	2	6
14	NED – Netherlands	0		2	2	1	1	2	4		1		1	1	2	4	7
14	PRK – DPR Korea	0	1	2	3	1	1	2	4					1	2	4	7
16	AZE – Azerbaijan	1	2	1	4									1	2	1	4
17	ROU – Romania	0		1	1	1	1	1	3					1	1	2	4
18	MGL – Mongolia	1			1		1		1					1	1		2
18	SVK – Slovakia	1			1		1		1					1	1		2
20	UKR – Ukraine	0	0	3	3	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	4	5
21	SUI – Switzerland	1	0	2	3	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	4
22	ESP – Spain	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	2
22	FIN – Finland	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	2
24	IND – India	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1
24	THA – Thailand	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1
26	HUN – Hungary	0	3		3			1	1						3	1	4
27	ZIM – Zimbabwe	0					3		3						3		3
28	KAZ – Kazakhstan	0	1	2	3		1		1						2	2	4
29	SWE – Sweden	0	1	1	2		1		1						2	1	3
30	ALG – Algeria	0	1		1			1	1						1	1	2
30	AUT – Austria	0	1		1			1	1						1	1	2
30	KGZ – Kyrgyzstan	0	1	1	2										1	1	2
30	TUR – Turkey	0		1	1		1		1						1	1	2
34	COL – Colombia	0	1		1										1		1
34	NOR – Norway	0	1		1										1		1
34	SLO – Slovenia	0					1		1						1		1
34	VIE – Vietnam	0	1		1										1		1
38	ARM – Armenia	0		4	4											4	4
38	BRA – Brazil	0		3	3			1	1							4	4
40	BLR – Belarus	0		1	1			1	1							2	2
40	INA – Indonesia	0		2	2											2	2
40	TPE – Chinese Taipei	0						2	2							2	2
43	ARG – Argentina	0						1	1							1	1
43	BUL – Bulgaria	0		1	1											1	1
43	CRO – Croatia	0						1	1							1	1
43	DEN – Denmark	0										1	1			1	1
43	EGY – Egypt	0		1	1											1	1
43	LTU – Lithuania	0	0	1	1											1	1
43	MEX – Mexico	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	TJK – Tajikistan	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	TOG – Togo	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
43	UZB – Uzbekistan	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Total:		44	44	59	147	38	38	44	120	3	3	3	9	85	85	106	276

 

Concern over French nuclear leaks

Concern over French nuclear leaks A French nuclear monitoring body has expressed concern at the number of leaks from French nuclear power stations in recent weeks. The director of Criirad, an independent body, said the organisation was worried by the numbers of people contaminated by four separate incidents. In the most recent leaks, about 100 staff at Tricastin, in southern France, were exposed to low doses of radiation. It came two weeks after a leak forced the temporary closure of a reactor. There has also been a 10-fold increase in the number of incidents reported by people working in the French nuclear power industry, Criirad director Corinne Castanier said. “This type of contamination is a recurring problem. But that many people in such a short period of time, this worries us,” she said, adding that most incidents rated fairly low on a scale used to judge the potential danger of nuclear incidents. Ms Castanier linked the high number of incidents to an increased pressure to deliver energy quickly and suggested that working conditions were getting worse at power facilities. ‘No health problem’ Electricite de France says Wednesday’s incident at Tricastin – a huge nuclear complex near the town of Avignon – was not connected to the earlier uranium leak at the plant. The Tricastin nuclear site contains a power plant and a treatment facility The staff at Tricastin were “slightly contaminated” by radioactive particles that escaped from a pipe at a reactor complex, an EDF spokeswoman said. The company says sensors detected a rise in the radiation level while maintenance work was being carried out at a reactor that had been shut since 12 July. The rise in radiation prompted 97 EDF and maintenance subcontractors to be evacuated and sent for medical tests. “Seventy of them show low traces of radioelements, below one 40th of the authorised limit,” EDF said, adding that the incident would not affect people’s health or the environment. “What concerns us is less the level of the people contaminated than the number of people contaminated,” EDF spokeswoman Caroline Muller told the Associated Press news agency. Safety concerns Two weeks ago, the authorities had to issue a ban on fishing and water sports in two local rivers after 30 cubic metres of liquid containing unenriched uranium leaked from a broken underground pipe onto the ground and into the water. The environment minister has since ordered tests of all France’s nuclear power plants to ensure such leaks have not gone undetected elsewhere. On Friday, energy company Areva said liquid containing slightly enriched uranium leaked at another of its sites in south-east France. The same day, 15 EDF workers were exposed to what the company called “non-harmful” traces of radioactive elements at the Saint-Alban plant in the Alpine Isere region. The incidents have raised questions about the state-run nuclear industry, at a time when some countries are considering nuclear energy because of the soaring price of oil, correspondents say. France derives more than 75% of its electricity from its 59 nuclear power plants, and President Nicolas Sarkozy has recently announced plans to expand the nuclear programme. Here is The Tricastin nuclear site contains a power plant and a treatment facility

Source: BBC

 

Concern over French nuclear leaks

Concern over French nuclear leaks A French nuclear monitoring body has expressed concern at the number of leaks from French nuclear power stations in recent weeks. The director of Criirad, an independent body, said the organisation was worried by the numbers of people contaminated by four separate incidents. In the most recent leaks, about 100 staff at Tricastin, in southern France, were exposed to low doses of radiation. It came two weeks after a leak forced the temporary closure of a reactor. There has also been a 10-fold increase in the number of incidents reported by people working in the French nuclear power industry, Criirad director Corinne Castanier said. “This type of contamination is a recurring problem. But that many people in such a short period of time, this worries us,” she said, adding that most incidents rated fairly low on a scale used to judge the potential danger of nuclear incidents. Ms Castanier linked the high number of incidents to an increased pressure to deliver energy quickly and suggested that working conditions were getting worse at power facilities. ‘No health problem’ Electricite de France says Wednesday’s incident at Tricastin – a huge nuclear complex near the town of Avignon – was not connected to the earlier uranium leak at the plant. The Tricastin nuclear site contains a power plant and a treatment facility The staff at Tricastin were “slightly contaminated” by radioactive particles that escaped from a pipe at a reactor complex, an EDF spokeswoman said. The company says sensors detected a rise in the radiation level while maintenance work was being carried out at a reactor that had been shut since 12 July. The rise in radiation prompted 97 EDF and maintenance subcontractors to be evacuated and sent for medical tests. “Seventy of them show low traces of radioelements, below one 40th of the authorised limit,” EDF said, adding that the incident would not affect people’s health or the environment. “What concerns us is less the level of the people contaminated than the number of people contaminated,” EDF spokeswoman Caroline Muller told the Associated Press news agency. Safety concerns Two weeks ago, the authorities had to issue a ban on fishing and water sports in two local rivers after 30 cubic metres of liquid containing unenriched uranium leaked from a broken underground pipe onto the ground and into the water. The environment minister has since ordered tests of all France’s nuclear power plants to ensure such leaks have not gone undetected elsewhere. On Friday, energy company Areva said liquid containing slightly enriched uranium leaked at another of its sites in south-east France. The same day, 15 EDF workers were exposed to what the company called “non-harmful” traces of radioactive elements at the Saint-Alban plant in the Alpine Isere region. The incidents have raised questions about the state-run nuclear industry, at a time when some countries are considering nuclear energy because of the soaring price of oil, correspondents say. France derives more than 75% of its electricity from its 59 nuclear power plants, and President Nicolas Sarkozy has recently announced plans to expand the nuclear programme. Here is The Tricastin nuclear site contains a power plant and a treatment facility

Source: BBC

 

France’s military faces overhaul

France is to cut 54,000 military and civilian defence jobs as part of a root-and-branch reform of the sector, under government plans. President Nicolas Sarkozy is proposing to create a smaller and more mobile army he believes will be better equipped to respond to new threats. His strategy is also expected to place an emphasis on a stronger European Union defence policy. Officials say there is no plan to scrap France’s nuclear deterrent. Mr Sarkozy will present the proposals to military officials on Tuesday, in a paper called the White Book on Defence and Homeland Security. It is the first major review of France’s military organisation since 1994. ‘Unpredictable’ world, The review is expected to propose boosting spending on technology and intelligence, while cutting personnel. Bruno Tertrais, a member of the expert panel who drew up the changes, hailed the document as “revolutionary”. “For the first time in centuries, France does not base its defence policy on the hypothesis of a major military conflict in Europe,” he told the French AFP news agency. “There is a very strong emphasis on intelligence, recognising that the world may not be more dangerous than it was in 1994 when we did the previous white paper, but it seems more unpredictable.” Under the plans, the number of combat-ready troops would be reduced from 50,000 to 30,000. As well as placing more emphasis on EU co-operation, Mr Sarkozy is also expected to propose moving closer to Nato command. France withdrew from Nato’s military structure in 1966 in protest at the dominance of US commanders. But Mr Sarkozy indicated earlier this year that France may return to the organisation’s military command. The proposed new military strategy will be discussed in parliament later this month.