The Londonderry march..[ 1639 ]

Plea for calm at Londonderry march

The London Evening Standrad., 14.08.10

There were appeals for calm as a major loyal order parade took place in Northern Ireland.

The first leg of the Apprentice Boys parade in Londonderry was held without major incident after a protest by dissident republicans was cancelled.

Protesters staged a silent demonstration at an earlier march on the Ardoyne Road

But in Lurgan, Co Armagh, police are investigating an explosion in which two 12-year-olds and a two-year-old were said to have suffered minor injuries from flying debris.

There was an explosion in a wheelie bin and police are now investigating reports of a second suspicious object.

Earlier on Saturday nationalists staged a silent protest at a parade linked to the Derry march in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast, where there were riots after an Orange Order parade last month. But it too passed off without incident.

The relative calm raised hopes that violence can be avoided when the final leg of the main Derry parade takes place later.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams welcomed the fact that events had remained peaceful in north Belfast.

He added: "I hope that the peaceful scenes this morning continue for the rest of the day in Derry and I would appeal to people to take their example from the behaviour of the community in north Belfast this morning."

There were scuffles between police and nationalists at Ferryquay Street in Derry after a small crowd had exchanged taunts with supporters of the Apprentice Boys parade. Security barriers lined the Diamond area of the city centre, shielding marchers.

On either side of the street there were pockets of parade supporters and nationalists. The parade, involving an estimated 15,000 people and a large number of bands, is due to return through Derry later.

Japan, New Haneda international terminal..[ 1638 ]

New Haneda international terminal already slated for expansion, boost in flights

 New haneda International Terminal

(Mainichi Japan) August 14, 2010

The government has revealed plans to add onto the new international terminal building at Haneda Airport, with a view to expanding the airport's international services in fiscal 2013.

The recently completed terminal, set to open to traffic in October this year, is expected to have an annual capacity of 60,000 flights -- creating a significant international gateway next to the heart of Tokyo. However, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is looking to expand that to more than 90,000 in fiscal 2013 with the addition, after Transport Minister Seiji Maehara commented the original capacity was not sufficient to transform Haneda Airport into an Asian hub.

To accommodate the expansion, the Transport Ministry will cooperate with Haneda terminal operator Tokyo International Air Terminal Corp. to use the 130,000-square-meter nighttime aircraft parking apron and a 54,000-square-meter open lot next to the new building.
Specifically, the plan will see the expansion of the international terminal toward the north and the building of an L-shaped annex on the east. Furthermore, the capacity of the parking apron for international flights will be 1.5 times greater than at present.

The 60,000 annual flights planned for the new terminal when it opens on Oct. 21 this year will be split into 30,000 day flights and 30,000 night flights. Once the expansion is finished, plans call for additions to the daytime portion, boosting annual flights to the 90,000 target -- or a maximum eight take-offs and landings per hour.

However, the new terminal in its present configuration can handle only six passenger flights per hour, and airlines have expressed worries that there will be confusion if the airport does not take appropriate measures to deal with the increased passenger numbers.

Click here for the original Japanese story

Viva..Mr President..[ 1637 ]

Obama backs mosque near 9/11 site

 

President Barack Obama hosts an iftar dinner, the meal that breaks the Ramadan fast for Muslims

The London Evening Standard 14.08.10

President Barack Obama has come out in favour of allowing a mosque to be built near the site of the former World Trade Centre in New York, which was destroyed nine years ago by terrorists in hijacked aircraft.

Mr Obama said Muslims have the same right to follow their religion as anyone else. He said that includes the right to build a place of worship on private property in lower Manhattan.

The president made his remarks at an Iftar dinner at the White House celebrating the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

In doing so he waded into a national controversy that has sparked passionate and at times angry debate.

The site is near where almost 3,000 people died on September 11 2001 after Muslim hijackers flew two planes into the centre's twin towers, which crumbled as New Yorkers fled in terror.

"As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country," Mr Obama said.

"That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community centre on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances," he said.

"This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable."

See also post [ 1635 ]

China, Switzerland talks..[ 1636 ]

China, Switzerland agree to start FTA talks English.news.cn   2010-08-13 21:42:44     Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Doris Leuthard, president of the Swiss Confederation and head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 13, 2010. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- China and Switzerland on Friday agreed to start free trade agreement (FTA) talks, as the two states celebrate their 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Swiss counterpart, Doris Leuthard, witnessed the signing of the memorandum of understanding on finishing the FTA feasibility study that was started in 2009. The two states will begin FTA talks as soon as possible, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. As one of the first Western countries to forge diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, Switzerland has become China's major trade partner in Europe. "Facing new opportunities, China-Switzerland relations are at a new starting point," Hu told Leuthard during their 30-minute meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. President Hu hailed the development of bilateral relations and pledged to further expand political trust and trade and economic cooperation. Leuthard conveyed her nation's condolences to China over the series of natural disasters the country has suffered recently. Leuthard also said Switzerland will stick to the one-China policy. In China for a working visit, Leuthard also said the two states should boost cooperation in finance, education, culture, environmental protection, tourism and on international affairs. Editor: Lin Zhi

The Ground Zero mosque ..[ 1635 ]

Will President Obama address Ground Zero mosque during White House Ramadan celebration tonight?

By David Schoetz
Daily News Staff Writer

Friday, August 13th 2010, 6:23 PM

Siegel for News

Hundreds rallied across the street from the World Trade Center site to protest plans to build a mosque just blocks from Ground Zero.

Dharapak/AP

Barack Obama to speak about religious freedom tonight at Ramadan dinner.

A Big Apple controversy may soon be thrust into a Beltway spotlight.

President Barack Obama will host an Iftar dinner Friday night marking the Islamic holy month of Ramadan – and he is expected to celebrate religious freedom during his remarks.

Many in New York City will be listening with a particularly keen ear – given the bitter fight over the Park51 mosque and Islamic center proposed near the former site of the World Trade Center.

The president has not yet addressed the Lower Manhattan mosque controversy directly, with the White House thus far calling the matter a local issue.

Locally, the controversy remains hot to the touch.

Earlier this month, Mayor Michael Bloomberg choked up during an emotional plea in favor of the center and then later called critics closed-minded.

This week, Governor David Paterson - while supporting the project - floated the idea of a compromise site on state land away from Ground Zero that he would help provide.

Sponsors of the mosque said Thursday in a Twitter post they are open to discussing that possibility with the governor.

With News Wire Services