NKorea criticizes US missile defense for Hawaii/Nuclear agency OKs commercial operation at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant

NKorea criticizes US missile defense for Hawaii
By HYUNG-JIN KIM, Associated Press Writer Hyung-jin Kim, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 2 mins ago
SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea criticized the U.S. on Monday for positioning missile defense systems around Hawaii, calling the deployment part of a plot to attack the regime and saying it would bolster its nuclear arsenal in retaliation.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said he ordered the deployment of a ground-based, mobile missile intercept system and radar system to Hawaii amid concerns the North may fire a long-range missile toward the islands, about 4,500 miles away.
"Through the U.S. forces' clamorous movements, it has been brought to light that the U.S. attempt to launch a pre-emptive strike on our republic has become a brutal fact," the North's main Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in a commentary.
The paper also accused the U.S. of deploying nuclear-powered aircraft and atomic-armed submarines in waters near the Korean peninsula, saying the moves prove "the U.S. pre-emptive nuclear war" on the North is imminent.
The commentary, carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, said the North will bolster its nuclear arsenal in self-defense.
The North routinely accuses the U.S. of plotting to invade the North. But the U.S., which has 28,500 troops in South Korea, has said it has no such plan.
Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been running high since the North defiantly launched a rocket in April and conducted an underground nuclear test last month, prompting U.N. Security Council sanctions.
North Korea responded to the U.N. resolution on the nuclear test with threats of war, and pledged to expand its nuclear bomb-making program.
In what could be the first test of the U.N. sanctions, an American destroyer has been tracking a North Korean ship sailing off China's coast amid suspicions that it is carrying illicit weapons.
The Kang Nam, which left a North Korean port on June 17, is the first vessel monitored under U.N. sanctions that ban the regime from selling arms and weapons-related material. The resolution requires member nations to request permission to inspect the cargo of ships suspected of carrying banned goods.
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said on CBS television Sunday that Washington is "following the progress of that ship very closely." Rice would not say whether the U.S. would confront the Kang Nam.
North Korea has said it would consider any interception of its ships a declaration of war.
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Nuclear agency OKs commercial operation at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant
Monday 29th June, 02:53 PM JST
TOKYO —
Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency approved in principle Monday the restart of commercial operations at the quake-stalled Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture, the world’s largest by output. In May, Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the plant, began test operations of one of its seven reactors after the 22-month suspension following a major earthquake in the area in 2007. ‘‘The facility is working well and we believe there will be no problem in keeping the plant in operation,’’ the government agency reported to a Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry panel.

The approval will pave the way for TEPCO, Japan’s largest utility, to resume commercial operation to generate electricity at the plant and is expected to relieve the nerves of the company’s management ahead of a likely surge in power demand for air-conditioning use during summer. But TEPCO, which had been mired in a series of scandals over safety flaws at its nuclear facilities, is required to explain its policy to area governments and citizens. It needs to obtain final approval from the prefectural government of Niigata and go through state safety examinations before restarting commercial operation.
Kyodo
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Over 1350 people from 83 countries took part in three days of intense discussions at this year's eLearning Africa in Dakar, Senegal. Participants included ministers, government officials, experts and practitioners, company representatives and training decision makers, academics and researchers, professors and teachers, students, as well as the Guests of Honour, President Abdoulaye Wade, Prime Minister Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye and Internet inventor, Tim Berners-Lee. eLearning Africa gratefully acknowledges the participation and support of the Republic of Senegal, their Senegalese Partners and Supporters, ADIE and GDLN/AADLC and the many sponsors, media partners and other organisations whose contributions have made this conference such a success. In this post-conference newsletter, we not only report on eLearning Africa 2009 but also look to the future and are pleased to announce that eLearning Africa 2010 will take place in Lusaka, Zambia.

Dakar, Senegal’s charming and lively capital, played host to this year’s eLearning Africa. Once again, eLA was a stage for players from wide range of backgrounds, including ministries, government and development agencies, as well as NGOs, international organisations and leading companies. Delegates and keynote speakers also reflected a wide variety of educational interests and expertise.
As always, eLearning Africa encouraged the exchanging of ideas, debate and discussion. Projects were committed to and contracts were signed. This newsletter will highlight achievements together with the essential facts and figures, providing an impression from both the on-site organisers as well as the participants.
As we continue to build and expand a worldwide network by assembling key people involved in all aspects of technology-enhanced education on the African continent, eLearning Africa moves to Zambia next year. In Lusaka, the country’s capital, the fifth conference in a series of successful pan-Africa gatherings will be held in English and French, as in previous years. The eLearning Africa website will keep you up to date with the latest information and developments. Details about the themes, the local venue and other components of the event will soon be available. In order to stay in touch with the eLearning Africa community and to extend the debate further, we invite you to join our Facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17387268602.