I. KHALEEJTIMES - Continued Cyprus division ‘unacceptable’: Greece
The continued division of Cyprus 36 years after the Turkish invasion is “unacceptable” and Turkish troops should leave the island, Greek Foreign Minister Dimitri Droutsas said Monday. “Thirty-six years after the Turkish invasion, too much time has passed,” Droutsas said at a press conference with his Cypriot counterpart, Markos Kyprianou. “The current situation in Cyprus is unacceptable. This must end and all the Turkish occupation troops must leave the island,” he added. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded. The breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is only recognised by Turkey, which maintains troops on the Turkish Cypriot side. The United Nations has been mediating fragile peace talks since September 2008. Referring to calls from Ankara for the talks to reach a settlement by the end of the year, the Greek minister said “binding terms have no place” in the discussions. The Cypriot minister accused Ankara of “playing with communication” and reiterated that his government’s support for Turkey’s admission to the European Union rested on it “respecting its commitments”. Dervis Eroglu was elected president of the breakaway Turkish republic in April and is in favour of a two-state solution to the dispute, but this is opposed by Athens and the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus.
After EULEX rejected to extradite suspected terrorist Bajram Aslani to the U.S., the FBI has issued an international warrant for his arrest. The FBI believes that the Kosovo Albanian participated in aiding terrorists, and planning murders and kidnappings abroad. He is suspected of belonging to a group of eight terrorists from the U.S. and is accused in South Carolina of training others for Jihadist activities. The group is also reportedly active in Kosovo. The FBI warned that Aslani was potentially dangerous and probably armed and that he should be approached with great caution, according to media in Slovenia. The arrest warrant was issued on Saturday, one day after the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, rejected the American demand for extradition. Police in Kosovo arrested the 29 year-old in June, but freed him one day later, though he had to report back once every two weeks. However, after EULEX rejected the U.S. extradition request, the EU mission in Kosovo stated that it did not have enough evidence against Aslani to back up his extradition. Americans also claim that Aslani was gathering money for building a terrorist base in Kosovo, which is why he could serve up to 40 years in prison stateside if tried and found guilty. Aslani is also suspected of making terrorism-related video presentations, translating them from English to Albanian. Among other scenes, the videos show suicide bombers equipped with explosives attacking an American convoy of vehicles.
The radical Muslim cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki, whose killing has been approved by President Barack Obama, today taunted the American President and the United States military in an audio address posted online. "Imperial hubris is leading American to its fate: a war of attrition, a continuous hemorrhage that would end with the fall and splintering of the United States of America," said Awlaki. The site for the audio message features a picture of him juxtaposed with those Major Nidal Hassan, accused of the Ft. Hood shootings, and Omar Farouq Abdulmutallab, charged with the attempted bombing of an American jetliner on Christmas Day, 2009. A U.S. counter-terrorism official said there's no reason to believe the voice on the tape isn't Awlaki, and said the message contained "well-worn themes of hatred, violence and attempts at fear mongering. It's not just extremist bravado, it's trash." The American born and educated cleric also called on Muslims in the U.S. to do as he did in waging jihad against the U.S. "I could not reconcile between living in the US and being a Muslim, and I eventually came to the conclusion that jihad against America is binding upon myself, just as it is binding on every other able Muslim," said Awlaki in the message, speaking in English. Awlaki has been on the run since late last year when he was linked with both Major Hassan and Abdulmutallab. U.S. officials have told ABC News and other news agencies that the President approved efforts to target Awlaki with a missile strike in Yemen, where he is believed to be hiding. In the message today, he makes no secret of his ties to the two men, Hassan and Abdulmutallab, accused of terror attacks on U.S. targets. "America refuses to admit that its foreign policies are the reason behind a man like Nidal Hassan, born and raised in the US, turning his guns against American soldiers," said Awlaki who was in extensive e-mail contact with Hassan prior to the Ft. Hood shootings. Abdulmutallab met with Al-Awlaki in Yemen prior to boarding a flight to the U.S. with a bomb in his underpants, according to American officials.
Thirty-five years ago Russia and the US took a giant leap for mankind with the launch of their first joint space mission, Apollo-Soyuz, which marked the beginning of an era of space cooperation between the two countries. It was also a turning point that launched the keenly fought Cold War space race into new heights. Two rockets, blasting off half a world away from each other, would bring the Soviet Union and the United States into the same orbit. When Soyuz-19 and the Apollo craft docked, the event ushered in a whole new chapter in space exploration – the first-ever joint project between two bitter rivals. It was a giant leap for the men on board too – like cosmonaut Valery Kubasov, the second pilot in the Soyuz crew. “When we docked with Apollo, it was one of the most significant moments in history for Russia and the US,” Kubasov says. “Before, everything was secret, all the details of our space programs – every detail. With the Soyuz-Apollo project, we could finally pass that barrier.” Valery still remembers all the details of that flight, from the technical side to the happy banter between Russian and American astronauts. “We were showing the guys different cities and places in Russia, and when we were flying over the US, Vance D. Brand was showing us Florida. I remember, he said 'this is where all the pensioners go to live',” Kubasov recalls. Thirty-five years on, most of those men will once again get the chance to meet and share memories of their historic link-up. Aleksey Leonov, the Soyuz commander, is in the United States for the big day. There are plans for Aleksey and his Apollo counterpart, Thomas Stafford, to meet President Obama – but not until the friends have had a chance to catch up with each other. “It was a very meaningful symbol to the people of the world – when we opened the hatch and Aleksey and I shook hands. That showed the world that the space race has ended in a way,” Thomas Stafford says. The joint space project had a huge impact on both sides of the Atlantic – as it was a time when rocket launches captured millions of imaginations worldwide.
V. HELIUM - Virgin olive oil facts
Contrary to popular belief, the biggest grower and exporter of olives and olive oil is Spain, followed by Greece and Italy. Italy’s large consumption and exporting of their most recognizable brands world wide has led to some maneuvers that have brought the olive oil industry under scrutiny and cast a shadow on their labeling accuracy. - Olive oil contains antioxidants, vitamins and healthy fatty acids that are good for the heart, skin, digestive track and hair. Facts: - The United States is the largest consumer in the world of Olive oil. - Not all olive oil is created equal and there is deception in labeling. - Olive oil is a multi-billion dollar industry. - The cold-pressing of olive oil is expensive and time consuming. - It could take an olive tree 20 years to yield fruit. - Different batches of olives produce different flavors and quality. - Most Italian brands of Olive oil are actually Olive oil from Spain. - Olive oil should be kept out of direct light and heat to minimize oxidation and rancidity. - Italy produces 400,000 tons of olive oil for domestic consumption and yet, they export a grand total of 750,000 tons annually. Anyone doing the math can see that it does not add up. - The most common labels of olive oil are Virgin Olive Oil or Extra Virgin Olive Oil, both are indisputably a good part of a healthy diet. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) means the oil has been cold pressed rather that steamed or extracted at high pressure, which allows the oil to maintain its robust flavor and all its vitamins and anti-oxidants. - Olive oil not labeled as extra-virgin or virgin can't claim to have been cold-pressed or be “pure” from a specific batch of good olives. This type of oil is still suitable for salads and for warming up and served as flavored dip, but it is typically a mixture of other oils, some mixtures include olive oil from other countries and others are mixed with hazelnut or seed oils. Controversy: - Bertolli is a popular brand found at most supermarkets and recognized as Italian because the name is Italian enough, but it is produced by Uniliver, a Dutch-English enterprise. Bertolli oil as well as other popular olive oil brands with Italian names is typically adulterated oil that has been mixed with seed oils or nuts oils. - Whole Foods continues to claim that their store brand, 365 Every Day Value, olive oil originates in Italy, however, tests conducted by the International Olive Council (IOC) dispute their claims based on their report and analysis. In conclusion, olive oil is one of the healthiest oils for human consumption and mixed with other oils coming from seeds and nuts that are good for humans does not make for a “bad” oil, it simply means that it is not 100% pure olive oil and labeling should reflect what the consumer is purchasing.
Looking for a great back-to-school service project that will provide kids around the world with supplies that they desperately need? International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is challenging its supporters to assemble 10,000 school kits by September 2010 as part of its "Kits for Kids" campaign. Parish youth leaders and Sunday School teachers can use "Kits for Kids" as a powerful way for children to learn how to serve others while providing supplies for some of the millions of children who lack items as basic as pencils and paper. Complete instructions for assembling an IOCC School Kit can be accessed at iocc.org/schoolkits. "The kits are so valuable, especially from the simple perspective of the kids getting something new and clean and useful that they could call their own," said an Orthodox priest in Haiti who works at a school that is supported by IOCC and who recently received a shipment of school kits. IOCC, which has sent tens of thousands of school kits to children in need throughout Eastern Europe and the Middle East, through a partnership with Church World Service (CWS), is reporting very low supplies of school kits at the warehouse in Maryland where they are stored. Become part of the "Kits for Kids" campaign today! Help IOCC get 10,000 school kits to 10,000 children who need them desperately all over the world! Complete instructions are at iocc.org/schoolkits. You can help people around the world by making a financial gift to IOCC. To make a gift, please visit www.iocc.org.
Medan is the capital of the province of North Sumatra in Indonesia. An Orthodox mission is established there for the poor and the needy. It is primarily supported by an Orthodox parish in Australia. As a part of their mission, a clinic is there dedicated to the Theotokos which was opened on February 13, 2010. It has 10 hospital rooms, 19 beds, a pharmacy, and offices for the doctors and workers. There are presently two doctors and four nurses. It costs 10,000€ annually to support the staff and mission. So far over 500 people have come to the clinic for free services, 170 of these were mothers who have had problems with their pregnancy. A major problem in this area is that pregnant women do not receive the necessary tests, which is why a clinic such as this can provide needed help. The Theotokos Clinic will offer the following programs coinciding with major feasts of the Theotokos: 1. During the month of August the clinic will offer free tests to all pregnant women, estimated to cost about $2500. 2. On the Feast of the Presentation on November 21 infants will receive free tests and vaccines. This is estimated to cost about $2500. 3. On January 1, for the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, free circumcisions will be offered to the Muslim neighbors who live in Namorambe. The purpose of this is to make known to all the inhabitants the Orthodox mission in the area. To view pictures from the clinic with Father Chrysostomos who leads the mission there, please click here.