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Never Mind Gas Dispute, Putin Got “Black Eye”
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir PutinVladimir Putin’s visit to Ukraine Wednesday remained in the shade of mini-scandals. Not only was he “welcomed” with the protest of topless activists on the main Kiev’s square. The mystery of the bruise on his left cheekbone received as much, if not even more, media attention.
“Ukrainian, Russian and Western journalists… talked only of one thing – how did the Russian prime minister get a bruise under his eye?” Andrei Kolesnikov, the Kremlin correspondent for Russian Kommersant noted.
Did he undergo an esthetic surgery procedure, was it a judo injury, or he was just exhausted, the media around the globe speculates. Putin’s office denies the rumors, stating he was tired and the lighting in the room was unfortunate.
At the same time, the reporters from the spot said the Russian strongman has appeared at the press conference wearing heavy make-up, which he never did before. Accordingly, he also arrived in Kiev in a “bad mood”, and the dinner planned for the evening was cancelled.
(allvoices.com)
Obama's Jakarta childhood inspires movie
An Indonesian director plans to make a film about Barack Obama’s childhood in Jakarta in time for the US president’s scheduled visit there in June.
Damien Dematra says the film is to be based on his book, Obama Anak Menteng (Obama The Menteng Kid), but will be released internationally with the title Little Obama.
It will be shot in just two weeks in and around the capital, where Mr Obama lived with his mother and Indonesian stepfather from 1967 to 1971.
“The film is based on real events,” Dematra said.
“I hope youths in Indonesia and all over the world can be inspired by Obama and not be afraid of their differences.
“Obama is an icon of pluralism and he represents a triumph for minorities,” he added. (ABC News)
Obama Praises Indonesia’s Intent to Ratify Test Ban Treaty
Washington — President Obama welcomed Indonesia’s announcement that it is initiating the process of ratifying the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), describing it as a signal that more countries are joining what he called “a renewed effort to reinforce global nonproliferation.”
Obama thanked Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Indonesian government for “responsible leadership in the global effort to reinforce the nuclear nonproliferation regime” in a May 4 statement.
Indonesia’s announcement “advances the vision I outlined in Prague in 2009, and advances the security of the United States, Indonesia and the world,” the president said.
“Reinforcing the norm against nuclear testing will help prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and support our efforts to pursue the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons,” Obama said.
The United States has signed the treaty, which prohibits nuclear explosions in all environments for military or civilian purposes. However, the U.S. Senate has not yet ratified the treaty. In his statement, President Obama said his administration is committed to its ratification and its “early entry into force,” and will work with U.S. lawmakers.
The United States has observed a moratorium on nuclear testing since 1992, and has no plans to resume testing, U.S. officials said in April.
President Obama said the United States “stands ready to work with all states and encourages them to ratify the treaty and to help bring it into force.”
The CTBT has 182 signatories and has been ratified by more than 150 countries. However, it cannot enter into force until it has been ratified by 44 designated countries. Of these 44, India, Pakistan and North Korea have not signed it, and China, the United States, Israel, Egypt, Iran and Indonesia have not ratified it.
In his prepared remarks for the May 3 opening of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference in New York, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said his government’s decision follows positive developments that show countries “appear awakened to the urgency for nuclear disarmament.”
He cited the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) signed by the United States and Russia in April, as well as “positive aspects” stemming from the revised U.S. Nuclear Posture Review.
“We welcome these developments, and what we expect will be the further marginalization of nuclear weapons,” Natalegawa said. “Every step forward, no matter how small, should give us new momentum toward the next step so that we advance inexorably to our final goal of complete nuclear disarmament.”
“It is our fervent hope that this further demonstration of our commitment to the nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation agenda will encourage other countries that have not ratified the treaty to do the same,” Natalegawa said.
(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://www.america.gov)
Ahmadinejad will be invited to New York
Iran’s President Ahmadinejad has applied to go to the US for a United Nations nuclear meeting.
The US State Department has revealed that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has applied to be part of an Iranian delegation to an upcoming nuclear conference at the UN headquarters in New York.
The State Department has said the United States has a responsibility to accept the Iranian president’s visa request, which means he will attend the month long conference that begins on Monday.
The conference will review the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, of which Iran is a signatory.
The United States does not have diplomatic relations with Iran and has accused Mr Ahmadinejad of being involved in secret weapons building in his country.
The US government is currently leading a diplomatic effort to place additional UN sanctions on Iran over its refusal to stop nuclear enriching activities. ( Indonesia News.Net )
