Astronomers meet in Rio to discuss water find prospects

.

RIO DE JANEIRO, August 4 (Itar-Tass) - More than 2,000 scientists from
72 countries are attending the International Astronomical Union assembly
that began here on Monday to run until August 14.
Participants in the forum that is held once in three years are to
discuss the latest discoveries in the field of astronomy.
It is symbolic that the assembly is held in the year that has been
designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Astronomy
marking the 400th anniversary of the first use of Galileo's telescope for
the observation of other planets. The Italian scientist's contribution to
the development of astronomy will be the subject of discussion at one of
sessions of the assembly.
However, organisers of the IAU assembly point out that the main
subject of discussions at numerous symposiums and roundtable meetings will
be possibilities for the existebnce of water on the other planets of the
Solar system and outside it, which would actually signify confirmation of
extraterrestrial life.
The current Assembly is the 27th one. The last held Assembly in Prague
in 2006 became widely known in the world after those present decided
against regarding Pluto as a "traditional planet".
Among participants in the forum, there is a large Russian delegation
that incudes representatives of the Steinberg State Astronomical
Institute, the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences
(RAS), the Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory, as well as other
universities, research centers, and the RAS.

.US Secretary of State sets out on ten-day African tour Tue.

WASHINGTON, August 4 (Itar-Tass) - US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton sets out on a ten-day tour of African countries. She is to leave
for Kenya from the US Air Force base Andrews on Tuesday afternoon.The
working programme for Clinton's tour ensivisions stopovers in seven
African countries.
US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly announced earlier that
Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, would be the first leg of the tour. Over
there, the 8th session of the Forum for trade and economic cooperation
between the United States and countries south of Sahara (AGOA Forum) will
be held.
US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and US Trade Representative
Ron Kirk will also participate in the forum along with Clinton.
While in Kenya, Clinton will also hold talks with Sheikh Sharif Sheikh
Ahmed, president of the transitional federal government of Somalia. An
agenda of the consultations is not disclosed. Johnnie Carson, US
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, specified, however,
that no big initiatives should be expected at the upcoming talks. This
will be, rather, a get-acquinted meeting, the diplomat pointed out. ln
so doing he confirmed that US authorities are ready to give additional
assistance to the Somali federal transitional government.
Washignton had stated last month that it is about to begin to give
military assistance to the legitimate authorities of Somalia for the
purposes of fighting the Islamists that operate in the area of the Horn
of Africa. It transired that within a period approximately from May to
June, the US had supplied the transitional government of Somalia with
about 40 tonnes of weapons and ammunition. Financial resources were also
allocated to the Somalians for the purchase of arms and the training of
security forcesby instructors in neighbouring Reublic of Djibouti.
After visiting Kenya, Clinton will proceed on her way to the Republic
of South Africa, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria,
Liberia, and Cabo Verde.
Kelly pointed out that Clinton's forthcoming visits would reflect the
Obama administration's commitment to prioritising Africa in American
foreign policy. The US Secretary of State will emphasize the the present
American authorities' intention to establish partnership relations with
governments, the private sector, non-state organisations, and private
persons (in Africa) with a view to building a society in which every
person would be able to realise his or her potential.
Clinton is to return to Washington on August 14.

.Truck falls onto rlw tracks in Moscow region, driver dies.

MOSCOW, August 4 (Itar-Tass) - A sand-laden truck has fallen onto
railway tracks in Moscow region, killing the driver and delaying an
express train, an official at the management office of the Moscow Railway
has told Itar-Tass.
The official said the incident had occurred at 02:25, Moscow time, at
the Lukino- Kubinka-2 railway section of the Larger circular railway. "The
truck laden with sand fell from a trestle bridge onto railway tracks. The
truck driver died," the railway official said.
As a result of the incident, two pylons of the trolley wire network
were damaged. Railwaymen currently repair them. The incident delayed a St
Petersburg-Anapa express train. "Specialists are making every effort to to
ensure that railway traffic resumes as soon as possible," the official
said.
-0-pop