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LONDON Mattias Ekholm Jersey , Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Britain's famous radio telescope observatory, Jodrell Bank, was named Thursday as the British government's nomination for a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


The observatory in the county of Cheshire, dominated by the iconic Lovell Telescope, is run by the University of Manchester. The nomination will now go forward in January for a final decision by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational Matt Irwin Jersey , Scientific and Cultural Organisation).


The observatory has just celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Lovell Telescope, which when it was completed in 1957, was the world's largest telescope with the dish spanning a diameter of more than 76 meters, and is now more powerful than as an icon of science and engineering.


Professor Teresa Anderson, director of Jodrell Bank Discovery Center said: "We have been preparing the case for the World Heritage Site inscription for Jodrell Bank Observatory for some years Kyle Turris Jersey , so it's absolutely fantastic to reach this milestone. The Lovell Telescope in particular has become an icon for science and engineering, and we look forward to showcasing the rich scientific heritage of this and the wider site on an international stage."


In preparation for inclusion in the World Heritage List, the site is working on a project to create a spectacular new gallery space that will celebrate the 'can do' story of the creation of the new science of radio astronomy.


Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Manchester, said: "As an institution that is known for its internationally leading research Kevin Fiala Jersey , it is very fitting that our rich heritage in science has received such acclaim."


Professor Tim O'Brien, associate director of the Jodrell Bank Center for Astrophysics, said: "Jodrell Bank is the one remaining radio astronomy site, worldwide which dates from the early days, so it is very important that we protect and celebrate the physical record of our involvement in the creation of a new science."


Professor Michael Garrett Juuse Saros Jersey , Director of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics said: "Jodrell Bank has played a leading role in radio astronomy for over 70 years. This rich history is still being written with the execution of state-of-the art astronomical research programs on the Lovell Telescope."




TOKYO, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday dissolved the more powerful lower chamber of Japan's bicameral parliament and called a general election as a number of opposition parties have held talks about ways they could collaborate to better take on Abe's ruling coalition.


The general election will be held on Oct. 22, with official campaigning set to start on Oct. 10. Abe dissolved the lower house as soon as it convened at noon (local time) for an extraordinary session.


The lower house speaker on Thursday read the official declaration to dissolve the chamber while a number of opposition members boycotted the session as some of them believed Abe was avoiding debate over accusations of influence-peddling scandals he is currently involved in.


Much to the chagrin of opposition parties, Abe made no policy speech, shirked any parliamentary debate and held no press conference afterwards.


Not holding an extraordinary Diet session Filip Forsberg Jersey , along with irritating the opposition camp saw one member of the Japanese Communist Party recently stating that not only had the opposition camp insisted the government convene an extraordinary session based on a constitutional provision, but dissolving the lower house without holding any session would violate the constitution.


The overall timing of the dissolution and calling of a snap election, observers have said, is to not allow the opposition camp enough time to fully prepare for the upcoming general election.


However Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike's newly-formed Party of Hope may see an effective merger with the main opposition Democratic Party to better stand against the ruling Liberal Democratic Party-led (LDP) bloc in the upcoming campaign.