News & Reports 2011-07-24

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In This Edition

 

At least 32 people have been killed and 191 others injured in a train crash and derailing accident in east China's Zhejiang Province.

 

The UN Security Council condemns¹ the terrorist attacks in Norway that caused at least 92 deaths and numerous injuries.

 

Chinese police authorities say the repatriation² of a high profile fugitive³ Lai Changxing shows the resolution of China and Canada to honor the dignity of law and punish crimes.

 

An Iranian nuclear scientist was shot dead by motorcyclists in front of his home in eastern Tehran, the third slaying⁴ of nuclear scientist in the past 18 months.

 

 

Hot Issue Reports

 

At Least 91 Killed in Norwegian Shootings

The UN Security Council has condemned⁵ "in the strongest terms" the terrorist attacks in Norway that caused at least 92 deaths and numerous injuries.

 

The Council reiterated⁶ its determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with its responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations.

 

The members of the Security Council expressed condolences to the victims of "these heinous⁷ acts" and to their families, and to the people and government of Norway.

 

Victims were killed in shooting massacre⁸ on the island of Utoya and in a bomb blast outside the Prime Minister's office in Oslo on Friday afternoon.

 

The death toll⁹ may still rise as the search for more possible victims continues.

 

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said the twin attacks were "a national tragedy."

 

A 32-year-old Norwegian suspect, identified by local media as Anders Behring Breivik has been detained. It is believed that he had posted extreme right-wing statements on the internet. But Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg cautioned that it was too soon to know the motive¹⁰ for the attacks.

 

"we will not speculate, we will wait for the investigation¹¹ from the police before we say anything more about this particular case, but it's part of the work of the police to follow these kind of extreme right wing groups."

 

He added that right-wing extremism was not a big problem in Norway compared to other countries.

 

Meanwhile, a man has been detained by police for carrying a knife near a hotel where victims and their families were staying, and the Prime Minister is believed to be visiting.

 

The man claimed he kept a knife "because he did not feel safe" attending a summer camp.

 

Norway's King Harald, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon are meeting victims' families, and world leaders have sent condolenses for the tragedy.

 

The mass shootings are among the worst in history. Together with the blast outside the prime minister's office, they form the deadliest day of terror in Europe since the 2004 Madrid train bombings killed 191.

 

Last Serbian War Criminal Detained

Serbia has extradited Goran Hadzic, the last ethnic¹² Serb wanted by the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the Hague.

 

Hadzic is now facing charges of crimes against humanity committed during the 1991-95 war in Croatia.

 

He will make his first official appearance before the judge on Monday.

 

Chief Prosecutor¹³ of the tribunal, Serge Brammertz calls the arrest of Hadzic a "milestone¹⁴".

 

"For the crimes of extermination¹⁵, murder and unlawful imprisonment¹⁶, torture, beating, deportation¹⁷, forceable transfer and destruction of homes and property, Hadzic will be called up to answer for the deaths of hundreds and the displacement¹⁸ of thousands."

 

Registrar¹⁹ of the tribunal, John Hocking says the capture is an important message for international justice.

 

"It sends a very big signal throughout the world that international criminal justice is achievable. His arrest confirms the extraordinary success story that is the ICTY. The era of impunity²⁰ is now over for all those who have been indicted²¹ by the ICTY and it is a really historic occasion."

 

Hadzic was on the run for seven years before his arrest on Wednesday.

 

Croatian war veterans from Vukovar town gathered to celebrate the fall of the war criminal.

 

"Part of justice has been achieved, but real justice is not achievable as nobody can replace the losses of the families of the victims."

 

Serbia's Justice Minister Snezana Malovic says bringing Hadzic into custody²² is an important step towards Serbia joining the European Union, as the country has previously²³ been accused of failing to capture war criminals for years.

 

Obama Calls for Talks after Debt Deal Breaks down

U.S. President Barack Obama broke off talks with House Speaker John Boehner on Friday, on the verge²⁴ of reaching a deficit²⁵-reduction deal to prevent a devastating²⁶ default, saying that he would attempt to hammer out an agreement through the Senate instead.

 

With the deadline to raise the U.S. debt ceiling just 11 days away, a stern-faced Obama expressed frustration²⁷ at the Republican leader's move, and said he couldn't believe that Congress would end up being that irresponsible.

 

The president said he was summoning Democratic and Republican leaders to the White House over the weekend in a last-ditch effort to find a path forward on raising the debt limit, and he warned that failure to reach an agreement on the debt ceiling would also increase the chance of a harmful downgrade in America's top-notch credit rating.

 

In a Capitol Hill briefing soon after Obama addressed reporters, House Speaker John Boehner blamed Obama for the collapse²⁸ of the talks but said he was confident that they could come to an agreement that would prevent the country from going into default.

 

"No one wants to default on the full faith and credit of the United States government and I am convinced that we will not. Spending cuts must be greater than the increase in the debt limit and no tax increases."

 

A deep divide over tax revenue was at the heart of the collapse in negotiations²⁹, which derailed an effort to craft a sweeping³⁰ 3 trillion dollar deficit-cutting plan that now seems beyond reach. Both sides blamed each another for the impasse³¹.

 

NTC Wants Libyan Leader Gaddafi Taken Before ICC

The deputy head of Libya's National Transitional Council says he wants to see Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi stand trial at the International Criminal Court in the Hague.

 

Speaking at a news conference in Rome following a meeting with Italy's foreign minister, Ali Essawi commented that Gaddafi's actions over the years were not only confined to the Libyan people.

 

"No-one can forgive him, even if he left the country. His crimes reach across the world, affecting not only Libyans, but also other people and other countries... we cannot forgive him on behalf of the others also."

 

The Hague-based court issued arrest warrants for Gaddafi last month, together with his son Saif al-Islam and Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi on charges of crimes against humanity for their role in the killing³² of civilian³³ protesters.

 

A defiant³⁴ Gaddafi addressed thousands of supporters in an audio message played in his home town of Sirte on Thursday, vowing³⁵ he would never negotiate with the rebels.

 

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said there was some positive news that people in Tripoli are ready to join those who are concretely opposing the regime.

 

"...this is a good sign that people in Tripoli are organizing and are ready to join the opposition³⁶ as soon as it approaches the capital city of Tripoli from the south."

 

So far, 25 countries have officially recognized Libya's National Transitional Council, which has declared itself the sole legitimate³⁷ representative of the Libyan people and formed an interim³⁸ government while conducting military operations aimed at removing Gaddafi.

 

Murdoch Contradicted by Ex-legal Manager

James Murdoch was under pressure on Friday over claims he misled lawmakers about Britain's phone hacking³⁹ scandal, which in turn has led them to call for a police investigation.

 

Former editor Colin Myles and attorney Tom Crone for the now defunct⁴⁰ News of the World said they expressly told James Murdoch, the presumed heir to Rupert Murdoch's media empire, of an email which revealed that the scale of phone hacking at the company was more widespread than first believed. However, Murdoch told lawmakers he was unaware⁴¹ of the email.

 

The Conservative lawmaker who heads the committee, James Whittingdale, said James Murdoch would be asked in writing to clarify his testimony⁴², but would not be recalled before the committee.

 

"We also need to know more from Tom Crone and Colin Myler about how exactly they drew it to his attention. When the committee looked at this matter two years ago, we identified the so called 'for Neville' email as the most significant piece of evidence which suggested that phone hacking was being carried out by more than.. or was being authorized⁴³ by more than just the one rogue⁴⁴ reporter that we had been told."

 

British Prime Minister, David Cameron, who himself has been tainted⁴⁵ by the scandal after hiring an ex-News of the World editor as his communications chief, continued to distance himself from a once-cozy relationship with the Murdochs.

 

"Clearly, James Murdoch has got questions to answer in Parliament and I am sure that he will do that. And clearly, News International has got some big issues to deal with and a mess to clear up. That has to be done by the management of that company. The Government wants to see this sorted out."

 

Murdoch's News Corp. is trying to keep the damage from spreading to its more lucrative⁴⁶ US holdings, including the Fox network, 20th Century Fox and the Wall Street Journal.

 

Papandreou Proclaims Greece Has Survived Economic Disaster

The Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said on Friday that Greece had survived economic disaster, after Euro zone leaders agreed on a second bailout package for the debt-stricken country.

 

The remarks came during a cabinet meeting.

 

"We were on the edge of an abyss but we did not give up. We succeeded in achieving historical decisions, and Europe took a giant step forward."

 

He warned there was still much to be done to implement⁴⁷ the economic reforms needed to reduce the country's deficit, and to fall in line with the terms of the rescue agreements.

 

"We have a lot of work to do. We have many changes. Everything that we have achieved until now, everything that we have succeeded in doing, will go to waste if we do not continue with this great effort that we are making."

 

Euro zone countries have pledged to conduct a second bailout of Greece with an extra 109 billion euros of government money, plus a contribution by private sector⁴⁸ bondholders estimated to total as much as 50 billion euros by mid-2014.

 

German Chancellor⁴⁹ Angela Merkel is confident that the private sector will make a contribution to the Greek bailout as planned, and a real restructuring of Greek debt must proceed with caution.

 

"A real debt restructuring in a currency zone has never been done before and is an uncontrollable step with incalculable consequences if we do not find a way to control it."

 

Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Euro zone nations stood ready to protect Greek banks from the fallout, by providing credit guarantees if needed to ensure they can still obtain liquidity⁵⁰ from the European Central Bank.

 

Political Instability Exacerbates⁵¹ Famine in Somalia

A top United Nations official said political instability is one of the main reasons for the growing famine in Somalia, as the country experiences its worst case in the area in the last 20 years.

 

Years of anarchic conflicts in southern Somalia have exacerbated⁵² the humanitarian⁵³ emergency, preventing aid agencies from helping⁵⁴ communities in the area. Kanayo Nwanze is director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

 

"The case of Somalia is very sad ... and so investing in a country where there is political instability with this crisis is practically impossible. This is a huge humanitarian crisis compounded by both manmade and natural disasters."

 

Nearly 135,000 Somalis have fled since January, mainly to neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia, after the country has been hit by years of severe drought, with the United Nations saying that 3.7 million people face starvation in southern Somalia.

 

"Of course, neighboring countries are also concerned with the huge amounts of migration⁵⁵, because they accept not only refugees but also further potential problems. When we do not prepare for natural disasters, they are bound to reoccur year after year, meaning there is something wrong with the system we have in place."

 

The United Nations has called an emergency meeting for Monday in Rome to discuss mobilizing aid for drought-stricken east Africa. It will bring together the three main Rome-based aid agencies; IFAD, the World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization.

 

2011 Qingdao International Marine⁵⁶ Festival Kicks off

The 2011 Qingdao International Marine Festival has kicked off at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center in the Eastern Chinese province of Shandong.

Since it first took place in 1999, the event has made a name for the city and attracts numerous visitors, especially sailing enthusiasts⁵⁷ from around the world.

 

Wei Tong has more.

 

The Qingdao Marine Festival is the only oceanic festival in China focused on developing the city's enthusiasm for sea sports while promoting the local culture and tourism as well as boosting the local economy.

 

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Wang Xiulin, the assistant mayor of Qingdao's municipal government says that the 18-day festival will include more than 30 activities of six kinds.

 

"The theme this time is inviting⁵⁸ the world to a blue oceanic feast. The festival features activities from six categories; ocean culture, the blue economy, navy shows, maritime⁵⁹ sports, ocean sciences and ocean tourism."

 

The 'blue' economy refers to the extensive economic relationship Qingdao has with the ocean.

 

Aside from traditional and military performances, guests at Saturday morning's ceremony may have exciting experiences that nowhere else can provide.

 

They could either have a breathtaking helicopter ride or board a warship⁶⁰ from the Chinese Navy that is docked at the pier⁶¹.

 

The event also serves as a platform for cultural exchanges between the city and the world.

 

Manuel Rimkus is a visitor from Germany.

 

"It's great pleasure to participate in this festival today. I like the international atmosphere very much in which many people come together and meet each other. It's a very good possibility to find new friends here and to exchange some ideas. So this is very good atmosphere."

 

As a coastal⁶² city, every aspect of Qingdao is somehow related to the sea. Organizers not only see the festival as an opportunity to stimulate⁶³ tourism but also as an introduction to the blue economy and oceanic culture.

 

Li Xiaobin is the deputy secretary of the event's organizing committee.

 

"Nothing plays a bigger role in developing tourism than festivals. It's responsible for one seventh of the boost in tourism, according to figures we've collected. Alongside the development of the Shandong peninsula in a 'blue' economic zone, the marine festival this year is undertaking⁶⁴ even more responsibilities in defining exactly what a blue economy really is, what is oceanic culture and what the relationship is between the two."

 

The Qingdao International Marine Festival will run till August the 9th.

 

Activities will include all kinds of maritime exhibitions, performances and sea sports. The event is co-organized by the China's General Administration of Sports, the State Oceanic Administration, the National Tourism Administration, the Chinese Navy Headquarters and the Qingdao municipal government.

 

To provide a climax⁶⁵ to the event, a concert will be staged at the Qingdao Tiantai Stadium which features popstars; Li Yuchun, Sammi Cheng and Keung Hang to name a few.

 

For CRI, I'm WT.

 

China Should Establish a More Comprehensive Anti-corruption⁶⁶ Mechanism⁶⁷

 

The execution of two senior local officials due to corruption offenses⁶⁸ has once again caused public outcry for the building of an efficient mechanism in fighting official corruption.

 

Former vice-mayors of Hangzhou and Suzhou were executed on Tuesday for taking huge sums of money in bribes⁶⁹.

 

Xu Maiyong, former vice-mayor of Hangzhou, capital city of East China's Zhejiang province, obtained land for developers in exchange for kickbacks⁷⁰. He received 145 million yuan, or 22.4 million US dollars in bribes on top of embezzling⁷¹ more than 53 million yuan.

 

Jiang Renjie, the former vice-mayor of Suzhou in neighboring Jiangsu province, received 80-million-yuan bribes through a company registered by a developer that was under his son's control.

 

An editorial from the China Daily says both officials had ways to circumvent⁷² the institutional barriers limiting abuses of power, which means that the system has some serious loopholes that enabled their corruption.

 

The article says that what is urgently needed is a mechanism which makes it difficult for officials to abuse the power they hold. It is not too late to mend the fences.

 

The article points out that the Supreme⁷³ People's Court published the two cases in order to sent a warning to other officials and to encourage them to learn from the two mayors' transgressions⁷⁴, but establishing a system that prevents corruption is more important than using the death penalty to punish corruption.

The article adds officials need to know that the law will show no leniency⁷⁵ once they abuse their power. But it is unrealistic to expect officials to remain honest simply because they are afraid of being caught.

 

Other major media outlets⁷⁶ also joined in the discussion. An opinion piece by Li Yan on Red Net.cn believes that disclosure of wealth by officials can be an efficient and common method of containing corruption. As well, the internet serves as an important platform that can help anti-corruption authorities in combating official corruption.

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