Sunday, November 11, 2007

Besides becoming a political stomping ground for the Pan-Green and Pan-Blue coalitions, there are other changes from past years of Taipei Audio Video Fair (TAVF). With those changes in mind, Wikinews reporter Rico Shen interviewed You-peng Wang, chairman of the Taipei Electrical Commercial Association (TECA), the main organizer of TAVF, about the 60th year anniversary of TECA and the changes to the show.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

A week after Sunni and Shi’ite youth protesters marched on the capital city of Manama, the Bahrain government informed Formula One Management that it would withdraw from hosting the Bahrain Grand Prix. The decision was made in an effort to focus on the pressing national issues facing the country. Demonstrators, who are still holding Pearl Square, had threatened to target the Media attention if the event went ahead as scheduled. The race is the opening event of the 2011 Formula One racing season.

Bahrain’s Crown Prince, HRH Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, sent a statement to Formula One Management which said, “At the present time the country’s entire attention is focused on building a new national dialogue for Bahrain. After the events of the past week, our nation’s priority is on overcoming tragedy, healing divisions and rediscovering the fabric that draws this country together; reminding the world of the very best that Bahrain is capable of as a nation once again united.”

The Bahrain Grand Prix was to be held on March 13, with teams coming in within the next few weeks to prepare for the race. Formula One president and CEO Bernie Ecclestone issued a public statement saying, “It is sad that Bahrain has had to withdraw from the race, we wish the whole nation well as they begin to heal their country.” Ecclestone also noted that despite reported rumors, the Bahrain International Circuit would not be charged for their cancellation of the event, citing that he considered the political unrest to be a “force majeure” and that the events that took place could not have been predicted. “What has happened in Bahrain is desperately sad but one month ago everyone was looking forward to the race,” he said. Formula One Management will most likely have to absorb the costs related to the canceled race, estimated at around $40 million, unless it can be re-scheduled later in the season.

With the announcement from the Crown Prince that political issues would be addressed, exiled Shi’ite political leader Hassan Mushaima announced that he would return to the country. Mushaima, leader of the Haq Movement opposition party, was tried in absentia in 2009, accused of attempting to overthrow the government. Other Haq Movement members have also been arrested in recent years, but received royal pardons. While 23 members of the political movement are currently awaiting trial, on Tuesday the Bahrain government released a group of political detainees without comment, meeting one of the demands of the protesters.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

File:Australian SF Afghanistan Oct 2009.jpg

Less than two weeks after two Australian soldiers (Diggers) died in the explosion of a roadside bomb, three more Diggers and a US soldier were killed early yesterday morning in a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan, while seven other soldiers are being treated for injuries.

Australian Defence Force Chief Angus Houston said in a statement this afternoon that two of the crash survivors are in a serious condition and will be moved with the other survivors to the US military hospital in Begram.

The crash occurred at 03:39 yesterday local time (23:09 on Sunday, UTC) in the north of Kandahar province. Although the cause is still unknown, Houston said “the terrain is rugged, the helicopters are often heavily loaded, it’s at high altitude and it was three o’clock in the morning. All of these factors will no doubt be considered”. Houston confirmed that enemy fire was not to blame for the crash.

These new casualties in the Afghan War brings Australia’s death toll to sixteen, while that of the US comes to 1128 since the war began in 2001.

Despite this, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, remains firm on the issue: “We work beside our allies […] to avoid Afghanistan once again becoming a breeding ground for terrorists who can then strike at innocent Australians both at home and abroad” and continued by saying that all Australians owe the soldiers a debt of gratitude for making the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

Although the names of the soldiers have yet to be released, the tragedy follows last week’s casualties where Australian combat engineers Darren Smith, age 26, and Jacob Moerland, age 21, were killed along side their bomb sniffer dog, Herbie in a roadside blast.

Friday, August 11, 2006

The New Zealand Government has asked the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand to start refining its taxpayer funded ‘Buy Kiwi Made‘ scheme to also include products designed in New Zealand but manufactured elsewhere.

The Buy Kiwi Made scheme was a NZ$11 million post-election deal between the Labour Party and the Green Party.

Political experts say the reason for Labour to ask the Green party to refine the scheme was because it was afraid that companies, like clothes maker Icebreaker which manufactures its clothes outside of New Zealand would not be included.

Robert Linterman, Norsewear New Zealand CEO, said “The decision to include companies which manufacture overseas undermines the credibility of the entire campaign. We were assured that the purpose of Buy Kiwi Made was to encourage the production in New Zealand, help build up our manufacturing capability and create employment. It’s hard to see how classing Icebreaker – a company which does much of its processing and manufacturing in China – as Kiwi Made will help those achieve those aims. The Buy Kiwi Made campaign should support products which are actually Kiwi made – not just Kiwi designed.”

Sue Bradford, Green MP (Member of Parliament) who is responsible for Buy Kiwi Made scheme, said she is making her proposal clearer so such companies can be associated with it and that she is confident all sides will be pleased with the final proposal. “It is good to clarify the details because there is a lot of taxpayer’s money at stake,” Bradford said.

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions does not want the scheme to be extended to the changes. Ross Wilson, President of the Council of Trade Unions, said “It would not be in the interests of many ordinary companies and their staff. I plan to raise union concerns with government ministers.”

A compilation of brief news reports for Monday, April 2, 2007.

Today marks the 25th anniversary of Argentina’s invasion of the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory. The public holiday will be marked by memorial services to remember the dead, but it is also an opportunity to reiterate the country’s claim to sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.

Sources

• “Argentina marks Falkland invasion” — BBC News Online, April 2, 2007
• Larry Rohter. “25 Years After War, Wealth Changes Falklands” — The New York Times, April 1, 2007

The US Supreme Court majority opinion was that “the will of Congress” should prevail on the provision of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 that was being challenged. The 6 to 3 decision means that detainees at Guantánamo will not be able file habeas corpus challenges in US courts.

Sources

• “Top court rejects Guantanamo test” — BBC News Online, April 2, 2007
• Greg Stohr. “Guantanamo Bay Inmate Appeals Rejected by High Court” — Bloomberg L.P., April 2, 2007

In an interview with Reuters, Russia’s Secretary of the Public Chamber, President of the Kurchatov Institute, and a leading nuclear scientist, Yevgeny Velikhov said: “From a scientific point of view of course they could create nuclear weapons,” and pointed to how the United States had underestimated the amount of time it would take the Soviet Union. “I consider biological, chemical and nuclear arms should be forbidden and that the holding and development of nuclear weapons should be considered a crime against humanity,” he said.

Sources

• Guy Faulconbridge. “Russian expert says Iran can make nuclear weapons” — Reuters, April 2, 2007

Canada’s major music awards weekend ended Sunday night with pop singer Nelly Furtado winning Juno Awards in five categories including best artist, best single for her song Promiscuous, and best album for her 2006 release Loose. Furtado was also host of last night’s televised ceremonies from Saskatoon, the first time the province of Saskatchewan has hosted the Junos.

The Juno Awards began in 1970 as the Gold Leaf Awards and honour Canadian music achievements. Other winners included Dixie Chicks, Billy Talent, Tomi Swick, Mobile, and Gordie Sampson.

Sources

• “2007 Juno Award winners” — Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, April 1, 2007
• “Sexy but goofy, Furtado sweeps Juno Awards” — Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, April 1, 2007

External links

• Juno Awards official site

President Viktor Yushchenko dissolved Ukraine’s parliament and called early elections Monday. “My actions are dictated by the strict necessity to save the state’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said in a televised address. However, members of the parliament said it would continue to function as-is, and would refuse to fund the election. Ukraine has been in a political turmoil as the president and his rival Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych position for power.

According to BBC News reports, the official election is set for May 27.

Sources

• “Ukraine leader calls early poll” — BBC News Online, April 2, 2007
• “Ukraine president calls early vote; Parliament turns cheek” — CNN International, April 2, 2007