China demands Turkish retraction
China demands Turkish retraction
<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46053000/jpg/_46053973_-1.jpg" align="left" width="226" height="170" alt="Uighur women and soldiers in Urumqi, 14 July” border=”0″ vspace=”4″ hspace=”4″>
China has demanded that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan retract his accusation that Beijing practised genocide against ethnic Uighurs.
Mr Erdogan made the claim after riots in the Uighur heartland of Xinjiang during which 184 people were killed.
Separately, more than 100 Chinese writers and intellectuals have signed a letter calling for the release of Ilham Tohti, an outspoken Uighur economist.
Xinjiang’s capital, Urumqi, is under heavy police and military control.
China’s rejection of Mr Erdogan’s remarks came in an editorial headlined "Don’t twist facts" in the English-language newspaper China Daily.
It said the fact that 137 of the 184 victims were Han Chinese "speaks volumes for the nature of the event".
The newspaper urged Mr Erdogan to "take back his remarks… which constitute interference in China’s internal affairs", describing his genocide comments as "irresponsible and groundless."
Mr Erdogan made the controversial comments last Friday, telling NTV television: "The incidents in China are, simply put, a genocide. There’s no point in interpreting this otherwise."
He had called on Chinese authorities to intervene to prevent more deaths.
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told his Turkish counterpart by telephone on Sunday that the Urumqi riots were a grave crime orchestrated by the "three evil forces", state news agency Xinhua said, referring to "extremism, separatism and terrorism".
Ilham Tohti
Mr Tohti disappeared from his Beijing home last week and has apparently been detained.
"Professor Ilham Tohti is a Uighur intellectual who devoted himself to friendship between ethnic groups and eradicating conflicts between them. He should not be taken as a criminal," said the intellectuals’ letter.
It was posted online on Monday, and demands information about his case.
"If they’ve started legal proceedings toward Ilham Tohti, [the authorities] must gain trust from the people through transparency, and especially gain trust from the Uighur people," the letter said.
It also said that Mr Tohti’s website, Uighurbiz.cn, was an important site for dialogue between Han Chinese and Uighurs.
In a televised speech on 6 July, Xinjiang governor Nur Bekri accused the site of helping "to orchestrate the incitement and spread propaganda".
The letter also urged the Chinese government to reflect on whether its own mistakes caused the unrest in Xinjiang and the anti-government riots last year in and around Tibet.
The violence in Xinjiang began on 5 July, during a protest by Uighurs over a brawl in southern China in late June in which two people were killed.</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Add comment July 14, 2009
Ferguson rules out more signings
Ferguson rules out more signings
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says he will not make any further signings during the summer.
United have brought in Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia and Bordeaux’s Gabriel Obertan to replace departed forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.
Ferguson revealed he had bid for Karim Benzema, who joined Real Madrid, but insisted he had no further targets.
"It is the end of our business," he said. "Stories about who we are supposed to be getting – forget it."
United pocketed £80m from Ronaldo’s world record transfer to Real Madrid and the Old Trafford club had been expected to spend a sizeable proportion of the funds on new players.
Among those to be linked with a move to the Premier League champions are Brazilian forward Douglas Costa, French playmaker Franck Ribery, and Spain striker David Villa.
But Ferguson feels the market is now over-inflated and he does not want to pay over the odds for players.
Real Madrid, for example, have spent in excess of £170m this summer in capturing Kaka from AC Milan, Benzema from Lyon and Ronaldo.
606: DEBATE"We can now forget about signing fantasy players and focus on our squad for the season"
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And Ferguson added: "There are some amazing numbers being talked about, not all of them realistic. It is very difficult to get value now.
"In a way we benefited through the sale of Cristiano, although that figure was non-negotiable.
"But I feel we have a good squad, which meant there was no need for knee-jerk reactions.
"We asked about Benzema and we had a value for him. Lyon have done well because they got 42m euros but I think we took a sensible view."
Instead, Valencia has arrived from Wigan, 20-year-old winger Obertan has been recruited and Owen was signed on a free transfer after his contract with Newcastle expired.
And the England striker has been handed the number seven shirt – the shirt vacated by Ronaldo.
Owen will add extra experience to an attack that still boasts plenty of established talent in Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, plus youngsters Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda.
"There is no question that Michael will score a lot of goals for us"
Sir Alex Ferguson
Ferguson hinted that Welbeck and Macheda, who scored vital goals at the end of last season, will be given opportunities to play their part.
"They are both young players – but young players with ability always get a chance here," added Ferguson.
Owen, meanwhile, has vowed to recapture his best form and show he will be an important part of the United team.
"I am hungry to do well and if this challenge doesn’t create a hunger and put a spring in your step and a smile on your face then nothing will," he said.
"I honestly believe I can still do well in a top team like Manchester United."
Ferguson praised the desire of Owen to prove his critics wrong and is confident the 28-year-old can rediscover the scoring touch that made him one of Europe’s most feared strikers.
"His experience is vital and with Michael you will see the experience he will give us in the penalty box," commented Ferguson.
"There is no question that he will score a lot of goals for us and he has been great for years and years.
"You always have to be aware of him in the last third."</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Add comment July 13, 2009
Afghan bombings kill US Marines
Afghan bombings kill US Marines
Four Nato soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, the coalition has said.
The troops died in improvised roadside bomb attacks blamed on insurgents, officials said, but did not give further details.
The deaths come at a bloody time for international forces in Afghanistan, with 15 UK soldiers killed in 10 days.
US President Barack Obama has praised the ongoing military effort, saying Taliban rebels are being pushed back as Afghanistan prepares for elections.
US Marines and British troops recently launched a major new offensives against the Taliban in southern regions of Afghanistan.
Casualty figures have spiked in the past few weeks as insurgents have mounted new attacks and military action has increased in intensity.
Reuters news agency reported that a fifth Nato soldier died on Friday from wounds received in June.
In the UK, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been forced to defend the country’s involvement in the Afghan mission as the numbers of British casualties rises.
Speaking in a Sky TV interview, Mr Obama said the battle in Afghanistan is a "serious fight" but one essential for the future stability of the country.
He said new strategies for building bridges with Afghan society would be considered once the country had held its presidential election.
The country is due to hold a presidential vote in August. </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Add comment July 12, 2009
Obama speaks of hopes for Africa
Obama speaks of hopes for Africa
Barack Obama is making his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa since taking office, visiting a nation chosen for its democratic record, Ghana.
The US president will deliver a speech outlining his hope that good governance can flourish across the continent.
He will also visit a historic slave castle alongside his wife Michelle, a descendant of African slaves.
People have poured into the capital, Accra, for a glimpse of the president during his 24-hour stay in Ghana.
Mr Obama arrived in the capital late on Friday, fresh from a G8 summit in Italy where the world’s eight most powerful nations agreed on a $20bn (£12.3bn) fund to bolster agriculture – the main source of income for many sub-Saharan Africans.
Just before leaving for the Ghanian capital, Accra, he said: "There is no reason why Africa cannot be self-sufficient when it comes to food".
He said Ghana had been chosen for the visit because of its strong track record of democracy and stability.
He is also scheduled to hold talks with President John Atta Mills.
"Part of the reason that we’re travelling to Ghana is because you’ve got there a functioning democracy, a president who’s serious about reducing corruption and you’ve seen significant economic growth."
The BBC’s Will Ross says President Obama will find it a challenge in the current economic climate to match some of the achievements of his predecessor, George W Bush, when it comes to health care in Africa, especially in the fight against HIV.
The visit to the slave fort at Cape Coast Castle will be a poignant moment for the country’s first African-American president and for his wife Michelle, whose ancestors are believed to have come from West Africa, our correspondent says.
Tight security
Posters of Barack and Michelle Obama are to be seen everywhere in Accra, where their arrival was eagerly awaited.
The White House reported that over 5,000 Africans had sent text message to the US president ahead of the visit.
ANALYSISMartin Plaut, BBC News
For Ghanaians, there is little doubt that they deserve to be Mr Obama’s first real African destination since assuming office.
Nigeria was not really suitable, given the question marks over the way in which President Umaru Yar’Adua was elected. Kenya, home of Mr Obama’s father, experienced post-election violence. Ethiopia has jailed the leader of the opposition, and South Africa’s Jacob Zuma is new in the post and something of an unknown quantity.
Not only is Ghana clearly democratic, but it has some of the African oil on which the US increasingly depends, and there is the symbolic link with slavery, from which so many African-Americans trace their heritage.
So Ghana ticks Mr Obama’s boxes – a suitable stage on which to launch the president’s Africa policy on the continent itself. Obama brings hope amid dark memories
On arrival, President Obama and his family were met by President Atta Mills, and treated to a colourful welcome featuring drummers and traditional dancers.
Ghanaian musicians have written songs to mark the visit and it is clear that millions of Ghanaians would love to see Mr Obama, our correspondent says.
However, there will be few opportunities for them to do so during his 24-hour stay.
When former President Bill Clinton came more than a decade ago, he addressed hundreds of thousands of cheering Ghanaians.
But post-9/11, security is tighter and all events are for invited guests only, our correspondent notes.
Barack Obama visited sub-Saharan Africa while a US senator, making a trip to Kenya – his father’s homeland – in August 2006. Cape Coast, a town about 160km (100 miles) west of Accra, has even suspended funerals on account of Mr Obama’s impending visit to its old slave fort.
"We banned all funeral activities in Cape Coast because we want to give a befitting welcome to the US president," Ghana’s central regional minister, Ama Benyiwaa Doe, told AFP news agency.
"The dead can be buried later but Obama is here for once and we must pay all attention to him." </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Add comment July 11, 2009
Teacher on murder attempt charge
Teacher on murder attempt charge
A 49-year-old science teacher has been charged with the attempted murder of a 14-year-old pupil at a school in Nottinghamshire.
Peter Harvey was arrested after pupil Jack Waterhouse was injured and two other pupils were hurt at All Saints’ Roman Catholic School in Mansfield.
Police said the alleged incident took place at the school, in Broomhill Lane, on Wednesday.
Mr Harvey will appear at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on Saturday. </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Add comment July 11, 2009
Auto aid
By Jorn Madslien
Business reporter, BBC News
Amidst early signs of a recovery in global car sales, carmakers like to pretend that they have survived the recession through their own efforts.
Indeed, in many cases they were quick to respond to early signs of the sales slump, instantly idling shifts and cutting jobs, slashing production to match plunging demand.
In the UK, plants were shut down over Christmas and output was cut 47.5% in December compared with a year earlier, according to industry body SMMT.
Indeed, across Europe the vehicle manufacturing sector lost more jobs than any other sector, including retailing, during the last three months of 2008, according to official EU data.
Fiction
But any the notion that only the fittest have survived is fiction.
The motor industry has been nursed back to health by a series of cash injections administered by well-meaning governments, according to Calum MacRae, automotive analyst with the consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
"While in the main 2009 has been characterised by a deep economic recession in many markets, intervention has been visible in underpinning both markets and industry players," he says.
Governments across the world have been prepared to assist the sector through a broad range of initiatives such as:
- scrappage incentive schemes
- soft loans
- fuel economy regulations
- technology grants
- increased import tariffs
- tax reductions
- surgical bankruptcy
All this begs the question – what is in it for taxpayers
Major benefits
"The main rationale for direct action," according to Mr MacRae, has been the "industry’s role as a significant – some say the most significant – economic multiplier".
"The benefits of intervention now will undoubtedly have to be weighed against the future costs"
Calum MacRae, automotive analyst, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Suffering and assistance around the world
In other words, a recovery for the motor industry should be good news for the economy at large.
The idea behind the multiplier theory is that the government gets back more than it puts in.
It expects the national income from an expanded automotive sector to exceed the sums it spent to keep the wheels turning over.
This is true at a basic level, where under the scrappage scheme the government gets more back in VAT than the £1,000 it pays towards the scheme.
But the benefits can be much broader if initial government incentives kick off virtuous cycles.
Direct support for manufacturers, for instance, through subsidies of so-called "green" technology, can deliver direct benefits, such as extra jobs.
But it can also bring about indirect benefits, such as consumption in other areas of the economy, which should then lead to further job creation, and so forth.
Flawed scheme
But is not all smooth sailing for the car industry.
Some of the subsidies are poorly designed and could have negative long-term consequences.
Take the various scrappage schemes introduced by governments, most notably Germany and the UK.
One rather predictable drawback that characterise such schemes is the vacuum left in their wake.
When they come to an end, many of those who had been thinking about buying a car will have already done so a bit earlier than planned.
Others may be put off because cars suddenly seem expensive compared with what they were under the schemes.
"Given this, we expect EU light vehicle sales to fall by around 2% in 2010," observes PwC.
Another drawback relates to how the scrappage schemes have pushed consumers towards small, cheap cars.
At the industry level, such a shift erodes profit margins, since it is easier to make money from large luxury cars.
But at company level – and indeed on the international arena – there are winners and losers from such schemes.
For instance, following the introduction of scrappage schemes, small car specialists such as Fiat, Citroen or Hyundai have seen rising sales of cars that deliver relatively little profits.
This, in turn, has eroded the overall market share held by luxury car manufacturers such as BMW and Mercedes, which produce more profitable cars.
In turn, this is pushing car industry earnings towards Italy and France, or South Korea, with Germany losing out.
Beneficial or detrimental
Many European carmakers are indignant at how scrappage schemes and other government initiatives have favoured rivals from outside their own country, or outside the EU. The schemes distort competition, they insist.
Industry body Acea, which represents European carmakers, also objects to plans by the EU to remove tariffs on imports from Korea until an effective reciprocal has been made.
Acea insists the plan "effectively opens the door for cheap imports from China and other Asian countries", yet it fails to "sufficiently improve access to the South Korean market".
Similar arguments – which favour self-beneficial subsidies or tariffs and oppose those benefitting rivals – are continuously made by carmakers across the world.
In many ways, though, such a debate about which company benefits the most misses the point about the automotive industry’s chronic overcapacity.
Governments around the world, motivated by national pride or fears about job losses, are loath to let domestic carmakers fail, and there is not a single country that does not support its motor industry in some form or another.
Whether that is good or bad is debatable.
"The benefits of intervention now will undoubtedly have to be weighed against the future costs," explains Mr MacRae. "be they to the long-term health of an industry still plagued by excess capacity; to taxpayers paying down budget deficits; or to future market demand levels being damaged by demand pulled forward now." </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Add comment July 10, 2009
Pietersen defends Ashes dismissal
Pietersen defends Ashes dismissal
Kevin Pietersen defended his dismissal after top-scoring for England with 69 of their 336-7 against Australia on the opening day of the Ashes in Cardiff.
Pietersen tried to sweep a ball from Nathan Hauritz which was well wide of off-stump and told BBC Sport: "Maybe I missed a chance to get a big hundred.
"But if my head hadn’t been in the way I would probably have got away with it.
"It was a shot I’d played successfully throughout my innings, though maybe with hindsight I could have left it."
And he praised the generally accurate bowling of Hauritz: "It was hard to hit him down the ground for straight sixes, he bowled well today."
Pietersen added he thought England had to accept their total despite losing two wickets in the last four overs.
"I think if you look at the first day of previous Ashes series, we would take that, definitely," he said.
"Being greedy, you would maybe say ‘five down’. But with a wicket that is turning, I will take that."
Soon after Paul Collingwood had been dismissed for 64, Pietersen also fell, England going from 228-3 to 241-5. Pietersen’s dismissal looked avoidable as he tried to sweep a ball from Hauritz that was well wide of off-stump.
Pietersen added: "I am going to say we’re pretty happy because in the last two series we have been dominated by Australia after the opening day of the Ashes and they’ve got to bat last."
More immediately, he said England were targeting a total of about 400 when they resume their innings on Thursday. "We’ll work towards 350, then 360, work up in 10s and see how close we can get to 400."
Pietersen praised wicketkeeper Matt Prior, who blasted 56 from 62 balls late in the day. "That is what we want from him, an Adam Gilchrist-like innings. It was absolutely brilliant from him," he said.
TOM FORDYCE’S BLOG"This time around day one of the Ashes series has been a slow-burner rather than page-turner"
Tom’s live blog from Cardiff
Hauritz, who played mostly for the New South Wales second XI last season, has taken some flak in the British media – and his returns in Australia’s two warm-up matches did not inspire much confidence.
But Australia coach Tim Nielsen was pleased with his return of 1-67.
"I didn’t think the wicket offered him much, but he drew a loose shot out of Pietersen to get his wicket which was great. He probably had a few doubts about himself but he was able to stand up there and challenge the players.
"His 19 overs were a good support for the quicks, which is what we needed on the first day of a Test match."
As for day two, Nielsen added: "It’s important not to let them get away, not get another hundred, and limit them to 360. Then the challenge will be willing to bat for a long time and make a big score."
Worryingly for England, Pietersen experienced discomfort in his right calf, having been plagued by Achilles trouble this summer.
But he did not feel the need to seek treatment during his three hours at the crease.
"People obviously saw me limping a little bit but that was because I’ve just started my running programme and getting back to full fitness," he said.
"I have been on three runs now and it’s just a bit of stiffness in the bottom of my legs. I just have to work my way through that, get myself right and I’m really positive about the way things are going."</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Add comment July 9, 2009
NI volunteers hurt in Kenya crash
NI volunteers hurt in Kenya crash
A team of 13 volunteers from Northern Ireland has been involved in a bus crash in Kenya.
One person was seriously hurt, while another five people sustained less serious injuries.
The volunteers were working in Kathiami with the Habitat for Humanity Northern Ireland charity.
All of those injured have been transferred to hospital in Nairobi. The others on the bus have also been taken there to be assessed as a precaution.
A spokesperson for the charity said the families had been informed andarrangements made for the immediate family of the most seriously injured team member to travel to Kenya. </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Add comment July 8, 2009
Ronaldo welcomed by 80,000 fans
Ronaldo welcomed by 80,000 fans
Cristiano Ronaldo has fired a parting shot at the English Premier League ahead of his unveiling by Real Madrid, claiming Spain’s La Liga is "superior".
Ronaldo will officially swap Manchester United for the Spanish giants when he is presented to the fans and media on Monday evening following his £80m move.
And the winger said: "I think La Liga is going to have more quality because of the players that are arriving.
"All the players have a lot of quality and the referees protect the players."
Ronaldo’s arrival follows that of fellow big-money signing Kaka last week.
More than 50,000 Real Madrid fans are said to have turned out to welcome the Brazilian playmaker, who signed from AC Milan for a reported fee of £56m, and Ronaldo’s bow is expected to draw an even larger crowd.
606: DEBATE"Real forgot to improve on their major weakness. The defense"
BlueAcrosstheWorld
The Portuguese international will be presented with the number nine shirt by the most famous player to wear it for the club – the legendary Alfredo di Stefano.
And he believes Real’s £200m spending spree this summer, which has resulted in Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol agreeing to switch to the Bernabeu, edges the Spanish league ahead of England’s top flight in terms of quality.
"Both leagues are going to be very good but I think that with Real president Florentino Perez`s signings the Spanish league is superior to the English," he stated.
"It’s going to be a magnificent competition in Spain this year."
Real are reported to be lining up further big-money moves, with Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso said to be on their wanted list. </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Add comment July 7, 2009
Historic Bible pages put online
Historic Bible pages put online
About 800 pages of the earliest surviving Christian Bible have been recovered, pieced together and made available on the internet.
Images of more than half of the 1,600-year-old Codex Sinaiticus manuscript – written in Greek on parchment leaves – have been put online.
Fragments of the 4th century document have been worked on by institutions in the UK, Germany, Egypt and Russia.
Experts say it is "a window into the development of early Christianity".
Preservation secrets
Dr Scot McKendrick, head of Western manuscripts at the British Library, said the wide availability of the document presented many research opportunities.
"The Codex Sinaiticus is one of the world’s greatest written treasures," he said.
"This 1,600-year-old manuscript offers a window into the development of early Christianity"
Dr Scot McKendrick
British Library
"This 1,600-year-old manuscript offers a window into the development of early Christianity and first-hand evidence of how the text of the Bible was transmitted from generation to generation.
"The availability of the virtual manuscript for study by scholars around the world creates opportunities for collaborative research that would not have been possible just a few years ago."
The original version contained about 1,460 pages – each measuring 40cm by 35cm, he added.
To British Library is marking the online launch of the manuscript with an exhibition – which includes a range of historic items and artefacts linked to the document.
For 1,500 years, the Codex Sinaiticus lay undisturbed in a Sinai monastery, until it was found in 1844 and split between Egypt, Russia, Germany and Britain.
It is thought to have survived because the desert air was ideal for preservation and because the monastery, on a Christian island in a Muslim sea, remained untouched, its walls unconquered.
The institutions’ pain-staking work can now be seen at www.codexsinaiticus.org. </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Add comment July 6, 2009
