News & Reports 2012-05-06

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In This EditionIranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has suffered a fresh setback in run-off parliamentary polls.

Thousands of Japanese anti-nuclear protesters march through Tokyo to celebrate the shut-down of the country's last active nuclear reactor.

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warns Afghanistan-bound American soldiers that thoughtless photos and actions can endanger their mission and their lives.

And the International Olympic Committee criticizes Argentina for an advertising that links the London Olympics to its dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands.

Hot Issue ReportsAhmadinejad in Iran Poll SetbackIranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has suffered a fresh setback in run-off parliamentary polls.

Ahmadinejad's supporters won only 13 of the 65 seats up for election in Friday's vote, further reducing his power base in the 290-seat parliament.

Conservative supporters of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei had already won an outright majority in the first round in March.

Ahmadinejad's influence has been falling since he fell out of favor with the Supreme Leader last year.

Iranian political analyst Amir Mousavi.

"Political campaigns of the past few months showed that conservatives and people who devote to Islamic principle had a serious debate with Ahmadinejad over his allegiance to the Supreme Leader, and on domestic political issues in terms of unity and coordination. They could convince people in their campaigns that they are serious critics of Ahmadinejad."Iran's parliament lacks executive power but plays a part in choosing next year's presidential contenders.

Ahmadinejad is required to step down in August next year, after two four-year terms in office.

Thousands March as Japan Shuts off Nuclear PowerThousands of Japanese anti-nuclear protesters marched through Tokyo on Saturday to celebrate the shut-down of the country's last active nuclear reactor.

One of three reactors at the Tomari nuclear plant on the northern island of Hokkaido is going offline for routine maintenance checks, leaving the nation without electricity from nuclear power for the first time in four decades.

Sayo Saruta who joined the rally said it could be a turning point.

"After today, we will have zero nuclear plants. Then, everybody said we have to make this moment last forever. Not only today or tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, let's make this absence of nuclear plants last forever."The government has been eager to restart nuclear reactors, as Japan is worried about blackouts and is forced to turn to oil and gas for energy.

Before the nuclear crisis triggered by the earthquake and tsunami last year, Japan relied on nuclear power for a third of its electricity needs.

It now requires new durability tests on whether facilities can withstand earthquakes and tsunamis, as well as the approval from local residents.

The response from people living near the nuclear plants has been mixed, with some wanting them back due to jobs, subsidies and other benefits to the local economy.

Major protests have been generally limited to urban areas like Tokyo, which received electricity from distant nuclear plants, including Fukushima.

Panetta Warns U.S. Troops to Avoid ScandalsUS Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has urged a group of Afghanistan-bound soldiers in Georgia in the US to be on their best behavior when they reach the war zone, warning that thoughtless photos and actions can endanger their mission and their lives.

Panetta warned troops on Friday that military scandals could make international headlines and hurt the Afghanistan mission.

"These days, it takes only seconds, seconds, for a picture, a photo, to suddenly become an international headline, and those headlines can impact on the mission that we're engaged in. They can put your fellow service members at risk, they can hurt morale, they can damage our standing in the world and they can cost lives."Panetta asked the soldiers to always display the strongest character, the greatest discipline and the utmost integrity in everything they do.

A series of US military scandals this year were widely criticized, including the massacre of 17 Afghan civilians, the burning of Korans, a video of Marines urinating on dead insurgents and photos of soldiers posing with corpses and body parts of failed Afghan suicide bombers.

US President Barack Obama Takes his Bid to Retain the White HouseUS President Barack Obama, with First Lady Michelle Obama at his side, traveled to the key election swing state of Ohio on Saturday, taking his bid to retain the White House.

Before a compaign rally in Columbus Ohio, Obama said his policies and direction for the American people would still be about hope and change in this reelection.

Obama, who was propelled to power in the 2008 election, hoped to regain the momentum in Ohio and Virginia.

With Mitt Romney seen as the Republican party's lead contender, Obama criticized Romney's campaign platform.

"The challenge we face right now, the challenge we've faced for over a decade is that harder work hasn't led to higher incomes, it's that bigger profits haven't led to better jobs. Governor Romney doesn't seem to get that. He doesn't seem to understand that maximizing profits by whatever means necessary, whether through layoffs or outsourcing or tax avoidance or union busting, might not always be good for the average American or for the American economy."The Columbus rally was the first event for Obama on Saturday, with the second set for Richmond, Virginia.

Syria Peace Plan "on Track" despite Incomplete Ceasefire: Annan's SpokesmanInternational mediator Kofi Annan's spokesman Ahmad Fawzi said a peace plan for Syria brokered by Annan is on track despite reports of violations of the ceasefire.

Fawzi said "there are small signs of compliance" with the plan, but it takes time to bring an end to the violence.

"The Annan plan is on track and a crisis that has been going on for over a year is not going to be resolved in a day or a week. Sadly, time is a luxury that we don't have. But realistically it's going to take a little more time to pull all the strings together but rest assured that they are being pulled together."Fawzi said 50 observers and civilian staff are now deployed in Syria.

Rallies were staged Friday in several Syrian cities to protest against the alleged bloody confrontation occurred at Aleppo University campus a day earlier, left four students killed and tens of others arrested.

The Norwegian head of the UN observer mission to Syria, Major General Robert Mood, held talks with Idlib governor Yasser al-Shoufi and met opposition representatives.

"I look forward to continue on that dialogue because only through that dialogue will we be able to give the Syrian people the future that they deserve and that they need to have."Meanwhile, head of the opposition group Syrian National Council Burhan Ghalioun, will visit China next week. China has maintained communication with both the Syrian government and opposition groups to promote dialogue and ease tensions.

20 People were Killed in a Bomber Attack in PakistanOne day after a suicide bomber killed at least 20 people in northwest Pakistan, an increased security presence could be seen on the streets of Khar on Saturday.

At least 45 people were wounded in the attack on a police checkpoint. Paramilitary troops and police patrolled the area, with government offices and markets closed to mourn those killed.

Relatives gathered at the hospital. Head of the surgery ward, Dr. Mohammad Noor described the nature of the injuries.

"At the moment we have 43 injured admitted here. All are in stable condition. Many of the injured were hit by iron pallets which we have removed through surgery. We will also shift some of the patients to wards today after necessary treatment."The bomber struck near a crowded market in Bajaur, a region near the Afghan border.

The local newspapers put the death toll at 28 people killed.

The Pakistan Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Taliban have mounted suicide bombings, civilian attacks and shootings on security forces in their bid to topple the government.

Light NewsPresidential Candidate Hollande Meets Voters in TulleIn France, Socialist frontrunner Francois Hollande remains on top in the latest polls against the incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy, despite a shrinking margin compared to previous polls.

Hollande visited the market town of Tulle where he used to be mayor on Saturday, the eve of the second round of French elections.

He said his image as a man of the people is key to his popularity.

"It is very important for me, to have links with people. I have said I love people, I suppose now that people love me. "Hollande is a seasoned local politician, a key figure in the region of Correze in central France, but he has never held national office which has lead to accusations of inexperience from critics.

Former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn didn't run in last year's socialist primary as his credibility was badly damaged in a series of high-profile sex scandals. Hollande secured the nomination in October.

In January, Hollande held a mass rally at Le Bourget, crying out to an electorate still suffering from the global economic downturn.

"My real enemy doesn't have a name, or a face, or a party, he'll never run as president. And so he'll never be elected, although he does govern. My enemy is the world of finance,"If he defeats the conservative incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy, he wants to hire thousands more teachers, re-negotiate Europe's expensive, hard-won bailout package and reassess his country's role in both Afghanistan and NATO.　"In Europe and elsewhere, they are waiting for France's vote and hoping for a change. Everybody knows that if I become the President of the Republic we will renegotiate the EU treaty. Austerity will not be the only norm, the only rule."If he does win the election on Sunday, Hollande would be the first Socialist candidate to become head of state in more than two decades.

Test Event for London Olympics Attracts 40 Thousand SpectatorsThe main stadium for the London 2012 Olympics officially opened on Saturday with a test event attracting 40,000 spectators to the Olympic park.

Besides a test of the Olympic park, London's transport system will also come under strain. Spectators will be using public transport, underground and overground trains, to reach the Olympic park.

Sebastian Coe, chairman of London's organizing committee, said it was an important day for Olympic preparation.

"Clearly with 140,000 people through the park in the last few days crowd flows, the way we cope with them, what we call the last mile - the journey from the station to the stadium as well - that is something we look at most carefully. Clearly our security and ticketing and also some of the other issues, you know people with mobility issues and how we are coping with them."Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee has criticized Argentina for an advertising that links the London Olympics to its dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands.

The IOC says the advert, which shows an Argentine Olympic competitor training on the disputed Malvinas Islands, was a blatant attempt to use the Olympic Games for political purposes.

Argentina's Olympic Committee declined to comment and referred calls to the government.

Advertising agency Young & Rubicam apologized for the ad created by its agency in Argentina, saying the spot was deeply offensive to people around the world and to the Olympic spirit.

Greek Elections Hard to PredictGreeks will head to the polls on Sunday to cast their ballots in the first elections since the financial crisis broke out more than two years ago.

The New Democracy party is leading the polls for the moment, but analysts say it would be difficult for either it or its rival Socialist PASOK to win a majority of the 300 seats in parliament.

Theodore Couloumbis with Greek think tank.

"The worst thing that could happen to us after the election is that we would not be able to form a government and that we would have to go to elections again. And that will lose a lot of very important time that we need in order to stabilize our economy. And we may even worsen our current economic situation."Socialist PASOK ruled alone until November last year, before former Prime Minister George Papandreou stepped down and invited the conservatives to join a coalition that negotiated the bailout to save Greece from bankruptcy.

The European Union and the International Monetary Fund are likely to suspend a bailout package of more than 200 billion U.S. dollars to Greece if the country doesn't have a sufficiently stable government by June to implement the budget cuts.

Greece's economy has shrunk by about 14 percent during the past three years, while more than 20 percent of its population remain unemployed.

Mexico's Volcano Releases more Smoke and AshAs Mexico's volcano Popocatepetl releases more smoke and ash high into the atmosphere, concern in the nearby town of Xalitzintla that authorities are ill-prepared for a mass evacuation.

Volcano observer for state authorities Nefi De Aquino Gutierrez who keeps watching over any escalation in activity, said magma was seen at Popocatepetl earlier this week.

"On May 2nd at 3am the volcano woke up again. It roared and released magma and fiery rocks on its east side. From 3am to 5am, it threw out rocks and fire."Some residents in the Puebla state town of Xalitzintla are concerned that the rural town is ill-prepared for mass evacuation if a massive eruption occurred.

Local farmer German Chalchi said more street lighting and a greater presence from authorities is needed.

"The danger is at night; it is at night that fire and rocks are released sometimes while we are sleeping. We want there to be transportation and lighting."The volcano, which lies just 60 kilometers southeast of Mexico City and its 18 million residents, has spat out mile-high clouds of ash and smoke several times this year.

Mexico's National authorities have raised the alert level to the third-highest warning, indicating possible magma expulsion and explosions of increasing intensity.

Coca-Cola China Apologizes over Tainted ProductsThe Coca-Cola Shanxi Beverages Co. Ltd made a public apology on Friday after admitting that traces of chlorine were found in some of their drinks.

The company also said that it has taken corrective measures, announcing the resignation of its general manager and the suspension of several employees.

David G. Brooks, president of Coca-cola in Greater China and Korea, at a press briefing in the in the provincial capital Taiyuan:

"We have confirmed that traces of dissociate residual chlorine flowed into the water that was used for producing drinks during a pipe refitting project on February 3, when some employees, opened the valve between the beverage production processing water pipe and the daily-use water production pipe. This is the root cause in the investigations."According to Brooks, the contamination involved more than 120 thousand boxes of products made in nine batches. And those who bought the drinks can exchange them for new ones or ask for a refund.

The president also apologized for the company's highly questionable response to the issue.

Chinese Parents Weigh their Children to Celebrate the Beginning of SummerChinese parents weigh their children on the day of Lixia, a Chinese solar term marking the beginning of summer which falls on Saturday this year.

In the hope of warding off the summer-heat and diseases, this tradition of children-weighing originated about 1,800 years ago.

Chinese parents weigh their children, hoping that they have gained weight.

In East China's Shanghai, this practice has been maintained despite great changes in lifestyle.

At a maternity ward in Jinshan District of Shanghai, parents are taking children to get weighed. One of the parents said,"Today is Lixia, the beginning of summer. Here, we are used to weighing our children on this day, hoping to see them grow healthier during the year.

The manager of the center said that in recent years people have begun to reevaluate the tradition and more parents bring their children to weigh-in.

Also, many people are waiting for their weigh-in in a public square in East Shandong Province.

As the custom goes, people who weigh themselves on the day of Lixia don't need to worry about the summer-heat.

China Daily: The fourth Round of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue Boosts CommunicationThe fourth round of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue was held in Beijing this week, with both sides willing to build new relations in the era of economic globalization.

Chinese President Hu Jintao called on the two sides to advance with the times in their thinking, policies and actions. He also added that the traditional belief that big powers will come into conflict with each other should be abandoned.

Mainstream Chinese media have been reporting the event with strong interest, saying that both China and the United States should act in a spirit of equality and mutual understanding given their different national conditions and that the two nations should expand on common ground and properly manage their differences through dialogue.

An editorial in China Daily believes that economic and trade concerns are crucial in the face-to-face communications.

The editorial notes that importance is being put on strategic concerns and that direct exchanges at the highest levels are necessary to avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments, as the stakes are high.

The article states that the communications include bilateral consultations from human rights to currency policies and that this testifies to the consensus that dialogue is the best solution for dealing with differences.

The article also points out that there have been ups and downs in diplomatic relations between China and the US over the past few years. And it is the shortsighted focus on short-term goals that causes the instability in the ties. The increasing dialogue between the two sides may add a valuable long-sighted strategic perspective to the handling of such relationships.

***************************Xinhua: Japanese PM's U.S. Tour more of Symbolism for Bilateral TiesJapanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's visit to the United States this week culminated in a joint statement that reaffirmed the "indispensability" of the Japan-U.S. alliance. But a commentary by China's Xinhua news agency says the visit may carry more symbolic meaning than generally assumed.

The article says U.S.-Japan relations experienced a bumpy ride after the Democratic Party of Japan took power because the ruling party decided to renegotiate a controversial Okinawa deal reached by the two nations in 2006.

In a gesture to turn a new chapter in bilateral ties, Tokyo struck an accord with Washington that allows the U.S.to move 9,000 Marines from Okinawa island to other locations in the Asia-Pacific region.

The agreement showed the two sides' intention to ease the long- time tension over the relocation of the Futenma base in Okinawa which is host to about half of the 47,000 U.S. troops in Japan. However, the plan is still widely resisted by locals in Okinawa who demand the Futenma base be moved out of the island.

Analysts noted the recent deal between the two countries only to separate thorny issue from others and the outlook of solving them remains uncertain.

Another issue that may cast a shadow on the Japan-U.S. relations centers around the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a U.S.-led free trade deal in the Pacific Rim. But the joint statement on Tuesday only reiterated their readiness to advance the bilateral consultations on the deal, reflecting a gap between the two governments.

Washington expected Tokyo to play a positive role in pushing TPP but the Japanese side has been elusive on the issue, due to criticism from farmers who feared that the deal would destroy their livelihoods.

The Xinhua commentary ways while the two key issues remain unresolved, the two sides chose to focus on the broader issue of security alliance, making the summit a showcase of solidarity.