pin blog,pin weblog,pin news

Hong Kong Police arrested a 51-year-old man who they suspect started a fire in Wan Chai’s Revenue Tower on Thursday morning.

The suspect, whose name was not released by the police, was arrested on charges of arson while seeking medical treatment in Tuen Mun Hospital, New Territories, Thursday afternoon. The man has been detained for questioning, according to the police.

The suspect allegedly poured flammable liquid on two counters inside the Inland Revenue Department Business Registration Office on the fourth floor and set it alight at about 09:40 a.m. local time (0140 GMT), a police spokesman said.

He burned himself in the arson attempt and fled. The fire was dowsed by the automatic sprinkler system and no casualties were reported.

Six hundred people were evacuated and the revenue service was also forced to suspend.

The Inland Revenue Department said its Estate Duty Office, Stamp Office, Collection Office, Inspection Office, Central Inquiry Counters and telephone inquiry services will resume normal Friday morning but the Business Registration Office will remain closed until further notice.

A new survey released on Sunday found that as many as over 80 percent Thais wish to see the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) to hold hands and solve the national crises.

The PAD has led months-long mass street protests in attempts to topple the former PPP-led coalition government, which it called a proxy of coup-ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, while the DAAD supports Thaksin and his allies.

According to ABAC Poll Research Center survey, 30.1 percent said they still backed the Puea Thai party, which was established recently to shelter MPs from the now disbanded People Power Party (PPP), to form a new government.

As many as 48.4 percent wanted a national government to be formed, as the Puea Thai party has proposed, the survey showed.

Some 67.3 percent wanted a House dissolution to pave way for another general election, and 65.9 percent wanted a mediator to be the next premier.

The survey was released on the eve of a parliamentary session scheduled on Monday to elect a new prime minister after Somchai Wongsawat had to step down from the post with a Constitution Court verdict on Dec. 2 that ordered to disband PPP and another two smaller parties in the PPP-led coalition government.

The Puea Thai’s main rival Democrat Party declared they have obtained enough support from parties to form a new government led with its party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

A planned government policy address by Thailand’s newly-elected Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and a following parliament debate had to be postponed to start in the afternoon after anti-government demonstrators besieged the Parliament in central Bangkok Monday morning.

Parliament President Chai Chidchob made a phone call to reporters at a press room after 10:00 a.m. (0300 GMT) to announce that the policy debate session, originally scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. (0230 GMT) and to last two days, will be postponed to 2:00 p.m. (0700 GMT).

He also said if the government could not secure passage for members of parliament and senators to enter the parliament compound by 2: 00 p.m., the debate will be further postponed.

Chai made the announcement after thousands of red-shirt demonstrators besieged the Parliament from early hours of the day in attempts to blockade the new government policy address due to be delivered on Monday morning.

The protesters in red, led by Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD), had gathered from Sunday afternoon at Sanam Luang (Royal Field) square in central Bangkok and moved to rally around the Parliament compound after midnight.

In early Monday morning, they surrounded the gates to the Parliament and allowed people to get into the compound one by one.

Similar tactics of besieging the Parliament were used by supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), or referred as the “yellow-shirt” people, to block the previous premier Somchai Wongsawat from delivering the government policy speech on Oct. 7.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Theugsubhan said negotiation was underway between the government and the DAAD protest leaders, including Jatuporn Promphun and Veera Musikapong.

Suthep said if the negotiation failed, the government may postpone the delivery of the policy address.

The protest leaders said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and MPs could walk into the compound.

The DAAD called on the Abhisit government to dissolve the Parliament for a snap general election.

Some 3,000 police were deployed to keep security around the compound.

By laws, a government has to deliver policy statement within 15days. For the Abhisit government, which took office on Dec. 22, it has to do within Jan. 7, 2009.

The DAAD leaders have threatened to besiege the Parliament through Monday and Tuesday, the scheduled time for the government policy debate.

Shuttlers from the Chinese mainland showed their dominance Friday night when competing for semifinals slots in the ongoing Philippine Badminton Open 2009 held at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, Manila.

Three of the four semifinals slots in Men’s Singles were gained by Chinese players during Friday’s quarterfinals of the 4-star tournament.

Zhou Wenlong defeated his compatriot Lu Qicheng, 21-12, 21-14; Chen Long won over Wong Wing Ki from China’s Hong Kong, 21-7, 21-10 while Du Pengyu stopped compatriot Gao Huan, 21-15, 21-18.

The other slot went to Hu Yun of Hong Kong, who defeated Tien Minh Nguyen of Vietnam, 21-17, 17-21, 21-17.

On the front of Women’s Singles, all the three participants from the Chinese mainland stepped into the semifinals.

Jiang Yanjiao crashed Filipina bet Malvinne Alcala, 21-5, 21-16,to clash with top seed Zhou Mi of Hong Kong.

In the other Women’s Singles bracket, Wang Shixian will face Wang Xin after the former clipped third seed Hong Kong player Yip Pui Yin of Hong Kong, 19-21, 21-14, 21-18.

Zhou Mi, defending champion of the Women’s Singles division, isa match away from defending her crown as she won against Sachiyo Imai, 21-7, 21-10. The current world Number One picked her spots well, scoring in different means.

As to Mixed Doubles, Chen Zhiben and Zhang Jinkang won over theHong Kong pair of Albertus Susanto Njoto and Ng Ka Shun, 21-16, 21-18. The Chinese mainland couple will face Muhammad Rijal and Debby Susanto of Indonesia in the semifinals.

In the other quarterfinals bracket, Qiu Zihan and Deng Yuting of China beat up Hendra Gunawan and Vita Marissa of Indonesia, 24-22, 8-21, 21-11.

Meanwhile, Zhang Nan/Lu Lu defeated Trikus Harjanto/Minarti Timur, 18-21, 25-23, 21-17.

In the Men’s Doubles division, Chen Zhiben/Shen Ye defeated Fernando Kurniawan/Lingga Lie of Indonesia, 21-19, 23-21, while Sun Junjie/Tao Jiaming stopped Gan Teik Chai/Tan Bin Shen of Malaysia, 17-21, 24-22, 21-9.

On Friday, Wang Siyun/Zhang Jinkang defeated compatriots Gao Ling/Wei Yili, 29-30, 21-13, 21-14. Wang and Zhang will be the only double from the Chinese mainland to fight for the championship of Women’s Doubles in the Philippine Badminton 2009.

Taiyuan Iron & Steel Group, China’s biggest stainless-steel producer, is looking to invest in iron ore and nickel resources in Australia and other countries, Chairman Li Xiaobo said.

“We are chasing some iron ore projects as well as nickel,” Li said in an interview in Shanghai, declining to give details. “So far we haven’t settled on a good target.”

Chinese companies, the biggest buyer of iron ore and nickel, are hunting for steelmaking raw materials as output of crude steel jumped to a record this year.

Baosteel Group Corp, the nation’s largest mill, last month agreed to buy 15 percent of Aquila Resources Ltd, an Australian iron ore and coal company.

“We’re seeking overseas development for low-cost and steady supplies,” Chai Zhiyong, vice-president of Shanxi Taigang Stainless Steel Co, Taiyuan’s listed unit, said. Chai and Li made the comments yesterday while attending a conference.

Taigang gained 8.28 percent to close at 8.11 yuan in Shenzhen yesterday.

Taigang, the stainless steel-producing unit of Taiyuan Group, may increase output by 34 percent to a record 2.4 million metric tons this year as the government’s stimulus spending spurred demand and bolstered prices, Chai said on Wednesday.

Crude steel output in China jumped 13 percent in July to a record as the nation’s $586 billion stimulus package increased demand from builders and carmakers.

Hu Ling broke a log jam atopthe leader board with a birdie on the final hole to take a one-stroke lead inthe 50,000 U.S. dollars Orient Masters tournament being played in thenortheastern Chinese city.

Playing in the last group of the day under extremely windy conditions onthe 6,500-yard Orient Qingdao Country Club layout, the 28-year-old Hunan nativecarded a one-under 71 to lead Chinese mainland compatriots Yang Jinfang, LuYuexia, Ye Liying, Shen Yanhua and Chinese Taipei’s Shih Huei-ju who were ateven par.

Thidapa Suwannapura, a 14-year-old Thai amateur, was tied for equal seventhwith Chinese mainlanders Wang Chun and Bai Yunyan after a 73. Thais PornanongPhatlum and Rungthiwa Pangjan, Chinesemainlander Zhang Lin and Chinese Taipei’sYu Pei-lin were three off the pace after rounds of 74.

Hu, a club pro who plays out of the Long Island club in Dongguan, GuangdongProvince, erased two early bogeys when she recorded an eagle two on the372-yard, par-four seventh with a wedge from 120 yards out.

“I was a bit upset with those bogeys but I quickly forgot about them withthe eagle two. It took one bounce and was in the hole. Iinitially thought itwent off the green but some spectators pointed out that it was it in. It waspure luck but it gave me confidence that I could be up among the leaders,” saidthe 28-year-old who is still searching for her maiden win.

“On the 18th hole, I was within 60 yards of the green on my second shot andthat is my favorite length. I put it to within six feet of the pin and then madethe putt. It is great to be the early leader, it is something I have donebefore, but I have always had trouble staying there. I have let the pressure getto me, really little things that I need to overcome if I am going to win. I willgo into tomorrow with the same strategy.”

Playing in the first group of the morning in relatively calm conditions, LuYuexia got to three-under through 10 holes but saw her lead wiped out in theafternoon as the wind whipped up and resulted in three bogeys over her last sixholes.

“It was good to get out in the first group as there was nobody in front ofus and it was very comfortable. At the turn, there were people in front of us somy rhythm was thrown off,” said Lu, who has struggled to regain her form sincehaving a child 18 months ago.

“At the start of my round the wind wasn’t very strong, but as my roundprogressed it became more of a factor,” she added.

Thidapa, who was disqualified after the first round for anincorrectly-signed scorecard last week in Beijing, said she was happy to bounceback with one-over round after her inactivity.

“Last week my tournament ended too soon and it was no fun watching othersout there playing. I was really looking forward to getting out there today,”said the teenager.

“Overall, my round was okay today. The wind was really strong and I onlyhit 10 fairways and nine greens and took 28 putts. With the length of thiscourse, the big factor now is driving to hit the ball long and set up a goodapproach. My driving average is about 250 yards and that is my strength, butthere are others who hit the ball longer and that is something I need to workon.”

The Orient Masters Qingdao is a China Golf Association-sanctioned event.

About 6,700 new cases of HIV were reported in France in 2005, compared to 7,000 the previous year, French sanitary institute INVS announced on Monday.

“It is estimated that around 6,700 people have been found positive of HIV in 2005, among whom one fourth have been contaminated six months before their diagnoses,” INVS said in its weekly publication of epidemiologics.

In more than half of new cases, the virus was transmitted among heterosexuals, according to INVS.

Besides, a quarter involved homosexuals, said INVS, warning of a recent rise in high risk behavior among the gay population.

Two percent were due to needle-sharing among drug users, while for the rest the mode of transmission was unknown.

There are currently 150,000 people living with HIV in France, of whom 29,000 have AIDS.

The UN General Assembly opened its 64th session on Tuesday at the UN Headquarters in New York, as world leaders are set to gather here in the next few days for a string of summits on pressing global challenges.
In a world still shrouded by a financial and economic crisis rarely seen in decades, and hassled by environmental degradation and regional conflicts, hot topics will include climate change, nuclear disarmament, development, global financial and economic governance as well as international peace and security.

About 130 heads of state or government are expected to take the podium at the assembly hall and some will also stay for other eye-catching events, including a climate summit and a Security Council summit on nuclear disarmament.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change is set to be one of the dominant issues at the General Assembly. The climate summit, to be convened by UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on Sept. 22, will be an opportunity to boost cooperation between developing and developed countries before a historic UN climate conference in December in Copenhagen.

In a move that signals a change in U.S. climate policy from its past, U.S. President Barack Obama will address the opening session of the one-day event, on which the UN chief has pinned hopes that it will help mobilize the “political will and vision needed” to clinch a deal on greenhouse gas emissions at the Copenhagen talks.

In keeping with UN tradition, the U.S. president will also address the General Assembly on the first day of its annual debate, on Sept. 23, at which all the leaders from the UN’s 192 member states will make statements.

NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

On Sept. 24, or the second day of the general debate, a summit-level Security Council meeting on nuclear non-proliferation will be held under the chairmanship of Obama, whose country holds the 15-member body’s rotating presidency in the month.

It marks the first time that a U.S. president leads a Security Council meeting. “This session will focus on nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament broadly, and not on any particular countries. Key areas to be highlighted will include arms control and nuclear disarmament, and strengthening the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) regime, and denying and disrupting trafficking in and the securing of nuclear materials,” U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said.

To this end, the United States has drafted a Security Council resolution calling on all nuclear powers to work toward “general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.”

The U.S. draft was hailed by analysts as another sign of policy shift taken by the Obama administration, a far cry from the previous Bush administration, which had ignored disarmament commitments made by previous U.S. governments.

“Urumqi is an interesting place. I like it very much,” said Mckay Barrow, an American teaching English in a city with the jitters in the wake of more than 500 hypodermic needle attacks.

“People of different ethnic groups and countries live here together, and civilizations of central China, Buddhism and Islam also coexisted here,” Barrow, who moved to Urumqi from North Carolina in the United States last October, said in fluent Chinese.

Barrow, a specialist in anthropology, said he had visited many Chinese cities including Hangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Beijing and Shanghai, but he liked Urumqi most, saying the city has valuable materials for his research.

He said he was nervous at first seeing lots of police officers in the street.

“When they smiled to me and said they missed their parents faraway in their hometowns, I realized that they are ordinary people like me and I didn’t feel scared anymore,” said Barrow, who teaches at the Xinjiang Normal University.

“Any violent attacks on innocent civilians deserve harsh punishment. This is the norm in every country,” said Abdulla Habib, who came to Urumqi three years ago from Afghanistan.

“Urumqi is returning to peace. People here can reclaim peace and safety quickly,” he said in Arabian.

Fernando Hasa, who has played Brazilian music in a restaurant here for four years, said he planned to move his wife and children to Urumqi next year.

“Some of my friends keep asking me to return to Brazil recently, but I’m confident in the future of Urumqi,” said Hasa.

“I hope people of different ethnic groups will be good friends and live together like a big family,” he said.

Eight construction projects have been blacklisted by the country’s environmental watchdog for failing to meet environment impact assessment (EIA) targets.

The move came as the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) wrapped up its first round of investigation into the EIA’s of 2,453 construction projects that had been approved to start during the 10th Five-Year Plan period (2000-05).

Luliang Coking Plant in North China’s Shanxi Province, the worst offender, built coking ovens in 2003 and 2004 with a total annual production capacity of 600,000 tons.

The inspection found that the plant did not perform an EIA. The plant also failed to build the required treatment facilities for wastewater, which was instead discharged into a local river, a tributary of the Yellow River.

The plant did not build the required coal gas purification system and ground dust removal station. Two other newly built ovens, which did go through EIA, failed tests.

The coking plant has been ordered to suspend operations. It will be given a limited time to bring operations up to standard, and if not it will face further punishment, SEPA said.

Another infamous project on the blacklist is the first and second phases of Shanghai’s outer ring road.

The project was criticized in 2004 by SEPA for failing to build soundproofing in its first phase. The problem has not been solved, and the second phase, completed in 2003, also lacks effective noise control.

“High energy consumption and seriously polluting projects have been launched blindly by local governments in recent years,” said the SEPA spokesman.

“The main reason is that local governments pursue fast economic growth but neglect the price of environmental destruction. They did not support the EIA.”

SEPA said that full inspection results would be made public by the end of this year.

The other six enterprises on the blacklist were: Zhanhua Power Plant and Shandong Haihua Co Ltd in East China’s Shandong Province; Jiangyou Power Plant in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province; Tangshan Power Plant in North China’s Hebei Province; part of Yongjin Highway in East China’s Zhejiang Province; and part of the highway from Qingdao in Shandong Province to Yinchuan in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.