October 6 :
China’s oil companies are looking for Iranian partners to help them invest $25 billion dollars in 15 oil projects, said Gholam Reza Mesbahi-Moqaddam, head of Iran’s Parliament Planning and Budget Commission. The offer comes as a response to the expansion of Iran’s diplomatic relations with the west and comments from some American oil energy firms who are interested in resuming exploration in Iran. It is estimated that the Iranian section of the South Pars gas field contains 14 trillion cubic meters of gas, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reports.
.
October 8:
Associated Press reports that Chinese security forces have fired on protesters with tear-gas and live rounds in Biru, Tibet, wounding at least 60 people. The crowd had gathered to prevent police from searching the home of a man detained for taking part in protests against orders that Tibetans fly the Chinese flag to foster “patriotism.” Over 40 Tibetan protesters were arrested last month in Biru, which led to more protests demanding their release, Radio Free Asia reports. In September thousands of officials flooded into Biru to impose a “political reeducation” campaign on the locals, which include the flag-flying measures.
October 10:
For the next three months all reporters at newspapers, news agencies, TV stations and other press organizations are required to undergo three months of training. “About 250,000 Chinese journalists will receive on-the-job training designed by the press authority to strengthen the professional practices of media staff,” the official People’s Daily reports. “A training program has been created by the administration, along with training materials and teaching videos, which will be provided for nationwide media organizations for free. Training will focus on six subjects, including theories on socialism with Chinese characteristics, the Marxist view on journalism, journalistic ethics, laws and regulations, norms in news gathering and editing, and content on preventing false information. Media staff are also required to take an exam scheduled in early 2014 to obtain press cards.”
.
October 11:
Spain’s national court has indicted former Chinese President Hu Jintao as part of an investigation into torture and repression in Tibet, The New York Times reports. The court’s decision follows an appeal by Tibetan exile groups against a decision by a Spanish judge to drop the case. Instead, a criminal review panel of the national court overturned the judge’s decision and proceeded with the indictment based on China’s refusal to investigate the allegations of human rights violations and because one of the plaintiffs holds Spanish citizenship. The lawsuit, first filed in 2006 by a group of exiled Tibetans, has led to the indictment of other former CPC leaders, including Jiang Zemin. Retired Chinese leaders do not travel abroad and none, including Hu, who stepped down as president in March, is likely to ever defend himself before a Spanish court.
October 16:
Authorities in eastern China dispatched riot police to prevent a resumption of anti-government protests after a day of clashes pitting security forces against thousands of flood victims, Reuters reports. Residents of Yuyao, Zhejiang massed in front of the local government headquarters, denounced inadequate relief efforts, demanded the local Communist Party secretary and mayor resign, and used metal tools to remove the party slogan “Serve the people” mounted at the entrance. Last week Yuyao residents staged a mass protest against a television station for reporting that flood-hit areas were back to normal. After typhoon Fitow hit eastern China, more than 70 percent of the town was flooded affecting 800,000 residents and causing losses estimated at 7 billion yuan ($1.15 billion).
Want these sent to your inbox?
Subscribe
