smalltownfame.com

Indonesian anti-corruption chief convicted of murder

Friday, February 12, 2010

An Indonesian court has convicted the former head of the country’s anti-corruption agency of murder. The prosecution of Antasari Azhar and three others has been controversial, with some fearing the so-called “Judicial Mafia” played a role.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) already saw a proven plot to discredit it and frame its senior members. Shortly after Azhar’s arrest in May last year police came to take away Bibit Rianto and Chandra Hamzah, two deputy commissioners, to face trial for corruption. The trial, instead, unveiled a plot to convict the men of offences they had not committed. Protests in the street ensued, and locals gave corrupt officials the joint nickname of the “Judicial Mafia”.

The scandal resulted in the resignations of a chief detective and a deputy attorney general; the KPK had begun probing the attorney general’s office and that of the national police. During Azhar’s time as chair the KPK has exposed bribery at the former and prosecuted an in-law relative of the president during the country’s election preparations, with a jail sentence being the result.

The defendants had claimed political elements orchestrated a conspiracy to see the quartet convicted. The judges disagreed, with judge Herri Swantoro telling the court, “Defendant Antasari Azhar has been legitimately proven guilty of participating in persuading the carrying out of a premeditated murder.” The court’s judgement ran to 179 pages.

The case saw the four accused of plotting the March 2009 murder of tycoon Nasruddin Zulkarnaen, shot dead in his car by a motorbike assassin in Jakarta. Zulkarnaen was Azhar’s golfing partner and the businessman was alleged by the prosecution to have been blackmailing the KPK leader, who is a former prosecutor.

Azhar is alleged to have had an affair with one of Zulkarnaen’s wives, a golf caddie. With Zulkarnaen threatening to inform the press and parliament, Azhar is alleged to have plotted murder with several other officials. Police commissioner Wiliardi Wizar was accused of locating the assassins used; he claimed his senior had ordered him to testify he had been told by Azhar to kill Zulkarnaen.

Media mogul Sigid Haryo Wibisono stood accused of financing the contract killing, and businessman Jerry Hermawan Lo of arranging a meeting with the gunmen. All three were convicted alongside Azhar, who received an eighteen-year prison sentence. Wizar was jailed for twelve years, Wibisono for fifteen and Lo for five. All intend to appeal the verdicts.

One person who feels the court got it wrong is a human rights lawyer who defended Bibit and Chandra. “I think that this is all still a mystery,” said Taufik Basari. “I don’t think the judge had all the necessary facts to warrant a verdict of eighteen years.”

Despite the conviction of his relative, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono retained the presidency last June by a landslide majority. Originally elected in 2004, Yudhoyono has used an anti-corruption stance in his campaigns, heaping praise upon the KPK which Azhar was head of from December 2007 until his arrest.

The four new convicts join five men convicted of the murder in December. Alleged to have comprised the gang behind the shooting, they received sentences varying from seventeen to eighteen years imprisonment.

4 Reasons To Use A Physical Therapist While Recovering From A Bone Injury

Find Out More About:

byadmin

Physical therapy is extremely common for bone injuries such as ankle, wrist, and hip fractures. It is extremely important to keep the joint from stiffening, as this could limit your long-term range of motion and mobility. In order to keep the area moving without causing further damage, however, you should consult with a specialized physical therapist. Here are four reasons to use a physical therapist while you are recovering from a bone injury:

1. Reduce Pain and Swelling

Whether you are recovering from a major surgery or a bone injury of any kind, consider including physical therapy in your treatment plan. Medicine can reduce swelling, but it can also mask the source of the pain or the root of the problem. Physical therapy can help to pinpoint problem areas, which can then be targeted with specific therapies. In general, the exercises, stretches, and targeted massage treatments that your physical therapist may use can greatly reduce the amount of pain and swelling in the area.

2. Alone, You Could Cause More Harm Than Good

If the idea of seeing a physical therapist regularly does not appeal to you, you may be tempted to take control of your recovery. This could include looking up stretching exercises online, or attempting to massage the affected area by yourself to relieve pain. Although it’s important to stay involved throughout the process, you could easily do more harm than good by attempting to fix things yourself. Seek advice and recommendations from a doctor or physical therapist before touching or moving the injured area.

3. Therapists Offer Specialized Treatments

A skilled physical therapist can help you recover from your bone injury by using a series of stretches, exercises, and massage techniques. Physical therapists are specially licensed to practice as therapists, which means they have the knowledge required to help you heal without accidentally causing problems or deepening your injury. Your physical therapist will gradually help you regain your flexibility and range of motion, keeping things lined up so that your bones will heal properly. In addition, physical therapy centers include a variety of equipment designed for healing and rehabilitation.

4. Preventative Care and Whole Body Well-Being

Your physical therapist will likely be interested in more than your bone injury. He or she should be invested in your overall health and will look for ways to help you avoid causing a similar injury in the future. Your therapist may suggest daily stretches and exercise that can be used to increase your overall flexibility. Besides, adding to your exercise routine will strengthen your muscles, tighten your core, and help prevent against heart disease and other illnesses.To learn more about how a physical therapist can be helpful in recovering from bone injury, visit us online. We can be found at www.suburbanortho.com.

China sets up US$10 billion credit line with European nations

Sunday, April 29, 2012

China has pledged US$10 billion in credit to back joint projects with Central and Eastern European countries. Visiting Chinese Premiere Wen Jiabao announced the deal at a business forum in Warsaw, Poland, and said he hopes the deal will facilitate the two sides’ cooperation.

To boost business and trade, Wen said that China wants to help with infrastructure projects, including new technologies and green economy sectors. Also discussed at the Economic Forum was a new investment cooperation fund which would initially boast US$500 million to assist Chinese investments in the region. He also announced a plan to expand the Chinese market with other countries with hopes to build trade exchange to US$100 billion before the year 2015.

“China will work with countries in Central and Eastern Europe to mutually open the markets and to increase the trade exchange to $100 billion before 2015,” Wen said.

He said trade volume between China and central and eastern European countries reached 52.9 billion US dollars in 2011 and had grown 27.6 percent a year on average since 2001, when it was only 4.3 billion US dollars.

Thus far, the largest Chinese investment has been a €1.2 billion (US$1.6 billion) deal made by China’s Wanhua Industrial Group that gained full control of Borsodchem, a Hungarian chemicals firm. Other recent investments were made in Serbia, where a €170 million (US$225 million) bridge was built over the Danube river in Belgrade.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland happily welcomed the Chinese investment, noting the country’s uprising economy and European leadership role. Both Wen and Tusk enthused about the potential they say their partnership has and encouraged others in the region to form similar agreements.

The Chinese are “very pragmatic” in business, Andrzej Pawelec of Agrihortus company said, who is seeking new partners in China to sell its beverages. “If they see a good and honest business proposal, they are always open.”

Wen started his official visit to Poland on Wednesday. Poland is the last leg of a four-nation Europe tour that included visits to Iceland and Sweden and the opening ceremony of the Hannover Fair in Germany.

GM and Chrysler receive Canadian loans amid US restructuring ultimata

Friday, April 3, 2009

General Motors (GM) and Chrysler will receive bridge loans from the government of Canada and the provincial government of Ontario, however no more will be forthcoming from either Canadian or US governments unless the companies can reinvent themselves.

“This is a regrettable but necessary step to protect the Canadian economy. We are doing this on the assumption that we obviously cannot afford either in the United States or Canada a catastrophic short-term collapse.” said Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada.

“We cannot, we must not, and we will not let our auto industry simply vanish. This industry is, like no other, an emblem of the American spirit; a once and future symbol of America’s success,” said Barack Obama, President of the United States. “These companies – and this industry – must ultimately stand on their own, not as wards of the state.”File:Sinsheim quer.jpg

Chrysler will receive CA$1 billion and may in fact be eligible for as much as CA$4 billion. If Chrysler succeeds in the next 30 days with a restructuring plan it would be eligible for a US$6 billion loan. A part of Chrysler’s restructuring plan must include a partnership with Fiat within 30 days to appease the US administration. Fiat is a supplier of smaller fuel-efficient vehicles, and the merger will help Chrysler to be viable in the North American market. A Chrysler court bankruptcy would inevitably lead to it being sold off.

As a part of Chrysler’s restructuring plans, Tom LaSorda, the president of Chrysler announced that Canadian operations would fold if it does not receive both the US commitment of $2.3 billion of aid and a new Canadian Auto Workers CAW contract to reduce all-in costs by CA$19 per hour. As a result of this announcement Chrysler’s auto sales volume in Canada dropped 23% compared to March of 2008.

GM has until the end of May to restructure its company to receive up to CA$7.5 billion. As part of the companies restructuring, General Motor’s chief executive Rick Wagoner was replaced Sunday with Fritz Henderson, the current chief operating officer. Henderson spoke out on Tuesday that GM has submitted a restructuring plan which would close five plants, and this may be increased to meet the requirements for financial aid. He is in full compliance with Obama’s auto task force to seek bankruptcy if GM cannot negotiate with their unions, bondholders and others.

GM recently brought forward the “GM Total Confidence” program providing consumer purchase protection for customers who lose their job for economic reasons within the first two years from purchase. As a result of Chrysler’s restructuring announcement in Canada, GM’s Canadian vehicle sales volume fell only 17.3% compared to 2008, an increase from the previous month.

GM must reduce some of its legacy costs which include its pensions and union health care costs. A part of GM’s ailments arose from investing in supplying truck and SUVs during an economy of high gas prices when consumers were demanding fuel efficient vehicles.

Tony Clement, Canada’s Minister of Industry, is hoping that the CAW will support the restructuring process and re-negotiate their agreement. Whereas a United Auto Workers negotiator has said, “I don’t see how the UAW will do anything until they see what the bondholders will give up.”

The Obama administration is looking toward bankruptcy proceedings for the automakers, “as a mechanism to help them restructure quickly and emerge stronger. [It will] quickly clear away old debts that are weighing them down. What we are asking is difficult. It will require hard choices by companies. It will require unions and workers who have already made painful concessions to make even more. It will require creditors to recognise that they cannot hold out for the prospect of endless government bailouts.” said Obama.

The auto parts suppliers and IT software exporters in India have already been affected by the declining auto sales. GM and Chrysler software contracts provide US$300 to 350 million a year to vendors in India. As well these two major automakers usually award US$1 billion contracts to auto parts suppliers. “We are worried and closely watching the developments in the US to gauge the impact. The decline in auto sales in the US has already hit the order books of Indian suppliers,” said a Delhi auto parts supplier.

“Going forward, the industry will undoubtedly be smaller, but if our efforts are successful it will be viable and it will support good jobs for Canadians,” said Clements.

Betty Sutton, Ohio’s Congresswoman put forward the CARS act which provides a US$3,000 to 5,000 incentive for those who trade in their vehicle for a fuel-efficient car. “It clearly stimulates the economy, and it gets the consumer into the showroom and gets them buying again. But importantly — and this is what I particularly like about it — it really helps the environment quite a bit in two respects.” said William Clay Ford Jr., executive chairman of Ford Motor Co.

Ford Motor Company has not come forward with requests for assistance.

Since December GM and Chrysler have received US$17.4 billion government loans.

HAVE YOUR SAY
How should the automakers re-invent themselves?
Add or view comments

Norwegian politicians face voter suppression allegations

Monday, September 14, 2009

A viral election joke has landed several politicians in hot water as Norway goes to the polls to elect its parliament today. A hoax message turning voters away from polling stations is circulating in digital media. The message was also passed on by politicians, who have used social media like Twitter and YouTube to interact with the voters during the campaign. The targeted party is not laughing, and is warning that the activity could be seen as voter suppression.

“Due to full polling stations, Progress Party voters should send their vote by SMS [Standard Modular System] with shortcode FRP to 2009″ That message, and variations of it, was the joke circulating in social media such as Facebook and Twitter or by mobile phone messages.

Norway has taken significant steps towards e-government, such as a trial letting pre-calculated tax returns be filed by SMS. In this context, the General Secretary of the Progress Party, Geir Mo, said that the message was “sabotaging democracy”, because the damage would be done even if just one person believed the message. Kjell Ingolf Ropstad, one of the politicians who passed the message on, refused to apologize for doing it.

The main issue in the election has been whether voters should let the Labour Party dominated majority coalition government stay in power, or vote them out by voting for opposition parties.

Thousands of trapped miners rescued in South Africa

Thursday, October 4, 2007

As many as 3,200 mine workers became trapped in the in Elandsrand mine, a gold mine in South Africa about 50 miles (80 km) west of Johannesburg in Carletonville, Gauteng, after an incident on October 3. All miners have been rescued, and none of them were injured. The mine is owned by Harmony Gold Mining Corporation.

The mining company says that a lift electrical cable broke on a basket that was carrying miners, trapping thousands at least 2,200 meters (1.3 miles) below the earth’s surface. Reports from MSNBC and the Guardian Unlimited say that the shaft may have collapsed when a water or air pipe burst. The rescue operation went well with no complications, with the rescue taking just under 24 hours to complete.

“They were underground when the accident happened and they were not able to surface because an electric feeder cable that is connected to the mine lift was severed,” said a spokeswoman for the mining company, Amelia Soares. The snap was caused by a “fatigued” air pipe which burst and fell down the shaft damaging the “steelwork and electrical feeder cords,” added Soares. “They are all in good condition.”

“They are all safe. There have been no injuries or deaths,” said CEO of Harmony mining, Graham Briggs who also said that the miners were previously contacted and were given “food and water.”

Earlier reports had stated that Lesiba Seshoka, a spokesman with the National Union of Mineworkers, said that the miners have not been heard from for hours and that they could have been enduring temperatures as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).

“This is a terrible situation. The only exit is blocked, probably by a fall of ground,” said Seshoka.

Rescue workers used a mine shaft that is next to the damaged one in an attempt to reach the trapped miners, and lifted them out, 75 at a time. There was no emergency exit in the shaft which is reported to have “not been maintained for ages,” added Seshoka.

“An escape route is the most important thing and they have failed miserably. They need to ensure that the shaft is maintained. This is why we have this disaster. Our main worry is for more than 3,000 people who are underground,” said National Union of Mineworkers for S. Africa chairman, Deon Boqwana.

Current reports say that “negligence” was the initial cause for the pipe burst and that there has been a history of negligence from the mine. “We suspect negligence. Because of continuous operations there is no time to make adequate checks,” said the President of the Miners union, Senzeni Zokwana to reporters during a news conference.

The Elsrand mine is currently under development and has been since February 2001 when Harmony bought the mine. Officials state that the mine will remain closed for a minimum of six weeks, while an investigation is performed, and the mine is deemed safe for miners to continue working in it.

The mine is located in the Witwatersrand Basin of South Africa, which is said to be the location of the largest area of raw gold on the planet.

Wikinews international report: “Anonymous” holds anti-Scientology protests worldwide

Sunday, February 10, 2008

The Internet group Project Chanology today held protests critical of the Church of Scientology. The protests marked what would have been the 49th birthday of Lisa McPherson, who is claimed to be a victim of the Church of Scientology’s practices. Lisa died in 1995 during a running of what Scientologists refer to as an Introspection Rundown, a procedure intended to help Church members deal with a psychotic or deeply traumatic event.

Protests were planned throughout the day in 14 countries and over 50 different cities. The estimation of total protesters world wide for Feb. 10, 2008 is 9,250 people.

Wikinews had correspondents at a number of protest locations to report on the events. This article was updated throughout the day with reports from around the globe.

1 Location Reports
- 1.1 Adelaide, Australia
  - 1.1.1 Adelaide Gallery
- 1.2 Atlanta, Georgia
  - 1.2.1 Atlanta Photo Gallery
- 1.3 Austin, Texas
  - 1.3.1 Austin Photo Gallery
- 1.4 Boston, Massachusetts
  - 1.4.1 Boston Photo Gallery
- 1.5 Brisbane, Australia
  - 1.5.1 Brisbane Gallery
- 1.6 Brussels, Belgium
  - 1.6.1 Brussels Photo Gallery
- 1.7 Buffalo, New York
  - 1.7.1 Buffalo Photo Gallery
- 1.8 Chicago, Illinois
  - 1.8.1 Chicago Photo Gallery
- 1.9 Clearwater, Florida
- 1.10 Dallas, Texas
  - 1.10.1 Dallas Photo Gallery
- 1.11 Edinburgh, Scotland
  - 1.11.1 Edinburgh Photo Gallery
- 1.12 Honolulu, Hawaii
  - 1.12.1 Honolulu Photo Gallery
- 1.13 Houston, Texas
- 1.14 London, England
  - 1.14.1 London Photo Gallery
- 1.15 Los Angeles, California
  - 1.15.1 Los Angeles Photo Gallery
- 1.16 Manchester, England
  - 1.16.1 Manchester Photo Gallery
- 1.17 Melbourne, Australia
  - 1.17.1 Melbourne Photo Gallery
- 1.18 Minneapolis, Minnesota
- 1.19 Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  - 1.19.1 Milwaukee Photo Gallery
- 1.20 New Orleans, Louisiana
  - 1.20.1 New Orleans Photo Gallery
- 1.21 New York City, New York
  - 1.21.1 New York City Photo Gallery
- 1.22 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- 1.23 Phoenix, Arizona
  - 1.23.1 Phoenix Photo Gallery
- 1.24 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  - 1.24.1 Pittsburgh Photo Gallery
- 1.25 Plymouth, England
  - 1.25.1 Plymouth Photo Gallery
- 1.26 Portland, Oregon
  - 1.26.1 Portland Photo Gallery
- 1.27 San Antonio, Texas
- 1.28 San Diego, California
  - 1.28.1 San Diego Photo Gallery
- 1.29 Seattle, Washington
  - 1.29.1 Seattle Photo Gallery
- 1.30 Sydney, Australia
  - 1.30.1 Sydney Photo Gallery
- 1.31 Toronto, Canada
  - 1.31.1 Toronto Photo Gallery
- 1.32 Vancouver, Canada
- 1.33 Vienna, Austria
- 1.34 Winnipeg, Canada
  - 1.34.1 Winnipeg Photo Gallery
- 1.35 The Internet
  - 1.35.1 Internet gallery
- 1.36 Other locations
  - 1.36.1 Stories from other locations
2 Related news
3 Sources

Need Heating Oil In Clinton? Buy From Responsible Energy Partners

Find Out More About:

byAlma Abell

Heating oil is big business in areas such as Connecticut, where winters can get dangerously cold. However, quality, service, and prices can vary widely from one supplier to another, so it is important to compare businesses.

Suppliers Offer Delivery Options

A responsible oil supplier offers several plans designed to ensure that you do not run out of oil. Their will-call plan lets you call and arrange delivery when you think you are running low. Although fuel is always quickly dispatched to your home, you do have to pay additional fees for off-hours delivery. You can avoid the fees by allowing experts to use a computerized system to calculate your needs and automatically deliver Heating Oil in Clinton. They will install sensors in your home so that they can monitor your fuel supply. For instance, companies such as East River Energy not only offer high-grade Heating Oil in Clinton, but also provide affordable pricing, a choice of delivery plans, an earth-friendly energy option, and more.

Suppliers Make Fuel Affordable

Oil Suppliers help you budget for your heating needs. They can set up prepaid plans that allow you to make a single payment which covers your fuel needs for an entire season, at a locked-in price. You can arrange for a budget cap plan that protects against rising oil costs by locking in your rate. You may also make monthly payments and never worry about rising costs, since the price is set. Their price of the day plan allows you to pay the current rate, which changes according to the oil market.

Suppliers Help Save the Environment

Professionals offer bioheat that includes green bidodiesel. It burns cleaner than traditional fuels and helps reduce pollution. Biodiesel is also made from renewable materials such as soybeans. It can extend the life of heating equipment and conserve as much as 50 million gallons of heating oil.

It is important to choose a quality heating oil supplier that is committed to their customers and community. These professionals offer a variety of delivery options to ensure clients enjoy a steady supply of affordable fuel. They also provide eco-friendly products that conserve natural resources.

27 reported dead in Iranian suicide bombings

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Two suicide bombers detonated bombs at a mosque in southeastern Iran today, killing 27 and leaving several hundred more injured.

The explosions occurred moments apart at a Shia mosque, killing both civilians and government officials from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. 27 people are confirmed dead, while reports of injuries totaled 270, and officials said the death toll is likely to rise.

The attacks were reportedly carried out by a Sunni rebel group, Jundallah, who said it was in retaliation for the execution of the group’s leader, Abdolmalek Rigi, by the Iranian government in June.

A local official, Hossein Ali Shahriari, said that “[t]he [first] attacker, dressed in women’s clothing, was trying to get in the mosque, but was prevented. When people came to rescue those hit in that blast, another bomber blew himself up. Three to four have been killed at least in the first attack;” the remainder were killed in the second blast.

The Revolutionary Guard’s top official, Yadollah Javani, blamed the United States, Israel, and Europeean countries for the attacks, citing testimony offered by Rigi before he was executed that claimed Jundallah had received aid from Western powers.

“Rigi’s confessions prove that the United States, Zionists and some European countries are directly linked with the Zahedan blasts, because he had confessed that the U.S. wants bomb attacks to be carried out across Iran…one [can] not doubt the involvement of secret foreign services in the efforts to generate tension amongst Muslims.”

Ratko Mladi? arrested for war crimes

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Ratko Mladi?, otherwise known as “The Butcher of Bosnia,” has been arrested after being sought for over a decade. The 69-year-old former Serbian general and war crimes suspect was arrested on May 26 by Serbian special police in Lazarevo, Serbia. Mladi? was accused of war crimes shortly after the 1992–1995 Bosnian War. He was wanted for genocide and crimes against humanity, including the orchestration of a massacre of over 8000 Muslim Bosniak men and boys in Srebrenica.

The arrest has prompted protests from Serbian nationalists, who herald Mladi? as a national hero and patriot. However, the international reaction to Mladi?’s capture is more positive. French President Nicolas Sarkozy praised Serbia’s actions, saying it is another step for Serbia on the path to joining the European Union. Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt gave similar praise, saying that the Serbia’s prospects of joining the EU are “brighter than ever.”

Serbia’s war crimes court ruled that Mladi? is fit for trial, despite claims from family and supporters to the contrary. Ratko Mladi?’s son Darko claims that his father is too weak to face extradition to The Hague for trial. Mladi? could face extradition within a matter of days.

« Previous Entries

smalltownfame.com

Contents

Categories