President Hu Jintao warns of political corruption in China. President Bashar al-Assad says he will not leave Syria. I’m David Deforest reporting from Washington.
China’s once-in-a-decade leadership transition began today, with a warning from the country’s outgoing leader.
In a long and wide-ranging speech to mark the beginning of China’s 18th Party (Congress), President Hu Jintao warned that the party and even the country are facing fatal challenges if it does not do more to deal with the problem of (corruption). William Ide reports.
In his final remarks as leader of the political party that single-handedly rules 1.3 billion people, President Hu Jintao had a warning for the Chinese Communist Party. Hu says that opposing corruption and building a clean government are things the party has strived for and something the public pays close attention to. He says that if the party fails to handle this issue, it could prove fatal and even cause the (collapse) of the party and state. Mr. Hu made his remarks at Beijing’s massive Great Hall of the People, during the opening of the 18th party congress. William Ide, VOA News, Beijing.
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Two Tibetans have set themselves on fire to protest Chinese policy in Tibet. Tibetan (exiles) with contacts in the region say a man set himself on fir today in Rebkong. They say another man set himself on fire Wednesday in Guru. On Wednesday, three teenage monks from the Ngoshul Monastery set themselves on fire. One of them died at the scene. Chinese officials took the two others to a hospital.
Burmese officials say President Barack Obama plans to visit the country later this month. Speaking anonymously Burmese officials told reporters the president plans to travel to Burma, November 18th or 19th. The U.S. government has not (confirmed) the visit.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says he will not leave his country, and warned against foreign (intervention) in Syria. In an interview with Russia Today television, Mr. Assad said intervention would have a domino effect with implications for the rest of the world. Russia Today posted the excerpts of the interview with Mr. Assad on its website today.
The death toll from Wednesday’s earthquake off the coast of Guatemala has risen to (48). Hundreds more are injured or missing. Most of the dead were in the state of San Marcos, a mountainous region near the Mexican border, where people were buried under the rubble of their houses. The quake sent landslides onto highways, hampering (rescue) efforts.
With the 2012 presidential campaign now history, newly re-elected President Barack Obama is turning his attention to negotiations with congressional leaders on tackling the nation’s debt. The White House says Mr. Obama phoned Republican House Speaker John Boehner Wednesday to begin discussions on an agreement to avoid a package of (automatic) budget reductions and tax increases set to take effect at the end of the year. Boehner warned that urgent action is needed.
“What we can’t do is avert the cliff in a manner that serves as a down payment on, and a catalyst for- major solutions, enacted in 2013, that to begin to solve the problem.”
The president is seeking new (revenue) by requiring wealthier Americans making over $250,000 to pay more in income taxes, something adamantly opposed by Mr. Boehner and his fellow Republicans.
A winter-like storm is making life miserable for residents of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut which still have not (recovered) from Hurricane Sandy. While not as strong as Sandy, Wednesday’s storm brought rain and strong wind to the coast, and snow inland.
Eighteen people have been killed in Afghanistan. Officials say 10 were killed in Helmand province as they went to a wedding. In Laghman province, a government spokesman said five soldiers were killed when their convoy hit a land mine. Another official (announced) three policemen killed in a suicide bomb attack in Kandahar.
Ghanaian officials say faulty construction is to blame for the collapse of a multi-story shopping center in the capital, Accra. The building collapsed early Wednesday, killing at least (seven) people.
Pakistani authorities say a suicide bombing at the gates of a building housing paramilitary forces in Karachi has killed three people and wounded at least 18 others.
Briefly checking the markets at this hour, on Wall Street, U.S. stock indexes are up.
I’m David Deforest, more news on the Internet at voanews.com.