'Dirty bomb' threat to Beijing Olympics

Beijing maybe under threat from more than pollution

BBC Essex radio news reported this morning that a UN body had warned of a possible ‘dirty bomb’ attack on the Beijing Olympics. However since that broadcast there has been few other reports of this item. A trawl of the internet only finds a few references to this new risk specifically targeting China and the Beijing Olympics. There are a number of terrorist groups that may wish to disrupt the Olympic games in August, but it is perhaps groups aligned with al-Qaeda that might prove to be the strongest threat. Earlier this year Chinese authorities announced they had broken up terror cells and thwarted potential attacks aimed at crashing a plane into an Olympic site. There are some who have questioned the veracity of China’s claims and accuse authorities of using the perceived threat to target Muslim minority groups. In the last few days further restrictions have been put in placed. Xinhua reported earlier this month that authorities had “revised rules, based on a regulation implemented in 2004, added new regulations banning dangerous items, including explosives, poisonous and radioactive material” and more recently said that medical personnel and experts had been trained to deal with exposure to radioactivity, pathogens and poisonous chemicals [Xinhua].

This release of radioactive substances into a large crowd would pose a serious threat to health. But obtaining material construct a radiological dispersal device may prove difficult, especially in a country such as China. In the UK, which has already been hit by terrorist attacks, there is already concern that al-Qaeda wish to hit London with such devices. Some radioactive substances are relatively easy to obtain. Depleted Uranium is commonly used in pipe inspection equipment. Radioactive isotopes can be found in smoke detectors and medical equipment but the logistics of collecting enough material to pose a serious threat would be difficult. Cobalt-60 is widely used in the US to irradiate food but dispersal would be difficult [The Guardian]. But while there has been no specific threat to Beijing, the IAEA says there are groups that want to hit the games [Daily Telegraph]. The reports from the International Atomic Energy Authority could be seen as scare-mongering. The IAEA warning may also be seen as encouraging others to stay away from the Beijing games. But even if not intended as being malicious, the warning only adds to the fear that is felt by potential visitors to the August games.

If the propaganda machine in the West is to be believed, visitors may suffer from appalling pollution, dangerous food and the risk of being caught up in a terrorist attack. The pollution is real, but many cities in the West offer similar conditions of poor air quality. As regards the food, besides the scare stories, most people do not succumb to food poisoning. And the terror threat, while it should not be ignored, is no different from that of many other countries. China has yet to be targeted by Islamic terrorists, although authorities say there are plots and outside infiltrators. The threat in Europe, the US and other parts of the world is far more real with Islamic terrorists having hit Western targets in New York, London, Madrid, Morocco, Turkey and Pakistan. China has yet to see such outrages experienced here in the West. Hopefully it never will and the doom-mongers will be proved wrong.

London - Bus crash kills 1, injures 18

A London bus has crashed into a tree killing one woman and injuring up to 19 others, Sky News has reported. The accident which occurred at 09:23 UK time [08:23 GMT] near to Tower Bridge on the route 188 bus. Some of the injured are said to have sustained serious injuries according to a spokeman from Guys Hospital. There is widespread disruption to traffic routes in the area.

China mourns its dead

China stood in silence today to mark one week since a massive earthquake devastated central Sichuan province. In scenes not seen since the death of Mao Zedong, millions of ordinary Chinese paid their respects to those that died in last week’s earthquake. At 14:28 local time, car horns and air-raid sirens wailed to mark the time the earthquake struck south-west China. Millions then stood in silence remembering the dead and sparing thoughts for those injured in the worst natural disaster in many years. Even in the devastated region, rescue workers stood silently to remember the dead, pausing from their search if only for a few moments. China has declared three days of national mourning and even the Olympic torch relay has been postponed. In recent days the continuing relay has been a sombre affair. The event has been virtually dropped from news reports in China and newspapers have pushed the events to the middle pages. Routes have been shortened and beginning and ending ceremonies have been marked with a minutes silence [Xinhua / CNN / BBC / Sky News].

For rescuers on the ground there are fewer and fewer people being pulled alive from the rubble. It will be a tough decision for authorities to make but they will soon have to move from a rescue mission to one of salvage and clear-up. Already pictures have emerged showing the mass graves as authorities struggle to deal with thousands of bodies. Emotion has to be pushed aside to deal with the practical disposal of the dead in order to prevent the spread of disease. But of course it is heart breaking for thousands of families unable to bury their dead with the respect they would prefer. DNA has been taken from the victims and numbers placed on the graves which may give some hope to those wishing to identify family members later on. Amidst all the grief there is also an under current of anger running through Chinese society. Some have suggested that school buildings were not properly constructed and that corruption had a part to play. While there has been critique in Western media, Chinese media has also questioned building standards especially after so many schools collapsed in the earthquake. On Wednesday, the China Daily asked questions over the quality of building construction and the Chinese government said anyone found to be responsible for substandard building work would be severely punished. In an editorial, the paper said the “quality of school buildings raises disturbing questions”. The state run paper continues; “Tragic though the circumstances are, we cannot afford not to raise uneasy questions about the quality of school buildings”. The editorial adds that if “subsequent investigations indicate that most of the school buildings collapsed because of their poor-quality construction or the builders’ shoddy compliance with building rules, we must take a firm resolve to do away with man-made factors that are easily neglected in normal times but prove disastrous in an emergency”. The criticism also extended to the slow allocation of government funding to “renovate buildings so that they can withstand major quakes”. On Saturday the story had made it to the front page of the state run paper. Jiang Weixin was quoted as saying, “If quality problems do exist in school buildings, those found responsible will be dealt with severely”. Up to 7,000 schools are said to have collapsed across the province and there has been criticism that whilst government buildings remained intact, nearby schools collapsed into rubble. The questions over building construction has been a dominant feature in Western news reports. CNN’s John Vause filing a report from the rubble of one school showed the thin wire used to reinforce buildings and both the BBC and Sky News have raised questions as to whether building regulations were flouted. It has to be said that there is no such thing as an 'earthquake proof' building. In the Kobe earthquake in 1995 at least 6,000 died despite stringent building regulations. Elevated roadways collapsed and infrastructural damage was widespread. Although only 60 died in the Northridge earthquake in Los Angeles the year before, many bridges and buildings were severely damaged. The Japan earthquake measured at 7.3 while the L.A tremor measured at 6.7. Chinese seismologists upgraded the magnitude of the Sichuan earthquake to 8.0 on Sunday, and though some might be cynical of the new status, even at 7.9 on the Richter scale there are few structures that survive such devastating tremors. But there is much debate on internet forums over so called ‘tofu buildings’ which crumbled in the wake of Monday’s earthquake.

On one forum some have asked whether cheap wire was used instead of high quality steel. But others have again expressed anger, not at Chinese authorities, but instead at Western media who they accuse of using the issue as another excuse for China bashing. Some have questioned the ‘facts’ being disseminated by the media. One writer questions the number of schools damaged in the quake saying that if 7,000 schools were destroyed even an average of 10 dead would equal 70,000 fatalities. “This is clearly nonsense!”, he says. Aside of the recriminations there remains the difficult and slow rebuilding of many towns and villages. Conservative estimates suggest the Sichuan earthquake has cost in excess of $10 billion in damage and loss to business. There is also the practical issue as to how authorities will house nearly 5 million people displaced by the disaster. Meanwhile China has made fresh appeals for international aid and donations. The official death toll now stands at 34,073. However, taking into account the numbers still buried or missing, the number may rise to more than 70,000. A further quarter of a million people have been injured many seriously.

Scientists "predicted" Sichuan earthquake

Detailed maps from 2007 showing fault lines

Ten months ago a little read scientific report was compiled by seismologists from China, Europe and the US. Today that report makes uneasy reading. For the report which was outlined in the July 2007 edition of Tectonics warned that Beichuan was “ripe for a major earthquake”. A report in the National Geographic said the scientists issued a warning following studies of satellite images and on-the-ground examinations of active faults in Sichuan Province for more than a decade. "The faults are sufficiently long to sustain a strong ground-shaking earthquake, making them potentially serious sources of regional seismic hazard," the report read. They concluded that clashing tectonic forces were growing in Beichuan, “ready to burst in an explosion of seismic energy”.

The researchers charted the active faults on multicolored maps of Beichuan, which now turn out to be the epicenter of the recent earthquake. "As far as I know, this is the only investigation of these active faults," said study co-author Michael Ellis of the Center for Earthquake Research and Information at the University of Memphis in Tennessee. There is little reason to believe Chinese officials were aware of the July 2007 report, or that it would have made much difference if they had been. "We had certainly identified the potential of these active faults," Ellis said. "But that information was effectively locked in an academic journal." The magnitude 7.9 quake that struck on May 12th almost entirely levelled parts of Sichuan Province. Chinese officials today estimated that the death toll would reach 50,000 and that nearly five million people are homeless.

China - Flood fears fuel panic

Many towns have been almost entirely destroyed

Hours after President Hu Jintao visited Beichuan in north-east Sichuan province, residents have fled as aftershock brought fresh landslides. On Friday President Hu talked to victims caught up in Monday’s quake and offerd reassurance that the government would do all it could [Xinhua]. But only hours later rock and mud was sent crashing down hillsides towards villages already devastated by the 7.9 earthquake. Throughout the morning there had been rumours that a dam was about to burst. Water levels have risen over the past few days with heavy rain hitting many parts of the province. This has put further pressure on many dams said to be damaged. Sky News reported that many had fled to the hills over fears that rivers were going to burst their banks. Members of the public, army troops and rescue workers evacuated the area. Later many gradually returned, but valuable hours had been wasted and it is time that is running out for those who may still be alive in the rubble of thousands of fallen buildings [CNN / BBC].

Senator Edward Kennedy "suffers stroke"

Senator Edward Kennedy has been rushed to hospital in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, CNN in the United States has reported. CNN International had not yet reported by 15:45 GMT however the BBC has reported the Breaking News via News 24 and their website. Sky News reported that Senator Kennedy had been taken to hospital early on Saturday suffering from a stroke.

China - Nuclear facilities "at risk" after quake

The Guangyuan plutonium production facility lies only 16 km from one aftershock

As if the dangers and outlook for the people of Sichuan province weren’t bad enough there are fears that radiation may pose a further hazard. On Wednesday a French nuclear watchdog warned that some nuclear facilities might have been damaged in Monday’s 7.9 earthquake. The Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety said that nuclear research reactors or facilities used to produce nuclear fuel were located within 100km of the quake's epicentre [al Jazeera]. The institute said it was waiting for Chinese inspections to confirm that the four electricity-producing sites in eastern China - Lingao, Daya Bay, Qinshan and Tianwan – were unharmed. However it said damage was unlikely since they are more than 1000km from the epicentre. Today it emerged that the Chinese Minister of Environmental Protection, Zhou Shengxian (周生賢), had convened an emergency meeting late on Monday, hours after the 7.9 magnitude tremor shook the province. The ministry website said he activated the lowest tier of a four-stage system of ranking radiation leaks. The Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics, also known as the Southwest Institute, in Mianyang is the primary design laboratory for Chinese nuclear weapons, according to globalsecurity.org. But one Western expert with knowledge of the Mianyang lab had said it was unlikely it was at serious risk the Taipei Times reported. Nonetheless there has been enough concern amongst foreign military circle to initiate a reconnaissance of the nuclear sites. AP reported today that “American experts” were “monitoring” nuclear facilities in China's earthquake zone. U.S. officials are monitoring China's nuclear facilities in the quake zone, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. He said he had no information about any damage.

Wang Baodong, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said he had no information about the state of the atomic sites. But he told reporters the Chinese government was "preparing for every consequence" as it worked to rescue survivors and repair damage.
The plutonium production reactor at Guangyuan, China's largest, is also in the quake zone. "Damage to these plants could potentially be a serious issue for the Chinese government," said Hans Kristensen, a nuclear arms expert at the Federation of American Scientists. He said the reactor at Guangyuan is "at the center of China's fissile material production. "If there is damage to (the reactor), it would disrupt China's warhead maintenance capabilities," Kristensen said. "That could have impacts for several years."

Besides the risk of a radiation leak Sichuan province also faces potential an even worse catastrophe if any of an estimated 300 dams said to be damaged, should fail. In 1975 the Banqiao dam burst open following a massive Typhoon. According to the Hydrology Department of Henan Province approximately 26,000 people died from flooding and another 145,000 died during subsequent epidemics and famine. In addition, about 5,960,000 buildings collapsed, and 11 million residents were affected. With questions already being asked over the construction of some 7,000 schools which collapsed, there may well be further heads rolling if it is found that planners skimped on dam construction. Isabel Hilton writing in the Guardian says the tragedy this week will “test the Chinese government's commitment to freedom of information and its willingness to put technical and environmental concerns above politics”. But the risk of a free flow of information may also have other, as yet unseen, consequences. As people look for blame for the tragedy that has befallen them there may well be unrest in the future. The seeds of discontent appear to already be sown as examples of shoddy building begin to emerge. Corruption on such a large scale may be seen to lead back to the very heart of government which itself may have a difficult time silencing the angry voices.

China - Questions asked about building construction

A grief stricken parent is pushed back as President Hu visits Beichuan

President Hu Jintao today visited areas struck by the devastating earthquake which has left at least 4.8 million people homeless and killed more than 20,000. On Friday afternoon a large aftershock caused further damage to buildings and cutting off routes to some areas. The 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit near to Miansizhen at 13:25 local time [05:25 GMT] and is the latest of more than 4,000 aftershocks. More than 200,000 buildings have been destroyed following the massive earthquake on Monday including 7,000 schools and the Chinese government has said investigations will be launched to see if building codes were ignored.

President Hu visited Beichuan today and said it was the worst earthquake to have hit China since 1949. China has suffered from some of the worst earthquakes in history. In 1976 the Tangshan earthquake in Hebei province killed up to half a million people, and in 1927 a 7.9 magnitude earthquake in Gansu killed at least 40,000. More than 200,000 were killed only seven years previously when an 8.6 magnitude quake struck the Ningxia-Gansu region of China but the worst disaster was in 1556 when nearly one million died in the Shaanxi Earthquake.

Following major earthquakes in recent history the Chinese authorities have toughened building regulations in earthquake zones. More than one third of all earthquakes hit China and most strike the southern province of Yunnan province. Following a 6.4 earthquake last year the provincial government announced a 10 year plan to make all houses able to resist a magnitude 6.0 earthquake. But the plan to replace houses will take some time with current projections looking at costs of more than ¥ 3 billion over the next 12 years. But the focus is now on Sichuan and questions are now being asked even by Chinese state media. The China Daily has already asked questions over the quality of building construction and the Chinese government has said anyone found to be responsible for substandard building work will be severely punished authorities have said. In an editorial published on Wednesday the paper said the “quality of school buildings raises disturbing questions”. The state run paper continues; “Tragic though the circumstances are, we cannot afford not to raise uneasy questions about the quality of school buildings”. The editorial adds that if “subsequent investigations indicate that most of the school buildings collapsed because of their poor-quality construction or the builders’ shoddy compliance with building rules, we must take a firm resolve to do away with man-made factors that are easily neglected in normal times but prove disastrous in an emergency”. The criticism also extended to the slow allocation of government funding to “renovate buildings so that they can withstand major quakes”. Some parents have expressed their anger at the building quality and told reporters that corners have been cut in the construction of some buildings. One man told the AFP news agency, "I'll tell you why the school collapsed. It was shoddily built. Someone wanted to save money". One mother told reporters there were doubts about the construction of a school destroyed in Monday‘s quake. ''It was built in a very short time. They added one floor at a time, and continued building as they had money for it. So the base was not made for several floors. It was too weak. The whole building collapsed, straight down, hardly without shaking, even,'' she said [BBC / LA Times].

The disaster is all the more tragic with so many families losing their only child, a result of China’s controversial one child policy. It is unclear what proportion of the victims are children, but there are terrible scenes unfolding across the province as parents watch rescue workers pulling out hundreds of bodies from schools. In one of the worst cases, hundreds of students were feared buried in the debris of the Juyuan Middle School where more than 50 bodies have already been pulled out. At a newly built primary school that collapsed in Dujiangyan, just a flew kilometres away, 100 students and teachers were pulled out of the rubble but more than 100 remained buried on Wednesday. And at the main building of Beichuan Middle School in Mianyang city a little further to the north in Sichuan province, at least 1,000 students and teachers were dead and missing. The scene is repeated over and over again with an estimated 7,000 schools destroyed.

Amidst the sorrow there are brief moments of joy as some children are pulled alive from the rubble of collapsed buildings. But sadly the life for many survivors will never be the same. Besides the trauma and anxiety after living through such a disaster many have suffered terrible injuries. Countless victims have lost not only their homes but also their limbs. Infections have forced doctors to amputate arms and legs. One young boy asked doctors not to remove his arms because he wanted to go to school and would be able to hold his pencil. His sister tearfully told reporters that doctors said if they did not amputate his arms, her brother would die.

The story remains at the top of many news bulletins with some providing extensive coverage. The BBC covered the story for nearly twenty minutes with Sky News giving around 8 minutes to the story. CNN has also given over a large proportion of air time to the unfolding tragedy, but the largest coverage has been on the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. The type of broadcasting seen on Chinese television is unprecedented.

Studio discussions and live reports from affected areas have filled the air time and many people in China have been glued to the coverage. Some have spoken of how the images have left them tearful and with sore eyes, while others have talked of being motivated to help. Thousands have joined queues to give blood and donations of food, water and money have poured in from all parts of the country. More than ¥ 20 million has already been donated by the public.

As some Western media focuses on whether building regulations were flouted there is little discussion as to how much the West is prepared for such a disaster. Although rare, earthquakes can and do occur in Europe. Speaking to Swiss Info, Thomas Wenk, chairman of the Swiss Society for Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, has said while Switzerland is in a lower risk category than most of China, an earthquake of similar strength could occur in other parts of Europe. “I am not a seismologist, but in Europe an earthquake on that scale could only be imagined in the main risk areas towards Turkey and Asia,” Wenk said. A small earthquake earlier this year caused relatively minor but widespread damage in the UK, but there are examples where natural disasters have overwhelmed authorities in the West. Hurricane Katrina killed more than 1,800 people in the United States in 2005 and the government was widely criticised for its poor response to the disaster. The area affected by the Wenchuan earthquake is massive and the damage is beyond imagination. Whilst efforts to make buildings ‘earthquake proof’, there is no sure way to prevent deaths occurring following such a massive disaster. Japan, which has stringent regulations concerning the construction of buildings and infrastructure, was severely hit by the Kobe earthquake in 1995 killing over 6,000.

Perhaps the most critical reports have come from Channel Four News which talks of ‘palm greasing’ and corruption as being responsible for the poor building standards. Today they showed pictured of angry parents in grief from having lost their only child. “My colleagues and I at the Ministry of Housing feel very sad to see that. I was also heavy hearted when I saw those students being pulled out. So if we find the collapsed buildings have quality problems after our investigation we will definitely seal with it aggressively” said Jiang Weixin. But it is little consolation to those who have lost loved ones. And as President Hu visited Beichuan today grieving parents were pushed away by police and security guards as they attempted to approach him to air their case. The cameraman who was filming was also stopped from filming further.

Weather is still hampering rescue efforts in many parts of Sichuan causing further landslides and there are fears increased water levels may put greater pressure on dams across the province. Up to 300 dams are said to be affected by the earthquakes and troops are working to make them safe. Any breaches would certainly bring further tragedy to an already devastated region.

China - More helicopters help in aid relief

Chinese authorities are beginning to increase the numbers of helicopters in an effort to reach areas so far cut off from rescue workers. On Wednesday up to 19 helicopters had been deployed to drop supplies into many areas including the epicentre at Wenchuan. Today Premier Wen ordered a further 90 helicopters to be deployed in order to assist in the rescue effort [Xinhua]. On CCTV-9 one expert suggested that China should seek assistance from other countries. Helicopters are invaluable in disasters such as this especially where regular transport links have been destroyed or remain impassable. Col Feng Fuhai, of the Chinese Air Force, said that helicopters can carry up to 3 tonnes of equipment and provided essential help to the disaster stricken area.

The death toll has now exceeded 19,500 and state authorities say the numbers may rise above 50,000 [BBC / Sky News / CNN / Xinhua]. The area affected by the earthquake is vast stretching hundreds of kilometres and the task confronting the relief workers is staggering. But despite the best efforts of the People’s Liberation Army many areas have still not been reached and there exists frustration on the ground that rescuers have not arrived. More than150,000 troops have been sent to areas hit by the earthquake and 20 transport planes have help send in food supplies and equipment. Many people remain homeless following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and thousands of residents are living in makeshift tents. CCTV, the Chinese state broadcaster has provided unprecedented coverage of the disaster. The openness of the media has surprised many, not only in the West but also in China. The disaster has brought many Chinese together and some have organised to help take help and supplies to the grief stricken areas. However, the help from ordinary people has only complicated the situation on the ground with food supplies and shelter.

Is Clinton an ex-candidate?

Hillary may be ‘squawking’ but there are some that think she is an ‘ex-parrot’ or rather an ’ex-candidate’. Besides her landslide victory in the most recent primary of West Virginia, few pundits see her as winning the candidacy.

Channel Four News in the UK discussed the recent comments during Hillary Clinton’s campaign which raised the issue of race. During one rally in Kingstree, Bill Clinton called on a black man standing off to the side of the small stage. The man identified himself as a pastor and told Clinton that "black America is voting for Obama because he's black." The man also said Democrats are in a "dangerous position" because if Obama wins the nomination, voters will put a Republican in the White House. "They're not ready to vote for a black president," the man said. The suggestion that many of her voters would not vote for a black candidate has rattled many, and even if not directly said by Hillary herself the race card is beginning to tar her campaign. The issue has certainly ruffled more than a few feathers. So too has the comparison of Hillary with the infamous parrot in the Monty Python sketch. The skit which ran in the Washington Post has outraged some. But at least, the Washington Post suggests today, no-one compared her to the black knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

It will be a “Miracle or disaster for Hillary to win now” suggested the news broadcaster tonight. And as two more super delegates joined the Obama camp today the Holy Grail sought after by Hillary seems further away than ever. Despite the mathematics, the lack of delegates and a slating in the popular media, Clinton is determined to continue. It is difficult to see when or if she will ever quit in the race for the candidacy that inches further and further away.

This side of the pond there are many that see her as a ‘doomed enterprise’ that is bringing down the Democrat party with her. And as long as Clinton clings to her perch the party cannot get on with the election campaign proper.

China - "dangerous cracks" appear in dam

The Zipingpu dam near Dujiangyan on the Minjian river in Sichuan province

About 2,000 troops are said to be en-route to Zipingpu dam to plug holes after “dangerous cracks” appeared in the structure. The dam is near to the epicentre by the small town of Dujiangyan. The name has been misspelt as 'Zipingku' on many news websites [AP]. Some reports suggest dame to other parts of the infrastructure. "Plant and associated buildings have collapsed and some are partly sunk" one Chinese news website said. Meanwhile the Ministry of Water Resources plans "to safely discharge the reservoir's rising waters and guarantee that the damage posed no threat to Dujiangyan and the neighboring Chengdu Plain," the state-run Xinhua reported [CNN].

China accepts money but says help not needed

A map in today's China Daily shows the level of destruction

China has thanked the offers of aid and assistance from around the world. But while the money has been accepted authorities have so far declined help from aid groups saying that blocked roads would prevent movement and further complicate rescue efforts. Thousands of army troops are continuing to pull people trapped in the rubble but many areas remain inaccessible. Whilst army vehicles travelled around Sichuan province conveying troops to areas of devastation many are still unable to reach rural areas. Premier Wen flew in by helicopter on Monday and spoke of the importance of clearing roadways. But many are damaged beyond repair and some areas could only be reached by helicopter. Plans to parachute in thousands of troops were cancelled due to high winds and heavy rain increasing the need for helicopters in many areas not yet reached by the army. There has been few signs of any army helicopters in news footage and while US ships in the south China sea could provide logistical help Chinese authorities have yet to take up offers. On Monday President Bush said the US would help in “any way possible”, but so far China has only taken the offers of financial assistance. Helicopters, especially such aircraft as Chinooks, would be able to take troops and heavy rescue equipment into areas otherwise inaccessible. And it is clear that problems exist in getting equipment to where it is need. Sky’s Peter Sharp speaking from Dujiangyan, near the epicentre, said, "The frustrating thing about it is, I passed about 40-50 diggers and front-end loaders on my way here, equipment that would be invaluable at the epicentre area, but they just can't get there."

US assistance in previous disasters is well documented. In 2004 a massive US led relief effort was mounted in Bande Aceh following the devastating tsunami in Indonesia. Initially authorities there were resistant to accepting US assistance but relented after the scale of the disaster became apparent. On Wednesday morning, two Chinese helicopters with relief supplies flew over the Yingxiu Town of Wenchuan County and three more were standing by awaiting orders at the Fenghuanshang airport, according to the Chengdu Military Command [Xinhua].

There has been a huge effort mounted by the Chinese government to rescue those trapped, but some logistics have still not been solved. Thousands of residents are sleeping rough after their houses were destroyed and there is little cover from the elements. Many have been forced to construct make shift tents while others are left in the open. There is little protection from mosquitoes with few mosquito nets available and with further rain predicted the situation may well deteriorate.

Britain has offered a £1 million in financial assistance and remains in contact with Chinese authorities. William Erhman, British Ambassador to China, commended the “rapid and huge response” to the disaster. But he said there were worries over some British tourists not heard from since Monday. “We remain concerned about British citizens in the area” he said. Since Monday’s earthquake there has been no word from 19 Britons who were visiting a panda reserve. However Chinese officials say that 31 British tourists have been found, though it is not clear if the 19 missing Britons were amongst them. Travel firm Kuoni said the 19 were on a coach from Chengdu to Wolong in Sichuan province when the tremor struck [BBC].

The official death toll now stands at 14,866 but unofficial figures put the number at 20,000. Behind the staggering figures are individual tales of tragedy [CNN / BBC]. CNN’s John Vause yesterday travelled through parts of Sichuan and met with one communist party official who besides having lost his parents, his wife and child, continued to help victims caught up in the disaster. It is a tale repeated across the province and all across China. Countless families have lost their only child. The one child policy has made the disaster all the more tragic for many families. Sichuan residents are well travelled and it’s hard to find a province where they have not settled. As such the tragedy has hit people from all over the country with many having lost relatives and friends. The first forty eight hours are the most critical following a tragedy such as this and if more families are to be spared the grief of losing their loved ones Chinese authorities must accept help from anyone who offers it.

India - At least 50 dead in terror blasts

A series of explosions have killed at least 50 and injured over 150 in Jaipur, north-west India. The BBC has reported the death toll as 25 but the figures have increased over the last two hours. The blasts hit near historic monuments in a crowded town centre popular with tourists. No-one has claimed responsibity for at least five bombs, which were placed in cars and shops, but local place say it was likely to be a terrorist attack. At least five blasts were heard in Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan state, early on Tuesday evening, each a few minutes apart. The series of explosions started at around 19:15 local time [13:45 GMT] according to the BBC and 19:30 [14:15 GMT] according to CNN.

China - rain and aftershocks hampers rescue

Coverage of the earthquake in China remains the top story on most news channels today. Sky’s morning report extended to nearly 10 minutes and the BBC gave nearly 16 minutes to the developing story. Eight provinces have been affected by the 7.8 earthquake and more than 50,000 troops have been deployed to the worst hit areas. But even while China has implemented a massive relief effort authorities have welcomed all offers of foreign help a direct contrast to the Myanmar government which have continued to impede and restrict aid efforts following the devastating cyclone which swept across the country. Yesterday George W Bush said the US would help China in any way possible and offers of help have come from many other countries.

The contrast between government responses in the two countries have been very different. Within hours of the Chinese earthquake Premier Wen Jiabao was on the ground and coordinating a response to the disaster. But it was days after the Cyclone Nargis swept through Myanmar before generals were seen and even ten days after the storm aid is still held up at airports and foreign help is being thwarted by red tape. While information has been forthcoming from Chinese authorities, the ruling junta in Myanmar has stopped journalists reporting from the ground and information from the government has been sketchy and incomplete. Today CCTV-9 broadcast an hour long press conference during which officials answered questions from domestic and foreign journalists. Wang Zhengyao, the director of disaster response, told reporters of what efforts were being made and that the official death toll had now risen to 11,921. Considering the widespread damage, many foreign observers believe the figure will be much higher. But there is little sign that Chinese authorities are attempting to gloss over the true scale of the disaster. They have continued to update the media with details of areas affected and spoken of the widespread destruction affecting chemical plants, power stations, mobile telecommunications, transport links and water infrastructure.

Few Western journalists have yet managed to arrive in the earthquake zone but CNN's John Vause has manage to reach the town of Jiang You a small town some 100 km from the epicentre. He spoke of “block after block” of devastation and said, "These people who live in the city are now hunkering down under tarpaulins and under tents, Many are afraid to go back indoors because their buildings are no longer safe." And with the many aftershocks that have occurred following Monday’s quake many buildings are still being toppled. Meanwhile heavy rain in some areas of Sichuan is hampering rescue efforts and causing mudslides in some areas.

Besides the indigenous population there are many foreign tourists trapped in the area. There are fortunately no reports of death amongst foreign visitors but many are stuck outside roughing it in tents along with the general population.

Earthquake death toll rises above 8,000

A body lies in the rubble of a building in Juyuan Middle School in Dujiangyan City

The official death toll in China's deadly earthquake has risen to more than 8,000 and some fear the figure could rise into the tens of thousands. Wen Jiabao, the Chinese Premier has arrived in the area and said the situation is more severe than first thought. Thousands remain trapped in the rubble of buildings collapsed by the quake which is the worst in over 30 years. In 1976 an earthquake in Tangshan killed at least 655,000 [Tangshan earthquake]. Xinhua has put the death toll in this latest disaster at 7,651. Meanwhile CNN and other Western media report the toll as at least 8,600.

China - '5,000 dead' in deadly quake

Between 3,000 and 5,000 have died in China's deadliest earthquake for many years. Thousands of troops are already arriving in the area of Chengdu in Sichuan province to help in the rescue effort. In one county 80% of the buildings have been destroyed by the earthquake according to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua. Power has failed in many areas and there are difficulties in communications with many cell phone masts felled by the tremors [CNN / BBC].

900 trapped, 107 dead after China quake

CNN's John Vause reporting Live from Beijing

At least 900 students are said to be trapped after the collapse of a school in Sichuan province following a 7.8 earthquake. More than 3000 troops are being sent to the area to deal with the aftermath according to the state news agency. There are worries that the death toll may rise significantly. The official figure now stands at 107 dead according to Xinhua News Agency. Brian Baptie of the British Geological Survey told CNN that the quake was likely to have caused landslides in the area. He said earthquakes of this magnitude were relatively unprecidented and aftershocks would continue for some time.

At least 4 dead as 7.8 quake hits China

A major earthquake has struck central China causing widespread panic but little reported damage. The USGS initially said the earthquake measured at 7.5 though Chinese authorities put the tremor at 7.8 on the Richter scale. This was later confirmed by the USGS. The large earthquake hit eastern Sichuan province in a mountainous region near to the town of Chengdu [31.119N, 103.258E]. Although striking close to the surface there were initially no reported injuries but tremors could be felt hundreds of miles away in the cities of Shanghai and Beijing. But two hours after the massive tremor Xinhua News Agency reported a school had collapsed killing four children and injuring 100 others. The incident occured in Chongqing municipality 360 km from the epicentre. Reporting for CNN, John Vause said many buildings in Beijing had been evacuated when the quake struck at 14:28 local time [06:28 GMT]. Bonnie Thie, Country Director for the Peace Corps, speaking from a university near Chengdu told CNN there had been “extensive shaking” and “there was a certain amount of people running and shouting”. She said she hadn’t seen any signs of major damage. However Prime Minister Wen Jiabao is said to be en-route to the area and President Hu has ordered a military response to the Wenchuan county to assist in any needed relief effort [Xinhua]. Meanwhile several aftershocks have been reported the largest of which measured 6.0 [Xinhua / BBC / Sky News].

Myanmar - Aid flow halts as death toll rises

Unburied bodies are increasing the risk of cholera

Anger and frustration is mounting amongst aid agencies as Myanmar authorities prevent the distribution of food and medical supplies. At a press conference in London all the foreign agencies expressed disappointment at the slow response in issuing of visas. A spokeswoman from Save the Children said that there had been some moves forward but she hoped it wouldn’t be too late by the time they were able to operate in the country.

World Vision spokesman Tim Costello speaking from Australia, said there was the risk that the public might stop donating if aid was seen as not getting through. Dysentery and diarrhoea were becoming an epidemic he said. While he conceded the Myanmar authorities had the man power to distribute aid, he said the government lacked the expertise. Earlier the World Food Programme halted aid shipments to the country after it said two plane-loads of food were impounded on arrival in Yangon by the military authorities. Marcus Prior of the WFP said it was “frustrating” that they couldn’t do more.

The UN body said the Myanmar government seized tonnes of aid material flown in to help victims of Cyclone Nargis, which has killed tens of thousands. The WFP said it had no choice but to halt aid until the matter was resolved. But a government spokesman told the Associated Press that the UN claims were "baseless accusations". However it is clear that many citizens are without food, water and medical help. Reports from the few journalists operating illegally in the south of Myanmar suggest that only a trickle of aid is getting through to those that need it.

There are already reports of outbreaks of cholera and bodies remain unburied in large parts of the devastated area. Some estimates suggest more than 100,000 people have died in the disaster and more than 1 million remain without shelter. Fuel, even where available, has risen by more than 10 times since the cyclone hit and pictures show long queues at petrol stations. But it is food and medical help that is still desparatly needed. Reporting from the region is extremely difficult and helping foreign journalists is punishable by up to three years in prison. And while authorities fail to bring aid to the victims there are signs that undercover police are working to stop reporters from operating. It is the apparent arrogance displayed by the military junta that is angering politicians. There has been international condemnation of the Myanmar governments resilience to allowing aid workers in. This afternoon there were reports that US aid workers were to be allowed into the country, but later it was revealed that only the supplies would be allowed in and not the workers themselves. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown condemned the actions of the Myanmar authorities calling it “utterly unacceptable” that they were preventing the flow of aid.

Speaking about the aid effort required in Myanmar, Brendan Gormley from the Disasters Emergency Committee said “it needs a huge effort and it needs to be done quickly”. But with the paranoia and arrogance displayed by the Myanmar government, it looks increasingly unlikely that there will be any change to the situation soon [CNN / BBC / Sky News].

Israel celebrates 60 years as Olmert faces charges

While Israel was celebrating 60 years of declaring itself a state, the Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was trying to defend himself from accusations of bribery. He is suspected of illicitly accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars before becoming PM. The allegations suggest he took campaign money from a US businessman while mayor of Jerusalem. But while the PM admitted he had received help with election fundraising, he denied ever taking bribes. However he says he will resign if charges are pressed. The investigations into corruption allegations had been subject to a gagging order but at the end of a day of festivities across the country the gag was lifted [BBC].
Throughout the day fireworks, concerts and an aerial display were among the events laid on across Israel. Families enjoyed picnics and barbecues for the national holiday.
Israel declared itself an independent state on 14 May 1948, three years after the end of World War II, and the death of six million Jews in the Holocaust. But Palestinians know the foundation day as al-Nakba, or "the Catastrophe". It may be a day marked as the beginning of catastrophe for Mr Olmert [BBC maps / BBC / CNN].

Iraq - al Qaeda leader arrested

The leader of al Qaeda in Iraq has been arrested according to the Iraqi Defence Ministry. Abu Hamza al-Muhajir is said to have been arrested during a joint Iraqi-US operation in the northern city of Mosul. The news was reported on al-Arabiya TV late on Thursday. al-Muhajir is the successor to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed by a US air attack in 2006 [al Jazeera / BBC / CNN].

'Open war' on the streets of Beirut

Fighting has broken out on the streets of Beirut after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said recent government actions amount to "a declaration of open war." The sounds of automatic gunfire and explosions have been heard around the city. Video of the scene showed tanks and armoured personnel carriers moving through empty streets past shuttered stores. Others showed gunmen shooting AK-47s wildly at unknown targets. The violence erupted shortly after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the government's attempts to halt Hezbollah's use of a telecommunications system amounts to "a declaration of open war."

"We believe the war has started and we believe that we have the right to defend ourselves," Nasrallah said in a televised speech. "We will cut the hand that will reach out to the weapons of the resistance no matter if it comes from the inside or the outside." At the same time, Nasrallah called for dialogue, saying, "We are ready, whoever wants a compromise, we are here and ready. Those who have taken decisions leading to war, let them withdraw their decisions and there would be no war," he said. "Am I declaring war? Not at all. I am declaring oppression and self-defense." Lebanese Communications Minister Marwan Hamadi said Nasrallah's speech "is a direct threat of assassinating us" but added "We are not scared of the threat". He told al-Arabiya television, "He says it is a new phase; we say it is a new phase, too. We are determined to keep what is left of the Lebanese government."

Many Lebanese politicians who have opposed Syria's influence in their country have been assassinated in recent years, including former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and four members of parliament.

The latest tensions between Lebanon's U.S.-backed government and Hezbollah were sparked Monday when the government sacked airport security chief Brig. Gen. Wafik Shoukeir. According to the latest reports at least 2 have died and 5 are injured as clashes continue between rival factions and security forces [BBC / al Jazeera / CNN].

Olympic torch reaches top of the world

Cering Wangmo, a 22 year old Tibetan, holds the torch at the summit

The Olympic flame has completed its journey to the top of mount Everest in an epic journey of just of 6 hours. Cloud covered the final ascent but it failed to dampen the spirits of the mountaineers who had climbed the world's tallest mountain. Covered Live on CCTV-9, only short clips were shown on the BBC and CNN during its journey. It arrived at the summit at 01:20 GMT carried by a 22 year old Tibetan woman, one of several specially picked for the journey. Two groups climbed to the summit: a 12-person team of torchbearers and a supplemental seven-person pickup team. The team of about 50 included 31 climbers, 21 of which were Tibetan and 9 were Han Chinese. Others involved in the climb were coaches, advisers and other support staff members.

Olympic torch nears the top of Everest

The Olympic torch is finally making its way up mount Everest after days of delays due to bad weather. A few seconds of Live picture coverage were shown on CNN at 23:25 GMT but they soon cut away to a commercial break. Meanwhile CCTV-9 have been covering the event Live for the last hour [BBC].

UK - Gas and substation blasts leave 2 dead

An explosion at a house in north-west London has killed at least one person. The incident which is believed to have been a gas explosion demolished a number of cottages. Two cottages were said to almost completely destroyed by the blast which left up to three people injured [Sky News / BBC].

In a separate incident an explosion at an electricity sub-station in Essex killed one individual and shut of electricity to a wide area. Dozens of firefighters fought the blaze near Chelmsford which sent clouds of toxic black smoke into the air [BBC].

Also dominating UK headlines is an investigation into the shooting of a man after a siege in west London on Tuesday night. Barrister Mark Saunders was shot by police after a 5 hour stand off with authorities. It has been suggested by some of Thursday’s papers that the lawyer had deliberately placed himself in a position whereby police were forced to shoot him. In the US it is sometimes referred to as ‘committing suicide by cop’ [BBC / Sky News].

Mayor Boris vows to tackle crime

Ray Lewis and Boris Johnson meet youngsters in Dagenham

Boris Johnson today visited a fire station in east London were he talked to youngsters learning about fire fighting. During the visit he spoke of his shock on hearing that another teenager was stabbed to death on London’s streets. He said tackling youth crime was his number one priority and talked of setting up ‘boot camps’ where misbehaving youths would be able to gain academic tutoring and take part in sporting activity as part of the proposals [Daily Telegraph]. Mr Johnson said his Saturday schemes would provide youngsters who appeared likely to get into trouble with the police with “competition, discipline and punishment.” He spent nearly two hours at the fire station in Dagenham where he spoke to reporters as well as fire service personnel. Arriving by car, it was after all a long way to cycle, he stepped into the yard with his newly appointed deputy mayor for young people, Ray Lewis a former prison governor. Opposite the station a few flag waving BNP supporters heckled the new London mayor as he left. Amongst them was Richard Barnbrook who was recently elected into the London assembly. Some have already said they are not prepared to work with Barnbrook. Meanwhile a radio host has been sacked after he had urged voters to vote for Boris Johnson during a radio show. James Whale, a presenter with Talksport, said he was “deeply disappointed” at the news [BBC].

Myanmar - aid fails to flow as death toll rises

State TV shows soldiers distributing aid but foreign help is being held up

Myanmar state radio have reported the death toll following the recent storms has risen above 22,000 with more than 40,000 missing. Up to a million people are said to have been made homeless by Cyclone Nargis which swept across the region over the weekend. But besides the calls by authorities for humanitarian help there is mounting criticism that the military junta are not moving fast enough to remove the red tape that has prevented some aid agencies from flying into the country. There is also some criticism that the authoritative did little to warn the population of the approaching storms.

Cyclones are not rare in the region but this has hit Myanmar particularly hard with few able to prepare for the approaching storms. Reports on the BBC World Service said that much of the military was conspicuous by their absence. One witness told the BBC that even monks were helping to clear fallen trees from roads. The picture on the ground is still sketchy with only a few journalists able to operate. CNN’s Dan Rivers is one Western journalist who has managed to get into the country and says destroyed homes could be seen for 30 kilometer stretches. Many roads are impassable and rail lines have also become unusable.

Meanwhile International aid is beginning to trickle into the south of the country but not fast enough for some who have called on authorities to do more to cut the red tape. Many are unable to travel to the country due to visa hold ups. U.S. President George Bush Tuesday called on the military junta to allow it to help with disaster assistance. Bush, who made the comments while signing legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Myanmar democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi, said the U.S. was ready to "come and help."
"The United States has made an initial aid contribution, but we want to do a lot more," Bush said. "We are prepared to move U.S. Navy assets to help find those who have lost their lives, to help find the missing, and help stabilize the situation. But in order to do so, the military Junta must allow our disaster assessment teams into the country."

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also offered help to the disaster hit region. "I believe nearly a million people are now need in need of food aid and we will have to help the families of those where people have died” he said today. "I want to pledge on behalf of the British Government that we will work with the whole international community to make sure that food aid is available to the people of Burma." But while the military junta in Myanmar has asked for help, it is unclear when the massive aid offered will arrive [BBC / Sky News].

Chile - volcano forces mass evacuation

Another natural disaster is causing concern, this time in Chile where authorities have ordered a mass evacuation after a volcano erupted in the south of the country. Already thousands had been evacuated from the town of Chaiten after Saturday’s eruption [CNN]. But late Tuesday there were increased eruptions and reports of lava flowing from the volcano [Sky News] Chile is one of the most volcanic regions in the world with more than 100 active volcanoes, 20 of which are said to be high risk BBC].

Myanmar - cyclone death toll exceeds 10,000

Myanmar - Water is becoming scarce [ITN]

The death toll in Myanmar has risen above 10,000 according to state media in the Asian country hit by a devastating cyclone on Saturday. Scenes of the destruction show extensive flooding, boats on their sides in Yangon harbor, roofs ripped off buildings, uprooted trees and downed power lines. Cyclone Nargis swept through the Irrawaddy delta with 241 km/h winds throughout Friday night and Saturday morning, dumping 50 cm of rain. The U.S. Embassy in Myanmar has issued a "disaster declaration" in the country and authorized the release of $250,000 for cyclone relief efforts, Deputy State Department spokesman Tom Casey said Monday.
A disaster relief team is standing by, Casey said, but the Myanmar government had not given permission for the team to enter the country. A United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team is also on stand-by to assist the government in responding to humanitarian needs if required.
World Vision spokesman James East told Sky News he was not surprised that the figure had changed from a few hundred to several thousand. "I think one of the challenges in developing countries is access," he said. "We know that the south-west is very remote and difficult to get to. But I think you'll find that as people are moving trees and getting into areas, the death toll will rise."
He added the disaster could impact on world food prices, with huge rice crop losses across the region. Mr East says getting water to those who need it was the main priority for aid groups. "Even in the capital, there is no water, and there is no power. We know that across the south-west that is going to be the case," he said.

The Red Cross said it had teams distributing essential supplies and would bring in more from Malaysia as soon as possible. "We're distributing supplies for those who need shelter, plastic sheeting to cover roofs, water purification tablets," spokesman Michael Annear said. "We are currently procuring 5,000 litres of water, cooking items, bednets, blankets and clothes for those in most need."

On the ground there are widespread power outages and fuel is in short supply and what is available is more than $5 per litre. Clean water is also scare and there are fears that disease may follow. A state of emergency was declared Sunday across five regions; the city of Yangon, Irrawaddy, Pegu and the states of Karen and Mon. All flights to Yangon, the former capital, were also cancelled. According to one resident who spoke to the BBC more than 75% of Rangoon, now known as Yangon, had been devastated by the cyclone.

Few television crews are able to operate in the country but ITN managed to shoot pictures of some of the devastation. The report on ITV News described the dire situation many of the population faced and showed people selling water and petrol on the streets.
CNN has shown much in depth coverage of events in the country but they like most foreign news organisations are unable to operate in Myanmar which is ruled by a military junta.

Geri Halliwell trapped in elevator for 1 hr

Former Spice Girl, Geri Halliwell found herself in a tight spot on Monday after she became stuck in a lift en-route to a book signing. Ginger Spice as she used to be known had arrived about twenty minutes prior to the advertised signing in Lakeside shopping centre but as she made her way to W.H.Smith bookshop the service elevator became stuck between floors. Around a dozen photographers and hundreds of fans were left waiting for the singer who was promoting a children’s book Ugenia Lavender. But as the minutes ticked by there was no information given as to why the star was running late. Meanwhile staff were bustling around making ready for her visit. A cushion was quickly sought from Marks and Spencer after her manager suggested the seat was too hard. After thirty minutes there was obvious boredom setting in but still no explanation as to why Geri still had not arrived. One member of staff then started to hand out sweets to people in the queue as security and other officials rushed back and forth in and out of doors.

Unbeknown to all the fans and photographers present Geri had become trapped with four others in a service elevator. Firefighters appeared on the scene and disappeared into a corridor. Out of site they released the former Spice girl Geri Halliwell. Sub Officer Dan Hyatt of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said, "We were called to help get some people out of a lift in Lakeside and when we got there we were all surprised to discover that one of the people trapped was Geri Halliwell. The lift had become stuck between floors and a team of engineers was working on it but didn't seem to be having any luck. So we used a manual crank in the lift's service room to raise it and get the doors open.” The firefighters had been called out at 15:17 some twenty minutes after the lift had become stuck. But it was not until 15:56 that she and the four others in the lift with her were released. "Geri thanked us all for our help and was a really nice lady. There were loads of fans waiting for her so we were glad that we were able to get her out quickly so she could go and meet them." Besides the stress of being trapped in a confined space for an hour Geri put on a brave face as she eventually greeted fans at a minute to four. She received a rapturous applause and cheers from fans who had waited patiently throughout her ordeal.

Myanmar death toll rises above 4000

More than 4,000 people have died in the deadly cyclone that hit Myanmar according to state media. An additional 3,000 people are said to be missing and there arefears the death toll may rise into the tens of thousands. Cyclone Nargis hit the region on Saturday packing winds in excess of 200 km/h. The UN is convening to decide its response and the Myanmar government has sent out a rare appeal for help following the disaster [CNN / BBC / Sky News].

Myanmar - Cyclone Nargis kills hundreds

More than 350 have been killed after cyclone Nargis swept through Myanmar. “We believe hundreds of people are dead," said Khin Maung Win on the Democratic Voice of Burma, a broadcast media group run by opposition expatriates. "The entire lower Burma is affected. In some areas, entire villages disappeared." Winds in excess of 200 km/h hit the country over the weekend tearing off roofs, uprooting trees and downing power lines [CNN / BBC / Al Jazeera].
More tornadoes have also swept through the US with Arkansas being the worst hit. At least 7 have died in the latest storms to hit parts of the continent [CNN].

Boris Johnson wins as London Mayor

Boris Johnson has won the London Mayoral elections. Results have been slow in coming and it was just before midnight before the final numbers were released. But even early on it was clear that Ken Livingstone would be seeking employment elsewhere. After half the votes had been counted Boris Johnson was already leading by 6% over Ken Livingstone’s 40%.
Nick Robinson, BBC’s political correspondent, said it was “extraordinary in its own right” that a man that once hosted the satirical quiz show Have I Got News For You had won. It is the second major defeat for the Labour party who had lost dozens of seats in the local elections. Those results were the worst since the 1970s and besides upbeat comments by several Labour politicians many commentators were unanimous in their belief that it was looking like the beginning of the end for the Labour government.

In the first preference votes, Boris Johnson took 1,043,761 893 amounting to 43% against Ken Livingstone’s 893,877 or 37%. Brian Paddick only took 236,685 votes amounting to 10%. The second preference votes were crucial however to push Boris Johnson above the required 50%. Of the second preference votes Boris Johnson took 124,977 votes totalling 1,168,738. Ken Livingstone took a greater number of second preference votes standing at 135,089. But he still fell short with 1,028,966 votes.

“Thankyou very much,” he said “this has been a marathon election”. He also went onto thank Brian Paddick and hinted at further discussions about policing. He paid tribute to the outgoing mayor who he said had “shaped London” and looked forward to putting aside party differences and making London a better place.

In something reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher’s acceptance speech outside No 10 in 1979 he finished by saying, “Where there have been mistakes we will rectify them, where there are achievement we will build on the, where there is neglected opportunities we will seize on them and we will focus on the priorities of the people of London; cutting crime, improving transport, protecting green space, delivering affordable housing and giving taxpayers value for money in every one of the thirty two boroughs” [BBC / Sky News].

Hong Kong torch relay ends in cheers

CNN's Eunice Yoon reports on Hong Kong torch relay

Thousands of people turned out in Hong Kong to watch the Olympic torch parade through the streets. Many people waved Chinese flags and cheered, significantly outnumbering small groups of protesters holding pro-Tibet or pro-democracy placards. More than 3,000 police were on duty for the eight-hour parade, the first stop on the torch's journey through China. Ahead of the relay, the authorities denied access to several activists intending to protest even though freedom of speech is protected in the territory by the Basic Law - the mini-constitution agreed before the end of British rule in 1997 [BBC]. About 100 democracy campaigners, who want the full suffrage promised to Hong Kong when Britain handed it back to China in 1997, were confronted by pro-China supporters in the street. The pro-China crowd yelled "Go home! Get out!" as dozens of police formed a cordon between the two groups. There was only one reported arrest as a protesters waved a Tibetan flag. But this was said to have been more to do with protecting he from pro-China crowds [Sky News].

The television coverage in the UK was muted primarily because of saturation coverage of local elections. However, CNN did cover the end of the relay cutting into Larry King Live as the torch was carried to the end of the route. Ahead of the relay some restrictions were imposed by authorities. Seven activists were deported including free speech activist Zhang Yu, who was flying in to take part in "World Press Freedom Day." Danish sculptor Jens Galschiot and two others were detained and deported on Saturday. Galschiot created "The Pillar of Shame," a sculpture in Hong Kong depicting 50 torn and twisted bodies to symbolize those who died in the 1989 Chinese crackdown at Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
Actress Mia Farrow was allowed into Hong Kong to raise awareness about the fighting in Sudan's Darfur region, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million others displaced. While she said she sympathized with Tibetans "on a personal level," her main concern was in pressuring China to use its commercial ties with Sudan to end its campaign in Darfur. She had earlier assured authorities she would not disrupt the proceedings.
The next stop for the torch is Macau after which it will be carried around Hainan and Guangdong.

Labour 'kicked in the ballots'

Labour has been hit severely in Britain’s local elections receiving the worst results in forty years. The projected vote share puts Labour into third place behind the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. The council elections have been the first major test of public feeling towards the Labour government not only since Gordon Brown took over from Tony Blair but also since the invasion of Iraq. But it is the increase in financial pressures on the the general public that are considered to be pivotal factors in the swing from Labour towards the Conservative. The results have been described as a “kick in the ballots” for the Labour party and the story has dominated talk shows on local radio [BBC / Sky News].

Speaking in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales, David Cameron said he saw the results as positive but added, “I don’t want to win just be cause Labour has failed but because people believe we can make change”. Meanwhile the ranks within the Labour party were reeling at Westminster. Harriet Harman said the results were disappointing and told the BBC that “we are determined to listen”. Her words were echoed by Gordon Brown. “I will listen and I will lead” the Prime Minister said this morning. But his words will sound hollow for many voters as the economic situation worsens. Today’s results may not be the only hammer blow for Brown and the Labour government. Results for the Mayoral election are due in later this evening and many commentators and polls are pointing at a win by Boris Johnson, the Conservative candidate. There is believed to have been a high turn out by the electorate to vote for a London Mayor but figures will not be released until 22:00 local time [BBC].