Free Media in China Prior Olympics
With just a few weeks to go before the Olympics, China is reaffirming its promises of complete media freedom and unfettered Internet access during the games. These assurances come even as foreign journalists working in Beijing report continued harassment and interference by Chinese authorities.
China has unveiled its new media centers, which are the largest ever built for any Olympics. The Main Press Center and International Broadcast Center have been set up to serve more than 21,000 foreign and domestic reporters who will be covering the Olympics. Sun Weide, a spokesman for the Beijing Olympics organising committee, told reporters China takes media service seriously. He says China has honoured its commitment to "adopt all kinds of measures to provide every convenience for journalists."
At the opening ceremony, the International Olympic Committee's Hein Verbruggen praised BOCOG, the Beijing organising committee, and said many journalists coming to cover the Olympics never even have to leave the facility. "We wish to thank BOCOG, because they have made great efforts to provide excellent services for the press, such as providing all that is virtually needed for the media to make this their home for several weeks, from hair dressers, gyms, restaurants, to even a massage center," Verbruggen said.
Chinese officials have repeatedly said "journalists are our friends," and reiterated pledges that, during the Olympics, reporters are allowed to talk to whomever they want to, as long as the interviewee gives his or her permission. However, Johannes Hano, from German broadcaster ZDF, says his experience last week was very different from what Chinese officials have described. "We were stopped by security guards on the Great Wall, and we had all the permissions we needed. They stopped us," he said. "We had a rehearsal before and nobody interfered. But when we started the live (shot), when we were on air, then they stopped us, running to the camera and putting their hands on it." Hano said he does not care as much about the working facilities, as he does about having the ability to report freely. He said he is worried that, despite Chinese promises, media freedom will be seriously curtailed. His concerns were echoed by the Foreign Correspondents Club of China, which has recorded 259 cases of reporting interference since January 1, 2007. That is the date the new, more open, rules for Olympic reporting went into effect.
Iran’s Missile Tests May Force USA to Strategise A Counter Plan
Iran on Wednesday 9th July, test-fired a missile it said is capable of reaching Israel, angering the United States amid growing fears that the standoff over the contested Iranian nuclear drive could lead to war.
But as oil traders fretted over the mounting tensions, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates insisted that the United States and Iran were not closer to a military confrontation. The Shahab-3 was among a broadside of nine missiles fired off simultaneously from an undisclosed location in the Iranian desert during war games being staged by the Revolutionary Guards, state television showed.
"The aim of these war games is to show we are ready to defend the integrity of the Iranian nation," state-run Arabic channel Al-Alam quoted Revolutionary Guards air force commander Hossein Salami as saying.
The United States led Western condemnation of the tests, saying it would reinforce suspicions over Tehran's military ambitions at a time when world powers are seeking to resolve the long-running nuclear standoff.
Al-Alam said the missiles test-fired by the Revolutionary Guards included a Shahab-3 with a one-tonne conventional warhead and a 2,000-kilometre (1,240-mile) range. "Our missiles are ready for shooting at any place and any time, quickly and with accuracy. The enemy must not repeat its mistakes. The enemy targets are under surveillance,"
Salami added.
The United States, which has never ruled out military action against Iranian atomic facilities, condemned the missile tests. "Iran's development of ballistic missiles is a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and completely inconsistent with Iran's obligations to the world," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
There has been concern an attack against Iran could be imminent after it emerged Israel had carried out manoeuvres in Greece that were effectively dry runs for a potential strike against Iranian nuclear facilities. But in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's spokesman said Israel is not seeking war.
"Israel seeks neither conflict nor hostilities with Iran, but no one in the international community should remain indifferent to Iran's nuclear programme and Iran's ballistic missile programme," Mark Regev said.
And in Washington, the US defence secretary played down the risks of conflict. Asked if a military confrontation was now closer, Gates said "No I don't think so. The reality is there is a lot of signalling going on, but everybody recognises what the consequences of any kind of a conflict would be," he said. Germany called on Iran to refrain from "sabre-rattling".
Federer and Nadal qualify for Masters
Roger Federer, Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal and Australian Open holder Novak Djokovic are the first three players to qualify for the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai.
Nadal, who ended Federer's five-year Wimbledon reign (a 12 time Grand Slam where the record is held by Pete Sampras with 14 Grand Slams) in an epic final July 6, 2008, is the leading qualifier for the eight-man event which will be held at Shanghai's Qi Zhong Stadium from November 9-16. "I have never managed to win it so I am really looking forward for this year's event and as always I'll try my best knowing it won't be easy," world number two Nadal said in a statement. Nadal became the first player since Sweden's Bjorn Borg in 1980 to capture the Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles in the same season. He has held top spot in the ATP 2008 Race standings since clinching his fourth successive Roland Garros title in June. He currently leads the ATP circuit with a 56-7 match record and six titles this season. Following the Wimbledon final, Nadal has accumulated 955 points to lead the ATP Race. Federer, who has won the season ending event four times, is second with 685 points and Serbia's Djokovic third with 649 points.
The top seven players in the ATP 2008 Race following the Paris Masters in October qualify for the circuit finale, with one spot reserved for grand slam champions finishing within the Top 20.
