News & Reports 2010-10-02

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In This Edition

China's successful launch of its second unmanned lunar probe will lay the foundation for future moon landing vehicles.

The China National Pavilion Day has been marked at the Shanghai World Expo on the 61st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa is resuced by troops from a hospital in Quito after a police rebellion.

And suspected militants 1 in southern Pakistan destroyed at least 27 tankers 2 carrying fuel for NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Hot Issue Reports

China successfully launches 2nd Lunar Probe

China's second lunar probe, Chang'e II, has been successfully launched. During its half-year mission, Chang'e II will test key technologies and conduct scientific experiments to prepare for the soft landing of the next lunar probe. Xu Weiyi reports.

China is to launch Chang'e 2 for the moon mission

Among the many important missions that China's successfully launched Chang'e-2 lunar probe carries, a vital task is to lay the foundation for future moon landing vehicles.

China National Pavilion Day marked at Shanghai Expo

October 1st was the 61st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and it was also the China National Pavilion Day at the Shanghai World Expo.

Top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo, Vicente Loscertales, secretary-general of the Bureau of International Exhibitions, and many Chinese and foreign dignitaries attended an official ceremony inside the pavilion.

Wu said, "The Expo 2010 Shanghai will surely be a successful, splendid and unforgettable event,"

"China is the first developing country to hold such a global event in the history of the World Expo. Standing 3 proud in the Expo Park, the significant Chinese Pavilion, the Oriental Crown, is a showcase of Chinese wisdom in urban development. It also shows the vision of the bright future of China through scientific development."

Wu also expressed gratitude 4 for the great support from the governments and peoples of other countries, the International Exhibitions Bureau, relevant international organizations and all participants.

Meanwhile, Loscertales also expressed a high regard for the Shanghai World Expo:

"Expo 2010 has set new standards for World Expo, reflecting the progress made by the local communities, or Pudong and Puxi,the city of Shanghai,the provinces of China, the nation as a whole, and last but not least, the diverse international paticipants."

It is a proud day for all Chinese nationals.

More than 7.5 million people have visited The China Pavilion since May 1 when the Expo opened.

Popular Pavilions at the 2010 World Expo

A recent online survey shows that the China Pavilion has become the favorite of Chinese visitors at the ongoing 5 Shanghai World Expo. The Saudi Arabia Pavilion and Germany Pavilion rank second and the third. What's the appeal of these popular pavilions? What makes them stand out from others?

Light News

Ecuador troops rescue president from rebel cops

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa emerged triumphant 6 after troops stormed a hospital in Quito and freed him from protesting police.

He was attacked by officers demonstrating against cuts to their bonuses and frozen promotions 7 when he tried to talk to them. Then outside the hospital, the police fired tear gas at his supporters before troops moved in.

Sitting in the yellow room of the national palace, Correa addressed the nation on national television after troops returned him to the palace. He condemned 8 the perpetrators and vowed 9 to punish them.

He also accused his rivals of trying to topple him in a coup 10.

"They took television installations, they took police barracks, they intended to take military barracks-- don't be fooled: this was a failed attempt at a coup and what they accomplished 11 was that we come out stronger, more determined 12 and more united than ever. We will overcome comrade."

The local Red Cross said two police officers died as troops stormed the building. At least 88 people were injured throughout the rebellion.

Ecuador has a history of political instability.Before 2006 when Rafael Correa became president there had been eight presidents in ten years.

Dozens of NATO oil tankers attacked in Pakistan

Suspected militants in southern Pakistan have destroyed at least 27 tankers carrying fuel for Nato forces in Afghanistan.

There have been hundreds of similar attacks in Pakistan in recent years, but this is the first one in this part of the southern province of Sindh.

It is not clear if it is linked to a cross-border air strike by Nato that killed three Pakistani troops.

Pakistan has blocked a vital supply route to Afghanistan after the latest air raid.

It is the third time in less than a week that NATO choppers in pursuit of militants behind attacks on coalition 13 bases have crossed over the Pakistani border and fired on targets.

Pakistan's foreign ministry 14 spokesman, Abdul Basit spoke 15 at a news conference in Islamabad.

"There are reports of missiles fired on our post in Kurram agency, killing 16 three soldiers. Our authorities are investigating. As a result of our strong (word unclear:　sounds like "demarches", probably means representations) -- as you pointed 17 out (to a reporter present) -- to NATO this week, we were assured ISAF/ NATO will strictly 18 abide 19 by its mandate 20 and not infringe 21 on Pakistan sovereignty. We are investigating the matter and rest assured that we'll protect our sovereignty in all circumstances."

Pakistan says it considering its response if NATO continues to violate its sovereignty.

US slaps sanctions on Iranian company

The United States has slapped sanctions on a Swiss-based Iranian company involved in Iran's oil and gas sector 22 in an attempt to get tough on Iran's nuclear program.

The US State Department placed the Naftiran Intertrade Company, a subsidiary of Iran's national oil company, on a financial blacklist, barring it from doing business with or in the United States or with US institutions.

At the same time, it spared four large European multinationals 23 from penalties because of their pledges to stop investing in Iran's energy sector.

Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg.

"In addition to imposing 24 sanctions on NICO, four major international oil companies - Total of France, Statoil of Norway, ENI of Italy and Royal Dutch Shell of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands - have pledged to end their investments in Iran's energy sector.　By making this pledge, companies are eligible 25 to avoid sanctions under the so-called special rule in CISADA that is designed to encourage companies with activity in Iran to withdraw."

It will be the first direct U.S. move against firms involved in Iran's energy sector since the passage of new sanctions in July.

Tehran insists its nuclear program is for purely 26 peaceful purposes, but major Western powers fear it is a cover for an atomic weapons program and have vowed to stop it.

Chile Miners' families file lawsuit 27 demanding $US10m from the mining co.

Relatives of 27 of the 33 miners trapped since early August in a Chilean gold and copper 28 mine are to file a lawsuit for 10 million US dollars from the company that runs the mine.

The families accuse the owners of the San Esteban mining company, Alejandro Bohn and Marcel Kemeny, of negligence 29 and violation 30 of safety regulations.

The same families are also demanding nearly two million US dollars from Chile's government for allegedly failing to enforce safety regulations.

Edgardo Reinoso is the lawyer representing the families.

"With this lawsuit we intend that the main and guilty party be made responsible for this tragedy that has shocked not only our own country but the whole world and especially workers all around the world. Let the plight 31 of those miners be a lesson, so that things like that never happen again in our country."

Relatives of the remaining six miners whose families have not joined the legal action have yet to decide whether to take similar action.

Global cybercrime schemed exposed in New York

Authorities in New York arrested more than 60 defendants 32 allegedly involved in a global cyber crime scheme. The group used internet viruses to steal over 3 million dollars from U.S. bank accounts.

Unnamed hackers 33 based in Eastern Europe hijacked 34 bank accounts by using malaware, a software code which can harm computers and steal user passwords.

Preet Bharara, the US Attorney for the southern district of New York, says technology plays a new role in bank vulnerability. 　

"As today's arrests show, the modern high-tech 35 bank heist does not require a gun, a mask, a note or a get-a-way car. It requires only the internet and ingenuity 36, and it can be accomplished in the blink of an eye with just the click of a mouse,"

London's Metropolitan 37 Police arrested 19 people on September 28th in a similar case. Bharara would not comment on whether or not the two cases were connected.

China Open Held Opening Ceremony on the National Day

Tennis fans can enjoy top level tennis matches here in Beijing throughout the National Day Holiday as the Chinese Open tournament returns to the capital today. Some of the world's finest tennis players will gather at the National Tennis Center to compete for the crown at China Open.