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| Chinese editor Hu Shuli takes over news magazine Editor known for independent reporting takes reins at New Century News after leaving Caijing One of China's most independent editors today announced that she had taken the reins at a prominent general news magazine two months after splitting with a former publication over budget control and self-censorship.Hu Shuli, who won plaudits for pushing the boundaries of media freedom in China, has become the executive editor of New Century News, a statement from her company, Caixin Media, said.Most of the staff from Caijing, her former publication, have joined her. The first edition under their stewardship is expected to come out on 4 January.A pilot copy seen by the Guardian has a front cover very similar in style to Hu's old magazine with a single, striking photograph, a bold headline and four sub-headlines.The lead story reflects growing concerns about inflation, while the editorial calls for market forces to be the primary factor in income distribution. The magazine prominently displays the Caixin banner.Insiders say the content will be similar to that of Caijing, a financial news magazine which blazed a trail for other media groups by exposing corruption, the cover-up of the Sars epidemic and the construction flaws that led to the collapse of schools during the Sichuan earthquake.Hu left Caijing after the owner attempted to trim the budget and soften the publication's editorial line on sensitive stories.But, during a period of intensifying control of the domestic media, it remains to be seen whether the pioneering editor will receive adequate political protection from her new publisher, the China Institute for Reform and Development thinktank.Today's statement said Hu had been appointed as a senior researcher at the institute.Their collaborative publication of the new-look Century Weekly next month is likely to be one of the media events of the year in China.If Hu's previous record is any guide, it will set a benchmark for other news organisations.ChinaCensorshipNewspapers & magazinesMagazinesJonathan Wattsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Slovak security test ends with explosives on plane BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) -- A failed airport security test ended up with a Slovak man unwittingly carrying hidden explosives in his luggage on a flight to Dublin, Slovak officials admitted Wednesday - a mistake that enraged Irish authorities and shocked aviation experts worldwide.... hosted.ap.org |
Driver growing locks for charity told to cut hair MARION, Mass. (AP) -- A Massachusetts delivery driver growing his hair out for charity said he has been told by his employer to cut it. Brad Siscoe, a contractor employee who makes deliveries for FedEx Ground, said Monday his employer wants him to cut his "hockey" hair, put it in a ponytail or tuck it under a hat.... hosted.ap.org |
Chinese Suspected in Hacking Attempt India suspects that Chinese hackers attempted to gain access to Indian government information at the same time as they have been accused of targeting U.S. companies including Google. online.wsj.com |
S Africa hit squad chief may be freed President Jacob Zuma may free ex-colonel Eugene de Kock, nicknamed 'prime evil' for running apartheid-era hit squadA bitter political row has erupted in South Africa over the rumoured imminent release of an apartheid-era assassin known as "prime evil".Eugene de Kock, a former police colonel who commanded a notorious government hit squad during white minority rule, is serving a 212-year jail sentence for six murders and 89 other criminal offences.Speculation has been intensifying in recent weeks that President Jacob Zuma is about to pardon De Kock. Zuma visited him in prison in Pretoria last year.The controversy deepened today when Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the anti-apartheid veteran and former wife of Nelson Mandela, put herself on collision course with Zuma."I cannot believe that we can even begin talking about [De Kock's early release]. "I just can't," Madikizela-Mandela, 73, told the Star newspaper."Some of the children who were groomed by me were killed by De Kock. What about the victims? I know some of the mothers of the children who were killed by him. They haven't been asked [if he should be released]."Madikizela-Mandela, now an MP, added: "[De Kock's release] is a subject I cannot even consider. I lost too much. I saw too much blood to support such a move. I just find that very hurtful … that anybody should even talk about his release. He deserves to be where he is."The case has reopened divisions in South Africa over the balance between justice and forgiveness for the crimes of apartheid. De Kock, who had an innocuous appearance, with carefully combed hair and thick glasses, applied to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for amnesty, but it found some of his crimes were committed without political motive.Opponents of Zuma believe he is considering the pardon to offset criticism of a widely predicted pardon for his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik, convicted of fraud and corruption in a trial that focused on whether he had facilitated a bribe for Zuma from an arms company. Shaik was granted medical parole last year but his actual state of health remains hotly disputed.James Selfe, a spokesman for the Democratic Alliance, said: "De Kock most certainly should not take his place in society. He has not served his sentence, he has apparently not shown remorse, and he is a danger to society. This man killed at least six people. It is unfathomable that such an individual could even be considered for a pardon."He added: "The notion that a De Kock pardon could somehow be used as a trade-off for a Shaik pardon would confirm the moral decay within the ANC government as it would undermine the rule of law, sending out the message that even a prisoner who has been convicted of heinous crimes can be released from prison as a political bargaining chip."The president was savagely lampooned by the satirical cartoonist Zapiro in South Africa's Mail & Guardian newspaper. The image depicted Zuma undoing his trousers as De Kock and Shaik held down lady justice. A speech bubble had Zuma saying: "Begging your pardon."South AfricaJacob ZumaDavid Smithguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |