Ai Weiwei given hope of tax reprieve
Ai Weiwei given hope of tax reprieve
Chinese artist says officials have told him they are re-examining the charge that he owes millions to the state
The Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has said Beijing tax authorities are reviewing their ruling that he pay a multimillion dollar penalty for alleged tax evasion.
The internationally acclaimed conceptual artist said officials told him of the decision on Wednesday by telephone. They said the review would be completed within two months. Ai said he was hopeful the case would be handled earnestly and transparently.
Press gangs of New York
If you think British tabloids are cut-throat, look at the Big Apple's. As Colin Myler, ex-News of the World editor, flies in to run his former boss's arch rival title, a new chapter is about to be written...
The smell of blood was in the nostrils of the New York media pack even before Colin Myler had stepped off his flight from London yesterday on his return to the Big Apple. "Let the New York Newspaper Wars Begin," wrote blogger Kristina Chew, as Myler, the final editor of the defunct News of the World, prepared to start his new job on Tuesday at the helm of the 93-year-old New York Daily News. Only five years ago, he was producing the paper's deadly rival, the Rupert Murdoch-owned New York Post. His former Post colleagues opened hostilities yesterday by describing his appointment as "a new round of turmoil" for the paper they deride as the "Snooze".
Inside North Korea: The day Kim Jong-il gave me a Rolex
6 January 2012 Last updated at 00:55 GMT
As part of North Korea's propaganda machine, Jang Jin-sung spent his career writing eulogies of Kim Jong-il, before growing disillusioned and fleeing to South Korea in 2004. Here he describes life as a member of the North Korean elite.
I wrote poems for the regime under a pen name, pretending I was a grass-roots poet from the South. I wrote epic poems glorifying Kim Jong-il, which were published in the main newspaper in the North.
I met Kim Jong-il twice. The first time, in 1999, I was overwhelmed and full of emotion. But at the same time I thought the image I had received of him - through brainwashing - was very different to how he appeared in person.
Monitors to stay in Syria despite 'mistakes'
Arab League observers to continue mission as Qatar's prime minister says that "mistakes" have been made.
Last Modified: 06 Jan 2012 09:12
Arab League peace monitors will stay in Syria to check on the government's compliance with a promise to end 10 months of violence against pro-democracy protesters, Arab government sources said, despite criticism from Qatar's prime minister that they had made "mistakes".
The league's special committee on Syria is due to meet in Egypt on Sunday to debate the initial findings of the mission, which has been criticised by Syrian activists who question its ability to assess the violence on the ground.
Anti-government protesters are planning a day of action on Friday, calling for the UN to step in after what they say is the failure of the league's mission.
Over 3000 killed in South Sudan massacre: local official
"There have been mass killings, a massacre," said Joshua Konyi, commissioner for Pibor county in Jonglei state.
"We have been out counting the bodies, and we calculate so far that 2,182 women and children were killed and 959 men died."
United Nations and South Sudanese army officials have yet to confirm the death tolls and the claims from the remote region could not be independently verified.
Ex-head of NATO's 2nd largest army accused of 'forming and directing a terrorist group'
Retired Turkish general is highest-ranking officer to face trial in the so-called Ergenekon case
msnbc.com news services
A former military chief was jailed Friday, accused of leading a terrorist organization and plotting to bring down Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government, his lawyer said.
Gen. Ilker Basbug was arrested and placed in a prison near Istanbul overnight after seven hours of questioning by prosecutors investigating allegations that the military funded dozens of websites aimed at discrediting the Islamic-rooted government in 2009.
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