Cuba's Raul Castro stepped down as the President on Thursday making way for Miguel Diaz-Canel to take up the office.&nbsp;

While Castro handed over the baton to his successor Canel, he shared that he will continue to head Cuba's Communist Party until 2021.

86-year-old Castro noted that after 2021 he will continue to defend the revolution and be a soldier alongside the people of Cuba.

On Thursday, Cuba witnessed the presidential power handed-over to a non-Castro leader for the first time in the last 60 years.&nbsp;

<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/world/miguel-diaz-canel-succeeds-raul-castro-as-cubas-president-131435">Miguel Diaz-Canel was named Cuba's new president</a> on Thursday. Canel succeeds Raul Castro putting an end to a historic six-decade-long Castro-rule over the country.&nbsp;

57-year-old Canel was the only candidate for the presidency and was elected to a five-year term.&nbsp;

Canel secured 603 out of 604 votes in the National Assembly.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Miguel Diaz-Canel was named Cuba's new president on Thursday

Cuba's Raul Castro stepped down as the President on Thursday making way for Miguel Diaz-Canel to take up the office. While Castro handed over the baton to his successor Canel, he shared that he will continue to head Cuba's Communist Party until 2021. 86-year-old Castro noted that after 2021 he will continue to defend the revolution and be a soldier alongside the people of Cuba. On Thursday, Cuba witnessed the presidential power handed-over to a non-Castro leader for the first time in the last 60 years. Miguel Diaz-Canel was named Cuba's new president on Thursday. Canel succeeds Raul Castro putting an end to a historic six-decade-long Castro-rule over the country. 57-year-old Canel was the only candidate for the presidency and was elected to a five-year term. Canel secured 603 out of 604 votes in the National Assembly. (With inputs from agencies)

Raul Castro to remain head of Cuba's Communist Party until 2021

Beijing's only sperm bank has set loyalty to the Communist Party as a prerequisite for donors, in a sign that China's increasing emphasis on ideological training is being extended to the womb.

The bizarre requirement was part of a sperm donation drive launched Wednesday by Peking University Third Hospital -- a public hospital affiliated to an elite university considered to be China's Harvard.

As well as being free of genetic or infectious diseases, potential donors must have "sound ideological qualities", according to a notice posted on the hospital's official account on popular messaging app WeChat.

Men between the ages of 20 to 45 who wish to donate semen must "love the socialist motherland, support the leadership of the Communist Party, be loyal to the party's cause and be decent, law-abiding citizens, free of political problems", it said.

Those who successfully donate after undergoing two rounds of medical checks -- to assess the quality of their semen and general fitness -- will be paid 5,500 yuan ($900), the statement said.

There were no details on how the hospital would verify whether donors satisfied the political requirements.

AFP's calls to the hospital to ask if these requirements were part of a larger government policy went unanswered.

China has only 23 sperm banks nationwide, according to the country's National Health Commission, and many are plagued by a severe shortage of donors.&nbsp

Requirements for donors at other major collection centres, including those in Shanghai and Guangzhou, do not include loyalty to the party.

The controversial campaign, which runs until late May, has inspired several tongue-in-cheek comments by Chinese internet users.&nbsp

"Love for the party starts with a sperm," wrote one social media commentator on WeChat.

"Maybe they haven't learned biology. Acquired traits can't be passed down," wrote another on micro-blogging service Weibo.&nbsp

Demand for sperm is booming in China since the one-child policy was axed in 2016, but there have been concerns over quality levels.

Beijing's only sperm bank has set loyalty to the Communist Party as a prerequisite for donors, in a sign that China's increasing emphasis on ideological training is being extended to the womb. The bizarre requirement was part of a sperm donation drive launched Wednesday by Peking University Third Hospital -- a public hospital affiliated to an elite university considered to be China's Harvard. As well as being free of genetic or infectious diseases, potential donors must have "sound ideological qualities", according to a notice posted on the hospital's official account on popular messaging app WeChat. Men between the ages of 20 to 45 who wish to donate semen must "love the socialist motherland, support the leadership of the Communist Party, be loyal to the party's cause and be decent, law-abiding citizens, free of political problems", it said. Those who successfully donate after undergoing two rounds of medical checks -- to assess the quality of their semen and general fitness -- will be paid 5,500 yuan ($900), the statement said. There were no details on how the hospital would verify whether donors satisfied the political requirements. AFP's calls to the hospital to ask if these requirements were part of a larger government policy went unanswered. China has only 23 sperm banks nationwide, according to the country's National Health Commission, and many are plagued by a severe shortage of donors. Requirements for donors at other major collection centres, including those in Shanghai and Guangzhou, do not include loyalty to the party. The controversial campaign, which runs until late May, has inspired several tongue-in-cheek comments by Chinese internet users. "Love for the party starts with a sperm," wrote one social media commentator on WeChat. "Maybe they haven't learned biology. Acquired traits can't be passed down," wrote another on micro-blogging service Weibo.

China sperm bank asks for ‘Communist only' semen donations

As Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to solidify his rule with an unlimited tenure, he was all praise for the one-party system furthered by the ruling Communist Party saying that it prevented rotation of power and &quot;nasty competition&quot; among political parties in a multi-party democracy.

The system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation led by the Communist Party of China (CPC) is &quot;a great contribution to the political civilisation of humanity,&quot; Xi told delegates from some of the small political parties which functioned in a low key manner under the shadows of the CPC.

The Chinese system is new, Xi said, because it unites all political parties and people without party affiliation toward a common goal, effectively preventing the flaws of the absence of oversight in one-party rule, or &quot;power rotation and nasty competition among multiple political parties,&quot; state-run Xinhua news agency reported today.

It steers away from another weakness of the old-fashioned party system, in which decision making and governance, confined by interests of different political parties, classes, regions and groups, tears the society apart, he said. 
Chinese leaders in the past have vowed not to ape the western political systems.

Xi was speaking at a joint panel discussion yesterday with &quot;political advisors&quot; from the China Democratic League and the China Zhi Gong Party, those without party affiliation and those from the sector of returned overseas Chinese, at the first session of the advisory body the Chinese People&#39;s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the Xinhua report said.

His comments came as the Chinese Parliament, the National People?s Congress (NPC), began its two-week long annual session today with a legislative agenda which included ratifying a constitutional amendment removing the two-term rule for the President and Vice President.

The rule followed by the CPC for over two decades to prevent dictatorial ruler emerging from the ranks as well as to promote collective leadership effectively removes the last hurdle for 64-year-old Xi to continue beyond the end of his second term in 2023 and possibly for life.

Xi is already regarded as the most powerful leader of China after Chairman Mao Zedong as he held the posts of head of the CPC, the military and the Presidency.

The NPC was also expected to endorse another draft constitutional amendment to enshrine Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in the fundamental law.

This would ensure that Xi&#39;s name is written into the Constitution making him on par with Mao.

The draft suggests Xi Jinping thought be juxtaposed with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, and the Theory of Three Represents as a new guiding theory in the preamble of the Constitution, Xinhua said.

The name of Xi and his thought figured numerous times in the annual work report read out Premier Li Keqiang today at the opening session of the NPC, which observers said conferred to Xi the status and authority which was enjoyed by Mao during the heydays of China?s revolution which brought CPC to power in 1949.

Since then CPC remained the only ruling party. In the subsequent years, it permitted eight non-Communist parties which functioned under the shadows and authority of CPC.

Xi said the Chinese system is new because it combines Marxist political party theories with China&#39;s reality, and truly, extensively and in the long term represents fundamental interests of all people and all ethnic groups and fulfills their aspiration, avoiding the defects of the old-fashioned party system which represents only a selective few or the vested interest.

The system also pools ideas and suggestions through institutional, procedural and develops a scientific and democratic decision-making mechanism, he said.

Fitting China&#39;s reality and fine traditional culture, it is &quot;a great contribution to the political civilisation of humanity,&quot; he said.

Xi said upholding the CPC leadership was not meant to do away with democracy. Instead, it aims to create a form of democracy that is broader and more effective, he said.

The CPC-led system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation stresses both the CPC leadership and socialist democracy which features political consultation, participation in the deliberation of state affairs, and democratic supervision, he said.

Acknowledging their contribution to achievements made in the past five years, Xi called on non-communist parties and people without party affiliation to enhance confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with

Chinese characteristics, consolidate political orientation and actively offer their suggestions.

Non-communist parties and people without party affiliation should act as good consultants, aides, and co-workers of the CPC while improving their capability of consultation, he said.

He urged intellectuals to set the example of upholding socialist core values and organisations of returned overseas Chinese to unite and mobilise overseas Chinese.

Nearly 3,000 legislators from around the country will attend the two-week gathering of NPC in Beijing.

Xi is already regarded as the most powerful leader of China after Chairman Mao Zedong as he held the posts of head of the CPC, the military and the Presidency

As Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to solidify his rule with an unlimited tenure, he was all praise for the one-party system furthered by the ruling Communist Party saying that it prevented rotation of power and "nasty competition" among political parties in a multi-party democracy. The system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation led by the Communist Party of China (CPC) is "a great contribution to the political civilisation of humanity," Xi told delegates from some of the small political parties which functioned in a low key manner under the shadows of the CPC. The Chinese system is new, Xi said, because it unites all political parties and people without party affiliation toward a common goal, effectively preventing the flaws of the absence of oversight in one-party rule, or "power rotation and nasty competition among multiple political parties," state-run Xinhua news agency reported today. It steers away from another weakness of the old-fashioned party system, in which decision making and governance, confined by interests of different political parties, classes, regions and groups, tears the society apart, he said. Chinese leaders in the past have vowed not to ape the western political systems. Xi was speaking at a joint panel discussion yesterday with "political advisors" from the China Democratic League and the China Zhi Gong Party, those without party affiliation and those from the sector of returned overseas Chinese, at the first session of the advisory body the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the Xinhua report said. His comments came as the Chinese Parliament, the National People?s Congress (NPC), began its two-week long annual session today with a legislative agenda which included ratifying a constitutional amendment removing the two-term rule for the President and Vice President. The rule followed by the CPC for over two decades to prevent dictatorial ruler emerging from the ranks as well as to promote collective leadership effectively removes the last hurdle for 64-year-old Xi to continue beyond the end of his second term in 2023 and possibly for life. Xi is already regarded as the most powerful leader of China after Chairman Mao Zedong as he held the posts of head of the CPC, the military and the Presidency. The NPC was also expected to endorse another draft constitutional amendment to enshrine Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in the fundamental law. This would ensure that Xi's name is written into the Constitution making him on par with Mao. The draft suggests Xi Jinping thought be juxtaposed with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, and the Theory of Three Represents as a new guiding theory in the preamble of the Constitution, Xinhua said. The name of Xi and his thought figured numerous times in the annual work report read out Premier Li Keqiang today at the opening session of the NPC, which observers said conferred to Xi the status and authority which was enjoyed by Mao during the heydays of China?s revolution which brought CPC to power in 1949. Since then CPC remained the only ruling party. In the subsequent years, it permitted eight non-Communist parties which functioned under the shadows and authority of CPC. Xi said the Chinese system is new because it combines Marxist political party theories with China's reality, and truly, extensively and in the long term represents fundamental interests of all people and all ethnic groups and fulfills their aspiration, avoiding the defects of the old-fashioned party system which represents only a selective few or the vested interest. The system also pools ideas and suggestions through institutional, procedural and develops a scientific and democratic decision-making mechanism, he said. Fitting China's reality and fine traditional culture, it is "a great contribution to the political civilisation of humanity," he said. Xi said upholding the CPC leadership was not meant to do away with democracy. Instead, it aims to create a form of democracy that is broader and more effective, he said. The CPC-led system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation stresses both the CPC leadership and socialist democracy which features political consultation, participation in the deliberation of state affairs, and democratic supervision, he said. Acknowledging their contribution to achievements made in the past five years, Xi called on non-communist parties and people without party affiliation to enhance confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, consolidate political orientation and actively offer their suggestions. Non-communist parties and people without party affiliation should act as good consultants, aides, and co-workers of the CPC while improving their capability of consultation, he said. He urged intellectuals to set the example of upholding socialist core values and organisations of returned overseas Chinese to unite and mobilise overseas Chinese. Nearly 3,000 legislators from around the country will attend the two-week gathering of NPC in Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping praises Communist Party rule, says multi-party democracy promotes nasty competition

China today defended its move to remove the two-term limit for President Xi Jinping, saying it is important to uphold the authority of the ruling Communist Party and unity of the state leadership.

The Communist Party of China&#39;s Central Committee has proposed to remove the two-term limit for the post of president and vice president through a constitutional amendment.

The proposal sparked off concern and speculation at home and abroad that Xi, heading the CPC and military besides the presidency, who recently began his second five-year term would continue for an unprecedented third term and beyond, wielding unquestionable power exercised by the party founder, Mao Zedong, in the heydays of Chinas revolution.

Explaining for the first time why the CPC opted for such a move, spokesman of the National Peoples Congress Zhang Yesui told media that the president has the term-limit while there were no term limits for the head of the party and the military.

Well according to the constitution of the CPC there is no such provision that there shall be no more than two successive terms for the General Secretary or Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) in the constitution of China.

The CMC is the overall high command of the 2.3 million strong Chinese military.

So for the Constitution, it follows the same practice regarding the term of the President. It is conducive to uphold the authority of the Central Committee of the party with Xi Jinping at the core and also unified leadership. It is also conducive to the unified state leadership system, he said.

Xi, who took over power in 2012, heads the party, the military and the presidency. While the posts of head of the party and military are powerful, the presidency is largely ceremonial. The five-term for the presidency starts this month.

Xi began second five-year term as the leader of the CPC and the military in last October after a key congress of the party.

The NPC, which has 2,980 deputies is expected ratify the constitutional amendments removing the term limit which would enable Xi to continue to head China possibly for life.

It is customary that the spokesman of the NPC, often regarded as the rubber stamp Parliament to address a nationally televised press conference answering select questions from the local and foreign media.

Zhang said the Constitution, which reflects the common will of the CPC and Chinese people is Chinas fundamental law and the general chapter for governing the country well and ensuring national security.

The current Constitution has been proven a good law that fits in Chinas reality and meets the demand of the times, Zhang said.

&quot;The Constitution can only ensure its lasting vitality by constantly adapting to new situations, drawing on new experiences, confirming new achievements and setting down new norms,&quot; he said.

It is necessary to appropriately amend the Constitution to incorporate major theoretical, practical and institutional achievements made by the Party and the people in order to give better play to the Constitutions critical role in upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new era, he said.

Amending the Constitution is a big event in the countrys political life and a major legislative activity with wide-ranging implications, he said.

Upholding the partys leadership and reflecting the will of the people should be the principles for amending the Constitution, he said.&nbsp;

The Communist Party of China's Central Committee has proposed to remove the two-term limit for the post of president and vice president through a constitutional amendment

China today defended its move to remove the two-term limit for President Xi Jinping, saying it is important to uphold the authority of the ruling Communist Party and unity of the state leadership. The Communist Party of China's Central Committee has proposed to remove the two-term limit for the post of president and vice president through a constitutional amendment. The proposal sparked off concern and speculation at home and abroad that Xi, heading the CPC and military besides the presidency, who recently began his second five-year term would continue for an unprecedented third term and beyond, wielding unquestionable power exercised by the party founder, Mao Zedong, in the heydays of Chinas revolution. Explaining for the first time why the CPC opted for such a move, spokesman of the National Peoples Congress Zhang Yesui told media that the president has the term-limit while there were no term limits for the head of the party and the military. Well according to the constitution of the CPC there is no such provision that there shall be no more than two successive terms for the General Secretary or Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) in the constitution of China. The CMC is the overall high command of the 2.3 million strong Chinese military. So for the Constitution, it follows the same practice regarding the term of the President. It is conducive to uphold the authority of the Central Committee of the party with Xi Jinping at the core and also unified leadership. It is also conducive to the unified state leadership system, he said. Xi, who took over power in 2012, heads the party, the military and the presidency. While the posts of head of the party and military are powerful, the presidency is largely ceremonial. The five-term for the presidency starts this month. Xi began second five-year term as the leader of the CPC and the military in last October after a key congress of the party. The NPC, which has 2,980 deputies is expected ratify the constitutional amendments removing the term limit which would enable Xi to continue to head China possibly for life. It is customary that the spokesman of the NPC, often regarded as the rubber stamp Parliament to address a nationally televised press conference answering select questions from the local and foreign media. Zhang said the Constitution, which reflects the common will of the CPC and Chinese people is Chinas fundamental law and the general chapter for governing the country well and ensuring national security. The current Constitution has been proven a good law that fits in Chinas reality and meets the demand of the times, Zhang said. "The Constitution can only ensure its lasting vitality by constantly adapting to new situations, drawing on new experiences, confirming new achievements and setting down new norms," he said. It is necessary to appropriately amend the Constitution to incorporate major theoretical, practical and institutional achievements made by the Party and the people in order to give better play to the Constitutions critical role in upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new era, he said. Amending the Constitution is a big event in the countrys political life and a major legislative activity with wide-ranging implications, he said. Upholding the partys leadership and reflecting the will of the people should be the principles for amending the Constitution, he said.

Removal of two-term limit for Xi Jinping important to uphold CPC unity: China 

Nepal&#39;s ruling party has merged with a former Maoist rebel group to form a super bloc that experts say will reshape politics after years of turbulence in the Himalayan nation.

Officials said Tuesday the new alliance, the Nepal Communist Party, was formally signed into agreement following late-night negotiations between the two sides Monday.

They forged a political alliance to trounce the incumbent party in last year&#39;s landmark general elections, but this formal merger creates a political behemoth unprecedented in Nepali politics.

&quot;This is an agreement to merge, but there are other issues we need to conclude before we completely unify,&quot; senior Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha told AFP, adding the transition process was expected to take at least a month.

The new alliance commands a large majority in both houses of parliament and comes just days after Communist leader KP&nbsp;Sharma Oli was sworn in as prime minister.

Oli&#39;s main Communist party and the Maoists heavily defeated the incumbent Nepali Congress party in polls last year billed as the final step in a post-war transformation to a federal republic.

The Maoists, who fought government forces in a bitter civil war that claimed more than 16,000 lives and overthrew Nepal&#39;s 240-year-old Hindu monarchy, dominated politics for more than two decades.

The decade-long conflict ended in a 2006 peace deal that saw guerrilla leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal become Nepal&#39;s first post-war prime minister.

But their political support has waned in recent years, with their party ranking third in last year&#39;s general elections.

Political historian Aditya Adhikari said the merger was a &quot;rare union&quot; between two sides with starkly different backgrounds.

The ruling Communist party is older and considered more conservative than its new partners in the Maoists, who have pursued more progressive politics in the post-war era.

&quot;If they manage to stick together it will change the future of Nepal&#39;s politics,&quot; said Adhikari, author of &quot;The Bullet and the Ballot Box&quot;, a history of Nepal&#39;s Maoist struggle.&nbsp;

&quot;But they will likely function as a coalition or two factions within a party, negotiating power sharing.&quot;

A rumoured agreement to share power between Prime Minister Oli and Dahal, the Maoist leader, has provoked criticism amid concern this alliance could destabilise politics down the track.

Brittle alliances have been struck between Nepal&#39;s three dominant parties since 2008, and there are fears this latest merger could prolong the revolving door nature of the country&#39;s politics.

Oli has been prime minister once before, while Dahal has served in the top office twice.

Many voters cast ballots in last year&#39;s elections hoping for stability and much-needed development in the impoverished Himalayan nation.

The last government -- a coalition between the Maoists and the Nepali Congress party -- was the country&#39;s ninth in just 11 years before the alliance fractured.

Experts say the alliance will reshape politics after years of turbulence in the Himalayan nation

Nepal's ruling party has merged with a former Maoist rebel group to form a super bloc that experts say will reshape politics after years of turbulence in the Himalayan nation. Officials said Tuesday the new alliance, the Nepal Communist Party, was formally signed into agreement following late-night negotiations between the two sides Monday. They forged a political alliance to trounce the incumbent party in last year's landmark general elections, but this formal merger creates a political behemoth unprecedented in Nepali politics. "This is an agreement to merge, but there are other issues we need to conclude before we completely unify," senior Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha told AFP, adding the transition process was expected to take at least a month. The new alliance commands a large majority in both houses of parliament and comes just days after Communist leader KP Sharma Oli was sworn in as prime minister. Oli's main Communist party and the Maoists heavily defeated the incumbent Nepali Congress party in polls last year billed as the final step in a post-war transformation to a federal republic. The Maoists, who fought government forces in a bitter civil war that claimed more than 16,000 lives and overthrew Nepal's 240-year-old Hindu monarchy, dominated politics for more than two decades. The decade-long conflict ended in a 2006 peace deal that saw guerrilla leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal become Nepal's first post-war prime minister. But their political support has waned in recent years, with their party ranking third in last year's general elections. Political historian Aditya Adhikari said the merger was a "rare union" between two sides with starkly different backgrounds. The ruling Communist party is older and considered more conservative than its new partners in the Maoists, who have pursued more progressive politics in the post-war era. "If they manage to stick together it will change the future of Nepal's politics," said Adhikari, author of "The Bullet and the Ballot Box", a history of Nepal's Maoist struggle. "But they will likely function as a coalition or two factions within a party, negotiating power sharing." A rumoured agreement to share power between Prime Minister Oli and Dahal, the Maoist leader, has provoked criticism amid concern this alliance could destabilise politics down the track. Brittle alliances have been struck between Nepal's three dominant parties since 2008, and there are fears this latest merger could prolong the revolving door nature of the country's politics. Oli has been prime minister once before, while Dahal has served in the top office twice. Many voters cast ballots in last year's elections hoping for stability and much-needed development in the impoverished Himalayan nation. The last government -- a coalition between the Maoists and the Nepali Congress party -- was the country's ninth in just 11 years before the alliance fractured.

Nepal's ruling party merges into super bloc with Maoists

At least 10,000 people were killed in the Chinese army&#39;s crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing&#39;s Tiananmen Square in June 1989, according to a newly released British diplomatic cable that recounts the bloodshed in gruesome detail.

The document, made public more than 28 years after the event, describes injured girls being bayoneted, bodies being ground up by armoured vehicles and human remains being flushed into the sewers.

&quot;Minimum estimate of civilian dead 10,000,&quot; the then British ambassador Alan Donald said in the secret telegram to London seen by AFP at Britain&#39;s National Archives.

The estimate, given on June 5, 1989, the day after the crackdown, is almost 10 times higher than that commonly accepted at the time of several hundred to more than a thousand dead.

But experts questioned by AFP said the 10,000 figure seemed credible.

Donald&#39;s account gives horrific details of the violence unleashed on the night of June 3-4, when the army entered Beijing to end seven weeks of protests on Tiananmen Square, the symbolic heart of Communist power.

During their advance, armoured personnel carriers &quot;opened fire on the crowd (both civilians and soldiers) before running over them in their APCs&quot;, wrote the ambassador.

He said his source was a person who &quot;was passing on information given him by a close friend who is currently a member of the State Council&quot; -- the Chinese cabinet.

He said the source had previously proved reliable &quot;and was careful to separate fact from speculation and rumour&quot;.

Once the soldiers arrived in Tiananmen Square, &quot;students understood they were given one hour to leave square but after five minutes APCs attacked,&quot; Donald wrote.

&quot;Students linked arms but were mown down including soldiers. APCs then ran over bodies time and time again to make &#39;pie&#39; and remains collected by bulldozer. Remains incinerated and then hosed down drains.&quot;

&quot;Four wounded girl students begged for their lives but were bayoneted,&quot; Donald said, adding: &quot;Army ambulances who attempted to give aid were shot up.&quot;&nbsp;

At the end of June 1989, the Chinese government had said suppression of the &quot;counter-revolutionary riots&quot; had killed 200 civilians and several dozen police and military.

Primitives

Nearly three decades after the crackdown, the communist regime continues to forbid any debate on the subject, mention of which is banned from textbooks and the media, and censored on the Internet.

There was no sign of reaction to the report on Chinese social media, where an army of online censors blocks any reference to the Tiananmen crackdown and most things critical of the Communist Party.

Donald said the atrocities were committed by the 27th Army, who he described as &quot;60 percent illiterate and are called primitives&quot;.

He said the crackdown had created deep rifts within the military and that &quot;some members of the State Council considered that civil war is imminent&quot;.

As to the credibility of the toll, former student protest leader Xiong Yan, who is now an American citizen, said: &quot;I think it&#39;s reliable.&quot;

China scholar Jean-Pierre Cabestan also said the figure was credible, pointing out that recently declassified US documents gave a similar assessment.

&quot;That&#39;s two pretty independent sources which say the same thing,&quot; said Cabestan, a professor at Hong Kong Baptist University.

The British ambassador&#39;s report was &quot;not particularly astonishing considering how crowded it was in Beijing, the number of people mobilised&quot; against the Chinese government, said Cabestan, who was in the Chinese capital in the days leading up to the crackdown.&nbsp;

Former student leader Feng Congde, now also based in the United States, pointed out that Donald had sent another telegram three weeks later putting the death toll at between 2,700 and 3,400.

Feng said that toll was quite credible and fitted with figures from the Chinese Red Cross, who at the time estimated 2,700 fatalities, and by student committees based on hospital reports.

'Minimum estimate of civilian dead 10,000,' the then British ambassador Alan Donald said in the secret telegram to London

At least 10,000 people were killed in the Chinese army's crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in June 1989, according to a newly released British diplomatic cable that recounts the bloodshed in gruesome detail. The document, made public more than 28 years after the event, describes injured girls being bayoneted, bodies being ground up by armoured vehicles and human remains being flushed into the sewers. "Minimum estimate of civilian dead 10,000," the then British ambassador Alan Donald said in the secret telegram to London seen by AFP at Britain's National Archives. The estimate, given on June 5, 1989, the day after the crackdown, is almost 10 times higher than that commonly accepted at the time of several hundred to more than a thousand dead. But experts questioned by AFP said the 10,000 figure seemed credible. Donald's account gives horrific details of the violence unleashed on the night of June 3-4, when the army entered Beijing to end seven weeks of protests on Tiananmen Square, the symbolic heart of Communist power. During their advance, armoured personnel carriers "opened fire on the crowd (both civilians and soldiers) before running over them in their APCs", wrote the ambassador. He said his source was a person who "was passing on information given him by a close friend who is currently a member of the State Council" -- the Chinese cabinet. He said the source had previously proved reliable "and was careful to separate fact from speculation and rumour". Once the soldiers arrived in Tiananmen Square, "students understood they were given one hour to leave square but after five minutes APCs attacked," Donald wrote. "Students linked arms but were mown down including soldiers. APCs then ran over bodies time and time again to make 'pie' and remains collected by bulldozer. Remains incinerated and then hosed down drains." "Four wounded girl students begged for their lives but were bayoneted," Donald said, adding: "Army ambulances who attempted to give aid were shot up." At the end of June 1989, the Chinese government had said suppression of the "counter-revolutionary riots" had killed 200 civilians and several dozen police and military. Primitives Nearly three decades after the crackdown, the communist regime continues to forbid any debate on the subject, mention of which is banned from textbooks and the media, and censored on the Internet. There was no sign of reaction to the report on Chinese social media, where an army of online censors blocks any reference to the Tiananmen crackdown and most things critical of the Communist Party. Donald said the atrocities were committed by the 27th Army, who he described as "60 percent illiterate and are called primitives". He said the crackdown had created deep rifts within the military and that "some members of the State Council considered that civil war is imminent". As to the credibility of the toll, former student protest leader Xiong Yan, who is now an American citizen, said: "I think it's reliable." China scholar Jean-Pierre Cabestan also said the figure was credible, pointing out that recently declassified US documents gave a similar assessment. "That's two pretty independent sources which say the same thing," said Cabestan, a professor at Hong Kong Baptist University. The British ambassador's report was "not particularly astonishing considering how crowded it was in Beijing, the number of people mobilised" against the Chinese government, said Cabestan, who was in the Chinese capital in the days leading up to the crackdown. Former student leader Feng Congde, now also based in the United States, pointed out that Donald had sent another telegram three weeks later putting the death toll at between 2,700 and 3,400. Feng said that toll was quite credible and fitted with figures from the Chinese Red Cross, who at the time estimated 2,700 fatalities, and by student committees based on hospital reports.

At least 10,000 killed In 1989 Tiananmen crackdown: British diplomatic cable

A court in Vietnam on Thursday upheld a 10-year jail sentence for a prominent blogger convicted of publishing propaganda against the state, her lawyer said, the latest move in a crackdown on critics of the one-party state.

Despite sweeping economic reform and increasing openness towards social change, including gay, lesbian and transgender rights, Vietnam&#39;s ruling Communist Party retains tight media censorship and does not tolerate criticism.

In recent months, it has targeted critics whose voices have been amplified by social media in a country that ranks among Facebook&#39;s top ten, in terms of users.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/vietnam-woman-blogger-sentenced-to-10-year-prison-over-a-facebook-post-18318">Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, 37, known as &quot;Me Nam&quot; (Mother Mushroom)</a>, who gained prominence for blogging about environmental issues and deaths in police custody, was found guilty in June for distributing what police called anti-state reports.

A court in the central city of Nha Trang upheld Quynh&#39;s sentence, one of her lawyers said.

&quot;This sentence is not objective and is unfair,&quot; Ha Huy Son told Reuters by telephone. &quot;Quynh said she is innocent and she carried out her right as a citizen.&quot;

Her mother was denied access to the hearing, he added. The mother could not immediately be reached for comment.

In March 2009, Quynh spent nine days in police detention for receiving funds from Viet Tan, a California-based activist group which Vietnam calls a terrorist group, to print T-shirts with slogans against a major bauxite project, police said.

Quynh has also spoken out against a subsidiary of Taiwan&#39;s Formosa Plastics Corp that caused one of Vietnam&#39;s biggest environmental disasters in April.

On Monday a prominent rights lawyer who has represented Quynh said the bar federation in the southcentral province of Phu Yen had revoked his licence to practice law just days before Quynh&#39;s appeal hearing.

Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, 37, was found guilty in June for distributing what police called anti-state reports

A court in Vietnam on Thursday upheld a 10-year jail sentence for a prominent blogger convicted of publishing propaganda against the state, her lawyer said, the latest move in a crackdown on critics of the one-party state. Despite sweeping economic reform and increasing openness towards social change, including gay, lesbian and transgender rights, Vietnam's ruling Communist Party retains tight media censorship and does not tolerate criticism. In recent months, it has targeted critics whose voices have been amplified by social media in a country that ranks among Facebook's top ten, in terms of users. Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, 37, known as "Me Nam" (Mother Mushroom), who gained prominence for blogging about environmental issues and deaths in police custody, was found guilty in June for distributing what police called anti-state reports. A court in the central city of Nha Trang upheld Quynh's sentence, one of her lawyers said. "This sentence is not objective and is unfair," Ha Huy Son told Reuters by telephone. "Quynh said she is innocent and she carried out her right as a citizen." Her mother was denied access to the hearing, he added. The mother could not immediately be reached for comment. In March 2009, Quynh spent nine days in police detention for receiving funds from Viet Tan, a California-based activist group which Vietnam calls a terrorist group, to print T-shirts with slogans against a major bauxite project, police said. Quynh has also spoken out against a subsidiary of Taiwan's Formosa Plastics Corp that caused one of Vietnam's biggest environmental disasters in April. On Monday a prominent rights lawyer who has represented Quynh said the bar federation in the southcentral province of Phu Yen had revoked his licence to practice law just days before Quynh's appeal hearing.

Vietnam court upholds prominent blogger's 10-year jail term, lawyer says

&#39;Xi Jinping Thought&#39; will now be taught, researched and promoted in universities across China, ensuring that the leader&#39;s eponymous philosophy is implanted into students&#39; hearts and minds.

At least twenty universities have established research institutes for Xi&#39;s ideology, which was enshrined in the Communist Party&#39;s constitution during its 19th national congress this month.

The distinction places Xi on a par with Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. It means that his dogma&nbsp;&quot;Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era&quot; will become a mantra for a new generation.

According to media reports Sunday, the research institutes will not &quot;hide in the ivory tower&quot; but advocate the incorporation of Xi thought in all aspects of daily life.&nbsp;

&quot;We will gather many experts and professors to disseminate and preach Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in businesses, neighbourhoods and villages,&quot; Jiang Hongxin, head of Hunan Normal University&#39;s newly-founded Xi Thought research centre, told the People&#39;s Daily, the party mouthpiece.

Jiang&#39;s attitude mirrors that of many institute directors, who in interviews with Chinese media over the weekend espoused a deep devotion to spreading Xi-isms.

&quot;The (research) centre has a unique duty, which is to push forward Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in curriculums, in classrooms and in minds,&quot; Chen Xianda, a professor at Renmin University of China, told the Beijing-based Guangming Daily.

One institute director said the centre was the school&#39;s way of &quot;answering Xi&#39;s call&quot; to educate young people, while another said the Xi Thought organisation would &quot;guide the entire school, from top to bottom, in implementing the spirit of the 19th Congress&quot;.

&quot;We must always keep in mind the generosity of General Secretary Xi Jinping,&quot; Zhou Qihong, a party secretary at Wuhan Donghu University, told the People&#39;s Daily.

The lessons must &quot;enter brains and hearts&quot;, he said.

The education ministry also released guidelines Monday for mandatory elementary and high school extracurricular programmes that include activities to &quot;foster emotional attachment to the Chinese Communist Party&quot;. 
&nbsp;

Xi Jinping Thought will now be taught, researched and promoted in universities across China, ensuring that the leader's eponymous philosophy is implanted into students' hearts and minds.

'Xi Jinping Thought' will now be taught, researched and promoted in universities across China, ensuring that the leader's eponymous philosophy is implanted into students' hearts and minds. At least twenty universities have established research institutes for Xi's ideology, which was enshrined in the Communist Party's constitution during its 19th national congress this month. The distinction places Xi on a par with Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. It means that his dogma "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" will become a mantra for a new generation. According to media reports Sunday, the research institutes will not "hide in the ivory tower" but advocate the incorporation of Xi thought in all aspects of daily life. "We will gather many experts and professors to disseminate and preach Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in businesses, neighbourhoods and villages," Jiang Hongxin, head of Hunan Normal University's newly-founded Xi Thought research centre, told the People's Daily, the party mouthpiece. Jiang's attitude mirrors that of many institute directors, who in interviews with Chinese media over the weekend espoused a deep devotion to spreading Xi-isms. "The (research) centre has a unique duty, which is to push forward Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in curriculums, in classrooms and in minds," Chen Xianda, a professor at Renmin University of China, told the Beijing-based Guangming Daily. One institute director said the centre was the school's way of "answering Xi's call" to educate young people, while another said the Xi Thought organisation would "guide the entire school, from top to bottom, in implementing the spirit of the 19th Congress". "We must always keep in mind the generosity of General Secretary Xi Jinping," Zhou Qihong, a party secretary at Wuhan Donghu University, told the People's Daily. The lessons must "enter brains and hearts", he said. The education ministry also released guidelines Monday for mandatory elementary and high school extracurricular programmes that include activities to "foster emotional attachment to the Chinese Communist Party".

Chinese universities start 'Xi Thought' institutes

Chinese President Xi Jinping has begun his second five-year term ordering the country&#39;s 2.3 million-strong military, the world&#39;s largest, to be absolutely loyal to the ruling Communist Party and intensify its combat readiness by focussing on how to win wars.

The once-in-a-five-year Congress of the Communist Party endorsed Xi&#39;s leadership of the party, the military, and the presidency this week and approved his ideology to be written into its Constitution, elevating him on par with modern China&#39;s founder Chairman Mao Zedong and his successor Deng Xiaoping.

Xi, 67, began his second tenure yesterday by holding a meeting of top military officials, regarded as the main source of power base.

Xi, who heads the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) the overall high command of the Chinese military, is the only civilian leader in the body which is otherwise packed with topmost officials of the armed forces. The new CMC line-up which was unveiled on Wednesday will be led by a group of seven, down from the 11 members who headed its operations before.

Earlier reports said Xi, who consolidated his power in the last five years with a massive anti-corruption campaign in which over a million officials were punished wanted to shrink the Standing Committee of the party to five from seven.

But apparently, he did not succeed as other groups in the party headed by former leaders pressed for status quo to include their nominees in the highest-ranking body bringing it a semblance of balance in power equations. 
In the last night&rsquo;s meeting of top military officials, some high-ranking officials were conspicuously absent, Hong- Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

It appeared from the state-run CCTV report that two top generals, the former chief of general staff General Fang Fenghui and director of the political work department, General Zhang Yang were absent.

Both Fang and Zhang were CMC members in Xi&rsquo;s first term, but they were left off the list of PLA delegates to this month&rsquo;s Party Congress.

Earlier the two Generals were taken away on the same day last month as part of a corruption investigation, the Post report said.

Meeting top military officials, he ordered them to be absolutely loyal to the party, to focus on how to win in wars, to pioneer reforms and innovation, to scientifically manage to command a unit, to lead troops in accordance with the strictest standards and to take the forefront in complying with laws and regulations.

He also told the officers to strengthen party-building within the military and to continue to intensify combat-ready training and exercises, to keep carrying out reforms in the national defence system and the military, and to carefully consider strategic issues concerning the PLA&#39;s future development, the official media here reported.

Defence ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said yesterday that Xi&#39;s plan to strengthen the military would be fully implemented and his authority would be upheld.

Xi asked the PLA officers to learn and implement the spirit of the just-concluded 19th CPC National Congress by following the road of building a strong army with Chinese characteristics and promoting the modernization of national defence and the army.

&quot;We should strive to fully transform the people&#39;s armed forces into a world-class military by the mid-21st century,&quot; Xi said.

He said that during the past five years, the CMC has endeavored to build an army that follows the command of the CPC, capable of winning battles and has a fine style of work, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

During his previous tenure, Xi carried out widespread reforms of the military including reconfiguring the command structure, slashed three lakh troops from 2.3 million militaries, cut the size of the army to a million and made navy more powerful to push China&#39;s influence abroad.

Over 13,000 military personnel including top generals were punished in the anti-graft campaign. With over USD 141 billion-dollar annual budget, the Chinese military is next only to the US in terms of defense spending.

Xi also said the military should obey CPC&#39;s absolute leadership over the armed forces, innovate military strategy, govern the army by law and promoting civil-military integration.

Senior officers, as the backbone of the campaign to build a strong army, should be loyal and obedient to the party, be good and smart at combat and endeavor to reform, Xi said.

Unlike other countries, the military in China functions under the party and not under the government.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has begun his second five-year term ordering the country's 2.3 million-strong military, the world's largest, to be absolutely loyal to the ruling Communist Party and intensify its combat readiness by focussing on how to win wars.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has begun his second five-year term ordering the country's 2.3 million-strong military, the world's largest, to be absolutely loyal to the ruling Communist Party and intensify its combat readiness by focussing on how to win wars. The once-in-a-five-year Congress of the Communist Party endorsed Xi's leadership of the party, the military, and the presidency this week and approved his ideology to be written into its Constitution, elevating him on par with modern China's founder Chairman Mao Zedong and his successor Deng Xiaoping. Xi, 67, began his second tenure yesterday by holding a meeting of top military officials, regarded as the main source of power base. Xi, who heads the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) the overall high command of the Chinese military, is the only civilian leader in the body which is otherwise packed with topmost officials of the armed forces. The new CMC line-up which was unveiled on Wednesday will be led by a group of seven, down from the 11 members who headed its operations before. Earlier reports said Xi, who consolidated his power in the last five years with a massive anti-corruption campaign in which over a million officials were punished wanted to shrink the Standing Committee of the party to five from seven. But apparently, he did not succeed as other groups in the party headed by former leaders pressed for status quo to include their nominees in the highest-ranking body bringing it a semblance of balance in power equations. In the last night’s meeting of top military officials, some high-ranking officials were conspicuously absent, Hong- Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. It appeared from the state-run CCTV report that two top generals, the former chief of general staff General Fang Fenghui and director of the political work department, General Zhang Yang were absent. Both Fang and Zhang were CMC members in Xi’s first term, but they were left off the list of PLA delegates to this month’s Party Congress. Earlier the two Generals were taken away on the same day last month as part of a corruption investigation, the Post report said. Meeting top military officials, he ordered them to be absolutely loyal to the party, to focus on how to win in wars, to pioneer reforms and innovation, to scientifically manage to command a unit, to lead troops in accordance with the strictest standards and to take the forefront in complying with laws and regulations. He also told the officers to strengthen party-building within the military and to continue to intensify combat-ready training and exercises, to keep carrying out reforms in the national defence system and the military, and to carefully consider strategic issues concerning the PLA's future development, the official media here reported. Defence ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said yesterday that Xi's plan to strengthen the military would be fully implemented and his authority would be upheld. Xi asked the PLA officers to learn and implement the spirit of the just-concluded 19th CPC National Congress by following the road of building a strong army with Chinese characteristics and promoting the modernization of national defence and the army. "We should strive to fully transform the people's armed forces into a world-class military by the mid-21st century," Xi said. He said that during the past five years, the CMC has endeavored to build an army that follows the command of the CPC, capable of winning battles and has a fine style of work, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. During his previous tenure, Xi carried out widespread reforms of the military including reconfiguring the command structure, slashed three lakh troops from 2.3 million militaries, cut the size of the army to a million and made navy more powerful to push China's influence abroad. Over 13,000 military personnel including top generals were punished in the anti-graft campaign. With over USD 141 billion-dollar annual budget, the Chinese military is next only to the US in terms of defense spending. Xi also said the military should obey CPC's absolute leadership over the armed forces, innovate military strategy, govern the army by law and promoting civil-military integration. Senior officers, as the backbone of the campaign to build a strong army, should be loyal and obedient to the party, be good and smart at combat and endeavor to reform, Xi said. Unlike other countries, the military in China functions under the party and not under the government.

Xi Jinping begins his second term with ordering PLA to be combat ready

Party members, especially those in leadership roles, need to ensure they keep their family members on tight leash to prevent corruption, the official newspaper of China&#39;s ruling Communist Party said today after a high-profile jailing. 
 
A Chinese court on Monday jailed a former top aide to retired president Hu Jintao for life after finding him guilty of taking bribes, illegally obtaining state secrets and abuse of power during a secret trial. 
 
The party announced its investigation into the one-time aide to Hu, Ling Jihua, in December 2014. Ling had been demoted in September 2012 from a ministerial-level job, months after his son was killed in a crash involving a luxury sports car. 
 
His deceased son was implicated in bribery allegations mentioned during the trial, while Ling&#39;s wife testified against him. 
 
In a front page editorial, the People&#39;s Daily said Ling&#39;s jailing showed once again that all are equal in front of the law and that no matter who you are if you break the law you will be punished. 
 
&quot;All party comrades, especially cadres who are leaders, must deeply learn the lessons of Ling Jihua&#39;s criminal case,&quot; it said. 
 
&quot;Strictly abide by party discipline and rules, strictly keep under control family members and those who work by your side,&quot; the paper added. 
 
The fight against corruption has been a key policy plank of President Xi Jinping&#39;s first term in office, with dozens of senior officials jailed in his purge. 
 
Xi warned last week though that graft remained the biggest threat to the party. 
 
The People&#39;s Daily said that a party which is clear about clean governance and following the rules will always keep its winning position. 
 
&quot;Those who have power will be supervised, to ensure that the power given to them by the party and the people is used to benefit the people,&quot; it added. 
 
Ling&#39;s case had presented a dilemma for the government, because of his close connection with former president Hu, Xi&#39;s predecessor. 
 
A government spokesman denied last year that Hu was being implicated in the investigation and sources said that Hu approved of the case against Ling. 
 
(Reuters)

Former top aide of Hu Jintao was held guilty of taking bribe, illegally obtaining state secrets and abuse of power. He was sentenced to jail

Party members, especially those in leadership roles, need to ensure they keep their family members on tight leash to prevent corruption, the official newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party said today after a high-profile jailing. A Chinese court on Monday jailed a former top aide to retired president Hu Jintao for life after finding him guilty of taking bribes, illegally obtaining state secrets and abuse of power during a secret trial. The party announced its investigation into the one-time aide to Hu, Ling Jihua, in December 2014. Ling had been demoted in September 2012 from a ministerial-level job, months after his son was killed in a crash involving a luxury sports car. His deceased son was implicated in bribery allegations mentioned during the trial, while Ling's wife testified against him. In a front page editorial, the People's Daily said Ling's jailing showed once again that all are equal in front of the law and that no matter who you are if you break the law you will be punished. "All party comrades, especially cadres who are leaders, must deeply learn the lessons of Ling Jihua's criminal case," it said. "Strictly abide by party discipline and rules, strictly keep under control family members and those who work by your side," the paper added. The fight against corruption has been a key policy plank of President Xi Jinping's first term in office, with dozens of senior officials jailed in his purge. Xi warned last week though that graft remained the biggest threat to the party. The People's Daily said that a party which is clear about clean governance and following the rules will always keep its winning position. "Those who have power will be supervised, to ensure that the power given to them by the party and the people is used to benefit the people," it added. Ling's case had presented a dilemma for the government, because of his close connection with former president Hu, Xi's predecessor. A government spokesman denied last year that Hu was being implicated in the investigation and sources said that Hu approved of the case against Ling. (Reuters)

Corruption will not be tolerated, China warns its leaders

An ex-aide of former Chinese President Hu Jintao has been jailed for life for corruption, illegally obtaining state secrets and abuse of power, official media reported Monday. 
 
Ling Jihua pleaded guilty and said he would not appeal, Xinhua news agency said, citing the verdict of the First Intermediate People&#39;s Court in Tianjin, which held his trial in secret last month. 
 
Verdict and sentence come as part of a high-profile crackdown&nbsp; 
 
The verdict and sentence come as part of a high-profile crackdown on graft by current President Xi Jinping that has deposed several senior officials, notably former security chief Zhou Yongkang, who was himself jailed for life last year. 
 
Critics, however, say that a lack of transparency around the crackdown means it has been an opportunity for Xi to eliminate political enemies. 
 
&quot;The trial today is engraved on my bones and in my heart,&quot; it quoted Ling as saying in his final statement to the court. 
 
The chief judge carried out his duties &quot;fairly and lawfully&quot;, he added, and the proceedings were &quot;solemn, meticulous, rational and civilised&quot;. 
 
It may be noted Chinese courts are controlled by the ruling Communist party, which expelled Ling -- once Hu&#39;s chief of staff -- from its ranks last year. 
 
Further, it may also be pertinent to mention Ling&#39;s son died in a notorious Ferrari crash in Beijing which disrupted the once-in-a-decade party leadership change when Xi took over from Hu in 2012. 
 
Ling had powerbases in the northern province of Shanxi and the Communist Youth League -- seen as a proving ground for politicians who, unlike Xi, do not benefit from family links to high-ranking revolutionaries. 
 
One of his brothers, Ling Zhengce, a senior official in Shanxi, was put under investigation in 2014 for serious violations of &quot;discipline and the law&quot; -- a euphemism for corruption -- and expelled from the party last year. 
 
Another brother, Ling Wancheng, has fled to the United States, a Chinese anti-graft official confirmed in January, adding Beijing was &quot;in touch&quot; with Washington about his case. 
 
His exile has led to speculation in overseas Chinese media that Ling Jihua had given him top state secrets, including the launch codes for China&#39;s nuclear weapons, to secure some leverage in negotiations with Beijing over his case. 
 
&#39;It was a relatively lenient sentence&#39; 
 
Under Chinese law, the death penalty is available for corruption cases, but Xinhua said Ling was given a reduced sentence for having &quot;faithfully&quot; confessed to his crimes and being penitent for his actions. 
 
It was &quot;a relatively lenient sentence&quot;, Willy Lam of the Chinese University of Hong Kong told AFP. &quot;It&#39;s possible Ling drove a bargain with authorities.&quot; 
 
His former boss Hu was probably safe, Lam added, saying that the former president &quot;made a wise decision by refusing to support Ling&quot;. 
 
But other Hu proteges &quot;may now be blocked from promotion&quot;, he said, as Xi consolidates his power over the government. 
 
Graft is endemic in China&#39;s authoritarian system 
 
The Ferrari crash scandalised China despite a mainland media blackout -- partly because two young women, one nude and one partially clothed, were also injured in the crash, with one reportedly dying months later. 
 
Internet users questioned how the son of a party official could afford a car worth a reported five million yuan. 
 
The politician, his wife and son received bribes worth a total of 77.1 million yuan ($11.6 million), Xinhua said. 
 
The court found that the bribes Ling took were &quot;exceptionally enormous&quot; and &quot;the criminal circumstances&quot; under which he obtained state secrets were severe, said the report. 
 
His abuse of power caused &quot;huge losses to public property and the interests of the state and the people&quot; and had &quot;especially vile social impact&quot;, it said. 
 
When Ling was charged the country&#39;s national prosecuting authority said he &quot;abused his power&quot; as director of the General Office of the Communist Party&#39;s Central Committee, where he worked under Hu. 
 
In several party leadership posts, he &quot;illegally received large amounts of property and obtained state secrets&quot;, it added. 
 
Graft is endemic in China&#39;s authoritarian system, and Xi has acknowledged it as a threat to the ruling party&#39;s survival. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp;

Lack of transparency around the crackdown could mean an opportunity for President Xi Jinping to eliminate political enemies, say critics

An ex-aide of former Chinese President Hu Jintao has been jailed for life for corruption, illegally obtaining state secrets and abuse of power, official media reported Monday. Ling Jihua pleaded guilty and said he would not appeal, Xinhua news agency said, citing the verdict of the First Intermediate People's Court in Tianjin, which held his trial in secret last month. Verdict and sentence come as part of a high-profile crackdown The verdict and sentence come as part of a high-profile crackdown on graft by current President Xi Jinping that has deposed several senior officials, notably former security chief Zhou Yongkang, who was himself jailed for life last year. Critics, however, say that a lack of transparency around the crackdown means it has been an opportunity for Xi to eliminate political enemies. "The trial today is engraved on my bones and in my heart," it quoted Ling as saying in his final statement to the court. The chief judge carried out his duties "fairly and lawfully", he added, and the proceedings were "solemn, meticulous, rational and civilised". It may be noted Chinese courts are controlled by the ruling Communist party, which expelled Ling -- once Hu's chief of staff -- from its ranks last year. Further, it may also be pertinent to mention Ling's son died in a notorious Ferrari crash in Beijing which disrupted the once-in-a-decade party leadership change when Xi took over from Hu in 2012. Ling had powerbases in the northern province of Shanxi and the Communist Youth League -- seen as a proving ground for politicians who, unlike Xi, do not benefit from family links to high-ranking revolutionaries. One of his brothers, Ling Zhengce, a senior official in Shanxi, was put under investigation in 2014 for serious violations of "discipline and the law" -- a euphemism for corruption -- and expelled from the party last year. Another brother, Ling Wancheng, has fled to the United States, a Chinese anti-graft official confirmed in January, adding Beijing was "in touch" with Washington about his case. His exile has led to speculation in overseas Chinese media that Ling Jihua had given him top state secrets, including the launch codes for China's nuclear weapons, to secure some leverage in negotiations with Beijing over his case. 'It was a relatively lenient sentence' Under Chinese law, the death penalty is available for corruption cases, but Xinhua said Ling was given a reduced sentence for having "faithfully" confessed to his crimes and being penitent for his actions. It was "a relatively lenient sentence", Willy Lam of the Chinese University of Hong Kong told AFP. "It's possible Ling drove a bargain with authorities." His former boss Hu was probably safe, Lam added, saying that the former president "made a wise decision by refusing to support Ling". But other Hu proteges "may now be blocked from promotion", he said, as Xi consolidates his power over the government. Graft is endemic in China's authoritarian system The Ferrari crash scandalised China despite a mainland media blackout -- partly because two young women, one nude and one partially clothed, were also injured in the crash, with one reportedly dying months later. Internet users questioned how the son of a party official could afford a car worth a reported five million yuan. The politician, his wife and son received bribes worth a total of 77.1 million yuan ($11.6 million), Xinhua said. The court found that the bribes Ling took were "exceptionally enormous" and "the criminal circumstances" under which he obtained state secrets were severe, said the report. His abuse of power caused "huge losses to public property and the interests of the state and the people" and had "especially vile social impact", it said. When Ling was charged the country's national prosecuting authority said he "abused his power" as director of the General Office of the Communist Party's Central Committee, where he worked under Hu. In several party leadership posts, he "illegally received large amounts of property and obtained state secrets", it added. Graft is endemic in China's authoritarian system, and Xi has acknowledged it as a threat to the ruling party's survival. (AFP)

Ex-Chinese President's close aide gets lifer over graft charges

In the the latest incident of environment-related unrest in the country, police in southern China have detained 21 people involved in a mass protest against a planned garbage incinerator.&nbsp; 
 
In a statement late on Sunday, the government of Gaoyao district in Guangdong province&#39;s Zhaoqing city said about 1,300 people had gathered to protest earlier in the day, which had caused traffic problems. 
 
While the protesters were dispersed by the early afternoon and there was no &quot;drastic behaviour&quot;, 21 people have been taken in for questioning, it added. 
 
Zhaoqing police said on their official microblog that the situation had now returned to normal.&nbsp;However, the official China Daily said there had been some violence. 
 
&quot;The lawbreakers threw stones and bottles of mineral water at police,&quot; propaganda official Duan Jianxin told the newspaper. &quot;Some police officers were injured.&quot; 
 
The China Daily said some residents were worried the garbage incinerator could pollute the environment, but that the government has denied this would happen. 
 
Tens of thousands of &quot;mass incidents&quot; -- the usual euphemism for protests -- happen in China each year, spurred by grievances over issues such as corruption, pollution, and illegal land grabs, unnerving the stability-obsessed ruling Communist Party. 
 
Last month, thousands of people protested against a waste incineration project in central China, also over fears it would damage the environment and residents&#39; health. 
 
(Reuters)

The government of Gaoyao district said about 1,300 people had gathered to protest causing traffic-related issues

In the the latest incident of environment-related unrest in the country, police in southern China have detained 21 people involved in a mass protest against a planned garbage incinerator. In a statement late on Sunday, the government of Gaoyao district in Guangdong province's Zhaoqing city said about 1,300 people had gathered to protest earlier in the day, which had caused traffic problems. While the protesters were dispersed by the early afternoon and there was no "drastic behaviour", 21 people have been taken in for questioning, it added. Zhaoqing police said on their official microblog that the situation had now returned to normal. However, the official China Daily said there had been some violence. "The lawbreakers threw stones and bottles of mineral water at police," propaganda official Duan Jianxin told the newspaper. "Some police officers were injured." The China Daily said some residents were worried the garbage incinerator could pollute the environment, but that the government has denied this would happen. Tens of thousands of "mass incidents" -- the usual euphemism for protests -- happen in China each year, spurred by grievances over issues such as corruption, pollution, and illegal land grabs, unnerving the stability-obsessed ruling Communist Party. Last month, thousands of people protested against a waste incineration project in central China, also over fears it would damage the environment and residents' health. (Reuters)

21 detained in southern China for participating in mass protest

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