Extracts. UNICEF Promotes "Say Yes for Children" Campaign in China Yue-Sai Kan, one of United Nation' s distinguished promoters for the "Say Yes for Children" campaign, has called for more public support from China for the worldwide pledging program at a recent press conference in Beijing. As a key part for the Global Movement for Children, which was conducted by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the "Say Yes for Children" campaign invites people to sign a sample pledge form to show their support in offering a better world for children. The pledge form lists 10 imperative actions and responsibilities needed to improve the lives of children and adolescents everywhere. These actions highlight the importance of educating every child, protecting children from war, fighting poverty and HIV/AIDS and protect the earth for children. The campaign is determined to deliver the clear and unmistakable message that the citizens of the world care about children and expect governments to keep the promises they make to them, according to the UNICEF. UNICEF has so far received over 3 million such pledge forms through printed ballot and Internet since the campaign was officially launched worldwide in April this year. The "Say Yes for Children" Campaign was formally started on 28 April in China, aiming to raise about 2 million pledges from Chinese children and adults. People may visit www.gmfc.org and www.ccppg.com.cn websites to pledge their commitment to the campaign. All the signatures will be collected and presented to world leaders at the United Nations Special Session on Children in New York City between September 19- 21, 2001. Yue-Sai Kan, who was introduced by UNICEF New York as the first Chinese-American "Say Yes" Ambassador for children last month, has presented some 300 "Say Yes" pledge forms signed by the employees from her company branch in Beijing. At the hand-over ceremony held recently in this capital city of China, Yue-Sai Kan expressed her strong belief that Chinese people are willing to add their voices to millions of others around the world in saying "yes" for children. Born in Guilin, a famous scenic city in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Yue-Sai Kan was well known in the international community as a successful journalist, an entrepreneur, and a humanitarian, who has worked hard to bridge the gap between East and West. She has joined an impressive array of international celebrities, including UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Nelson Mandela, Bill Gates, Republic of Korea's President Kim Dae-jung, who have already committed and are making great efforts to promote the campaign in more than 90 countries. At her 30-second Public Service Announcement (PSA), which was filmed in English, Mandarin and Cantonese, Yue-Sai Kan makes a personal pledge for children around the world to promote the idea that all children should be free to grow to adulthood in health, peace and dignity. The PSA is expected to appear on television stations worldwide later this month, according to UNICEF officials. **** DPR Korea Crush China in Four-Nation Soccer Tourney he Democratic People's Republic of Korea handed a 6-4 defeat to the Chinese eleven in the four- nation soccer tournament in Shanghai Friday night. In the physical match, China scored the opening goal in the 25th minute through midfielder Shen Si and it was the only goal at the first half. The visiting side came from behind twice in the second half and tied with China 2-2 after 90 minutes. China lost their winning chances in the penalty shootout as DPR Korean goalkeeper blocked China's first two shots, while the visitors didn't waste a single opportunity in their four attempts. DPR Korea will face Kuwait for the title of the tournament on Sunday. Kuwait clinched a 5-4 victory over Trinidad and Tobago through the shootout earlier Friday. **** Bush Extends Iran-Libya Sanctions for 5 Years US President George W. Bush on Friday signed a five-year extension of sanctions against Libya and Iran designed to curb foreign investment in their oil and gas sectors. In a statement, Bush said his administration shared Congress' concerns about the "objectionable policies and behavior" of Iran and Libya. "We are addressing these concerns in a number of ways," he said. "In particular, we are strengthening our efforts with other countries, whose cooperation is essential to pursuing the most effective approaches to solving the problems of proliferation and terrorism addressed by (the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act)." The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives last week approved a five-year extension of the sanctions. The legislation allows the president to continue to penalize through mid-2006 any foreign firm that invests more than $20 million in the energy sectors of either country. The 1996 law, due to expire next month, was meant to punish the two nations for what Washington says is their support for international terrorism and the development of weapons of mass destruction. Both countries have dismissed the charges. The House and the Senate passed slightly different versions of the legislation, and the one Bush signed was the version approved by the House. That lets the president report to Congress after two years on the success of the sanctions. Bush said in the statement he wanted a more frequent review of sanctions, to better assess their effectiveness. Supporters of the law say it has worked, discouraging foreign energy firms from investing in Iran and Libya. But critics said it had not prevented foreign companies, especially those in Europe, from doing business with the two countries. The European Commission this week said it regretted Congress' decision to extend sanctions, warning it would retaliate if action was taken against European firms. **** U.S. Defense Secretary: Congress Unlikely to Support Military Base Closures U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Friday that he has little confidence that Congress will grant his request for authority to close, consolidate or realign domestic military bases starting in 2003. Proposed legislation creating an independent commission to determine which bases to close or consolidate was submitted to Congress on Friday after last-minute disputes were settled over the role of Congress in selecting the commission members and Rumsfeld's power to protect some bases from closure. Asked whether he was confident that Congress would allow bases to be closed, Rumsfeld replied, "No, I'm not ... It's a very difficult thing to do." The process is certain to encounter political resistance, and House and Senate members want to protect communities in their states and districts from the economic losses associated with base closures, Rumsfeld said at a press conference. The savings to the Pentagon will not be realized for several years because it would take billions of dollars in upfront costs to close and consolidate bases, he added. **** Taipei Mayor Supports Call for Direct Flights Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou Thursday gave his support to the plan to eventually open direct flight services from the city's airport to the mainland and Hong Kong. Mr. Ma, who addressed a gathering of overseas Chinese, urged leaders on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to set aside sensitive political issues so that direct flights, cut off since 1949, could resume. Mr. Ma proposed that the flight be better called 'special' flights so that they can be get started. Mr. Ma's remarks were made a day after the municipal Government's Department of Transport issued a report outlining the potential benefits of opening direct flights to the mainland and Hong Kong from the Sungshan airport near central Taipei. Taipei's report said much of the traffic at Sungshan, which operates at 103 per cent of capacity due to high demand, would be relieved after a new high-speed railway opened in 2005. Taipei hoped that by then the b _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
