China, The World’s Biggest Polluter To Cut “Carbon Intensity”
Yesterday China broke the silence on its targets for the Copenhagen climate talks. The world’s largest carbon emitter said it aims to cut its “Carbon Intensity” by 40-45% by 2020 from levels based on 2005 figures. These figures reveal a more ambitious target than expected, says the BBC . Despite these shining figures, analysts don’t expect China will get far. With the rapid rate the economy is growing, they say carbon intensity is more likely to rise than fall. China’s targets came straight on the heels of America’s on Wednesday, and are said to make the Copenhagen talks more straightforward. Beijing also revealed yesterday that Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao would join Obama, Brown and Sarkozy amongst other leaders in Copenhagen. Yang Ailun, from Greenpeace China said “This is definitely a very positive step China is taking, but we think China can do more” 

Residents Flee Ndele in the Central African Republic
"The town is empty of its population who have fled into the bush," reports Jean-Sebastien Munie of the UN's humanitarian agency. The CPJP rebels attacked the northern town in the Central African Republic (CAR) early yesterday morning without warning. The number of casualties is still unknown. The CPJP is one of the rebel groups who have refused to sign the recent government peace deal. Mr Munie said the fighting was not accompanied by any serious destruction of property or looting. Today the military has taken to patrolling the streets of Ndele, despite it’s emptiness, for security. Thursday’s events are said to illustrate the fragile political state of the CAR, and are not uncommon. The government and the UN are working to demobilise rebel movements like the CPJP, but with little success. In the 3 years leading to 2008, “Ghost Towns” in the CAR were created, with over 300,000 people fleeing their villages and homes due to rebel attacks and political uncertainty. The CAR is often described as a country in permanent political and economic crisis. The CPJP, one of the fringe rebel movements, has a low profile nationally but is reported to have support from within the Runga ethnic group. The Sultan of Ndele, a respected figure on both rebel and non-rebel sides has presented himself as a mediator in the past. All that remains is for him to do the same now.

Philippine Politician Determined To Run For Governor Despite Family Being Massacred 
“Only death can stop me from running,” said Ismael Mangudadatu. A poignant statement from a politician whose wife, children and two sisters were massacred amongst 57 people in an apparent attempt to stop him running for governor in the south of the Philippines. Today, escorted by a police commander and a senior army general, he filed his candidacy for the next election. His convoy of more than 50 vehicles took the same road where his family, supporters and journalists were stopped and killed on Monday and their bodies dumped in mass graves. Witnesses refused to give statements or details to local police. Not all the 57 victims were part of the convoy. Police officer Felicisimo Khu, who was supervising the retrieval of bodies on a grassy hilltop in Ampatuan township, said the gunmen intercepted two other vehicles with six people who happened to be travelling at the same time – and killed and buried them too; they were simply literally in the wrong place at the wrong time. Andal Ampatuan Jr is the main suspect behind the killings. A direct descendant of the family that has ruled Maguindanao (the province which Mangudadatu is so determined to win) without opposition for years, he turned himself in yesterday under threat of army attack against his family's compound, but maintains his innocence. When asked by reporters if he was involved in the plans, Ampatuan replied, "There is no truth to that. The reason I came out is to prove that I am not hiding and that I am not guilty." At an airport building where he was initially questioned, Ampatuan came face to face in a confrontation with an enraged Mangudadatu. Police had to separate and restrain both men. "When I saw him, I wanted to chew him up, spit him out and stomp on him," Mangudadatu told the press later. Ampatuan is expected to be charged later today.

Women MP Throws Her Shoes In Protest At Serbian Parliament
Another way of expressing democracy was discovered in Serbian Parliament yesterday while members of the chamber discussed a new bill giving more independence to Vojvodina, a northern region of Serbia - a bill determinedly opposed by the Radical Party. MP Gordana Pop-Lazic aimed her heels at the deputy speaker, but missed, making the £300 equivalent fine seem a little less worth it on reflection. The ever increasing popularity of shoe-hurling as a means of protest started after the infamous incident where a journalist chucked his loafers at former US President Bush last December.  Ms Pop-Lazic told journalists it was not her intention to hurt the deputy speaker, and just wanted to get his attention after being repeatedly ignored. The MP had to emphasise (to maintain the strong, intellectual image of the woman MP) that she was glad that the shoes had been returned to her because she had had to wait for two months to buy them in a sale.

Words: Lucy Keen

Photo: Flickr user *~Dawn~*