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| Kim Jong-un attends N Korea parade Cheers, tears, missiles and goose-steps at parade watched by Kim Jong-il and his heir apparent son, and broadcast live on TVSee more of Guardian photographer Dan Chung's imagesKim Jong-il's heir apparent joined his father at a massive military parade in Pyongyang today, his most public appearance since being named as North Korea's next leader.Dressed in a dark blue civilian suit, Kim Jong-un sat next to his father on an observation platform at Kim Il-sung Plaza as tanks carrying rocket-propelled grenades and long-range missiles rolled by as part of celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of the ruling Workers' party.The event was broadcast live on state TV, giving North Koreans their first good look at the future leader. Days earlier, the world got a first glimpse of the son from photos published in the Rodong Sinmun newspaper.There were cheers and some tears from North Koreans attending the parade. "Kim Jong-il! Protect him to the death!" "Kim Jong-il, let's unite to support him!" they chanted as the 68-year-old leader walked the length of the platform, appearing to limp slightly.The parade was said to be the nation's largest ever, an impressive display of unity and military might for a country known for its elaborately staged performances.Thousands of troops from every branch of North Korea's 1.2 million-strong military, as well as from naval officers' academies and military nursing schools, goose-stepped around the plaza to the accompaniment of a brass band.Tanks and trucks loaded with Katyusha rocket launchers and grenades rolled past. They were dwarfed by the series of missiles that paraded by, each larger than the last and emblazoned with: "Defeat the US military. US soldiers are the Korean People's army's enemy."Ri Yong Ho, chief of the general staff of the North Korean army, said at the event: "If the US imperialists and their followers infringe on our sovereignty and dignity even slightly, we will blow up the stronghold of their aggression with a merciless and righteous retaliatory strike by mobilising all physical means, including self-defensive nuclear deterrent force, and achieve the historic task of unification."The parade was probably less about showing off its military might than about introducing the heir to the North Korean people and building up his image as the next leader, according to Baek Seung-joo, a North Korea analyst at South Korea's Korea Institute for Defence Analyses.Kim Yong-hyun, an expert on North Korea at Seoul's Dongguk University, said: "The parade served as a sign that the military has loyalty to the successor."A select group of media outlets was allowed into the country to cover the festivities, and were given front-row seats at the two events where the Kims appeared: a performance of the Arirang mass games spectacle yesterday, and today's military parade.The question of who will take over leadership of the nuclear-armed nation has been a pressing one since Kim Jong-il reportedly suffered a stroke in 2008. . Kim Jong-un won his first military post with a promotion to general late last month, and was appointed to the Workers' party's central military commission and the central committee, strong signs he was being groomed to eventually succeed his father.North KoreaKim Jong-ilguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Charges over US health care scam US officials charge 73 people, mostly Armenians, over a massive fraud against the country's medical insurance system. bbc.co.uk |
BP to link pay to safety after Gulf oil disaster • Performance to be judged solely on steps improving safety • Bonus scheme reviewed over possible curb on risk-takingBP is to link staff bonuses just to improvements in safety standards in its fourth quarter, in an attempt to improve its reputation after the Gulf of Mexico disaster.Bob Dudley, BP's new chief executive, announced the move in an email to employees seen by the Wall Street Journal. He said the sole criterion for judging performance in the fourth quarter would be "each business's progress in reducing operational risks and achieving excellent safety and compliance standards".The oil company, still reeling from the Gulf spill and accusations that it put profit before safety, is reviewing whether its executive bonus scheme puts sufficient weight on its safety record. BP's last annual report said "key safety measures" accounted for 15% of bonuses but 70% was for financial and operational targets.Dudley, who replaced Tony Hayward last month, marked his arrival by ousting the head of exploration and production and announcing a major restructuring to give safety a higher priority. This included setting up a new safety division with powers to intervene in operations. BP is also carving up the exploration division, which industry insiders say has become a semi-autonomous unit, and reviewing its use of contractors in light of the disaster, the worst oil spill in American history.Its rival, Royal Dutch Shell, has long linked bonuses to safety, while Exxon Mobil is known to insist on compliance.Some American commentators want BP barred from drilling in the US in future. With 40% of its assets there, such a move could cripple the company. Some U.S. lawmakers have argued the oil spill, a refinery blast in 2005, and Alaskan oil spills in 2006, reflect a corporate culture that encouraged managers to put profits before safety."Bob Dudley, the new CEO, is determined to mend the company's fences with the current US administration," said David Buik, at BGC Partners.While BP finally managed to cap the burst oil well in the Gulf in July, the group is expected to feel the consequences of the disaster – the reputational damage – for a long time to come. It pulled out of plans to bid for a licence to drill in Arctic waters off the Greenland coast, fearing that it would be too controversial.Meanwhile, BP told a US court today that it would waive the legal cap on its liability from the Gulf spill, which could have limited the cost to the firm to $75m (£48m) plus clean-up costs. BP has already paid out hundreds of millions of dollars to fisherman, retailers, charter boat captains and property owners who were hit by the spill.The company has publicly committed to pay clean-up costs and all "legitimate claims," rather than applying the cap.Under pressure from the Obama administration, the firm has established a $20bn compensation fund, but a slew of lawsuits also have been brought against BP.At a court hearing on the lawsuits on Friday, BP created confusion about its stance on the liability cap. It did not commit to waiving the cap at the hearing, as many plaintiffs' attorneys had expected, and said in a statement then that the cap "is not relevant".Steve Herman, a Louisiana attorney leading hundreds of lawsuits against BP and its partners, said: "BP lawyers wouldn't say on the record they would waive the cap. It certainly took everyone by surprise."In Mon's filing at the US district court in Louisiana, BP said it would waive the liability cap. BP also urged other defendants in the case, including the rig owner Transocean Holdings, Anadarko Petroleum and MOEX Offshore, to waive the liability cap, according to the filing.BP also said it reserved the right to seek reimbursement from the other defendants and denied engaging in grossly negligent conduct, which would open the door to potentially huge punitive damages.BPOil and gas companiesEnergy industryOilBP oil spillOilUnited StatesBob DudleyJulia Kolleweguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Judge rejects Bez assault appeal Former Happy Mondays member Bez loses his appeal against an assault conviction - and is warned about his behaviour in court. bbc.co.uk |
N Korea video shows anger and poverty Secretly filmed video of poverty and disobedience in North Korea has emerged, as the South describes the shelling of its territory as an "inhumane crime". bbc.co.uk |