China is stepping up efforts to reduce the worst effects of environmental pollution caused by its breakneck economic expansion. The State Council has announced new measures to boost the growth of the environmental technology protection sector. Marcus Herbert has more. “The Chinese government is alarmed by recent social unrest caused by environmental disasters, such as chronic urban smog, or thousands of rotting pig carcasses in water supplying the city of Shanghai.
Now, the State Council has announced that it will accelerate an existing plan to ensure growth of the environmental protection industry by 15% annually by 2015. Over the next two years, it will pay subsidies worth more than $700bn, and eligible foreign, as well as domestic, companies will receive tax breaks.”
The father of the fugitive American national security agency contractor Edward Snowden says he will soon visit his son in Russia where he has been given temporary asylum. Mr. Snowden is wanted by the US authorities for leaking sensitive details about US surveillance programs. Lon Snowden said that he does not believe his son will receive a fair trial in the United Sates. From Washington Katy Watson. “Lon Snowden said his son had spoken the truth and made huge sacrifices.
His lawyer said they've been granted Russian visas and will be travelling to Moscow very soon, there, though be suggesting criminal defence lawyers who've got experience with people prosecuted under the Espionage Act, but there’s still no indication from Edward Snowden himself that he will be prepared to face the counts he's been charged with in a US court.”