标签： Asia

Lu Wenjun, the former deputy general manager of China First Heavy Industries, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and dismissed from public office following a thorough investigation into his serious disciplinary and legal violations. The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission disclosed this decision on Monday, highlighting the gravity of his misconduct. The investigation revealed that Lu had breached the Party’s political, organizational, and integrity disciplines, engaged in duty-related offenses, and was implicated in bribery. He was found to have accepted banquets that could have influenced his official duties, failed to report personal matters truthfully, and manipulated official appointments for personal gain. Additionally, Lu illegally accepted gifts and money, participated in power-for-money transactions, and used his position to secure benefits in business contracting, commission payments, and job adjustments, amassing significant illicit wealth. Despite the CPC’s intensified anti-corruption efforts post the 18th CPC National Congress, Lu continued his misconduct, leading to severe consequences. His expulsion from the Party and dismissal from office were accompanied by the confiscation of his illegal gains, with his criminal offenses referred to the procuratorial authorities for prosecution. China First Heavy Industries, established in 1954, is a pivotal state-owned enterprise in the heavy machinery sector, underscoring the importance of maintaining integrity in such key institutions.

In a significant development, Khalil al-Hayya, the leader of Hamas’s Gaza branch, announced that the movement has reached a consensus with various Palestinian factions, including Fatah, on the structure for post-war governance in Gaza. Speaking to Al Jazeera on Sunday, Hayya revealed that Hamas has endorsed a proposal to form a committee comprising national figures without political affiliations to oversee Gaza’s administration. This committee would assume full control, including security responsibilities, and Hamas has pledged not to interfere in its operations, urging its swift establishment. The committee’s mandate would conclude upon the organization of general elections or the formation of a unified Palestinian government, with Hamas advocating for elections as a means to reunite the Palestinian people under a single leadership. However, Fatah, Hamas’s primary political adversary, has disputed the agreement, insisting that the committee should be led by a minister from the Palestinian Authority. Hayya also disclosed that Palestinian factions have consented to the deployment of an international force to secure Gaza’s borders, monitor the ceasefire, and prevent violations. He welcomed the participation of Arab and Muslim forces in this mission but emphasized that their role would be restricted to border security and ceasefire oversight, with no internal operations in Gaza. Additionally, Hayya called for a UN resolution to support the international force’s deployment and announced the establishment of an international body dedicated to reconstruction efforts, tasked with securing funding and supervising rebuilding projects. On the contentious issue of arms, Hayya reiterated that Hamas’s weapons are tied to the Israeli occupation, and they would be surrendered to the Palestinian state once the occupation ends. He acknowledged ongoing discussions with Palestinian factions and intermediaries on this matter. Regarding the ceasefire with Israel, Hayya noted that US officials’ statements suggest the war has concluded. However, he highlighted that Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire, resulting in over 93 deaths and continued restrictions on aid and the closure of the Rafah crossing. Israel has justified these actions by citing Hamas’s delayed return of Israeli captives’ bodies. Hayya explained that locating these bodies has been challenging due to extensive bombardment and the deaths of those who buried them, leaving 13 captives still buried in Gaza.

In a significant political move, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree on Sunday designating his vice president, Hussein al-Sheikh, as the acting president in the event of a vacancy. The decree outlines that if the president dies or becomes incapacitated, the vice president will assume the role for up to 90 days, during which elections for a new president must be conducted. Should exceptional circumstances prevent elections within this period, the Palestinian Central Council may extend the interim term once. This decision has ignited fierce criticism from opponents, who argue it violates constitutional norms. Under Palestinian law, the speaker of parliament—last elected from Hamas in 2006—is next in line for succession. However, the new decree places the vice president—a recently established position—next in line, bypassing the non-functioning parliament. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem condemned the move, labeling it a unilateral alteration of the political system that exploits the situation for specific factions. He asserted that the decree distorts the political system and complicates prospects for reform. Qassem emphasized Hamas’s commitment to reforming the political system within a framework of national consensus and achieving true Palestinian unity to address the challenges facing the Palestinian cause. Sheikh, a close ally of Abbas, was appointed vice president of the state of Palestine and the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in April—positions newly created at the time. His appointment was criticized by Hamas as an entrenchment of monopoly and exclusion. Sheikh, who previously coordinated security matters with Israeli occupation forces, maintains close ties with Israeli military leaders and American diplomats but enjoys limited support among Palestinians. A 2022 survey by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research revealed that Sheikh would have garnered only three percent of the vote in a presidential election. His reputation has been further tarnished by allegations of sexual harassment in 2012, with reports of $100,000 paid as hush money to withdraw the claim. Sheikh has consistently refused to address these allegations.

Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Palestine, is set to present her latest report on the Gaza genocide from Cape Town, South Africa, rather than the UN General Assembly headquarters in New York. This unprecedented move comes as a direct consequence of US sanctions imposed against her earlier this year, which have barred her from entering the United States and frozen her assets there. The sanctions, issued by the Trump administration in July, followed Albanese’s critical report on June 30, which implicated over 60 companies, including major US tech firms like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, in supporting Israel’s economy of occupation and genocide. Her new report, titled ‘Gaza Genocide: A Collective Crime,’ examines the complicity of 63 states in enabling Israel’s actions in Gaza. Albanese will deliver her speech at the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town, a location she described as symbolic. During her recent Nelson Mandela Lecture in Johannesburg, she condemned the sanctions and praised South Africa for its role in challenging colonial and imperial power structures. Albanese also highlighted the efforts of The Hague Group, an alliance of global south states co-chaired by South Africa and Colombia, in holding Israel accountable for breaches of international law. She emphasized the importance of enforcing international law, stating that ‘law is only as strong as the will of states to enforce it.’