RTC Director

Romney Wins Major Victory In New Hampshire Primary

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney took a major step Tuesday toward winning the Republican Party’s presidential nomination with a convincing victory in the New Hampshire presidential primary.  Romney easily defeated five Republican rivals one week after a narrow win in the Iowa caucuses and appears to be a strong favorite to be the Republican challenger against President Barack Obama in the November election. 

Romney was clearly excited when he addressed supporters at a victory celebration in Manchester.

“Thank you, New Hampshire!  Tonight we made history,” he said.

Romney was an easy winner in New Hampshire -- the first in the nation presidential primary, historically an important test for those seeking the White House.

In his victory speech, Romney focused less on his Republican rivals and highlighted his differences with President Obama.

“We still believe in the America that is a land of opportunity and a beacon of freedom.  We believe in the America that challenges each of us to be better and bigger than ourselves.  In this election, let’s go on to fight for the America we love because we believe in America.  Thank you so much!  God Bless America,” he said.

Texas Representative Ron Paul finished second -- a strong showing for a candidate whose focus on smaller government and less U.S. involvement abroad struck a chord with New Hampshire voters.

“But there was another victory tonight.  He had a victory.  But we have had a victory for the cause of liberty tonight,” he said.

Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman captured third place in the primary.  Huntsman has campaigned almost exclusively in New Hampshire for the past year.

"Here we sit tonight, with a ticket to ride and move on.  Here we go to South Carolina," he said.

Surveys of voters leaving the polls said the economy was the top issue.

John Boghosian of Concord voted for Mitt Romney.  Four years ago, his vote went to Barack Obama.

“I voted for the wrong guy last time.  I shouldn’t have, but I did,” he said.

Ron Paul had loyal supporters as well. One of them said “I think he appeals to the common man -- the middle class of America -- and that is who I am.”

Romney now is in the enviable position of having won the first two presidential contests.  But he faces his toughest test yet on January 21 in the South Carolina primary, where Republican primary voters tend to be more conservative than those in New Hampshire.

Romney has a small lead in the latest polls in South Carolina.

American University political expert Allan Lichtman says a Romney victory there would be a serious blow to his Republican rivals.

“After his first-place finish in New Hampshire, if Mitt Romney can go to a Southern state like South Carolina and win there, I would say the nomination struggle is virtually over.  He’s got it wrapped up,” he said.

As the campaign moves South, Romney can expect intensified attacks from conservatives like former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Governor Rick Perry.  Perry largely skipped the New Hampshire contest to focus on South Carolina.

by RTC Director

Three believed dead in S Korean boat fire in Antarctic

Three crew members are thought to have died on a South Korean fishing boat that caught fire in Antarctica.

"Three crew members are still missing and are believed to have died in the fire in the vessel's accommodation block,'' the New Zealand Rescue Coordination Centre said.

Another 37 fishermen were rescued - seven sustained burn injuries, two of which were serious.

The 51-metre (167ft) Jeong Woo 2 issued a distress call early on Wednesday.

It got into trouble in the Ross Sea, about 600km (375 miles) north of the US McMurdo Antarctic base.

Two other South Korean fishing vessels rushed to evacuate the crew members.

They were being medically assessed and would be transferred to the US research ship Nathaniel B. Palmer, which was ''steaming north to meet them'', said the New Zealand rescue authorities.

The two rescue boats remain stuck due to ice and fog conditions, it added.

The Nathaniel B. Palmer has medical facilities on board and will sail to the McMurdo base, where flights to New Zealand are available.

The incident happened about 3,700km (2,000 miles) south-east of New Zealand.

The weather in the area is calm and relatively mild, according to a Reuters report. Ships in the area would usually be fishing for toothfish, a valuable species known as the ''white gold'' of the Southern Ocean.

The Jeong Woo 2 was built in Japan and is registered in Busan, South Korea, according to the Associated Press News Agency.

Last month, a Russian fishing boat hit an iceberg in ice-filled waters off Antarctica, leaving its 32-member crew stranded for 12 days.

The Sparta was eventually repaired and managed to sail into a New Zealand port.

by RTC Director

Syria: US condemns Bashar al-Assad 'conspiracy' speech

The US and France have condemned a speech by Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad which blamed an "external conspiracy" for the mass uprising against his rule.

The US state department said President Assad had thrown "responsibility on everybody but back on himself".

France's foreign minister said the speech amounted to "denial of reality".

In a rare public address, Mr Assad said international powers were trying to destabilise Syria, and vowed to crush "terrorists" with an "iron fist".

In Washington, state department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said: "Assad manages to blame a foreign conspiracy that is so vast with regard to the situation in Syria that it now includes the Arab League, most of the Syrian opposition, the entire international community.

"He throws responsibility on everybody but back on himself and with regard to his own responsibility for the violence in Syria."

She added that the address confirmed "our view that it is time for him to step aside".

Speaking in Paris, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said: "It incites violence and confrontation between the parties. It's a sort of denial of reality."

Attack on monitors

Tuesday's speech was President Assad's third televised address since protests against his rule began in March, and lasted nearly two hours.

"Regional and international sides have tried to destabilise the country," he said.

"Our priority now is to regain the security in which we basked in for decades, and this can only be achieved by hitting the terrorists with an iron fist.

"We will not be lenient with those who work with outsiders against the country."

The Syrian authorities say they are fighting armed groups, and that about 2,000 members of the security forces have been killed so far.

In recent months, army deserters have joined the opposition and targeted government forces.

A team of 165 monitors from the Arab League has been in Syria since December to monitor implementation of a peace plan that calls for an end to violence, the removal of heavy weapons from cities and the release of political prisoners.

Opposition groups have accused the mission of serving to cover up the crackdown on the protests, which has continued despite the presence of the observers.

Reacting to the speech, the head of the opposition Syrian National Council, Burhan Ghalioun, said Mr Assad's emphasis on restoring order "means he is backing away from his own pledge to the Arab League plan".

Meanwhile, the Arab League has condemned a recent incident in which two members of its observer mission were injured in an attack.

The Kuwaiti monitors were set upon by unidentified assailants as they drove to the port city of Latakia, a stronghold of President Assad.

"Failing to provide adequate protection in Latakia and other areas where the mission is deployed is considered a serious violation by the government of its commitments," the league said in a statement.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem denounced the attack, saying his government "would continue to bear its responsibility to secure and protect those monitors".

by RTC Director

Scotland May Vote on Independence in 2014

Britain has set out the conditions under which Scotland can decide whether to sever its centuries-old constitutional ties with Britain.

The British government offered with certain conditions Tuesday to remove legal hurdles so Scots can hold a referendum on independence from Britain.

First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond wants to delay the vote until late 2014 so the independence movement in Scotland can gain momentum.

But British Prime Minister David Cameron is urging Scotland to hold the referendum as soon as possible to avoid economic problems that might arise due to a long debate. Mr. Cameron opposes any breakup of the United Kingdom, which also includes Wales and Northern Ireland.

The parliaments of England and Scotland voted more than 300 years ago to unite in a single kingdom called Great Britain.

A 2014 vote would coincide with the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, a Scottish victory over the British. Salmond said the date is purely coincidental.

by RTC Director

Work by Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei Coming to Washington

A work by provocative Chinese artist Ai Weiwei will go on display at a museum in Washington.

The Smithsonian's Sackler Gallery said on Tuesday that it will display Ai's installation piece “Fragments,'' a huge work in ironwood with pieces from the dismantled temples of the Qing Dynasty. The piece has never been shown in the United States. It will be featured as part of the “Perspectives” series and runs from May 2012 until April 2013.

Ai was detained for three months last year in China on charges of speaking against the government. Under terms of his bail, the artist is prohibited from leaving Beijing until June.

The Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum plans to open a companion exhibit beginning in October.

The Sackler Gallery said both exhibitions will be accompanied by a full schedule of public programs, with details coming soon.

by RTC Director