AFP_ENG_20061211.0001

SAN DIEGO, California, Dec 10 , 2006, 2006

Record-setting Tomlinson propels Chargers into NFL playoffs

LaDainian Tomlinson seized the National Football League single-season record for touchdowns on Sunday as the San Diego Chargers captured the AFC West division crown.

Tomlinson rushed for three touchdowns to take his total for the season to 29, eclipsing the record of 28 set by Seattle's Shaun Alexander last year.

The Chargers downed the Denver Broncos 48-20 to win the division for the second time in three years, improving to 11-2. That's the best record in the AFC, one game ahead of Indianapolis for home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Colts lost for the second week in a row, wasting another chance to clinch the AFC South title as they fell 44-17 to Jacksonville.

Rookie Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for a season-high 166 yards and two touchdowns and scored on a 93-yard kickoff return for the Jaguars, who rushed for a franchise record 375 yards against their division rivals.

"Not much to say except they dominated us from start to finish," said Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, who completed 25-of-50 passes. "We just need a win to get back on track."

The New England Patriots also failed in their bid to clinch the AFC East, suffering their first shut-out since 2003 at the hands of Miami.

Jason Taylor and Yeremiah Bell led a defensive assault on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, while Joey Harrington and Sammy Morris managed the Dolphins' offense to a 21-0 victory in a battle of division rivals.

Brady, a two-time Super Bowl MVP, endured a nightmare game, completing 12-of-25 passes for only 78 yards. He was sacked five times and lost one of his two fumbles.

In contrast, the Chargers continued a dream run on Sunday with their seventh win in a row.

"It is extra meaningful, because not only do you break the record, but you clinch the division and clinch a playoff spot and then you take over the No. 1 seed in the AFC," said Tomlinson, who has 26 touchdowns rushing and three receiving.

"So many things happened today that are special for this football team."

Tomlinson broke Alexander's record in dramatic style, rushing for two of his scores in a 47-second span late in the fourth quarter.

Tomlinson had pulled within one of the record when he scored on a seven-yard run with 23 seconds left in the second quarter to help the Chargers build a 28-3 lead.

Tomlinson, who finished with 103 yards on 28 carries, scored on a six-yard run to tie Alexander's record with 3:57 left in the fourth quarter.

It appeared Tomlinson would have to wait another week to break the mark. But on Denver's ensuing possession, linebacker Shawne Merriman stripped the ball from rookie quarterback Jay Cutler and the Chargers recovered at the Denver 7 yard line.

Tomlinson then took a handoff from Philip Rivers and raced around the left side for a seven-yard touchdown.

The loss was the fourth in a row for the Broncos, who slipped one game behind Jacksonville and Cincinnati in the AFC wild-card race.

The Bengals stayed in the postseason mix with a 27-10 victory over lowly Oakland.

Baltimore moved a step closer to the AFC North title with a 20-10 victory over Kansas City.

NFC East leaders Dallas were thrashed 42-17 by NFC South leaders New Orleans.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees dismantled the Cowboys, matching a career high with five touchdowns and completing 26-of-38 passes for 384 yards. His huge night gave him a league-high 4,033 passing yards for the season.

The Saints improved to 9-4 and have a two-game lead in the NFC South over Atlanta, who beat the lackluster Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17-6.

Elsewhere in the NFC East, both the New York Giants and Philadelphia improved to 7-6, the Giants with a 27-13 victory over Carolina and Philadelphia with a 21-19 victory over Washington.

For the Eagles the game was the first of a tough three-game road trip against division rivals.

In other games, Arizona surprised Seattle 27-21, Buffalo beat the New York Jets 31-13, Minnesota downed Detroit 30-20, Tennessee topped Houston 26-20 in overtime, and Green Bay beat San Francisco 30-19.

Dec 10 , 2006

Sunday

the season

last year

three years

the second week

Sunday

today

the fourth quarter

the second quarter

the fourth quarter

another week

the season


AFP_ENG_20061202.0379

LONDON, Dec 2 , 2006, 2006

Former Russian spy Litvinenko's book attracting high Internet bids

Sale of the 2002 book co-written by the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko who died of suspected radioactive poisoning are selling on the Internet at up to 30 times their orginal price.

Two copies of "Blowing Up Russia: Terror from Within" are currently available on the British online book store Amazon for 189 pounds (280 euros, 374 dollars) for a new version and nearly 237 for a second-hand edition.

The book's publisher SPI Books, a small US outfit that specialises in works on politics, terrorism and military affairs, if offering it on its Internet site at 13.95 dollars (seven pounds, 10.39 euros) plus postage.

On the online auction site eBay, a copy signed by Litvinenko in 2005 was put up for sale five days ago and has three days left for bids. On Saturday afternoon, 16 bids had been submitted and had reached 100 pounds.

"Dear Diane. Thank you for the help and support!" the former Russian secret service agent signed.

The book, co-written by the US-based Russian historian Yuri Felshtinsky, argues that the Federal Security Services (FSB) -- a successor to the KGB -- co-ordinated a series of blasts in Moscow and other Russian cities in 1999.

The explosions, which took place over a two-month period, are thought to have killed more than 300 people.

Russian authorities blamed Chechen separatists and allegedly used the blasts as an excuse for a renewed offensive against the breakaway former Soviet republic.

The book also claims that the Russian secret services organised a number of assassinations and kidnappings.

Dec 2 , 2006

five days ago

Saturday afternoon


XIN_ENG_20051108.0310

LONDON, Nov. 8 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Ferguson to splash out at Premiership in January

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has claimed that he will be beefing up his squad in January as Premiership is becoming a "numbers game".

Ferguson wants United to build on the 1-0 win against Chelsea at Old Trafford which revived their title ambitions.

He said: "What I will be looking to do is increase the squad in January. It's actually numbers we're lacking.

"But you have to dismiss the possibility of getting players from clubs who think they can win the Champions League."

Ferguson added: "That narrows down your options but we're playing the numbers game right now.

"I'm happy with the quality we have but we're relying too much on our younger players at a time when we're missing the experience of Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Gabriel Heinze."

United have been linked with Real Madrid's Thomas Gravesen and Bayern Munich's Michael Ballack, but both clubs are still contesting the Champions League.

In a previous January transfer window Ferguson signed Louis Saha from Fulham, because he needed to avoid players who were still involved in the Champions League.

It could be that he will now look to complete a similar deal for a player already operating in the Premiership, but not involved in Europe.

Nov. 8 , 2005

January

January

now

now


XIN_ENG_20051116.0046

BEIJING, Nov. 16 , 2005 (Xinhua)

flu

The Chinese mainland said Wednesday it has kept up and will go on with its information exchange and communication with Taiwan on bird flu pandemic.

"So far this year, the mainland-based Cross-Strait Agricultural Exchange Association has briefed relevant groups in Taiwan on the situation of bird flu epidemic 15 times," said Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, at a routine press conference.

Meanwhile, the relevant parties of the mainland side have worked in coordination with the Secretariat of the World Health Organization (WHO) to invite two experts from Taiwan to an international conference on bird flu held by the WHO in Geneva on Oct. 7, said Li.

The relevant parties in the Chinese mainland and Taiwan will continue with such exchanges and cooperation, Li said.

Nov. 16 , 2005

Wednesday

this year

Oct. 7


AFP_ENG_20061203.0268

DOHA, Dec 3 , 2006, 2006

Japan win Asiad soft tennis gold

Japan won the Asian Games men's team soft tennis gold medal here on Sunday beating Taiwan 2-1.

South Korea beat Mongolia 2-0 to win bronze.

Dec 3 , 2006

Sunday


AFP_ENG_20051213.0042

HONG KONG, Dec 13 , 2005

URGENT  WTO meeting opens

The World Trade Organisation's 149 members officially opened talks here Tuesday aimed at reducing tariffs and other barriers to global commerce.

Dec 13 , 2005

Tuesday


XIN_ENG_20051128.0030

BEIJING, Nov. 28 , 2005 (Xinhua)

China, Romania pledge to strengthen cooperation in various fields

Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and visiting Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu said here Monday that the two countries will jointly carry forward the all-round friendly and cooperative partnership.

During his meeting with Ungureanu, Tang noted that the China-Romania relations have been growing "smoothly" ever since the two countries were tied diplomatically 56 years ago, adding that they have established "stronger" mutual understanding and trust with expanding cooperation in various fields.

Tang also expressed appreciation on Romania for its consistent adherence to the one-China policy and its support to the great cause of reunifying the country.

Ungureanu said that Romania gives top priority to developing ties with China and is willing to strengthen cooperation of mutual benefit with China in all fields.

He also reiterated that his country will continue to adhere to the one-China policy.

Ungureanu arrived in China on Saturday at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

Nov. 28 , 2005

Monday

diplomatically 56 years ago

Saturday


AFP_ENG_19970411.0253

KINSHASA, April 11 , 1997 (AFP)

Mobutu aide blasts US for suggesting the game is up

A top aide to President Mobutu Sese Seko hit out Friday at US suggestions that the embattled Zairean leader's rule was all but over.

Honore Ngbanda Nzambo blasted Washington for trying to apply pressure on the crumbling Kinshasa regime and singled out for particular criticism comments by top US envoy George Moose which suggested that Mobutu's regime "was a thing of the past."

"What right has Mr Moose got to speak out in this way," Ngbanda told AFP by telephone from Johannesburg, where he is leading a Mobutu delegation in fledgling peace talks with rebel negotiators.

"This is no method respecting democracy which America is advocating," he said, accusing Washington of "recommending democracy and then using anti-democratic methods to get rid of someone."

"It's not up to foreign capitals to make decisions in place of Zaireans," Ngbanda said.

The United States has led calls for the ailing Mobutu to give way to democratic rule after decades of dictatorship and six months of civil war which has seen rebel forces seize almost half of the vast central African country.

April 11 , 1997

Friday

six months


AFP_ENG_19970429.0212

GENEVA, April 29 , 1997 (AFP)

60 adults abducted in eastern Zaire, along with child refugees

Armed soldiers abducted 60 adults along with around 50 hospitalized Rwandan refugee children from a village in eastern Zaire, a UN refugee agency spokeswoman said here Tuesday.

The adults were relatives and individuals caring for the children, who were suffering from malnutrition and other serious illnesses, spokeswoman Pamela O'Toole said.

The victims were reportedly seized early Saturday from a hospital in Lwiro, 30 kilometres (around 19 miles) north of Bikavu in South Kivu province by around 20 soldiers who fired into the air before the kidnapping, warning residents to stay indoors.

"These people have not been seen since and there have been reports that they may have been killed," O'Toole said.

Hospital staff in Lwiro said they recognized among the troops the chief of a rebel Alliance unit in Katana, UNICEF spokesman Patrick McCormick reported Monday, citing a communications officer in Kinshasa. Katana is north of Lwiro.

"We condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms," O'Toole said.

"We have already raised this issue with local authorities and have been assured there will be an investigation," she said.

Separately, she said the discovery of some 20 Rwandan refugee corpses at Biaro camp, which was emptied last week of its roughly 30,000 inhabitants, were the latest in a series of human rights abuses in alliance held territory in eastern Zaire.

Some of the bodies, as well as some of the wounded, bore signs of machete attacks, she said.

Up to 10,000 famished refugees have wandered back to the camp, 40 kilometres south of Kisangani, according to the UNHCR.

Rebel Alliance leader Laurent Kabila has given humanitarian agencies on the ground a 60-day ultimatum to repatriate all refugees from eastern Zaire, after which he would complete the task himself.

"While we appreciate the promise of (Kabila) to help us locate and repatriate the refugees, we are receiving increasingly shocking reports of refugees both in the area around Kisangani and elsewhere."

"These killings must stop and an urgent investigation must be launched," she said.

April 29 , 1997

Tuesday

early Saturday

Monday

last week


XIN_ENG_20051124.0175

ANKARA, Nov. 24 , 2005 (Xinhua)

19 members of outlawed Kurdish rebel group arrested in Istanbul

Turkish security forces arrested 19 members of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), including one woman, in four separate operations in Istanbul, the largest city of Turkey, an official press release said on Thursday.

The press release issued by the Istanbul Police's Anti-Terror Department said an operation was carried out in Istanbul after the police received information on illegal weapon possession and selling.

In cooperation with the Intelligence Department, Anti-Terror units arrested two PKK members charged with illegal marketing of hand guns.

Police officers seized 34 hand guns, 53 cartridges and 150 bullets in homes and offices of the two PKK members.

In a separate operation on Nov. 14, Istanbul police arrested one PKK member with five electrical fuses.

In another operation on Nov. 16, Istanbul police arrested four PKK Members and found two Iraqi made hand guns.

In addition, in an illegal demonstration at Istanbul's Kucukcekmece district, police forces arrested 12 PKK members who carried five Molotov cocktails.

Turkey has been fighting against a resurging violence as the PKK intensified landmine and remote-controlled bombing attacks in the country over the past few months.

At least 200 Turkish soldiers have been reportedly killed in clashes with PKK members this year.

More than 37,000 people have been killed since the rebel group took up arms against the government for an independent Kurdish state in Kurdish-dominated southeastern Turkey in 1984.

Nov. 24 , 2005

Thursday

Nov. 14

Nov. 16

the past few months

this year


AFP_ENG_19970422.0638

LIMA, April 22 , 1997 (AFP)

URGENT Japanese ambassador among freed hostages

Japanese Ambassador Morihisa Aoki was among the hostages freed Tuesday when Peruvian troops stormed his official residence where he an 71 others had been held hostage for 18 weeks.

April 22 , 1997

Tuesday

18 weeks


AFP_ENG_20051215.0557

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 , 2005

ATTENTION - RECASTS on Bush remarks ///

US President George W. Bush on Thursday hailed Iraq's historic parliamentary elections as "a major step forward" in building a democracy in the war-torn country and bringing US troops home.

"Millions of people voted. And I haven't seen all the tabulations of the vote, but we're certain that the turnout was significant and that the violence was down," he said as he met with Iraqis who cast absentee ballots.

"This is a major step forward in achieving our objective, which is having a democratic Iraq, a country able to sustain itself and defend itself, a country that will be an ally in the war on terror, and a country which will send such a powerful example to others in the region, whether they live in Iran or Syria," he said.

Bush has said that successful elections and training Iraqi security forces will allow him to call home some of the roughly 160,000 US soldiers in Iraq -- though he has rejected calls to set a deadline for a complete withdrawal.

"They've expressed concern about listening to the commentary that we'll leave before the job is done. They don't have to worry," he said. "The United States will stay with them and complete this job."

The Iraq war, in which more than 2,140 US troops have been killed, has badly hit the Republican president's popularity. Opposition Democrats are stepping up calls for a timetable for a military withdrawal.

Earlier, White House spokesman Scott McClellan also gave an upbeat assessment of the election.

"The reports that we've received I think indicate that the turnout is high throughout Iraq, that any violence appears to be relatively low," said McClellan.

"The Iraqi people are showing the world that all people of all backgrounds want to be able to choose their own leaders and live in freedom," he said.

An Iraqi official, Hussein al-Hindawi, said in Baghdad that turnout "was very strong in all regions," even in some areas where violence has been at its worst since the March 2003 invasion to oust Saddam.

More than 15.5 million Iraqis were called to the polls Thursday to elect the 275 MPs who will sit in the parliament and elect the president.

Ahead of the vote Bush has given four key speeches in a bid to convince the US public that he has a strategy for Iraq and that conditions in the war torn country are improving.

He has insisted that he was right to order the March 2003 invasion and that a hurried withdrawal would be "a recipe for disaster".

But in a speech on Wednesday, Bush also took responsibility for ordering the invasion based on intelligence that "turned out to be wrong" about Saddam's weapons capability.

"As president, I'm responsible for the decision to go into Iraq -- and I'm also responsible for fixing what went wrong by reforming our intelligence capabilities. And we're doing just that," he said.

Bush's campaign appears to have halted his popularity slide.

According to an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released Wednesday, Bush's approval ratings have improved by a percentage point in the last month to 39 percent. Fifty-five percent still disapprove of his record.

The poll said 60 percent of Americans want a gradual reduction in the 160,000 US troops currently in Iraq -- four percentage points from last month.

Dec 15 , 2005

Thursday

March 2003

Thursday

March 2003

Wednesday

Wednesday

the last month

last month


XIN_ENG_20051125.0039

BEIJING, Nov. 25 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Shanghai stock index mixed -- Nov. 25

The Composite Stock Index on the Shanghai Stock Exchange closed at 1,114.92 points on Friday, up 1.54 points from the previous close.

A Share Index: 1,172.00 points, up 1.73 points;

B Share Index: 61.53 points, down 0.48 points;

Total Turnover: 10,753,010,000 yuan.

Nov. 25 , 2005

Friday


AFP_ENG_19970424.0248

GENEVA, April 24 , 1997 (AFP)

Lumumba justifies foreign aid to Zaire rebels

Francois Lumumba, the son of the late hero of Zairean independence, on Thursday said there was nothing wrong with foreign help to rebels seeking to oust President Mobutu Sese Seko.

The son of Patrice Lumumba, the prime minister who was murdered in February 1961, less than a year after independence, added in Geneva that he planned to go to Goma in eastern Zaire for a meeting with rebel leader Laurent Kabila.

Kabila's rebel alliance, in which Zairean Tutsis hold key posts, benefits from diplomatic support and facilities to ship in arms through Uganda, Sudan and Rwanda, Lumumba told the press.

"We don't have any complexes if people give us certain facilities to finish off the Mobutu regime," he said. Mobutu has ruled Zaire for more than 31 years and was deeply implicated in events surrounding Lumumba's death and a foiled secession bid by the mineral-rich province of Katanga (now Shaba), which is once again in rebel hands.

Lumumba, 45, was passing through Geneva after visiting Washington for talks with State Department officials and some 30 black American congressmen. He had lived in exile in Switzerland between 1975 and 1980.

The son of Patrice Lumumba, whose murder sparked outrage in much of Africa, now lives in the Zairean capital Kinshasa and plans to return there after going to Goma on the eastern border with Rwanda.

He heads the Lumumba National Congolese Movement (MNCL), which is not part of the rebel alliance, but is prepared to work with it for the overthrow of Mobutu and to take part in a transitional government.

Lumumba said his party would put up a candidate in presidential elections that should follow the toppling of Mobutu, but the choice of candidate had not yet been made.

He claimed that the MNCL had many supporters, some of whom were taking part in the armed uprising. He ruled out a transition government including the current head of state, saying "Forget Mobutu."

His father called for help from the Soviet Union following the Katanga secession bid in 1960. Arrested by then Colonel Mobutu in December, he died two months later, allegedly in an attempt to escape.

April 24 , 1997

Thursday

February 1961

more than 31 years

now

December

two months


AFP_ENG_19970408.0763

TOKYO, April 9 , 1997 (AFP)

Tokyo stocks open lower

Share prices opened lower on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with the Nikkei stock average falling 34.70 points or 0.2 percent to 17,987.00 in the first five minutes of trading.

April 9 , 1997

Wednesday

the first five minutes


XIN_ENG_20061111.0116

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 11 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Former Malaysian PM Mahathir wants complete rest for weeks

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who is being treated at the National Heart Institute (NHI), said Saturday he plans to take a complete rest for several weeks.

Mahathir said that out of health considerations, he will stay away from the UMNO General Assembly slated for next week, though he accepted invitation and had originally planned to attend the meeting.

UMNO, formally known as the United Malays National Organization, is the largest political party in Malaysia. UMNO President takes over as prime minister in the government.

"I want to rest...not making any statement...hope the (UMNO) assembly runs smoothly," Mahathir said in an interview with the Bernama news agency and Radio Television Malaysia (RTM).

The former prime minister, who was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and long pants, appeared in high spirit during the 20-minute interview.

Mahathir said it was fortunate that he had sought immediate treatment as soon as he had the mild heart attack, and this had enabled doctors to dilute the blood clot in his coronary artery.

Mahathir, who will turn 81 next month, was rushed to the NHI early Thursday morning after complaining of chest pains. Friday night, he was transferred from the Coronary Care Unit to a normal ward.

Before this, the former leader had a very busy schedule abroad, which brought him to several countries.

Mahathir had a coronary artery bypass surgery in 1989, and in 1999 he underwent full treatment for a lung infection.

Nov. 11 , 2006

Saturday

several weeks

next week

Thursday morning

Friday night


AFP_ENG_20061225.0221

CAIRO, Dec 25 , 2006, 2006

Egypt Brotherhood members accused of money laundering

Six members of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt were charged on Monday with money laundering and remanded for two weeks days, a security source said.

It was the first time such a charge has been levelled against members of the Brotherhood, which is officially banned but tolerated. The six were arrested in various areas of Cairo on Sunday.

The same source also said that 107 students who were among 140 Brotherhood members arrested on December 14 after a demonstration at Al-Azhar university had their detention orders extended by 15 days.

Despite being officially banned, Muslim Brotherhood MPs form the largest opposition bloc in parliament after winning 88 of the 454 seats by running as independents in 2005 legislative elections.

Dec 25 , 2006

Monday

two weeks days

Sunday

December 14


XIN_ENG_20061128.0065

SINGAPORE, Nov. 28 , 2006 (Xinhua)

FPDA professional forum kicks off in Singapore

The Five Power Defense Arrangements (FPDA) Professional Forum kicked off here Tuesday, according to a statement by Singapore's Defense Ministry.

The theme of this year's forum is "Military Operations Other Than War". Issues such as military participation in humanitarian missions and training for peace support operations will be discussed at the forum, the statement said.

More than 70 senior officials responsible for joint operations, training and doctrines from the FPDA countries of Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom, took part in the three-day forum.

The statement said that the biennial forum, which was first held in 1997, is a platform of providing the opportunity for senior officers to interact and exchange professional views, as well as promoting a culture of cross learning in the FPDA to enhance inter-operability among the members armed forces.

Singapore's Chief of Defense Force Lieutenant-General Ng Yat Chung delivered the keynote address at the forum, but no details were released.

Nov. 28 , 2006

Tuesday

this year


AFP_ENG_20051212.0049

TOKYO, Dec 12 , 2005

side

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has called for every club to employ at least six players eligible for the national team in the country they ply their trade to curb the invasion of foreigners.

Blatter, in Tokyo for the World Club Championships, said a taskforce was looking at "the national identity of clubs" with many now a cosmopolitan mix of several nationalities, shutting out local players.

"National identity is very important but the regulations of the club competitions are not made so far by FIFA but by the national associations and it is up to them and their leagues to limit the entry of foreign players," he said.

Blatter acknowledged that rules in the European Union allowed for the free circulation of workers among the EU's 25-member nations but said there was a sensible solution.

"What the solution is is that there should be a minimum, and this is FIFA's idea, we should have at least six players eligible for the national team of a the country in which they play," he told reporters.

"This is the system FIFA thinks is right.

"In many clubs there are now only a maximum or one or two players, like Bayern Munich or even Liverpool. This situation is not good for football."

Dec 12 , 2005

now


AFP_ENG_20051204.0058

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 4 , 2005

Mbeki to join Obasanjo, Tandja on Ivory Coast mission

South African President Thabo Mbeki will travel to Ivory Coast on Monday, joining Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and Mamadou Tanjda of Niger in a bid to end the deadlock over the choice of a prime minister for the troubled west African nation.

"They are expected to assist the Cote d'Ivorians find a common candidate for the post of prime minister," said a foreign ministry statement released on Sunday.

The UN Security Council last week expressed deep concern over the failure of Ivory Coast's feuding parties to agree on a new prime minister who would have full powers to run an interim government and organise a presidential election by October 31, 2006.

Obasanjo, who chairs the African Union, Mbeki and Tandja sought to break the deadlock over the choice of a prime minister during talks in Abidjan two weeks ago but the parties rejected their candidates.

A former French colony, Ivory Coast has been divided since fighting broke out in 2002, pitting President Laurent Gbagbo's government against rebels who control the north of the country.

Mbeki, who has been named by the African Union to act as special mediator in the conflict, discussed the situation in Ivory Coast in talks with French President Jacques Chirac, on the sidelines of a Africa-France summit held at the weekend in Bamako.

Following Mbeki's scheduled one-day visit to Abidjan, Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will take part in a meeting on Tuesday of an international working group overseeing the peace process in Ivory Coast.

Dec 4 , 2005

Monday

Sunday

last week

October 31, 2006

two weeks ago

the weekend

Tuesday


AFP_ENG_20061201.0182

ISTANBUL, Dec 1 , 2006, 2006

=(PICTURE)=

Pope Benedict XVI on Friday wrapped up a momentous visit to Turkey by celebrating mass at an Istanbul cathedral and making a final appeal for freedom of religion.

During his trip, he reached out to Muslims and Orthodox Christians, while at the same time standing firm on key issues such as papal authority and Europe's Christian roots.

Coming a mere 10 weeks after the leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics outraged Muslims by appearing to equate Islam with violence, the four-day trip -- Pope Benedict's first to a Muslim country -- turned into a fence-mending mission.

Adding drama to diplomacy, the 79-year-old pope made a stunning conciliatory gesture on Thursday when he assumed an attitude of Muslim prayer while facing Mecca in Istanbul's Blue Mosque.

The moment was "even more meaningful than an apology" for the remarks in September, said the mufti of Istanbul, Mustafa Cagrici, who was the pope's guide during the mosque visit.

The two men, clad in long white robes, stood motionless for about two minutes, their hands crossed on their stomachs in a classic Muslim prayer attitude known as "the posture of tranquility."

"It was something beautiful, a gesture on his part," Cagrici told the Turkish daily Sabah.

In entering the mosque, Pope Benedict became only the second Roman Catholic pope to do so since the groundbreaking visit of his predecessor John Paul II to the Omeyyades Mosque in Damascus in 2001.

The visit saw unprecedented security measures -- even tighter than those laid on for US President George W. Bush in 2004 -- with large swaths of Istanbul closed down as the routes taken by the pope's motorcade were kept secret.

Even before the controversy over his remarks on Islam, Pope Benedict faced an uphill struggle to win over the Turks, having been considered the "anti-Turkish pope" for opposing Ankara's bid to join the European Union.

Turkey in the EU, he had said while still Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, would be "a grave error ... against the tide of history."

He dealt with this by making a stunning U-turn on the issue moments after descending from his plane on his arrival in Ankara on Tuesday, offering his support for the troubled candidacy in remarks to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

But he added two provisos on Thursday, saying respect for religious freedom must be a criterion for entry into the EU and calling on the bloc to ensure that its members respect the rights of their religious minorities.

It was a clear reference to complaints by the Orthodox Patriarchate of restrictions imposed on it by Turkey, including the closure of a theological seminary and the confiscation of a number of properties from Christian foundations.

Pope Benedict also returned to a familiar position when he called for a renewal of "Europe's awareness of its Christian roots, traditions and values."

The main purpose of the long-planned trip and a priority of Pope Benedict's papacy -- seeking reconciliation between the Western and Eastern rites of Christianity -- was symbolized by a Saint Andrew's Day mass on Thursday.

Saint Andrew is the Orthodox Church's patron saint who was a disciple of Jesus and the brother of Saint Peter, considered the first Catholic pope.

After meetings with Bartholomew I, spiritual leader of some 150 million Orthodox faithful, the pope described as a "scandal to the world" the schism between the feuding Christian branches dating back nearly a millennium.

But he remained steadfast on a major point of disagreement -- papal authority -- when he stressed the Vatican's "universal" role.

Dec 1 , 2006

Friday

mere 10 weeks

Thursday

September

two minutes

Tuesday

Thursday

Thursday


AFP_ENG_19970427.0208

BAGHDAD, April 27 , 1997 (AFP)

Iraq celebrates after flouting no-fly zones

Iraq celebrated Sunday after safely flying home Moslem pilgrims in defiance of US-enforced air exclusion zones over the north and south of the country without any retaliation from Washington.

"Helicopters carrying sick and elderly pilgrims arrived Sunday morning in Baghdad, Anbar (in western Iraq), Salahuddin (in the north), and Basra and Zikar (in the south)," the official news agency INA said.

It did not say how many helicopters or passengers were involved.

The helicopters picked up the pilgrims in the southern region of Jodaidat Arar, three kilometres (two miles) from the Saudi border and inside a southern "no-fly" zone.

The flight to Salahuddin, in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq, also violates a northern exclusion zone set up shortly after the 1991 Gulf War to protect Iraqi Kurds from air attack by Baghdad.

"Prayers were held in Arar and official celebrations were staged in the provinces attended by political officials," INA said.

Baghdad last week sent nine helicopters to the south to wait for the Iraqis returning from the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Iraq said the helicopters were sent to ferry home dozens of elderly and sick pilgrims, in defiance of Washington which imposed the exclusion zone in the south together with London and Paris in 1992 to protect Shiite Moslems.

On Friday Iraq began to take the pilgrims home, violating the northern air exclusion zone by flying to Mosul.

The United States said the southern flights were a "technical" violation and that it would not take military action in retaliation.

But the US Defense Department on Thursday accused Baghdad of seeking to exploit the annual pilgrimage to Islam's holiest sites, known as the hajj, for political ends.

"I think they're trying to hide behind religion or to manipulate the hajj pilgrimage for political reasons," said Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon. "We're not going to play that game."

Baghdad, which in September said it would no longer recognize no-fly zones, has hailed the flights as a victory.

"Iraq has for years rejected these imaginary lines and announced in its official communiques that it does not recognize the zones because they are not in UN Security Council resolutions," an official spokesman told AFP on Friday.

On April 9, Iraq also flouted the UN sanctions in force since its August 1990 invasion of Kuwait and flew more than 100 Iraqis to Saudi Arabia for the start of the pilgrimage.

Iraq insisted that the flight was "purely humanitarian" and so not a violation of the embargo, a position which China, Egypt, France and Russia supported in the UN Security Council.

The United States failed in its efforts to secure UN condemnation of Iraq for the flight to Saudi Arabia.

April 27 , 1997

Sunday morning

last week

Friday

Thursday

September

Friday

April 9

August 1990


AFP_ENG_20051212.0224

LONDON, Dec 12 , 2005

quotes ///

Oil prices climbed on Monday as forecasts for further cold weather in the US northeast offset a decision by OPEC to maintain its output quota, analysts said.

Traders were meanwhile keeping an eye on the enormous fire at a fuel depot north of London, which holds some five percent of Britain's fuel stocks.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in January, rose 47 cents to 59.86 dollars per barrel in electronic trading.

In London, the price of Brent North Sea crude for January delivery gained 48 cents to 57.79 dollars per barrel.

"Crude futures were higher on forecasts for colder weather in the US northeast, the world's largest heating oil market, this week," analysts at the Sucden brokerage firm said.

"However gains were limited by the OPEC decision to keep oil output unchanged at a 25 year-high."

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, meeting in Kuwait, maintained its production quota at 28.0 million barrels per day (bpd) and decided not to renew its offer for emergency extra output of 2.0 million bpd.

However the cartel was ready to cut production at a new meeting at the end of January if demand falls too much, Libya's Energy Secretary Fathi Hamed bin Shatwan and his Qatari counterpart said.

"Now the market is focused on the likely outcome of the next meeting early next year where many have already suggested that OPEC will cut production to cope with swelling supplies as the weather warms up again," Sucden analysts said.

World oil prices rose to the highest levels for more than a month last week as cold weather descended on the US northeast, increasing the likelihood of higher fuel demand for the energy-hungry region.

Crude futures on Friday breached 61 dollars per barrel in New York and almost 60 dollars in London, levels not reached since November 4.

With weather conditions continuing cold in the US northeast, crude prices would remain firm over the coming days, analysts said.

"They are expecting cold weather for the rest of the week so prices aren't likely to fall in the short-term," said Mark Pervan, a commodities analyst with Daiwa Securities in Melbourne, Australia.

The price of oil hit an all-time high of 70.85 dollars per barrel in New York on August 30 following Hurricane Katrina, which devastated refining and crude production facilities along the Gulf Coast of the United States.

Mild weather in the northern hemisphere during October and November saw prices fall heavily.

Dec 12 , 2005

Monday

January

January

this week

January

early next year

last week

Friday

November 4

the coming days

the week

August 30

October


XIN_ENG_20061116.0297

HARARE, Nov. 16 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Algeria to extend strong ties with Zimbabwe

The Algerian government is committed to establish strong and diverse ties with Zimbabwe to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, a diplomat said on Thursday.

Business community in Zimbabwe should utilize the full potential of business opportunities offered by the excellent political, diplomatic and historic relations that exist between the two countries, urged Algerian ambassador to Zimbabwe Ali Mokrani when speaking at a celebration in Harare to mark the 52 anniversary of the Algerian revolution which ended 132 years of French colonization.

In the spirit of cooperation between Zimbabwe and Algeria, the two countries drafted agreements in all economic areas to facilitate increased business activity and trade between the two countries.

Algeria also extended solidarity with Zimbabwe through the provision of scholarships, food aid and medical donations.

At continental level, ambassador Mokrani said his country believed that Africans should pool their resources together to tackle head on the challenges resulting from globalization and enhance trade rather than aid.

Speaking on behalf of the Zimbabwean government at the occasion, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Obert Matshalaga said it was imperative to conclude negotiations on trade and convene the joint commission.

He spoke of the need to broaden and deepen bilateral relations in the economic, technical and cultural areas and at continental and global levels through the African union, the non-aligned movement and the UN.

Nov. 16 , 2006

Thursday

132 years


XIN_ENG_20061109.0193

BEIJING, Nov. 9 , 2006 (Xinhua)

cooperation

In 2006, China and Russia have made "historic breakthroughs" in investment and cooperation in the petroleum industry, Zhou Jiping, deputy general manager of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), said in Beijing on Thursday.

So far this year, the two countries have signed a series of agreements on setting up two joint venture companies involving oil and gas exploitation and the construction of a pipeline transporting Russian crude oil to the Chinese border, according to the CNPC official.

Leaders of Chinese and Russian oil companies attending the on-going third meeting for promoting investment in China and Russia were optimistic about the prospects of the two countries' cooperation in the oil sector.

Zhou said that Sino-Russian cooperation in the oil industry will help stabilize both the regional and global oil markets.

Sergei Bogdanchikov, president of Russian oil giant Rosneft, said China is a stable and rapidly-growing market for Russian oil. He pledged to go all out to promote cooperation in oil industry.

According to official figures, Russia is the world's largest gas exporter and second largest oil exporter, while China is the third largest oil importer in the world.

In the first nine months of the year, Russia's oil output was 358 million tons while China's was 140 million tons.

Nov. 9 , 2006

Thursday

this year

the first nine months

the year


ABC19980120.1830.0957
 NEWS STORY

 For his part, Fidel Castro is the ultimate political survivor. People have predicted his demise so many times, and the US has tried to hasten it on
 several occasions. Time and again, he endures. He has outlasted and
 sometimes outsmarted eight American presidents.
 Fidel Castro invited John Paul to come for a reason. This is clearly an
 opportunity for Cuba to look good internationally.

 The entire world will see images of the Pope in Cuba. They'll see images
 of
 the Pope with Fidel Castro. It will give the rest of the world the view
 that Cuba is like any other nation, something the US has, of course,
 tried to persuade the world that it is not .

 For nearly forty years, the United States has said categorically it would not tolerate totalitarian rule in its own backyard. It is the US economic
 and political embargo which has kept Cuba in a box.

 The main positive for Castro to invite the Pope is international, to be
 able
 to say to the rest of the world, this government is not  as closed, as
 intolerant, uh as totalitarian as some make it out to be.

 One of the scenarios widely advanced before the visit is that through the
 Pope, Cuba, still led by Castro, can begin a more productive relationship
 with the world. That will, in turn, bring pressure on Washington to change.

 Those observers looking for a battle between uncompromising representatives
 and very different ideologies will, in all likelihood, be disappointed.

 Castro has said that you can be a Communist and still be a
 Christian. He says he and the Pope both want to end the exploitation of
 man by man. The question is who will Cubans believe?

 The main negative is the risk that the Pope's visit will persuade a great
 many more Cubans to break loose of the Cuban government. If so, then the
 Pope's visit would really open up a new chapter in the government's
 relations with its own society. For the Cuban government, that is the
 risk.

 At the end of the broadcast this evening, one more trip around Havana to see
 what it's been like since the last time. And in just a moment Diane Sawyer will have some other news.

nearly forty years


AFP_ENG_20061220.0438

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 , 2006, 2006

Bush "proud" of Lebanese PM Siniora

US President George W. Bush said Wednesday he was proud of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, praising his tenacity in resisting "enormous pressure" from Syria and Hezbollah.

Bush digressed from a critique of Damascus and Iran during a year-end news conference to pour special praise on Siniora, who is struggling to shore up his government in the grip of a political crisis.

"Let me step back: I'm proud of Prime Minister Siniora," Bush said.

"He has shown tenacity, toughness in the face of enormous pressure from Syria as well as Hezbollah, which is funded by Iran," Bush said.

The United States has staunchly supported the Siniora government, though ties were frayed earlier this year by the US refusal to condemn Israel for its tactics in the war in Lebanon against Hezbollah.

In an interview with AFP last week, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice voiced deep concern that Syria and Iran were moving to topple the Lebanese government.

The Hezbollah-led Lebanese opposition has stepped up its campaign against Siniora's cabinet, calling for early parliamentary elections under a new electoral law.

Previously, the opposition had merely demanded the cabinet make way for a government of national unity.

Dec 20 , 2006

Wednesday

earlier this year

last week


AFP_ENG_20061231.0025

DUBAI, Dec 31 , 2006, 2006

Al-Qaeda leader urges Palestinians to turn against Abbas

Osama bin Laden's top deputy urged Palestinians to turn against Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and his secular Fatah party, in a audio message posted on the Internet on Sunday.

The recording, whose authenticity could not be independently confirmed, congratulated Muslims on the start of the Eid al-Adha feast of sacrifice. In it Ayman al-Zawahiri also implicitly criticised the Palestinian ruling Islamic movement Hamas for taking part in the political process.

"The Palestine-selling secularist traitors cannot possibly be your brothers, so neither confer on them legitimacy... nor participate with them in their Sharia-rejecting assemblies, nor sign with them the documents which throw away Palestine," said the Al-Qaeda second-in-command.

"How is it possible for Mahmud Abbas to be a brother of ours?" Zawahiri questioned, accusing him of complicity with the Israelis and Americans.

On December 20 Zawahiri slammed Hamas for recognising Abbas and running in elections last January. Hamas scored a shock victory over Fatah and took power in March, but its government has since been boycotted by Israel and the West.

In Sunday's audio message, which does not specifically mention Hamas, Zawahiri said that victory in Iraq and Afghanistan was "not achieved by parliamentary elections... Rather, it was achieved with blood, martyrdom-seeking..."

The Egypt-born Zawahiri is regarded as the ideological powerhouse behind Al-Qaeda, and carries a 25-million-dollar US bounty for information leading to his arrest or death.

Dec 31 , 2006

Sunday

December 20

last January

March

Sunday


XIN_ENG_20061113.0411

BEIJING, Nov. 14 , 2006 (Xinhua)

URGENT: WB projects drastic rise in China's current account surplus

The World Bank predicted on Tuesday that China's current account will post a surplus of 223 billion U.S. dollars this year, a drastic rise from last year's 160 billion U.S. dollars.

The figure is expected to take up 8.5 percent of China's gross domestic product, said the Washington-based group in its latest mid-year update on East Asia.

Nov. 14 , 2006

Tuesday

this year

last year


AFP_ENG_20061209.0206

LEEDS, England, Dec 9 , 2006, 2006

Leeds admit breaking Football League law

English Championship strugglers Leeds on Saturday admitted they broke Football League regulations by fielding six loan players in last month's defeat at Burnley.

Leeds boss Dennis Wise selected Graham Stack, Matt Heath, Ugo Ehiogu, Tresor Kandol and Geoff Horsfield for the 2-1 defeat at Turf Moor on November 28, while Tony Warner was an unused substitute.

The Football League rulebook says that only five players on loan from other clubs can be named in a team's squad for any match.

A statement on Leeds's website said: "We can confirm that the club broke Football League regulations at Burnley.

"We will co-operate fully with the Football League on this matter and explain the extenuating circumstances."

Dec 9 , 2006

Saturday

last month

November 28


AFP_ENG_20051213.0407

BEIRUT, Dec 13 , 2005

ATTENTION - UPDATES with US call ///

Lebanon grappled with fresh political turmoil Tuesday as it mourned the killing of prominent anti-Syrian journalist and MP Gibran Tueni, while the United States ratcheted up the pressure on Damascus.

On the eve of his funeral emotions ran high in downtown Beirut as hundreds of people massed outside the glass tower housing Tueni's top-selling An-Nahar newspaper for the second night running to pay tribute to their hero.

"Tueni is alive in us," shouted the mostly young crowds after calls by the ruling anti-Syrian majority in parliament urging them to mobilise for a national funeral on Wednesday for the 48-year-old press magnate.

The coalition, a cross-section of Muslim and Christian politicians, called for an emergency parliament session to debate the future of pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud after blaming former powerbroker Damascus for Tueni's killing.

"We urge parliament to hold an emergency session to discuss the dangerous situation generated by the police state that prevails at the highest level, namely the head of state," they said in a statement.

They accused Lahoud's backers in Damascus, who pressed for a three-year extension of his mandate in September 2004, for the new bloodshed.

"By assassinating Gibran Tueni, the Syrian regime ... has renewed its war on Lebanon."

Tueni was killed in a massive car bomb blast Monday just a day after his return from France where he had been spending time for fear of an attempt on his life, and 302 days after the assassination of former billionaire prime minister Rafiq Hariri.

The United States, which has joined world condemnation of the murder, on Tuesday urged the United Nations to turn the heat on Damascus.

"We believe it's important, when the Security Council discusses this report, that they continue to keep the pressure, and increase the pressure, on Syria," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.

The UN Security Council was set to examine the second report in two months released by German magistrate Detlev Mehlis on the Hariri murder, after investigators heard testimony from five senior Syrian officials.

The latest report said there was fresh evidence further implicating senior Syrian and Lebanese officers in the Beirut bomb blast that killed Hariri.

The government also faced political divisions after five ministers from Shiite groups loyal to Damascus refused to join a vote calling for an international probe into the wave of bombings and assassinations.

Prime Minister Fuad Siniora struggled to form his 24-member cabinet in July -- the first elected government since Syria pulled its last troops from Lebanon in April under intense domestic and international pressure.

It includes ministers from the Shiite movements Amal and Hezbollah -- a fundamentalist group with its own guerrillas that Washington regards as a terrorist organization -- that wield large grassroot support across Lebanon.

Their support for the government is necessary to maintain the fragile coalition and has prompted calls from anti-Syrian politicians on Amal and Hezbollah ministers to reconsider their decision for the sake of Lebanese unity.

But pro-Hezbollah Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh already put the decision into action by failing to show up at his office Tuesday and cancelling a meeting with a top UN official.

Tueni was instrumental in the campaign to end 30 years of Syrian political and military domination of Lebanon and has been hailed as a "martyr" of the country's fragile regained independence.

Thousands of tearful and defiant mourners filed into St Nicholas Church in the Christian neighborhood of Ashrafiyeh to offer their condolences to Tueni's father, Ghassan, a respected former cabinet minister and veteran diplomat, and his widow.

"There is no doubt that Syria is behind all the crimes committed in Lebanon (over the past year) to impose anew its domination over the country," said 22-year-old law student Nayla Anid.

Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz, meanwhile, warned that Syria could try to stir up tension on the Lebanon-Israel border to divert attention from the Hariri probe.

Dec 13 , 2005

Tuesday

Wednesday

September 2004

Monday

Tuesday

two months

July

April

Tuesday

30 years

the past year


AFP_ENG_19970413.0456

HONG KONG, April 14 , 1997 (AFP)

Overseas Hong Kong people need not rush home before handover: China

China has told Hong Kong people living abroad with foreign passports they need not race home before the transfer of power on July 1 to retain permanent residency in the territory.

A spokesman for China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said emigrants who have taken foreign nationality would be able to retain their permanent residency if they return to the territory within 18 months of the handover.

Those who reside in, or return to, the territory before July 1 would also be granted right of abode, the spokesman said in a statement released through the official Xinhua news agency late Sunday.

The Chinese government hoped that the future government of the Special Administrative Region (SAR), as Hong Kong will be known under Chinese rule, would work out detailed regulations "as soon as possible", the spokesman said.

China has been seeking Britain's opinion on the subject, he added.

The question of right of abode has been on the agenda of the Sino- British Joint Liaison Group for some time. But last month a meeting of the body, a joint forum to discuss Hong Kong's transitional matters, failed to reach agreement on the subject.

The statement followed similar comments by Wang Fengchao, deputy director of China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, during a visit to Hong Kong on April 4.

During a visit to Hong Kong, Wang attempted to answer questions about the thorny issue of nationality.

Wang said these "back-flow immigrants" would enjoy right of abode "no matter when they return to Hong Kong."

That would be the case as long as these people do not declare that they are foreign nationals to the Hong Kong immigration department, he added.

China does not accept the concept of dual nationality for its nationals, but has said Hong Kong Chinese who hold foreign passports may retain them for use merely as travel documents.

Foreigners who had been previously living in Hong Kong could assert their right of abode, provided they do so within a "set time limit" after the handover, Wang said. The time limit would be set by the future SAR government, he said.

There were fears that Hong Kong people currently working or studying abroad would have to rush back before the July 1 handover or risk losing their right of abode.

This highly prized status allows them to live and work in Hong Kong without a work permit.

Wang warned, however, that China refused to recognise foreign passports held by Hongkongers who had not declared foreign citizenship.

Millions of Hongkongers have foreign passports, many of them acquired secretly to provide the holder with an escape route if the handover goes wrong.

Wang said that such passports could not be used for gaining consular protection if the holder ran foul of the law in Hong Kong or mainland China.

These rules also apply to local residents who hold British passports, he added.

Around half of Hong Kong's 6.4 million population have British National Overseas passports, which can be used for visa-free travel but specifically refuse the holder the right of abode in Britain.

Another 50,000 heads of household and their families were granted full British passports under a nationality scheme designed as a safety net for key Hong Kong professionals, introduced after China's 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Tiananmen Square.

Even those with the full British passports will not be considered British by Chinese authorities, Wang said.

Wang stressed that, in China's eyes, Hong Kong residents cannot declare "a change of nationality" by holding any British passport, he said.

April 14 , 1997

July 1

18 months

July 1

late Sunday

last month

April 4

July 1


XIN_ENG_20051110.0299

BELGRADE, Serbia-Montenegro, Nov. 10 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Serbia registers 6.1 percent GDP growth in first half 2005

Serbia registered a 6.1-percent growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first half of 2005 against the same period last year, a government official said on Thursday.

The GDP growth was primarily a result of a major growth of retail trade and wholesale, mobile telephony and the financial sector, said Andra Milojic, assistant director of the Serbian Statistics Bureau.

In 2004, Serbia's GDP rose 9.3 percent in fixed prices ( starting year 2002) to 1300 billion dinars (26.5 billion US dollars).

In fixed prices, GDP represents a sum of gross added values at the sectoral level within the classification of activities calculated in fixed prices, plus taxes and minus product subsidies in fixed prices.

Nov. 10 , 2005

the first half of 2005

last year

Thursday

year 2002


XIN_ENG_20061108.0218

NEW YORK, Nov. 8 , 2006 (Xinhua)

U.S. stocks open lower

U.S. stocks opened lower on Wednesday as America's midterm election results became known.

In the opening trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 15.80, to 12,140.97. The Standard  Poor's 500 index lost 0.34 to 1,382.50, and the Nasdaq composite index fell 11.96 to 2,363.92.

Crude oil prices rose slightly on Wednesday amid supply concerns in Nigeria, the largest African oil producer.

While the Democrats won control of the House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years in Tuesday's mid-term legislative elections, the Senate race is still too close to call.

Nov. 8 , 2006

Wednesday

Wednesday

12 years

Tuesday


WSJ891026-0017
 = 891026
 891026-0017.
 Business Brief -- Amdahl Corp.:
@  Computer Firm's Earnings
@  Fell 37% in Third Quarter
 10/26/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 AMH
 EARNINGS (ERN)
COMPUTERS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (CPR)

   Amdahl Corp., a maker of mainframe computers, reported a sharp decline in net income for its third quarter, citing pricecutting by competitors and adverse effects from a strong U.S. dollar.

   Net income fell 37% to $32.9 million, or 30 cents a share, from $52.2 million, or 48 cents a share, in the year-ago period.
Revenue rose 15% to $534.3 million from $464.7 million.

   Amdahl's results were somewhat worse than expected.
Jay Stevens, an analyst with Dean Witter Reynolds, said he expected the Sunnyvale, Calif., company to earn 35 cents a share for the quarter and said the firm's weaker profit was partly the result of increased competition from International Business Machines Corp., Amdahl's principal competitor for mainframe sales.

third quarter

the year-ago period

the quarter


XIN_ENG_20051102.0291

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 , 2005 (Xinhua)

US acknowledges key al Qaeda member's escape from Afghani prison

The US military on Wednesday acknowledged that a top al Qaeda member escaped from a US detention facility in Afghanistan in the late summer.

Omar al-Faruq, one of the top aides of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, were among four captives ran away from the US prison in Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in July, Jean Offutt, a US military spokeswoman at Fort Bliss, Texas, confirmed.

His escape has been kept in secret by the US military until Tuesday when military prosecutors said they were unable to bring al-Farouq to a trial of a prisoner abuse case in Afghanistan at Fort Bliss as a witness.

Offutt said the US military have beefed up security at Bagram since the escape, but gave no explanation for why the US military had been hiding the information for so long.

Omar al-Farouq, a Kuwaiti national, was believed to be a senior lieutenant of Osama bin Laden and a top global operative for al Qaeda.

In 1998, he was sent to Southeast Asia by Osama bin Laden to expand al Qaeda's operations in the region and has been implicated in several bomb attacks in Indonesia.

He was captured in Indonesia in 2002 and turned over to US authorities.

The Bagram prison detains hundreds of terror suspects since US forces overthrew the Taliban regime in late 2001, including several senior al Qaeda members.

Nov. 2 , 2005

Wednesday

the late summer

July

Tuesday

late 2001


AFP_ENG_20061223.0225

CAIRO, Dec 23 , 2006, 2006

Egypt reports two new human cases of bird flu

Two Egyptians were taken to hospital Saturday after testing positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in the central Nile delta region, the health ministry said.

The latest cases brings to 17 the total number of Egyptians infected, including seven who were killed by the virus.

The two Egyptians from the village of Hanut in the Gharbiya governorate contracted the disease after coming into contact with infected ducks they had been rearing in their homes, according to a ministry statement carried by the official MENA agency.

All the birds in the house and in neighbouring homes were slaughtered and the area disinfected, MENA said.

Egypt -- the Arab world's most populous state -- is on a major route for migratory birds and has seen the third highest number of H5N1 cases after Indonesia and China according to Dr David Nabarro, the UN official charged with battling bird flu.

The H5N1 strain of bird flu was first diagnosed in birds in Egypt in February, and the first case in humans was announced on March 18.

In its most aggressive form, the H5N1 strain has killed 154 people worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Dec 23 , 2006

March 18


XIN_ENG_20061112.0285

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 13 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Pakistan's airports on "high vigilance" for terror threat

Pakistan has placed two airports in southwest Balochistan province on red alert and the remaining 34 airports on the state of high vigilance following intelligence reports about threats of terrorist attacks, the local newspaper Dawn reported on Monday.

The red alert put on the airports in the provincial capital Quetta and Gwadar indicates a high risk of terror attacks, a security source said.

The alert was raised to "red" after last week's terrorist attack on an army training camp in Dargai which left 42 soldiers dead, sending a wave of panic throughout the country.

A senior official of the Airport Security Force (ASF) said the "high vigilance" level was between the levels of "red and high alert".

Because of the state of "high vigilance", all passes have been canceled and security checks have been strengthened at all airports, including the Islamabad International Airport.

Vehicles entering the airport's premises are being screened by security personnel and passengers and other people are being closely watched.

The high alert was announced by the federal government following reports that five terrorists considered to be accomplices of the Dargai suicide bomber, were out to strike " somewhere in the country."

Nov. 13 , 2006

Monday

last week


AFP_ENG_20061216.0426

GAZA CITY, Dec 17 , 2006, 2006

URGENT  Clashes between Hamas and Fatah members in Gaza

Supporters of the Palestinian ruling party Hamas clashed Sunday in the Gaza Strip with members of the presidential guard loyal to Fatah-backed president Mahmud Abbas, witnesses and security officials said.

Dec 17 , 2006

Sunday


AFP_ENG_19970405.0108

TOKYO, April 5 , 1997 (AFP)

False fire alarm at Japan's troubled nuclear plant

A false fire alarm went off at a state-run nuclear fuel reprocessing plant northeast of Tokyo Saturday, nearly four weeks after it leaked radioactive substances following a fire and explosion.

The alarm sounded at about noon at a facility for mixing nuclear waste with asphalt at the plant in Tokai Mura, about 115 kilometres (70 miles) from Tokyo, the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corp. (Donen) said.

No smoke or fire was detected as Donen officials checked the facility. There were no signs of a fire on video recordings by surveillance cameras nor was there a rise in the temperature or abnormal radioactive emission.

The cause of the false alarm was being investigated, the officials said.

On March 11, a total of 37 workers were exposed to low-level radiation following the fire and blast at the facility, in what was labeled Japan's worst nuclear accident in terms of people affected.

At the facility, liquid nuclear waste is immobilized by dehydration and mixed with asphalt. The treated substance is then packed into drums.

A press report said the reprocessing plant would remain shut until at least 2001 as Donen needs time to incorporate new reprocessing technology for radioactive waste, the Kyodo news agency said.

The long-term closure of the facility deals a heavy blow to Donen because reprocessing spent nuclear fuel is a major source of income for the state-run company.

April 5 , 1997

nearly four weeks

March 11


AFP_ENG_20061219.0267

LONDON, Dec 19 , 2006, 2006

Everton seek action against Mourinho over Johnson diving 'smear'

Everton have decided to file a formal complaint to the Football Association over what they regard as a defamatory attack on striker Andy Johnson by Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

The Merseyside club have already indicated that they are considering legal action over Mourinho's criticism of Johnson's alleged diving, which he made after Chelsea's 3-2 win at Goodison Park on Sunday.

Mourinho was enraged by an incident in which Johnson jumped over Chelsea goalkeeper Hilario as they both went for the ball and tumbled after landing.

"He's dangerous for the opponents because you cannot trust him," Mourinho said of Johnson.

That infuriated Everton manager David Moyes, who argued that his forward had been taking evasive action to ensure he did not clatter into the goalkeeper.

Everton had called on Mourinho to retract his remarks but the lack of a response from Stamford Bridge prompted them to make things official with spokesman Ian Ross confirming: "We will now make a formal complaint to the FA over Jose Mourinho's remarks regarding Andrew Johnson."

Everton's move means the FA will have to review Mourinho's post-match interviews and decide whether he has a disciplinary case to answer.

Dec 19 , 2006

Sunday

now


AFP_ENG_20061205.0133

DOHA, Dec 5 , 2006, 2006

China's Xu Kun wins men's 50m Pistol gold

Xu Kun of China won the Asian Games men's 50m Pistol individual gold medal here on Tuesday even as team-mate and world number two Tan Zongliang struggled to finish fifth.

Rashid Yunusmetov of Kazakhstan took the silver and Kim Jong Su of North Korea the bronze at the Lusail ranges.

China had also won the team event in the same competition earlier on Tuesday and now have 14 gold medals from the 20 shooting events contested so far.

Tan's hopes of winning a third gold medal in Doha after securing the 10m Air Pistol team and individual titles evaporated after he shot poorly in the second round.

Dec 5 , 2006

Tuesday

Tuesday

now


AFP_ENG_20061210.0512

JERUSALEM, Dec 11 , 2006, 2006

by Marius Schattner

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will seek to bolster European support for Israel during a trip to Berlin and Rome this week amid fears here that the United States, its main ally, may soon shift course in the Middle East.

Olmert will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Tuesday and his Italian counterpart Romano Prodi the following day in Rome.

It is Olmert's first visit to the two countries since taking office last May. Following his meeting with Prodi, Olmert is to be received at the Vatican by Pope Benedict XVI.

Israel is ready to recognize a "European role" in reviving the peace process -- dormant for six years since the outbreak of the second Palestinian intifada -- provided Europe continues to boycott the Hamas-led Palestinian government, Olmert spokeswoman Miri Eisin told AFP.

"Germany, Italy and Europe in general have a role to play to advance the peace process," Eisin said. "But there cannot be any recognition of the Hamas government as long as this movement does not recognize Israel and does not give up its mission to destroy it."

The so-called Middle East Quartet -- composed of the EU, United States, Russia and the United Nations -- has demanded that Hamas renounce violence, recognize Israel and agree to abide by past peace deals, before resuming direct aid to the Palestinian government.

Another senior Israel official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Olmert would ask Berlin and Rome "to stand against trivial peace initiatives," a veiled reference to a recent proposal by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

That initiative, which was not well received by Israel, called for an immediate suspension of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, a prisoner exchange and an international peace conference.

Eisin said Olmert will ask the European heavyweights to back economic sanctions against Iran if the Islamic republic continues its nuclear program, which Tehran says is for civilian purposes but which the West fears is a cover for atomic weapons ambitions.

Israel, widely considered the Middle East's sole if undeclared nuclear power, considers Iran its arch-foe because of repeated statements by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that the Jewish state should be wiped off the map.

Italy is due to take over in February the leadership of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, which was beefed up after the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in July and August.

As part of the UN force, German navy ships have been patrolling the Lebanese coast to prevent any arms smuggling into the country.

Olmert's trip comes on the heels of an influential US report that urged Washington to boost its efforts to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict, saying it was key to achieving American goals in the region, including Iraq.

Olmert has rejected the link, but the report has raised fears that the Jewish state's main and most powerful ally could change direction in the Middle East as a result.

Dec 11 , 2006

Tuesday

last May

six years

February

July

August


AFP_ENG_20051204.0086

HONG KONG, Dec 4 , 2005

= (PICTURES) =

UBS Hong Kong Open champion Colin Montgomerie did his best to console a tearful James Kingston on Sunday after the South African threw away a one-shot lead on the last hole.

"I must say that everyone's heart goes out to James Kingston there," said the eight-time European Order of Merit winner, who carded rounds of of 69, 66, 66 and 70 to win by a shot after Kingston's double-bogey on 18.

"That should have been a play-off at worst to be honest and then we would have had more drama coming down that last hole.

"We all feel for him. Every golfer who plays the game feels for someone who doubles the last to lose. It has happened before and unfortunately it will happen again but on this occasion I am glad that I managed to take the spoils after that."

'Monty' birdied four, 10 and 14 but bogeyed 11 to be one shot back from Kingston, who was 10 under par and leading by a shot until the final hole.

It was Kingston's second meltdown in as many years on the same hole after he bogeyed the last in 2004 to finish joint second behind Miguel Angel Jimenez.

"It's amazing, five minutes afterwards he put his arm around me and said well done. He must have been nervous on the last hole -- it's a very difficult hole, a very difficult drive and I think that's what hurt him," said Montgomerie.

Montgomerie said he thought Kingston already had it won -- but he was delighted to have avoided a play-off.

"He bogeyed 16 but had par on 17 so I was expecting to lose. I was expecting to congratulate the winner when he came in," said the Scot, 42.

"My play-off record is terrible so I was glad we didn't have one. I've been in nine play-offs and I think I've only won one -- against Ernie Els in Sun City, so I hardly got out alive!"

Dec 4 , 2005

Sunday

69, 66


XIN_ENG_20061127.0073

TEHRAN, Nov. 27 , 2006 (Xinhua)

5th LD Writethru: Iranian military plane crashes, 36 killed: TV

An Iranian military aircraft Antonov- 74 crashed at Tehran's airport early Monday, killing 36 people including 30 members of the Revolutionary Guards, state television

reported.

Some 30 Revolutionary Guards members and six crews on board were killed, and another two had survived and were immediately hospitalized, a statement by the force was quoted as saying and corrected previous casualty number.

Earlier, the television had said the number of victims was 38.

However, Gen. Eskandar Moemeni, a deputy police chief, told reporters that the death toll had increased to 39 after three wounded people died in the hospital.

Due to the chaos of statistic among different units, it's not immediately clear which number was correct.

The Antonov-74 plane, belonging to the Revolutionary Guards, crashed shortly after taking off from Mehrabad airport, said the television.

The plane was heading toward Shiraz in the south of Iran when the disaster took place, it said.

According to a detailed report from local Fars news agency, Reza Jafarzadeh, the spokesman for the Iranian civil aviation organization, said the plane "crash at the end of runway at 7:30 local time (0400 GMT)."

From the latest report of the official IRNA news agency, a Revolutionary Guards source said the plane caught fire in one of its engines immediately after leaving the runway.

The television report said some high-ranking officers of the Revolutionary Guards were among the dead, but the IRNA, citing the

Revolutionary Guards source, said the plane carried no military commander.

For the recent years, Iran has witnessed a high rate of air crashes due to lack of spare parts and inadequate maintenance of aircraft.

An Iranian C-130 aircraft, bound for the Gulf seaport city of Bandar Abbas, crashed on Dec. 6, 2005, in a residential area and hit a 10-story apartment block, killing 108 people.

On Jan. 9, a small Falcon jet of the Revolutionary Guards crashed in Iran's northwestern border province of West Azarbaijan.

Nov. 27 , 2006

early Monday

the recent years

Dec. 6, 2005

Jan. 9


XIN_ENG_20061108.0321

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 8 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Los Angeles investors bid on major U.S. media group

Two Los Angeles investors submitted a bid Wednesday to buy one of the largest media groups in the United States, which publishes major newspapers like the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune and New York's Newsday.

Affiliates of Billionaire Eli Broad and prominent investor Ron Burkle's companies "have submitted a competitive bid for acquisition of the entire Tribune company", the Los Angeles Times reported at its website, quoting a source familiar with the offer.

How much the two businessmen would be willing to pay for the Chicago-based media company and the details about their offer remained unclear, but they have said for months that they wanted a local group to take control of the Los Angeles Times, according to the newspaper.

The offer came a day after it was reported that the Times' editor Dean Baquet would leave his post because of a long-standing dispute with the paper's Chicago parent company over proposed staff reductions.

Meanwhile, famous Hollywood entertainment mogul David Geffen has also expressed interest in acquiring the Los Angeles Times. Geffen was not known to have submitted an offer so far.

All three of the potential buyers have said in the past that the Los Angeles Times would benefit from their stewardship because they would be willing to accept lower profits and invest in news coverage.

Tribune executives earlier said they preferred to keep the Times as part of their media conglomerate, which includes 10 other daily newspapers and 25 television stations across the company.

However, the company last week opened itself to bids on individual newspapers after it received a series of low bids from several private equity firms for the company.

Local groups and individuals have expressed interest in acquiring Tribune papers after the company announced in late September that it would seek a sale or breakup of the company.

The company faces many of the challenges confronting the traditional media industry, as the circulation of newspapers has been on the decline and advertisers have been shifting their spending to the Internet.

Nov. 8 , 2006

Wednesday

last week

late September


AFP_ENG_19970407.0078

SEOUL, April 7 , 1997 (AFP)

Daewoo goes global with new models and stronger research team by Judy Lee

South Korea's Daewoo Motors Co. said Monday it would beef up its presence in the world market with three new passenger car models this year and more in the future to help it overcome domestic blues.

"Daewoo's strengthening globalization drive is in line with a worsening slump in the local market," said a Daewoo spokesman, Kim Hyung-Soo.

The country's third largest auto maker said in a statement Daewoo would double its research team, which now has 5,400 people worldwide, by 2000 to better cope with rapid changes in consumer demand.

The company runs auto design and technology centers in Britain and Germany.

"Starting in western Europe, three new models would penetrate into 60 countries worldwide from June," the spokesman said.

The three new entrants into the global market are Leganza with a 2,000-cc engine, Nubira with engine capacities of 1,800 cc and 1,500 cc and Lanos with a 1,500-cc engine.

Daewoo plans to introduce two or three new models targetting the world market every year in the coming years, using "global sourcing, global technology and global testing," the company said in the statement.

Company officials declined to give futher details on the plans.

Daewoo Motors, a flagship of Daewoo Business Group, chalked up a 69 percent rise in exports last year in line with its push to expand production facilities and marketing overseas.

The company shipped 471,104 vehicles abroad last year, compared with 280,508 in 1995, with exports to eastern Europe alone jumping 242 percent in 1996.

Thanks to brisk exports, Daewoo, unlike its stronger domestic rivals, posted an increase in net profits totalling 51.9 billion won (58 million dollars) last year, up from 10.5 billion won in 1995.

Its estimated revenue for 1996 amounted to 4.5 trillion won, up from 3.4 trillion won in the previous year, the company spokesman said.

The country's largest auto maker, Hyundai Motor Co. saw its 1996 net profit plunge 45 percent to 86.8 billion won, while the second largest Kia Motors Corp. recorded a 40 percent fall in net profit to 7.04 billion won.

Their profit slumps were compounded by fierce price competiton in a shrinking domestic market, analysts said.

Daewoo, which is due to drum up its production capacity from the current 1.58 million units a year to two million units at home and abroad by 2000, predicted 6.8 trillion won in sales and 70 billion won in net profit for 1997.

April 7 , 1997

Monday

this year

the future

now

June

every year

the coming years

last year

last year

last year

the previous year

a year


XIN_ENG_20061107.0222

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 , 2006 (Xinhua)

GM's third quarter loss reduces to 91 million dollars

General Motors Corp. said on Tuesday that it had made losses of 91 million U.S. dollars in the July-to-September quarter, 24 million dollars less than previously estimated.

On October 25, the world's biggest automaker reported a loss of 115 million dollars for the third quarter.

"The reduction in net loss is attributable to additional loan sales that had not been previously reported" by its financing arm General Motors Acceptance Corp., the automaker said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The automaker's third quarter loss amounted to 16 cents a share, compared with a loss of 1.66 billion dollars, or 2.94 dollars a share, in the same quarter last year.

For the third quarter, General Motors' revenues totaled 48.89 billion dollars, compared with 47.18 billion dollars a year ago.

Nov. 7 , 2006

Tuesday

the July-to-September quarter

October 25

the third quarter

third quarter

the same quarter last year

the third quarter

a year ago


AFP_ENG_19970416.0010

SINGAPORE, April 16 , 1997 (AFP)

Japan's Nomura to lead manage one billion dollar fund raising effort

MIF Asia Ltd., the financing arm of Japanese trading giant Marubeni Corp., has mandated Nomura Singapore Ltd. to lead-manage its one- billion-US-dollar fund raising program here.

The program allows MIF Asia to issue fixed and floating notes of different maturities -- with different coupon rates -- up to a total of one billion dollars, according to a statement from MIF Asia received here Wednesday.

MIF Asia has received in-principle approval to list the notes issued under the program on the Stock Exchange of Singapore. Subscribers to the notes are expected to be investors, mainly financial institutions and fund managers, from Asia.

The statement said MIF Asia, incorporated in Singapore in 1995 and registered in Hong Kong as an overseas company in the same year, would use the funds raised for its non-Singapore-dollar-denominated financial activities.

Marubeni set up MIF Asia as part of its global financial network to integrate the four major financial markets of Japan, the United States, Europe and Asia.

MIF Asia provides financial services to Marubeni's subsidiaries and affiliates in Asia and conducts investment-related activities such as portfolio investments in Asian money and capital markets.

Apart from Nomura Singapore, there are 14 other dealers for the note program.

April 16 , 1997

Wednesday

the same year


WSJ891030-0116
 = 891030
 891030-0116.
 International:
@  Polly Peck of U.K.
@  To Buy 51% Stake
@  In Japanese Firm
@  ----
@  By Urban C. Lehner
@  Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal
 10/30/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 J.SNE
 TENDER OFFERS, MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS (TNM)
HOME ELECTRONICS, FURNISHINGS, APPLIANCES (HMF)
 TOKYO

   Polly Peck International Inc.'s agreement to acquire 51% of Sansui Electric Co. proves that foreign companies can acquire Japanese companies -- if the alternative for the Japanese company is extinction.

   Polly Peck, a fast-growing British conglomerate, will pay 15.6 billion yen ($110 million) for 39 million new shares of Sansui, a well-known maker of high-fidelity audio equipment that failed to adjust to changing market conditions.
Japanese government officials, eager to rebut foreign criticism of Japanese investments overseas , hailed the transaction as proof foreigners can make similar investments in Japan.
Polly Peck's chairman, Asil Nadir, echoed the official Japanese view of the accord, which was announced Friday.

   "The myths that Japan is not open to concerns from outside has, I think, been demolished at a stroke," Mr. Nadir said.

   But analysts say Sansui is a special case.
It expects to post a loss of 6.4 billion yen for the year ending tomorrow and its liabilities currently exceed its assets by about 13.8 billion yen.
"If you find sound, healthy companies in Japan, they are not  for sale," said George Watanabe, a management-consultant at Tokyo-based Asia Advisory Services Inc.

   Statistics on acquisitions by foreigners vary in detail, because unlike Sansui, which is listed on the Tokyo and Osaka stock exchanges, most of the Japanese companies acquired by foreigners are privately held.
But by all accounts foreign companies have bought only a relative handful of Japanese companies this year, while Japanese companies have acquired hundreds of foreign companies.

   Nor do analysts expect the Sansui deal to touch off a fresh wave of foreign purchases.
If the strong yen and the high stock prices of Japanese companies were n't  deterrents enough, webs of cross-shareholdings between friendly Japanese companies and fiercely independent Japanese corporate attitudes repel most would-be acquirers.

   Usually when a Japanese company is ready to sell, it has few alternatives remaining, and the grim demeanors of Sansui's directors at a joint news conference here left little doubt that this was not  the company's finest hour.
Sansui was once one of Japan's premier makers of expensive, high-quality stereo gear for audiophiles.

   But in recent years, the market has moved toward less expensive "mini-component" sets, miniaturized amplifiers and receivers and software players that could be stacked on top of each other.

   Some of Sansui's fellow audio-specialty companies, such as Aiwa Co. and Pioneer Electric Corp., responded to the challenge by quickly bringing out mini-component products of their own, by moving heavily into the booming compact disk businesses or by diversifying into other consumer-electronics fields, including laser disks or portable cassette players.
Sansui was late into the mini-component business and failed to branch into other new businesses.

   As the yen soared in recent years, Sansui's deepening financial problems became a vicious circle.
While competitors moved production offshore in response to the sagging competitiveness of Japanese factories, Sansui lacked the money to build new plants in Southeast Asia.
"Our company has not been able to cope very effectively with" changes in the marketplace, said Ryosuke Ito, Sansui's president.

   But even a Japanese company that looks like a dog may turn out to be a good investment for a foreign concern, some management consultants maintain.

   Yoshihisa Murasawa, a management consultant for Booz-Allen amp Hamilton (Japan) Inc., said his firm will likely be recommending acquisitions of Japanese companies more often to foreign clients in the future.
"Attitudes {toward being acquired} are still negative, but they're becoming more positive," Mr. Murasawa said.
"In some industries, like pharmaceuticals, acquisitions make sense."

   Whether Polly Peck's acquisition makes sense remains to be seen, but at the news conference, Mr. Nadir brimmed with self-confidence that he can turn Sansui around.
Sansui, he said, is a perfect fit for Polly Peck's electronics operations, which make televisions, videocassette recorders, microwaves and other products on an "original equipment maker" basis for sale under other companies' brand names.

   He said Polly Peck will greatly expand Sansui's product line, using Sansui's engineers to design the new products, and will move Sansui's production of most products other than sophisticated audio gear offshore into Polly Peck's own factories.

   "Whatever capital it (Sansui) needs so it can compete and become a totally global entity capable of competing with the best in the world, that capital will be injected," Mr. Nadir said.

   And while Polly Peck is n't jettisoning the existent top-management structure of Sansui, it is bringing in a former Toshiba Corp. executive as executive vice president and chief operating officer.

   Such risk taking is an everyday matter for the brash Mr. Nadir, who is 25% owner of Polly Peck as well as its chairman.
He took Polly Peck, once a small fabric wholesaler, and used it at as a base to build a conglomerate that has been doubling its profits annually since 1980.
In September, it announced plans to acquire the tropical-fruit business of RJR Nabisco Inc.'s Del Monte foods unit for #557 million ($878 million).

   Last month, Polly Peck posted a 38% jump in pretax profit for the first half to #54.8 million from #39.8 million on a 63% rise in sales.

   ---

   Joann S. Lublin in London contributed to this article.

Friday

the year

tomorrow

currently

this year

recent years

recent years

the future

September

Last month


XIN_ENG_20061112.0025

TEHRAN, Nov. 12 , 2006 (Xinhua)

spokesman

Iran will give "destructive" response if its nuclear program is attacked by Israel, a Foreign Ministry spokesman vowed here Sunday.

Nov. 12 , 2006

Sunday


XIN_ENG_20051119.0093

BEIJING, Nov. 19 , 2005 (Xinhua)

2nd Ld: US president arrives in Beijing

US President George W. Bush arrived here Saturday evening for a three-day visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Bush's presidential plane Air Force One touched down around 18: 40 at Beijing's Capital Airport, where the US president was greeted by Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Zhou Wenzhong and US Ambassador to China Clark T. Randt.

Also arriving aboard the presidential plane were Bush's wife Laura Bush, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and US National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.

Two young Chinese women presented bouquets to Bush and his wife at the airport.

This is Bush's third China trip as US president since 2001 and also his first China visit in his second term of presidency. He will stay for nearly 40 hours here. Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao are to meet with President Bush, and they will discuss a wide range of issues.

"The two sides will have an in-depth exchange of views on China-US relations and major regional and international issues," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao Thursday.

"We expect that Bush's visit will increase consensus, step up mutual trust, expand exchanges and cooperation and promote Sino-US constructive and cooperative relations in the 21st century in an all-round way," Liu told a regular news briefing.

Bush described Sino-US relationship as a complex and important one. While the two countries have got increasing trade and dialogue and cooperation, there is still work to be done on intellectual property rights, currency and market access, said Bush in a round-table interview with Asian reporters at the White House prior to his Asian tour.

But Bush acknowledged that the United States and China "do have good cooperation" on trade, and can also work together in the war on terror, on advancing the Doha Round multilateral trade talks and in the areas of energy and fighting avian flu.

China is the third leg of Bush's four-nation Asian tour. He visited Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) and attended the Nov. 18-19 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Busan of the ROK. He will also visit Mongolia after his China tour.

Bush attended the APEC economic leaders' meeting in Shanghai in October, 2001, and paid a two-day working visit to China in February 2002.

Nov. 19 , 2005

Saturday evening

second term of presidency

nearly 40 hours here

Thursday

the 21st century

Nov. 18-19

October

February 2002


AFP_ENG_20061215.0552

NEW YORK, Dec 15 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - UPDATES with market close ///

Wall Street's main stock indexes pushed to new highs Friday for a second straight day after a tame report on consumer inflation boosted hopes for lower interest rates in 2007.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 28.76 points (0.23 percent) to 12,444.52, its second consecutive all-time record close, after hitting an intraday high of 12,486.30.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index advanced 3.35 points (0.14 percent) to 2,457.20 a day after closing at its highest level since February 2001.

The Standard and Poor's 500 broad-market index edged up 1.60 points (0.11 percent) to 1,427.09, a fresh six-year high.

Markets opened stronger and pared their gains late in the session as investors locked in gains at the conclusion of a strong week.

Ahead of the opening, the Labor Department reported that its consumer price index (CPI) was flat in November, including the "core" index that excludes food and energy, despite expectations of a 0.2 percent increase in both figures.

Analysts said this eases pressure on the Federal Reserve to increase interest rates and could mean a lowering of rates in the coming months.

"Today's data certainly reinforce our view that the next move from the Fed will be to ease, and we are sticking with our timeframe for a cut at the tail end of the first quarter of 2007," said Marc Levesque, chief economics strategist at TD Securities.

"The economy has slowed, and it now looks as inflation pressures are cooling down -- a trend that is also starting to materialize in the data on wages and unit labor costs."

A separate report showed US industrial production rising a better-than-expected 0.2 percent.

The latest reports were part of a string of positive economic surprises, suggesting inflation is easing but growth is holding up.

"The economy is doing very well, much better than anybody thought. The consumer is still strong and inflation is moving in the right direction," said Marc Pado at Cantor Fitzgerald.

Pado said the market was also helped by "window dressing" in which portfolio managers buy top-performing stocks before the end of the quarter to show they are holding them at the close.

"People needed to buy," he said.

Also helping sentiment was a rise in other global markets, especially in Asia, after the Tankan survey of Japanese business sentiment rose to a two-year high.

Among the gainers on Wall Street, Adobe Systems leapt 2.00 dollars, or 4.9 percent, to 42.81 dollars after the software group reported a 16 percent increase in net profits.

General Electric, the conglomerate often seen as a bellwether of the economy, advanced 1.15 dollars to 37.36.

Home Depot fell eight cents to 39.89 after the home improvement retailer announced a share buyback program.

Elsewhere, computer maker Dell lost 34 cents to 26.53 after announcing a further delay of its third-quarter results due to a regulatory inquiry.

Bonds fell, giving back early gains. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury bond rose to 4.597 percent from 4.595 percent Thursday, while that on the 30-year bond increased to 4.718 percent against 4.716 percent. Bond yields and prices move in opposite directions.

Dec 15 , 2006

Friday

a second straight day

February 2001

strong week

November

coming months

first quarter of 2007

now

the end of the quarter

third-quarter

Thursday


XIN_ENG_20051115.0146

SHANGHAI, Nov. 15 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Bryan twins win battle over former world No. l pair

Reigning world number one Bob and Mike Bryan recovered from their lacklustre tournament opener in their Tuesday's Red Group match at Tennis Masters Cup, crashing former top-ranked pair Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor 6-4, 6-4.

Earlier in the day, fifth-seeded Leander Paes of India and Nedad Zimonjic from Serbia and Montenegro claimed their second win in Shanghai, defeating seventh-seeded Australian duo Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley 7-6(3), 7-6 (6) in two hours.

The Bryan twins, two-time defending champions here at the year-ending event of men's professional tennis, took just one hour, 16 minutes and 39 seconds to reannounce their dominance on doubles court and lowered the fourth seeds Knowles and Nestor's hope of making semifinals through the round-robin.

In Sunday's play, both of the pairs have lost their first match in full sets. And according to the competition system made special at this year's Masters, eight elite pairs were devided into Red and Gold Groups with the top two paired finishers qualify for the semis.

Knowles and Nestor have come to Shanghai on a wave of success, winning back to back titles in Vienna and Madrid Masters and going on to reach the final at the Paris Masters just over a week ago.

Unstoppable winning streak of the Bahamian and Canadian pairing, however, was thus snapped by the Bryan brothers, who are the US Open champions and have appeared in 11 tournament finals this year alone.

En route to their comeback victory, the Bryans declined to give any chances to their aged opponents, taking the second round-robin match on 8 aces.

The twin duo from the United States, looking to become the first team to win three straight doubles titles at the season-end champions since Peter Fleming and John McEnroe won the title in seven straight years from 1978-84.

Also they are the second team in 50 years to reach the final in all four Grand Slams. The other pair who set the record are Paes and Indian Mahesh Bhupathi in 1999.

Nov. 15 , 2005

Tuesday

two hours

Sunday

this year

a week ago

this year

50 years


AFP_ENG_20061218.0360

LONDON, Dec 18 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - EMBARGOED, RELEASABLE Tuesday at 0001 ///

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has failed to influence United States President George W Bush's foreign policy, a top foreign affairs think-tank said Tuesday.

A briefing paper from Chatham House also said that the "terrible mistake" of the 2003 Iraq invasion, led by the United States but strongly backed by Britain, would resonate long after Blair leaves office next year.

"The root failure of Tony Blair's foreign policy has been its inability to influence the Bush administration in any significant way despite the sacrifice -- military, political and financial -- that the United Kingdom has made," said the paper, penned by outgoing director Victor Bulmer-Thomas.

He added that Iraq was a foreign policy "watershed" which, like the 1956 Suez crisis, would alter the relationship with the United States for many years to come.

"The post 9/11 decision to invade Iraq was a terrible mistake and the current debacle will have policy repercussions for many years to come," the paper added.

Blair stands accused by the report of over-estimating the extent of his influence in Washington.

"The bilateral relationship with the United States may be 'special' to Britain, but the US has never described it as more than 'close'," it said.

While Bush's announcement that the United States would accept a two-state solution in the Middle East was "seized upon" by those close to Blair, the report says, there is "no evidence" that this was linked to British pressure.

It adds that, while Blair's political capital in Washington was not as great as he thought, there were questions about whether he used what influence he had to greatest advantage.

"Anecdotal evidence also suggests that the prime minister did not make full use of the opportunities that were presented to him," the paper says.

Blair had "learnt the hard way" that "loyalty in international politics counts for very little", it added.

On Iraq, Bulmer-Thomas said it was a "terrible mistake" to rely on arguing that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction to justify the war.

His paper added that the "jury is still out" on whether Blair knew such claims were "overblown or even fabricated".

Blair's successor will have to develop closer relations with Europe and will not be able to offer "unconditional support" for US foreign policy, the paper said.

The US is also likely to urge Britain to develop closer relations with Europe in future, it adds.

"What US governments want is a European Union that can make a real contribution to the international political and security agenda, and any European government with the diplomatic skills to deliver EU support will be hugely appreciated," it says.

Responding to the paper, Blair's Downing Street office pointed to progress in foreign policy fields such as tackling poverty in Africa and climate change which it highlights.

"International relations are not a matter of quid pro quo," a spokeswoman said.

Dec 18 , 2006

Tuesday

next year

many years

many years

future