AFP_ENG_19970425.0194

BANGKOK, April 25 , 1997 (AFP)

Moody's downgrades three Thai banks, calls for stricter regulation by Matthew Pennington

Moody's Investors Service Friday lowered the long-term debt ratings of three major Thai banks and called for tougher regulation amid concerns over deteriorating asset quality.

The New York-based ratings agency said in a statement announcing the downgrades that more rigorous requirements and enforcements were needed "to restore confidence in the regulation and supervision of Thai banks."

Bank of Ayudhya had its long-term senior debt and deposit ratings lowered from Baa1 to Baa2, while Thai Military Bank and Siam City Bank were downgraded from Baa2 to Baa3.

Moody's said the action reflected the "anticipated impact that Thailand's weakening financial fundamentals, declining property and stock markets, deepening crisis in the finance company sector and continuing economic slowdown will have on the three banks' asset quality, capital levels and profitability."

It follows Moody's downgrading of Thailand's long term sovereign debt rating from A2 to A3 two weeks ago.

Thai regulators had moved in "the right direction" to encourage mergers and more stringent disclosure and provisioning requirements in the troubled financial company sector, Moody's said.

But the transparency of Thai financial statements was "generally poor."

"Thai banks are allowed a great deal of regulatory forbearance in such items as the need to create loan loss reserves and regarding non- accrual of loans," the statement said.

The central Bank of Thailand had disclosed that the level of non- performing loans at Thai banks was 7.7 percent in June 1996 but individual banks do not currently disclose this information, Moody's said.

However the central bank had announced that information disclosure on asset quality would be necessary with financial statements from June 30, it added.

Unofficial estimates have put the level of bad debt in the financial system at more than 700 billion baht (27 billion dollars).

Friday's downgradings had been widely expected following an announcement from Moody's in March that it was reviewing the three banks' ratings and the decision was largely discounted in trading on the bourse, which closed down 0.6 percent, analysts said.

Moody's also lowered the short-term ratings of Bank of Aduyhya and Thai Military Bank from Prime-2 to Prime-3, while confirming Siam City's Prime-3 rating. The financial strength ratings and subordinated debt of all three banks were lowered.

The agency said it expected the levels of non-performing assets for the three banks to rise by another 50-to-100 percent over levels at the end of 1996 levels.

The impact on banks of problems in the property sector would be likely to continue for several years, due to oversupply and the effect of high domestic interest rates used by the central bank to defend the baht, the statement said.

The banks would also suffer a "contingent liability" for the troubled finance company sector suffering funding and capital deficiencies.

On the positive side, Moody's pointed to the good lending margins of Thai banks -- with a system wide average of more than 3.5 percent -- and a supportive regulatory environment.

"These factors will help the banks generate the core profits to absorb the potential losses which may materialize as well as maintain confidence in the banking sector," Moody's said.

Also, Thailand still enjoys strong underlying fundamentals and a robust rate of economic growth, it said.

A dealer with Adkinson Securities said the Moody's action had not compounded the underlying weakness in the stock market.

"The market is struggling more on the expectation of broadly weaker first quarter earnings and news that the economy was still performing badly," he said.

April 25 , 1997

Friday

two weeks ago

June 1996

June 30

Friday

March

the end of 1996 levels

several years


XIN_ENG_20051123.0303

NEW YORK, Nov. 23 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Oil prices drop over stronger US crude inventories

World oil prices fell on Wednesday over stronger US crude inventories, which helped to offset concerns about shortfalls in heating fuel supplies this winter.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in January, fell 13 cents to close at 58.71 dollars a barrel.

In London, the price of Brent North Sea crude for January delivery lost 20 cents to end at 56.21 dollars a barrel.

US inventories of crude oil, gasoline and distillate products all rose over the past week, the Department of Energy said.

The higher inventory levels suggest that US oil companies have been able to rebuild their stocks thanks to milder weather, after their operations were battered by hurricanes in August and September.

At Wednesday's price levels, crude futures have shed almost 18 percent since striking historic highs of 70.85 dollars in New York on August 30 after Hurricane Katrina tore through US Gulf Coast energy facilities.

Prices have since dropped owing in part to unusually warm weather during October and much of November across the northern hemisphere.

Nov. 23 , 2005

Wednesday

this winter

January

January

the past week

August and September

Wednesday

August 30

October


XIN_ENG_20051127.0169

HARARE, Nov. 27 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Zimbabwean opposition MDC bars leader from all activities

The pro-senatorial poll faction of the Movement for Democratic Change, Zimbabwe's largest opposition, rebuffed leader Morgan Tsvangirai's claims that there was no quorum when the party suspended him on Sunday.

Faction spokesperson Gift Chimanikire said there was a quorum when the party barred Tsvangirai from all party activities.

"Only one person who was not well was not available when the quorum sat and as such Tsvangirai remains suspended from all party activities until such time when a decision about his future is taken," said Chimanikire.

Chimanikire said "he can go and hang. We held the disciplinary meeting in his absence because he disregarded it. We will soon give him the last chance to appear under the same disciplinary committee."

Should he fail to respond, Chimanikire said, this would be his last chance after which necessary measures would be taken.

He, however, refused to elaborate on the action Tsvangirai would face.

"He is barred from all party activities until further notice and should not represent the party in any capacity," he said.

Chimanikire said the latest move meant that Gibson Sibanda, the second in command, had assumed the presidency and overall control of the party.

He said that the faction would not attend the emergency meeting that Tsvangirai called.

"If he goes ahead with his decision, he will not get a quorum. This is what happened when he convened the last meeting."

He claimed that Tsvangirai's bodyguards were made members of the national council at this meeting.

Tsvangirai's spokesperson William Bango refused to comment on the latest developments.

"I don't comment on those issues. In fact I have no comment," Bango said.

Nov. 27 , 2005

Sunday


AFP_ENG_19970411.0363

STOCKHOLM, April 11 , 1997 (AFP)

Swedish protestors urge Dutch to release environmentalist

Swedish environmentalists rallied outside the Dutch embassy here on Friday to urge the Netherlands to release the founder of their group, Paul Watson, wanted in Norway for illegal protest actions against whaling, police said.

Half a dozen environmentalists of the Sea Shepherd group brandished banners outside the embassy urging "Please Holland, free Paul Watson."

Watson, a 46-year old Canadian citizen who is also the co-founder of Greenpeace, was arrested at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport on April 2 under an international arrest warrant.

He is wanted by Norwegian authorities, who have requested his extradition in connection with a collision in July 1992 between his Sea Shepherd Conservation Society boat and a whaler during an operation by environmentalists against whale-hunting.

Watson had been sentenced in Norway to 120 days imprisonment for damage to the whaling ship Nybraenna. He is also wanted in Norway for two other illegal protest actions against whaling.

In July 1994, a Sea Shepherd boat rammed a Norwegian coast guard vessel during an operation by environmentalists against whale-hunting, and in January 1994 he sabotaged the whaler Senet.

Dutch diplomat Rienko Wilton told AFP that Friday's demonstration was "very peaceful."

April 11 , 1997

Friday

April 2

July 1992

July 1994

January 1994

Friday


XIN_ENG_20061119.0186

HARARE, Nov. 19 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Zimbabwe tractor firm in deal with China counterparts

Saltlakes Holdings (Private) Limited, a predominantly Zimbabwean agricultural investment company, has ramped up its ties with the Chinese market by signing an exclusive dealership agreement with JiangSu Changfa Group (JCG), The Sunday Mail reported on Sunday.

The deal entails the distribution of farming equipment and implements, among them tractors under the Changfa brand, Saltlakes chief executive Temba Mliswa revealed. Apart from the co-operation of his Chinese partners, Mliswa said they (Saltlakes) were thankful for the unstinting support and open-door policy of personnel at the Zimbabwean embassy in Beijing.

Under the arrangement, Saltlakes would not only sell or restrict itself to the Zimbabwean market, but also target four other Southern African countries, such as Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia. The services can also be extended to Angola, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania.

This distribution channel not only gives the Zimbabwean firm access to a wider Southern Africa Development Community market, but is also one of the largest deals in the region.

Based in Jiangsu Province, JCG is an integrated industrial group specializing in the manufacture of agricultural equipment, cooling systems, internal combustion engines and real estate investments.

JCG produces high-calibre tractors of pulling power or capacities exceeding 80 horsepower, with engines comparable to the world-renowned Perkins brand.

The group also features among China's top five tractor producers or companies that its tie-up with Saltlakes will provide the latter's contracted farmers, under an agriculture ministry- backed tobacco outgrower scheme, with a one-stop shop for procuring necessary equipment such as tractors.

Nov. 19 , 2006

Sunday


AFP_ENG_20061226.0478

MELBOURNE, Dec 27 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - UPDATES to tea ///

Matthew Hayden hit his first century of the series and 27th of his Test career to wrest control of the fourth Ashes Test away from England on Wednesday.

Hayden combined with Andrew Symonds to get Australia off the hook after England had the home side on a shaky 84 for five in the morning session.

But as has happened so often in the series already wrapped up by the Aussies, England's bowlers failed to deliver the knockout blow.

Hayden and Symonds shared in an unbroken 142-run stand for the sixth wicket to take the game away from the tourists.

Hayden continued his love affair with the Melbourne Cricket Ground, scoring his fifth century in eight Tests to join Allan Border as Australia's fourth-highest century-maker behind current captain Ricky Ponting (33).

Only Ponting, Steve Waugh (32) and Don Bradman (29) have scored more Test centuries than Hayden, who with Border ranks as the top-scoring left-hander of Test hundreds for his country.

At tea, Australia were sailing along at 226 for five, a lead of 67, with Hayden unconquered on 109 off 189 balls with 11 boundaries and a six. Symonds was not out 61.

Defending a modest first innings 159, England shook up Australia before lunch taking the wickets of the three top-averaging batsmen, Ricky Ponting (7), Mike Hussey (6) and Michael Clarke (5) to have the home side under rare pressure.

All three went into the Melbourne Test boasting century-plus averages in the series -- Ponting (104.80), Hussey (138.33) and Clarke (124.33).

But Hayden and Symonds regained command of the innings, scoring 115 runs in the middle session.

Symonds, who went to the crease with a Test average of just 18 in 11 matches, took 21 balls to get off the mark but unleashed the full range of his trademark one-day international shots to drain England's confidence.

Earlier, skipper Andrew Flintoff removed Ponting cheaply in the seventh over of the day.

The Aussie skipper attempted to pull from well outside the off-stump only to sky a catch to Alastair Cook at mid-wicket.

Hussey was bowled between bat and pad by Matthew Hoggard with one that straightened on him.

It was the third time in the series that Hussey has been bowled in the series, twice by Hoggard and once by Flintoff.

Steve Harmison, who has failed to recapture the form of last year's Ashes series in England, produced a gem of a delivery to remove Clarke in the next over.

Harmison found extra bounce with his second ball to get an edge off Clarke's prodding bat for wicketkeeper Chris Read to take the catch and leave the Aussies at 84 for five and trailing England at that stage by 75 runs.

Dec 27 , 2006

first century

Wednesday

the morning

the day

last year


AFP_ENG_19970420.0050

NEW DELHI, April 20 , 1997 (AFP)

URGENTGujral stakes claim to form new Indian government

United Front coalition leader Inder Kumar Gujral on Sunday staked claim to form India's new government, a leader of the alliance said.

April 20 , 1997

Sunday


AFP_ENG_19970413.0013

SINGAPORE, April 13 , 1997 (AFP)

Financing curbs seek to stem speculation in Singapore public housing

Singapore is to fine-tune its much-envied public housing system by tightening financing procedures to curb speculation on the heavily subsidised flats which are home to nine out of 10 citizens.

The new rules unveiled Saturday are aimed at deterring the use of subsidised loans to buy and sell the simple but comfortable flats to reap capital gains.

The regulations also intend to endure that flat-buyers borrow within their means, officials and analysts said.

"The basic policy of public housing is to provide a roof over your head, not to help you make a profit," Chan Hiap Kong, senior director of the property consultancy Colliers Jardine, told the Sunday Times.

"It will introduce more prudence into the market and extract the speculative element," Chan said of the measures announced by National Development Minister Lim Hng Kiang.

The new mortgage financing policy will make flats built by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) more expensive for those who already own property.

The government said a "credit assessment" criteria would be imposed on buyers to ensure that they are not tempted by low interest rates and rising resale prices to borrow beyond their means.

Buyers of HDB flats will now be entitled to only two subsidised mortgage loans which come with an interest rate of 3.5 percent per annum, below the market rate of 5.75 percent.

The loan amount will depend on the age and household income of borrowers. Buyers will have to use up the money in their pension-fund accounts before they are granted mortgage loans.

The maximumn loan amount will be worked out in such a way that borrowers' monthly repayments do not exceed 40 percent of the household income.

Buyers of resale flats will have to pay market interest rates if they earn more than 8,000 Singapore dollars (5,714 US) a month, or if they own private property.

"The objective of this latest revision in mortgage financing policy for HDB flats is to bring it closer to market practice and to rationalise the subsidies for the purchase of HDB flats," the ministry of national development said.

The measures would check rampant "upgrading" by Singaporeans who put pressure on their budgets by seeking to move to more spacious flats, analysts said.

The steps come on the top of credit-tightening and tax measures introduced in May last year against excessive speculation in private property which have softened real-estate prices.

Market speculation Friday sent property stocks reeling, with the Stock Exchange of Singapore Property Index ending down five percent -- the largest one-day fall since the May curbs.

Analysts said the steps were less stringent than had been speculated about in the market.

"The new measures will not affect the selling prices of new flats. There might be some downward pressure on the resale flat prices. However the impact is difficult to assess at this moment," a government spokesman said.

"I think definitely the home market will be affected but to what extent nobody can tell," said a property agent, adding that property stocks were expected to stabilise Monday given the week-end selling bout.

The HDB, set up in 1960 as the sole public housing authority in the island state of three million people, has built some 650,000 subsidised flats that house about 90 percent of Singaporeans.

Most of them were able to buy their own flats by drawing on hefty compulsory social security savings in the Central Provident Fund and low-interest mortgage loans.

But demand for new HDB flats and financing has risen sharply since 1993 following measures which made it easier for owners to sell their units on the open market, causing resale prices to increase.

Annual demand has since averaged at 70,000 new HDB flats, compared to the 30,000 the HDB builds.

April 13 , 1997

Saturday

Sunday Times

May last year

Friday

Monday


XIN_ENG_20051114.0276

CHANGSHA, Nov. 14 , 2005 (Xinhua)

cases in central China

The World Health Organization (WHO) experts who came to probe a case of "pneumonia of an unknown cause" in central China Monday said they are satisfaction with the report on the case.

The WHO experts also affirmed to the technology and salvations to deal with the three cases after they listened to the report made by the provincial health department of Hunan with their Chinese counterparts from the Ministry of Health on Monday afternoon.

"Everything is going well. What we heard about are all good things. And we're satisfied with the preventative measures of Hunan. But we still need farther investigation." said a WHO expert.

The experts will carry out investigations on Tuesday and Wednesday in cities of Changsha and Xiangtan, where three cases of the mysterious pneumonia occurred in October, according to the provincial health department.

The experts will visit the Hunan Provincial Children's Hospital where the sister and brother were treated, the village where the bird flu epidemic broke out, and medical institutions in Xiangtan, according to the department.

The three cases involved a 12-year-old girl who died on Oct. 17, her 9-year-old brother, who was discharged from hospital last Friday after 25 days of treatment, and a 36-year-old school teacher, who is still in hospital. They were all diagnosed as suffering from "pneumonia of an unknown cause."

The WHO experts are expected to return to Beijing on Thursday, according to local authorities.

Nov. 14 , 2005

Monday

Monday afternoon

Tuesday

Wednesday

October

Oct. 17

last Friday

25 days

Thursday


AFP_ENG_20061227.0537

MOGADISHU, Dec 28 , 2006, 2006

=(GRAPHIC+PICTURE)=

Ethiopian troops backing Somali government forces were closer to the capital Mogadishu Thursday as the UN Security Council failed to reach consensus on a statement calling for the immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces from Somalia and an end to military operations.

"We could not reach consensus" on the non-binding statement, said Mutlaq al-Qahtani, a UN delegate from Qatar, which chairs the 15-member council and drafted the text.

It was the second day in a row that the 15 members failed to reach common ground and they finally decided to give up their attempt as it became clear there was no hope of a consensus.

Meanwhile the UN braced for tens of thousands of refugees flooding into neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia.

On Wednesday pro-government forces seized Jowhar, about 90 kilometres (55 miles) north of Mogadishu and rolled south, with the Islamists carrying out what they described as a "tactical retreat" under air attacks.

A pro-government army commander told AFP late Wednesday that his troops were now in the town of Balad, just 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of the capital.

A spokesman for the Somali transitional government said earlier Mogadishu would not be taken by force.

"There is a fear among the population in the capital that the government will force its way into Mogadishu but we are not going to do that," said Information Minister Ali Ahmed Jamah.

Jamah said government troops would surround Mogadishu to leave time for negotiations and force the Islamists to take part in dialogue.

"There are negotiations underway between the leaders of various groups in Mogadishu, so that the people of Mogadishu, those who have chased away the warlords, we want them to convince the extremists to leave the country peacefully so that nothing bad happens there," he said.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has also said he was not interested in capturing Mogadishu.

In Kenya, whose government helped shape Somalia's interim regime in 2004, diplomats said the Islamists had agreed to attend talks in Nairobi on Thursday to contain the situation.

As concern mounted worldwide of an impending bloodbath and massive displacement of civilians, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) urged parties to spare the city due to the potential for "enormous human losses".

"To carry the battle to the capital is likely to force thousands of civilians... to flee and exacerbate the humane catastrophe," said OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.

The Islamists, meanwhile, vowed to maintain security in Mogadishu.

"The security we are enjoying is very important and we cannot let violent people destabilize our city," Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the chairman of the Islamist executive committee, told a press conference in Mogadishu.

The African Union and the Arab League urged Ethiopia to pull out and for the rivals to observe a truce, while the OIC warned fighting could worsen "the humanitarian tragedy already unfolding".

But Somali Information Minister Jamah said: "The Ethiopians have a limited objective. They came at the invitation of a legitimate government to rout out these extremist elements from Somalia. It is limited in scope and limited in time.

"They will go back very soon, almost 80 percent of our mission is completed ... There were common interests, they (the Islamists) were threatening us and also threatening Ethiopia."

In June, the Islamists seized Mogadishu and much of Somalia, leaving the US-backed transitional government only in control of the town of Baidoa.

But as the Islamists advanced on Baidoa, Ethiopia moved to shore up the government. Heavy fighting then erupted last week after the Islamists made good on a vow to launch attacks if Ethiopian troops failed to pull out within a week.

The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) meanwhile warned that as many as 50,000 refugees could pour into neighbouring countries.

"Although no large-scale refugee movements from Somalia have yet been recorded in neighbouring countries, UNHCR is immediately positioning relief items in the region for up to 50,000 people..." it said.

UNHCR said from its Geneva headquarters it was mobilising staff and resources.

"In addition to the immediate pre-positioning of relief items, UNHCR will also increase its existing stockpiles in the region by purchasing enough supplies for a further 100,000 people, refugees as well as internally displaced people," a statement said.

Eritrean President Issaias Afeworki, meanwhile, blamed arch-rival Ethiopia for the escalating conflict.

Issaias said the "current situation in Somalia is the result of the intervention of foreign forces, particularly Ethiopia," according to a statement published in the country's information ministry website.

Analysts have accused the two Horn of Africa nations, still at odds over the unresolved border row that sparked their 1998-2000 war, of fighting a proxy war in Somalia.

Dec 28 , 2006

Thursday

the second day

Wednesday

Wednesday

Thursday

June

last week

a week


XIN_ENG_20061121.0217

ULAN BATOR, Nov. 21 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Interview: Mongolia willing to further cooperation with China, PM

Mongolia is willing to further cooperation with China, said Mongolian Prime Minister Miegombyn Enkhbold here on Tuesday.

Enkhbold, who will pay an official visit to China from Nov. 22 to 27, said during an interview with Xinhua that Mongolia and China had enjoyed sound relations and cooperation in every field.

China and Mongolia established a good-neighborly partnership of mutual trust in 2003 when Chinese President Hu Jintao paid a state visit to the country.

High-level visits have become regular and leaders of the two countries also often meet during international occasions, Enkhbold said, adding that these meetings had enhanced relations in other fields.

The two countries had no disputes and pendent issues, in fact on the contrary, they held the same or similar views on bilateral and international affairs, he said.

The two countries had many treaties and agreements on dealing with bilateral relations and last year they jointly inspected borderlines and signed documents, he said.

Economic relations between the two countries had also developed well, the prime minister said.

Statistics from China's General Administration of Customs show that trade volume between China and Mongolia from January to September hit 1.13 billion U.S. dollars.

Enkhbold said trade volume in the same term of 2005 was only 551.7 million dollars, among which export volume was 333.1 million dollars.

China had become the largest investor and trade partner with Mongolia, and sound economic cooperation had enhanced Mongolia's economy, the prime minister said.

He suggested that the two countries should make good use of the natural resources in Mongolia and make cooperation in power a top priority.

During his visit, Enkhbold will meet Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Wu Bangguo and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Jia Qinglin. He will also hold talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

In addition to Beijing, Enkhbold will visit Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Enkhbold said Mongolia would make suggestions on economic cooperation and exchange views with the Chinese side on bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common concern.

He believed his visit could enhance bilateral relations and cooperation.

Nov. 21 , 2006

Tuesday

Nov. 22

last year

January


XIN_ENG_20051125.0006

MANILA, Nov. 25 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Philippine stocks close lower

Philippine stock prices closed lower Friday with composite index dropping 13.55 points or 0.64 percent to 2,106.10.

Turnover volume was 1.09 billion shares valued at 783.03 million pesos (14.2 million US dollars), while all-shares index fell 6.18 points to 1,274.42.

Gainers narrowly beat losers 42 to 38, while 43 stocks were unchanged.

The Philippine stock market will be closed Monday, a local public holiday.

Nov. 25 , 2005

Friday

Monday


XIN_ENG_20051117.0392

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 18 , 2005 (Xinhua)

dispute, Iraq issue

Malaysia has urged the United States to play a greater role in solving the Israeli-Palestinian dispute and the problem in Iraq as soon as possible, local media reported Friday.

The United States should take advantage of its influence to help bring an immediate solution to these issues in a firmer yet fair way, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

On the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, the United States seems to be selective in the way it deals with this issues, Badawi told reporters after meeting with US President George W. Bush in Busan, South Korea.

"There seems to be unfairness (in the US treatment) in this issue, That's why problems related to Palestine can not be settled, " said the prime minister who arrived in the port city on Thursday to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

On the problem in Iraq, Badawi said he had stressed to Bush the importance of Malaysia assisting in the capacity-building in Palestine and Iraq by providing their youth with an opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills in Malaysia.

"By doing so, we will enable them to contribute to the development of their countries," said Badawi at a press conference held with Malaysian reporters there.

Meanwhile, Badawi said Bush had given an assurance that Washington would not intervene in the selection of Iraq's future leader.

Badawi added that his talks with the US president were "very smooth and free flowing."

Nov. 18 , 2005

Friday

Thursday


AFP_ENG_20051221.0052

TOKYO, Dec 21 , 2005

Passenger tackle kills Japan train groper

A businessman was tackled by passengers and later died after molesting a young woman on a packed rush-hour train in Japan, where groping is a chronic problem, police said Wednesday.

The 40-year-old businessman groped the 20-year-old student during morning rush hour Tuesday in Osaka and then tried to run out at busy Tennoji Station.

But he was followed by a 32-year-old off-duty police officer and three other male passengers who tackled him on the platform. The man lost consciousness and died later in the day in a nearby hospital, a police spokesman said.

"We are looking into the cause of death and details about how he was overpowered by the passengers," he said. Police did not immediately identify the man.

Japan has begun cracking down on groping after legions of stories of men getting away with fondling and groping on busy trains.

In 2001, Tokyo raised penalties for groping and rail operators began running all-women carriages. But Tokyo police last year reported a record high 2,201 cases of groping on the metropolis's trains.

Dec 21 , 2005

Wednesday

morning rush hour

Tuesday

last year


XIN_ENG_20061107.0077

KAMPALA, Nov. 7 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Uganda to seal potholes in capital city

The local authority of Uganda's capital city of Kampala has decided to release 7,000 U.S. dollars every week to seal potholes in the city centre.

The acting town clerk of Kampala City Council (KCC) Ruth Kijjambu was quoted by New Vision on Tuesday as saying the KCC engineering department would carry out the works "as long as funds are available."

She said major roads like Jinja Road, which have gigantic potholes, would be considered first.

"We have decided to have a weekly monitoring of potholes to avoid their accumulation and enlargement," Kijjambu said. KCC budgeted over 1 million dollar to repair its broken-down roads.

Last week, KCC started sealing the pothole at Old Port Bell Road, which recently felled at least three heavy trucks in one week.

Meanwhile, Kampala mayor Nasser Sebaggala said negotiations were going on with the Chinese government to supply KCC with road construction equipment worth 10 million dollars through a long- term loan.

Sebaggala said the city council expects 35 million U.S. dollars from the World Bank, part of which would be used on road repairs.

He said the central government also promised to repair some of the roads in preparations for the Commonwealth summit in November next year.

"If we succeed with the funding, we hope we shall not fail to do away with the potholes, and improve on the traffic flow," he said.

Due to lack of financial support in maintenance and repair, most of the major roads in and outside of Kampala city were damaged with potholes, which considerably constrained the traffic flow in the country.

Nov. 7 , 2006

every week

Tuesday

Last week

recently

one week

November next year


AFP_ENG_19970419.0287

BAMAKO, April 19 , 1997 (AFP)

Ruling party wins one-horse race in Mali elections

Mali's ruling party is leading the first round of legislative elections, officials said Saturday, but the abandonment of the second deciding round by opposition parties crying foul has cast a cloud over the whole process.

Of the 55 electorates, the Alliance for Democracy in Mali party has won 14 outright, has a favourable situation in 37 and unfavourable in three.

It did not file a candidate in the 55th electorate.

That result gives the party an initial 24 seats in the 147-seat future national assembly as a result of the first-round polling which took place on April 13. The second -- and far more controversial -- round will take place on April 27.

A total of 34 parties out of 62 officially registered in Mali are taking part, but only three can claim to have a national audience.

Fourteen opposition parties have withdrawn their candidates from the second round, saying they would not recognise the outcome of what they are calling a "fraudulent" election "tainted with irregularities."

Calling for a suspension of the elections, these parties have said they would also boycott the May presidential elections, leaving incumbent President Alpha Oumar Konare as the only candidate on the ballot.

However a report issued Wednesday by a team of international observers said the elections had been "secret and fair."

Thursday, Konare hinted at changes to the electoral agenda "within the framework of the constitution," admitting irregularities had occured which were "neither wanted nor desirable."

He called on Malians to "never use violence" after a clash Wednesday between protesting opposition supporters and police left 20 people injured according to an opposition party count.

"This initial failure of the first round mustn't disorient us," he said.

Voter participation stood at 32 percent, significantly higher than the 22 percent recorded at the date of the last Malian elections five years ago.

After the two rounds of legislative elections, then the presidential election, Malians will be asked to turn out once more in June for council elections -- a marathon three-month exercise for one of the poorest countries in the world, where only one percent of the population can read and write.

April 19 , 1997

Saturday

the 55th

April 13

April 27

Wednesday

Thursday

Wednesday

five years ago

June


XIN_ENG_20061120.0112

MANILA, Nov. 20 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Xinhua summary of Asia-Pacific stocks news at 1100 GMT, Nov. 20

Philippine stock prices Monday closed flat as the market consolidated after recent gains in the absence of fresh leads, dealers said.

The main composite index was up just 0.77 point at 2,843.31, but it was its best level since June 20, 1997 when it settled at 2, 881.73. It moved between 2,833.88 and 2,848.37.

The broader all-share index rose 3.47 points to 1,762.96.

SEOUL -- The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dropped 10.01 points to 1,402.21 on Monday.

The volume of the KOSPI was moderate at 227 million shares worth 2.73 trillion won (2.92 billion U.S. dollars).

SHENZHEN -- The Component Stock Index on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange closed at 5,177.97 points on Monday, up 110.46 points from the previous close.

SHANGHAI -- The Composite Stock Index on the Shanghai Stock Exchange closed at 2,017.28 points on Monday, up 45.49 points from the previous close.

TOKYO -- Tokyo stocks nosedived Monday on heavy selling by foreign investors, sending the key Nikkei stock index to a two- month low below the 16,000 mark.

Extending its losing streak to four trading days, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average lost 365.79 points, or 2.27 percent, to end at 15,725.94, the lowest finish since Sept. 26.

The Tokyo Stock Price Index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange saw an even bigger decline, falling 39.60 points, or 2.52 percent, to close at 1,533.94.

CANBERRA -- The Australian stock exchange market closed much lower Monday as the benchmark S/ASX200 plunged 97.3 points to 5, 322.4, while the all ordinaries dumped 88.1 points to 5,303.4.

Market turnover reached 2.1 billion worth a total value of 8 billion Australian dollars (6.15 billion U.S. dollars) with 492 stocks moving up, 677 moving down and 319 unchanged.

SINGAPORE -- The shares prices in Singapore closed sharply lower on Monday with the benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) reducing 41.8 points to end at 2,771.4 points.

The overall volume stood at 1,390.8 billion shares worth 1.3421 billion Singapore dollars (about 861.8 million U.S. dollars).

BANGKOK, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Stock Exchange of Thailand ( SET) index on Friday moved down 7.55 to close at 726.37 points.

TAIPEI -- Share prices on the Taiwan Stock Exchange closed higher Monday, with the weighted index moving up 1.94 points to close at 7,261.48.

The bourse opened at 7,266.4 and fluctuated between 7,270.28 and 7,228.97 during trading. A total of 4.12 billion shares changed hands on a market turnover of 98.09 billion new Taiwan dollars (2.98 billion U.S. dollars).

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong stocks plunged 228.08 points, or 1.19 percent to close at 18,954.63 on Monday.

JAKARTA -- Share prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange ended higher Monday on last week's report of continued economic growth and gains in cigarette and telecommunication shares.

The composite index rose 11.9 points to close at 1,684.01 points.

COLOMBO -- Share prices on the Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower on Monday, with the key Colombo All Share Price Index decreasing by 16.19 points to close at 2,669.81 points.

The highly capitalized Milanka Price Index also decreased by 24. 03 points to close at 3,539.83 points.

KUALA LUMPUR -- Share prices on Malaysia stock market closed lower Monday on profit-taking activities.

At the closing bell, the 100-quality Kuala Lumpur Composite Index fell 7.27 points to close at 1,033.52 points. It opened 0.04 of a point lower in the morning at 1,040.75 points.

Nov. 20 , 2006

Monday

June 20, 1997

Monday

Monday

Monday

Monday

Sept. 26

Monday

Monday

Nov. 20

Friday

Monday

Monday

Monday

last week

Monday

Monday


XIN_ENG_20061119.0189

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 19 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Thick fog delays 88 flights to LA

Eighty-eight flights to Los Angeles were postponed because of thick fog in the area Saturday night, said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Thick fog along the coast caused delays of up to an hour and a half at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for planes from around the country, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said on Sunday.

Visibility at the airport was reduced to 0.25 mile to 1.25 miles, and the fog was not expected to lift until this morning, according to the National Weather Service.

There is only one operational runway at LAX that is equipped with an instrument landing system that can guide arriving airplanes in thick fog, said Gregor.

"Normally, around this time, we'd have an arrival rate of 58 to 60 planes an hour. Right now the arrival rate is 32 to 42," Gregor said.

By 9:30 p.m., conditions had improved and the landing rate had increased to about 52 an hour, he said.

The heavy fog was triggered by a combination of warm temperatures Saturday and the cooler moist air coming from the ocean, said Jamie Meier, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Visibility was expected to remain less than 2 miles overnight.

Nov. 19 , 2006

Saturday night

Sunday

this morning

Saturday


XIN_ENG_20051127.0092

BAGHDAD, Nov. 27 , 2005 (Xinhua)

US Marine killed in bomb attack in western Iraq

A US Marine was killed when a roadside bomb struck his vehicle west of Baghdad, the US military said on Sunday.

"The Marine assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing was killed Saturday in an explosion near Camp Taqaddum, 75 km west of Baghdad, " the military said in a brief statement.

The name of the soldier was withheld pending notification of next of kin, it added.

The death has brought to more than 2,100 the number of US military personnel who have died in Iraq since the US-led invasion in March 2003, according to media reports.

Nov. 27 , 2005

Sunday

Saturday

March 2003


XIN_ENG_20061113.0337

MOSCOW, Nov. 13 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Russia urges Georgia, West not to belittle South Ossetia referendum

Russia on Monday called the referendum on independence for Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia a "milestone" and urged Georgia and Western countries not to underestimate its importance.

Preliminary results showed that 99 percent of the voters in Sunday's referendum backed independence for South Ossetia, the Itar-Tass news agency quoted the local election chief as saying on Monday.

"Like it or not, we face the expression of the free will of South Ossetians through democratic procedures. No matter how hard Georgia or some Western countries may try to scale down the importance of the event, it is nevertheless a milestone," the Foreign Ministry in Moscow said in a statement.

"It would be short-sighted, to say the least, to ignore the event," the statement said.

South Ossetia broke away from Georgia's central government in the early 1990s. The region previously held referenda on independence in 1992 and 2001, but their results were not recognized by the international community.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has vowed to bring South Ossetia and another breakaway region Abkhazia back under Tbilisi's control. The Georgian Foreign Ministry has said the presidential election and the referendum in South Ossetia were unlawful.

The European Union (EU) said on Monday that the EU does not recognize the outcome of the referendum in South Ossetia.

The EU's current presidency Finland issued a statement saying Sunday's referendum "contradicts Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

"The European Union considers that the referendum and the elections did not contribute to efforts for peaceful conflict resolution," the statement said.

Nov. 13 , 2006

Monday

Sunday

Monday

the early 1990s

Monday

current presidency

Sunday


XIN_ENG_20051110.0247

NAIROBI, Nov. 10 , 2005 (Xinhua)

French foreign trade minister due in Kenya Friday

French Minister for Foreign Trade Christine Lagardo is due in Kenya on Friday for a two-day visit to discuss trade and development issues, officials disclosed here Thursday.

During her visit to Kenya, which comes just six weeks before the World Trade Organization's (WTO) ministerial conference to be held in Hong Kong in December, Lagardo will emphasize the key priorities that France attaches to the development aspect of the global trade negotiations, said a statement from the French Embassy in Nairobi.

"Lagardo will discuss trade and development issues. She will also stress the important priority that France attaches to the development aspect of the WTO negotiations and especially the issues of access to medicines in African countries," the statement said.

The French minister, who arrives from west Africa where she visited Benin and Nigeria, will hold talks with Kenyan authorities and the relevant stakeholders as well as representatives of the private sector and nongovernmental organizations.

She is also expected to visit a factory producing generic drugs in Nairobi, as well as a coffee firm in the outskirts of the Kenyan capital.

The WTO talks in Hong Kong are part of the four-year-old Doha Round talks which aims to expand free trade in a way that benefits poor countries.

African nations have remained adamant that no deals would be struck on the agricultural fronts during the talks because of the huge agricultural subsidies given by the United States and the European Union.

Nov. 10 , 2005

Friday

Thursday

six weeks

December


AFP_ENG_20061226.0251

MOGADISHU, Dec 26 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - UPDATES throughout ///

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on Tuesday said more than 1,000 people have been killed in fighting between his troops backing Somali government forces against Somalia's Islamist movement.

"We got reports of more than 3,000 wounded in a Mogadishu hospital. Those who died are well over 1,000," Meles told a press conference in Addis Ababa, two days after Ethiopia acknowledged military intervention in the neighbouring and lawless Horn of Africa nation.

The Islamists acknowledged that they had been forced to withdraw from many front-line positions but vowed to dig in for a long war with Ethiopia, which has denied intentions of taking the Islamist stronghold Mogadishu.

"Our forces and that of the (transitional federal government) have broken the back of the international terrorist forces around Baidoa and they are in full retreat now," Meles said in the wake of air strikes on Islamist targets and artillery battles on several fronts.

Earlier, the International Committee of the Red Cross said more than 800 wounded were reported at hospitals the agency was in contact with. Thousands have fled their homes, the agency's spokeswoman Antonella Notari said in Geneva.

The weak transitional government holds only one major town, Baidoa, in the southern central region, while the Islamic Court Union forces in June seized the capital Mogadishu from warlords and then extended their control over south and central Somalia.

Government fighters began to advance on the powerful Islamist movement after Ethiopian warplanes bombed Mogadishu airport and other airfields held by the Islamists to cut supply lines.

"We are only 100 kilometres (60 miles) away from Mogadishu and are heading to it," Somalia's ambassador to Ethiopia, Abdelkarin Farah, told journalists in Addis Ababa.

Meles, who said he had deployed between 3,000 to 4,000 troops, denied the Ethiopian forces planned to take Mogadishu or any other town. UN reports had said Addis Ababa deployed 8,000 troops, while its regional foe Eritrea sent 2,000 to back the Islamists.

"Liberating towns is not our agenda. Our troops have not entered any town," the prime minister added. Mainly Christian Ethiopia justified its intervention on the grounds that the Islamists represent a direct threat to its own security and sovereignty, and has aligned with Washington in linking their radical leaders with the Al-Qaeda network.

Islamist fighters withdrew from two front lines near Baidoa, the government seat northwest of the capital, and in central Somalia, witnesses and officials said.

"There is a lot of pressure from every front line," an Islamist commander told AFP on condition of anonymity, explaining that Islamist forces had pulled back from several posts including Burhakaba and Dinsoor.

"We have decided to change our tactics," Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the head of the Islamist executive committee, told a press conference in Mogadishu. "We are ready to start long-lasting war with Ethiopia."

Heavy fighting began last week after the Islamists demanded the departure of Ethiopian troops backing the internationally recognised but largely powerless government in a country of 10 million people wracked by conflict since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

Ethiopia's government said its forces had inflicted "heavy human and material losses" on the Islamists, while the air force would "intensify pounding selected targets."

Meles said the enemy included "many Eritrean troops, international jihadists and Shebab (youth militias)" while the information ministry said two Ethiopian separatist groups were also involved.

"We ask all the foreign fighters to pull out of the country and allow Somalis to seek ways of reconciling and establishing peace," Somali government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari told AFP in Baidoa. "We strongly appeal to the Islamic courts to put down arms because the government has made a decision to give them complete amnesty."

The Islamists have steadily gained ground, often imposing strict Sharia law on territory in their hands, since they in June routed a US-backed alliance in Mogadishu of the warlords who support the interim adminstration.

Dec 26 , 2006

Tuesday

June

last week

June


XIN_ENG_20061110.0141

LONDON, Nov. 10 , 2006 (Xinhua)

30 terror plots being planned in Britain: MI5

The British security service has identified 30 major terrorist plots being planned in Britain and is tracking more than 1,600 individuals actively engaged in promoting attacks here and abroad, according to local media reports on Friday.

Addressing to a small audience of academics at Queen Mary College in London on Thursday evening, British MI5 Director General Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller said the 30 plots are the most serious of many more planned by some 200 British-based "networks" involved in terrorism, the reports said.

"We are aware of numerous plots to kill people and damage our economy. What do I mean by numerous? Five? Ten? No, nearer thirty -- that we know of," Manningham-Buller said.

"These plots often have links back to Al-Qaida in Pakistan and through those links Al-Qaida gives guidance and training to its largely British foot soldiers here on an extensive and growing scale," she added.

She also said that five further major conspiracies in Britain had been thwarted since the 7 July terror bombings in London in 2005.

"Today, my officers and the police are working to contend with some 200 groupings or networks, totaling over 1,600 identified individuals who are actively engaged in plotting or facilitating terrorist acts here and overseas," she said.

Manningham-Buller warned that the terrorist threat was "serious" and "growing," and would be "with us for a generation."

The number of cases being pursued by security services had risen by 80 percent since January, she said.

"Today we see the use of home-made improvised explosive devices. Tomorrow's threat may include the use of chemicals, bacteriological agents, radioactive materials and even nuclear technology," she said.

"More and more people are moving from passive sympathy towards active terrorism through being radicalized or indoctrinated by friends, families or organized training events here and overseas," she added.

She said television and Internet have played a part in attracting greater numbers of terrorist recruits.

"It is the youth who are being actively targeted, groomed, radicalized and set on a path that frighteningly quickly could end in their involvement in mass murder of their fellow UK citizens," she said.

"Chillingly, we see the results here. Young teenagers groomed to be suicide bombers," she said.

Nov. 10 , 2006

Friday

Thursday evening

the 7 July

Today

January

Today


XIN_ENG_20061122.0046

LAGOS, Nov. 22 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Scores of Italian oil workers kidnapped on vessel  in Nigeria

Gunmen have kidnapped several people from an Italian oil vessel off the Nigerian coast, according to industry and security officials on Wednesday.

The exact number and the nationalities of the hostages were not immediately known. One security source asked for anonymity said the incident occurred overnight on a vessel belonging to a subsidiary of Italian oil giant Eni.

Other sources said about 25 foreign workers and 60 Nigerian employees were taken overnight on the vessel, which has not been confirmed officially.

The vessel was about 50 kms off the coast of Nigeria's Rivers State at the time, officials said.

The kidnappings were the latest in a series of attack on oil installations in the volatile Niger Delta, where most of the country's oil is produced.

Since the beginning of the year, militant groups have constantly attacked oil facilities and taken oil workers as hostages.

Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer and the sixth largest oil exporter in the world, has a daily crude oil output of 2.6 million barrels.

Nov. 22 , 2006

Wednesday

the beginning of the year


XIN_ENG_20051107.0110

BEIJING, Nov. 7 , 2005 (Xinhua)

astronauts

China's spacemen Yang Liwei, Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, together with another 11 Chinese astronauts, have enrolled in China's prestigious Tsinghua University as graduate students, China Central Television reported on Monday.

Given permission by the Ministry of Education, the university's School of Aerospace has given the astronauts an offer of admission at a two-year program on astronautic engineering, according to the report.

Authorities said the university will not compromise their graduating qualifications for astronaut's standing, noting that the astronauts must pass exams and oral defense to acquire degrees.

The university will arrange an opening ceremony of the astronauts' graduate curriculum and release the specific courses of the program at the ceremony.

Nov. 7 , 2005

Monday


AFP_ENG_20061205.0055

BAGHDAD, Dec 5 , 2006, 2006

Iraq PM slams Annan, rejects conference idea

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has become the latest Iraqi leader to angrily reject UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's call for an international conference to resolve the crisis in Iraq.

Maliki also bitterly criticised Annan for likening the situation in Iraq to a civil war and accused him of polishing "the image of the former regime known for its crimes against humanity", in statement received by AFP on Tuesday.

On Sunday, Annan said in a BBC interview that he understood why some Iraqis might regret the fall of former dictator Saddam Hussein.

"If I were an average Iraqi obviously I would make the same comparison, that they had a dictator who was brutal but they had their streets, they could go out, their kids could go to school and come back home," Annan said.

Annan had earlier proposed that an internation conference might be a way to end the fighting in Iraq, where Maliki's government faces both an insurgency and mounting conflict between the Sunni and Shiite communities.

But Maliki rejected this idea out of hand.

"The Iraqi government, erected on a constitutional base, can not accept the idea of holding an international conference about Iraq which would reverse all the political developments that have taken place and impose international guardianship on the Iraqi people," said the statement.

Maliki's rejection of the conference came in the wake of similar rejections by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and top Shiite cleric Abdel Aziz Hakim, and left the idea dead on arrival.

Dec 5 , 2006

Tuesday

Sunday


XIN_ENG_20051128.0150

SHANGHAI, Nov. 28 , 2005 (Xinhua)

No landmark to be built for Expo 2010 Shanghai China

Shanghai will not build a landmark architecture for the 2010 World Expo but will bequeath a huge spiritual legacy to later generations, said Zhou Hanmin, deputy director of the expo's coordination committee.

He said the expo will perform three major functions of reshaping of cities and countries, displaying of world cultural diversity and innovation in science and technology, and the enlightenment of future generations.

Zhou made the remarks on Saturday at an international symposium held by the Japanese Research Center of Shanghai-based Fudan University.

He emphasized that the city will not construct any buildings with the intention of creating a landmark for the expo, sharing the same opinion with Fukui Shohei, the chief designer of Expo 2005 Aichi Japan.

"In departure from previous expos, the coming expo will highlight man's attitudes towards the nature, society and the future," said the deputy director.

With the theme of "Better City, Better Life," the expo will be held from May 1 to October 31, 2010, in east China's Shanghai Municipality. It will be located on the banks of the Huangpu River, the "Mother River of Shanghai," between the Lupu Bridge and the Nanpu Bridge.

The predicted number of participant countries and international organizations is 200 and more than 70 million visitors are expected.

Nov. 28 , 2005

Saturday

the future

May 1 to October 31, 2010


XIN_ENG_20051118.0147

BEIJING, Nov. 18 , 2005 (Xinhua)

China, U.S. agree to enhance cooperation in law enforcement effort

China and the United States should promote bilateral cooperation between their law enforcement organs, a senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official said here Friday.

"The Chinese government hopes the two sides will make substantial progress in their cooperation of arresting and repatriating criminal suspects, anti-terrorism, and drug prohibition in a bid to promote constructive and cooperative relationship in the 21st century," said Luo Gan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, during a meeting with Alberto Gonzales, attorney general of the US department of Justice.

China and the U.S. have enjoyed effective cooperation and coordination with a frequent exchange of high-level contacts, he said. US President George W. Bush will start his visit to China on Nov. 19th.

Bilateral cooperation between the two nations on anti-terrorism, law enforcement, non-proliferation, trade and economics, as well as on the Korean nuclear issue, conforms to the interests of both nations, and is conducive to safeguarding world peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region and world at large, he said.

Calling the law enforcement cooperation as an important component part of Sino-US relations, Luo said the Chinese government will continue to give support to such cooperation.

Gonzales said the U.S. attaches great importance to its relations with China, and that the Department of Justice would like to work with the Chinese Ministry of Public Security to push forward their cooperation in their law enforcement effort.

Nov. 18 , 2005

Friday

the 21st century

Nov.


XIN_ENG_20051123.0016

MANILA, Nov. 23 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Soldier killed in heavy exchange of fire between military, Abu Sayyaf

One soldier was killed during an encounter between the government troops and about 100 suspected Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines, the military said Wednesday.

The military's counter-terrorism task force commander Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo told reporters that the heavy fire was exchanged after the soldiers ran into the Abu Sayyaf group in the mountains of Jolo Island.

Although losing a soldier, the government troops also gave a big blow to the Abu Sayyaf group by killing an unknown number of rebels, he said.

According to the military, five soldiers have been killed and 25 others wounded since the government troops and the Abu Sayyaf began a new round of clashes in the south.

An estimated 25 rebels have also been killed, and almost 5,000 residents in the area were forced to flee their homes as a result of the clashes, it added.

The Abu Sayyaf, which is suspected of links with al-Qaida terrorist network and the regional terrorist network Jemaah Islamiah, has been blamed for a wave of bombings in the south and Manila since 2002.

Nov. 23 , 2005

Wednesday


AFP_ENG_19970408.0230

JAKARTA, April 8 , 1997 (AFP)

Jakarta shares close 0.2 percent higher

Jakarta shares closed 0.2 percent higher Tuesday on the back of late interest in bank stocks and selective third-liners, with the broader market mostly sidelined, dealers said.

"I think the news that BNI has cut its deposit rates by 0.5 percent attracted some interest in it, as well as some of the other banks," Usaha Bersama Sekuritas institutional sales manager Alastair Bruce said.

The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index closed up 1.58 points at 638.22.

Estimated turnover was 181.4 million shares worth an estimated 354 billion rupiah (146.2 million dollars).

Dealers said volumes were dominated by speculative buying in third- line Bank Pikko and BNI.

Bruce said although the "braver investors" may wish to beat an "inevitable rush into the market, post-elections," most are being very cautious.

He said continued news of riots in Pekalongan, Central Java province, "looks bad" and "makes people extrapolate on the likelihood of it happening in Jakarta."

A dealer with a European brokerage said the market was partly supported by buying in Telkom early on and then by banks. But excluding two crossings in Matahari and Bimantara, volumes were otherwise very thin, he said.

Telkom closed unchanged at 3,575 rupiah, while Indosat was down 75 rupiah at 6,350 rupiah.

BNI closed up 50 rupiah at 1,350 rupiah, BII was 50 rupiah higher at 1,754 rupiah and BDNI gained 100 rupiah to 2,225 rupiah.

Bank Pikko was up 2,700 rupiah at 4,000 rupiah before dealing was suspended at 2:24 pm.

Dealers said the sharp gain in the stock remains unexplained, although there has been a rumour that a "prominent businessman" is seeking an interest in the company.

April 8 , 1997

Tuesday


AFP_ENG_20051220.0007

TOKYO, Dec 21 , 2005

with TV

Japan's NTT DoCoMo said Wednesday it was in talks with Fuji Television Network for a possible tie-up which could pave the way for new innovation such as TV programs for cellphone users.

The mobile phone giant aims to reach an agreement by the end of the month to take a three percent share in Japan's most-watched network for 20 billion yen (170 million dollars), the Nihon Keizai Shimbun business daily reported.

DoCoMo would become the first telecom firm to invest in a terrestrial broadcasting station here, opening the way to integrate communications and broadcasting.

Through the tie-up, the two companies would seek to combine their expertise by launching TV programs especially for cellphone users from early next year, the newspaper said, quoting a company source.

An NTT DoCoMo spokesman confirmed the telecom firm was in talks with Fuji but declined to give further details.

DoCoMo believes teaming up with TV stations is crucial to expansion and would use the tie-up to establish similar partnerships with other broadcasters, the Nihon Keizai said.

For Fuji Television, which has been fending off takeover bids, the tie-up with such an established company would bring some welcome stability to its shareholder base.

"If we tie up with some telecommunications firm, that would be the NTT group in which we can place much confidence," said a Fuji Television senior official quoted by the business daily.

Upstart Internet firm Livedoor launched an unusually aggressive takeover bid in February for a crucial Fuji unit, Nippon Broadcasting System radio, in a bid to win control of the television giant.

Internet giant Rakuten also targetted broadcaster TBS for an aggressive takeover.

Both Internet firms, facing strong resistance from the broadcaster, ended up settling with limited capital tie-ups.

NTT DoCoMo, seeking to expand its operations in Asia, agreed Thursday to purchase a 10 percent stake in South Korea's second-largest mobile carrier KTF for about 560 million dollars.

Dec 21 , 2005

Wednesday

the end of the month

early next year

February

Thursday


AFP_ENG_20061209.0159

RAMALLAH,  West Bank, Dec 9 , 2006, 2006

workers ///

Striking Palestinian justice ministry employees, including 140 judges, will return to work after reaching a deal with the Palestinian Authority Saturday, the head of the Palestinian judges' council said.

About 530 courthouse aides and 140 judges will return to work Sunday in exchange for half a month's salary, Eissa Abu Sharar told a press conference in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

The justice ministry staff are the third group of key public sector employees to call off industrial action that has paralyzed Palestinian government in the West Bank since September.

Some 12,000 hospital employees, including doctors, nurses and administrators, will also return to work Sunday after the government agreed last Monday to pay them two months salary.

Palestinian teachers called off their strike last month. The employees of at least 20 other government ministries remain on strike.

Sharar said that an estimated 48,000 court cases were postponed as a result of the strike.

The European Union and the United States imposed a crippling aid freeze on the Islamist-led government when it took power in March after an upset parliamentary election victory, leaving it unable to pay its own staff.

The Palestinian leadership is now meeting in Ramallah to decide on its next move after declaring an end to talks with Hamas on forming a government of national unity acceptable to Western donors.

Dec 9 , 2006

Saturday

Sunday

September

Sunday

last Monday

last month

March

now


XIN_ENG_20051111.0002

KATHMANDU, Nov. 11 , 2005 (Xinhua)

500-km walk usher in peace in Nepal

A total of 30 pilgrims embarked Friday on a 500-km march for world peace from central to western Nepal, the leader of the pilgrims' team said here.

"The team began their journey from Namobuddha hill of Kavre district and will finally pray for world peace at the sacred garden of Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, after walking for 25 days," Lam Ty Ni, leader of the pilgrims' team, told reporters.

The team included 15 Nepalese, 10 Vietnamese, three Indians, one Japanese and a Korean, said Lam, who came to Lumbini in 1969 in search of peace from war-torn Vietnam and started working for the development of the holy shrine.

The pilgrimage has a spiritual as well as a symbolic meaning, Lam noted, adding, "The prayer will lead to an atmosphere for peace and hoped after seeing young and old people walking for peace, the Nepali authorities will feel the necessity to do something for the peace."

The team includes the eldest member 62-year-old monk and the youngest 17-year-old nun, Lam revealed.

"All the concerned including the political parties, the king and the anti-government guerrillas of Nepal should sit together for resolving the decade-long war and let people live in peace and happiness," he added.

Over 12,000 Nepalese people have been killed since the anti- government insurgency took place in the Himalayan kingdom in February 1996.

Nov. 11 , 2005

Friday

25 days

February 1996


AFP_ENG_20061228.0347

LONDON, Dec 28 , 2006, 2006

European exchanges close mixed; London down 0.07 percent

European stock exchanges closed mixed on Thursday, with the London FTSE 100 finishing down 0.07 percent at 6,240.90 points.

In Paris the CAC 40 fell 0.12 percent to finish at 5,533.36, while in Frankfurt the Dax gained 0.04 percent to close at 6,611.81.

Dec 28 , 2006

Thursday


XIN_ENG_20051120.0168

NAIROBI, Nov. 20 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Critics cry foul as Kibaki urges for huge voter turnout in referendum

Critics of Kenya's proposed new constitution on Sunday accused President Mwai Kibaki of breaching electoral laws by campaigning for the draft hours after campaign time elapsed ahead of the Monday balloting.

President Kibaki, in a televised address late Sunday called on his countrymen to vote for the proposed constitution, sparking protests from his rivals and lawyers, who accused him of breaching electoral laws by campaigning after the campaign period elapsed.

"We do not expect him (Kibaki) to indulge in campaigns. The law says campaigns should have ended on Saturday (48 hours) before the material voting day but should he go ahead and campaign, we shall demand a similar opportunity," said Roads Minister Raila Odinga.

In a televised address to the nation, Kibaki urged Kenyans to come out and vote so that the outcome of the referendum will reflect their real wishes.

He expressed confidence that the new constitution creates a good environment for faster growth countrywide.

"As we go to vote tomorrow, we will be making a critical decision that will impact on the current and future generations. I urge you, therefore, not to let this historic opportunity pass without your participation," Kibaki said.

But Odinga, who is leading the "No" campaign opposing to the adoption of the new constitution, said his criticism of the Kibaki should not be construed to mean disrespect for him as the head of state.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) also criticized the move by the president to campaign for the draft constitution hours after the campaign period elapsed.

"In respect of free choice, we ask the president to exercise reason," said LSK Chairman Tom Ojienda.

President Kibaki, while addressing the nation, recalled that the journey to a new constitutional dispensation has been long and torturous.

"We have been seeking a constitution that would unify our country and enable us to realize our aspirations for a more prosperous and peaceful country," the Kenyan leader said in Kiswahili.

He reiterated that the government has put in place all the necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of all Kenyans during the referendum.

He urged citizens to shun violence and respect the rights of others to have differing opinions, saying Kenya was a great country that has overcome many challenges in the past.

After several weeks of highly charged, divisive campaigns between those supporting the new constitution and those against, 11.6 million Kenyans will finally vote in the referendum on Monday.

Nov. 20 , 2005

Sunday

Monday

Sunday

Saturday

tomorrow

current

the past

several weeks

Monday


AFP_ENG_20061221.0221

THE HAGUE, Dec 21 , 2006, 2006

Dutch annual growth comes to 2.7 percent in third quarter

The Dutch economy grew at an annual rate of 2.7 percent in the third quarter compared with output in the same period last year and gained 0.7 percent from the second quarter, the central statistics office said Thursday.

The office said growth in exports and household spending was slightly below that of the previous six months while investment was stronger.

The pace of Dutch growth has practically doubled in the course of a year, the agency added.

Dec 21 , 2006

the third quarter

last year

the second quarter

Thursday

the previous six months

a year


XIN_ENG_20061122.0050

KUNMING, Nov. 22 , 2006 (Xinhua)

flowers

Southwest China's Yunnan Province, praised as a flora paradise, sold abroad 9.16 million U.S. dollars worth of fresh cut flowers in the first 10 months of this year, a year-on-year increment of 2.66 million U.S. dollars, or 88.1 percent.

According to local customs sources, the exports quantity went up 8.7 percent to 3,858 tons, with average price per kilogram up 73 percent to reach 2.37 U.S. dollars.

Most of the exports were carnations, roses and lilies, the sources said.

Between January and October, Hong Kong surpassed Japan to become the top target market of Yunnan flowers with an import volume of 2.51 million U.S. dollars, up 400 percent. Japan ranked second with the import value at 2.5 million U.S. dollars, up 23.8 percent.

The two were followed by Singapore, Thailand, Australia, Malaysia and the Republic of Korea, the local customs sources said.

Over the 10 months, foreign-funded businesses accounted for 54.6 percent of Yunnan's total fresh cut flower exports, up from 26.1 percent a year earlier. They exported five million U.S. dollars worth of fresh cut flowers, up 290 percent, the sources added.

Nov. 22 , 2006

the first 10 months

this year

January

October

the 10 months

a year earlier


XIN_ENG_20051118.0164

GENEVA, Nov. 18 , 2005 (Xinhua)

with US

A United Nations (UN) inspection of the Guantanamo Bay US military prison has been abandoned after access to detainees was denied by the American authorities, human rights experts announced here on Friday.

In a joint statement, five UN experts who had planned to carry out the visit expressed regret over the US's refusal to their demand for an "objective and fair assessment" of the Guantanamo Bay prison.

"We deeply regret that the United States government did not accept the standard terms of reference for a credible, objective and fair assessment of the situation of the detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility," said the statement.

"Under the circumstances, we will not be traveling to Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, as doing so would undermine the principles" governing UN fact-finding missions," the statement added.

The United States had previously set the date for the five experts to visit Guantanamo on Dec. 6, to investigate alleged violations of human rights at the prison.

The United States insists, however, it will not agree to the UN request for free access to detainees held there, although it is open to international inspectors.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Manfred Nowak, rebuffed the US stand on Tuesday, saying UN inspectors will not visit the Guantanamo prison as scheduled unless Washington agrees to unrestricted access without conditions.

For the past three and half years Guantanamo Bay in Cuba has been used to house nearly 500 prisoners, who have been held without charge or access to lawyers. Most of the detainees were captured in the Afghanistan war of 2001 over suspected ties to the al-Qaida network or the Taliban regime.

Despite frequent criticism by human rights advocates, the United States says it has provided regular access to the International Committee of the Red Cross and has consulted with governments over cases of their nationals detained at the base. The approach was described as "sufficient" by US State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli at a news briefing Tuesday.

Nov. 18 , 2005

Friday

Dec. 6

Tuesday

the past three and half years

Tuesday


AFP_ENG_19970429.0197

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 , 1997 (AFP)

Malaysia's key stock index ends 1.4 percent lower

Malaysia's key stock index fell 1.4 percent Tuesday despite news of February trade surplus and a central bank assurance that there were ample funds for share and property financing.

"We have obviously not hit the bottom yet. The damage has already been done and it will take months before investors' confidence is restored to previous levels," a dealer said.

The market is likely to be quiet for the rest of the holiday-shortened week, he added.

The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange's 100-share weighted composite index tumbled 15.35 points to 1,059.51. The lesser second board index dropped 6.94 points, or 1.3 percent, to 547.62.

Turnover rose to 246.363 million shares worth 1.55 billion ringgit (62O million dollars) from 193.416 million units valued at 1.22 billion ringgit a day earlier.

Falling stocks outnumbered those rising 553 to 85, with 120 unchanged and 90 not traded.

Mining counter Rahman Hydraulic Bhd. led trading for the second consecutive day, with 30.742 million shares changing hands before losing 1.10 ringgit to 5.05 ringgit.

Among blue chips, Telekom Malaysia gained 10 sen to 17.40 ringgit but power giant Tenaga Nasional dipped 40 sen to 10.90 ringgit.

Top bank Maybank shed 35 sen to 24.90 ringgit while gaming company Genting eased 30 sen to 13.40 ringgit.

April 29 , 1997

Tuesday

February

holiday-shortened week

a day earlier

the second consecutive day


XIN_ENG_20061129.0318

DOHA, Nov. 29 , 2006 (Xinhua)

It will be very difficult for us: Qatari tennis coach

Qatari tennis team will face an uphill battle but never give up easily at the upcoming Asiad tennis tournament, said Qatar's Portuguese tennis coach Luis de Sousa on Tuesday.

"It will be very difficult for us. The team is very young. We have three players under 16. Our goal is to represent Qatar and to dignify the name," Sousa said after the team had a training session at the Khalifa Tennis Courts.

"We have two teenage players who live in Barcelona and go to the tennis academy. The other two boys went to Spain three weeks ago for preparation.

"The surface at Khalifa Courts is perfect for us because we train here practically every day."

The 15th Doha Asian Games tennis tournament will be held from December 4 to 14.

Nov. 29 , 2006

Tuesday

three weeks ago

December 4 to 14


XIN_ENG_20061113.0034

HANOI, Nov. 13 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Update: APEC senior official's meeting concludes in Hanoi

Senior officials from 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) wrapped up their two-day meeting here Monday afternoon, paving way for the coming ministerial meeting and economic leaders' meeting slated for later this week.

The meeting covered a wide range of issues including economics, trade, investment, human security, counter-terrorism, disaster and pandemic management, cultural cooperation, tourism, anti- corruption and APEC reform, Le Cong Phung, Vietnam's deputy foreign minister and chair of the Concluding Senior Officials Meeting (CSOM), told a press conference after the meeting.

He said the officials reached consensus on all important reports to be submitted to ministers and leaders of the economies when they meet on Nov. 15-16 and Nov. 18-19 respectively.

The senior officials endorsed the annual report by the APEC Committee on Trade and Investment that includes a second-phase trade facilitation action plan in which member economies agree to a 5 percent reduction in business transaction costs between 2006- 2010, said a press release issued after the meeting.

Negotiations are still going on among member economies on nine model measures for developing regional trade agreements and free trade areas (RTAs/FTAs), said the release. A number of these measures are expected to receive consensus soon and will then be submitted to ministers for endorsement.

The officials also endorsed a Technology Choice Principles Pathfinder for submission to the ministers. Annual reports by the Economic Committee and Budget and Management Committee were also approved.

According to the release, the meeting unanimously agreed to propose that ministers and leaders endorse the Outcomes Report of APEC Pandemic Response Simulation Exercise conducted on June 7-8 this year.

The senior officials also approved SOM Chair's Summary Report on improvements in the individual action plans in 2006 and another report on the results of economic and technical cooperation this year.

Prior to the current concluding meeting, the senior officials held three meetings on the implementation of the programs worked out at the APEC leaders' meeting in Busan, South Korea, in November 2005, and preparations for the current APEC meetings.

APEC currently has 21 members: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, China's Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. The chairmanship rotates among its members, with Vietnam holding the chair this year.

Nov. 13 , 2006

Monday afternoon

this week

Nov. 15-16

Nov. 18-19

June 7-8 this year

this year

November 2005

the current

currently

this year


XIN_ENG_20051126.0008

KAMPALA, Nov. 26 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Seven people killed in road accident in southern Uganda

Seven people have been killed in a road accident in southern Uganda, according to a local report on Saturday.

Ugandan police were quoted as saying that five people died on the spot and two others died in Masaka Hospital when a truck had a tyre burst and rammed into a group of people in a bus-stop shelter and road side market at Kyabakuza trading center in southern Uganda.

Masaka district police commander Martin Amoru said 21 people were taken to Masaka Hospital, seven of them were in critical condition.

He said the truck veered off the road after one of its tyres burst and crushed into a busy shelter at about 7:40 a.m. (0440 GMT) .

The truck crushed the shelter, a newspaper stall, a telephone booth and plowed into women roasting bananas and meat, many of whom were severely burnt.

He added that the unidentified driver fled after the incident.

Nov. 26 , 2005

Saturday

7:40 a.m.


NYT19980206.0460
 NEWS STORY
 02/06/1998 22:19:00

A6974 Cx1f tta-z
u f Cx13  Cx11  BC-ECON-REPORT-ART-NYT LR      02-06 0974

 BC-ECON-REPORT-ART-NYT

(REPEATING to correct coding)

UR JANUARY JOB TOTALS UP AT A ROBUST CLIP LR  QL
UR (ART ADV: Graphic is being sent to NYT graphic clients.
Non-subscribers can make individual purchase by calling
212-556-4204.) LR  QL
UR (JT LR ) QL
UR By RICHARD W. STEVENSON LR  QC   QL
UR c.1998 N.Y. Times News Service LR  QC   QL

WASHINGTON _ The economy created jobs at a surprisingly robust
pace in January, the government reported on Friday, evidence that
America's economic stamina has withstood any disruptions caused so far by the financial tumult in Asia.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the economy added 358,000
jobs last month, far above the 235,000 forecast by economists.
It was the third consecutive month that job generation has been
exceptionally strong. With growing opportunities for work drawing
more people into the labor force, the unemployment rate remained at
4.7 percent last month, just a notch above its quarter-century low.
The demand for workers also led employers to raise wages again
last month. Average hourly earnings of production and
nonsupervisory employees rose 4 cents, to $12.51. The gain left
wages 3.8 percent higher than a year earlier, extending a trend
that has given back to workers some of the earning power they lost
to inflation in the last decade.
But economists said the wage increase was not enough to raise
any concerns about higher inflation. And because the Federal
Reserve has made clear that it expects the economy to slow in
coming months as ripple effects from Asia reach the United States,
investors disregarded the large jobs gains, betting that neither a
rise in interest rates nor resurgent inflation is looming.
Stocks rose, pushing the Dow Jones industrial average up 72.24
points, to 8,189.49, leaving the index within 70 points of its
record high set on Aug. 6. In the bond market, a sensitive
barometer of inflation anxiety, prices edged up , pushing down the
yield on the benchmark 30-year Treasury bond to 5.92 percent from
5.93 percent.
``Job creation is sturdy and we have effective price
stability,'' said Paul McCulley, an economist at UBS Securities.
``The bottom line is that we've got a lovely economy.''
With potential inflation counterbalanced by worries about
possible price declines, the Fed and its chairman, Alan Greenspan,
have suggested that they intend to keep interest rates unchanged
until the economy tilts clearly in one direction or another.
The job figures for January extended a surge in employment gains
that began last fall, just when the labor market had showed signs
of cooling. After accounting for a small downward revision Friday
to December's figures, the economy has been creating jobs at a rate
of 358,000 a month for the last four months _ and 381,000 over the
last three months _ after averaging 242,000 for the first nine
months of 1997.
The surge in jobs reflects a remarkable confluence of positive
and self-reinforcing economic forces. Inflation has been almost
nonexistent, and consumer confidence has been extremely strong.
After a short, sharp drop when Asia's financial problems first
became clear, the stock market has rebounded and corporate profits
have remained healthy.
Long-term interest rates, an important indicator of economic
stability, have fallen in the last few months. Lower rates have helped invigorate housing and other interest-sensitive sectors of
the economy by making loans more affordable, and have allowed
companies to continue investing heavily in more efficient
equipment.
The likelihood that the federal budget will soon move from
deficit into surplus has further improved the outlook. The less
money the government needs to borrow, the more is freed for private
investment.
President Clinton welcomed the job figures at a news conference
Friday. His advisers said the results reflected not just from
balancing the budget, but also initiatives like improved access to
education and training and the opening of foreign markets to trade.
``There are enormous economic and social benefits from our
nation's high-employment economy,'' said Janet Yellen, the
chairwoman of the White House's Council of Economic Advisers.
Some of the biggest employment gains came in the construction
industry, which added 92,000 jobs in January. The increase
reflected the strength of the housing industry, which has been helped not just by declining interest rates but also by unusually
warm weather.
Service industries also showed solid job gains, as did
manufacturers, two areas expected to be hardest hit when the
effects of the Asian crisis hit the American economy. The major
harm from Asia is likely to come from the plunge in the value of
many Asian currencies relative to the dollar, a situation that is expected to lead to a surge of inexpensive imports into the United
States, hurting American competitors. And the weakness of the Asian
economies is also likely to lead to decreased demand for American
exports.
``The economy has been running on the fumes of the strength from
before the Asia shock,'' McCulley said. ``Those fumes will exhaust
themselves, and the manufacturing sector is going to start getting
beat up in the spring.''
The figures showed the unemployment rate for adult men declined
to 3.8 percent last month from 4.1 percent in December, the lowest
figure for almost two decades. The rate for adult women rose 0.4
percent, to 4.4 percent.
For the first time, the Labor Department broke out unemployment
by education level as well as gender, age and race. The analysis
showed unemployment rates dropped steadily with higher levels of
education. Among people with less than a high school education, the
rate in January was 7.2 percent.
Among high school graduates, the rate was 3.9 percent, and
college graduates, 1.9 percent.

NYT-02-06-98 2219EST

02/06/1998 22:19:00

January

Friday

last month

last month

last month

a year earlier

the last decade

coming months

Aug. 6

January

last fall

Friday

December

the last four months

the
last three months

the first nine
months

the last few months

soon

Friday

January

last month

December

January


XIN_ENG_20061121.0003

KATHMANDU, Nov. 21 , 2006 (Xinhua)

official

A Pakistani government minister rejected the charge the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) (formerly known as guerilla) chairman Prachanda claimed that Pakistani intelligence once offered CPN assistance, local nepalnews.com reported Tuesday.

Pakistan's Deputy Minister for Information Tariq Azim told BBC Nepali Service on Monday that Prachanda's remarks were "baseless."

Azim said that Prachanda might have said so "perhaps in an attempt to make some people happy."

On Nov. 18, in an interview he gave to The Hindustan Times, Prachanda who had visited New Delhi to attend the Leadership Summit organized by the daily, disclosed that when he decided "to take the movement to the streets", back in 1996, he was offered " assistance" in the form of arms and money from representatives claiming to be from the ISI.

The ISI (Inter Service Intelligence) is an intelligence agency of Pakistan. Indian government routinely accuses ISI of indulging in anti-India activities by using the soil of Nepal as well as Bangladesh. It has also frequently accused ISI of masterminding terrorist attacks within Indian territory.

Prachanda had also claimed that with the growth in his party's movement, the activities of ISI in Nepal have declined. "With our movement gaining people's consensus, the anti-India ISI activity" is almost non-existent.

Prachanda had said, "ISI-type people offered us money and arms assistance. I resisted and our council agreed to refuse the assistance because we felt our movement would lose its Nepali- people-centric approach."

Nov. 21 , 2006

Tuesday

Monday

Nov. 18


AFP_ENG_20061205.0230

ANKARA, Dec 5 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - RECASTS with FM remarks ///

Turkey on Tuesday urged EU leaders to avoid "a historic mistake" when they discuss the country's membership bid next week and warned that a German proposal to set a deadline for Ankara to grant trade priviliges to Cyprus would have a "very negative impact."

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he telephoned German Chancellor Angela Merkel hours before she was to meet French President Jacques Chirac in Mettlach, Germany, to seek backing for Berlin's proposal.

"I reminded her what the costs of a wrong step could be," Erdogan told the parliamentary group of his Justice and Development Party.

"I told her that we hope such a historic mistake will not occur at the summit of EU leaders on December 14-15," he said.

EU foreign ministers meet in Brussels on December 11 to discuss a European Commission recommendation to partially freeze membership talks with Turkey because of its refusal to open its sea and air ports to Cypriot vessels under a customs union pact with the bloc.

If they fail to reach a unanimous decision, the issue is expected to go on the agenda of an EU summit three days later.

Merkel wants the EU to give Turkey an 18-month deadline to open its ports to Cyprus as a condition for resuming full membership talks.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said the German proposal would make things worse.

"With the Commission's recommendations unacceptable as they are, such a proposal will make things even worse," Gul said after talks here with his Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt.

"It would have a very negative impact on the negotiation process... (but) I do not believe that this will happen," he said.

Turkey says its ports will remain closed to Cyprus unless the 25-nation bloc keeps promises mqde in 2004 to ease the economic isolation of the divided island's breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Ankara.

Dec 5 , 2006

Tuesday

next week

December 14-15

December 11

three days


AFP_ENG_20061228.0217

MECCA,  Saudi Arabia, Dec 28 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - ADDS quotes, background ///

Around two million Muslim faithful were heading Thursday from Mecca to the valley of Mina as the annual hajj pilgrimage got under way in Saudi Arabia amid heavy security.

Draped in white robes, the pilgrims walked or boarded buses to Mina, five kilometers (three miles) east of the holy city of Mecca, to begin tracing the journey made by Prophet Mohammed more than 1,400 years ago.

"Everything is proceeding according to plan," Saudi interior ministry spokesman General Mansur al-Turki told AFP.

Turki said the final number of pilgrims would not be known until the hajj climaxes on Friday, when the faithful move to Mount Arafat where they will spend the day praying and asking for God's forgiveness at the summit, in a symbolic waiting for the last judgment.

More than 1.6 million people from across the world have arrived in Saudi Arabia, and their numbers have been swelled by Saudis and other Muslim residents in the country to above two million.

Over two thirds of the pilgrims are expected to spend the day known as "Yawm at-Tarwiya" at Mina, an optional ritual, while others will head straight to Mount Arafat on Friday, Turki said.

Pilgrims spend the day in prayers and meditation in Mina, sleeping at night in tents before heading further south to Mount Arafat.

Thousands of Saudi security forces have been deployed along the routes to be used by the pilgrims and official media said security and health authorities are mobilized to ensure the safety of the faithful during often risky rituals, with dozens of field hospitals and clinics set up in the area.

The last hajj in January was marred by a deadly stampede which killed 364 people in Mina during a ritual which involves casting stones at pillars representing Satan.

A similar stampede in 2004 saw 251 people trampled to death during the stoning ceremony.

Both tragedies occurred at the entrance to the Jamarat bridge, from where pilgrims cast their stones at three pillars that are supposed to symbolize the powers of evil.

Immediately after the last hajj's stampede, religious leaders ordered the dismantling of the bridge, which created a dangerous bottleneck.

Saudi authorities, who have been fighting a wave of violence by suspected Al-Qaeda extremists since May 2003, have warned that they will crack down on any attempt to undermine security during the hajj.

The warning comes against a backdrop of daily Sunni-Shiite violence in Iraq which has prompted some commentators to express concerns about the risks of a proxy conflict between Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia and Shiite-majority Iran.

Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iran has insisted on holding a rally during the hajj to denounce Israel and the United States, defying the Saudi ban on political activity during the religious occasion.

Pilgrims will begin moving towards Mount Arafat at dawn Friday. They will then return to Mina to sacrifice an animal, usually a sheep, for Eid al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice, on Saturday.

The pilgrims will spend another two days there for the stoning ceremony that symbolizes a willingness to renounce evil.

The Hajj Commission said Thursday that 252 pilgrims had died of natural causes since arriving in the kingdom this month, generally those suffering from heart problems.

The pilgrimage, which ends on Monday, is one of the five pillars of Islam and is an obligation for all able-bodied Muslims at least once during their lives if they can afford it.

Dec 28 , 2006

Thursday

more than 1,400 years ago

Friday

Friday

January

May 2003

dawn Friday

Saturday

Thursday

this month

Monday


AFP_ENG_20061229.0265

JERUSALEM, Dec 29 , 2006, 2006

Probe 'finds Israeli army deficient in summer war'

Israeli military preparations for the summer war in Lebanon and the way troops were used on operations were deficient, a probe into the conduct of staff headquarters found, state radio reported on Friday.

In its conclusions, the inquiry apportions no blame to individual staff officers for these deficiencies, it added.

The probe was handed in mid-October to reserve general Dan Shomron, 69, a former chief of staff between 1987 and 1991, by the man who currently holds the post, General Dan Halutz.

Friday's delivery of Shomron's conclusions marks the end of the internal inquiry into the heart of the Israeli military.

From next week Halutz and his senior staff officers will examine the lessons to be learnt from Israeli failures in the 34-day summer war with the Shiite Lebanese militia Hezbollah, state radio said.

Since the war ended in a UN-brokered ceasefire on August 14, there have been calls by many protesters, including army reservists who took part in the conflict, for a state commission of inquiry into the war's failures.

There have also been demands for Halutz, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defence Minister Amir Peretz to resign.

The Olmert government finally opted under domestic pressure on September 17 to establish a five-member government commission headed by retired judge Eliyahu Winograd.

Olmert said at the time the government commission would have the same powers as a state commission -- Israel's most powerful type of public inquiry which many government critics had wanted.

The difference between the two bodies hangs on their composition: the supreme court, as the highest legal authority, names members of a state commission of inquiry, while those politicians in power name the members of a government commission.

Failures of the July 12-August 14 Lebanon war have been the subject of two other probes -- one headed by the state comptroller and the other by the foreign affairs and defence committees in parliament.

The Olmert government came under intense criticism over the Lebanon war, which saw more than 160 Israelis killed but which failed to achieve its main objectives -- to stop Hezbollah from being able to fire nearly 4,000 rockets into Israel and to secure the release of two soldiers seized by militants in the July 12 cross-border raid that sparked the conflict.

Israel was also slammed abroad for the devastating use of its firepower in Lebanon, where more than 1,200 people -- mostly civilians -- were killed, and thousands of homes and infrastructure targets were bombed.

Dec 29 , 2006

Friday

currently

Friday

next week Halutz

August 14

September 17

July

July 12


AFP_ENG_20061214.0704

BRUSSELS, Dec 15 , 2006, 2006

EU deplores Rafah rampage

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana deplored the deadly violence at the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza on Thursday in which one of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya's bodyguards was killed and his son and political adviser hurt.

"We hope very much that the situation will get clarified and the Rafah crossing will be open to everybody in the coming hours," he told a press conference during an EU summit in Brussels.

"We deplore the events that are taking place in Rafah," he added.

Hamas gunmen went on the rampage waiting for Haniya to cross back into the strip after being detained by an Israeli closure, an AFP correspondent said.

The gunmen, mostly youths, smashed windows and furniture inside the terminal -- Gaza's only border crossing that bypasses Israel -- while shots were fired into the air and at the building itself.

Israel had closed Rafah earlier Thursday to prevent Haniya from returning to the coastal strip with a reported 35 million dollars in cash.

Haniya returned safely but "the money he was carrying is not across the border, it is now in a bank in Egypt," Solana said.

Five people were injured in the shoot-out, one of them seriously, which occurred as the Palestinian premier left the Gaza border terminal where he had been blocked for several hours, a government source said.

Hamas called the incident an assassination attempt by the Palestinian presidential guard.

Dec 15 , 2006

Thursday

the coming hours

Thursday

now


XIN_ENG_20061123.0253

KHARTOUM, Nov. 23 , 2006 (Xinhua)

AU says Darfur rebels plan to attack its fuel convoys

The African Union (AU) accused on Thursday a Darfur rebel group of attempting to attack its fuel convoys, saying such action will hinder peace efforts in the region.

In a statement received by Xinhua, the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) said it had received creditable information on a planned ambush against its fuel tankers travelling in the areas of Um Kadada and El Nahud near al-Fashir.

The statement said some elements of the National Redemption Front (NRF) were behind this potential attack.

"Such actions constitute flagrant violation of the ceasefire and negate current efforts of broadening the peace process and making it more inclusive," the statement stressed.

The pan-African body urged the NRF leadership to refrain its elements from undertaking such action.

Attacks against AU troops and aid workers in Darfur are now part of the shaky security in the region.

Last week, The AU slammed an attack by unidentified group against an AU monitor team near the Chadian border, in which the attackers seized a vehicle and communication radio.

Nov. 23 , 2006

Thursday

now

Last week


XIN_ENG_20061108.0403

KATHMANDU, Nov. 9 , 2006 (Xinhua)

India to build 240MW reservoir hydropower in Nepal

India has agreed principally to build a 240-megawatt storage type hydropower project in mid- western Nepal on grant basis for Nepal, the local daily Kathmandu Post reported on Thursday.

"The Naumure hydro-project planned to build in the West Rapti River, some 500 km west of Kathmandu, will help in fulfilling increased demands of electricity in the winter," the newspaper quoted K.P. Sharma Oli, deputy prime minister, as saying.

Nepal has only one reservoir type hydropower project that is Kulekhani project in the southern Nepal.

He told the media after returning from India visit on Wednesday that the Indian government was also positive to encourage Indian investment in Nepal's hydropower sector.

Oli also made it clear that steps are already being taken to renew the Nepal-India commerce treaty, which is expiring in March next year.

Nov. 9 , 2006

Thursday

the winter

Wednesday

March next year