AFP_ENG_20061231.0214

LONDON, Dec 31 , 2006, 2006

festivities

New Year's Eve fireworks displays, concerts and other outdoor parties were scrapped on Sunday in several British cities amid security fears over heavy storms, disappointing tens of thousands of revelers.

Celebrations overnight Sunday in the Northern Irish capital of Belfast and the Scottish city of Glasgow as well as the northern English cities of Newcastle and Liverpool were all canceled because of the bad weather.

Up to 10,000 people had been due to watch soul singer Beverley Knight and rock band The Thrills in the streets outside Belfast's City Hall, but the city council called off the events for safety reasons.

Officials in Glasgow dropped plans for a massive outdoor street party in central George Square where around 25,000 people had been expected to dance and sing along with Fratellis and Sandi Thom as well as watch a fireworks show.

With high winds and rain forecast, a spokesman for Glasgow City Council urged partygoers to stay away from the Hogmanay or New Year's party, traditionally the biggest event in the Scottish calendar.

A pyrotechnics extravaganza in Newcastle, the culmination of the city's month-long Winter Festival, was also dropped.

"Obviously the safety of the public comes first," said Newcastle councillor Pauline Allen.

Fireworks planned for Liverpool's St George's Plateau were called off and the event will now take place on Friday, January 5.

New Year's fireworks displays in the British capital London were still planned, according to Mayor Ken Livingstone.

London's New Year's Day Parade of marching bands, clowns, vintage cars, traction engines and carnival queens -- expected to attract up to 400,000 spectators -- will definitely go ahead, organizers added.

Forecasters said gusts of up to 80 miles (130 kilometres) per hour were expected off the coast of Cumbria, northwest England.

Days of fierce storms have already caused a number of casualties. An 18-year-old woman died and her two 19-year-old friends were injured when a tree crashed onto a mobile home in Staffordshire on Saturday.

Dec 31 , 2006

Sunday

Sunday

Winter Festival

now

Friday, January 5

Saturday


XIN_ENG_20061116.0371

MEXICO CITY, Nov. 16 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Stocks close lower in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil

Latin America's three major stock markets closed lower on Thursday.

Mexico City's IPC stock index dropped by 0.22 percent to close at 24,266.03 points. A total of 116 million shares were traded at 339 million U.S. dollars.

The Buenos Aires stock market closed with the Merval index down 1.38 percent at 1,891.51 points. The trade volume was 16.91 million dollars.

In Sao Paulo, Latin America's biggest bourse, the leading Bovespa index closed at 41,161 points, down 0.31 percent. The trade volume was 1.48 billion dollars.

Nov. 16 , 2006

Thursday


XIN_ENG_20061113.0105

TAIYUAN, Nov. 13 , 2006 (Xinhua)

2nd Ld: Fatal coal mine accident reported in north China, 25 dead

Twenty-five people have been confirmed dead and nine others are still missing in a deadly coal mine accident in north China's Shanxi Province.

Thirty-six miners were working underground when privately made explosives stored in a pit of the Nanshan Colliery in Wangyu Village of Lingshi County, caught fire at 7:40 p.m. Sunday, sources with rescue headquarters confirmed on Monday.

The Lingshi county government received its first report of the accident at 4 a.m. Monday.

Two miners survived but 25 others were suffocated by the quantities of poisonous gas released by the explosives, according to rescuers.

Efforts to find the missing are still under way.

Also on Monday, the death toll in another deadly accident in this coal-rich province climbed to 35, with 12 others missing in the pit of Jiaojiazhai Colliery in Xinzhou, where a gas blast trapped 47 on Nov. 5.

Nov. 13 , 2006

7:40 p.m.

Sunday

Monday

4 a.m.

Monday

Monday

Nov. 5


XIN_ENG_20061114.0215

TEHRAN, Nov. 14 , 2006 (Xinhua)

nuke program

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed on Tuesday to install up to 60,000 centrifuges ultimately to enrich uranium.

Nov. 14 , 2006

Tuesday


XIN_ENG_20061119.0024

MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov. 19 , 2006 (Xinhua)

CCTV 's advertising revenues hit new high as Olympics nears

BEIJING, Nov. 19 (Xinhua)-- The bidding for advertising on China Central Television (CCTV) in 2007 concluded on Saturday with the network's revenues hitting 6.79 billion yuan, up 16 percent over last year.

Procter  Gamble, the world's consumer goods giant topped the bidding list for the fourth year running, at 420 million yuan, CCTV announced.

The annual bidding has been hailed as the barometer of the country's economic performance.

"Enterprises can foresee the economic trend in the coming year from the participating brands," said Yao Jingyuan, chief economist with the National Bureau of Statistics

Olympic-related commercials notched up a combined value of 370 million yuan.

"Since the Olympic Games will not open until 2008, it is imperative for enterprises to enhance their brand image in 2007," said Zhang Weiying, professor with the Guanghua School of Management at Beijing University.

Chinese banks and car manufacturers also featured high up on the bidding list in anticipation of fiercer competition from foreign companies next year after the industries are opened up to overseas investors.

"CCTV's advertising charges have been rising in recent years as the Chinese economy maintains robust growth, said Sun Xianhong, vice chairman of Meng Niu Dairy, also a competitive bidder

"Enterprises are devoting more attention to advertising, with long-term effects influencing their decision-making," he added.

Nov. 19 , 2006

Nov. 19

Saturday

last year

the fourth year

coming year

next year

years as


AFP_ENG_20051215.0190

BAGHDAD, Dec 15 , 2005

ATTENTION - UPDATES toll, ADDS quotes ///

Iraqis turned out in droves Thursday in a landmark poll to choose a new government many hope will restore stability to a nation wracked by violence and sectarian feuding since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Despite a massive security lockdown, two men were killed in attacks in northern Iraq while mortar strikes in Baghdad, including one in the heavily fortified Green Zone claimed by an Al-Qaeda-linked group, injured four civilians and a US marine.

"The most important thing is for Iraqis to express themselves with ballots, not blasts," said Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari.

Turnout quickened throughout the day, with voting strong in the Shiite south and in Sunni Arab districts where people queued up to cast their ballots, in stark contrast to their overwhelming boycott of an election in January.

Strict security measures brought Iraq to a halt as 15.5 million Iraqis were called to vote for a four-year, 275-member parliament, with top candidates pledging to restore stability and pave the way for an exit of foreign troops.

"It's a national celebration for all Iraqis," said President Jalal Talabani, the country's first Kurdish head of state.

US President George W. Bush, whose approval ratings slumped over the mounting US death toll in Iraq, said Iraqi democracy would serve as a "model" for the Middle East.

The vote, the third this year, marks a new beginning following the US-led invasion in March 2003 to oust Saddam, two transitional governments and the adoption of a constitution in October.

Iraqis poured into the streets and walked to polling stations because of a vehicle ban aimed at curbing car bomb attacks.

In the capital and in the restive Sunni city of Fallujah, disabled men in wheelchairs and on crutches joined neighbours to cast their ballots, with many demanding stability and the restoration of public services such as electricity and water.

In the holy city of Najaf, as well as the main southern city of Basra, residents were already celebrating the victory of the main religious Shiite United Iraqi Alliance coalition.

A total of 7,655 candidates and 307 political entities, nearly triple the number that stood in January, are running, with turnout among the ousted Sunni minority expected to be much higher this time.

"The next parliament will represent all Iraqis," said Vice President Abdel Abdel Mehdi, tipped by many as the next prime minister.

Ministers praised the security operation intended to prevent the suicide attacks that killed almost 40 people during January's election, the first free vote in Iraq in half a century.

"The security situation in most of the provinces is good, if not to say excellent," announced Interior Minister Bayan Jabr Solagh.

The leading secular Shiite candidate, former prime minister Iyad Allawi, complained however that his supporters had been attacked and killed during the campaign.

A top British general said the election gave London "growing confidence" that a transition of security powers, allowing foreign troops to leave Iraq, would begin in the first half of 2006.

"We ought to be just grateful that today is going so well and will bring us that much nearer to the day that the job gets done and we can come home," General Nick Houghton told the BBC.

Roughly 2,150 US soldiers have been killed since the 2003 invasion, which Bush admitted Wednesday had been based on wrong intelligence. An estimated 30,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed.

Suicide attacks, shootings and kidnapping have become standard fare in a deadly insurgency driven by Sunni Arab nationalism and Al-Qaeda extremists.

Adjourned for the election, Saddam's trial on charges of crimes against humanity threatened to exacerbate already high ethnic tensions in the country.

Following purported Al-Qaeda threats to "ruin the 'democratic' wedding", virtually all Iraq's 190,000 police and army were mobilized, with US-led troops providing perimeter security for voting stations.

Civilians were banned from carrying weapons and driving to polling stations that opened at 7:00 am (0400 GMT) and were to close at 5:00 pm.

Shiites and Kurds who dominated the transitional administration, are looking to a full-term parliament as a chance to cement their grip on power after decades of oppression.

The Sunni minority is keen to prevent a government dominated by religious Shiites and a break-up of Iraq into autonomous Kurdish and Shiite zones.

"The Shiites have more seats than they deserve and because of this there has been state terrorism and killings," charged Mekky Latif, an election observer in Fallujah.

The first task of the new parliament will be to appoint a president and two vice presidents. The presidential council will then have 15 days to name a prime minister, who has 30 days to form a cabinet with parliamentary approval.

On Tuesday, US Senator Richard Lugar warned however that an operational government might not be finalised until April.

Dec 15 , 2005

Thursday

January

this year

March 2003

October

January

January

the first half of 2006

today

15 days

30 days

Tuesday

April


AFP_ENG_19970413.0466

TOKYO, April 14 , 1997 (AFP)

Japan's central bank chief says recovery accelerating

Bank of Japan governor Yasuo Matsushita said Monday that the country's economic recovery was gathering pace and described the dollar's recent surge against the yen as "steep."

Speaking at a lecture in Tokyo, the central bank governor said the recovery was "becoming firmer" with the increase in consumption taxes from three percent to five percent on April 1 unlikely to thwart the upturn.

Matsushita also said that drastic restructuring measures announced by the troubled Nippon Credit Bank Ltd. earlier this month showed that Japanese banks were being "aggressive" in resolving their debt problems.

April 14 , 1997

Monday

April 1

earlier this month


XIN_ENG_20061104.0018

BEIJING, Nov. 4 , 2006 (Xinhua)

conference

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is hosting a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People Saturday afternoon to welcome the African guests attending the high-level dialogue and second conference of Chinese and African entrepreneurs.

Nov. 4 , 2006

Saturday afternoon


XIN_ENG_20051105.0100

BEIJING, Nov. 5 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Canada and Russia split titles at Cup of China

Canada's Emanuel Sandhu clinched the title of the men's single skating at Cup of China ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating here on Saturday.

Sandhu collected a total of 212.66 points for the win.

Sandhu continued his victory after his home win on Skate Canada International this year. Ranked fourth after short program, he made an error-free performance to the first position.

"I'm very satisfied with my performance today, I don't think I can make it better," said Sandhu.

World champion Stephane Lambiel failed to win gold following two errors, sitting second with 203.60.

Russian Andrei Griazev, winner at Junior Championships last year, settled for the third, earning 200.60 points.

Li Chengjiang, China's medal hopeful, slided from second after short program to eighth after stumbles and falls.

Yao Bin, coach of China's skating team, shook head during Li's performance. "He didn't even give his half best today," said Yao.

Two other gold medals both went to Russia. Irina Slutskaya grabbed the women's singles gold with 196.12 points, while European champion Slutskaya put up a flawless performance to Mario Takes a Walk and got her personal best 196.12, enlarging her gap with rival skaters to nearly 20 points.

"I like all parts of the music," said Slutskaya. "When I was on ice, I felt like I am a flamenco dancer."

World junior champion Mao Asada of Japan also made a brilliant debut at senior figure skating Grand Prix. The 15-year old, who fell on the first jump in the match, managed to recover with clear spins and jumps highlighted with a triple Axels, which gained her a total of 176.60 to stand on the podium.

"I made some mistakes during the competition," said Asada, "but silver medal is a good start, next time I will make it."

Asada's compatriot Shizuka Arakawa, last year's world champion, won the bronze with 173.60.

Also on Saturday, Russian top ice dancing pair Tatiana Navaka/ Roman Kostomarov won the ice dancing title.

The two-time world champions, skating to "Carmen Suite" by G. Bizet, earned continuous cheers from the audience during their routine. The pair held on to their lead in compulsory and original dancing in previous two days, and ended with a total score of 197.07, leaving the runner-up nearly 11 pints behind.

Galit Chait/Sergei Sakhnovski from Israel ended second with 186.14, followed by Canadian Megan Wing/Aaron Lowe with 163.36.

Nov. 5 , 2005

Saturday

today

last year

today

last year

Saturday

previous two days


AFP_ENG_19970422.0163

JAKARTA, April 22 , 1997 (AFP)

Indonesian activists in subversion case get six and four year sentences

An Indonesian court in East Java Tuesday handed down six and four year jail sentences for two pro-democracy activists accused of subversion, their lawyer said.

The Surabaya, East Java, district court handed the sentences to Dita Indahsari and Coen Husein Pontoh from the small pro-democracy group People's Democratic Party (PRD), for inciting labor riots in the province.

"The two were very calm, even smiling, when the sentences were read out since they knew that they would be found guilty as this trial has been so politicized," one of their lawyers, Nurbadria (eds: one name), told AFP by phone from Surabaya.

Nurbadria said chief judge Amrin Boer found Dita, 24, and Coen, 27, guilty of inciting labor riots, and also of being members of the unrecognized PRD. Both are appealing their sentences, she added.

"I'm not surprised, this was a political trial and the judges were not free," said Trimulya Suryadi, another lawyer for the pair.

PRD is an umbrella group of labor, student and farmer activists.

Nurbadria said Tuesday's court session was attended by hundreds of people, and heavily secured by police who checked the identities of all the court attendees. No incidents were reported during the session.

Dita's sentence was longer because the court found her guilty of inciting more labor riots and strikes than Coen, Nurbadria said. The prosecutor had earlier asked for eight years for Dita and six for Coen.

Subversion carries a maximum penalty of death.

Dita and Coen were detained shortly after a mass labor strike nearby Surabaya in early July.

Police violently broke up the march of some 4,000 workers from 10 factories in the industrial area of Tandes, Surabaya, as two workers' groups were trying to join forces and walk to another factory.

The demonstrators were demanding a 75 percent raise in their daily wage from 4,000 rupiah to 7,000 rupiah (1.70 dollars to three dollars.)

The subversion trial of another 11 PRD members has been underway since December in two Jakarta courts, with prosecutors demanding sentences of between 12 and 15 years.

The 11 were were detained soon after mass riots in Jakarta on July 27. The riots were sparked by an attack on the headquarters of the Indonesian Democracy Party (PDI), until then under the control of toppled leader Megawati Sukarnoputri, by a rival faction backed by troops.

The popular Megawati was ousted as PDI chairwoman by a government- backed faction in June.

April 22 , 1997

Tuesday

four year

Tuesday

eight years

early July

December

15 years

July 27

June


XIN_ENG_20051115.0345

LONDON, Nov. 15 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Northern Ireland holds Portugal 1-1

Warren Feeney capitalized on a rare international start by scoring Northern Ireland's goal in their 1-1 draw against Portugal on Tuesday.

The Luton Town striker, who had not started for over three years and was a sub for the last seven games, scored with a looping header in the 53rd minute.

World Cup finalists Portugal had led through a Stephen Craigan own goal five minutes before half-time when the Motherwell defender diverted a Ronaldo cross past keeper Maik Taylor.

Northern Ireland did well to battle back against Luiz Filipe Scolari's side and the result allowed them to end the year on a positive note.

Back-to-back defeats against Wales and Austria in the World Cup qualifiers had taken some of the gloss off the famous victory against England.

However, they bounced back against a side ranked eighth in the world thanks to Feeney's equaliser.

Given manager Lawrie Sanchez was without a number of key players, he could claim a moral victory.

There were good performances from goalkeeper Maik Taylor and midfielder Steve Davis and Portugal knew they had been in a game.

The Belfast fans were also able to celebrate the appearance of Irish League star Peter Thompson.

The Linfield striker, with 18 goals this season, came on as a substitute for James Quinn with 14 minutes left.

Dean Shiels of Hibernian also won his first cap, coming on just before the end.

Nov. 15 , 2005

Tuesday

three years

the 53rd minute

the year


WSJ891026-0130
 = 891026
 891026-0130.
 Sun Microsystems Inc.
@  Posts 1st-Quarter Net
@  Totaling $5.2 Million
 10/26/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 SUNW
 EARNINGS (ERN)
COMPUTERS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (CPR)
 MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.

   Sun Microsystems Inc., snapping back to profitability after its first quarterly loss as a public firm, said it earned $5.2 million, or seven cents a share, in the fiscal first quarter.

   Sun, a maker of computer workstations, reported sales of $538.5 million for the quarter ended Sept. 29, up 39% from $388.5 million a year earlier.
In the 1988 period, the company earned $20.6 million, or 26 cents a share.

   Sun's results were slightly better than expectations.
Earlier this month, the company said it expected to break even for the quarter on sales of $530 million.

   In a statement, Scott McNealy, Sun's chief executive officer, said the company's performance was hampered by problems tied to the introduction of a major new family of computers in April.
One of those new computers, called Sparcstation 1, accounted for nearly half of the 28,000 systems Sun shipped in the quarter, he said.
More than two-thirds of the systems shipped, meanwhile , were products introduced in April.

   But problems in manufacturing, forecasting demand and getting the bugs out of a new management information system made it extremely difficult for Sun to meet demand for its newest computers well into the summer.
These problems also resulted in Sun reporting a $20.3 million loss for its fourth quarter ended June 30.

   Mr. McNealy said the issues that hurt Sun's performance earlier this year are now " largely" behind the firm, and he indicated that Sun's profitability should increase throughout the fiscal year.

   Sun also reported a record backlog of orders.
While this indicates continued strong demand for the company's desk-top computers, Sun faces increasing competition from Digital Equipment Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co. Recently, analysts have said Sun also is vulnerable to competition from International Business Machines Corp., which plans to introduce a group of workstations early next year, and Next Inc.

the fiscal first quarter

the quarter

Sept. 29

a year earlier

the 1988 period

this month

the quarter

April

the quarter

April

the summer

its fourth quarter

June 30

this year

the fiscal year

Recently

early next year


XIN_ENG_20061103.0394

BEIJING, Nov. 4 , 2006 (Xinhua)

years

China will train 15,000 African professionals, send 100 senior agricultural experts to Africa, and set up 10 special agricultural technology demonstration centers in Africa in the next three years.

Chinese President Hu Jintao made the remarks here Saturday when addressing the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

Nov. 4 , 2006

the next three years

Saturday


XIN_ENG_20061124.0123

TAIYUAN, Nov. 24 , 2006 (Xinhua)

north China

Four county-level officials from north China's Shanxi Province have been dismissed from their posts in the Party in the wake of three coal mine accidents that claimed 65 lives, according to the provincial government on Friday.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) Committee of Taiyuan, the provincial capital, has removed Wang Qinghe from the post of deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of Wangbolin District in Taiyuan. Ning Keqiang was deprived of his membership of the district CPC committee following two mine accidents that left 21 miners dead in late October and early this month.

The Jinzhong City CPC Committee has removed Gong Qi from the post of deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of Lingshi County and Feng Kaicheng was deprived of his membership of the county CPC committee for a coal mine fire that claimed 34 lives this month.

The Shanxi Provincial CPC Committee has also suggested that the four people should be removed from their administrative posts, said a spokesman for the provincial government on Friday.

Wang is the acting head of Wangbolin District and Ning is Wang's deputy. Gong is the head of Lingshi County government and Feng is the deputy.

These four people were removed from their posts in the Party according to regulations that stipulate officials in charge should be punished for fatal accidents, the spokesman said.

Local governments are responsible for managing and supervising coal mining businesses and other production activities in areas under their jurisdiction, the spokesman said.

The four people will face further punishments once investigations into the three accident are concluded, according to the spokesman.

Explosive blast that occurred in the Pagou Coal Mine in Taiyuan's Wanbolin District on Oct. 24 left 11 miners dead. Preliminary investigations show that the mine was operating illegally because its production safety and coal mining certificates expired at the end of December last year.

A coal mine in Jijiagou Village, also based in Wanbolin District, was flooded on Nov. 7, killing 10 miners. The owner of the coal mine ran away after the flooding. Investigators said that the coal mine was operating illegally without a production permit.

A fatal fire occurred in the Nanshan Coal Mine in Lingshi County on Nov. 12, claiming 34 lives. The production licence of the Nanshan Coal Mine expired at the end of last year and rescuers found it had neither a gas monitoring system nor a life-saving appliance in the shaft. The mine contractor escaped after the accident and is still at large.

This is the second time within six months that county-level officials have been dismissed for fatal coal mine accidents in Shanxi Province.

The Standing Committee of the Zuoyun County People's Congress approved the resignations filed by Zhang Mingsheng, former head of the county government, and his deputy Shi Lu, who was in charge of local coal production, in June.

Zhang was also removed from the post of deputy secretary of the Zuoyun County committee of the CPC, and Shi was deprived of his membership of the CPC county committee after mine management attempted to cover up the fatal accident by reporting that only five miners were trapped.

Shanxi provincial government has ordered safety check-ups in local coal mines starting from Friday and mines with an annual output of 90,000 tons and lower will be closed within 20 days if they are found not to meet safety requirements.

China has issued specific new punishments for government officials to tackle production safety problems.

Government officials will face warnings, demotions, dismissal and prosecution for production safety transgressions, according to new rules issued on Wednesday.

The interim rules, jointly issued by China's State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) and the Ministry of Supervision, define 25 types of punishable acts by government officials and 18 types by executives of state-owned businesses, ranging from approving projects that do not meet safety requirements, failure to address unsafe production activities and covering up production accidents, to executives allowing their businesses to continue to operate after their licenses have been revoked or they have been ordered to stop production.

In September, China reported a 26.1-percent rise in coal mine accidents over October and a 44.4-percent rise in coal mine fatalities.

Nov. 24 , 2006

Friday

late October

early this month

this month

Friday

Oct. 24

the end of December last year

Nov. 7

Nov. 12

the end of last year

six months

June

Friday

20 days

Wednesday

September

October


XIN_ENG_20051111.0328

BUSAN, Nov. 12 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Tight security control enforced for APEC meetings in Busan

South Korea has mounted a 37,000- strong team for security of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum being held from Nov. 12 to 19 in the country's coastal city of Busan.

The South Korean military and police security personnel have mapped out a set of comprehensive measures to counter the possible airborne and sea-based terror attacks during the summit, according to an APEC forum security official on Saturday.

The security team has launched guard operations for the country 's land, sea and air routes.

Around the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center where a series of APEC meetings will be held, police are on high alert and have strengthened security.

An 11-strong mounted police team started patrols as of Saturday. The team will patrol around the center from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. until the end of meeting.

According to an official of the Busan Police Bureau, the advantage of the mounted police is that the policemen can enter into places where cars and other motor vehicles cannot reach. In addition, they can help maintain orders with a higher point of view in case a riot happens.

The official said an airborne early warning system and anti- submarine aircraft provide defense against hostile infiltration. And the early-warning aircraft will launch round-the-clock patrol of the territorial sky of the country during the APEC Summit scheduled from Nov.18 to 19.

All conference-related venues and facilities will be covered by air patrols using F-16 fighters, and vessels sailing near the port are to be cordoned off seven kilometers away from the summit venue.

Officials at the Construction and Transportation Ministry said on Friday that they will enforce no-fly zone from Nov. 16 to 21 within a 5.6 kilometer radius of the summit venues and major accommodation facilities.

High-speed patrol boats with thermal detection camera are also in operation.

To prevent the entrance of terrorist suspects who may come in disguise as tourists, all passengers using Busan's Gimhae International Airport are required to open up their luggage for thorough inspection.

Officials at Busan Customs said they have deployed 265 personnel around seaports to prevent any smuggling materials and launched around-the-clock watches by installing 105 closed circuit televisions.

At Incheon Airport, passengers are even required to take off their shoes for security checks, and staff members there said "it' s merely a routine work."

A total of 3,000 volunteers will be deployed at 73 stations of two subways for help maintain security. Big department stores and shopping malls will be closed during the APEC summit.

Nov. 12 , 2005

Nov. 12

Saturday

Saturday

Friday

Nov. 16


XIN_ENG_20051104.0125

BEIJING, Nov. 4 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Chinese vice premier meets Japanese guests

Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi met with a delegation from the Kansai region of Japan here Friday.

The delegation is headed by Fusae Ota, governor of Osaka-Fu, Keiji Yamada, governor of Kyoto-Fu and Toshizo Ido, governor of Hyogo-Ken.

Wu expressed her appreciation for Kansai's friendly exchanges and cooperation with China. She said China and Japan, as close neighbors, are strongly compatible in economy and enjoy broad fields for cooperation.

"To develop Sino-Japanese long-term stable good-neighborly relations is in the fundemental interests of the people of the two countries", Wu said.

She noted that Japanese leaders' stubborn visits to Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 Class-A war criminals, had caused severe difficulties for Sino-Japanese ties.

"Their acts severely hurt the feeling of the Chinese people and undermined the political foundation of Sino-Japanese ties", she said.

Under the current situation, the two countries should cherish the traditional friendship of the people of both countries, enhance exchanges and mutual understanding, and facilitate cooperation.

She expressed the hope that the Kansai region will make full play of its advantages to expand friendly exchanges with China in terms of economy, trade, culture and personnel exchanges, and contribute more to the improvement of bilateral ties.

Nov. 4 , 2005

Friday


XIN_ENG_20051130.0059

JERUSALEM, Nov. 30 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Israeli FM vows to rehabilitate Likud party

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, who has announced bid for the Likud party leadership, vowed on Wednesday to restore the Likud party to glory if he is elected, local newspaper Ha'aretz reported.

"The Likud is in crisis and we cannot sweep under the carpet," said Shalom, asserting that he is the only one who can rehabilitate the three-decade old party and win the March general elections.

Shalom made his vow one day after officially launching his bid for the Likud leadership, which was vacated after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon quit the party he co-founded and formed a new centrist party named Kadima (Forward) last week.

"I call on the people in my party to stay in Likud and to vote for me in the primaries and to lead the state," said Shalom, indicating that he would invite Sharon and the Labor party to join any government under his leadership.

Besides Shalom, two other heavyweights, former premier Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, are also vying for the chairmanship.

Questioning Netanyahu's lead in the race, Shalom said the former premier was defeated by Labor candidate Ehud Barak in the 1999 elections.

Shalom called himself a centrist and stabilizing option, saying that he had been behind much of the rehabilitation of the Likud after the 1999 defeat.

Israel will hold general elections on March 28, 2006, in which three major parties, the center-right Likud, center-left Labor and Sharon's Kadima will compete.

Nov. 30 , 2005

Wednesday

one day

last week

March 28, 2006


AFP_ENG_19970413.0115

SARAJEVO, April 13 , 1997 (AFP)

Pope to honour Turin firemen for Shroud rescue

Pope John Paul II is to honour three Turin firemen who risked their lives to save the Shroud of Turin when a weekend fire ravaged the Italian city's cathedral, a Vatican spokesman announced Sunday.

The pontiff had decided to honour the city's fire chief and two firemen on his return to Italy from Sarajevo, spokesman Joaquim Navarro said.

The fire Saturday partially destroyed the Guarini chapel which normally houses the Shroud, revered for centuries by Christians as the cloth which wrapped the body of Christ after the crucifixion.

The linen cloth had been removed from the chapel while restoration work was in progress, and temporarily placed behind the nearby central altar in the St John the Baptist cathedral.

Two firemen braved the inferno in the adjacent chapel to reach the relic, and used sledgehammers to smash a thick protective screen before carrying the priceless cloth from the cathedral, the spokesman said.

The pope, who held an open-air mass in Sarajevo's main football stadium early Sunday, was to return to Italy in the evening.

April 13 , 1997

Sunday

Saturday

early Sunday

the evening


AFP_ENG_20051215.0699

LA PAZ, Dec 15 , 2005

ATTENTION - ADDS detail, quotes ///

Campaigning ended in Bolivia on Thursday, ahead of a weekend election pitting a former president against a leftist indigenous leader who wants to end eradication of the plant that produces cocaine.

Opinion polls ahead of Sunday's election, closely watched by Washington, gave a few points advantage to Evo Morales, 46, whose campaign has been marked by anti-US slogans, pledges to increase state controls over the key gas industry and a promise to defend coca plantations.

If he manages to defeat former president Jorge Quiroga, 45, he would become the first indigenous president of the impoverished South American country.

But he appears unlikely to win the 50 percent of the ballots needed for an outright victory, in which case the decision will be in the hands of the new Congress that will also be elected on Sunday.

"One vote, two votes are important," Morales told his supporters in Cochabamba. "A little more effort, more participation to free Bolivia as soon as possible," he urged.

Eight candidates are in the running, but the scene appears to be set for a battle between Morales and Quiroga, a US-educated technocrat who was president for a year after Hugo Banzer, then stricken by cancer, stepped down in 2001.

Opinion polls put support for Morales at 35 percent, with Quiroga getting 28 to 29 percent and the other candidates trailing far behind.

Quiroga has gone so far as to call Morales a "narco" trafficker.

US officials are keeping a keen eye on the election in a region that has seen several left-leaning leaders rise to power in recent years.

And Washington has made no bones about its concern over Morales' pledge to end US-funded programs to eradicate coca, from which traffickers extract cocaine for US drug users.

However, Indians have chewed coca leaf, a mild stimulant in its natural form, for thousands of years. It is used in indigenous rituals and as medication against altitude sickness in the Andean country.

"We expect whatever government comes next in Bolivia to honor those commitments that they have made to fight the production and transport of illegal drugs," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Thursday.

The outcome of the presidential election would only be decided on January 22, if no candidate garners 50 percent of the votes on Sunday.

The 157-seat Congress would then elect the new president, and is not bound to pick the front-runner.

With electoral campaigning officially ending on Thursday, the candidates made a last-ditch effort to win the votes of as many as 21 percent of still undecided voters.

Morales has capitalized on his popularity as the leader of a growing movement to wrest Bolivia's natural gas reserves from foreign control. He played a key role in protests that forced two presidents out of office in the past three years.

Quiroga, for his part, promised jobs, universal health care, better prices for Bolivia's natural gas and the writing off of the country's huge foreign debt.

Quiroga supporters claim a Morales presidency would scare off private investors and lead to the loss of tens of thousands of jobs.

But the Morales camp claims that the pro free-market Quiroga would auction off the country and strengthen the power of oil multinationals.

Dec 15 , 2005

Thursday

Sunday

Sunday

recent years

Thursday

January 22

Sunday

Thursday

the past three years


XIN_ENG_20061107.0293

NAIROBI, Nov. 7 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Interview: UN climate chief regrets America's refusal to ratify Kyoto Protocol, applauds China's environment policy

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer said here Tuesday that he felt regretful about America's refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, while praising China for its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emission.

"I think it's a great pity that America decided not to ratify the Kyoto Protocol," said de Boer, who is currently attending the UNFCCC in Nairobi, in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

The United States, the world's largest emitter of green house gases, said Monday that there would be no change in its rejection of the Kyoto Protocol on global warming until at least the end of American President George W. Bush's second term, due to be in January, 2009.

Bush has incurred the wrath of environmentalists and ecological experts by abandoning the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which aims to reduce the emission of climate change-causing greenhouse gases, saying it would hurt the U.S. economy.

"I do not have any expectations that the U.S. will return or ratify the Kyoto Protocol," said de Boer, who was appointed to the current post by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Aug. 10, 2006. He said America's greenhouse gas emissions are so high that it would be virtually impossible for it to meet the targets under the Kyoto Protocol.

De Boer at the same time applauded China for its environment policy, saying that China is already doing quite a lot in addressing the question of climate change.

"China has very ambitious strategy and also has plans to reduce emission from electricity sector," he said.

The UN conference on climate change kicked off on Monday, with participating parties exploring an international framework to deal with the issue of global warming after 2012, the last year covered by the current gas emission rules under the Kyoto Protocol.

"The discussion on that has just begun," said de Boer, "there was a decision at the meeting in Montreal last year to start two dialogues in the future. One is an ad hoc working group which talks about future industrial country targets, and the other is a broad dialogue on the future."

"All the countries have been saying that we urgently need to develop environment policy beyond 2012. In fact today there were presentations from the EU, from Japan, from Norway, all indicating that they are ready to take on far more stringent emission reductions," he said.

The 1997 Kyoto Protocol requires 35 industrialized countries to reduce their emissions by at least 5.2 percent from 1990 levels by 2012.

A UN report last week indicated that many countries were struggling to meet their targets.

Nov. 7 , 2006

Tuesday

Monday

January, 2009

Aug. 10, 2006

Monday

last year

last year

the future

today

last week


PRI19980216.2000.0170
 NEWS STORY

 The British government  has  formally called for Sinn Fein, the IRA's
 political wing,  to  be expelled from the multiparty peace talks on northern
 Ireland. The move  had  been widely expected after northern Ireland police
 said they believe the IRA was behind two killings in Belfast last week. Sinn
 Fein chairman Mitchell McLaughlin says the party  will challenge the move by
 legal means if they have to.

 We 're going  to fight it. And uh we 've  already challenged , very strongly, the uh the terms
 in which this  has  been presented. But we 're challenging it on the ground that uh
 the RUC uh  have offered an opinion, and this opinion  is going  to  be used as a mechanism for ejecting us from the talks, and uh that's a very
 serious.

 Any decision  to expel Sinn Fein must  be agreed jointly by the governments
 of both Britain and the Irish Republic.

last week


AFP_ENG_20051221.0194

JAKARTA, Dec 21 , 2005

Indonesian militant group to safeguard churches

Members of a Muslim group notorious for its anti-vice raids on nightclubs will help safeguard churches over Christmas in Indonesia amid fears that extremists may strike, a report said Wednesday.

The Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI) will join other groups including youths from the country's largest Muslim organisation Nahdlatul Ulama, to help guard churches on Christmas Eve, said senior member Alawi Usman.

"We will be involved directly to show that relations between religious communities are good," he was quoted as saying by the state Antara news agency.  He said group members, many of whom wear white Islamic skullcaps and turbans, would be advised against staying too close to churches they were guarding as they could be suspected by police as potential trouble-makers.     "They are free to wear or to take off their FPI paraphernalia," Usman said.

The FPI has in the past made a number of high-profile attacks on Jakarta nightspots which it accused of harboring sex workers and drug dealers.

Its leader Habib Mohammad Rizieq Shihab was jailed for seven months in 2003 in connection with the raids.

Indonesia's intelligence agency warned earlier this month that information indicated extremists may be planning attacks over the Christmas-New Year period in large cities across the world's most populous Muslim nation.

Nineteen people were killed when Islamic extremists launched a coordinated nationwide bombing campaign targeting churches and priests on Christmas Eve in 2000. The campaign was the first major attack to be blamed on the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah regional network.

Since then the group has launched a string of bloody attacks, including the 2002 Bali bombings which killed 202 people, mostly western holidaymakers.

Jakarta police have said they will deploy 18,000 officers over the period this year.

The country's intelligence chief also warned Tuesday that extremists were planning to kidnap high-ranking officials in an apparent shift away from bombings.

Dec 21 , 2005

Christmas

Wednesday

the past

seven months

earlier this month

Christmas

the period this year

Tuesday


XIN_ENG_20061116.0160

BEIJING, Nov. 16 , 2006 (Xinhua)

China catching up with leading countries in basic science research

China is catching up with the forerunners in basic science research, with an increasing number of theses and journals complied by Chinese scientists being referenced by the Science Citation Index (SCI), according to China's Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).

China was ranked fifth in the world in terms of the number of its journals cited by the SCI in 2004 and 2005, up from 15th place in 1991, MOST statistics showed.

"The number of our theses and journals cited by the SCI is an important indicator of the success of our research progress in basic science fields," said Zhang Xianen, the director of MOST's scientific research department.

"The greater number of Chinese scientists winning international prizes and occupying senior positions in major international research organizations also proves that China is catching up with leading countries in the field of science and technology," Zhang said.

In the last two years, 14 Chinese scientists have won international prizes including the Fresnel Prize awarded by the European Physical Society, and 40 Chinese have been granted memberships to international academic organizations and science academies of other countries, he said.

MOST statistics show that there were 115,400 basic science researchers in China in 2005, 46.5 percent higher than in 2001.

The Chinese government has promised to increase the country's investment in basic science research in an attempt to build a "self-innovative" country.

Nov. 16 , 2006

the last two years


XIN_ENG_20061128.0081

HOHHOT, Nov. 28 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Serial rapist-killer stands on trial in Inner Mongolia

A man in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region went on trail on Tuesday, accused of raping and killing nine women and girls over a period of ten years.

The results will be announced in two or three days, according to the Intermediate People's Court of Hohhot City, the regional capital.

Zhao Zhihong, 34, was allegedly involved in 21 cases of murder, rape, robbery and larceny between 1996 and 2005, according to the People's Procuratorate of Hohhot.

His victims are said to have included a college student, a government employee, a female taxi driver and a 12-year-old girl.

When he was arrested on Oct. 23 last year, Zhao had been working in a private kindergarten in Hohhot for more than two years, doing manual repairs and working as a driver. None of the kindergarten pupils or personnel were among his victims.

Regional police offered a reward of 200,000 yuan (25,300 U.S. dollars) for information leading to his capture.

Police said that Zhao, a native of Liangcheng County in Inner Mongolia, was originally a carpenter in a village of Liangcheng. He later moved to Hohhot.

From there, he drifted all over Inner Mongolia. He is accused of crimes in Hohhot, Togtoh County, Tumd Zuoqi Banner and Ulanqab City.

Zhao had been sentenced to six-month jail for larceny in Hohhot in October, 2003.

An earlier attempt to prosecute Zhao failed because of a lack of evidence.

Nov. 28 , 2006

Tuesday

a period of ten years

two or three days

Oct. 23 last year

more than two years

October, 2003


VOA19980331.1700.1533
 NEWS STORY

 The US government recently announced new regulations designed to change
 the way transplant organs are made available to sick patients. Under the new
 guidelines, donor organs will be made available to the sickest people
 first, wherever they live in the country. Currently, transplant organs are rationed through a regional system of distribution.
 The private group that runs the current system, United Network for Organ
 Sharing, or UNOS, objects to the new regulations. UNOS says the regulations
 put the federal government in charge of deciding who gets transplants and
 that many hospital transplant centers would be forced to close.
 Health and Human Services Secretary Do- Donna Shalala says patients who need
 an organ transplant should not have to take a chance that an organ will become
 available in their local area, nor should patients have to travel to transplant centers far from their homes to improve their chances of getting
 an organ. UNOS spokeswoman Donna Henry Wright says the new policy would not necessarily be more fair or effective because allowances are already made for the most
 needy patients.

 The sickest patients are already treated first. There are not huge waiting uh
 disparit- waiting time disparities amongst the very uh sickest patients.
 It's between two to six days for every one uh of the sickest patients across the
 country. um So it's a- it's a fallacy that they're doing this because um the sickest
 patients are n't being served.

 Doctor James Burdick, the Professor of Transplant Surgery at Johns Hopkins
 University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and former President of UNOS,
 said the current system has evolved over several years and it works well.

  You may, in a year or two, save a few more lives if you do sickest first.
 But the number of patients waiting then begins to increase, um and, in fact, um over
 the years many more patients who are about to die of liver tra- uh without a liver
 transplant would  accumulate.
 If you do the uh alternative extreme, you do n't save as many lives in the
 early years, by a small fraction. Our system is balanced, it's right in the
 middle. And, therefore, it works very well.

 Nationwide, there are about ten thousand patients waiting for liver transplants
each year and only four thousand organs become available for transplants.
 Secretary Shalala says UNOS five months ago, or gave them five months to develop a new plan to distribute livers which are in the shortest supply.
 This is VOA Today.

several years

a year or two

the years

the
 early years

each year

five months ago

five months


XIN_ENG_20051102.0201

SOFIA, Nov. 2 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Legendary Lechkov elected as 1st vice president of BFU

Former Bulgarian international Yordan Lechkov, also mayor of central Bulgarian city Sliven, was elected on Tuesday as the first vice president of the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU).

A 14-member Executive Committee of BFU on Tuesday with a majority elected Lechkov the first vice president of the country's genaral soccerl organisation. Mihail Kasabov and Stefan Ormandzhiev were also seated on the vice presidential chairs.

According to the decision made by the Executive Committee, Lechkov will take charge on contacts and work with the local soccer groups.

Lechkov said that he was determined to unite the power of the government, court system and parliament to find out a way to raise the level of the professional and amateur teams all over the country.

Legendary Lechkov was born in 1967 at Straldzha, Bulgaria. He was the biggest hero in the World Cup 1994, who led Bulgaria to the historic 4th place in the United States.

After a brilliant career Lechkov was elected mayor of Sliven in 2003, and is very popular among the local citizens.

Nov. 2 , 2005

Tuesday

Tuesday


XIN_ENG_20051125.0156

KIEV, Nov. 25 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Ukrainian prosecutors deliver Gongadze case to supreme court

Ukrainian prosecutors have delivered a criminal case concerning the murder of journalist Heorhiy Gongadze to the country's Supreme Court, a court spokesman confirmed on Friday.

The case was brought against three former police officers, charged with committing the murder of Gongadze, and the prosecutors requested the court determine where to hear the charges.

The three suspects were Valeriy Kostenko, Mykola Protasov and Oleksandr Popovych. A fourth suspect, Oleksiy Pukach, has absconded.

The Internet jounalist Gongadze, famous for his reports of high-level corruption when Leonid Kuchma held the presidency, was slain in 2000.

The former president Kuchma has denied accusations of his masterminding the murder.

Gongadze's death triggered nationwide demonstrations against the former Kuchma government, leading to last year's Orange Revolution after which the opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko came to power.

Nov. 25 , 2005

Friday

last year


XIN_ENG_20061124.0154

SINGAPORE, Nov. 24 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Singapore, Australia participate in joint exercise

Singapore and Australia armed forces participated in a four-day joint exercise, which concluded here on Friday, according to Ministry of Defence (MINDEF)

The MINDEF said in a statement that the exercise underscored the close defence ties between the two countries and provides a good opportunity for the two armed forces to enhance professional interaction and mutual understanding.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosives (CBRE) Defence Group participated in the exercise, code named "Ex LION BRIDGE", with troops from the Australian Defence Force Incident Response Regiment (ADF-IRR).

This annual exercise was the third series, which conducts alternately in Singapore and Australia.

About 120 soldiers participated in the exercise, comprising a series of response missions, aimed at enhancing inter-operability between the two armed forces when responding to terrorist attacks that involve the use of improvised explosive devices with chemical, biological and radiological components, according to the statement.

Nov. 24 , 2006

Friday


XIN_ENG_20061104.0198

BUCHAREST, Nov. 4 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Growing number of Israelis asking for Romanian citizenship: envoy

There is a growing number of Israeli citizens who are asking for Romanian citizenship, the national Rompres news agency reported on Saturday quoting Romania' s Ambassador to Israel Mariana Stoica as saying.

According to Stoica, the applicants are Jews originating from Romania who wish to re-acquire Romanian citizenship or second generation offspring of people born in Romania and who wish to get Romanian citizenship.

The main motivation for this growing number of applications consists in Romania becoming European Union member state starting on January 1, 2007, underlined the Romanian diplomat, adding that "This a sufficiently serious reason for them, to become citizens of an EU member country."

On the other hand, she pointed out that "there is an enhanced interest in investing in Romania and, in this case, it is a very good idea to hold Romanian citizenship".

"Third reason is that a great number of young people whose parents are of Romanian origin go to study in Romania, especially Medicine and Economics," said the ambassador.

According to the latest population figures, more than 110,000 of Israel's six million residents are from Romania, those Romanian jews arrived in Israel mostly in 1948-1951. Dual nationality is allowed now in Romania as well as in Isreal.

Nov. 4 , 2006

Saturday

January 1, 2007

now


PRI19980213.2000.0313
 NEWS STORY

 Officials in California  are warning residents that oncoming rains  will cause dangerous and unpredictable landslides. From member station KQED, Auncil
 Martinez reports.

 Experts say the ground  is  so saturated it cannot absorb any more water. So
 that means soil will fall off in chunks and destroy anything in its path.
 In Los Angeles that lesson  was brought home today when tons of earth cascaded down a hillside, ripping two houses from their foundations. No one  was hurt, but firefighters ordered the evacuation of nearby homes and said they'll monitor the shifting ground. In the northern California town of Rio Nido,
 officials say a football field sized slab of hillside could  still break loose at
 any time and destroy an entire neighborhood. And in San Francisco, a mansion
 overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge  is slipping toward
 the sea. Forecasters say the picture  will get worse because more rains are
 on the way. For NPR news, I'm Auncil Martinez reporting.

today

any time


AFP_ENG_20061210.0227

DUBLIN, Dec 10 , 2006, 2006

Ireland's 1916 'Alamo' to be national monument

A dilapidated building in Dublin where leaders of a doomed Irish nationalist rebellion surrendered to their British rulers is to become a national monument, Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said on Sunday.

The Taoiseach said number 16 Moore Street was of significant national importance as the "last stand" of the ill-fated "1916 Rising" against the British.

The house -- which sits on the site of Ireland's most famous street market -- had been due to be part of a multi-million euro refurbishment but a campaign to preserve it has been receiving increasing support.

Ahern said that from a historical, social and political standpoint, the house was of significant national importance as the "last stand" and should be given the country's highest conservation tag.

The building was dubbed the "Alamo" after the US fort which played a key role in the Texan war of independence against Mexico when Texan insurgents made their last stand and few survived.

In the 1916 Rising, Irish rebels took over the nearby General Post Office (GPO) building in O'Connell Street -- Dublin's main thoroughfare.

They retreated to the nearby Moore Street building when the British shelled the GPO and set it on fire.

Leaders including Padraig Pearse, Joseph Mary Plunkett, Sean MacDermott and Thomas Clarke, met in the building around the bed of the wounded James Connolly and decided to surrender to save further bloodshed.

Within weeks, all were executed by firing squad.

Ahern made the announcement while attending the annual commemoration in Castletown in southeast Ireland of another executed patriot, Liam Mellows, who died in the 1922 civil war that eventually led to Irish independence.

A museum commemorating the Rising was also being considered for the GPO, he added.

He said he wanted to see a "spirit of generosity" permeate modern Ireland's study of its history.

"This is our national inheritance. It is incumbent on all who value our democracy to join in suitably recognising the bravery, dignity and sacrifice of our forebearers," Ahern said.

Dec 10 , 2006

Sunday

weeks


AFP_ENG_19970421.0619

LONDON, April 22 , 1997 (AFP)

Santer's intervention fuels Euro-sceptic impulse in British election by Alex Perry

In what was widely interpreted as intervention in the British election campaign, a speech by European Commission President Jacques Santer attacking Euro-scepticism was roundly condemned here Tuesday.

The Conservatives leapt on Santer's speech, delivered in English in Amsterdam to the Dutch Association of European Journalists, in which he called Euro-sceptics "prophets of doom".

Foreign Secretary Malcom Rifkind said he "passionately welcomed" the speech as highlighting Conservative reservations about European intergration.

One Conservative party source said Santer's speech was "manna from Heaven" allowing the Conservatives to highlight their own Euro- scepticism and attack opposition party Labour, which they claim would surrender Britain's interests to Europe after the May 1 poll.

"If it is right for Britain, I will keep my feet on the brakes," said Tory Prime Minister John Major. "(Labour leader Tony) Blair would go to the (Intergovernmental Conference in) Amsterdam and put his foot on the accelerator to a federal Europe."

Labour called Santer's speech "ill-judged and unwise", and attempted to promote their own Euro-scepticism by noting that Santer's appointment had been approved by Major in 1994.

"Santer should be in no doubt that a Labour government will make decisions based on British needs in the British interests under the strong leadership of Tony Blair," said Labour's economics spokesman Gordon Brown.

In his speech, Santer said: "We have only one option: to move on. But it will not silence the prophets of doom."

Although he did not directly refer to Britain, his speech was interpreted as a direct attack on British Euro-scepticism. Press reports here said Santer had dropped a reference to a Conservative campaign advertisment in which Blair was depicted as a puppet sitting on German Chancellor Helmut Kohl's knees.

Meanwhile centrist Liberal Democrats leader Paddy Ashdown was the only party leader to endorse further European integration, saying he was in favour of a federal Europe.

And Labour, in its latest attack on the Tories, depicted Major and the Chancellor of the Exchequer Kenneth Clarke as film stars Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy to illustrate an Organisation of Economic and Development report on per capita income which said Britain had sunk to 21st in the world.

"Another fine mess" read the caption, echoing Hardy's catchphrase.

April 22 , 1997

Tuesday

May 1 poll


AFP_ENG_19970409.0129

HEBRON, West Bank, April 9 , 1997 (AFP)

New clashes in Hebron after police free settlers who killed Palestinian

Hundreds of Palestinians clashed with Israeli troops here Wednesday following the funeral of one of three men killed in rioting the previous day in the divided West Bank city, witnesses said.

The clashes came after Israeli police released two Jewish settlers whose slaying of a Palestinian man in central Hebron Tuesday sparked several hours of deadly clashes between protestors and troops.

Police officials said investigators accepted the account of the settlers, religious students in their 20s, that they opened fire with automatic weapons in self-defense after being attacked by tear gas as they walked near Hebron's Jewish enclave.

A second Palestinian was wounded in the shooting.

At least three Palestinians, including a policeman, were wounded by rubber bullets fired by soldiers after the protestors began pelting them with stones on Wednesday.

The new clashes broke out after 1,500 Palestinians turned out for the funeral of Nadir Said, 24, one of two men killed by Israeli rubber bullets in Tuesday's unrest.

Mourners called for revenge and chanted "No more settlers" as they carried Said's body wrapped in a Palestinian flag to his grave.

Palestinian police deployed large numbers of men around the Jewish quarter in a bid to prevent new clashes as the mourners and other protestors fanned out towards the Israeli lines.

But hundreds of youths skirted the police positions to confront the troops.

In Tuesday's unrest, hundreds of Palestinians threw stones and firebombs at Israeli troops guarding the Jewish enclave, where 400 settlers live surrounded by 120,000 Arabs.

Two Palestinians were killed and some 100 wounded by rubber bullets as the troops battled the protestors. Five soldiers were hurt by stones.

It was the deadliest day of clashes since almost daily violent protests erupted after Israel broke ground for a new Jewish settlement in disputed east Jerusalem on March 18.

In all, five Palestinians have been killed in the battles and hundreds injured. Three Israelis were killed by a Palestinian suicide bomber in Tel Aviv on March 21.

Hebron has long been a flashpoint for Arab-Israeli violence.

Four-fifths of the city passed to Palestinian rule in January under a breakthrough agreement which many hoped would give new life to a peace process in deep trouble since the nationalist right-wing took power in Israel in June.

But Israeli troops continue to guard the enclaves where the Jewish settlers live. The Israeli-controlled zone was under curfew Wednesday.

April 9 , 1997

Wednesday

Wednesday

Tuesday

the Jewish quarter

Tuesday

March 18

March 21

January

June

Wednesday


XIN_ENG_20051118.0064

CANBERRA, Nov. 18 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Australian stock market closes higher

The Australian stock exchange market closed higher Friday as the benchmark S/ASX200 added 42 points to 4,671.1 while the all ordinaries lifted 40.5 points to 4, 610.6.

Market turnover was 955.6 million shares worth 3.45 billion Australian dollars(2.53 billion US dollars) with 598 stocks rising, 402 falling and 328 unchanged.

In the resources sector, BHP Billiton surged 45 cents or 2.1 percent to 21.85 dollars.

Among the banking stocks, the Commonwealth Bank firmed 30 cents to 42.00 dollars, Westpac rose one cent to 22.24 dollars, ANZ was steady at 24.05 dollars but the National Australia Bank backpedaled 16 cents to 33.45 dollars.

In the media sector, News Corp lost 19 cents to 20.71 dollars.

Telecommunications giant Telstra put on 11 cents to 4.12 dollars.

Nov. 18 , 2005

Friday


AFP_ENG_19970402.0483

NEW YORK, April 2 , 1997 (AFP)

URGENT Trading on CompuServe halted on Wall Street

Wall Street trading on the computer online service CompuServe was suspended Wednesday ahead of an expected announcement later in the day, a stock exchange spokesman said.

April 2 , 1997

Wednesday


XIN_ENG_20051124.0104

HONG KONG, Nov. 24 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Taiwan share prices close down 0.19 percent -- Nov. 24

Taiwan share prices ended down 0.19 percent with a thicker traded volume on Thursday, according to sources reaching here from Taipei.

The weighted index, a key barometer of Taiwan Stock Exchange, went down 11.63 points to close at 6,111.89.

The bourse opened at 6,122.97 and fluctuated between 6,143.87 and 6,104.11 during trading.

A total of 3.19 billion shares changed hands on a market turnover of 77.84 billion new Taiwan dollars (2.33 billion US dollars), up from Wednesday's turnover of 77.48 billion new Taiwan dollars (2.31 billion US dollars).

Three of the eight major stock categories gained ground, with textile stocks moving up at 1.5 percent and machinery and electronics shares and construction issues both gaining 0.1 percent.

The other five major stock categories lost ground, with banking and financial shares moving down the most at 1.1 percent, followed by plastics and chemicals shares and paper and pulp issues both at 0.4 percent, and cement stocks and foodstuff issues both at 0.1 percent.

Gainers outnumbered losers 509 to 444, with 236 stocks remaining unchanged.

Nov. 24 , 2005

Thursday

Wednesday


WSJ891030-0035
 = 891030
 891030-0035.
 Business Brief -- Jayark Corp.:
@  Firm Agrees to Buy Kofcoh
@  For Cash, Debt and Stock
 10/30/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 JAYA
 TENDER OFFERS, MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS (TNM)

   Jayark Corp. agreed to pay $4 million in cash, $2 million of 12% convertible debentures, and 1.6 million common shares to acquire closely held Kofcoh Imports Inc.

   In over-the-counter trading Friday, Jayark was quoted at 87.5 cents bid , down 15.625 cents.
At the market price, the transaction has a total indicated value of $7.4 million.

   Kofcoh is a New York holding company for Rosalco Inc., which imports furniture and other items.
David L. Koffman, president and chief executive officer of Jayark, holds about 40% of Kofcoh, Jayark said.

   Jayark, New York, distributes and rents audio-visual equipment and prints promotional ads for retailers.
In the quarter ended July 31, Jayark had an average of 5.6 million shares outstanding.

   The transaction is subject to approval by a panel of disinterested directors, the company said, adding that shareholder approval is n't needed.

Friday

the quarter

July 31


XIN_ENG_20061126.0139

NEW DELHI, Nov. 26 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Snow storm claims two in India-controlled Kashmir

A heavy snow storm claimed two lives Sunday at a mountain pass in India-controlled Kashmir, Indo- Asian News Service reported.

Eyewitnesses said two among forty people were swept away by snow storm and killed when they were trying to cross the Zojilla Pass in the Himalaya Mountains, the local police said.

The police sent a team to search the bodies.

The national highway linking the region's winter capital Srinagar to mountainous region Leh has been closed for all vehicular traffic since Nov. 15 due to snowfall but some people chose to walk all the way across the Zojilla Pass.

The local authorities have instructed the police to stop these trekkers as crossing the pass on foot is highly dangerous in the extreme cold weather.

Nov. 26 , 2006

Sunday

Nov. 15


AFP_ENG_19970422.0669

LIMA, April 22 , 1997 (AFP)

All hostage-takers killed as siege ended: police source

All hostage-takers were killed as security forces ended the 18-week- old hostage drama at the Japanese ambassador's residence Tuesday, a police source told AFP.

About 20 members of the Marxist Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA), most of them younger than 20, had been holding the residence and 72 prominent hostages since December 17.

April 22 , 1997

Tuesday

December 17


AFP_ENG_20061229.0044

JAKARTA, Dec 29 , 2006, 2006

results

A former rebel jailed by Jakarta has won a landslide victory in the first direct elections for governor of Aceh province, according to official results Friday which confirmed earlier forecasts.

Dec 29 , 2006

Friday


XIN_ENG_20051120.0249

BRASILIA, Nov. 20 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Brazil to open dictatorship-era secret files

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has ordered the country's intelligence service, ABIN, to publish dictatorship-era secret files by the end of the year, the official Agencia Brasil news agency reported on Sunday.

The report said that Lula signed a decree on Saturday, instructing the ABIN to turn over all intelligence files from the 1964-85 military dictatorship to the National Archive by Dec. 31.

The secret police can only withhold documents that would endanger lives or the viability of the Brazilian state, the report said.

Lula's order reversed the 2002 decree, signed by Lula's predecessor Fernando Henrique Cardoso in the closing hours of his presidency, which had sealed the documents for 50 years.

Brazil's Defense Ministry claimed in 2003 that all such files were destroyed, but after the Brazilian newspaper Correio Brazilense published in 2004 photos of a naked man, an alleged political prisoner, holding his head in his hands, the Ministry admitted it had lied.

The publication triggered a campaign to make public the documents by the human rights groups which want to find out who was arrested by the secret police, whether they were tortured and what happened to their bodies, so as to enable their relatives to recover their remains.

The military has long tried to block the publication of the documents, citing a 1979 amnesty which prevents anyone from prosecuting either former-leftist guerrillas or the military.

Human rights activists say some officials still in power could be implicated by the documents being released.

Nov. 20 , 2005

the end of the year

Sunday

Saturday

Dec. 31

presidency

50 years


AFP_ENG_20051217.0344

WASHINGTON, Dec 17 , 2005

Vaccine for uterine cancer more active in pre-teens: study

An experimental vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline that targets two viruses responsible for 70 percent of uterine cancer cases triggers twice the immune response in girls aged 10 to 14 than in those aged 15 to 24, the British pharmaceutical firm said Saturday.

The results of phase 3 clinical trials were presented at an annual conference on infectious diseases under way this weekend in Washington.

They indicate that the vaccine Cervarix could offer more durable and efficient protection, if it is given to the young, well ahead of their becoming sexually active.

"Vaccination of pre-teen/adolescent girls against cancer-causing HPV (Human Papillomavirus) before onset of sexual activity will be an important part of the overall strategy for cervical cancer prevention," said Anna-Barbara Moscicki, a pediatrics professor from the University of California.

The two viruses are responsible for 70 percent of cases of uterine cancer. More than 500,000 cases of this disease are diagnosed in the world each year.

The clinical trials conducted by Glaxo in Europe and Russia involved 158 girls aged between 10 and 14 and 458 women aged between 15 and 25. Each of them received three doses of the vaccine over a period of six months.

Cervarix, which has not been introduced to the market yet, is one of the company's most important new drugs.

GlaxoSmithKline's American competitor Merck is waiting for the green light to start marketing its own vaccine called Gardasil.

The conference organized by American Society for Microbiology has brought together some 9,000 researchers from about 80 countries of the world.

Dec 17 , 2005

Saturday

this weekend

each year

a period of six months


AFP_ENG_20061203.0544

SANTIAGO, Dec 3 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - ADDS detail ///

Augusto Pinochet, who ruled Chile with an iron fist 1973-1990, came to symbolize Latin American military repression and was linked to thousands of tortures, abductions and deaths.

He was in serious condition at the Military Hospital after heart surgery in Santiago Sunday.

Pinochet, 91, has avoided trial on any charge, with his lawyers arguing that "mild dementia" prevents him from defending himself.

Now frail, Pinochet once cut an and awe-inspiring figure in dark glasses and an imposing Prussian-style military tunic and cape.

"Not a leaf moves without my knowledge," Pinochet said, as thousands of Chileans were tortured, executed and forced into exile following the 1973 coup against elected Socialist president Salvador Allende.

The Pinochet era deeply divides Chile even today.

Some Chileans hail him for replacing socialism with free-market policies, despite his international renown for military abuses.

Others say the pain of the dictatorship will continue until Pinochet is convicted or exonerated in court.

During his rule, some 3,000 people were executed or disappeared from custody and presumed killed, according to an official count.

He faces more than 250 charges for alleged rights abuses, including masterminding the infamous "Caravan of Death" that killed 75 regime opponents after he seized power.

Born in the port city of Valparaiso on November 25, 1915, Pinochet never finished his school studies. He was expelled at 15 for misconduct but joined the Military School in 1933, rising slowly through the ranks.

In 1947, Pinochet, then a captain, ran a camp for detainees from the banned communist party.

In one of the ironies of history, Allende himself appointed Pinochet to head the military just one month before the coup.

Four generals took charge and Pinochet grabbed the first turn as leader of what was to be a rotating junta, saying: "I am a man without ambitions." A year later he decreed one-man rule.

Pinochet throttled labor unions and dissolved Congress. Soon outcry over repeated human rights violations turned him into an international pariah.

Nobel Prize winner from Chicago University, the late Milton Friedman, visited Pinochet in Santiago and persuaded him to impose a free-market recipe offered by a group of Chilean economists trained at Chicago.

Immediately, draconian policies to slash inflation and privatize state companies left millions of Chileans jobless.

After a brief boom, the free-market economy crashed 1981-1982. Pinochet was for the first time vulnerable, as students, businessmen and union leaders were emboldened to protest.

On September 7, 1986 Pinochet escaped a guerrilla ambush that killed five bodyguards. The failed assassination led to a new crackdown.

Many died when troops fired on street protesters and police made random mass arrests in Santiago's slums.

In 1988 Pinochet lost a plebiscite on another eight years in office. In 1990, he handed power to Patricio Aylwin, the first democratically elected president since Allende.

Pinochet's 1980 constitution made him head of the armed forces until 1998 and senator for life.

On his 91st birthday a week ago, Pinochet said he held "no grudge against anyone," despite all the "persecutions and injustices" against him.

Dec 3 , 2006

Sunday

today

November 25, 1915

one month

A year later

September 7, 1986

another eight years

91st birthday a week ago


XIN_ENG_20051112.0125

SHENZHEN, Nov. 12 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Fruit show adds market value to Chinese farm produce

The three-day China International Fruit, Vegetable and Technology Trade Show concluded in Shenzhen, a booming special economic zone in south China's Guangdong Province, on Saturday, raising market value for the country's high-quality farm produce.

Among dozens of varieties of fruits on show, the "Pingliang Golden Apple" from northwest China's Gansu Province became the biggest winner. A total of 12 sales contracts worth over 16 million dollars were signed for the fruit at the fair.

The annual show was co-organized by China Fruits Marketing Association (CFMA), China Vegetable Marketing Association, Agropress from Switzerland and China Entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine Association.

The show has attracted over 48,000 visitors, including 6,000 Chinese professionals and 2,000 from abroad, according to Meng Xuanli, manager of Domestic Department of the organizing committee.

Meng roughly estimated that contracts worth 85 million US dollars were signed on the venue of the show.

"The Pingliang apple used to be sold by farmers in local markets only. We wish that our apples could not only become a famous brand in domestic market, but also turn popular across the border," said Ma Xuejun, mayor of Pingliang.

Fruits like honey melon from overseas also interested many visitors. "Thanks to the new zero-tariff policy for Taiwan fruits' entry into the mainland market, we hope to sell more of our products here," says Wu Jia-Hsiung, general manager of the Taiwan-based Chia Kei Ni Industries Co. Ltd.

Nov. 12 , 2005

Saturday


XIN_ENG_20051117.0248

BEIJING, Nov. 17 , 2005 (Xinhua)

via modern media

China's famous Shaolin Temple is planning to cull outstanding Kungfu players worldwide via television, internet and mobile phones in a bid to better promote its 1,500-year martial art heritage and fame.

"Our efforts will reach more people and be more effective by using modern technologies and media channels," said Shi Yongxin, abbot with the temple, at a press conference here Thursday.

The 8-month grand competition, to be shown on television across China through satellite transmission as of March next year, will allow Chinese audiences to vote for their favorite Kungfu exercisers through the website or mobile phone messages.

The top 108 winners are expected to have the chance to play a part in a movie and TV series depicting martial arts and monks of Shaolin, according to Fu Min, general manager with the Shaolin Temple Culture Communication Co., Ltd, which is owned by the temple.

"We hope more people around the world will enjoy, practice and benefit from Chinese Kungfu," said Shi.

The movie and TV series, both named "Legends of Monk Warriors from Shaolin Temple," will be based on a true story of the temple and is expected to attract top international actors and film industry professionals to work on the production, with an estimated cost of 200 million yuan (nearly 25 million US dollars).

Shaolin monks have made world tours in recently years to perform martial arts, attracting over 30,000 fervent fans and attention from local media, according to Shi.

The senior abbot, who has visited some 30 countries, said he always uses mobile phones, digital cameras, portable computers and e-mails.

"Modern technologies facilitate my communication with the world and help me to better manage the temple," said Shi.

The temple, which has been running its own website for years, is planning to open another one in English to promote its cooperation with the world.

Established about 1,500 years ago in central China's Henan Province, Shaolin is famed for the great combination of martial arts style and Chan, a sect of Buddhism, that features long meditation sessions for purifying the mind.

Shaolin Kungfu is an important component part of the Chinese culture and has played a key role in the development of Chinese civilization.

"Instead of fading gradually in the high-tech era, the Chinese martial arts have created a peculiar platform in the modern world, " said Fu.

The establishment of the cultural communication company is to scientifically research and develop the temple's cultural heritages and promote its fame in the world, according to the manager.

Fu, also a monk of Shaolin, used to study in the United States for media communication and speaks good English.

"With the help of technologies and modern media, the ancient temple will face a more vigorous development era," said Shi.

Nov. 17 , 2005

Thursday

March next year

recently years

1,500 years ago


XIN_ENG_20051111.0316

BEIJING, Nov. 12 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Bush, Howard discuss Iraq, APEC meeting

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (Xinhua)-- US President George W. Bush on Friday had a telephone discussion with Australian Prime Minister John Howard over Iraq's upcoming elections and the agenda for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) informal economic leaders' meeting scheduled for November 18-19, the White House said.

"The two leaders compared notes on Iraq's upcoming elections and progress in the training of Iraqi security forces. They exchanged views on the upcoming US-Australia defense and foreign policy ministerial (meeting)," US national security council spokesman Fred Jones said.

"They reviewed the agenda for the APEC meeting in Busan, Korea on November 18-19, including initiatives on avian flu, trade liberalization and energy cooperation," said Jones.

"The president looks forward to continuing his conversation with prime minister Howard when they see each other at the APEC leaders' meeting this time next week," said the spokesman.

The United States has been in good relations with Australia which supports the US-led war on Iraq and has 1,400 troops deployed in Iraq. Howard visited the White House in July.

Nov. 12 , 2005

Nov. 11

Friday

November 18-19

November 18-19

next week

July


AFP_ENG_19970411.0093

BEIJING, April 11 , 1997 (AFP)

URGENTChina quake kills three

An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale hit the northwest Chinese region of Xinjiang on Friday, killing three people, the State Seismological Bureau said.

April 11 , 1997

Friday


XIN_ENG_20061113.0091

TOKYO, Nov. 13 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Dollar trades in lower-117 yen in Tokyo

The U.S. dollar hovered at the lower- 117 yen level on Monday in Tokyo.

At 5:00 p.m., the dollar was quoted at 117.40-43 yen compared with 117.40-50 yen at 4:00 p.m. Friday in London and 117.61-64 yen at 5:00 p.m. Friday in Tokyo.

The U.S. currency traded between 117.13 yen and 117.57 yen during the day, changing hands most often at 117.38 yen.

The euro was quoted at 1.2858-2861 dollars and 150.98-151.02 yen against 1.2860-2870 dollars and 151.05-10 yen at 4:00 p.m. Friday in London and 1.2857-2860 dollars and 151.24-28 yen at 5:00 p.m. Friday in Tokyo.

Nov. 13 , 2006

Monday

5:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

Friday

5:00 p.m.

Friday

the day

4:00 p.m.

Friday

5:00 p.m.

Friday


WSJ891027-0186
 = 891027
 891027-0186.
 Service Corp. Earnings
 10/27/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 SRV
 EARNINGS (ERN)
 HOUSTON

   Service Corp. International said it expects to report net income of 15 cents a share for the third quarter.
The company said it expects to release third-quarter results in mid-November.

   The funeral home and cemetery operator changed from a fiscal year to a calendar year in December.
In the comparable year-ago quarter, the second quarter ended Oct. 31, Service Corp. had a loss of about $12.5 million, or 26 cents a share, on revenue of $175.4 million.
Results for that quarter included a $30 million, or 40 cents a share, write-down associated with the consolidation of a facility.

the third quarter

mid-November

December

the comparable year-ago quarter

second quarter

Oct. 31

that quarter


XIN_ENG_20051116.0186

HONG KONG, Nov. 16 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Gold price higher in Hong Kong -- Nov. 16

The gold price in Hong Kong rose 35 HK dollars at 4,351 HK dollars a tael Wednesday, according to the Bank of China (Hong Kong).

The gold price is equivalent to 471.33 US dollars a troy ounce, up 3.79 US dollars at Wednesday's exchange rate of one US dollar against 7.7490 HK dollars.

Nov. 16 , 2005

Wednesday

Wednesday


AFP_ENG_19970411.0369

LONDON, April 11 , 1997 (AFP)

Party offers peace and prosperity through "yogic flying"

Britain's Natural Law Party (NLP), which is putting forward 300 candidates in the May 1 elections, issued its campaign manifesto on Friday with answers to such pressing problems as crime, unemployment and indigestion.

Transcendental meditation and "yogic flying" hold the key to creating "heaven on earth" and a "happy, prosperous and trouble-free country," said the party which in 1992 won 64,000 votes nationwide, but no seats.

By voting NLP candidates for parliament, Britain would obey a natural law based on scientific research, instead of the old, tired policies of the traditional parties right, left and center, said party leader Doctor Geoffrey Clements (PhD, physics).

"Last week the manifestos for the old parties were launched that showed nothing new was being offered. We cannot afford to let this situation continue," Clements told a London press conference simultaneously relayed around the country.

"When we look around at the galaxies and the Earth they are governed by natural law," he said. "But what is absent in this country is that same natural law."

This, said Clements, is the essence of the Natural Law Party: combining the need of the individual and of society through transcendental meditation and yogic flying which, practiced 20 minutes morning and evening, leads to a "bubbling bliss of intense coherence.

"It increases the functioning and intelligence of the mind," he said.

"We are not a superficial party," said deputy leader Peter Warburton. "There is depth in our goals."

Yogic flying is when you sit on the floor in the lotus position, meditate yourself into a lighter and lighter state, then sort of, well, bounce up and down.

April 11 , 1997

May 1

Friday

Last week

morning


APW19980306.1001
 NEWS STORY
 03/06/1998 13:19:00

w2188 Cx1f wstm-
u i Cx13  Cx11  BC-Iraq 3rdLd-Writethru   03-06 0642

 BC-Iraq, 3rd Ld-Writethru

American Ritter resumes inspections in Iraq

UR Eds: AMs; RECASTS throughout with Ritter inspecting three sensitive
sites; UN quotes QL
UR By LEON BARKHO QC
UR Associated Press Writer QC

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) _ An American leader of a U.N. weapons
inspection team resumed work in Iraq Friday, nearly two months
after his team was effectively blocked.
Scott Ritter led his team on a 10-hour tour of three suspected
weapons sites classified as ``sensitive'' by the Iraqi authorities,
U.N. spokesman Alan Dacey said.
``All sites were inspected to the satisfaction of the inspection
team and with full cooperation of Iraqi authorities,'' Dacey said.
At least one of the sensitive sites was a barracks of the elite
Republican Guard, a well-placed source told The Associated Press.
Previously the Iraqis have resisted attempts to inspect such
quarters.
The U.N. Security Council has charged the inspectors with
verifying that Iraq has destroyed its long-range missiles and
weapons of mass destruction.
It was the first time that Ritter, who arrived Thursday with
some 50 inspectors for a tour likely to last over a week, had been allowed to carry out an inspection since Jan. 13.
Then the Baghdad government stopped providing Ritter's team with
escorts, making it impossible for him to enter any site. Iraq
alleged Ritter was an American spy whose team had a
disproportionately high number of Americans and Britons.
The official Iraqi News Agency, which gives the daily tally of
inspections, did not mention Ritter by name, but said Friday that
team no. 225 _ which Ritter heads _ made surprise visits to a
number of sites and was assisted by aerial surveillance.
Five other U.N. inspection teams visited a total of nine other
sites, the agency reported.
An Iraqi official, speaking on customary condition of anonymity,
said Ritter would not try to visit any of the eight presidential
sites that Baghdad had placed off-limits to U.N. weapons
inspectors.
The official said these sites could only be visited by a special
team of U.N. monitors and diplomats as laid down by the Feb. 23
accord signed by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Iraqi Deputy
Prime Minister Tariq Aziz.
Ritter's return is seen as something of a test of that
agreement, under which Iraq agreed to give inspectors full access
to eight of Saddam Hussein's presidential palaces.
The United States had moved additional troops and a naval armada
into the Gulf and said it would strike Iraq unless it gave the U.N.
arms inspectors unfettered access to all potential weapons sites,
including Saddam's palaces. Iraq had argued the presidential sites
should be off limits as symbols of sovereignty.
A Pentagon spokesman said Thursday that the 38,000 U.S. troops
in the Gulf will remain until Iraq complies with the U.N. Security
Council agreement over weapons inspections.
``We are going to maintain our forces in the region for the
foreseeable future,'' said spokesman Kenneth Bacon.
The U.N.-Iraq accord was worked out by U.N. Secretary-General
Kofi Annan, who appointed a retired Indian diplomat on Thursday as
his special representative to Iraq. Prakash Shah, 58, a former
Indian ambassador to the United Nations, is part of an effort by
Annan to expand contacts with the Iraqi leadership.
Palace inspections are not expected to start until the new
agreement's procedures are in place. U.N. officials in New York on
Friday finished drafting the rules, in consultation with Iraqi
diplomats. The procedures are due to go before the Security Council
next week.
The Security Council has said it will not lift the sweeping
sanctions imposed on Iraq after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait until
the U.N. inspectors certify that Baghdad has eliminated its weapons
of mass destruction.

UR lb-jbm
(PROFILE
(WS SL:BC-Iraq, 3rd Ld-Writethru; CT:i;
(REG:MEST;)
(REG:ENGL;)
(REG:EURO;)
(REG:BRIT;)
(REG:SCAN;)
(LANG:ENGLISH;))
)

AP-NY-03-06-98 1319EST

03/06/1998 13:19:00

Friday

nearly two months

Previously

Thursday

over a week

Jan. 13

Friday

Feb. 23

Thursday

Thursday

Friday

next week


AFP_ENG_19970403.0524

LONDON, April 3 , 1997 (AFP)

Climber killed abseiling on Britain's highest peak

A climber who fell while abseiling on Britain's highest mountain has died from his injuries, police said Thursday.

The man was climbing with a friend on Observation Gully near the summit of 4,406-foot (1,300-meter) Ben Nevis in Scotland when he fell. The second man also suffered "serious injuries."

The pair were airlifted to hospital in Fort William where the first climber died from his injuries, a police spokesman said.

Neither climber was named by police.

April 3 , 1997

Thursday


WSJ891101-0040
 = 891101
 891101-0040.
 Business Brief -- QVC Network Inc.:
@  Acquisition of CVN Cos.
@  Is Completed by Company
 11/01/89
 WALL STREET JOURNAL (J)
 QVCN CAVN
 TENDER OFFERS, MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS (TNM)
MEDIA, PUBLISHING, BROADCASTING, ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING (MED)
RETAILING (RET)

   QVC Network Inc. said it completed its acquisition of CVN Cos. for about $423 million.

   QVC agreed  to pay $19 and one-eighth QVC share for each of CVN's 20 million fully diluted shares.

   The acquisition brings together the two largest competitors to Home Shopping Network Inc., which now reaches more viewers than any other company in the video shopping industry.
Among them, Home Shopping, QVC and CVN already control most of that young and fast-growing market, which last year had sales of about $1.4 billion.

now

last year


XIN_ENG_20061124.0063

TOKYO, Nov. 24 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Dollar hits 2-month low in lower 116 yen level in Tokyo

The U.S. dollar hit a two-month low in the lower 116 yen level Friday in Tokyo as concern among market participants on the outlook of the U.S. economy weighed on the U.S. currency.

At 5 p.m., the dollar was quoted at 116.32-35 yen, compared with Thursday's 4 p.m. quote of 116.10-20 yen in London.

It moved between 116.18 yen, its lowest level in Tokyo since Sept. 25, and 116.49 yen during the day, most frequently at 116.40 yen.

Both U.S. and Japanese financial markets were closed Thursday for holidays.

The euro was quoted at 1.2969-2972 dollars and 150.88-92 yen against Thursday's 4 p.m. quotes of 1.2945-2955 dollars and 150.35- 40 yen in London.

Nov. 24 , 2006

Friday

Thursday

Sept. 25

Thursday

Thursday


AFP_ENG_20051209.0130

TOKYO, Dec 10 , 2005

quotes ///

Japan coach Zico said his side were prepared to face five-time world champions and his home country Brazil in the group stage of the World Cup finals in Germany next year.

"A team that has qualified for the World Cup finals must be prepared for any situation whatsoever," Zico told Japanese television in Leipzig after the World Cup draw there. "I thought about the possibility of fighting Brazil.

"For us, it is easier to encounter Brazil in the first round. It is better than fighting them after winning through to the second round," said the former Brazilian World Cup hero, who attended the draw Friday with Japanese Football Association president Saburo Kawabuchi.

Japan, the Asian champions, were drawn into Group F, which also included Croatia and Australia.

"It was not so bad," Kawabuchi said of the result. "We did not wish to be in Group C with the Netherlands and Argentina. We ended up in a medium group.

"Coach Zico told me with a smile that we would be alright. Emotionally, it might be a bit tough for him to fight his home country," the FA president said.

"But it will be the last match in the group and we had better qualify for the final tournament in the first two matches before facing Brazil," the FA president said.

Japan sprang a surprise at the Confederations Cup last June when they battled to a 2-2 draw against Brazil before fading in the group round.

Zico took over Japan after they reached the last-16 round at the 2002 World Cup finals on home turf under Frenchman Philippe Troussier. He has vowed to do better at Germany 2006.

Zico described Australia, who have qualified for the finals for the first time in 32 years, as a "highly motivated team" under Dutch coach Guus Hiddink.

"They are well guided. It will be very important for us to win the first match and boost the morale of my players," Zico said. Japan will face Australia in their opening match on June 12.

Zico said he had few worries about Croatia, who beat Japan 1-0 in their winless World Cup finals debut at France 1998. Croatia finished third in that tournament.

"We have fought Serbia-Montenegro and Slovakia and we are used to such a European team," Zico said.

Japanese supporters were delighted at the result of the draw, and many spent all night at sports bars to see the draw live on television in the early morning local time.

"It will be great to fight Brazil in terms of competition," a young man told public broadcaster NHK. And a young woman said, "We will definitely win the first match. I wish for miracles thereafter."

Dec 10 , 2005

next year

Friday

last June

Germany 2006

32 years

June 12

France 1998

the early morning


XIN_ENG_20061104.0251

BEIJING, Nov. 5 , 2006 (Xinhua)

(China-Africa) Beijing Summit to adopt declaration, action plan

Two historic documents, a declaration and an action plan for 2007-2009, are expected to be adopted at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), due to conclude on Sunday afternoon.

Two-session roundtables of Chinese and African leaders will be held at the Great Hall of the People Sunday, with the morning session chaired by Chinese President Hu Jintao and the afternoon session chaired by Ethiopian Prime Minister Ato Meles Zenawi.

On the sidelines of the roundtable meetings, the High-level Dialogue and 2nd Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs will close on Saturday afternoon. Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan is expected to meet some African ministers attending the conference.

As the African leaders hold discussions, their spouses will watch performances at the theater of Beijing Exhibition Center in the morning.

The action plan and declaration will be announced in the afternoon as the summit concludes. Later on, Chinese, Ethiopia and Egyptian foreign ministers will jointly meet the press.

Chinese and African entrepreneurs will sign a batch of deals on Sunday evening.

The landmark Beijing Summit opened here Saturday morning. President Hu, 41 heads of state or government and senior officials of 48 African countries that have diplomatic ties with China, as well as representatives from regional and international organizations attended the landmark gathering highlighting " friendship, peace, cooperation and development".

Addressing the opening ceremony, Hu announced a package of major assistance, investment, trade and other key cooperation projects with Africa in an effort to forge a new type of strategic partnership.

Later Saturday, the high-level dialogue and entrepreneurs conference opened at the Great Hall of the People, where Premier Wen Jiabao proposed China and Africa fully tap cooperation potential.

Nov. 5 , 2006

Sunday afternoon

Sunday

Saturday afternoon

the morning

the afternoon

Sunday evening

Saturday morning

Saturday


XIN_ENG_20061130.0339

DOHA, Nov. 30 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Shaheen's Asiad withdrawal leaves host fans no track star

Men's 3000m steeplechase world record holder Saif Saaeed Shaheen made a shock withdrawal Thursday from the 15th Asian Games, which leaves the Qatari fans no chance of seeing the athletics star of their own.

Shaheen set the current 3000m steeplechase world record of 7:53. 63 in 2004 and won the world title twice for Qatar in 2003 and 2005 respectively.

He made history this year by winning double in the 3000m steeplechase and the 5000m at the World Cup in Athens. He is the most favored candidate in both of the events at Asiad if not for the sudden exit.

Shaheen set the Asian record of 7:56.63 in the 5000m and also won the 3000m title at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Pattaya City of Thailand.

Shaheen's title roster is void of only the Asian and Olympic champions. His opportunity to win in Athens 2004 was deprived for Kenya Olympic Committee's insistence of a three-year delay for his nationality transformation to Qatar in 2003. The pullout of Doha 2006 postponed Shaheen's bid of winning the Asian title.

Shaheen's rise began in 1999 when he was running for Kenya by winning the world youth steeplechase title. In 2001, he lowered the world junior 3000m steeplechase record to 7:58.66. He won the Kenya national 3000m steeplechase title in 2002 and then grabbed the Commonwealth Games gold in Manchester the same year.

The absence of Shaheen also leaves opportunities for the other athletes, including his countrymen Gamal Belal Salem of Qatar, who ranked third in Asian steeplechase this year, and the 2005 world youth steeplechase champion Tareq Mubarak Salem of Bahrain.

At the IAAF Super Grand Prix in Doha in 2005, Shaheen set the second fastest time in history over the 2000m steeplechase, clocking 5:14.57.

China's Liu Xiang is now the only world record holder in athletics who will compete in Doha. Liu broke Briton Colin Jackson 's 110m hurdles record when he ran 12.88 seconds in Lausanne in July 2006.

Nov. 30 , 2006

Thursday

this year

Athens 2004

this year

the 2000m steeplechase

July 2006


AFP_ENG_20061201.0211

KIEV, Dec 1 , 2006, 2006

URGENT  Ukraine's parliament sacks pro-West foreign minister

The pro-Russian majority in Ukraine's parliament on Friday sacked Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyuk, a key pro-Western politician and major proponent of NATO accession for this ex-Soviet republic.

Dec 1 , 2006

Friday